old55

And how's spinning/lying working out for the political class?

Yes that's a lie. Everyone inside the club would know it's a lie. leoncelli36 showed that the club leaks a little so the lie would be exposed and we'd be deep in the doo-doo. I think telling a limited truth is the best policy - I think the club has managed a very tricky situation really well.

I've heard this theory - give me an example of what YOU might have said.

It's not a valid comparison. Bont has had an injury, that's why he's been out and everyone knows that. Everyone knows Jack is not injured and saying he is would come unstuck.

Jetta? There's been no comment from the club because there's been no questions about him being left out.

The big absentee for me is Nev Jetta assuming he's recovered from his injuries - I'm a very big fan - he's great 1:1 against the best small forwards in the AFL - consistency, hardness, agility, nice kicking over short distance. I think two things might be working against him and the main one is his height at 180. I think we will continue to play zone defence and we therefore need taller players in the back 6-7 with Melksham the shortest at 185cm. Nev's strength is his 1:1 against like opponents e.g. Betts or Wingard but we can't guarantee a direct match-up with strict zones. He plays deep and I noticed last year he got caught out deep against much taller opponents and was out marked in comical mis-matches. The other factor is his lack of attack, he's not going to provide run and penetration off HB because that's not his strength.

In that scenario Garland or J.Smith and Garland has been selected this week.

Wow that's some interesting selection. Looks like the FD have a structure they want to play with Garland in for Hibberd and Trengove (who played HF in the intraclub) in for VDB. The big absentee for me is Nev Jetta assuming he's recovered from his injuries - I'm a very big fan - he's great 1:1 against the best small forwards in the AFL - consistency, hardness, agility, nice kicking over short distance. I think two things might be working against him and the main one is his height at 180. I think we will continue to play zone defence and we therefore need taller players in the back 6-7 with Melksham the shortest at 185cm. Nev's strength is his 1:1 against like opponents e.g. Betts or Wingard but we can't guarantee a direct match-up with strict zones. He plays deep and I noticed last year he got caught out deep against much taller opponents and was out marked in comical mis-matches. The other factor is his lack of attack, he's not going to provide run and penetration off HB because that's not his strength. (On that theory I'm not sure how Nathan Jones goes back there either but he will generally play less deep, more attacking).

My understanding is the injury he has been managing is his knee, that's not his Achilles which is reported as a contact injury. MFCSS.

It's going to be fascinating to see who we go with.

Reference for this please?

That's a good idea. There could be a fixed payment outside the cap - if it's based on the player's contract then it will be open to manipulation. I think based on games milestones at the club would be better than years because that better reflects player importance - I don't think Jake Spencer should receive a loyalty bonus. 50 games is too early, 100 is a good place to start. Salary Cap/Number on list (~$300k) bonus at each of 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 games

Team selection?

Agree, it's a very difficult situation to handle.

You haven't offered a solution to "bring the speculation to an end and come clean" though. What if the details are more damaging than the KPIs generalisation and speculation? You're offering nothing. "How to play the flute - blow in one end and move your fingers up and down on the other" Yeah thanks.

What does "come clean" really mean though? They've said Jack has not met training KPIs and that sounds like the truth to me. And if he has failed to meet them then he can't play as some sort of special case. Goodwin has a right and obligation to set standards and day 1, year 1 is a good time to start. The FD haven't mislead saying "we're trying other structures e.g. Spencil" "He has a niggle", they've been as straight up as they could be without going into detail. Maybe the detail is a breach of privacy, maybe the detail is more harmful to Jack's image. What exactly do you expect them to say?

Agree. We've had our fair share of talent that didn't meet potential - Travis Johnstone, Colin Sylvia, you can add your own names to the list.

Turnovers! Better buy extra hosted disk space for the TMac threads Nasher.

What I said

Yes - personally I'd have Jetta, J.Smith or Garlett ahead of Bugg with some shuffling of roles but I think Bugg will play and I'm trying to predict the actual 22.

I think these 15 are a lock for R1: Hogan, Jones, Salem, Petracca, Lewis, Viney, Brayshaw, Gawn, Oliver, Hibberd, Stretch, Vince, T.Mac, O.Mac, Hunt, Tyson will play if he's fit which appears likely and I think Bugg will play too even though I'm not a big fan, that's 17. One of Melksham, Jetta and J.Smith will play Small Back - I thisk it's almost certain to be Melksham, Jetta incredibly stiff, that's 18 Two of Watts, Pedersen, Weideman and Spencer will play Tall Fwd/Ruck relief - I think it will be Watts and Weideman, that's 20. Two of Kent, VDB, Kennedy-Harris, ANB, Garlett and Harmes will play Small Fwd - that's the hardest set for me to predict, but if forced I'll go with VDB and Kent, that up makes the 22 B: Melksham OMac Hibberd HB: Hunt TMac Vince R: Gawn Tyson Viney C: Lewis Jones Stretch HF: Petracca Hogan VDB F: Watts Weideman Kent I: Oliver, Brayshaw, Salem Bugg

Wow no wonder he's been left out!

Yes agree. Petracca reminds me Phil Carman but without the nasty streak.

Rene Kink, Mick Conlan?