grazman

The Northern RooDees...

I meant delisting - but same, same.... as for Warnock.... D'ohhhh. If he wasn't worth a game this year (yes I know he played one match) he won't be next year.

I had a little chuckle to myself when Jakovich or some other commentator said that the other day....

Warnock and Neville absolute Montys. Ferg won't survive.

Anyone want to take any bets on whether he keeps Miller and tries to turn him into a Dean Wallis type enforcer?

This is yesterday's speculation.If it was going to happen it would've been last year, when he was coming out of contract. He's re-signed with the Roos for three years and has expressed his happiness there.

I'd love him to play for us, but the reality is he will probably sign on for the rumoured 1Mil + a year for West Coast on a long term deal. I hope he does before the silly season anyway or the rumours will just be out of control.

Another player we were very keen on, but never got the opportunity to draft.

I should've added Garland to that list as well, many may not have seen it from his limited time in the seniors, but the whispers are the boy is quietly developing into a useful player.

I think he has, he has shown that he has excellent awareness, he has pace, is a reliable kick and has courage... but then I tend to see things differently to others. I think along with Riv and Petterd he can provide the class we need down back. Most of the phantom drafts I read had him rated as a first round pick. It's also well known that West Coast wanted him and would have taken him with their first pick, I don't think he was that much of a shock.... it's just for some reason people preferred the big footy appraisals of Sellars as opposed to Jim.

Disagree, Key forwards are hard to find. The only question is whether we think he is worth more than what is being offered.

Only one more game to go and the end of the year can't come quickly enough. Saturday's game was again demoralising, but there is genuine cause for optimism and here's why. 1. Our Younger players are progressing... Dunn has become a very handy run with player, also capable of playing tall down back if necessary. His, height, skills and new found aggression are a revelation and he is growing into a solid onballer capable of not only stopping an opponent, but roosting long goals. Newton has blossomed since his inclusion, still not racking up huge numbers, but has good hands, a long kick and his work rate is fantastic. Bell, Bate and Jones have had fantastic years and are the nucleus of the side going forward... all are tough, all put their head over the ball and all show genuine leadership. Throw in Bartram, Rivers, Frawley, Petterd, Moloney, Sylvia and McLean and there is no shortage of talent or courage in the new core of our list. If we have been lamenting over the last few years a genuine mental resilience and hardness at the ball, it has been addressed. 2. We will have a new coach in 2008. There's no reason our list that for the large proportion of 06 sat in the top four couldn't again with a rejuvenation and reinvention - a rebuilding of confidence. Like the Saints this year, and what the Hawks and Cats have shown, fortunes in footy can turn around very quickly if you have a solid process based on work ethic and attack at the footy. I don't understand why we abandoned our 2006 game plan, but hopefully many of our players have remembered what can be achieved by playing a hard physical brand of footy. 3. Yes we were smashed on the weekend, and OK the Dockers were missing potentially five starting players, but considering that we were missing five starting backmen: Rivers, Bell, Whelan, Wheatley, and Bartram - as well as Bate, Davey, Petterd, Moloney, McDonald, Frawley, Holland, and Yze. Even conservatively that's more than half your best 22. Many of these have already started their recovery for 08, meaning that with a change in fortune we will have more players fit and ready to start the preseason. 4. As well as a new coach, the off season gives us the chance to address problems with our list. Obviously some players will retire and some may be delisted, some may even be traded, maybe even personal favourites. It's a strange time of year with mixed emotions, but I look forward to adding some genuine talent to the list through the trade and drafting process. 5. The draw - I can live in hope that we'll get a better one.

Agree. I think he will be the player that Essendon wanted Kepler Bradley to be. I didn't really take much notice of the people that were bagging him. CAC picked him and that was enough for me. Both Sellars and Riewoldt may be good players, but Frawley has shown enough to suggest he will be very, very special.

I can't believe no one has commented on Dunn.... did I miss something. He tagged Haselby and gave him an absolute bath. The Dockers weren't happy about it and were into him at every stoppage. Too his credit he didn't take a backward step and actually dished a bit back. He had 13 possessions to Haselby's ten... which considering how often he get's the ball in other games is a massive step forward for us finding another run with player (and one who can hit team mates lace out) I thought he was one of our best. I've been massively undewhelmed by CJ this year.... he had some blinding moments in the game, but he goes missing for very long stretches... I was a big rap because he has skills, size and pace.. he should get one more year, let's hope he develops some consistency. Newton was again very encouraging, the other forwards could learn a thing or two about second and third efforts from Juice.

I imagine most of us would hope this is the last year we ever want us to lose a match rather than win one.

Like I said before - you're getting hung up on the words... he stopped and propped directly in front of his opponent... he caused the contact - he wanted the contact. Everyone that's ever played the game knows what Baker did wasn't simply blocking an opponent. I wouldn't put too much store on the fact they believe his version of how it happened, what they clearly don't believe is why it happened.

Huh? Farmer had his face caved in fifty metres off the ball. That's a pretty good fact to start with.

Serve the boys all a very dodgy curry the night before!

I'm pretty sure the AFL Tribunal works on the balance of probability and not beyond reasonable doubt... but anyway to answer your point... It was clear there was contact between the two players - Baker admitted he initiated the contact. The ball was fifty metres away and Farmer broke his nose and was heavily concussed. Any reasonably prudent person would understand that the actions of Baker have caused unnecessary and dangerous contact and as a result tarnished the reputation of the game. Courts of law often rule on murder cases (ie Falconio) where a victims body is never found, but some things are safe to assume even if they aren't directly observed. IE. Baker sniped Farmer off the ball.

I've had plenty of players and coaches over the years tell me the same thing. "If you really want to hurt someone, hit them when they're not looking" There's no point in arguing around the fringes... Occams Razor is the best test. Baker deserves his punishment.

I just wonder given Sheeds stated desire to coach for another five years before retiring whether it is possible to have a long term understudy. Maybe in three or four years time (like Freo appointing Harvey for Connolly) but now would be a big call. Regardless I reckon Sheeds would attract some pretty good potential assistant coaches... which we'll need - because I can't see Kev doing much of the leg work.

Agree. Essendon players can do it and it has no real impact, because the brand is big enough to sustain the damage. We aren't. That aside my major concern is supposedly professional footballers who continually engage in activities that are prejudicial to performance. Alcohol is widely known to impact of fitness and recovery. I'm certainly not saying they shouldn't be able to have a couple of quiet beers, but really their managers should be doing the right thing by them and sitting them down and asking what sort of reputation do they want when they retire.... is it enough to have played maybe a hundred odd games at a couple of clubs? Reliable judges tell me that Col will be some sort of player when he gets a full preseason under his belt.... that aside I'd rather see him working his butt off like other players doing everything in his power to be the best he can be rather than hitting the sauce to the point of stupidity.

According to the Age this morning the five are: Sheedy, Hardwick, Bailey, Connolly, Riley Also mentions some of the preferences they are looking for in a new coach. I think the way I've listed them, stacked up against the preferences maybe the order of merit.

Look to be blunt - Yze isn't worth anything to trade for. He won't retire gracefully with a year to run on his contract like Nico. CAC is just stating the obvious... the club has a contract it is bound to honour... I think what was said in the article, the way it was said and the gaps in between indicated that the Yze would leave us for greener pastures if the opportunity presents itself, the club would let him, but that there is basically no interest from anyone else so he will stay.

Not until after Rd 22 though - if you get my drift. Blackwell is interesting - I think it was touch and go if Carlton were going to pick him as a FS... his disposal isn't good.