Rab D Nesbitt

I'd prefer to read all of the Trac and Clarry rumours when placed alongside the recent comments made by Jack Viney as a positive sign. We now appear to have a core group of influential players that aren't happy with second best any more. Let's hope it's infectious (sorry).

Merge Footscray with St Kilda. Change the black on the saints guernsey to blue or the blue on the dogs jumper to black. Change the bulldog logo to a saint bernard. Simples.

Keeping things simple why don't we just trade our two big macs to North for their curly fries.

I saw Eddie mention that North Melbourne could play 11 games in Melbourne and 11 in Tasmania. Where is the fairness of them having what in effect would be 22 'home' games over two bases with no travel to WA, SA, NSW or Qld ? With only 9 clubs left in Victoria does that mean that 2 unlucky interstate sides would have to play their home fixture against them here in Melbourne ? Let's not forget that this guy is on the competition committee.

I'm non committal on the guy but if the issue is all about the guarantee of a third year and not money then why can't we just front end his contract to pay him what he's likely to be worth to us over the next 24 months ? The only contention with year 3 then might be about whether he's taking up a valuable list spot.

Maybe just confirmation that lockdown or not the grass really is greener down here in Victoria ?

Wise words there Grr-owl (see what I did there). My story is pretty similar. Left these shores back in '96 and returned late in 2014 and like you barely gave the game a second thought. I too find it hard to believe that the Blues have been stinking it up for most of that time. The introduction of GC and the Giants arguably cost us more than most considering we were cellar dwellers at the time although our track record in both recruitment and development back then might suggest otherwise. It's hard to foresee what will become of the two franchises going forward. If nothing else they should at least look at changing the longwinded name of one that was surely born out of a focus group. Is there anything less imaginative than naming a new club after a geographical catchment area ? Give me the likes of Harlequins, Corinthians or Rangers ( but definitely not Celtic) any day.

Maybe his work behind the scenes was to get that pocket of the city rezoned as part of the MCG precinct.

I'm not advocating this as a strategy but surely it's just a case of staying one step ahead of the two worst financially viable clubs at any given time. All of the most recent expansion clubs are being propped up with AFL money and I can't foresee a time where any other major city could could accommodate a third club. If the AFL have no appetite to expand the competition and the broadcasters want nine games each week then that would leave us with two existing clubs relocating to Tasmania and possibly the NT or Canberra.

What I know about player contracts and salary caps could be written on a postage stamp but in the case of both Clarry and Trac I feel we need to try and get them to sign 5 year deals this time around, just like Jack Viney did. In theory wouldn't that make it easier to weave the bulk of the salaries they would command into specific years that wouldn't hurt our overall playing list or prevent us from competing in free agency ? They are both of an age where we could renegotiate contract extensions mid term to rejig the financial spread if need be and at the same time give them certainty into their 30's.

Maybe the guarantee of being able to visit his home town of Hobart in round 23 every year will be enough to get him over the line.

If I'd known that Collingwood were going to get their @rses handed to them tonight I'd have been happy to see them win last week.

Hi '56. If Oscar is to leave I can see the Hawks being one of the clubs interested considering their overall success in bringing in players to play very specific roles down back. Particularly as he's still only 24 years old. As he's big on his golf it'll just be a short drive from training to Riversdale where I think he's a member.

Don't ask me EO. As soon as I discovered Brayshaw was commentating I turned the sound off on the macpro I'm intermittently watching it on. If somebody has scored one though they usually get to keep the match ball once the game has finished. Don't know if that'll catch on in the AFL however. Maybe CH7 could get BT or some other donut to present it in the rooms after a game.

Yeah, I know, but you know what I mean.

What chance Geelong, Richmond and Collingwood all going out in straight sets ? ?

Hawthorn could pick him up to form an impenetrable backline trinity with Chipper and Frosty.

A year extension for Joel Smith may suggest that the club are still confident they can find the right shaped hole for this particular peg. He wouldn't be on serious coin anyway and the worst that can happen is that he plays the season out down at Casey. Hardly the end of the world.

Every government on the planet, whether they be national or regional make their decisions through a political prism. It's just how it is and it's no different with this virus. However, there are three in the western world whose decisions I think have been purely political and when combined with their total ineptitude for the job has seen their people and economy suffer enormously. They are England, the USA and Brazil. By and large everyone else at least seem to at least want to do the right thing, despite getting some things wrong.

Wow. That's a great insight into how he sees his career trajectory. Thanks for sharing it on DL. It would be a shame of course if he were to leave after the club being so patient with his development. He's only been a superstar for five minutes in his football timeline to date but perhaps he sees the 2 year extension he penned as being a part repayment for that. The balance will be forthcoming as you say if we can provide him with a talented enough ensemble to reach his goals.

Hi goodwindees. I don't think we've spoken on the forum before. Were you given any indication as to when during the season this discussion took place ? I guess I'm just trying to pinpoint whether how the team were travelling at the time could have had anything to do with his enquiry ?

These three boys should probably make the most of the open bar at the B&F tonight.

It was just last week that Goodie said in a presser that we have to become more ruthless as a club. The outcome of this might be the earliest indication of that happening.

Collingwood fans remind me of England fans. I'm friends with quite a few as individuals and it sometimes makes me think, geez, maybe I shouldn't be so negative about their team, they're really nice people. Then I see them as a collective unit at a game and know exactly why I should trust my instincts.

So Collingwood are heading to Perth. Should we have a whip round for a get well soon card to Josh Kennedy and Jeremy McGovern ?