grazman

Regardless of today's result. It means the Tigers will still have the number 1 pick in the PSD, meaning they can go hell for leather in trying to secure an out of contract player. My bet is that they'll be promising the world to Charman- the real problem is that the pool in the PSD is drying up and its unlikely too many players will walk away from a footy club now without them being compensated. They'll also be barracking for us today.

We won't get Kreuzer even if we lose. Between Richmond and the Blues now.

Saints win... Just. Pity. It would have been nice to see the Blues collect a third wooden spoon in a row.

Three Quarter time and the Tiges are up by 3 points.... interesting times ahead. and the first goal of the last up by 9 points.... Saints look to have given up.

I think that's right Jack, at least I'd like to think my interpretation of that is right... I don't think it's the case of Bailey doesn't believe in trade week, rather he doesn't believe in coughing up high draft picks for other club's problems. David Roden's a good example - no one wanted him as a trade, but Port took the very low risk option and it's paid off for them. Last year there was very little on offer and hence we didn't get involved... many on here criticised the club for that, but I think the decision has been well and truly vindicated. The good news is other clubs (Sydney, Bulldogs, Collingwood) don't think like that and I think the club has the opportunity to improve its draft position and cauterise the softness in the list by trading a couple of players.

It didn't work for us last week, I think the plan is that it wont work for us again....

oh Dear... do you want your bottle now or later?....

Won't coach - despite the process he hasn't got a contract with us yet, and the mechanics of modern football is far more involved than him simply picking up the team sheet and walking into the box. I would think he'll be at the game though and any thoughts of our players maybe taking the foot of the accelerator to be dead and buried. I expect Robbo to kick about 8 goals.

You appoint a coach to coach, let's get someone else to market the club!

The whispers surrounding Bailey with all those he was involved in were unanimously positive and supportive. He has had an extremely solid grounding, and Port contrary to popular belief are far from flush with money, but what they do have they use very well and they have probably an even stronger culture and identity than Essendon. The whispers surrounding Sheeds, were very mixed (some were downright scary). He isn't a Messiah, and as the Paul Gardner Squad alluded to earlier, it isn't desirable to appoint people based on unrealistic expectation and past glory... let's see what they have to offer for the future. All five short listed candidates had an equal chance to stake their claim in a rigourous process. If Sheeds was overlooked then we can't cry a river because we didn't get what we thought was best for the club (and quite frankly how would I or anyone else on this forum know anyway!)

Culture...

and their coach is.... Daryn Cresswell... enough said.

So why did they keep him away from training... He should have been there coughing all over his team mates in preparation for the W/E.

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.