John Demonic

We could use him once every 4-6 weeks to take out the opponents best player?

Wouldn't you need to package a player like Garland or Michie with the 2017 first rounder to GC/GWS for that low first round pick. What's the incentive for them to pick swap?

What I mean is there are no rumours of us chasing anyone except Hibberd, who isn't that greatly needed. Roos says we need elite talent and we're passing on everything available so far. I could be wrong and this club just doesn't leak who they're chasing.

I know what you mean. Everyone is so picky. The Tyrone Vickery thread is full of disparaging NO's : All it says is people don't back their own system to get the best out of him and believe we're the same as Richmond. So they don't want Vickery, and Nathan Vardy is proposed. So WHERE IS THE NATHAN VARDY THREAD? We need a match winner, but the only players on the market have threads full of NO's. Instead you've got Hawthorn head hunting him and Tom Mitchell because they believe in themselves to get the most out of those players. The real story is that 'perfect' players rarely move out of clubs, and it's up to the club to back their own system and find a player that will get the most out of themselves within it.

The pickiness of people in this forum is a joke. This is the exact player we need and you've got Hawthorn head hunting him with a long term deal because they know that it's not about umming and ahhhing about will he or won't he be worthwhile. If he's shown glimpses of his best then you BACK your own system to improve him. You either believe you're a better club than Richmond or you don't. Probably the difference between us and other clubs, they go after what they need and back themselves. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ty-vickery-offered-an-attractive-longterm-deal-to-leave-richmond-for-hawthorn/news-story/44b6301711b5a158299613e9ddf37d80

I realise my reasoning is very flimsy at best, but it would be nice to pick up a delisted player that can take a pack mark and give them another shot, assuming we can't find a suitable ruck/fwd trade in the offseason of higher value. Everyone can root for a 'rags to riches' tale. There's not much to lose except one spot on the list and a meagre salary. A creative off season signing provides one more reason to get people through the gate. I guess it depends on how valuable that list spot is, or how valuable we consider the current mature aged players we have in the VFL.

Was just delisted by Port. 197cm Forward/Ruck with a great pair of hands, could be added to our stocks for nothing. Could also keep Hogan company during their goal-kicking classes over the summer. Worth a punt? http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2016-08-30/power-makes-list-changes?camefrom=EMCL_1245029_47818037

The Dogs are now a footy factory for the rest of the league with their overloaded Tom Boyd contract

If the world ends in October 2017, then those who traded their future first round draft pick this year will have come out on top. I'd use it on Rockliff. We can look for mature leaders elsewhere but as for elite talent, Rockliff fits the bill.

We have the 2017 first round pick to use as a trade, it's just Wisebloods opinion that it's off limits when he said "we don't have it" I agree that it's not worth trading for Motlop.

From Adam Cooney's article on Mad Monday: Hibberds and Melkshams: The animals of the group, rock up feeling the effects of the night before, nude by 12, abusing everyone by 2pm and home by 6pm. Great value. 10-11am — Sit around enjoying each other’s company. Reasonably calm, eating chips and gravy and easing into a few pots (carefully avoiding your Hibberd/Melksham type operators as they’re already too far gone to interact with). http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/former-bulldog-bomber-adam-cooney-reveals-what-really-happens-at-afl-mad-monday-celebrations/news-story/ed150be1de61e772a3b110f23d078883

Apparently Mathew Boyd from the Dogs is yet to have been offered a contract for next year, pending the obvious week ahead, he could be available as a 34 year old in All australian40 form with good kicking skills and more of a strategic and defensive mindset than Boomer. What do we think? I guess it depends on whether he's seeking financial reward for his good form, or if he's desperate to play a few more years. Daniel Cross might have an opinion.

I've never said A graders are all intelligent. i said our need is both an elite A Grader AND an elite leader on and off the field, if we want to challenge for a premiership. So we should be looking to acquire a player with the intelligent attributes that make him virtually an on-field coach. If Hodge was available 5 years ago, he would have been the kind of player who was worth throwing ridiculous amounts of money at. So too Judd, Ablett, Fyfe. They're unique players in that they combine both ability and an in-depth understanding of how the game is to be played by themselves and their teammates, and so they can direct. If they're too hard to find, fine. But we certainly need more mature and intelligent leaders on the field who contribute meaningfully on game-day.

My initial point was suggesting that if we want to make that extra push up the ladder and compete for a premiership, then we need another mature and intelligent head in the team who can help lead the squad when it needs a strong voice on the field when momentum is against us. You're looking for a player that knows exactly what needs to be done, that has the same eyes as the coaches. If we're the youngest club then it goes without saying that we've got a lot of young and immature kids. I said the general trait with the elite players and leaders is that they're pretty well spoken and their thought process is clear. Fyfe, Dangerfield, Ablett - They're all intelligent and mature people. All I'm saying is if we're trying to bring in an elite player then make sure he's an intelligent person off the field as well as on the field. Sam Mitchell is not dumb, he's a fast thinking player that assesses multiple options instantaneously and generally chooses the right move. And when you hear him speak off the field, he explains quite clearly how the game played out. I also stressed that that there are exceptions, but i personally think that the absolute elite players are also very intelligent people who assess and make the right decisions at the crucial moments and move to the right place with or without the ball. Chris Judd is another example. It's common knowledge that Viney is going to be captain very soon and I just made the case perhaps too bluntly, that he's too young and has not developed a great understanding of the game yet. He's one of those players who while answering questions on point, still repeats a lot of cliche's in interviews and seems far away from being the kind of elite player who will consistently perform at an elite level. If Roosy said we're missing an A Grader, then I think what he meant was our very own Judd in the making, or Dangerfield in the making. The kind of player the entire club and the outside media gravitates towards. A marquee player who is the voice and soul of the club on and off the field. Maybe Max Gawn can develop into that player or Petracca down the line. TL;DR Recruit an elite player who you can see being a coach or the kind of thinker that wouldn't look out of place in the commentary box doing special comments, if you want a player/leader that will help challenge for a premiership. Hodge and Riewoldt both provide insightful analysis into the game while commentating, so recruit a player with as in depth an understanding as they have or a player you see with that potential in them because that's the kind of leader you want at the clutch. Hogan for Fyfe anyone?

I knew the minute he was drafted by the Hawks that he'd be their next Spangher and he'd be playing in September. It's an awful kind of vindication when Clarkson selects one of your discards. Oh what? Clarko wants him? Can we take him back? Donkeyness aside, he had a bit of 'cult figure' to him. He could clunk some good pack marks. Was actually one of my favourite players when he played, purely for his uniqueness. But such is the price you pay when you play Tunnel Ball with Paul Roosy's heart

Hodge like Judd, is an insightful commentator on sunday footy and Mitchell is well spoken and reads the play better than everyone, just because they're thugs doesn't make them unintelligent. Hawthorn have won 3 premierships on the back of their intelligent performances that came from reading the play in a sweeping role and midfield clearance role. Vineys performance this week and last reiterates my point, he needs more years to develop his understanding of the game so he has the class to match someone like Dangerfield or even Cripps. Until then we should look at drafting an elite player with a good understanding of the game that has mature leadership attributes that can help us quell the damage from opposition momentum. Bernie Vince is another example of a player who has been playing dumb lately and not providing adequate on field leadership.

Hawthorn the only team in the top 4 to be playing at their home ground this weekend It's their reward for scraping in with 2 minutes to go in round 23 and having a percentage that's 30 points lower than everyone else. The only good thing to come of it is the first week of the finals look far more competitive without adel at the scg or gws at the mcg

No Fitzy No Hawthorn Collingwood really didn't deserve to be in it when the Collingwood player disabled Fitzy in the goal square and they took a mark and kicked a goal.

Pick 27 Feels so dirty

FITZY

What was it that Lake or Lewis said? They put the 3 umpires names and pictures up on the board every game and some of the players say 'hello Ray, how's it going?' etc. I think he said they do everything they can to get an edge.

Are Essendon barracking for Collingwood so they get pick 26 for Hibberd instead of 27? Nah mate, we're all united in our hatred for Hawthorn

The Dogs really have no reason to exert much energy if the AFL aren't scheduling their home final at Etihad