grazman

He's contracted. His brother will be coming out of contract and will be a free agent, but he is more often injured than not lately.

Tom Papley has a year to run on his contract, but there is media speculation he maybe coming back to Victoria. Articles mention the Blues, but I think Horse and Tom would be looking at the best possible deal.

What a cracking match, the standard of fielding (and catching in particular) was excellent. I Really feel for the Kiwi's today. Three crucial moments. The first was Guptil referring his LBW, I get that he didn't want to be out, but Ross Taylor would surely have reviewed his LBW (and survived) if Guptil hadn't burnt that decision. The next was when Boult caught Stokes on the boundary, but didn't instinctively throw the ball back. If he'd done this - they win. The last was the boundary off Stokes bat as he dives for the line. That's just terrible luck and absolutely nothing you can do about it. I'm still at odds with how I feel about the technology and referrals. How accurate is Hawkey, does anyone know? (particularly when it comes to spinners) The referrals were brought in to eliminate the obvious howlers, yet players will let the match situation or their egos decide when to review... the game is definitely not the same. Anyway bring on the Ashes.

I think according to the AFL rules we need to use a first round pick this year, so l think we would have to secure another first round pick before we could do that deal.

Alex Keath and Bryce Gibbs package deal for a future second round pick?

A question for those that actually watch U18 footy (not just regurgitate what they read on other sites) - Is Cooper Stephens a reasonable option for our first pick? I know he has slipped a little in thinking because he's out injured ATM, but it seems he has the attributes to still be a potential top 10 draftee.

Gus didn't participate this year because of a back injury though...

Following the seniors game plan then.

There were rumours last trade period. There's a lot of pressure on Hinkley and Port this year, another poor year and ...

I was at the game in Sydney, so I had a front row seat, so to speak, about why. He certainly has assets: tall, athletic and quick..., but he torches the ball. In years gone past I remember when opposition sides were happy to sit off certain players to allow high possession numbers in the back half because they'd always turn it back over. He's in the same boat. I actually wanted him to get the ball because he would either a) dispose of it poorly leading to a turn over, b) sell a team mate into trouble leading to a turnover or c) would take off like a headless chook without considering who to give it to next. I'm not sure what his DE% is, but i'd be surprised if it was higher than about 34%. Also for a bloke his size I actually reckon (like a lot of defenders now) he has very little idea about when to mark and when to spoil.

For the first time in a long time I look at the lineup and think that's probably how they'll start on Saturday night. I've got no doubt that I'm wrong.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics. Good sides defy history and predictions. We will put up a better showing down at the cattery. I'm not losing any sleep about going 0-2

Thanks A F, I think that is what Hinkley was probably referring to then. Clearly this wasn't helped on the weekend with so many players underdone and out of gas towards the end of the game.

I think if you had to pick out one metric to measure forward pressure then turnovers would be probably it (though - again no single metric is likely to give you a complete answer). Genuine question - do you know how we fared with Forward 50 turnovers last year?

Maybe, is tackling inside the forward 50 was the only measure of defensive effort (it is certainly one indicator of work rate)?

May will definitely come in probably at the expense of Frost or Hore. I think it's extremely unlikely KK will come in after a significant injury and only one run in the reserves. It's hard to see too many other changes being made unless they decide to bring in Preuss or Keilty to give Max a chop out as he looked well below his best yesterday. It may be an option with the smaller/narrower ground at Geelong.

On the commentary they made mention of the fact that Hinkley had primed his side to take us on that we were underdone through the pre-season due to so many players having operations etc. The most glaring deficiency yesterday was our defensive spread and is definitely the result of not having a lot of outside speed. It's why I can't see Jones being a long term option to play wing. another comment that caught my attention was Port's assessment that our forwards are poor defenders and that all Port needed to do was be patient with ball in hand and they would be able to find a way to move the ball out of defence. For those that question why ANB and Spargo keep getting games see above. For those that think that when Garlett is fit his leg speed will see him back in the side, see above. I think as others have already observed the one structural deficiency we have is a hardworking small that has both speed and a natural goal sense.

Nice idea Bob, I was considering taking mine to a seamstress and getting a couple of decades worth of scarves turned into blankets!

Absolutely should have been point, I was sitting just to the left of the goals and watched it go through. One of the few occasions I'd ever ventured to Princess Park with my best mate who is a Carlton supporter down from the country. He was dumbfounded and I had a [censored] eating grin like a cheshire cat. After copping stick all day from him about Craig Smoker I was happy to keep reminding him how 'unlucky' Carlton were!

channelling your inner Nathan Buckley!

Is that what you have heard or what you want?

It doesn't ring true though. Why put out a public statement about 'due diligence' and imply that there's a problem with the merchandise - when it's actually the price you want to pay. i.e. you're happy to take the merchandise, but this is about being a small man in a big person's world and needing to 'bend 'em over'?

But he says it with such conviction Nash, and we're only really looking to confirm our own bias in this thing after all. I choose to believe in aliens living amongst us - Jesse Hogan is an alien - there I said it!

Is it though? When I first saw it I thought it was pretty far-fetched, but it could have some substance, particularly if the real issue isn't homesickness. We have all conveniently fallen for that reasoning, but do we know it's true? With our list, it's unlikely Jesse could maximise his earnings like he could at either Freo or GCS. The Suns may offer him 6 mil over 5 years if May leaves and they load the contract appropriately (apparently the Freo offer is 4.5 mil over 5 years). God knows with the loss of Ablett and now Lynch they need some sort of drawcard to get the few fans they have to turn up to home games, it ain't going to be Lachie Weller. All this may or may not tempt Hogan (no pun intended), but I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility. I could completely understand if Jesse and his manager may not want to ever speak to Freo again after what's gone on (again based on the assumption they were blind-sided by their churlish tactics the way everyone else was)

With Dayne Beams now wanting to go back to the Pies I smell a complicated four way trade involving him Hogan, Neale, Tom Langdon and picks involved.