old55

It depends on whether you're glass half empty or half full. He's capable both inside and outside. He is inconsistent but his best is match winning. He can play HB, wing, HF and take his turn in the square. And he has an x-factor with his kicking. The cost? What's this huge cost - a pick somewhere around 10? It might be Dangerfield or Kane Lucas.

It's a good story all around. And you would have done it better how?

We need more long term guaranteed best 22. We don't need more Bugg or Kennedy or slightly better versions of them. We need very good players who will push Vandenberg and Garlett down to depth. We should be chasing Mitchell and Hartlett. We have enough talented youth coming through. I'd be happy to put next year's 1st on the table. It's self-fulfilling, with Mitchell and/or Hartlett in our team we finish higher.

Zak Jones is a reasonable player but not much to get excited about. Hunt, Salem, Jetta, Hibberd, probably Melksham all have him covered.

More fool you then for staying involved. I still love it.

I think the Giants will win and I'm fine with that. They've managed their situation extremely well. The Dogs can win and it will be terrific and deserved if they do. I sound like I'm having half each way but I'm genuinely looking forward to the contest and a new Grand Finalist.

They are simply just not good enough. The Geelong-Hawthorn final was close and exciting but it wasn't good footy. Hawthorn were easy beats and the Cats ordinary. They were the soft side of the draw. The weird result was WC beating Adelaide before the finals, WC aren't much either, especially without NicNat. I'm rapt that all 3 are out and the signs are not good for them.

I don't struggle to understand it. The contracts and the formula are not public, they're secret. So the process is not transparent and is open to manipulation. But the AFL would never do that would they? I'd bet my bottom dollar it goes something like this ... MFC have asked for a PP but we don't want to give it to them because of with their history of "not" tanking it would send a bad message. Look Frawley's contract is on the cusp of band 1 and band 2 - I reckon it's band 1. If EFC had a similar FA this year it would be - there'll be a firestorm in Essendon get pick 2 after what has happened - we reckon that's a band 2 contract. Like Little Goffy - I'm not saying it's right but it's certain that's what happens and we've been fortunately on the good side of the ledger with Scully, Frawley and Sylvia. Less whinging about Lions PP is warranted.

That's all 100% fine if you ignore the complication that apparently his father is gravely ill in Perth.

I don't think it was "comical", it was relevant. They will be a time in the not to distant future where Dean Kent's AFL output is superior to Brent Harvey's.

Yes all very handy - the contracts and the contract-compensation band formulae are not in the public domain.

Frawley was band 1 - very handy that the AFL decided that was where he sat and not band 2 for example - the rules are not in the public domain. We got more for Scully than Geelong got for Ablett.

I do think Harvey would be worth 1-2 wins at MFC, whether that carries forward to more wins in 2018 is a debatable point. I think he would be worth more wins to North next year too but they clearly see themselves and are at a different point in the curve from us - 1 or 2 more wins for them next year might be less important than it is for us.

4 & 13 for Scully 3 for Frawley The AFL has looked after us one way or another.

It would not surprise me in the least if Fyfe was at Hawthorn as a FA in 2018.

Goldstein on the market? Not for us. Would be a smart move by North.

his brother's brother can be a mother at times

I've always wondered why you capitilize Brother for your brother? My father, my sister, my mother ...

If, as reported, his father is sick we can't force a trade. It's bad practice. What would our other young players like Petracca, Oliver and Brayshaw think about the integrity of the club if we did this? Culture killer. I'm a big fan of a decision before this trade period but we can't force it. Best case is we can give plenty of space for the decision and hope that our good faith is reciprocated in his decision. We'll have the high moral ground which I think is important for ongoing culture.

Outside of a ruckman/fwd-ruck we should only be considering players who are locks for our best 22. We have enough depth players.

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2016-09-16/campbell-signs-on-for-two-more

Travis Cloke - and he's going to a top 4 team!

I think that's 14, 32, 50 and 68 now? That improvement will help them a bit with their trades.

we should win, but Etihad ...

That's not true. They have their 2017 1st but they can't trade both 2016 and 2017 1sts because they traded 2015 1st and must use 2 in 4 years.