Cheesecake

Let's take a trip in our time machines back to when we were having this exact conversation about the Viney FS pick. Many Demonlanders were spouting this same paranoid argument. Worrying that other teams were lining up to destroy our plans of getting him in the second round. That they were all prepared to forego their own needs and risk restricting their uber valuable first round pick to just one player, instead of having free reign to pick whoever the best player to fall to their pick was. It makes no sense. Why would any team lock themselves into a borderline decision, take the risk of getting egg on their faces and facing a shitestorm of supporter anger, just to peeve another lowly team. They wouldn't. Hence, they didn't. (And please, let's not start on the rubbish rumours of secret deals to ensure we got him. Boulderdash.) The reality is that no team will ever nominate a FS selection, unless they are >99% sure that absolutely no one else on their radar for that pick could possibly ever still be available, given every possible combination of draft orders. This effectively means that St Kilda won't nominate him unless they rank him significantly above the 19th best option. ... TheEvil1 has nailed it here. To think otherwise is to deny common sense and past experience.

The other thing of note is the daylight (~20%) between Jetta and McDonald in points per game. I think this is a pretty accurate reflection of reality. I don't think too many would argue that these top 6 were the standout players for the Dees this year.

And here, for your viewing pleasure, are the results of the 'Cheesie'. It's basically the Bluey, but based on points per game played, rather than total points. The big movers are Daniel Cross (moves from 5 to 2 - wow), Neville Jetta (9 to 6 - expected), Jake Spencer (24 to 12 - probably unexpected), and Colin Garland (19 to 14). Player - Bluey Pts - Games Played - Points per game - Position in Bluey - Position in Cheesie Nathan Jones --- 311 --- 22 --- 14.14 --- 1 --- 1 Daniel Cross --- 238 --- 17 --- 14.00 --- 5 --- 2 Dom Tyson --- 293 --- 22 --- 13.32 --- 2 --- 3 Bernie Vince --- 270 --- 22 --- 12.27 --- 3 --- 4 Lynden Dunn --- 264 --- 22 --- 12.00 --- 4 --- 5 Neville Jetta --- 191 --- 16 --- 11.94 --- 9 --- 6 Tom McDonald --- 212 --- 21 --- 10.10 --- 7 --- 7 Jeremy Howe --- 220 --- 22 --- 10.00 --- 6 --- 8 James Frawley --- 192 --- 21 --- 9.14 --- 8 --- 9 Jack Viney --- 180 --- 20 --- 9.00 --- 11 --- 10 Jack Watts --- 185 --- 22 --- 8.41 --- 10 --- 11 Jake Spencer --- 36 --- 5 --- 7.20 --- 24 --- 12 Jack Grimes --- 124 --- 18 --- 6.89 --- 14 --- 13 Colin Garland --- 95 --- 14 --- 6.79 --- 19 --- 14 Rohan Bail --- 139 --- 21 --- 6.62 --- 12 --- 15 Matt Jones --- 129 --- 20 --- 6.45 --- 13 --- 16 Mark Jamar --- 109 --- 17 --- 6.41 --- 17 --- 17 Dean Terlich --- 96 --- 15 --- 6.40 --- 18 --- 18 Chris Dawes --- 113 --- 18 --- 6.28 --- 16 --- 19 Cameron Pedersen --- 118 --- 19 --- 6.21 --- 15 --- 20 Jordie McKenzie --- 49 --- 9 --- 5.44 --- 23 --- 21 Max Gawn --- 49 --- 9 --- 5.44 --- 23 --- 22 Dean Kent --- 64 --- 13 --- 4.92 --- 20 --- 23 Alex Georgiou --- 34 --- 7 --- 4.86 --- 25 --- 24 Jimmy Toumpas --- 17 --- 4 --- 4.25 --- 30 --- 25 Jay Kennedy-Harris --- 56 --- 14 --- 4.00 --- 21 --- 26 Jack Trengove --- 8 --- 2 --- 4.00 --- 33 --- 27 Viv Michie --- 22 --- 6 --- 3.67 --- 28 --- 28 Aidan Riley --- 30 --- 9 --- 3.33 --- 26 --- 29 Shannon Byrnes --- 18 --- 6 --- 3.00 --- 29 --- 30 Luke Tapscott --- 8 --- 3 --- 2.67 --- 33 --- 31 Jack Fitzpatrick --- 12 --- 5 --- 2.40 --- 31 --- 32 Christian Salem --- 27 --- 12 --- 2.25 --- 27 --- 33 Dom Barry --- 3 --- 5 --- 0.60 --- 34 --- 34

Whilst the Grimes looks right (and is a monty to be on there, anyway), and the Viney is a cert, am I the only one who thinks the 'Trengove' silhouette looks a little like Howe? Are we in for a surprise?

I will be looking very keenly to the NAB Cup (and the first couple of rounds this season) for an indication of how far we've come since last year. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're going to say about the NAB Cup; rested stars, exposing youth, not peaking too early etc etc. And, generally, I agree in principle. BUT .. throughout our recent down years, I've seen the same old pattern; we get embarrassed in the NAB*, we get embarrassed in the first few rounds, then we turn up the embarrassment levels for the season proper. We need to show something during the NAB, and we need to convincingly beat Port. We don't, and put your money on another bottom four finish. * excluding the odd exception, like beating the Pies at Etihad last year

Can't agree entirely, Jose. I think he is hard, generally goes when it is his turn, and does have excellent pace. Also, he is in the top few players in our team for creating run and carry, breaking away from contested situations. Agree about his other deficiencies, though. I think he is still just in our best 22, but will have to improve his skills, particularly kicking and execution of defensive pressure, if he is to stay there as the team improves.

This sucks. Really sucks. Would have to be one of my most respected guys at the club. He hasn't been graced with supreme natural talents or any good luck, but he's had the intestinal fortitude to get everything out of himself that he can. You just have to respect a guy like that.

Let's not forget the circumstance that led to Scully's departure were basically a 'perfect storm' that is incredibly unlikely to reoccur. The unique combination of circumstances: - GWS's entry in to the comp, with their outrageous financial concessions - Scully's psychology - that of an emotionally disconnected automaton - Scully's influences - having Augustus Gloop for a father - Melbourne's rebuilding position - where decisions where made for perceived long term success, but at short term detriment to the vibe around the club created an environment where Scully leaving was almost an inevitability. This is very unlikely to be repeated with Hogan. Relax folks.

If you are in the minority, you shouldn't be. I defy anyone here to re-watch the games of '12, and then try and argue that Joel's disposal (and to a slightly lesser degree, his reliability) didn't dramatically improve throughout the second half of the season. He's as hard as a cat's head, rarely takes a backward step, works his arse off, and has clearly worked on improving his weaknesses. Any wonder Neeld thinks he's alright? Sure, he will most likely be overtaken in time, as our youth improve, but for now I'm more than happy to see him on the list. Even if just for depth.

Nah, that's Neeldy's freakishly long left arm.

For me personally, this is the best news to come from this announcement; that there must be hope for Bartram's knee. No one else on the list can play his role (maybe Bail, at a stretch). He's fast, tough, accountable and can lock down on a opposition goal sneak or run with a hardrunning midfielder. He can also break lines. (He just needs to err towards feeding it off (to Watts, Strauss etc) rather than trying to hit a target up forward himself).

Plenty of similarities between this and Scully-gate. Narcissistic Gen Y's with overblown feelings of entitlement, and the greedy parents who made them that way. Just add money-grubbing people managers and you have a recipe for this sort of thing.

A reverse Prendergast?

Not so sure about that. If it's true that he is on about $800K, which is what I seem to recall the media saying, then Cloke is worth every penny they pay him. Agree that something probably has to give within their cap though.

Why isn't Mitch on our banner? What with the extra room that's been created recently, can we slide him in somewhere? Maybe next to Jonesy there? As for Mitch Banner .. not too familiar with his work.