rpfc

This would purely be a "let's screw Carlton" move. He is a bloke who was told by his club that they can only afford to keep him as a Rookie. Some thought he would be cut outright. Just let it go.

He went to Caulfield Grammar. An APS school.

Not picking players because they may go home is pathetic nonsense. No offence, deeman, but kids are idiots who don't know what they want. I will back Roos and co. to provide an environment that keeps Hogan (WA), Toumpas (SA), Viney (Krypton) et al at the club.

I was being facetious; Royal was given the keys to a car without an engine. Prendergast was one of those charged with providing an engine. His failure can still be noted, even if we should move on from it already.

No doubt, BB. But we have to do it first, but we also have to get sponsors before the season starts, which means that we have to play respectable footy before we start playing - and that is very hard to do...

Brian Royal.

I guess we will never know.

Before it even comes to that good Dr, the AFL has to have the desire and NT the market. It's like these idiots running around saying Tassie will get us. There is no market to capture; it is already AFL-oriented, the commercial opportunities are limited, and the AFL is a little pre-occupied - in both attention and money - with their investment in GWS and GC. Both of which should get a team before markets that cannot support a team gets one - like NT, Tasmania, and ACT.

I would say he is more 'cut' at the perception that Adelaide put forward that he left, rather than being pushed. He seemed pretty happy to be a Demon, and probably more importantly, that he is wanted and his presence required.

Of course he is, who wouldn't be? But he is saying, or spinning, that percentage is a good indicator - as it is. So is quarters won. And it's not insight, and nor is wanting to be 'competitive' weakness. It's all just talk.

How can I miss the point? It's my point... Not every midfielder has to to win as much contested footy as the next. Some hurt teams with their spread and hard running. Watts can be a very good outside midfielder and very damaging with the footy. If you don't think that - that is your right.

lol You mean 'it's maths.'

I have, on more than one occasion, said that there are more measurements of progress than the 'legislatively important' W/L column. Bailey thought it was 'Quarters Won' - Roos sees percentage as important. They are not wrong. In fact, they are both right. My issue is with the Demon fans who hypocritically lambaste the former as weakness and laud the latter as insight.

I get tired of this overtly defensive focus we have seemingly ingrained in our psyche. Neeld had this notion that all you have to do is teach them how to play defensively and stop the other team and that's that. But if all you are worried about is 'The Other Bloke' then who is playing footy here? One is intent on the footy, and the other is intent on their bloke not getting the footy - who has a chance to win the footy in that scenario. No, I want some footy hunters, I want Trengove to go out there and try to win the effing aggot. I don't think Watts can win contested footy but if he works hard enough to spread, he can reach heights in this game by being damaging with the footy in space. More damaging than anyone who would be playing on him.

3 years with a trigger that he thinks he will easily hit; he refers to it as a four year contract. I guess if he does easily hit that trigger then everyone is happy he is a Demon at 32...

Oh, yeah, FFS...FFS? Really? You are talking about minimum not 'a possibility, not out of the question.' It isn't out of the question that Roos inspires a complete turnaround with these weak-willed airheads and we make the finals, but we are coming from a low base. 54%? God damn... I expect consistent effort and a dearth of blow outs. I don't expect a 400% increase in the amount of wins as a minimum.

So unless Watts can be as good a midfielder as Swan, Selwood, or Mitchell we shouldn't bother playing him there? So I guess the only midfielder that earns a guernsey is Nat Jones - going to be lonely in there... Certainly Michie won't be at that level - should we bother with him? Oh, and BTW: Mitchell averages 18.3 Uncontested Possessions a game, 9.7 Contested Possessions, 4.4 Clearances, and 3.5 Inside 50s. Swan: 19 UPs, 11.5 CPs, 5 Cs, and 5 I50s. Selwood: 12 UPs, 12.8 CPs, 5.1 Cs and 4.1 I50s. Jones: 12.3 UPs, 10.9 CPs, 5.9 Cs and 2.7 I50s. Pendlebury: 17.3 UPs, 12.6 CPs, 5.6 Cs and 4.1 I50s. My point is that Uncontested Possessions fuel the modern game and some of the best midfielders of this generation get high numbers of them and that is what drives their effectiveness. It also helps if you are as skilled as Watts.

Who are we beating for these '8 minimum wins'?

Michie? At the moment he is a good WAFL player. And being a good midfielder involves much more that 'beating Sam Mitchell in a stoppage.' If Watts can spread and get 20 Uncontested Possessions a game and 6 Inside 50s we will be a much better team.

For those who interpreted the article above as Bernie not wanting to be a Dee I suggest you listen to the audio of the MMM interview in its entirety: http://www.triplem.com.au/adelaide/sport/afl/news/2013/10/bernie-vince-off-to-melbourne/ Rucci is always selective with what information he passes on to readers. And this article is not for Demon consumption but Crow, to make crow... I think Vince wanted to be wanted. And he seems to have got that.

Gotta boo somebody.

He said you were over simplifying it, not that you were wrong. Sponsors care about everything related to their exposure to a club. We would be a toxic mix of failure and instability up until Jackson agreed to stay and lured Roos. So that means we are a blank canvas with (soon to be) 40k members but we will still have less exposure on TV, papers, and radio than other clubs. It will be tough to get high end sponsors as it always is.

"Before you worry about how many games you are going to win, you have got to be competitive for longer." - Paul Roos Ahh, jeez... Alright, let him have it.

Yes, Vince's words were: "A real Clubman's club."

The latter.