titan_uranus

How about a third option: 'I couldn't care less what we call them. I just like watching them play.' That'd be my choice.

Agree entirely. Like the point about making the two franchises a little more exciting to watch: will draw crowds through the gate in Round 1, and who knows, maybe some NRL fans who haven't seen a lot of AFL will come to see Hunt (and later Folau) and realise how much better AFL is, thus increasing patronage/viewership/membership? Question: why did you write '_who_' instead of 'who'? Absolutely useless observation but it's ticking me off. Also, I'm trying to procrastinate away from studying so I'll post on anything at the moment... And Folau's only 21...I really do think he'll end up being very good at AFL.

You're friends with Chris Judd?

Stosur beat Henin at the French Open! Now for Serena...

The argument that the money is wasted on Folau and Hunt and should be spent on Auskick and/or the actually talented AFL players misses a major point: signing Folau and Hunt sends a massive signal to the youth of Western Sydney and Queensland that there is another code they can grow up with outside of NRL. This money is being spent not just on two athletes (that's really all they are at the moment), it's getting the AFL publicity and fame in areas where it usually isn't even thought about. If Folau becomes a success (or even if he doesn't), the youths of Western Sydney may well take to AFL instead of NRL. If the AFL grows into a truly national sport, think about the size of the pool the clubs will be able to choose from in 10-20 years time. That's the major benefit of all this.

Just on a side note: on Footy Classified last night Caro wondered why we continue to treat Scully and Trengove like a 'package' by resting them both in the same round. She suggested that we should have rested one in one week, and the other the next week, to avoid this idea that they are twins or something and they do everything together. Interesting thoughts, even though I don't actually think it matters.

Usain Bolt.

Good news. Integral part of our team, and if he's right to go this week we'll need him to play on one of Carlton's pesky small forwards.

The difference with McKenzie is that he has rarely put a foot wrong in the AFL side. That's what puts him in front of Dunn, Strauss, Maric, Newton etc. He showed he was more than capable to play senior football. The others haven't done that, so to get their chance they need to hit some consistent form for Casey. Cheney seems to be doing that though. As RR said above, unless the player we bring in to be the second ruck can actually do something other than ruck, he doesn't get selected. At the moment, Johnson and Martin don't offer enough to squeeze out someone from the team. And we'd lose run too.

Ridiculous overly negative speculation to suggest that, because Petterd was seen on the Gold Coast, he is playing for them next year. A man's allowed to go back to see his family, especially when he has nothing better to do on account of an injury. Furthermore, whilst visiting said family, said man is entitled to watch a game of football involving a team that will be in the AFL next year, and some Collingwood players that may be playing against his team-mates in 2 weeks. Finally, said man is allowed to entertain offers from clubs other than the one he is currently at without automatically leaving the club. Conclusion: we know nothing more than we did before this happened. Who knows, maybe he was getting some info for the FD with regards to some of Collingwood's players?

I disagree in that I don't think Garland has been as bad since his return as most others do. I saw some very promising signs in the Port Adelaide match, for instance. But yes, his form hasn't been stellar. Very stiff on most of the outs. You miss Bartram's other benefits: he's been doing a good job as a small defender regardless of his bad kicking, which yes, is a problem, but he's not in the team to be getting a heap of quality disposals, and we'll definitely need his pace against Carlton. Miller's playing a lot better than you've given him credit for, and your memory obviously doesn't extend past 7 days as he kicked 5 straight in Darwin. Bringing in a second ruckman to remove Jetta is ridiculous. I can only agree with dropping MacDonald/Rivers.

If we win both it will be sweet. And it will show everyone that, within the next 2-3 years, we will be challenging for the premiership. Losses won't be the end of the world, but I certainly don't want to see bad performances. 2 big stage games, last year's QBW was close to a disaster, so hopefully this year we put on a good show. So far our big games have been Hawthorn (failure), Collingwood (fantastic), Brisbane (great) and Bulldogs (good). So we're 3/4 in big games this year in terms of performing. I'm confident we can win one of the two matches, probably Carlton.

9 goals. They're 9 goals better. Let's not sell ourselves short.

I don't think it's that clear-cut Nasher. For starters, there's gotta be another eligible youngster out there who plays a better game. Mind you, I've already thought of one: Tom Rockliff from Brisbane.

On the flipside, eventually Geelong will lose down there, and at least it won't be Carlton, Collingwood or Hawthorn ending the run. It'll (hopefully) be us.

I'll tell you why they're less likely: Batram was top 5 for us yesterday, Watts has had 2 good games and is a key part of the future, Bennell had a star game last week and can actually kick goals and Jones, though he can't kick, is being given the tagging job and will get Judd next week. None of them will go, and there are other options to make way for the talent that is ready to come back in. Despite them all being defenders, Rivers, MacDonald and Bruce were close to being our three worst players yesterday. And they're all pretty slow, and if Carlton's forward line is anything, it's quick. So at least one of them is getting the chop, and probably two. Bruce doesn't deserve his spot in the team but I still have the feeling he'll keep it. But he just has to learn to put in a four-quarter performance. Consistency and Bennell just don't go together at the moment, whether it be across a period of weeks or within a game. He's a fair way back at the moment. Scully, Trengove, McKenzie, Bate, Bail, Strauss, Cheney, McNamara all ahead of him.

It's got nothing to do with us. It's a combination of arrogance and superiority. He, Enright and Scarlett do stupid stuff like that all the time. One day Geelong will fall back to the pack. Until then singing the song will be a monotonous task required after a game.

In: Scully, Trengove, McKenzie, Bate Out: Garland (inj), MacDonald, Rivers, Bruce/Wonaeamirri Scullgove and McKenzie are automatic inclusions, we need Bate more than ever up forward if we're going to ruck Miller. MacDonald can't dispose of it and is too slow for Carlton's forward line, Rivers is gone, and I can't make my mind up over who of Bruce and Wonna goes to get the fourth inclusion in the side.

Crap 'boundary riding' from Mark Howard: too busy guffawing over Hawkins and Podsiadly and Ablett and whoever else was wearing white and blue. Bad news.

I'm surprised with some of the votes here: MacDonald? Wonna? Didn't really think either of them was particularly good. 6 - Green 5 - Davey 4 - Gysberts 3 - Frawley 2 - Bartram 1 - Jamar

I also like the idea of Frawley on Pods but I just can't see Bruce keeping up with Johnson, especially after a week off with a hamstring injury.

Not going to work. I'd go Joel MacDonald to Hawkins, Rivers to Podsiadly and Frawley to Johnson. Let Bruce play looser.

No, at the moment Bartram is our back pocket/small defender/run with guy. And at the moment, he's playing well enough to hold that position over the likes of Strauss and Cheney. It's not like he's an older player, he's still only 23 or so and he's doing the job, albeit without the kicking skills of Strauss.

What RR said. Fraser has never been, and will never be, any good.

No. Sylvia doesn't have the speed or endurance.