TeamPlayedFine39

Yes... but free agents, particularly ones from interstate, always come at a premium. Like I said, it depends on whether or not they paid 'overs' when they brought these experienced players in. If they have managed their cap sensibly, then they have nothing to worry about. If they 'pulled an Adelaide' and spent a fortune on retaining a player like Jenkins, then they might be in a bit of trouble.

It all comes down to what they paid to get Rockliff, Motlop and Watts over. They paid through the nose to get Dixon on a long term deal a couple of years ago... maybe the purse is looking a little bit tight over at PA?? It was said to be a 'low ball offer' that initially opened the door to negotiations with Lever.

He got that number from Gysberts!

This is an article from the week leading up to the Carlton match: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dons-longterm-weight-gain-brings-shortterm-pain-20120415-1x1mm.html This paragraph from another article is particularly cringe-worthy: “At the start of the 2012 pre season coach James Hird promised the playing group that they were in for their hardest pre season ever, with an emphasis on bigger bodies and overall fitness. Apart from the occasional one paragraph news article tracking the Bombers progress through the pre season we have been basically kept in the dark with the club choosing to close down most training session from the prying eyes of the media... Internally the club appears to be ecstatic about the progress made over the pre season”

Essendon put of so much press at the start of that season about their off-field program. They were boasting about how much weight and size their players had added, whilst maintaining their speed and endurance. They were hiding in plain sight.

I think the Essendon Cheer Squad even had a banner saying ‘We have the Weapon’... cringe.

I'm excited that we can draft players and talk about about not seeing them play in round one next year! We can finally develop young draftees through the VFL with, perhaps the occasional taste of senior footy, to help in their education. In the past, Petty, Spargo and Baker would be penciled into the round one team with people placing absurd expectations on them. Let them build up their bodies and knowledge and then earn their place in the team further down the track.

Never seen him play but he always seems to bob-up at the right times during the Casey gameday threads. Is there a highlights package of his kicking around somewhere??

That’s assuming that Petruccelle was ranked by Taylor and co as the next best available...

Everyone looks great on a highlights reel but he looks a good size and has some great speed and lateral movement. We tend to have some pretty close eyes on the Northern Leagues under Taylor.

Really happy for Jack! Hopefully he gets a good run at it.

"If we draft Bayley Fritsch, all our pets will become communists and our children will transform in horses."

It is what it is, and we got what we want. The onus is now on Jake and the rest of the players to ensure that next year's first round pick is as close to 18 as possible. 10 and 18 for Lever... not too bad.

Ha! This place was in meltdown, with people were prepping their pitch-forks and torches! 24 hours later, he was declared a genius.

But if we're allowed to invent and praise achievements for players, though they have in fact not achieved that, can't we just say 'Oscar McDonald - Brownlow Medalist'???

So it would also be fair to assume that as Oscar has been a regular player in his second and third year in the AFL system, that he does in fact ‘belong on an AFL field’.

Is it possible to be a 'future' All Australian??

He was delisted today... the Crows showed him very little loyalty...

If anyone's ever wondered why so many good players have left... we're getting an insight into the reason.

I don't understand Adelaide's gameplan here... the best thing that can possibly happen for them is if Lever says he's willing to possibly consider a different Victorian club to get his old club a better deal. Any chance of any good faith from the Lever camp is now shot to hell by the aggressive attitude of every official and players who comments have been made public. If they ever wonder why quality players are leaving their club, look to their attitudes and player relationships.

Because, despite appearances, he was deceptively strong and incredibly well balanced.

Agreed, he's moved off the ball and has his approach blocked - that gives the impression he is out of position. If it's still happening in a year or two, then we have real issues. He's a junior player on the list - he needs to fill out.

Draft predictions are never accurate this far out. I remember people salivating a year early over the 'certain' 1,2,3 of Scully, Lucas and Butcher.

Well, don't i look the fool! I guess the point i was trying to make is that I wonder what we could down grade our pick 10 for this year and what could we get in return. Would make a two first rounder trade a lot better for us.

My bad. I would hope, for equality's sake, it would take more than pick 16/17 to get a player of Stringer's quality- especially whilst under contract.