Tall Timber

Did some light reading from 2009. Appears he was a silky outside midfielder with sharp skills and great hands but on the downside he was soft, bit slow and lacking defensively. That seems to fit in with how a lot of Dons supporters see Jake today. I'll trade him in but for a cheese sandwich at most.

If Jake picks Melbourne, it's advantage us in trade negotiations, so at least we won't have to overdo it to get a deal done. I have no idea on his ability or his competitiveness as an AFL player, though. Enlighten me.

He wasn't given a role to play this year, and his prancing run-and-carry off half back looked downright stupid. For all those reasons on the field he was utterly worthless to Melbourne this year.

Viney fixed himself. It comes back to that 'competitiveness' thing - the willingness to improve yourself as a footballer - which keeps getting talked about among the younger players at the club. It'll become, hopefully, the nexus between these players in a successful Melbourne team for the years ahead. If Freeman ain't got it, he ain't got it. We can try but he's gotta help himself first. As for an offer, well, he's gotta nominate us first, otherwise I reckon our first-round pick will get involved in a complex deal, and I don't want that.

He already did - last year, when the AFL 'approved' our request by awarding rolled-gold compensation for Frawley.

It's a $700,000 offer according to Jon Ralph, and GWS have formally announced they have rejected manager Colin Young's approaches for a trade to take place. There's your Hogan money it seems. For now.

I'm surprised he would say that. In suburban leagues you have two-to-three 2-hour training sessions plus some time in the weights room. But those guys have jobs, careers and families. Footy basically works around their lives. And here's the kicker: they get paid something like $100-300 a game ?? Compare that to an AFL footballer. Good ones get paid $300,000 a year to do what they do. So what should they expect ?? Go out on the track every day, run and kick a footy, review the past week, prepare for the next week, and go home ?? Nup. First and foremost - this is their 9-to-5 job.​​​​​​ They should be grateful a lot of the time is spent in fresh air (and sunshine ... depending on where you play). The issue is finding that *clears throat* 'work-life balance'. And they don't really get that in AFL. Because once they put their bags in the car and drive off from work, what they do when they get home is also being monitored to an extent - what they eat and drink, how they sleep, how they move their bodies etc etc. Is it any wonder some players need that release from the game by going to such lengths as taking recreational drugs ?? Being an AFL footballer is not for everyone - you're spot on - and that's what we need to look at when it comes to Bennell.

Long-term we don't. Which is why I'd move heaven and earth to get Dixon here on a big contract.

I think he's a perfect fit for them.

No disagreeing with you there. But money talks. We'll get something good but we'll have to give up plenty for it.

I want Dixon over any Gold Coast mid - all day, every day.

The reality is AFL players get treated like royalty at bars and clubs. They get served coke and women on a platter. There's bound to be a few (read: a lot) who just can't control themselves. See Franklin, L.

Fair enough. Must be my eyes playing tricks. Appreciate opinion but people get on the defensive too easily in here. Juzz - I don't have the time nor the interest to look at draft combine stats or whatever. I have a job, a life. I enjoy footy as leisure. I'll let the Dees recruiters do the research, thanks. :-)

JKH has more pace and burst speed than Garlett. Who on earth is disputing JKH's speed ?! That's not his issue. He simply chooses when to use it, which is a common problem among a few too many on our list. His attack on the footy is soft - whether it be to dispose of or to collect the ball. I saw it yesterday and I saw it in our last brilliant MCG win (?). He loves to run and he knows he's quick - see when he chased after the ball in a match race on the wing yesterday. It's no different to Howe loving to mark and slot goals in difficult places. We just have to make complete footballers out of talent. That's up to development. They're not always going to make it happen because some players simply can't change themselves. So be it - out the door you go.

Howe has some special party tricks but plays the game when it suits him. If he had Petterd's defence inside 50 (who was influential in that area) he would be a top-5 player. That's the long and short of it. Clearly they're trying to instil a two-way brand of footy in him by playing him back but he's not buying in enough for mine.. Out.

That is the benchmark number I had in mind. Club said finals - which is 12-to-13 - but I think we'll fall short of that thanks to inexperience creating silly losses.

Jack's been a fascinating case study for us - for everyone - since day dot, so a wildfire discussion was bound to happen. Since last night I've changed my tune and don't think there's a crackpot theory behind this. It's the last round, yes, but I don't think the coaches see it that way - where everyone is winding down. Matt Jones got dropped, too, and Jamar doesn't get a 'farewell' game. Big deal. If Jack becomes trade bait, I'm all for it - he's been fattened up for sale this year if that's the case.

I've seen Gawn dominate the ruck a couple of times this year but not to our advantage. That's just inexperience IMO. This Sunday might be no different and when the ball drops to ground I know where my money's going. Especially if Chunky's on one foot.

By the club. And what do you mean ? Beamer was B&F and A-grade in 2010-11.

If he passes a thorough medical and we buy low based on his knee history, why the hell not ?

Gramps needs a warm milk and bed, methinks.

He's the classiest player on our list. But he doesn't use it enough, nor consistently - or does the hard stuff. Roos has eked out a useful season from him - made him look good - and it's time to sell high.

There's more to this. Has to be.

The only reason he should leave Adelaide is for money, and why not ?? He's earned it. The only reason he should choose Geelong over Melbourne is for the 'perks' of the job - the facilities, the coaches to make him a better player - and why not ?? Geelong have their own super training base and club administration under the one roof. We're separated by the train tracks and share facilities with other sports and the general public. The family thing is merely a sweetener.

Too right. The magnitude of destruction caused by key figures post-Watts drafting -- in development, recruitment and other on-field department circles -- was unthinkable. It has practically ruined players.