old55

That'd be the only place. Got narky in the Brownlow interview with Lingy when they suggested he was running in the GF sprint off 40m - everyone else had the [censored] taken in good spirit (see lie-detector) but he couldn't handle it. Total (short) [censored].

I imagine Collingwood fans feel the reverse - it's usually the way of things ...

Toovey and Goldsack would also be worth considering IMO.

I think Byrnes could probably play as a small defender if required.

Whinging about umpiring ...

How bad? 3AW last night BT: "Caro, why write an article about Mick Malthouse's book?" Caro: "It's fascinating that Mick was on this station saying that the book tour was set in stone and now the West Australian component where Mick is greatly loved has been cancelled" BT: "Well I think it's a nothing story" Caro: "I think it's an interesting story and so do the The Age readers" BT: "Well I haven't read the article, I don't read much." Caro: "Hang on a minute how can you criticise it when you haven't read it" BT: "I didn't say that Caro, I said I don't read much, don't play that game and put words into my mouth". Hard to choose when switching channels between 3AW's Brian "dung sandwich" Taylor and SEN's Mark "cup of cold sick" Robinson.

Freo apparently very keen on Hogan (source: print version of The Age) but I can't see how they could outbid our pick 3 or 4.

So Boyd or Aish to us next year? [channeling Bluey]

We can help GC here (and they can help us elsewhere). GC need to set a precedent that they won't be held over a barrel by players wanting to return home. They should tell Caddy they'll force him into the draft if he doesn't help them get a suitable deal and we should tell him that we'll pick him with ND13 or PSD3 whether he likes it or not. That'll force him to find a decent deal for GC.

Despite the fact that Adelaide defeated Freo last week (albeit at home and off a longer break) - who'd you rather have as coach rock-hard Ross "Anyone, anytime, anywhere" or soft sausage Sando who says the Hawks will have to not be at their best for Adelaide to have any chance on Saturday? Hard to see the Crows having any chance against the hardened Hawks after that inspiring prognosis. A 10 goal margin will hardly be surprising.

We're a very unattractive proposition - there's contract length and primary playing role components but money is the only lever we really have. We have to be careful that we don't set unsustainable precedents and unrest in the current player group re pay parity. The fact that we have massive TPP space now as Nasher points out needs to be taken advantage of. We need to make our extra offer as "sign-on bonus" in year one with a manageable base following. In your above scenario we offer Wellingham 4 years x $350K base, the same as Collingwood so we preserve pay parity but we give him the difference as a "sign-on bonus" in year one. The extra $150K x 4 years = $600K, so his contract is $950K, $350K, $350K, $350K - it equals $500K x 4 years but it has built in advantage for him and us. I think our players will more readily accept that it requires a premium to attract better players which will make their life better too, Wellingham gets a massive up front payment which we can afford and there's transparency about his salary in future contract negotiations - his salary is $350K.

Scully

Back 100% - he's wasted forward because he'll never make it as a KPF. He'll get it so much more in the backline and can do some damage. He needs to be able to take a tall forward opponent as well as a small and prove a tougher match-up for a defensive forward.

Martin got a poor result in the B+F - lower average votes per game than Spencer. That says plenty.

You. Try posting some content instead of commentary about content.

8 > 20 + Martin and it's not even going to be 20 by the time FA is done.

Well Adelaide get ripped off that's why - Brisbane will offer pick 8+, I think Rassilon is on the right track - GC want our pick 4 for that trade but we need more than Caddy for that.

We might have been better to steer completely clear of the Caddy chase. It opens the pick 4 door and that's hard to close.

I reckon with MM now at Carlton Eddie's ego just can't allow Cloke to go there - he'll match any Carlton bid at any cost to his club. Hopefully we can benefit from the fall-out.

That's why it says "13+ something". Agree we'd need to over-pay for Caddy to secure Viney in the 2nd round and there'll be whinging here that he's not worth that. "Something" could be a player they value that we don't - Martin, Gysberts, Cook, Petterd or could maybe be the Moloney compo pick - Tier 3 pick after 2nd round ~ pick 30? Clearly they'll be aiming for pick 4 which we want to avoid. The Boak + 7 for 4 + 13 deal was OK but GC don't have another top 10 pick they can package back to us. What's your thinking?

Carlton will make Cloke a huge offer. But I reckon Eddie's ego won't let him pass - he'll say we've just got to match it no matter what the cost. It's quite likely to hurt them. Wellingham is likely to get squeezed out and their cap will be so tight they'd probably prefer picks to players - they may not even be able to afford Martin. Straight swap for pick 13 could be their best option.

We'll take Viney at 3 if we have to, but I'm bullish that a win-win deal can be structured where we won't have to. The discussion about whether Viney is worth pick 3 is humorous. Deep inside JV reckons he's pick 1, hell he reckons he'll be the best player in the AFL. I laugh when I read the suggestion that we'll pass on him at 3, let him go to GWS and we'll get him back after 2 years. You know what - he'll say stuff you - and I will too.

There might be scope for ND 3 + 4 for MD 1 + 2 if GC aren't interest in the MD.

Everybody can win if everyone co-operates.

Nope - if Viney goes 2nd round you'll see a signficant trade between MFC and one or both of GWS and GC.