Kit Walker

I am the same - looks like a login then nothing. Have only been an occasional poster for the last couple of years on both sites but regularly kept an eye on 'ology. It would be a real pity if this can't be resolved.

I have always, and still do, think the captaincy is massively overrated. Green had a relatively poor season (albeit 37 goals from effectively a forward pocket is not a bad return), but to use this entirely in substitution of an AA 2010 season is ridiculous. At 31, I think a one year contract is unreasonable from a club/player perspective in these circumstances. Two years, with the second being largely performance based, is pretty much on the money. I do believe, as I have maintained previously, that a blanket one year rule for over 30s is ludicrous.

I think that the idea of a first-time coach having an assistant with years of AFL senior experience is an exceptional one. The issue is not a matter of confidence, it's giving the new coach all the tools they need to succeed. And having someone with Neil Craig's background and reputation - as a sounding board if nothing else - can't do anything but assist. The availability of advice, even if it isn't in the end taken, is invaluable. I would be much more confident of the Neeld appointment if Craig joins him.

Fair point. Looking at Collingwood though, I thought Chris Dawes played an important role for them today. Only 10 touches, but took a few marks, kicked a couple of goals and made a contest every time the ball went near him. Hale is older but I think can do the same role but better, and has the extra string of being a decent ruckman to boot. Pick 31 is well into speculative territory in a draft anyway and I think it's a reasonable trade. An offer of 47+ (whatever our third round pick is) would just be an insult and not worth bothering about.

If Hale would not be part of our next premiership window, neither would Jamar as they are basically the same age. If the developing players are good enough, they'll get a game. Sometimes less IS less.

Based on what? I don't think Martin has shown anything as either a ruckman or a forward. He may have had a late start to his career, but he's 24 in November - not exactly a kid.

Houli looks decent but I wouldn't be too concerned about Stanton or Davey. Never really rated Davey (of the Alwyn variety), but thought Stanton would become a top liner which he hasn't. Dyson has been a real disappointment too as I thought he had a lot of potential. That said, I reckon Reimers has real talent and Myers is probably safe as a tall defender for the moment. I reckon Salopek is undervalued on this site although not a great fit for Melbourne at the moment for what he would cost.

I think it's fair to say that I'm not close minded to the idea given my previous views on the matter. Obviously it's early stages in terms of working out what North and Hale are after but I think it's a good fit.

I'd find it difficult to disagree with any of that - except I wasn't around in '77. Finals are only extra time because replays would throw the whole schedule off-kilter. If you want to win the flag, you should do it in normal time. And let's face it - can only be good for the game for the AFL to have an extra 5 or 10 mil in the kitty.....

It's exceptionally unlikely, but as a hypothetical why not? The hawks are short on KP defenders - I'd do pick 12 plus Warnock. The hawks probably want more but draft picks are overrated by the majority. Not so sure I'd put in the 2nd rounder as well though - that's two or three very late draft picks we would have for at least a couple of years.

In the spirit of the thread - Jarryd Roughead.

I don't like him, but I don't think he can be called a sellout. If he hadn't been shafted by Clarkson trying to trade him last year, there's no doubt he would still be a Hawthorn player. Teams can't have it both ways - ditto for Rischitelli.

Our second round pick is pick 32 in an already weakened draft. All else being equal (ie. reasonable contractual demands), I'd bite the North rep's hand off to take that deal. I tend to think it may be a bit more expensive than that but who knows. The reality is we lack a big bodied goal-kicking forward and a decent second ruckman. Unless you have more faith in PJ than I do, or think Newton may step up to the plate in this role, the next options are untried/untested kids in Spencer, Gawn and Fitzpatrick - none of whom are likely to make an impact in the next two years. Neither would a new draftee in this position - certainly not at pick 32. If Hale was genuine A-Grade at this point, he wouldn't be on the table. Not for pick 32 and not for pick 12. He does have talent though, is only 26 and is available. Just as importantly I think he fills a serious need we have.

I think it is much harder to predict what a player is worth on the transfer table this year than previously. McIntosh, who as a genuine ruckman I rate higher than Hale, was available for a pick around 10-13 last year (or possibly the year before). After two very ordinary seasons Hale should be worth quite a bit less than that, but with a compromised draft, who knows. It is one of those situations however where him having two years left on his contract may actually be a good thing if North want to free up some cap room as he must be on decent coin. Pick swap or player? To be honest, I'm not sure what North need at the moment. Agree about Bartram and PJ. Bartram would be easily in the top 5 most improved this year and PJ has gone backwards.

I'd still look at David Hale. Hasn't had the best couple of years but is still only 26 and a 2 metre + ruckman/forward. Would have to give up a lot less now than we would have two years ago because of this. Under contract at North but reportedly looking to go elsewhere as he is behind McIntosh (who I rate extremely highly) and Goldstein.

He may have very early this year but in a very haphazard fashion. Thrown in occasionally but that was it. I tend to think he may be a late developer - both physically and mentally. That said, I am by no means convinced he'll make it - significantly because I am basing a view primarily on what I have read on Casey reports. It's not just one week though. They have been consistently good and occasionally outstanding. It's not the lack of tall forwards that's in his favour, it's the lack of (as TGR on Demonology would say) multidimensional talls and decent ruckmen. Playing one ruckman is not a long term strategy for success. Leigh Matthews always played at least two, and even the best ruckmen - Cox and Sandilands - need a backup. And if you can combine that with the ability to push forward..... I do agree with Dunn though. I have always been a fan and recall being shouted down (the week he was dropped this year if I recall correctly) when I suggested he could play a ruck/forward role. That said, I think Newton is physically more suited to the role, although Dunn is a much better forward option/prospect.

A kid? He's all of a year younger than Newton. I don't think it's a matter of finding a second string - I think it's a matter of finding a first. And a mobile second ruckman who can push forward is not something we are overly burdened with. I think it's difficult to discount the possibility entirely when he's never really played that role at AFL level and he appears to have been very impressive at VFL level.

Unfortunately a shocking performance is not made less shocking by another team being equally inept. The sole shining light is that it should give us belief we will win this weekend. More of a glint than a sunburst though to be honest....

Fair enough. Play Spencer then.

Outs - Miller & Jetta (both absolutely awful today) and probably Macdonald (although you could choose from about 5) Ins - Sylvia & McDonald (both automatic inclusions if fit) and one of Spencer/PJ (don't really care which but we can't go in with one ruckman against St Kilda who play 3 or 4) Rivers and Warnock only survive because St Kilda play a tall forward line

I think that's about right. May be a fraction less but with performance components to enable him to earn more as his output improves as we all hope/expect. I actually thought he was better today as I've been very critical of his last few weeks. Certainly better than Miller and Jetta in the forward line anyway.

I certainly wouldn't have said "prefer". He is adding more to the team right now though. Playing one ruckman, Miller does do a bit of a chop-out role for Jamar when he's having a rest (when he remembers). Mostly though, Miller is providing more of a target than Watts. And I don't think Watts is learning anything in the seniors at the moment because of a lack of belief. I'd like to see him play a position where he can get a bit of the ball - on the wing (at AFL level),as a key position forward or even in the ruck (at VFL level).

Fair call. I would be surprised if Jetta got the chop though - there's not really another small forward in the side. Watts to me looks like he is very low on confidence and isn't trusting himself to do the things that should be automatic. I'd like to see him go back to Casey and play as a key forward rather than the flanker role he's currently doing.

Boak is currently a very, very good player with every chance of becoming elite. You can't have too many of that type of player. Blease and Tapscott haven't played a game. McKenzie is a hard worker but doesn't have the speed or class of Boak and Davey is very outside. There is a reason he's asking for $450k a year - because he's worth it. He uses the ball better than Moloney and Jones, and has 3 years more development than Scully, Trengove and Gysberts. I think players who play interstate often get underrated because we don't see or hear of them as often. Geelong evidently rated him ahead of Joel Selwood when they drafted him, and while he has probably dropped below Selwood now, it's not by a long way.

Real Madrid have made a reasonable habit out of it. Though Barca play in red and blue..........