old55

What's Brian Waldron doing?

Just simply say you're not interested then. The reason why his dad is telling Collingwood 5 years is because we and Freo have offered him at least that many.

Tim Harrington will know what the impact of a big long Cloke contract is on future player payments - that will be factored in. We won't have to worry about David Cloke, Travis will be on a contract to the end of his career so there'll be no more contract negotiations and if where and when he's played becomes an issue then David is the least of our worries. I'm open to the idea if TH does the sums and they come up OK - we don't know how much front-loading space we've got but it could be substantial. Free agency is the big game changer here - the fact that we don't have to give 2 1st rounders like Geelong did for Ottens makes an enormous difference - we can have our FA Cloke and eat our midfield draft too.

He's playing very well in his current role and improved his aerial contesting this week. He was recruited as a KPF and we really need support for Clark there but he can't deliver in that role. I've settled that he'll never make it there and his talents would be wasted trying. I think he can carve out a great career in the backline and I don't see it as a stepping stone to other roles. He might go into the midfield or forward to pinch hit and cause some chaos, but I think his most effective role is in the backline. It will be interesting to see what happens when he gets the defensive forward a la Jake King which will happen from this week. He has height to make this a very difficult match-up. Alternatively he could play on a legitimated tall a la Ben Reid and still be a very effective "quarterback". That would require a re-jig of the backline roles because we've got Frawley, McDonald and Rivers there at present taking the talls.

hyperbole

Tim Lane still the best. Brian Taylor - so, so bad.

He's been very good - but there's a problem against the giant resting ruckmen - Hale, Hampson. He can outmark them reading the play but he can be outmarked by their sheer size and that can cost goals. We need to set up so that he doesn't have to play on the 200cm opponents. Maybe Tom McDonald can take them.

Listened to AW at the game - they called our players incorrectly most of the night.

Watts has had a man, usually a small and hasn't been 7th back which is good. Watts will get a defensive forward from now on but his height will be a challenge. In the long run I'd like to see him take a genuine tall and play key back.

With top 4 so tight and WC and Adelaide in the running, a loss like that is very expensive - they need to finish top 2 or they will get an away final somewhere in the mix - what a great result!

Unfortunately Brad Green is finished.

Yes, got involved a lot more and took a couple of nice contested marks when he's looked weak overhead before. I'm not yet convinced but that game was real progression. Had a great collision with Hurley - came off 2nd best but would've killed almost anyone else.

More likely Watts and Martins failure to make a impact up there.

Attacked the ball in the air much better against the Bombers. Keep it up.

Neeld has been reading your posts - that's the only possible explanation.

Look, I do think that NSC has got things in the right order: 1. Convince the player to come - in his scenario free up $s and make them a big offer 2. Satisfy their club with a trade Often #1 is overlooked in these discussions and with our current situation we're not an attractive destination so this is key. It's not complete without #2 as Freo will attest with Mitch Clark.

What are we trading for Yarran and Boak? This part seems to be missing.

Right so we should start sooking like a toddler?

Melbourne Storm say hi

I'd have no hesitation when he's being unreasonable - but in this case his position is completely understandable.

If we thought he'd bring leadership and a good training ethic then he'd be worth considering.

Schwab's got a vision for the club with the Red and Blueprint and it's based on our heritage as the games founders - the emblem, the blazers etc - they fit this plan - he's trying to capitalise on our differentiating features. This should help distinguish us for sponsors. What's the alternative "iMelbourne"? Supporters are just as vital and appealing to younger supporters is a challenge - we've got the work out at Casey in this area. The key ingredient is winning. The fracture in the club last year appears to have been Schwab v Bailey and not managed very effectively by the Board. But if you believe in Neeld's appointment and methods then Schwab was right. Right about what we need to be succesful on the field.

It's perfectly understandable that the Pies don't want Taylor crossing to MFC ahead of this draft. This is an area where current intellectual property is key - Taylor will already have access to all Collingwood's IP on this year's draft - and would bring that with him to Melbourne. That's way more valuable even than assistant coaches bringing gameplan knowledge. Over Eddie's dead body will he be with us before draft day.

They were 2 specific examples of what happens in every game Watts plays. There is a problem and that can be acknowledged or denied - it doesn't really matter what us nuff-nuffs think, what matters is whether Jack acknowledges it because that's the first step to fixing it - hopefully he's got that far. He'll never be a KPF but to realise his potential he has to make a significant improvement in this area. It won't come by osmosis, it has to come by will. There may need to be some catalysing event.

Watts won some contested football at ground level which was encouraging and his handball was very creative in tight. But there's no getting away from the fact that he doesn't attack the ball in the air - he needed to move forward and jump at the Robinson ball in the 3rd quarter and he needed to fly for the mark in the exact same spot but in the forward line in the last quarter - he had the sit at 180 degress to the direction of the ball where the other 3 players were flew at angles. It's simply just not good enough.