John Demonic

Cross played the first eight games of 2013 before being dropped from the senior side,[9] where he played for the Bulldogs reserves side,Williamstown, before earning a recall in round 19 against Sydney. In the week leading to the final round clash with Melbourne, it was announced the Bulldogs would not renew Cross' contract, ending his 11-year playing career with the club,[10]

I thought we were the most accurate team in the comp?

I'm inclined to think we're trading like for like on this matter. Vickery and Houli have more currency across the AFL than Dawes, Garland and Trengove which shows you it's not a step backwards. They're not getting what they want out of their players and we're not getting what we want out of ours. Considering our players have no real currency than it would be advantageous to swap them for some players to see if our club CLICKS with Vickery and Houli's style of play and if our players work for them. How are we losing anything or taking a step backwards? Vickery isn't going to infect our club if he tries his [censored] act, i think we will clean him up if anything and Houli's run out of defence and leadership attributes would be beneficial for the club I think. He had a great season last year. If Garland fits into what they want, maybe something can be done in terms of his contract with Melbourne in the next 2 years. And as for Dawes the 500k man? He'd be better served over at Richmond as he is the only player that might have currency with them and Trengove they showed interest, so perhaps we could have an instant KPF/Ruck for a few years, it would be way more valuable that what Dawes is contributing right now. There are a few positions in my opinion that are available after this years draft. We should be delisting more than previous years and so it will be an opportunity to try out another clubs discards and the other club trying out ours. I didn't see Hawthorn leaving a spot empty or draft a young kid in their list instead of taking Jack Fitzpatrick

Bachar Houli hasn't re-signed. Interested? Garland + Dawes for Houli and Vickory? I'd take it in a heart beat, even throw in a late draft pick sweetener. Though maybe they're still interested in Trengove as he's now passed the foot examination and would be interested in him for Houli ? Anyway, they'll need salary cap space if they're to fit in the big fish they're trying to land. Dawes + Garland for Vickery Trengove for Houli

What is Nathan Buckley prepared to give?

He could probably teach Bernie a thing or two about getting decent purchase on a strike to the head

Why don't we again look to recruiting a 28-30 year old player like a Josh Gibson or a midfielder like Matt Rosa last year that went from WCE to GCS and giving them their last few years at our club, as an on-field leader that can help out with these qualities of composure we're lacking, But also giving us a bit more depth. It's hardly going to stretch the budget and to be quite honest, this argument that they'd be taking up a spot is not valid, i think there is one spot or player that doesn't need to be there additionally with who we delist at the end of the year. Lamumba has been sorely missing but i'm not sure he ever had enough maturity in the first place. For all the criticism i had of james kelly being shielded by a great geelong team, he's done well for Essendon this year and would have provided a year of value this year if we'd drafted him. An older mature player that have been in a successful finals team or a premiership team would probably be a very wise investment to stabilise our youth.

Yeah, a Bruce, Yze & Neitz Hawthorn re-education

As funny as that sounds, the Hogan paranoia thread is that way-----> Back to Unsigned TMAC. It's not unrealistic to assume that Hawthorn will make a play for him as he's every bit as good a defender as Carlisle. Any word out there?

Posed this Q in another thread, but: What if Hawthorn will make a big offer for him just like they did with Carlisle? What if Gibson is retiring at the end of the year and TMAC is holding out on re-signing for this reason. Who would we want from a Hawthorn trade? Equalization Woo.

I reckon Hawthorn would go after TMAC if Gibson retired. Tmac + Frawley = super defence. They'll probably swoop in with an offer at the end of the year. Would not surprise me in the least, probably why he hasn't re-signed. They went after Carlisle after all...

Nah, you'd be calling for the CHB to be traded

Should we be looking to reclaim one of our ex-players for our coaching staff to bring in some INTEL from the MelbourneHawks or are we just focussing on ex-essendon personnel? Adem? David? Cameron?

We're giving Gold Coast the win and the lower draft pick by tanking (They have our first pick) ? This is literally the lowest incentive game to ever tank. We're tanking for what? Pick 25 instead of Pick 27?

Because a player is good and has contributed much, you're not allowed to actually point out an area of his game that could improve, on this forum ? Weird attitude...

That was a 500k 50m bullet pass to ANB in the forward line

I think you're meant to go from being flogged away v west coast, to losing in a close one, before winning the next one. You don't skip the second step. Most clubs when developing, have to learn how to win close ones by losing most if not all of them. Once again, you don't just skip this step and win every close game. This club is full of children. I can't expect them to have the mindset of successful teams yet. As a 32 year old with the mindset that KNOWS how to win games from watching our club in 94,98,00, 06, these players don't have that experience, even from watching. Some players are born in 1996-1998 lol. This club is like watching a toddler taking steps for the first time. Need to fall over first.

As much as I love the way he plays when he's having a good hard crack, i can acknowledge he's a bit of an arrogant tosspot, comes with the Footy show regular territory. Every team has one though I suppose.

We'd get goals kicked on us 30 seconds earlier than when they normally get kicked on us. Because his intercept markings saves goals until 30 seconds later when its turned over and kicked over his head for a goal. Anyway, This is all confirmation bias. He had one big blatant turnover goal. doesn't mean he did it all day. Were there any more?

Pity we didn't get Parish. cue 50 page debate

I thought we'd been experimenting all year with our CHB/FB combo. There's no use having the opposition score on us unrelentingly and our two best players with two of the most developed bodies sitting in the forward line watching the ball stay down one end.

Changes v West Coast = Experiment time. How about we throw a forward in defence for a large majority of the game? Watts or Hogan. Or bring in Pedo. As they 'drop back' when theres a few minutes with a quarter to go in order to create a holding on type strategy already, Why not see how they go for a large portion of a match to provide McDonald with some extra grunt down back against the Eagles forward line. We know next year we're guaranteed to have the Salem/Melksham/Hiberd types down there, but we have no guarantee of a Hurley type player coming in, or stepping up from our youthful ranks. So we need to act now. So how about Hogan or Watts playing a defensive role all game? Free up some space for Garlett to run around in and capitalise on the work a stronger holding defence can give us?

Re: 2000 and the unlucky to have met Essendon argument. Take a look at our defence and then get back to me on whether we were unlucky. We got on a roll but we were never a premiership capable side, as evidenced by our fall-out from contention the following year. Conceding 19.21 in a GF is basically doing a Port in 07. I don't think anyone thinks Port were unlucky to have met the 07 Geelong juggernaut. I don't think Ox has much of a footing to stand on, if we magically bounce up into contention and have some luck go our way ONE year in 2017 or 2018, then we'd have achieved just as much as the OX's 2000 squad. If we don't build a solid defence and foundation then we'll be just another footnote like the 2000 side and won't be a 3 or 4 year team at the top that has a realistic chance of challenging. The OX does not know what a slow-building foundation that looks at the long-term plan for premiership success looks like. Paul Roos does. 26 Daniel Ward 27 Anthony Ingerson 44 Alistair Nicholson HB: 42 Peter Walsh 28 Matthew Collins 21 Steven Febey

Everyone defines words differently. Good, Gun, Absolute Gun, Elite, A-Grader, Great. Do I have the order correct?

46-83 2015