TeamPlayedFine39

Thought he looked very promising; perhaps not pushing for early rounds, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a debut at some stage this season. He's a great athlete and has completely transformed physically - an exciting prospect.

What's more, we have to start the season at full fitness to try to get the jump on WCE and GWS, who have had less preparation time and, in WC's case, injuries to key players over the preseason. All of the top 4 from 2018 started sluggishly in 2019, hopefully we can take advantage of playing two very good teams early, whilst they're a few weeks off their best football.

His best football is played off half-back, but he hasn't been back of center for three years. A bit like Fritsch playing in defence, the coaches have looked at his skillset and have been playing him out of position to fill a need. Would like to see him breaking lines of half back again.

Sadly, hindsight tells us we had two chances to take Kelly as he was a close runner-up to Hogan in the 2012 mini-draft. Oh well! If we had of taken Cripps at pick 9, we’d now be hailed as geniuses. The GWS trade was a good move at the time IMHO.

It’s all a bit... nice. Lots of smiles, lots of open space. Yes, it’s for a very worthy cause, but if it’s to be played again same time next year, it’d be great to see Vics vs WA or SA.

Let’s hope GWS never get a ruckman. Great goal.

Nup. Delist and re-rookie.

Thanks for the reports. What position is Spargo playing?

Agreed. If interstate clubs kick up a stink, let’s settle the matches by a coin toss. 50/50 for an interstate match are very good odds!

He has either: 1) Not watched a single episode of ‘To hell and back’. 2) Refuses to acknowledge that he jumped the gun with his criticism and has a problem with the title, not the content. Weirdly though, Cornes in his media role has consistently rated the Dees- I think we were his premiership tip last year and he was all over us in 2018.

Yes, we’re a long way behind where the eagles are, but with that said, every club is. Some serious money in that organisation.

I'm experiencing it right now in Hong Kong. Been working from home since the start of Feb and wont be back until at least the 20th of April. Quite surreal.

Yes, but being part of the Fremantle Academy, living in Western Australia and (seemingly) being a Freo supporter... all signs point to him and Fremantle agreeing to father/son.

Yes, but Freo, I believe, will have the right to match any bid on draft night - we won't have that opportunity. (If he and Freo make a father/son agreement prior to the draft.)

He gave away free kicks in only 5 games last last year and didn't give away any in his most recent two. Free kicks in only 5 out of your tiny sample of 7. You are cherry picking and reaching for negativity that isn't there. When you look back at Neville Jetta's career, "lucky" wouldn't even be a small part of the story. He has earned everything that has come his way and deserves to play representative football, to go with his Australian guernsey. I suggest you find another sport to follow; football clearly brings you no joy.

I don't buy the idea that we must be within spitting distance of the MCG; even if that is the Club's stance, it certainly doesn't necessarily make it right. Hawthorn, moved from their spiritual home at Glenferrie to Waverley where they've enjoyed great growth and success. Next move is to to Dingley, again, nothing to do with Hawthorn and its history, but is ultimately the right thing to do. Essendon couldn't get the Windy Hill Lawn Bowls club to bend over for them, so they left their spiritual home and headed to a new base in Tullamarine. Collingwood left Vic Park, which was not a popular decision at the time and Fremantle move from Sth Freo oval to Cockburn. Brisbane have moved from Brisbane to Springfield, even GWS is out in Blacktown, miles away from their home ground. Some people are seeing this issue as stubbornly as the MFC saw professionalism in the 70s.

The players seem to love him. Every one that was interviewed on Saturday gave him a big wrap.

A quick google search shows that he is well and truly a Fremantle recruit in waiting. (assuming, of course, he is good enough)

Too short. Pass!

Weid is reminding me a lot of Gawn prior to his break out game against Geelong. Reads the ball, gets to the rights spot, beats his man... does all of the hard stuff... drops the ball. In the space of one match, Gawn changed that and hasn’t looked back. I’m backing Weid in and thought that for a player playing a long way from his position, he carried himself well today.

Lid’s off!

Don't agree with this. I think Viney deserved another year at full fitness to keep his role. He was an overwhelmingly popular choice for captain initially (especially on Demonland), is a Best and Fairest winner and has been playing on one leg for two years. Reading through the old threads, the majority were calling for him to be sole captain not so long ago. I think we've forgotten how good a player he is when fully fit and his performance in the Geelong final was exceptional. Gawn will make a fine captain and has developed into an excellent leader. However, dropping a captain is a very big deal and would have to have a massive impact on Viney, who essentially hasn't done anything wrong, asides from carrying injury. I have no issues with co-captains; I don't think it signals anything outside of sharing the workload, especially the huge time demands outside of playing and training.

True, but 21 goals from 21 games and goalless in one third of them isn’t a great return for a full time small forward. There aren’t too many that currently have him in their best 22 and it seems to be the consensus opinion on the football world that small forward is our weakest position. Dont get me wrong, I love him, but the best football of his career has been off half back where he was one of the most exciting young prospects in the league. To me, he’s never looked entirely comfortable forward of centre. But of course, that’s one persons opinion.

Am surprised to see such a strong squad- the build of our best 22 is there, so hopefully we’ll see some good connections. Great to see AVB, Smith, Tomlinson and Langdon in/back in the red and blue. Hunt is a bit of a worry if he’s not cracking the preseason squad. Always been a fan but has looked lost for the last two years.

Sadly, I agree with Eddie. As I said on the previous page, the Port Melbourne homeground is currently nestled in the middle of the Fisherman's Bend development. Plenty of space, current football presence, few residents to offend or object and soon to be home to many thousands of people.