old55

Most likely explanation.

I'm unconvinced that "AFL" channel in the "Get Started Package" is the new Foxtel AFL channel with live games Let me know what you find out. See this link for T-box and Foxtel: http://telstra.com.a...-tbox/packages/ Looks like $19.50 + $10 and it's not clear whether the Sport package gives you the Foxtel AFL channel with live games either

This looks good. Wont be as good quality as TV but cheaper than Foxtel if you have an iPad and you get the mobile iPad benefits in place of the Foxtel channels: http://www.telstra.c...RSTAGING_073895 http://www.telstra.c...12&top_category= http://www.telstra.c...&pageView=image

#55

Agreed, while we did take more mature players in Rohan Bail, Joel Macdonald and Dan Nicholson in successive drafts under Bailey we could have done more. There's very few leaders of Judd's capacity available in the trade or draft, the obvious one we missed is Luke Ball instead of Luke Tapscott in 2009 - it's good to see you've reconsidered your position on this.

I don't think Geelong will "bottom out" but this is absolutely the last year they'll be premiership contenders for a reasonable period. In 2013 they'll be mid table and it will take them at least 5 years to get back to premiership contention.

The flag wil be won by one of Hawthorn, Collingwood and Geelong - no-one else can win it. I think Hawthorn will win but it takes luck. Geelong have 7 30+ players at the start of 2012 and Ling, Ottens, Mooney and Milburn have quit - they will get on the slide, if not this year then definitely next year. The Pies are good but as Wisbey says they rely on Jolly and he's shaky. Freo will be the big improvers and the most interesting story for me - I hope they do well - they could finish top 4. West Coast rely on Cox, Glass and Embley who are all 30+, they'll be decent but can't win this year's flag. Carlton are improving and could genuinely challenge from 2013. I think the Saints will make the 8, their best players are younger than Geelong's so they'll slide later but they'll fall much heavier. Then there's a bunch of teams - Sydney, the Dogs, North, Essendon, Richmond, Adelaide and Melbourne - all with some claim to 8th spot - but one of them will also finish 14th - it's a raffle. Gold Coast, Brisbane, Port and GWS round out the bottom 4 but Gold Coast will rise rapidly in 2013.

Not necessarily. Jamar could have an injury free year and Spencer could dominate for Casey. Before the Gawn injury Spencer, off a knee reco, was going to be battling with Gawn for Casey's #1 ruck spot, now he's got a pretty clear run at it if he can manage his recovery well. Our current #1 ruck candidates are Jamar, Spencer and Gawn. - Even if Jamar has a solid 2012, his games record since 2006 is 22, 10, 14, 7, 22, 15, not bullet-proof. - Gawn will be just recovering from his injury when Spencer needs to be recontracted (and Max Bailey had 3 knee recos) - We don't want Clark to be #1 ruckman - Fitzy is a long way off #1 ruckman consideration All this points to re-signing Spencer if he has a good year even if it is only at Casey The thing that would change the equation is if Martin develops his credentials as a #1 ruckman this year - that would make a lot things easier for us

Spencer's contract is up for renewal at the end of 2012, Gawn will still be in recovery mode then. Jamar is injury prone.

Thread is about list, not just about team.

It's very worthwhile to discuss the fact that we'll need to find a number of vacancies and that won't be easy. The mature age recruiting in the rookie draft won't make it any easier because those players will be pushing for faster elevation too. The Max Gawn injury illustrates how dangerous it is to start naming names too early - Jake Spencer stocks have risen sharply.

Robbie Stan Alves Alan Johnson Allen Jakovich David Schwarz David Neitz Todd Viney Brett Lovett Garry Lyon Glenn Lovett

Alternatively:

IMO it was to leave a senior list position open so we could take a 3rd player in the ND.

It wouldn't surprise me if part of the agreement for Nicho to stay on as a 2nd year rookie was that we'd elevate him.

In 2013, to coincide with free agency, the vets rule is changing to 10 years service only (no age requirement), you can have as many as you want, you get to discount $100K per vet out of the TPP. This will provide some assistance in retaining unrestricted free agents. Not sure what is happening re vets and the TPP for 2012.

I don't like a tall back trio of Frawley, Rivers and Garland for two reasons - it's undersized and Frawley is forced into the key defensive role which severely limits his attacking attributes. What I want to see is a replacement for Frawley as key negating defender. I can't have Rivers in this role, he was exploited against Collingwood by Cloke and/or Dawes - whoever he picked up went to the goal square - Neeld would have this front of mind. That's where I saw McDonald developing last year but there's significant development required and he appears to be training with the forwards. This is where I imagine Neeld sees Sellar come in to take the lock-down key defensive role and free Frawley to take a more attacking role a la Scarlett/Fletcher, together with Rivers depending on the match-up, The problem may indeed be that Rivers doesn't have a role in the back 6 but he's a smart player and warrants an opportunity to find a match-up. Frawley is very versatile with his match-up and can assist Rivers find a suitable match. Harley, Gilham, Maxwell and Milburn have played important roles in premiership defences despite their limitations, This frees Garland to play a much more attacking role a la Heath Shaw/Harry O'Brien. I'm seeing a back 6: Talls: Sellar, Frawley, Rivers Smalls: Garland, Strauss/Tapscott, Bartram/Bennell This frees Grimes to the midfield.

Can just as readily pick a 22 on number of games played and get a pretty decent result: B: Bartram Frawley Garland HB: Macdonald Rivers Bennell C: Trengove Sylvia Jones R: Jamar McKenzie Moloney HF: Jurrah Watts Petterd F: Green Clark Davey I: Martin Bate Morton Dunn

I think JCB is on the right track - Sellar to key back with Frawley, Rivers to 3rd tall back and Garland to a higher, more attacking role like he played under Viney. Whether that's off half-back or wing - who knows.

The 4 rookies are unlikely to be eligible to play for Melbourne. I think Casey will immediately benefit from Couch, Magner and Williams - they're replacing McNamara, Johnstone and Newton. Casey would have had less immediate benefit if we'd rookied 4 x 18 year olds.

Well there was this accident at school which resulted in an open fracture of the lower leg, then there was this back injury, then there was this other accident at pre-season training which resulted in a major hip operation, then there was this tibia and fibula fracture on field and then there was this expansion team called GWS ... oh and did I mention there was Jack Trengove and 3 1st round picks in the 2012 draft.

Wonder if the 4 rookies are going to pick up at #47 and take 47, 49, 50 and 51?

On: Clark, Taggert, Tynan, Sellar, Sheahan, Couch, Magner, Williams Off: Scully, Warnock, Maric, Wonnaeamirri, Newton, Campbell, McNamara, Johnston

See Carlton drafted Morningside Qld winger Tom Bell - 187cm x 95kg!

You forgot to mention accepting mediocrity.