rpfc

Mark Cuban, the Owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA Franchise, decided years ago that 'the Mavs don't do development' and that all they target are proven NBA pros that can do what their, admittedly fantastic, coach Rick Carlisle wants them to do. They get Free Agents and Trade and rarely do they go to the draft with a meaningful pick, or with many of them.

That decision is not the one that give me nightmares (yet). Although I was attached to the kid before the draft (I hate when that happens...). It's 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008 (later picks not really Jack), 2009, and 2011. (shivers)

Quite revealing about why we have been so poor in the last few years. Our hopeless drafting from 2001 to 2004 means that only Jamar and Dunn are players drafted then that still remain. Our disastrous efforts from 2007 to 2011 means that we have only 11 players aged 22-26 that we drafted - that is a crucial 5 year age range for AFL clubs. The most promising 5 players of those 11 are McDonald, Jetta, Watts, Howe, and Grimes. Another 6 of that 11 may not be on the list for much longer: Trengove, Fitz, Gawn, McKenzie, Spencer, and Bail. Prime years of a football career and we don't have many and we don't have much quality.

That article was written with a bent that Adelaide had picked the wrong kid, purely because of group think among 'experts.' Rendell backs himself, the AFC back him too, and he recruits the best player of that draft. We take the talent in that draft at ND4 that 'we have to take' and he is gone 5 years later. The 'tenth best player' in a draft was a generational talent - does that give you pause?

You want us to wear all red? I don't think that would be a very good look...

That's Howe in action in that photo. Not Frawley.

Yes, reserving judgement till I can see it during a game but it is a very fluorescent red in that picture...

They both look adequate. And should generate a bit of cash for the club too. Ok, so which away games can we wear the red one that we couldn't just wear the traditional? Carlton. Port. Adelaide? Brisbane? Bulldogs? St Kilda? WCE?

Assuming we go into with two flanks and 2 bench players and 1 sub as those in the rotation then that gives Newton at least 10 opportunities to make the best 22. N Jones, Tyson, Cross, Vince, and Viney will be the first picked. After that Michie, M Jones, JKH, Salem, Brayshaw, Riley, McKenzie, Bail, Toumpas, and Kent will be those in the mix for the other 5-7 spots. I hope Grimes is added to this list; he was a junior centreman and is currently being pushed out of the backline from Howe's form and Lumumba's and Frost's arrival. Newton would be a good show to be in that rotation but some thought that about Michie last year; a player still wanted by their contending club intending to find more time at a lower, midfield-deficient club.

It's even harder when your midfield is historically bad at getting the ball. You can be as attacking as you like but if the other team has the pill - they won't give a [censored].

I don't remember any regular promises of attractive football. I do recall an emphasis on percentage as a measure of competitiveness, as Scoop Junior says above. I don't like the outward preoccupation of defensive attitudes - if all you care about is stopping your bloke from getting the ball, then only one of you wants the ball - but I knew the style of football we were going to get was what we got. The fans will come back when we start winning, not when we play in end-to-end shootouts and get beaten by ten goals.

Yes. His welcoming thread is full of people getting ahead of themselves - as is their right... http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/35085-melbourne-team-for-round-1-2014/page-7?hl=2014

Must have been a good first 14 weeks...

I think Jones would love to play with an overpaid star than with no star at all. I also don't believe he has been tremendously underpaid. I worry that he was also on a front ended contract and might be an Unrestricted Free Agent but he will earn a wage that some of you will think is too much. The equivalent wage of $600k in 2008 is $800k in 2015. They are the same percentage of their respective salary caps. The worth of the best players is growing rapidly.

Isn't the greatest light in that photo... I will reserve final judgement until its confirmed and I see it in a decent light. If it's a blood red I think it will be a good enough clash jumper. White shorts won't be a great look though...

That is Satryconhome (sp). There is ample evidence to decide whether he fits in.

It's agreeing that he is tradeable. And that isn't saying much, there are only about 5 blokes that are untradeable.

That is us agreeing to that deal.

If Howe had the chance to knock it back it meant that we agreed on the deal.

Scenario 1: ND23 and someone at PSD2 or DFA. No Frost. Scenario 2: Frost, ND40, and ND53. No other scenarios look plausible to me. The Saints got Membrey in DFA, they would be in negotiations right now with Frost if we didn't do that deal. I don't think we made a bad decision here. The bad decisions may come with ND40 and ND53 however...

What if some think the club should use its 2nd pick?

Solid contribution...

Wouldn't the team with 6 players that loses every game be last?

Yeah, it's way worse than you think it is, wyl. One equalisation measure is that gate receipts from all clubs go in a pool to be shared equally. Just putting that out there. Doesn't solve the issue, bug it would affect more than one club, and all the clubs would reap. The benefits of the AFLs obsession with crowd numbers.