TeamPlayedFine39

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.

Kicked the winning point against GC too. He played terribly last year and was clearly hampered by injury, but was still so important.

In many ways Geelong's year was worse in 06. They played in the preliminary final on 04, then the semi in 05, won the preseason cup in 06 at a canter, were one of the flag favourites... then collapsed. They picked up some games later in the season, but there was not big injury issues, they just completely fell apart, lost all confidence and couldn't recover. We completely fell apart and lost all confidence, but we were also missing key personal for the entire season and never got close to our best team on the field. I see the similarities in the narrative, but it's pretty optimistic to think things could work out the same for us,. Ps. We played finals in 05 FWIW.

Yep. It’s a hit and giggle fundraiser, but they’re competitors. It couldn’t feel good that two of the most successful coaches of the last decade changed the rules so they wouldn’t be forced to pick you.

I would be looking very closely at the new Fisheman’s Bend precinct. - Plenty of Parks and Ovals - Close to the City and transport - Very few residents yet. (Will be thousands in a few years) - Port Melbourne FC already based in the area and could form a sharing relationship if necessary.

Hardwick and Longmire decided to change the selection rules that limited 3 players from each team to be selected. Hardwick reasoned that fans want to see the ‘best players’... I’m not sure that’s true. I think most fans, especially the younger ones, want to see their favourite players playing alongside the best. Going to watch Richmond, Collingwood and Geelong play against Brisbane, GWS and WCE isn’t going to have the same appeal.

Betoota..?

Really enjoyed it. - Darren Burgess inspires such confidence in the way he speaks. So engaging and assured. - Good to see Matty Whelan still involved with the club. - Harley Bennell is such a fascinating (and hopefully happy) story. Was interesting to see that he was meeting with the club alone; no manager, etc. Felt very raw and genuine.

Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Pickett debuted round one- he’s showing all the traits that Goodwin likes. Would be a shocked to see Jackson- especially it being an away game, interstate, in heat (most likely) against a battle hardened WCE.

Ban all the women! We must stop them playing sport for their own good!! Someone, please bring them all inside!!

Again, that's irrelevant. Free agents are a different case and, as has already been clarified, Sydney is not allowed to pay out Franklyn's contract early and his entire salary will be included in the cap. This is simple list management - if a players wants to quit or the club wants them out, you pay them out. I imagine if KK succumbs to his concussion injuries this year and decides to retire, do you honestly expect our club to pay out the remaining years of his contract in full or would you want to see a reduced settlement?? Jumping at shadows.

Still don’t see the issue. We paid out Colin Garland when both parties agreed to terms.

But, but... he started it!

Neeld organised an impromptu hit-out with Collingwood... was the springboard to a hugely successful season.