rpfc

I started that thread to spark debate - not to end it. I think you are taking a few leaps in the above post. We improved markedly last year, and yet, we were still so far behind even below average teams, that the next step is to get to those teams level before looking past them.

I know, I looked it up and created a thread concerning it, but again, we managed to keep the other team out of their forward line 6 times a game, but still could not bring it into our own one more time a game than in 2013. It is going to tough for us to get to that 'median AFL team' level - such is where we are coming from.

So stats never lie? They can certainly mislead... 10 Inside 50s doesn't sound like much but it is quite a bit. Roos was only able to improve that number by .5 from the year before...

We will know in about 4-5 years how good or bad the trade was... It is funny to think of the hand-wringing on here right after that trade - now some look at it like a master-stroke. Who will be right?

My point about them running near capacity is to say that they are nearing their ceilings and won't bring a massive improvement - they are all playing so well already. If we take Nathan Jones as an example - he is improving but only marginally, and evidently, not enough to push us up the ladder. He is the benchmark for Tyson and Viney and McDonald to not rest on their laurels and continue to improve their games - I just think they are near to their peak levels right now. You speak of 'the want' in players, and I don't think we have lacked that in our players - we have lacked the talent to realise that want. I would love to see wholesale improvement in 2014 but I am not sure there are many avenues for it to come, nor much scope for dealing with injuries - we need our new players to come in seamlessly, all our best players to injury free and in-form, the bulk of the list to regain lost confidnce, and for our kids to come on quickly. It is a cocktail that rarely happens.

The players that traditionally improve quite a bit are those 21-24 who have enough experience, confidence in themselves, and their body is beginning to let them do what they want. We don't have too many talents in that age range. Tyson, Viney, McDonald, and Jetta are running near capacity. McKenzie, Fitz, Riley, and Michie look to be limited footballers (but they may turn into handy players). Frost, Newton, Howe and Watts are where we are looking for improvement but the last two have had such incremental improvement that fans can't see it - it's like continental drift... I am looking forward to Garlett, Lumumba, Frost, and Hogan being thrown into that side, but the talents I am looking at for big improvements are not ready for that to be demanded of them - they are too young.

Exposing too many kids, too soon - leads to the malaise we entered in 2008 and have yet to come out of. Development is not about 'AFL games played.' I know this from bitter experience.

This place is fine, I really think some of you are spoilt - go and have a look at Bigfooty or any other sports related forum - this place is a beacon compared to those places.

He's quick for his height and big arse, but nothing special. He has got solid skills as you guys have seen from the highlights, I always think he looks a bit rushed but, more often than not, they hit the target. His vision and dynamism is what set him apart from the many fit plodders at the few NEAFL games I went to. I won't go out on a limb, it's tough to make the grade and he might only get this year to do it, such is life on the Rookie List - a lot can go right, and a lot can go wrong. I hope he is asked to compete with the bottom four midfielders for a spot in the rotation (M Jones, Salem, Bail, Newton, Michie, Riley, McKenzie, and the kids from this draft) rather than asked to play another role. He is a pure, 'go and get it' mid in NEAFL and that is why he was drafted, let's see how he goes.

I don't think so, but we will have to wait and see, he may not even reach the heights of Magner...

Back into full contact drills mid to late January so he should be good to go for what will be the most defining year of his life really...

Confirmation bias? Of what? What is my argument? You have alluded to Frawley's gun-for-hire nature for months across any thread loosely related to it - here we are in Zak Jones' thread. I don't think it is 'pebble throwing' to remind people that there is nothing but conjecture and subjective analysis when it comes to Frawley's character and the circumstances of his exit.

Well then, please define Frost's character after his decision to leave GWS? A wanted young player who played the first 15 games of 2014 up and leaves - what kind of person does that?

What if Frawley's circumstances was closer to Vince's? What if we didn't chase his signature that hard? We don't know and can only go on conjecture in the future. But calling him a 'bounty hunter' is a bit much, we stole GWS' groomed CHB in Frost who left a club that wanted to keep him and was playing regularly. I just think if we have to consider the various way players might leave a club, then we have to embrace the complexity of that disengagement, and I don't think it is as simple as James Frawley = Boba Fett...

Not only that, he hated doing it. It's not popular but Hogan should be given some technique work with Stafford - he would eat up those 25 minutes a game and love it on the ball.

Can't miss something you rarely had...

They get about 80-100 a day I have gleaned, so we are about 'a week' ahead of last year...

Yeah, biggest fish I have seen in the small Ainslie pond, but how that translates, I can't predict. He will take the game on and play in and out if allowed to play midfield, but I am a jaded footy watcher now, I really can't say how he will go. I really think he might struggle initially at Casey.

Bigger through the hips. He looked big enough, if he is good enough.

Wing is midfield. And from what they were running through moving the ball from HB to HF, Lumumba, Jones, and Tyson were where the kicks were targeted and the space left for. I think he will be too valuable at HB for this to work very often, but I admire Roos' desire to give it a chance.

One thing I will add to the above is that Brayshaw and Petracca joined in with the forwards when they were running through their leads. So they do not expect them to be everyday mids in 2015. Hooray.

We have probably drafted better synchronised swimmers than footy players up till 2012.

Dunn would do a better job. He even used to play forward. And AFL experience is required now? Better close the site now, Andy... Been a good run.

He looked like a footy player. Great skills, hit the drop of the ball, I don't think he will see it much, but I think he will kick multiple goals most games.

There looked to be a few in the mix with the backs, don't recall Salem being one of them. Grimes was there, Garland. Bit too early to settle on it, all I could see was they were getting Lumumba comfortable in the midfield.