old55

The 18 positions just don't exist anymore. CHF is an extinct dinosaur.

Prestia 9 votes in this week's coaches award.

No-one would dispute that. But if he wants to go home - well that's it. I can see how we can avoid a disaster in that case.

If we could convert Hogan into Hurley and Prestia via Freo's next two 1st rounders and Weidemann and Hulett come on then it's definitely not a disaster. I've seen Weidemann and Hulett live 3 times now and they look very promising. Great in the contest and contested marking, nice kicks, hard-working up and down the ground to present an option and Hulett in particular has some special ground skills. From the VFL reports it sounds like the need to work on their defensive side a bit but that will come - they both appear to be good learners.

Hogan is a tremendous player and I really hope he signs with us, but if he's set on going home to Perth I hope he makes that known this year so we can do a deal while he's in contract and Freo are in the bottom 4. If we got equitable compensation for him, I've seen enough from Weidemann and Hulett, and with Watts improvement this year to feel comfortable that we could still continue our rise to challenge.

With Smith as 1st ruck and Blicavs as an on-baller, Geelong have a logjam of fwd/rucks: Stanley, Clark, Vardy if they are all fit and with Hawkins there it seems that only one can play. So there's likely to be some movement.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-07-05/vfl-player-review-round-13

http://www.topendsports.com/sport/afl/sprint.htm According to this Dangerfield beat Murdoch (2.76s @ 20m) in 2013 and Murdoch beat Hunt into 4th in 2014 so I think Danger has it covered. Hunt is quick enough though, some players can actually use their pace and he's one of them.

Hunt had a good game and is an incredibly exciting talent. But at present he doesn't get it much/enough. We mostly played 6 backs, 5 forwards (sometimes 7 and 4) and with Hunt coming off the side of the square behind the wing at the centre bounces - and there were a lot of them. Hunt had next to zero impact in this role. A lot of the time Gawn hit it to the opposite side of the square that Hunt started on. This is not a criticism of Hunt - it was a mystifying set-up.

He's being instructed to do it and there's known risk. It sets up a lot of positive attacking play when it comes off which is most of the time - Dunn and Garland are not in the team because they can't or won't do it. The problem is his occasional skill execution errors and of course they stand out because of where they happen. I'd love to see them gone but costing 3 or 4 goals a week is exaggeration. If he can perfect his skills in this area he will be one of the greatest defenders we've ever had.

Tom mis-kicks a few times a match and because of where he plays it's looks and is costly. But he sets up a lot of creative play too which gets overlooked by many here. It's not decision making errors it's execution errors which he can continue to work on. He's a terrific player and his intercept marking is great.

Bugg has played some reasonable football this year but is a limited player and wasn't good yesterday. Trengove or Grimes for him.

Astonished that people are unhappy with that.

I think you missed the point.

Get with it, he hasn't been playing in the backline at Casey all year. He's a midfield option for Bugg's role, he hasn't been able to crack it yet but I'm sure he will.

So much sooking! The GC experience shows success is not a given with the assistance provided to these clubs. If GWS is successful it will be because of excellent management. I support expansion and I remember the start of the Bears - ugly! And a final point - we've exploited the opportunities the GWS assistance has provided more that any other club. Hogan for Scully. Salem and Tyson for Kelly. Weidemann for Academy picks. Our list would be poorer without our good trading relationship with them. I prefer GWS to win the flag this year more than anyone else apart from the Dogs and possibly the Crows (who IMO have lost more to expansion than any other team and have also suffered the Walsh tragedy). Hawrthorn, Sydney, Geelong, West Coast, North - yuk!

He's recently turned 25. Has a lot of footy ahead.

Jones. Chronically over rated by some - he wouldn't be in the best 3 players of any of the top midfields. And chronically under rated by some - he would be in all the top midfields.

A tall comes out late or stupidity reigns or maybe rains.

If Prestia wants to come to us at a reasonable price - that wouldn't for example prevent us from picking up say Hurley, then I'm all for it. But some arguments here are ludicrous. When Nathan Jones is our 8th or 9th best mid - build a new premiership cabinet - we'll need it.

Yes agree with that and I do really like him. But he's gotta get his hands on it and in these conditions against this opposition that won be easy. His 2 kicks 15 handballs ratio last week is uninspiring for the conditions.

http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL Tenant/AFL/Files/Images/2016 Laws of Australian Football.pdf 5. TEAMS 5.1 NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN TEAM Unless the number is varied under Law 5.2, a Team must consist of between 14 and 18 Players, who may be on the Playing Surface at any one time, and no more than 4 Interchange Players. The Controlling Body shall determine the actual number of Players which may play for each Team in the competitions conducted by the Controlling Body. 5.2 VARIATION OF NUMBER Unless otherwise determined by the AFL, a Controlling Body may reduce below 14 or increase above 22 the number of Players (including Interchange Players) who may participate in a Match played in the competition conducted by the Controlling Body 5.3 TEAM SHEETS 5.3.1 Details Unless otherwise determined by a Controlling Body, a Team Sheet shall: (a) list the names and numbers of the Players in the Team; (b) identify the Interchange Players; (c) identify the captain; and (d) list the name of the coach, Team Runner(s) and any other Official participating in the Match. 5.3.2 Completing and Lodging Team Sheet Unless otherwise determined by a Controlling Body, an Official of each Team shall complete and lodge with a field Umpire its Team Sheet no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled commencement of a Match.

I think it's a convention, not a rule. Given the weather and the opposition (they're not very tall) I think we should go with one less tall back. I'd go Michie in for Omac, Franklin and whichever backup ruck Naismith/Nankervis they play are their only genuine tall forwards - TMac and Frost for them. I think if we listed a tall on the extended bench we'd be telegraphing our final selection and I suspect that what's going on. I think we're OK forward with Hogan, Dawes and Watts because they can all play effectively when the ball hits the ground. I wouldn't mind Grimes for Stretch too given the conditions but i don't think he will come out of the 18.

Yes I agreed you acknowledged this and I pointed out that apparently the FD agreed too so it's not a hanging offence and some seem to be trying to make it that. Yeah it should be shooting fish in a barrel to call current performance accurately, although many here can't seem to get that right, you're not one of them. But you and I both know the art is in forecasting and that's a lot less easy. Will Brock McLean be an A grader? Will Christian Salem be an A grader? Does Chris Dawes offer anything? I think you get my drift. There was plenty of evidence to suggest that Watts wouldn't eventually get it, but it looks like he has.

You'd given up on him reaching his current standard ever - you've acknowledged that in this thread. You're not Robinson Crusoe there. Part of this judgement business is forecasting the future and your forecast was wrong in this instance. Seems like the FD's was similar though. Let's hope he can maintain his new levels - there's every reason to believe he will.