TeamPlayedFine39

Wait and see - but if the reports are accurate, then it certainly sounds like McDonald's 'possible hot-spot' is on the minor side of things. If they are indeed going to have him back into full running next week, and that's the conservative approach, then its probably not time for wrist slashing just yet. And the article is right when it states that missing some training and possibly round one 'pales into insignificance weighed up against losing him for much of the year.' Fingers crossed.

Source? (Posted as I posted) Big news.

Thanks for the reports. How’s Weid looking? Is Spargo up on the Flank/Wing or playing deeper?

Agreed. Clubs no longer build into the season like in years gone by, they need to be hitting their straps round 1 or else you could end up like Sydney last year. Hopefully we can get a look at Spargo, Baker, Petty and co.

I wouldn't want to be his first-up opponent in the VFL...

I have a feeling Viney's gonna get up for round one... FB: JETTA O.MCDONALD . HIBBERD. HB: LEWIS . LEVER . HUNT . C: SALEM . JONES . HARMES . HF: PETRACCA . T.MCDONALD . MELKSHAM. FF: GARTLETT . HOGAN . HANNAN . Foll: GAWN . VINEY . OLIVER . Int: BRAYSHAW . VINCE . NEAL-BULLEN. TYSON. There's obviously a question mark over Viney and possibly one over Lewis. I've left out Fritsch, but he's breathing down the neck of Hannan, ANB and Harmes. Geelong is one of the few teams with a genuine gorilla power forward in Hawkins. In know we have a zone defence, but I'm concerned there isn't a big bodied defender to anchor that zone. Wouldn't be shocked to see Frost line-up for round one. Emergency/unlucky: FRITSCH, FROST, PEDERSEN, MAYNARD, BUGG, STRETCH

There was a thread on Robbo last week, now one on Blighty. If we're going to start a new thread every time a commentator casts doubts on our finals credentials, we're going to fill the main board pretty quickly when the predictions start coming thick and fast over the next two weeks. The fact of the matter is, as good as our list is shaping up, the eight is going to be very, very tight this year. There are strong, young up-and-coming teams, there are declining powerhouses with some strong top-up talent. I think we'll make the lower half of the eight, but it's going to be tight - and I can certainly see why people think we may miss out again. We're sound a little bit needy for affirmation...

He was their most important player last year and is a huge loss to them. I think his presence inflated their win/loss ratio and covered up a lot of gaps in their list. He the one that’s always worried me.

Gonna be a very interesting R1 22. I have absolutely no idea.

Great signing! I know Fritsch is all the rage at the moment (and rightly so) but I think half-forward is Hannan's to lose at this stage.

I assumed that all of the GWS stars were receiving well under their market value to keep the core group together. This is a lot of money to give to Toby Greene.

Terry Wallace said much worse than that about what he did at Richmond in 2007. Tanking is over now any anyways - the AFL and the media fixed it!

My point exactly. NFL has huge issues with player concussions.

How’s it working out for NFL players..?

The only one that springs to mind was the Ricky Petterd dropped mark in the goal square with 1 second to go against Collingwood in 2010... coulda-shoulda-woulda.

Good luck on your search! May I ask why that particular game??

And a couple of nasty hamstring injuries.

I wouldn’t say Dusty is a ‘feisty little mongrel’.. he’s brutal, imposing and sublime. Doesn’t seem to give a lot of yap out on the field at all. Doesnt really matter anyway- I made the comment before the footage was released. Clarry’s indiscretion was not feisty, full of mongrel, brutal, imposing or sublime... it was nothing.

What..?

He was still the highest possession winning midfielder on the ground. He may not be worth the trouble of tagging if he keeps racking up the stats like that...

I think the 3 you've mentioned here are huge surprises (to me, anyway). They're more than just 'role-players'; their footy smarts and unique skill-sets are very damaging. ANB's vision and awareness, Melksham's zone breaking left-hoof and Harmes' attack on the ball and man, open up many options in and leading into attack. You need this kind of left-field improvement to be a successful side. I thought, with a bit of luck, ANB could develop into a handy inside mid. He is now a genuinely dangerous half-forward who reads the play, find space and creates for those around him. Full credit to him and the coaching staff!

He's a feisty little mongrel. I love it! (umpires don't)