DemonDave

I dont quite see the 'potential superstar' in Dawes that others seem to, he's a role player in a very well drilled side. I fear that once he's out of that system as a big banana, he will fall short of expectations (see any player from the Melbourne Storm that has been developed from scratch and then left to chase the big money in the last five years). Compare his averages to Brad Green this year: Marks avg - Green 5.0/Dawes 4.4 Goals avg - 1.8/1.5 Disposals avg - 15.9/13.7 I know they're not like for like, but its widely perceived Green had a disappointing season.

Not technically a trade/delisting issue, but according to todays Age, Emma Quayle believes highly touted Casey defender Tim Mohr is likely to be one of the players GWS take as a pre-listed player (ie. They get a free hit on guys not on lists who have previously nominated for drafts, think Krakouer, Mzungu last year).

A great idea. Lets hope this time next year theyre not on the bus as theyre too busy getting ready for a cut-throat final..

So do you think our coaching sub-committee went straight to the collingwood staff list, looked at who their assistants were and simply picked one from there because they were so desparate for Collingwoods IP and didnt consider anyone else?

A massive issue for mine as well. When was the last time one of our players was listed Top 20 in Mike SHeahans 'Top 50' players? (yes I know its only one journos opinion but its usually a pretty fair reflection of where the comp is at). Or finished top five/ten in the Brownlow? When you think of certain eras, you think of the 'star' at the time, be it Barassi, Alves, Flower, Lyon,Stynes etc. But thats about where the line stops. Who would be considered our 'star' player today? And what about four years ago? Eight years ago?

What about Greg Hutchison and Mark Riley?

From the preacher to the teacher, to the err..He's a teacher too isnt he the new guy?

I think 'stealing IP' from clubs is an overrated, erroneous term. Did we get 'loads of IP' from when Royal came from St Kilda, West from the Dogs or Connolly/O'Donnell from Freo? Or even Viney from Adelaide via Hawthorn for that matter. I can hardly see any tangible evidence of this. Game plans and tactics and strategies change drastically by the year, clubs have to adapt and react to trends quickly. This was a flailing of the Bailey ethos, trying to implement a game plan that worked circa 2007 with a bunch of players that were just not comparable.

I did hear he was a bit excited about it too...

Malthouse was interviewed shortly after all the pressers on SEN and said the same thing happened with Chris or Brad Scott (i dunno which one is which!) once he got appointed at North, it was untenable to have a senior coach of another side sitting in his coaches box. I agree with him. I think the timing was great in that it happened when not much else was going on in the football world, as strange as that sounds during the finals. Kudos for getting the coach they wanted, and having the media not catch wind of it until just as it happened last night.

I think the collars a great throwback to our past. If the OP is so adamant it must go, put up a poll so that all of us 'fashionistas' can vote on it. You'll find you're in a very slender minority.

Can someone please call Matty Knights, and tell him to stop faxing his resume to the club. This position is now filled.

Its not often the senior journalist at a paper sticks his neck on the line and says 'this person is going to be the coach'. I give his hunches more clout than the ambulance chasing, rubbish bin hiding journos of the ilk of Barrett and Hutchison. Still, time will tell!

Burns retired in 2008 which means he's only been out of the game 3 years now, is that enough of a coaching apprenticeship?

That is definitely Thommos twitter account, not a fake.

What do people think of this twitter in the last hour from Grant Thomas?: thomo_ninemsn Grant Thomas I'm hearing Burns is going to coach Melbourne and Neil Craig is Director of Coaching. Eade Director of coaching at Crows. Cards are falling. 28 minutes ago

PM Sent...

I wonder which pages graphics they had to change to remove T** S*****'s image from? No doubt this booklet wouldve been on hold till the decision was made.

Jordan Russell is a spud. Its all good and well to say he had a high B&F finish at his club a couple of years ago, but so did Matthew Bate. The fact that he cant get a game at the moment in front an ungainly Irishman (Tuohy) and an equally spud-like Marcus Davies tells me his time at Carlton is coming to an end. No Thanks. Interesting the irony of supposed links between Goddard and Carlton, given that before AFL sanctions removing their picks 1&2 in the draft he, along with Daniel Wells, would've ended up Blues players.

He was actually delisted earlier that week! A good response from him nonetheless. Terribly disappointing way to finish the season, but all of your reports through the year are greatly appreciated KC!

Wheres Rhino when you need him? Seriously people, no more 'junk' for potential trade suggestions

That spyandsource twitter account is about as successful at predictions as the Village Idiot in the Friday Age. Take anything said on there with a large handful of salt. Check the history if you're not convinced. As for Clarke, I agree he'd be too similar to Martin, albeit a bit more polished. Why not go for more of an out and out forward from somewhere else rather than an inbetweener?

I would hope the decision that is made on a coach does not have any relevance in Garrys mind with announcing it on the footy show. Hopefully he is smart enough to be able to differentiate the two different hats that he wears. I dont care when its announced, as long as the board are happy they believe it is the right person for the job (and not a shallow feelgood PR exercise).

Lets hope the interchange is: Davis Fitzpatrick Lawrence Panozza. Surely Panozza wouldnt get overlooked after his good game last week? I feel Juice has played his last game for Casey as an MFC rookie given the amount of talls already in our forward line. The side does lack balance without a small forward of note, Nicholls merely a resting onballer, so youd think Lawrence would be tailor made for that spot. Robbie Campbells return is warmly welcomed he was missed last week.

Thanks KC, I dont normally mean to tag a guy as 'hopeless', and dont see every game. But the last senior game I saw in person was the Geelong massacre, and Waite had one appaling decision go against him in the second quarter, and spent the best part of 40 minutes of the game complaining to the umpires about it. It is good to see younger players such as Petropoulos and Purdy impress at times this year, while frustrating seeing somewhat more seasoned players such as Matt Fieldsend running around in the twos as he was this week. If Waite was selected as the big bodied hard-working half forward type, could this job not have been left to Lynden Dunne and or Newton when resting from the ruck, and thus clearing the forward 50 out for Fev (which they did do quite well). Any news if big Robbie Campbell will be back this week, and why James Wall wore his number on the weekend? Looking further forward, next years Scorps defence will be severly depleted with Warnock chasing games eleswhere and Tim Mohr a certainty for mine to be rookied somewhere..