Vogon Poetry

The Hawks have a similar arrangement with Box Hill don't they? They've done alright. I wonder what would happen to sponsorship. I think that we basically control Casey so control to me is not an issue. If Casey changed their name to Melbourne and we were stand alone do we lose sponsorship opportunities or gain them? I don't know but it would be a consideration. I tend to think we'd lose them.

70% of Oliver > 85% Bugg.

In the past picking a "best 22" at this time of year has made many (me included) look foolish mainly because we haven't had a best 22, we've had a best 6 or 8 and the rest haven't been up to it. This year on known form I reckon we've got 24 players who I would consider "best 22" with some good depth and some development. My 24 "best 22" are Hogan, Jones, Salem, Watts, Petracca, Lewis, Viney, Brayshaw, Gawn, Tyson, Oliver, Hibberd, Stretch, Kent, Frost, Melksham, van den Berg, Vince, McDonald x 2, Hunt, Garlett, Jetta and Harmes. Very few if any "best 22's" selected in this thread have anyone else other than Pedersen and Weideman as third tall forwards. It's just a matter of time before Weideman fills that vacancy but I don't think he's AFL standard on what I've seen. That doesn't mean he won't get picked. Bugg, Kennedy, Garland, Trengove and Wagner (and Spencer for Gawn) can all come in and do a job and the balance are all developing and all would be a "chance" of making AFL standard. Unlike other years these players will have to be playing very well to get a game on merit (other than injury related) and I'm hoping a couple do because it will indicate the addition(s) of good players. IMO we are not GF contenders this year (although the Dogs have presented an argument to the contrary) and one of the most interesting things will be to see what part of our selection decisions will be given to development rather than best 22. It's a fascinating year on so many levels. Pity it's still about 13 weeks away.

I think you're confused. "Saviours" save something. We don't need saving, we need improving. Fyfe would improve us, to suggest otherwise is silly. He would help us win a flag. It's purely whether we can afford him. As was stated before, the AFL and Jackson were our saviours in the very real sense of the word.

What a shame the usual suspects have stuffed it up for the rest of us. Ignore them Saty, they are a few and your reports are appreciated my many.

Yes, even Henrietta is gone.

The credit for the Bentleigh Club goes to Joe Gutnick. When the deal to finally deliver it to the MFC was done Schwab didn't even attend the Bentleigh Board meeting instead leaving it to CFO Matt Green to oversee. As the saying goes "a mans got to know his limitations" - a smart decision by Cam. As I understand it the Gardner Board organized that there were MFC people on the Bentleigh Board to ensure we got the Club when the final chapter played out. Credit to Joseph first and foremost and then to successive administrations but Joe is single handedly responsible for our net asset position now and it's a wonderful legacy. Schwab just happened to be in the Chair at the time, a little like he was for our move to AAMI Stadium that was actually instigated by the Gardner Board and Steve Harris. The reality is that we had a line of poor to incompetent CEO's going back to the late 90's and our Boards were little better. Thankfully the AFL took the initiative and we are now in very good hands.

Saty this is where it gets silly. I don't think anyone is saying that concussion doesn't play some role. Many, like me, think it's a small part of the story but it is being used publicly to hide other issues.

That's beside the point. He was paid a lot of money to focus on his AFL full time job.

Not without being seen to be hit.

Hmmm, okay. That in itself should have raised concerns. Is it all about him?

No, his circumstances are pretty unique.

I think the timing of the documentary is another curious coincidence. I suppose he's not getting paid....... and it wasn't talked about before his retirement.......

On Foxtel from midnight.

Got to say Saty I question the concussion story because nobody saw him get hit. In the Age this morning they mention that there is no vision of the VFL game concussion and nobody has been able to direct me to the AFL incident as well. We saw Jetta get hit by Howe and I saw both Brayshaw's incidents at Essendon and Sandy. Jetta and Brayshaw never hesitate to put themselves in harms way but Lumumba was the antithesis of that which makes his circumstance much more problematic. I don't think anyone is questioning the concussion issue but more questioning Lumumba's issue with concussion. As you say Lumumba didn't fit the normal stereotype. Just adds to the haziness around the whole situation. Frankly I don't believe the major issue was concussion but concussion was perhaps one of the issues and the one both he and the Club focused on publicly. I suspect Lumumba used concussion as the issue. I'm like others, no tears that he's gone.

At training on Friday Peddo was just in front of me and lifted his jumper to wipe his face. I can tell you there is not one bit of fat on him, he looked ripped. I was surprised to hear in the report he wasn't in good shape, I reckon it's rot. I've got no idea what the story with Oliver is but he was a star on Friday although his running is poor by AFL standards. He has this break to make things right and we'll learn a bit when he comes back in the new year. The kid is a freak, he just needs to learn good habits. Macca will do the job with him I'm sure.

The cruellest cut of all.

I don't know if I wish him ill will or not because I don't know the story and I've strongly suspected from day one that there is much more to it than we know. I was excited when he joined because I hoped he'd be another Roos' masterstroke of taking players from other clubs as he's done with so many. He was good early but I started to notice after about 4 or 5 games that so often he seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball when spoiling and how he just got there too late to tackle. And he was rarely on the bottom of packs. I then realized he wasn't a physical player at all and that became more apparent as time went on. I find it ironic and confusing that he's retired from concussion when nobody has seen him get knocked and he played the way he did. It's also very confusing that "he's been cleared of any ongoing concussion issues" but advice is that he should retire. It's also confusing that we wouldn't let him play last year when apparently he wanted to but now can't because of medical advice. Go figure. So really there is probably a thread of truth in what we are being told but also a hell of a lot we aren't being told and if that's the way he wants it I'm ok with that but it leave one to wonder. I can't form a judgement on the issue. Perhaps Caro will tell us one day but it doesn't really matter because he's gone. He said himself that he was upset about the death of Ali. Perhaps he just found out Martin Luther King is no longer with us and that's knocked him around. Just kidding but it's as plausible as what we are being fed at the moment. What I do wish him is good health and future success but I can't thank him nor can I damn him on the way out.

Not sure Bin. I reckon he was used as a forward because he couldn't get fit enough for the midfield because of his ankle which severely restricted his year. Clearly Roos liked him though. Can the resident track watchers tell us which group he's been training with?

Interesting that Casey have so many night games. Astounding really. It's a poor viewing ground already and the lights make it even harder. Perhaps the wind doesn't blow as hard at night. Hope those with younger and sharper eyes can let us know what's happening. Peter Jackson and Josh Mahoney just seem to keep ticking boxes. All power to Peter recognizing Josh's ability. Josh has been with us from day one of the Bailey era. To survive and thrive is quite something.

Two observations from Friday: 1. It was much less physical than the previous session I saw. 2. Don't worry about Oliver, he was a standout and has the best hands at the club. Lovely to see Trac helping and encouraging him in the repeat 100m runs. You'd just want to play with Trac. 3. Dion can really kick it. Watched him having shots at goal. Long and straight. Waiting...... PS: Welcome back Pro, I missed a week too. Quite therapeutic really.

I think it provides a player with more options and makes us harder to cover. I'd imagine not all players will use their NP but it's a great tool to have. It effectively adds to a persons agility if they can go both ways.

Many thanks Saty, which planet did you watch training from? Is Trac training with the midfield group or forwards?

Nice list analysis Steve but you've completely missed the point. Saty was commenting on the increased physicality of training this year to previous and suggesting that Misso now had a more mature list which had benefited from 3 years of PS training. I have seen one training session this PS and also noticed this increase in physicality.

Was Taylor or Prendergast our head of recruiting that year. Might have had an influence!