Whispering_Jack

This came in late but worth reading ~ VFL Player Review Round 20. I can't fathom how Dom Barry made it as an emergency for last night's game on the back of that, although it's probably a sign that most of those left with AFL experience who didn't make it ahead of Barry, have half a foot out of the door.

For those who venture down to Visy Park today there's the possible opportunity of catching a glimpse of the future when the Dandenong Stingrays take on the Western Jets. Jake Lovett, son of Brett Lovett, has been selected on the Stingrays' extended interchange bench so there's no guarantee that he'll be out there when the game starts at 11.30 this morning. Lovett has played just five TAC Cup games, the last on 12 July but was very impressive on debut. I can't make it today but will try to update you with information if my spies live up to their promises of keeping me informed.

One of the people we had dinner with last night was a Collingwood supporter who remarked that Goldsack's performances in the last 6 to 8 weeks of the season were well below par for him. He seems to think that its possible that the drop off in form could coincide with the offer from Port Adelaide. I thought the idea had a familiar ring about it.

Accusing players of being scared on a forum like this is out of order. Thread closed.

Any official news on Max's knee?

McDonald did well in the first half but like every teammate at the Rebels, he was swamped in the second half. Late pick/rookie at best.

Cannons do it easy to win by 99 points after an early scare. 2014 TAC Cup 2014 Calder Cannons 2.3.15 8.7.55 15.10.100 25.10.160 North Ballarat Rebels 6.0.36 8.2.50 8.3.57 9.7.61 Goals Calder Cannons Foster 6 Cavka 5 Cauchi 4 Ahern 3 Kerbatieh Kovacevic 2 Moore Ryan Wunhym North Ballarat Rebels Palmer 6 Cowan Guthrie Wheelahan Best Calder Cannons Cavka James Kovacevic Carboni Foster Goodyear North Ballarat Rebels Palmer McDonald Marshall Bennett Johnston Ludeman The full forwards for both teams were outstanding. Foster is a potential Bulldogs f/s selection who was terrific in the second half when his team was dominant. Palmer kicked four in the first quarter and had five by half time but was starved of opportunities after that. The Cannons midfield took over from quarter time onwards and ran the Rebels off their legs. It was an even performance from the Cannons and that's been their strength in this competition over the years.

The first half of the Cannons v Rebels match has been a game of two quarters with Calder making a slow start but now on top.

radar, the scarves might not be popular at Tel Aviv airport but I wouldn't suggest that Vanessa tries visiting Mecca in that outfit either

Anyone see Carlton's first quarter coming? If this goes on they are most likely to force the Bombers to play interstate in the first week of the finals.

Exciting finish with the Oakleigh Chargers coming over the top of the Geelong Falcons with a last minute goal. One of the heroes for the Chargers was Toby McLean and exciting small forward with good evasive skills.McCartin managed only the two goals and they came within a minute or two in the third quarter but was off the ground (likely injured) soon after. Oakleigh's Marc Pittonet was the pick of the big men but Darcy Moore (Collingwood f/s) was unsighted and Geelong's Hugh Goddard also had little influence. Geelong's Aaron Christensen looked a likely prospect as a crumbing forward. 2014 TAC Cup 2014 Oakleigh Chargers 0.1.1 3.4.22 6.7.43 9.10.64 Geelong Falcons 2.3.15 5.4.34 7.6.48 9.9.63 Goals Oakleigh Chargers McLean 2 Answerth Crocker Kinsella Mahon Phillips Urban Waddell Geelong Falcons Christensen 4 McCartin 2 Dixon Maishman Remmos Best Oakleigh Chargers Answerth McKenzie Pittonet Beasley Phillips Kinsella Geelong Falcons Miles Curnow Maishman Dixon Christensen Melican

Falcons lead by 2 goals halfway through the third quarter on a perfect day for football at Visy Park. Pat McCartin has shown why he's no 1 in the draft rankings having just kicked two goals in a minute for the Falcons.

The TAC Cup finals have started today. The programme:- TAC CUP QUALIFYING FINALS SATURDAY AUGUST 30 Visy Park 11:30am: Oakleigh Chargers v Geelong Falcons 2:15pm: Calder Cannons v North Ballarat Rebels ELIMINATION FINALS SUNDAY AUGUST 31 Visy Park 11:30am: Western Jets v Dandenong Stingrays 2:15pm: Sandringham Dragons v Murray Bushrangers Mad Monday Preview

My grandsons' junior footy team plays and trains next door to where the Dragons train and I've had the opportunity to see Brayshaw train on a couple of occasions. I also saw him train with Melbourne earlier this season as part of the work experience training week for AIS players and I agree without hesitation, that he could step into an AFL side without much trouble in the early part of 2015. If Petracca's supposed to be even better we could have an interesting dilemma at draft time.

North Melbourne has indicated its contempt for our team by resting five players for the finals. This is the first time in many years that I won't be going to a final round game in my home state. Won't even be watching it on television. I have something else on but my message to the AFL is that if you don't treat equalisation more seriously and do nothing other than support the stronger clubs then you will end up with fixtures that attract neither crowds nor viewers.

Sounds very much like Goodbye Mr. Chip ~ Geelong set to offer five-year contract to James Frawley, clubs circling GWS defender Jono O’Rourke

From memory, Ball went to Collingwood in the national draft, not PSD and we could have taken him earlier with pick 18 which we used on Luke ... Tapscott. Of course, we could have used the pick to draft Nathan Fyfe who was taken a couple of picks later by Freo. The history of drafting is littered with stories like this.

Hawthorn doing a number on Collingwood to put the Pies out of contention. Gee, their handpassing is so much more effective than ours.

Forget Luke Ball, Ryan O'Keefe and Andrew Raines. Port Adelaide has reportedly made Goldsack an offer he can't refuse. We need a bloke with his attributes. Surely, we could look at trumping their offer?

Perhaps they should go back to the Federal Court and make that clear to Middleton J because I got a different impression from the evidence during the hearing.

I mentioned on FaceBook that he was still on our list and therefore we had first call on him as long as that remained the case. I was howled down by a couple of people who claimed that because he had retired, Mitch would have to go into the draft. Does anyone know what the rule actually is?

The club is advertising tomorrow's training, the last of the season, is an open session and supporters are invited to attend. Next session after that will mark the start of the 2015 pre season in either late October or early November.

The saga is due to conclude this weekend and ironically, our injury list is not as long and as deep as it has been in the past at this time of year. Melbourne injury list: round 23 Colin Garland (knee) – test Jayden Hunt (back) – season Jay Kennedy-Harris (ankle) – test Jake Spencer (ankle) – season Luke Tapscott (back) – test Jack Trengove (foot) – season Of course, we should add to the unavailable list, Shannon Byrnes and Mitch Clark who retired during the season.

The AFL won't be tampering with the f/s rule this year ~ No change to father-son bidding system this year I expect Billy to cost us our second round pick although some optimists think he will cost a third rounder. That latter possibility is highly unlikely.

I actually do agree with what you say jnrmac. There shouldn't be such a system but, based on the Cronulla dealings, there is every possibility that ASADA will end up cutting a deal with the players along far more favourable lines than most others in the sporting world. Our country's sporting integrity is already in question but giving Essendon a virtual free pass would be nothing short of shameful.