old55

No Finks, D2 read it on the BigFooty Hawks board - it's gotta be true ...

Didn't expect to find this topic under that heading. No clock eh? How come four premiers prior to the last 2 finished in the nether regions of the ladder last year? Coincidence I guess? What Adelaide is doing is clinging on by their fingernails - and their resources buy pretty strong fingernails. Sydney will have 3 years in the bottom 4 starting in 2009 and Roos will be gone - probably worth it for the flag after 72 years. As Fan says, just because you reach 12:00 doesn't mean you win - it depends on your quality. WC has excellent quality and it is quite young so they will have an extended period at the top. We're at 12:00 right now too, but the good thing is that ND's forward thinking list development means we'll have an extended period at the top of the cycle. Call me when a club wins two flags a generation of players apart (7 years) without dropping out of the finals. It is possible but that club will need to ruthlessly and selectively trade its premiership players for picks. No-one has shown that courage yet, not even Leigh Matthews.

She very reasonably got that impression because that's what happened last year when Neitz was out - the captaincy rotated between the others in the leadership group.

How about Goodwin and Ward are suspended from Melbourne v Adelaide matches - that sounds fair to me.

You don't have to bet against your team to match fix. You could tank to improve your odds and then bet on your team to win.

I don't have much problem with Bizzell's ability to read the play, zone off his man and launch attacks. I've got a big problem with his ability to defend. Like Brown and Ward he's not much of a defender. I felt that way since 2004.

Maybe Babba has improved Bizzell's pace, that's his only hope. Unless Bruce is given a specific stopping job he's often unaccountable and runs forward of the ball. He's also an unreliable kick, it's debateable whether this is a greater liability in defence or attack. He is capable of kicking 20-30 goals but I think he adds more as a tall attacking back. Neitz, Robertson, Davey, Dunn, Pickett and Bate are my preferred forward 6. Yze will play and kick 30 or so against a certain type of opponent. They will just have to kick enough goals.

" ... importance cannot be understated ..." to "Depth yes ..." Pity they haven't got a Tour de France for backpedalling - you'd be a shoo-in. He's not first choice in the back six, he has to play tall, my 3 talls are Rivers, Carroll and Bruce, but Holland is also ahead of him and Ferguson and Warnock are behind him. He's depth and will play in 2007.

Thanks Seekers - I enjoy your posting too.

PJ's quick for his size in a straight line but he has a big turning circle. Josh Fraser made him look like the Queen Mary two QBW ago right in front of me.

It depends who the opponent is - if it's Jeff Farmer then I'd prefer Bell. How about you? Bizzell will make a contribution this year but when it comes to the crunch I know what we'll get - too short, too slow, too loose. Teams are a wake up to the Bizzell caper and he will be exploited. I don't think Bizzell is directly competing with Bell because Bell can take a small like Farmer but Bizzell can't. Bizzell is a 3rd tall option only competing with Rivers if Holland plays CHB or someone like Bruce if Rivers plays CHB like he should, and Bizzell loses against both those hands down. CJ offers much more than just half back - he can play wing and go forward, something Bizzell just cannot do.

Cameron Bruce - has to win the B&F, and if he does he'll probably the Brownlow and we'll win the flag.

When has Yze played well or kicked goals against tough opposition in a crucial game? The last time he even looked like it was when he was captain in the 2004EF vs Essendon and they were a weak 8th who we never should have lost to. He does a very nice job finishing off soft clubs like Collingwood, Richmond, the Roos and the Dogs - and heaven knows someone has to - it's just a pity he couldn't manage it against Carlton last year - that's what we really missed particularly the 2nd time. But when the temperature goes up ... I'm on record that no Melbourne flag side will contain all 3 of Yze, Robbo and Davey unless they have attitude transplants. Look that's not fair on Davey - his body is not built for the press and not completely fair on Robbo who is improved in this area. Back on topic, Miller was severely restricted by OP last year. This year he'll have a chance to show just how ordinary he is.

I think you can be rookied for 3 years now but I agree that would only be exercised in special circumstances.

Is that Buckley in Blue #3? He's on fire in that clip!

Good luck to Colin. The previous #8 played 100 games for MFC, a pretty good effort. 15 has been a dud number since Stan Alves, let's hope Ricky can turn that around. 28 has not been any better, have to go way back to Terry Gleeson - go Isaac! Walshy made 42 - a good model for Daniel Hayes. No 44 - that's a number I like. Good to see Jamar and Carroll sticking with the 40s.

I've got some sympathy for Soccer's position that they require an adequate capacity stadium. They should put their money where their mouth is and guarantee say 5 30K+ crowds per year for five years to get the capacity increased or else foot the bill for the extra cost.

So you select our forward line based on who matches up similarly to opposition defenders. Strange, I thought we'd do the opposite.

I was feeling something, but it wasn't called inspiration, early in the first quarter of the 2000 GF. I'm hoping he gets another chance.

Richo has played in some of the most ordinary line-ups. Not an easy gig at FF altho it can be managed - just ask Fev and Plugga. Interesting to note that in the two years of finals for Richmond in Richo's career * he missed more than half the 1995 season when the Tigers finished 3rd * and then kicked 91 goals in 1996 but the Tigers finished 11-11 and you guessed it - 9th * and 2001 he had a good year with 22 games, 300+ possessions and 59 goals when the Tigers finished 4th No real correlation between Richo's performance and the Tigers .... I think Richo and Richmond would both have been better served if he had been traded to a club with flag aspirations like Hall and Lockett were.

Yes I fancy Essendon and Richmond for the 8 altho Simmond's broken ankle has not helped Richmond. I think Hird and Lloyd back can really make a difference and Michael will really add something. I think Kent Kingsley will be a very handy pick-up for Richmond and will surprise many. Rich, Brown, Kingsley, Pettifer and Riewoldt will give the Tigers some fire power. I think both can make the 8 for a year or two on the back of their veterans but then will slide back soon after without a flag in this cycle. I agree Collinngwood are the obvious sliders - Didak and Holland out for significant periods, Tarrant gone and Buckley, Burns, Rocca and wakelin all aging. Only their soft draw can help them. I'm not sure what they expect of MM this year, surely they're rebuilding - maybe he's supposed to give youth a go. How can he fail at that? Surely they don't expect to improve on last year's result? Maybe it's play youth and finish somewhere in the middle 8. That's realistic altho 9-12 is more likely. I reckon one of Sydney or Adelaide may slide and if pressed I'm guessing Sydney. They rely on Brett Kirk and if he gets injured IMO they are goners. Spida will help them and they could easily make a complete fool of me. Minimum two changes to the 2006 8 almost certain. That's what has happened every year since the 8 started and there's good statistical reason behind the expectation. the other thing that has happened each year is that a team from outside the 8 has finished top 4 the next year. Any takers for 2007?

You are the clever one indeed, and I suppose therefore this is guaranteed also?

That's right, it would need to be a final to do that.

Yes Champion Data lists effective disposals. In 2005 SG Kicks 70% HBall 80% total 74% CS Kicks 86% HBall 79% Total 83% Quite a difference