hemingway

Do I want Hogan to stay? Yes. At any price? No. We are heading down the road of top clubs that have to try and keep all their stars or emerging stars yet balance the books. Given the professional nature of the game and particularly player managers and indeed the attitude of the players, and in Hogans case, the go home factor a la Scott Thompson of the Crows, I think that if the Freo deal is big enough, Hogan will go. Team success and mateship is one thing but these days the dollar is the single most persuasive factor. I will be deeply disappointed if he goes but also philosophical about it and who can blame the player. Money and family comes before the club. One set of mates is replaced by another set of mates. We need to get used to the idea that we are going to lose some of our players this way. That's why the on-going task of recruiting and developing players becomes so important. Like other successful clubs, if you develop a champion team, the loss of a star becomes less important ( Franklin and Dangerfield).

We live in a third world country or one heading in that direction with a Chinese flag soon to be flying over our national capital.

Nev has been a revelation over the past two seasons. Needs to be treated fairly and equitably in regard to his contract. As with any footy club or business each player needs to be paid appropriately in regard to the contribution that he makes to the team and his importance now and in the future to team success. A balanced view has to be taken understanding that all the key players need to feel that they are being treated fairly and equitably. Other clubs may throw more money at a player so satisfying all players on money is not always possible that's why mate ship and tangible team success and finals footy becomes persuasive.

I have been missing in action for a few days, just logged on to see what's happening on this remarkable thread. it is truly remarkable and from reading the posts over recent days i am a little reassured that i am not as crazy or wacko as i thought i was. there are some true eccentrics on this thread and of course i am being polite in using the term eccentric. there is an interesting little debate in my mind as to whether posters to this thread are truly eccentric or just simply highly imaginative. all that matters is that it makes for enjoyable reading with plenty of belly laughs along the way. keep it up fellow eccentrics. you make the other threads seem so boringly sane and rational, and that is not good for anyone's health. sorry guys i could not fit bananas into this post. oops I just did. by the way the organic bananas in the area i am currently convalescing are very sweet and tasty and go very well washed down with some organic red wine. i am so full of disease that i have become a vegetarian and eat only organic bananas, fruit and vegetables. my mood is not so good however, but i am going cold turkey and expect to overcome my past carnivorous habits in 6 to 12 months. fortunately, tasty organic vegetables are much better washed down with high quality organic wine, with the occasional after dinner single malt. i am finding yoga is helping as well. who would have thought that old Ernie, the amateur boxer, fisherman, big game hunter, with a penchant for guns, women and bull fights would have got to this state. well its never to late to change. i am slowly getting accustomed to the thought that in my final years I may be supporting a successful football team. now that will be the biggest change and make for the greatest change in my mood and behaviour on wintry weekends. and of course it will bring radical change to demonland and the opinions of posters. it will become terribly boring to read posters that tell other fellow tragics how good we are. my perverse nature means that i have always despised the successful clubs and their supporters because of their born to win attitudes and arrogance. i would hate that to happen to demon supporters (understanding that we do have our share of tossers as supporters, particularly in the members stand), but hopefully the critics, sceptics and depressives will continue to post their opinions as part of their on-going treatment. and to never forget that defeat and loss is always just around the corner, like taxes and death. it always seemed the case that snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory is part of our DNA. however, we have a new gene pool of kids that do not share the old genes of past generations and actually believe success is not only possible but assured. lets hope they start reproducing soon so we will a new intake of sons of guns.

Hope your right , that's why I would like to see Spencer in the side to see how far he has progressed and whether he is the answer (as a backup)

Stop it, I am becoming aroused. Goodness knows what Biffen and Bitters will do when they view this photo. No need to visit the "adult sites" or perhaps DL should be added to the those sites. Not that I would know how to find them but I do know how to find DL. The only problem will be the Christian right and the moderators. Most of us already avoid certain threads and certain posters so the adults only thread will be no problem.

Agree Redleg, I am also wary of associating ethical behaviour with lawyers, present company excepted of course. I much prefer the representation of lawyers as depicted in Rake. I have known a few Rakes in my time.

.............and 2nd ruck to support Gawn. And not a makeshift big man or pinch hitter, but a genuine big man with skills. I like Spencer's competitiveness but he is a very clumsy and has limited skills not to put a finer point on it. It seems the two King boys are a way off. Bottom line is, if Gawn goes down we are in deep tapioca.

Fair enough

I like opinion and argument but not endlessly when there is nothing new to add. I suppose I also have some sympathy for Oscar, a first year player trying to do his best and being so heavily criticised. That's all.

OMac is becoming the new Jack Watts on DL. Those for and those against. Opinions after opinions none better or more informed than the rest. It's becoming tiresome particularly thinking that this may go for a long time. I agree with Moon, let's leave the judgement call with the FD. He is going to be retained or dropped and if he is dropped there has to be someone better to replace him. And that becomes another argument.

Great reporting folks.

Please don't make statements like that. We will be a better team on the day if we win. It's a week to week call.

Interesting insight

Agree with all those comments about the poor standard of commentary. My main bugbear is the standard of Ch 7 camerawork when most of the time the camera takes a birds eye view of the game. Now I may be aging and many think I'm dead but seriously my eyesight is not the bad. But half the time you may as well as be watching ants running around the ground. For me it has got to the stage that I can't be bothered to watch as most of the action is missed.

Good point Adam but we need to have some big backs as part of this structure as well as the Wagners and Hunts etc. Perhaps I can mitigate my comment by saying at least one mobile key position player like uhmmmmm.......Hurley. So we are in agreement after all.

North, Freo or Brissie and Sydney. But boring is very bland, I prefer the more descriptive hate....Hawks, Bombers, and probably North although there are a few competing for the Bronze medal.

Adam on this occasion I disagree we need to develop or draft some big backs. Like North Melbourne. Irrespective of our mids and forwards.

As Bruce said he has the body of an Olympic athlete. Bruce I think you have it right but for the wrong reasons!

Thanks Lucifer some clarity at last.

As does every coach.

Agree with many of these points Steve, the lack of explanation or comment from the club is frustrating given the amount of crap spun by the club about team and individual player form.

Agree he has looked overweight and also slow. Still we miss his kicking from the full back line. And given the inadequacies of our other defenders his continued omission is surprising. There can be only a few reasons. It is a policy decision that goes to the zone defence game plan that does not suit his contested game style (the most likely) or disciplinary. In a strange way I feel disappointed for him because he has been given little game time, played well enough in the twos and has been a stalwart through the horror years. His cards are clearly marked which makes his final year with the Dee's sad for the guy himself. Not the way you would want to finish and with feelings of frustration and being hard done by.

Based on what I have been told by medicos the outlook was extremely poor for his type of injury given the nature of the injury and the nature of the game. His return speaks volumes for his character and I am glad that the club has continued to support him. I am sure that Jack will be happy to take it a week at a time. Let's hope he can continue to play on a regular basis so we can see his skills and class.

Adam, always perfectly reasonable and rational. Thanks for your opinion and explanation of your opinions.