Kit Walker

Without the figures, I would expect that (with the possible exception of Brisbane because of the Fitzroy link with one of their clash strips), the income from sales of the 2nd/3rd guernsey would be fairly minimal. It is about television. And I think fair enough as well. If the clubs want to make the millions they do from the tv rights, I don't see a problem with there being a concession about clash strips. It simply is up to the clubs to make sure that these stay true to the heritage of the club which they seem remarkably unable to do. As for the shorts idea, having played numerous types of competitive sport, my view is that you notice the guernsey and you notice the socks - the shorts are nearly irrelevant. And that is as a player a couple of metres from the play, not the 50-100 that a person at the ground is. As a spectator, watching Melbourne v Carlton or Adelaide is just atrocious in trying to work out which team any given player is on, and it just gets worse if there is any adverse weather.

Couldn't stand him as a player but he has shown this year (through his commentary) that he has a very analytical nature and a clear understanding of the game. Also, he has made the transition from player to analyst far more smoothly (and quickly) than anyone else I've seen in the last ten years. If he was available and wanted to come, I'd take him as an assistant coach in a heartbeat. Certainly before Voss who I am starting to think played the game more on instinct given his Walls-esque take on the game. The other one we should look at if available, is Luke Darcy. Basically for the same reasons as above.

Are you sure? He was widely reported as trade bait last year and wasn't re-contracted then, so that would mean he was originally signed on a 3 year contract. Surely not......

Nice to agree on something for a change...

I agree. A leadership group with 5 midfielders seems a bit imbalanced. In no particular order, I would expect next years leadership group to be: Green Bruce McLean Rivers Miller If it goes beyond that, then Davey would be the next one included. I suspect (based on the impression I received having heard him speak at the start of this year) that if McDonald continues playing (and I expect him to for at least one more year), he would likely relinquish a spot in the leadership group as part of a generational change.

Very much agreed. http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/full-t...4073149800.html Different sport but same principle. Play only kids and they won't learn as much as if they have good, experienced players alongside them. I'm not sure Ben Holland is the answer, but there always needs to be a mix, not just blindly "playing the kids".

I don't disagree with your general remarks, but who are you suggesting take his place - particularly given the poor Sandringham result? Is Dunn the only one to be dropped, the first to be dropped or are there others (for reasons of skill or discipline) who would be dropped first?

Don't know about Sheldon, and I agree with you about Blight. I disagree about Alves on the basis that he had shown the coaching ability to take St Kilda to a Grand Final 12 months earlier and who knows what would have happened over another pre-season. Purely a hypothetical though. Back to the topic, if St Kilda were looking to trade him and he was available for pick 17/18, I'd jump at it. Close to the best user of a ball in the competition, generally leads or gets very close to the top of St Kilda's hard ball gets, and he racks up tackle counts that TJ could only dream about (or has nightmares about depending on your point of view). He'll be 25 next year and that is an age/experience group in which we have a gaping hole.

I agree with all five, but Valenti is the most interesting one. As a rookie with our injury list, he will never get a better opportunity to show he is capable of AFL footy. Really needs to show he is AFL ready this year as I doubt (given his age and size) he is likely to get a second year on the rookie list.

Davey and possibly Bate would probably need fitness tests before lining up I'd suggest.

I've been critical of McLean over the last 12 months but he was extremely good yesterday. If we'd won he would be a near certainty for 3 Brownlow votes - as it is he still should get two. Another 11 weeks of performances/efforts like that and I'll jump back on your McLean for captain bandwagon...

No worries. You thought Wheatley had one indiscretion for the match. Well watched.

The official stats say that both Yze and Wheatley had 3 clangers each (of which I don't believe Wheatley's missed shepherd is counted), while Brad Green had 7. FWIW, I thought Wheatley was serviceable and Green was good (notwithstanding his kicking for goal) but your incessant attacks on Yze beggar belief.

Gee, you're having a go at Adem Yze. I'm shocked..... Also, you've agreed with 3 votes to Wheatley - on the criteria above, did you miss the "shepherd" he laid to protect Moloney?

For an existing club, I think you're right. I suspect he would be worth significantly more than that though to a new club which needs some established players with "flair" (particularly GC) to spark interest and bring in a crowd. Particularly if he is still only 25-27. I'm not necessarily advocating a trade for Davey (and certainly not this year) but it's worth keeping in mind. As for some saying he's an important part of our "structure", I don't agree. He's a very exciting player and very good, but probably overrated because of the excitement factor. I can't think of a game in his 90-odd where he has genuinely taken it by the scruff of the neck and dragged us over the line.

I don't have the ability to do it but how would it look if it the blue band was a sash (similar to Essendon/Richmond)?

Possibly, but would Davey be a (to use your term) NQR, or rather a player with instant appeal who they may be willing to pay slightly over the odds for? Particularly if they still have a number of early draft picks anyway. I'm hardly suggesting Jamar or Weetra for pick 17.

There is much talk (typed talk) about this being the last year for decent draft picks - but that's only so far as ladder position goes. Depending on GC/West Sydney's final draft concessions, there may be a fair opportunity to be trading for top 20 draft picks over the next 2-4 years with clubs that want to get the youth-experience level right straight away so that they can be competitive in difficult markets. I doubt that the pick/s that Rivers would get on the open (trade) market would warrant a trade at this stage after a few injury affected years, but would Aaron Davey for instance be worth a top 5-10 draft pick for such a side? Is he worth that to us?

From a spectator/television watcher's point of view. Ever watched Melbourne v Carlton or Adelaide? Particularly on a wet day? I'm in favour of a clash strip, although not this one. Just keep it simple though - predominantly red with some navy, whether it be a yoke, a sash or even stripes (similar to Port Melbourne). Doesn't seem to require a rocket scientist.....

From what I can gather, you see a fair bit of Sandringham. Is it worth bringing Stefan Martin in to play on Rocca at this point?

Fair call. Though at other times it's so vacant that it looks like the buffet's been finished...... I think he plays like a marking forward pocket (similar to Ebert from Port Adelaide). Simply has not shown the ability to find the ball enough to be in the mould of the other players mentioned in this thread (Didak, Johnson, et al).

On 3AW after the Melbourne v WB game this year, Dennis Cometti said those were the two clubs he has bought memberships for. I'm not sure whether he barracks for either though... Caroline Wilson is a Richmond supporter - her father was president of the club for more than a decade.

He was very good in rounds 1-3, had a couple of poor games after that, then was good against the Bulldogs but was suspended. Last year, playing as the no.1 WCE midfielder (with Judd on 1 leg and Cousins not there), he polled 22 Brownlow votes in a top 4 side. Absolute star.

Some of the talk on here has been with regard to the cost of a 20 000 seat stadium. Why? Why not have a 20-25 000 capacity venue with only 10-15 000 seat stadium with the balance being standing room? Geelong has done it for years, and it would seem to significantly reduce the costs of construction. If it is only going to be used for 2-4 AFL games a year that would make more sense.

I suspect that additional express trains from the city to Cranbourne would be put on if there was football out there, but I think it's likely that, at least initially, it will be primarily a ground you would get to by car rather than public transport (much as Waverley was). But this is putting the cart before the horse somewhat. The questions to be asked are: 1. Are we in the short-medium term likely to get a crowd that will make money for the MFC at the MCG against the majority of interstate clubs? 2. Even if you bank on a reduction of 2-5k spectators per game if it is played at Casey, would that be a better result financially than playing with the marginally larger crowd at the MCG? 3. What will the net effect on memberships of having a (partial) base in the Casey area be, taking into account the loss of some through less games in the city (MCG/Telstra) and the addition of some through Casey residents supporting a team that plays locally? My answers are: 1. No 2. Almost certainly, particularly if Melbourne have some/all signage rights at the ground 3. It is unlikely the initial net effect would be negative and substantially likely that there would be a longer term gain.