old55

Tom McDonald re-signs with MFC, MFC offer off the table to Hurley, Hurley resigns at EFC - simps really.

I think if a player retires because of an injury then the club is required to pay him the next year's salary as compensation. The step of formally putting HL on the LTI now may be to establish that the injury occurred this year and the payout would be in 2017 - if next year is his last contract year then he's entitled to that anyway. If the injury related retirement was to come in the last year of his contract, i.e. next year, then I believe he's entitled to an extra year's pay in 2018. Some posters here know more about this than me.

None of them deliver a top 10 pick, they're like Hill. Look I agree with you - the Hawks will be desperate to trade their way out of theitr impending cliff but it's not going to be easy.

Players like who? Hill apparently is on the table to Freo but that would mean Freo's 2nd rounder e.g. ~21.

Agree but I'm not sure where they'll get the picks from. Freo aren't going to give them pick 3 for Hill. Maybe this year's 1st and next year's 1st but they won't be < pick 10.

Dunn and Garland were dropped because they couldn't or wouldn't play the game plan that the FD required. The conventional wisdom in this thread in favour of dropping Oscar was that he should go back to the VFL to learn his craft. Who from - Dunn and Garland? As others have posted, back line cohesion is a key factor and the only way to get that is by playing together. Oscar showed at AFL level that he is prepared to play the way the FD required and despite his need for physical development that's why the FD has persisted with him and now that Tom, Sam and Oscar have played together for a period it's bearing fruit. Posters would benefit from a bit of patience and taking the longer view. I think there are differences between back line and forward line play and that's why the FD have persisted with Weed and Hulett at Casey where they can work on the individual development.

Was it a wet day?

"Sounds interesting, we'll give you pick 56"

It's going to get very interesting at Hawthorn when he's #1 in the next couple of years. They'll be seeking to rectify this with some heavy FA and trading but there's only so much can be achieved each year.

On record saying Brayshaw will be a better player and still happy with this, but the margin will be tight, Tyson is a very good player.

EFA

Dark Matter so yesterday - just gravitons that no-one can find. Dark Energy all the go these days.

You're very welcome!

It's great that Oscar has started playing well, thanks to all the advice from Demonland to how hw should go about it. A bit like Jack Watts really.

True, but I can't generate any sympathy for Essendon, Fremantle and Carlton. In fact quite the reverse. The AFL are the masters of the ends justifying the means. They see there's a problem with Essendon receiving pick 1, but actually taking it away is too hard for them so if the give Brisbane pick 1 as a priority then they come out with a duct-tape solution. Lock it in.

He has been doing it all season. Sometimes he makes a kicking skill error and because of where he plays they often result in oppo goals, but they aren' t decision errors.

I'm really looking forward to Cyril playing in a struggling Hawthorn team when Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne and Gibson all retire at once. It's just not possible to replace that much class. Cyril and Lewis trying to carry the can. I think we'll see some frustration.

Yes agreed, he does.

Liam Shiels was interviewed re-game on 3AW. He said Clarko encourages them to go for their kicks and not worry about any errors, just move on to the next kick. I think the Hawks know something about this topic. There's no doubt the coaching staff at MFC are saying the same thing. Tom's kicking was flat, hard, accurate and created some long attacking chains..

Tom's kicking was accurate and creative again.

Hogan for Petracca (rested)

Even with Jake Spencer out, Max King is in the Development League - not a good sign for him.

We've got an incredibly young line-up and it will be very difficult to win. I know they keep winning but that is a patchy Hawthorn side IMO. HAWTHORNB Taylor Duryea, James Frawley, Ben StrattonHB Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson, Grant BirchallC Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Bradley HillHF Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Will LangfordF Tim O'Brien, Ben McEvoy, Cyril RioliFOLL Jonathon Ceglar, Jordan Lewis, Luke HodgeI/C Kaiden Brand, Brendan Whitecross, Jonathan O'Rourke, James SicilyEMG Blake Hardwick, Kurt Heatherley, Dallas Willsmore Take out Burgoyne, Gibson, Mitchell and Hodge who are very near retirement and Lewis is 31 at the start of next year (only 6 months younger that Bernie) Add a couple of injuries to remaining key players and that's a pretty ordinary line-up. HAWTHORN Player Injury Estimated Return Paul Puopolo Hip Test Jarryd Roughead* Illness Season Ryan Schoenmakers Groin 1 week Liam Shiels Hamstring Test Matt Spangher Hamstring 1 week There's a couple of handy players currently injured but it will be interesting when they have to be the front liners. It seems a long-shot for Roughy to get back, he's 30 next year.

So he didn't say he'll move if " ... he is offered more money, he thinks another club has a better shot at a premiership, he likes the coaching setup at another club better or has links with the coaches."

Bat, ball and going home?