Chris

Some people seem to like to treat assumptions and rumour as fact. The only fact we have is that the trade has happened and we gave up pick 25. How that came about is pure conjecture of which we have no idea. Who knows, the dons may have been asking for a first round pick like they are with Carlisle, wouldn't surprise me as they are renowned for over valuing their players and not getting anything done because of it.

Harsh on Cross, served a purpose which was and still is highly valued by the club, so much so he is still there. Never undervalue his influence over the players or where the club is going. Also very harsh on Frost, the bloke did something to his toe and couldn't get on the park. Hardly a fail, but not a success yet either, too early to tell.

We could call it something like 'you've been punted'. gidit, hahahahahaha

Strongly suggested is right but it is not definitive. How do we know this to be the case, knowing Essendon they were probably after our first round pick this year and next and the first born of the current playing list. We may have beaten them down to this. No point getting angry over what we don't actually know.

Are you sure they get credit, I certainly wouldn't assume as much as the credit they would have got would have been in a continuous block. As the suspension they served actually didn't suspend them from anything I can't see it being counted as credit if the periods of suspension are not continuous. Otherwise what is to stop us from appealing his suspension (allowing him to play) until the next pre season where he trains under a provisional suspension again. If he did this for a few years he would be through the two years and in the clear.

Kent was playing some good footy this year before being injured. He appeared to have turned the corner and started to believe. That is why people rate him. If you look at the two years prior then you are right he needs to lift, the point is though that he was lifting.

Being reporting in the Hun that the Hawks are after Fitzy and due to us delisting him get him for free. If so I wish him all the best.

Bit harsh on Kent and telling the development team to lift their socks, they have done well in the 2 years they have been there. Otherwise I thought it was pretty much right.

Shifting the discussion to the works of Lennon himself, if you had gone the other way it may have got wings!

Due to the drugs?

Ok, that's enough of the Beatles puns, time to let it be.

Hopefully this magical mystery tour we are on is going the right direction!

I think they should reduce the free agency period down to five year with no restricted, if you are a free agent you are just that and should be allowed to go to the club you want. If this were to come in then the trade off for the players is that they have to give up the right to veto a trade. In other words, if a player has served less than five years they can be traded anywhere at any point, if you have served your five years you get to choose. Seems fair both ways and gives the clubs some power in what their list looks like. At the moment the players have their cake and are enjoying eating it.

Never heard of the bloke as I don't listen to much radio, but it is not me.

I was impressed in the GWS game and one of NT games, I think port, when we were being slaughtered he seemed to be only one who was desperate and winning one an ones in the backline. Certainly saved a for more goals on this occasions. Agree though that his rebounding would be great if it was like it used to be.

I counted half way down with the cars side by side, and accounted for gaps as well.

Do you get the road rage because all the road name signs are missing an 's'?

I got 50. there are a few empty, but 50 sounds about right. The bigger question is why have a 50 lane highway that filters into about 5 lanes after the toll both. That's about as smart as Andrews' western link to the top of the city!

Hogan was double teams pretty much the entire year this year, rarely saw him in a one on one. Having a player like Dixon would create headaches for the opposition because he would be in a one on one if Hogan is double teamed and vice versa. And if they do have the defence to stop the two of them then we could have a Pedo or Watts as a third tall running a muck on the fourth best defender from the opposition (the first three will be on Hogan and Dixon). We need another tall forward to remove pressure from Hogan, Dixon could be that. Hawthorn seemed to work pretty well with Bud and Roughy running around.

Which parts a wrong? He is best 22, has been for years and still is. Just look at the b&f results. You also say he adds no leadership, this ignores the different types of leaders there are and the different personalities that respond to different leadership. I am someone who doesn't respond at all to the ra ra bum slapping BS that goes on in football teams, it is a massive part of why I stopped playing. I suspect Garlo is the same. I respond to the quiet thinking types who can offer some sort of wisdom through intellect. There would be players in the side who are the same. Garlo may well be able to offer this and provide a quiet guiding hand rather than the loud obvious leadership often on display. In terms of culture, I am not sure how having someone committed to helping the club above all else could possibly be seen as a bad thing. Commitment to the club should be paramount above all else, that is what he has shown.

Is a great way to go about it too, builds sustained success and a good culture. The club are constantly on about a period of sustained success, no flash in the pan crap. The wait may be longer but the rewards should be greater.

Depends on the time frame you are talking about. Garland certainly wasn't talking about next year, he was talking about our young players being in a premiership, that could be 8 years away. The point he was making was clear that up until now the club hasn't been going anywhere near a premiership and didn't have players that were upto it, but now it is on the right path. If we aren't talking about a premiership in the life of our current young players then what the hell are we doing even playing.

Couldn't care less what Hawthorn supporters think and also couldn't give a stuff about how they retain players. They are at a different point in their development and can handle things very differently. Your way of thinking where you throw a bloke out who clearly loves the club and will do what ever it takes for the club is damaging to the culture of the club. He is AFL standard, he has finished well in B&F for the last few years, he is clearly rated by the club yet you would prefer him either gone or on a one year contract where he would be available as a free agent at the end of next year, and then the year after, and then the year after. He is also one of the few footballers who appears to be somewhat intelligent and articulate, people like that are generally very well respected and very effective leaders without all the fanfare or boys club rubbish that goes on. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he is very well thought of by the group and if the young boys especially listen when he speaks. Glad you aren't in charge.

It appears I was wrong, no huffing and puffing and no running and hiding, just a well considered response. Who woulda thought! I think his quotes go to show what many of us have seen in him in that he bleeds for the club and would do anything to see us succeed, I think he has been a bit bogged down in the last couple of years purely due to the weight of trying to carry the team up the ladder. We now have people to help so hopefully he does rise up again and capture some of the 2013 form back.

The question now is will stevetheman jump up and down and yell about how this is a massive mistake and how Garland is a spud or will he slip quietly into the night? I for one am over the moon Garlo has signed on, especially after the quote outlined above.