deelete my account

Indeed. It's making me re-consider my interest in the afl in general ie watching most games. I might just stick to the Demon games and maybe a game here or there between top contenders on the ladder.

What does caving in to their 2nd round demand for this year, say about our faith in Melksham though? Don't we have enough to stand back on if the deal doesn't go through? We gave up #25 and a 4 year 400k deal, but if Essendon want this years 2nd round, then we'd be too afraid to lose the deal and only have Melk to fall back on? To not play hardball and press them to accept next years 2nd just suggests we don't have much faith in Melksham, the other backs and our Plan B with the 2nd round pick. Seems important to at least have a 2nd round pick this year to pick the player that falls through the cracks of the first round. If that's Mahoney's reasoning, then he should stick to his guns.

That we traded #25 and a 4year 400k contract for Melk suggests that we should be able to have that luxury and that we can trust him to not only hold his place but excel at being a rebounding half back. Hibberd shouldn't be in such desperate need. i'm sure he's valuable at that pick - but not so valuable as to compromise any bigger picture trade ideas we might have this year. I just hope that Melksham steps up to the plate, if we were to walk away from the Hibberd trade and go to the draft/use it elsewhere.

I wonder which player we have our eye on in the draft with this years 2nd round pick, if we're only willing to give our 2017 2nd round pick for Hibberd.

This is an excellent suggestion. Perhaps our club and DL is underselling Gawns forward abilities. He was doing things that Boyd did in the GF with absolutely dominant pack marks without any competition in the air, at times this year. Could be a weapon if he brings in 40 goals a year and our mids expand their game to feed off Nankervis style ruck work and be more unpredictable

Even if playing hardball backfires, we have Melksham, Lamumba, Salem & Hunt backed up. We can offer them a third round and/or player and threaten them with the grievance tribunal route. From hearing their fans, they were only too happy to do the same type of thing to Gold Coast with O'Meara and the preseason draft. Any haggler knows that you walk away from a bad offer and let them chase you down with your price or you keep walking

is 31 year old Will Minson worth a year or two? He said he's leaving the Dogs. Never saw him play this year.

Noticed some of their players don't take things very seriously, which is fine. But Libba seems to do it in a rude kind of way.

I don't want to get all political, but who knows what will happen over the next 11 years with the state of the world. Probably not much. I can empathise with quitting a job you don't like that much and travelling and investing the big windfall he's already made, to set himself up. Especially if you have interests elsewhere. Might be a difficult thing to grasp if you assume every footballer is the same.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/10/03/afl-trade-rumours-every-rumour-all-in-one-place/ Jack Frost is out of contract. If we're trading out Dunn & Garland, then we would need depth upgrade? He would still be a strong defender in the 22 though, injury free. Continuing on with the sibling topic..

Rumor floating around that Hogan will kick 8 in round 1. Can anyone confirm?

I agree. Although my positivity is more in his development potential because of his age (21) If the club wants to bring in players who give their all, week to week and provide us with some additional toughness that doesn't come at a big cost, then adding in serviceable players isn't a bad thing.

Christian S

But we're bringing in Shannon Motlops brother?

Played a decent GF and gave everything. 21 disposals @ 85%DE. Was on 80% of the match. Could be a very valuable addition to our stocks now that he has some big game experience. Signed until the end of 2017. Will he be in our future planning? I would assume 2018 and 19 will be his last opportunity to play with Nathan.

Pretty well? I had an idea to recruit Bliclavs from the Cats as I feel he's the prototype midfielder like Kennedy and Bontempelli but he's re-signed now. Who do we we bring in as a 195+ cm big bodied aggressive midfielder or player to compliment our small sized mids?

It's pretty obvious that we need to ride every tackle like it's someone swatting us with a feather duster. Once the tackle has hit it's hardest, with your free arms and hands, get a tap/handball off. If anything, the Dogs have given a blueprint that a tackle against you, means nothing. Raise your hands and ride it out.

I thought it was funny initially. Sometimes you have to laugh at the absurdity of life.

[censored] the dogs. Throwing the ball all the time, ducking and getting the 50/50's. Exploiting the rules and "cheating" - What an admirable premiership drought break. Don't give a [censored]] if i'm drunk or salty, but that game was just entertainment in the service of a "fairytale" - There is nothing special going on over there about culture, coaches or personnel. They're exploiting the rules.

26 disp and 155 af, ahead of Kennedy on 34 disposals. Though Would prob say kennedy was single handedly trying to drag his team over the line in the 2nd half.

This sums up how I feel. It wasn't in the spirit of the game. Look at how in 2008, the rushed behinds completely stemmed the momentum of the Cats. I know i'm probably clouded with salty emotion but this just feels like the beginning of another era where a coach has learned to exploit the rules and will probably win more premierships while other club struggle to adapt to a new type of game style. RugbyFL Today it felt like Sydney winning was more of a fairytale to prevent an nevitable new premiership dog dynasty getting 'an early one' with new rules exploits.

This result doesn't feel right to me. Absolutely exploiting the rules with throwing and ducking. Umpires paying all 50/50's to the Dogs. Seems like the WWF. Fabricating a narrative for commercial success

.

Well the last goal would have taken 10,000 hours of expert ducking training

Bevo gives me the Hawthorn vibe. The dogs feel like Hawthorn, exploiting rules wherever there are loopholes and weaknesses. If the Swans win this one, they will have prevented an early 2008 like premiership. The dogs will prob get their premiership in the future. Their game-play is clearly the best