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Completely agree, and will play in ONE win against Freo.

I really think footy in growing markets should concentrate on the spectacle rather than the results. The Swans play this awful, dour, slow game-plan and have had a decent following in recent years because of the flag they won and the finals they played in. But they haven't converted people to following AFL, they have converted them to following success. And that's not a winning strategy for hearts and minds. They have to go to the footy because they want to see what kids want to see: fast pace, dare, boldness, high-flying marks, and plenty of goals. And I really think it comes down to this - the SCG is too small and has cramped the Swans into playing the way they do. WS18 have to make sure their arena is conducive to those things I previously mentioned - and show those in NSW what footy is really about.

Except families out Casey way...

I'll have a go. If McLean, Moloney, Rivers, or Jamar are carrying anything they should be wrapped in cotton wool. Same goes for the rest of the players but especially those 4. Player protection - McLean, coming off a low PS base, rested for a few weeks or the rest of the season. If he gets injured, and he has hobbled off more than once in the past two months, in these pointless games that would be an indictment on the club's management of an important player that is injury prone. Player development - Jurrah to HFF, Bate to FF, Grimes to RR, Jetta to HBF, Bennell to FP, Morton to CHF, Petterd to a wing, Jones remains as tagger, and, maybe, Watts to the other wing. Bring in Watts and Cheney for, possibly, Dunn and Batram. List management - Newton for Robbo, Wheatley stays out for Bennell, Whelan stays out for Grimes, and Miller stays out for Dunn or Watts. Sylvia serves penance for a week or two for his roundhouse. And, possibly, McLean for McKenzie or Valenti. Against Richmond I would like to see us line up like this FB: Cheney Warnock Bruce HB: Rivers Frawley Jetta C: Petterd Moloney Watts HF: Jurrah Morton Davey FF: Green Bate Bennell R: Jamar, Jones, Grimes I: McKenzie, Martin, Newton, McDonald This team will have 14 players 22 or younger. Even Rivers could be wrapped in cotton wool for McNamara but it is still very young and experimental - it serves the future. And if they still beat the Tigers or NM (they won't lose to Freo) then that's how fate will have it.

Spot on, 45H. Freak has got the worst ratio on D'Land when it comes to judging players. I mean, Grimes is 20 and taking the kick outs, but he has a "fundamentally flawed" kicking action?! Watts will be fine, bring him back in for the Tigers, NM and Freo games.

I don't know why I bother, but... PA lost that game because they thought it would be a easy win. They're an arrogant bunch of tossbags, and I have no idea why they are resigning Williams, they should get Hardwick or Viney in and smash that arrogance that permeates that team like a disease. Anyway, they didn't turn up on the day and we might suffer for it. But to blame anyone at the MFC for that is ludicrous. With that said - I want to see players rested, played in new positions, and more youth against Richmond and NM. If they do those things I want to see and we still win two more games... That is the way it is, and ever shall be...

I don't believe 2008 was 'mediocre' but I do agree that next year is crucial to Bailey, McLean, and the club. Get him started for next year, don't run him into the ground and give him a rest for the remainder of the year. The club should not select him and force his preparation for next year. All players want to do is play, but I don't think Brock playing now is going to help him in 2010.

I heard the AFL is toying with the idea of making Free Agency available to Rookies, but they have to be placed on the list of their new club. Might come in at the end of the year. I think it is the AFL trialling FA to see for potential, and avoidable, problems when the league has FA in a few years time.

Agree. Rewind to after the Lions game and there was nothing but handwringing and prophecies of doom. Some said we haven't progressed at all, and anyone would know that was utter nonsense if they went to the footy regularly last year (we lost 7 games by 10 goals or more). It's amazing what a few decent performances can do. Now let's play the kids, put in a few more decent performances, and get ready for next year.

Valenti certainly should be given some games. We are in another losing season, let's see what the kids can do...

Jakovich played with similar faith in his instincts. And confidence in his abilities... Give him 13 next year.

Absolutely, with one caveat - a wingman goes forward, he doesn't need to switch to a CHF in the game. Richo gets a kick ahead of the play and takes the saving mark, or a pack mark and goal. This is where Cale Morton should be shooting for - to get forward and back from a wing and not just a link across the midfield. Needs a bit of muscle but he showed against the Cats that he can get forward and take a grab.

McLean will be better for a full pre-season. CC said he didn't do sprint work so I'm assuming he missed a chunk due to his ankle problems. I just don't know why we are risking him in these pointless games. Play Valenti or McKenzie and make sure Brock McLean is at his best March 2010.

This is the most amazing thing to happen to my football club. Sometimes footy is more than just footy. It's a shared vein of Australia. Well written WJ, and good luck and well done to all those involved. It's going to be a fun journey.

Huh? How would a player cost a PP? Players don't tank. Tanking is player development, early starts for 2010, and youth development. That is what the coaches, and the selection committee does. Player's chase a ball for two hours...

'List management' from Melbourne would mean a two goal win for us. We are no chance to lose that game.

I took it for what it was worth - a facetious, pointless remark about the 'tank team.' I want to win. I want to win the whole fracking thing. Our interests toward that end lend me to believe that we should be as young as possible and adventurous as possible against Richmond and NM. Drooling over Scully I ain't. I want two of the best prospects for my club, given to the worst teams. And with a win loss record of 11 and 49 since 2007 I want the club to do what is in their best interests. Continue with the self-righteous rantings and I will continue to set you straight.

The only chance Freo is of another win is against PA at Subi, and Port will have to rock up as mentally unprepared as they did against us. Whatever happens, we won't get another spoon. So the season's a success? NM will finish on 5 and a half wins, WCE on 6/7 wins, Rich on 4 and a half wins, Melbourne on 4 wins, and Freo on 3/4 wins with an awful percentage. That takes into account the Tigers beating us, but they way they played that second half - jeez...

We had 38 Inside 50s and we are still stuck on the forward line? I thought we had this argument about 2 months ago - we need a decent midfield. Our forward line is raw but promising, our midfield is in dire need of some class and run.

What does this mean? We have won 11 games out of the last 60. Surely you jest. They receive our plaudits when they do well, but when they play like they did in that first quarter people are well within their rights to criticise. Especially when the offenders in that first were our 'senior' players, or 'leaders' - if they could be described as such. I'm not a doomsayer when it comes to this club but misplaced (or not) criticism from fans would be the least of its concerns.

Oh, please. Some on this thread don't like her because they don't think their footy should be called by a woman. Frankly, I don't have time for most commentators and she has got a problem with her cliches and stating the bleeding obvious but would there be a long thread like this for a male just starting out? And I stand by my Michael Christian comments, he is awful.

List management, player development, and player protection = tanking. If you don't think we should tank, but think we should play people out of position, bring in more youth, and send off injured players for an early start to 2010, you're a hypocrite. That is what tanking is. But don't feel bad, we have been tanking since halfway through 2007, why stop now?

Be careful not to break an ankle coming off that horse... We have been 'tanking' since halfway through 2007. Players have been retired early, youth has been given games they didn't deserve, and the injury prone have been wrapped in cotton wool. Why the eff should we stop now? Our 54th loss against St Kilda since the start of 2007 will 'reward' us with an extra potential star, a 53rd loss against St Kilda will not give us that extra potential star. You sure are uppity about one win against Richmond on the 2nd of August...

I really enjoy her writing but on this occasion she has written an article that would best suited for about 6 weeks ago. We are where we are, and that is losing against Sydney, NM, Carlton, and St.Kilda to finish the year. So it becomes 4 or 5 wins to finish the year, I would prefer 4 and a loss to Fremantle (not a likely scenario) or Richmond (a must at this stage). This will come to a head, not against St Kilda like Emma wrote in her article, but against Richmond on the 2nd of August. If we win that I will stop talking about the priority pick, because it would have been gone. PS. And BB59 - I'm getting sick and tired of 'anti-tankers' looking down their nose at me for 'wanting to lose' and then implying that 'list management' and 'protection of players for 2010' is not tanking. That is how you 'tank.' I guess some of us just don't want to live in a fool's paradise where we can say we are not tanking and only 'list managing.' You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I would put the challenge to McLean to perform against Sydney or they'll rest him for a couple of weeks. Or if he's injured, get him right for 2010. His form had been better of late but Saturday was a disaster. Robbo out for Newton. Bennell stays. PJ in for Martin. I prefer Martin but form is form. Batram gets a decent run. Valenti in if anyone is under a cloud. Wheatley? For whom of our backline?