rpfc

That may be but Gawn has no extra ability (right now) over Spencer that would put him ahead. So while Spencer is there, Gawn is behind him.

He better be patient. Martin and Spencer will be difficult to push past at such a young age.

Ultimatums... He is agreeing to negotiations - at the end of the season. I don't feel the need for my club to be dictated by media distractions on Bailey's future, why is it any different for Tom? We can wait. And distractions? Who cares - we're ninth and we are lucky to be there. It's hardly going to derail our flag hopes...

I don't see how you can blame this sign writer for the media speculation. The 'don't go' sign is a symptom of the speculation, not a cause of it. The media is relentless on this, and require nothing more than a 'new' or 'slightly altered' rumour each week to continue writing about it. The fuel is coming from no-nothing sh!tstirrers or deliberate misinformers (Gubby Allan and his tentacles throughout the footy media). In fact, the media has also written/talked about what other players in the media have written/talked about. They are like rabbits - they have to eat their excrement at least once to make sure they digested it... I really like that metaphor.

Ottens filled a hole, Jolly and Ball too, Guerra, Dew, Hale, Burgoyne, for the Hawks. Judd wasn't a hole filler really, he was a newly paved road... Are we there yet? I won't know what holes we have until we get close and fail. I can guess about the second ruck, but Martin is doing a very good impersonation of a guy who wants to play for a decade... FF? Maybe. Senior players with leadership abilities? Now we're cooking...

I would prefer to see Morton improve incrementally as he is than do this dance again with Lyndon.

Petterd should play on Deledio, get him to be accountable. Both of them really.

This heartless story has got to the point where Jon Ralph gives the old "who knows what to believe" BS when given: - the various rumours that seem to morph every day. - the word of a 19 year old. I've said it before - apart from Kim Duthie, Tom is the most mistrusted teenager in the country. And all he has done to deserve that is postpone his contract negotiations until the end of the season.

The club should back itself and not listen to those who want to give an ultimatum to Tom. A supporter can make his feelings known to a particular player, I don't see the desperation there. Maybe because we are coming from a position of desperation as fans. We support our club, have a minor voice, but still want our views to be known. I would be against the club making a sign in relation to Tom. I hope my semantical movement has cleared that up.

If anyone agrees with rpfc it is because they know the truth. I really don't agree with that logic. The longer this goes on, the longer it goes on. Because Tom and Velocity have said they will deal with this at the end of the season. Read into it all you like when something actually happens.

They have a good midfield Richmond. I'm sure we can find a role for Batram...

We did. On this board. This is what I mean, Rogue. We have actual rumours, created by Gubby Allan at GWS and then we compound it by making up our own out of thin air surrounding Tom leaving and our own inadequacies about our club compared to other Melbourne clubs. Who does that?

Explain this logic.

Rivers can play on resting ruckmen.

I don't think it is begging. A fan wanted to get an obvious message across. How does he put it if not "Tom please stay"? "Don't leave you [censored]!"? "We don't need you, but if you stick around - sweet"? "Playerthatagreestostaysayswhat - Gotcha!!"? The fan who made that sign wants his player to stay at his club. As opposed to the 'neverending rumour believers' who are now certain Eddie is conspiring and that Tom will end up, not at GWS, but at another Melbourne club. As opposed to those who want the club to give a 'sign here or play with Fev' ultimatum to Tom - showing no confidence in the clubs ability to convince a kid to stay at the end of the year. Just give me a sign that isn't weak and pathetic and gives the same message. Because surely you are not against signs? Or is it bad to say in any form of communication "please stay, Tom"? Or is the 'please'? Yes, politeness is a sign (heh) of weakness... Non-issue - fans make signs.

Very true. But they wouldn't be completely consumed with EVERY new rumour that they came across - including a far-fetched LOST-like conspiracy surrounding Eddie McGuire, 4 years, and our own inadequacies.

Didn't get around to doing it last week. Half busy, and half couldn't be ... Quite the turnaround. It's amazing though - the stats say we were destroyed more by Collingwood than we destroyed Freo - but it's still 15 goals...

I agree. Supporters find various ways to support their club. Some get onto forums and eviscerate the character of someone they 'just know' is leaving, and some make signs. One is healthier than the other...

Because we feel inadequate when compared to others. Really wish we could just arrogantly sit back and say we will keep him. Other clubs' supporters would. We are going to be fracking relevant very soon, if Tom decides to stick around we will be absolutely fracking relevant.

Schadenfreude or maschocism... We will see.

You do realise that that is how the poster thinks they voted... I wish the posters who like to do these wouldn't give their "this is how it might have worked" - it is so pointless. Why? Because you then extrapolate from an assumption. And that is literally pointless.

Yeah, we had no excuse to give that hack so much time!! On AA guernsey is all we get repaid with?!

Gys and Rush for HiFi and The Disappearance.

BUMP. Pretty happy with Watts' potential.

Is it posing a rhetorical question?