BDA

We did well to secure him in the first place. I don't think it was ever going to be a long arrangement. Plus he costs an arm and a leg. My preference is to keep him for another year if possible. It's tough being away from family for extended periods so totally understandable he wants to be closer to them. Best we make sure we create as much IP as we can while we have him and ensure a proper transition occurs.

Both i reckon. He's proven not very versatile unfortunately and i doubt he can re-invent himself. Revert to the same role as 2018 otherwise i fear for his spot in the 22.

I think that ship sailed a long time ago.

Far from a bust imv. I think he’s been a victim of forward line malfunction and rubbish delivery over the past couple of years. Once selected and partnered with LJ this season he took his marks and kicked his goals and other than the Hawthorn match kicked pretty straight. As soon as LJ got injured he struggled. Another pre-season under his belt, taking the 2nd defender and adding some mongrel to his game I predict about 40 goals this year. No slack efforts allowed as TMac is waiting in the wings to take his spot. I can’t wait to see him and BB in tandem this season. It’s critical to our success that their partnership is productive.

If he did request a trade and we reluctantly had to do a deal what would it take? De Goey plus a first rounder??? ?

Thanks for sharing. I'll log on and register I want to know: 1. whats the latest regarding the home base 2. what impact covid has had on our bottom line and financial position

I caught his interview with SEN yesterday (replay). He came across as quite intelligent so even if he doesn't get picked up as a DFA he has that smarts to re-train and find an occupation post footy career.

Not sure how the broadcast rights work but typically bigger clubs and bigger games attract a greater share. There would be benefit in having the 18th team as you have more games to include in the package but I doubt GC games are all that attractive. I don’t have details so happy to be corrected on this point. There’s also an opportunity cost involved in backing GC when the AFL could be investing in a different team and location. I reckon Tassie will end up with one of North or GC but I thought a second team in Brisbane city is a better option. Creates some cross town rivalry similar to Adelaide and Perth. GC has already had a failed A-league franchise and the titans are run by the NRL so even in a rugby league state the GC can’t support a team. After 10 years it’s past time to accept failure and move on imv. There’s no shame in failure but there comes a point when reality needs to be acknowledged.

Money is tight and patience must surely be wearing thin. I wonder at what point the AFL will pull the pin on this misadventure. Can’t keep throwing good money after bad. The current group of youngsters up there look promising and Dew seems a reasonable coach but if they go through another cycle of failing to make finals, subsequently losing their best players and bottoming out again the AFL will have to make the hard call.

There are some decent mature age players in the state leagues that I would have liked we take a punt on. Very safe play extending all but understandable given covid and limited opportunities to develop this year. Hopefully Lockhart can cement his spot in the 22. He showed decent form last year before mysteriously falling out of favor. Other than the addition of Brown (huge get) we’re heading into next year with the same group. I think it’s enough for Top 4 as long as the coaching/game play improves and Burgess keeps us fit.

Agree. They have shown themselves to be untrustworthy and players and managers will think twice before dealing with them after seeing how Treloar and Stephenson were treated. With time it'll be forgotten but i don;t see them signing any Fa's over the next couple of years.

You would think his understudy would be well placed to take over when Burgess leaves so the fact he’s moved on tells me Burgess is staying for a while longer at least. It looks like Burgess will return to SA when his contract is up so hopefully the club have a replacement in mind and preferably one who will work in-house with Burgess before he goes, learn at the foot of the master.

I thought he was contracted for another 2 years?

His purple patch this year came when Jackson was sharing some of the load. Once LJ was injured he had no help and his form dropped away. Let’s see how he goes in 2021 when BB takes the best defender. I’ve reservations as well but I think his output will improve with BB on aboard.

I’ve no issues with Judd turning down the Demons. We were a rabble at the time. I reckon I would have done the same. I don’t like the way he used the club for leverage. I would not have done that. Childhood loyalty matters to me.

The opportunity to win a flag trumps boyhood allegiances from what I can see. The chance to wear the red and blue wasn’t a factor when Mr C Judd returned to Melbourne. In fact IIRC he used the Demons link to create some competitive tension and improve his deal with Carlton. What an A**hole.

There’s no point worrying about what Trac may or may not do in 2 years’ time. Coaching and game plan are the immediate concerns for me. If we get our act together and are successful on the field then contract extensions will take care of themselves. If not then our best players might leave as is their right under free agency.

They're dreaming.

It’s worth trying reduced rotations but I think making rule changes in the hope of returning to some bygone nirvana is futile. That time and place is no more. Coaches have changed. Players have changed. Sports science, strength and conditioning, data analysis are all light years ahead of where they were. If the changes create more space and attacking play then great but I reckon it’s far more likely that Titan is proven right. I think you may as well try to uninvent the internet tbh.

Unless we’re set on Nik Cox then I don’t see us trading up the draft. He looks a player but I’m not sure he is worth the premium (or any other prospect for that matter) because I think we’ll have to trade out both 18 and 19. There are good players in our range that fill needs so my preference is to go with what we have. That said JM is the pick swap master so I wouldn’t rule anything out.

Wise advice

True but I think Shaw was a young inexperienced coach and he was appointed after Fagan started having success with Brisbane. Talking of Fagan I’m not sure we can say he’s been a complete success just yet. I think Brisbane are still a ways off winning a flag. They had all the advantages this year and were still pumped in the prelim. They were knocked out in straight sets last year. Daniher is far from a certainty to stay fit so I’m not sure using Fagan as a successful example is true. Might be in the future but not yet.

Fair point but just to clarify I don’t think he’s an immediate replacement. He’ll get stronger with proper strength and conditioning which should improve his depth.

I think 17 games was the right call. I’m no great fan of Gil but other competitions didn’t have to deal with border closures in country to the same degree the AFL had to. It would have been a big ask of the 10 Vic teams to prolong the hub by another 3-4 weeks to fit in more games. Hub life is far from ideal for families never mind wanting to get back home to see extended family, parents, brothers, sisters etc.

I wish him luck. He'll need it. North are a basket case.