TeamPlayedFine39

Fantastic news! He and Trengove have been posting from rehab on Instagram recently. Petracca is looking a million bucks! Trimmed down a lot but still built like a brick outhouse- has the body of a seasoned 25yo.

I love my job - but I'm not going to sign a 10 year deal to stay here. I'm still going to work hard, enjoy it, perform well, and who knows, maybe I will stay here ten years! But I'm happy to just keep working like I'm working, and talk contracts when its time to talk contracts. He's already extended his contract once, let him play football for a while.

Every word of this is true... but no fun at all!

I'm not going to be jumping for joy or beating my chest this time around. I was stunned into silence when the tribunal handed down it's verdict and even after reading through their findings, I couldn't believe they reached the conclusion they did. I very much feel that Essendon is entering this hearing as the strong favorite that the verdict will go their way. People, myself included, were so confident in the system last time... this time around I'll be more guarded. I'm expecting them to get off.

Players who are perhaps underappreciated and gettable under our current circumstances: Mitch Wallis - Inside midfielder who was in and out of the team last year. Had a great start to 2015 until injury sidelined him. May struggle for a midfield spot when Libba returns. Ben Lennon: Getting good numbers in the VFL but can't crack the Richmond midfield. Has good inside skills and reasonable disposal. Daniel Gorringe - was keen to leave Gold Coast last year. Still very young by ruckman standards (22) but am not sure whether he's a first ruck or a ruck/forward. Matthew Leuenberger - have believed we should go after him as a free agent. Body is holding together so far for 2015 but he can't get a run at the first ruck position due to the dominance of Stef Martin.

While never critical of Salem, I was disappointed we didn't select Freeman. Love Salem's footy smarts, skills and passion for the contest - will develop into a midfield beast IMHO. Happy for him to play the season at half back if his form holds up with a move into the midfield next year. (on a side note, it was good to see a few different faces in the centre for bounces on Saturday night - Garlett, vandenBerg, etc)

The last two weeks we have been physically dominated by mature bodies in the opposition midfields. Take out Daniel Cross from our team and our average age plummets. When you have a midfield with players 25-28yo, you can overpower a young midfield regardless of your diet. Also, the amount of blocking and shepherding work that Freo did in particular, is knocking our inexperienced players off and away from the ball as there is contact when they're not expecting it. The physical pressure that these team apply cannot be prepared for in a gym. Our guys would have learnt a lot this week and last about how to play as a physical, high pressure and intensity team. Until they understand this, they'll look like children vs men.

True. But the three players taken before Toumpas gave hardly set the world on fire either... Love watching the doggies this year- they have drafted very, very well.

Nah. Good clubs like Geelong and Hawthorn play their kids in the VFL where they can learn and develop and they don't torch 18year olds.

Was so happy when we got Toumpas! Some breathtaking, Stalin-esque revisionism going on here. On a different tac... what's the Mark Neeld lollies story??

Anyone who's read David Schwarz's book would know it would have been great to play alongside a leader like Lyon.

You'll get inconsistency when he's inexperienced at senior level. I've liked a lot of what I've seen from him so far. He's not setting the world on fire yet, but he's shown enough to play for the next two games in my books.

Unfortunately, quality tall defenders is what we were lacking throughout the our recent finals playing years 2000-2006. How would we have gone with (Frawley), Garland, McDonald and Dunn back then? Now we have a good defense, and very little of anything else... but we're getting there.

I believe Garry has, time and time again, said that his career, future, interests, etc. lie in the football media, not a football club. It would be highly unprofessional and beneficial to no one if he was biased, and by your own admission, misleading in his analysis of football. Garry was a great player. By all accounts, was a great leader of the club. But that was 20 odd years ago; he a commentator, analyst and editorialist now.

Agreed, a great interview. I loved how quick he was to disagree with Burg when he suggested Fremantle were too good. TomMac has a great belief in himself and the team- but he was filthy after the game.

Did the Toump play in the second half?? 15 touches to half time; didn't break 20 at full time...

Grundy went to Collingwood at Pick 18.... At what stage did we have pick 18?

One of those right-place-right-time sorta players. Seems to miraculously find space at the perfect moment to hit the scoreboard. IMHO he's been a very solid addition to the midfield rotation. Must say, I haven't noticed him in the center square at a bounce yet. Would love to see him more involved in the guts in the future.

Agreed. We lose a lot of run and skills if we bring in an additional specialist ruck. Look no further than Jacobs vs Cordy in the ruck on Sunday afternoon at Etihad. Jacobs mauled an undersized Cordy but the Bulldogs midfield, half forwards and half backs ran the Crows off their feet. Toumpas and Grimes for mine.

Agree 100%!

It's not strong-arming; it's negotiation. Yes, if his manager said $650- and refused to budge or negotiate, then PJ would say 'see ya'. But a manger and a player have to get the best deal that they can from a club, and a club should pay a player what they are worth to them. Players usually get paid slightly unders to stay at their club as there's always gonna be someone offering a tempting deal. It's not offensive to ask for more money.

Perhaps I am in the minority, but I really enjoy the Rising Star award and the weekly nominations. I must stress that I find it 'enjoyable' and don't take it too seriously. I think our boys might be a bit unlucky this week; Cripps was excellent and may take it out ahead of McCarthy. Hogan and Brayshaw's value to the team is not indicated by outside accolades like the RSA, but it is a nice little nod for an up-and-commer to receive. Hogan, Brayshaw will get nominated at some stage this season and Demonland will acclaim the Rising Star Award!

A manager should be (privately and respectfully) inquiring to other clubs. He has to know the market value of the player to ensure that he is being payed appropriately by the club. Even if Howe is 100% wanting to stay at the Dees, he needs to understand his value on the market to ensure that Melbourne aren't taking him for granted. What I cannot abide is a manager playing games through the media. It is a distraction and reflects very poorly on the player who has to answer to his team mates.

Was a standout in the first quarter and set the physical benchmark for the rest of the team. I though we were looking a little slow and overawed at the start of the match - not Kent though. He's a big loss, but this has to be an opportunity seized by Michie, Toumpas, or JKH to cement a spot in the 22 over the next 12 weeks.

Hogan was hardly modelling good posture during that interview. Was slouching and swaying all over the place. Richo, like all former player/commentators was standing bolt-upright and sucking it in.