Gator

People take too much notice from practice matches played in isolation. Last week we beat a team many are predicting will return to the 8 and this week in tough conditions we found a way to win. I agree that beating a team without their first 15 place getters in the B&F is nothing to crow about. But I also know that tough windy conditions have a way of levelling teams that vary in talent, especially if you get off on the wrong foot. So once again you pick a few things here and there that impress you. Watts is going to have his best year and I'm really glad he hit the scoreboard, which is what I want to see. Oliver will be as good as Brayshaw. Oliver is better in close and Brayshaw better on the outside. Both are good in close and good on the outside. We are going to have more inside 50's and score more in 2016. Our structures are far better. Players, such as Gawn, AVB, Harmes, etc., that have been having good preseasons continue on their upward curve. And that's about it. The conditions meant we weren't great, but I'm not going to sweat over that and I also won't get much satisfaction from beating a team without their best 15 players. In 8 weeks time I'll hardly remember this match. It was virtually inconsequential.

I got the impression from Rawlings that Mitchie will be playing.

26 named, but 3 are non playing subs. Rawlings said Wagner was one of those. Not sure of the other two.

Unfair. At his AA peak he and Moloney had the highest tap/possession percentage in the league.

I'm guessing you heard Dave Colbert this morning on SEN with KB ? He stated that this should not be a celebration of the past and that Dees' fans should turn their backs on the Bombers rather than applaud a disgraceful regime.

Are you really using the Lions as the poster club for retaining talent ? Yeo, Docherty, Aish, Redden, Polec ring a bell ? Also, you're aware Zorko was coming out of contract at the end of 2016 and Hogan is coming out end of 2017 ? And you're familiar with an article in the HS last year stating "Dayne Zorko in no rush to extend his contract past 2016 as rumours of unrest persist" ? http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/brisbane/dayne-zorko-in-no-rush-to-extend-his-contract-past-2016-as-rumours-of-unrest-persist/news-story/c1e233904c88607224ff87cc8003611a How about we let things unfold...

Even Ross Lyon just admitted on SEN that the "tyranny of distance" is a major reason they can't attract talent back to WA. Who wants to put up with two x four hour flights across the Nullabor every second weekend ? Especially when your 195cm with back issues and have already missed a year of your career. And especially when past West Coast players are on record saying that the travel shortened some careers. Hogan's manager has already stated that he wants to live in Melbourne. He may leave the Dees at some stage, but it won't be to WA.

It gets old, but it stays funny.

You don't think we should welcome new draftees to the club ?

Don't cate, mate. Just giving you Thomas' view.

Grant Thomas has been bleating about them on twitter over the last 24 hours. Says they're a waste of time and should be scrapped. Says all you need are intra-club matches. Many won't agree.

Considering there's been speculation that vandenBerg is taller than his listed height I'm surprised your confused. Let's move on...

While he indeed was a partner, he no longer works at Slater & Gordon and he's not the Gordon in the title.

I'm not sure why you feel this way. He used to regularly run with his Mum to improve his endurance: Elvira, who used to run marathons, played a part in helping him improve his endurance. The pair ran many times over summer around the 10-kilometre Beasley's Nursery track near their Warrandyte home in Melbourne's north-east. "She beats me in the longer distance but she's lost her sprint," Petracca says. He also watched vision post games with his Brothers: Every Monday after a game, Petracca brings home a DVD with his match edits, and sits around the dinner table with his brothers and studies the vision. Julian and Rob play for Mitcham in the Eastern Football League but are midfielders, which Christian also wants to be. He has an upbeat personality that suggests he'd never want to let his teammates down: "He's cheeky and fun-loving. His teammates next year are going to enjoy being around him. He reminds me of a young 'Dipper'. He's happy, he's fun, he's excitable and he'll do anything for his teammates. You'd go to war with him," the recruiter says. And the reports during the off-season suggested that while others were still on holiday Petracca was busy rehabbing at the club. He's only 20, so he's on a learning curve and no doubt will have his up and down times, but everything I've read about him paints a picture that is at odds with your assessment.

Yes, it would be one or the other. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm sure it would escape many. Based on your up close experience of vandenBerg and his size, what do you think is more likely ?

I couldn't disagree more.

Yes, I've seen Goodoil make that comparison. Clearly, I disagree. Edit: I should add ... Sylvia was very talented, but a poor mid. He wasn't creative and lacked footy smarts. There's also the matter of application. We've already seen how driven Petracca is. Why Petracca can't be evaluated on his own merits is beyond me. There will always be a "Sylvia" to compare to anyone. It's a pointless exercise. We all know nothing is guaranteed.

Conflicted. The humanitarian in me doesn't like seeing his disappointing plight and the Demon in me gets some satisfaction and hopes he never plays again. I'm a Demon first and foremost.

vandenBerg was noticeably taller when standing next to Broadbent on the weekend. Broadbent is listed at 189cm. Clearly vandenBerg is taller than 188cm.

It was a silly comment that I'd expect from a half-interested supporter who rarely attends games and certainly wouldn't post on a footy forum. And I know that's not the case. Petracca is a dynamic midfielder, who most experts had as pick one. He box squats 200kg. His next senior coach told Wayne Carey he's the best talent he's ever seen (albeit from the training track). He's quick, strong as a bull, a fantastic mark and kicks 60 metres with ease. Like Dustin Martin and Ollie Wines, Petracca will rag doll the "big boys" from day one. Subject to injury he's as safe a bet as there's going around. There's a reason we bid on Heeney, who will be a star, there's a reason we bid on Callum Mills, who showed in one game he'll be a star, there's a reason we drafted Brayshaw, who'll be a star, there's a reason we drafted Oliver, who will be a star, and there's a reason we drafted Petracca. There's a reason he's favourite to win the RS even after his knee and toe. Just like we knew Hogan would hit the ground running and become a star, many view Petracca in the same light. I know I do.

You're just advertising the fact that you have zero clue about this player. If you had any understanding of his history or talent you wouldn't post what you have.

2016

None. We'll lose matches we should win and get the odd spanking, but I don't reckon there will be a team in the AFL we won't be able to beat on our day.

Pick 19.

Just reported that he's suffered another calf injury.