Gator

Be honest, there wouldn't be one reason you'd accept. For you there is no excuse, so why ask for a "reason" when there's not one you'd tolerate ? GWS lost to lowly Melbourne in round 23 last year and should've made the GF this year. That capitulation at Etihad had no bearing on their 2016. The Bulldogs lost to lowly Freo, who had 3 wins coming into the match, in round 23 this year and are about to play in the GF. Point being ? Don't get so fixated on one match, especially when that match meant nothing and the team was on average younger and more inexperienced than any other for the bulk of the year. It's called "young weary bodies with nothing on the end of it getting a belting". But that excuse won't cut it for you so why ask ? I know the 2 examples I just gave weren't by 100 points, which will be your sticking point, but the magnitude of the loss means nothing in the scheme of things. The next worse loss was by 55 points against Sydney, so we had one 10 + goal hiding for the year and beat Hawthorn in the process. A side that beat us by 105 the year before. That 105 loss now means nothing. And nor does round 23 against Geelong.

Hogan would be offered $1 mil by multiple clubs if he was on the market.

You were wrong, but not by a lot. He played 5 more games. Stu and some others must be flabberbasted (sic).

Thanks, as I suspected. It wasn't Hogan's management being quoted at all. And I wouldn't read much into McLure's comments, which may just mean we're not close to a decision. Never, I repeat never, trust a poster's version of what they heard on the radio or tv.

It was a silly question. He can't play forward, so we have no need for him and he wouldn't want to come to a club with the resident AA ruckman. As I said, start thinking before typing.

Lobbe wants to be a number 1 ruck. Why on earth would he come to a club where that clearly won't happen ? Think things through a bit better.

Unfortunately I didn't hear it and I have no faith in people reporting what was actually said. When you say Hogan's management said "it was so far from the truth" I'd bet your life that that wasn't said verbatim, but more the interpretation of your fertile mind. I suspect they did laugh it off and just said nothing has changed.

He kicked the same amount of goals as Watts this year (38) yet you consider that "not playing" ? Imagine if he didn't turn up fat in the preseason. So there is the issue of discipline. But he's a high quality talent. If the club is interested I'm interested, because his talent is unquestionable.

As for Motlop... Apart from Dangerwood and perhaps Caddy the Cats don't have an abundance of contested ball winners. Motlop is outside, but in a team full of contested ball winners (Tyson, Viney, Jones, Oliver, Vince, Brayshaw, Petracca) I reckon Motlop could be the icing that's missing. In 4 of the last 5 years he's kicked at least 26 goals. We only had 3 players kick over 26 this year and 2 last year. Only Hogan kicked more than Motlop in 2016. I'm not sure why some are quick to dismiss him. He may just fit better in our side than the current Cats' side.

Hunt - I like him off half-back and don't want to move him. I suspect he plays better behind the ball and I want him to develop into our Johannisen. Harmes - Needs to improve his footskills to ever be a damaging outside player. JKH - I quite like him, but the jury is well and truly out. You don't not draft a player because Kennedy-Harris is on your list. Salem - No outside speed. Salem will be a gun and has arguably the most class on the list, but I don't see a line-breaking outside role, which is what we need. Stretch - Billy boy is the closest thing we have to outside class and I like him, but his pace is good without being express. We can do with more outside class than just Stretch. Melksham - Should provide some of what we lack, but is still a little unknown after a year out.

It's more to show what can be done, not what will happen. We have as much innate talent as the Bulldogs with a better balance across the field. They don't have a Gawn or Hogan and while they're managing without that type of key position talent they'd love to get their hands on them. Our list is evolving very nicely and the Dogs show what is possible with the right development and player buy in.

He interests me. I know he's inconsistent, but he's the right age with 112 games under his belt. Can be an absolute match-winner on his day and kicked 44 goals one year and 38 this year. He's just the outside class we need.

Agreed. The club knows we have genuine talent already on the list and is once expecting to mainly build through the draft. We have an exciting group on a journey together within the same age bracket. Hibberd and Melksham will help the age profile. I think the list is in far better shape than some supporters envisage.

Not withstanding being inhibited by all of the club's woes I reckon Grimes was also a victim of a changing game. Early in his career he was rock solid across half-back where he was strong overhead, read the play well and played within his limitations. One felt comfortable when he had the ball in hand and he was a reliable general. But as the game has evolved the back-line has become the generator for attack. Speed and bold ball-movement by foot and hand has become the backman's weapon. It doesn't suit Jack's slow and steady play. Jack was dependable and reliable but struggled to adapt to a more attacking game. As his comfort zone changed his foot skills and decision making were increasingly challenged and put under the microscope. It never suited his game. One of the few players I'll remember very fondly.

May 10, 2014 Melbourne coach Paul Roos said the final quarter was a lesson in composure for his young side. "We're still developing obviously," Roos said after the match. "The Bulldogs, in terms of where they were, they're about two-and-a-half years with Brendan and we're seven games in and that probably showed tonight. "At crucial times in the game they just did those little things a bit better than we did and in the end that really was the difference. It was a terrific game, a combative game but it just shows the Bulldogs' development at this stage is a bit ahead of our development." Link http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2014/8/melb-v-wb How anyone could question the Dogs being ahead in development is beyond me.

Well it was said and I agree. It was foresight and hindsight. And it was right.

And what argument do you think you're reading. I have a solitary argument that I put forward and that is we're 18 months behind the Dogs. Do you disagree ? I've already said to another poster that there are no "guarantees" and obviously there are a multitude of factors that determine how a team develops. But as I've already asked, what "argument" do you think you're reading from my post ?

Yep. I never said there were any guarantees.

Most analysts, including Paul Roos early in his tenure, have said that the Dogs were about 18 months ahead of Melbourne in terms of their development. This is borne out when you look at recent ladder positions and average age/games played. In 2014 the Dogs finished with 7 wins and 81%. They showed the sort of inconsistency you're now lamenting with the Dees. But people forget the 2014 Dogs and only concentrate on the current incarnation. We're better than the 2014 Dogs. 18 months.

You haven't seen enough of him. Nor have I. I like his agility, smarts, and courage in the air. Don't underestimate the latter. He has AFL attributes, but not an AFL body. He needs 8 kilos, which will allow him to impact double the contests he presently does. It will help his consistency enormously. He really is a baby in football terms, but there's a lot to like.

No I don't. Kennedy is depth. At 2 clubs he's shown that he can't consistently impact games and has obvious limitations. And I just don't rate Neal-Bullen. He has an excellent tank, but horrible disposal under pressure. He fumbles, panics and makes poor decisions. If he ends up making it great, but it's my considered opinion that he won't. I hope and trust this view doesn't cause offence.

No. Silly question.

Like Neal-Bullen, he's a VFL player.

White racism or not enough black fathers ? When it comes to black American issues in the United States single parent mothers is a bigger issue than racism.

Not required. The good clubs manage their cap and players.