Whispering_Jack

Yet a year and two years ago Port was also suffering humiliating 100 point defeats. They might have had the nucleus of a midfield to start but with our current recruiting efforts, perhaps we might catch up reasonably quickly in that area. I think we're at least equal to them if not in front in other departments if our team is healthy and hopefully, the change in coaches brings about renewed confidence and a well structured game plan. If things go right for us, we have the capacity to surprise.

If he's been delisted then doesn't he qualify as a delisted free agent who can be picked up by agreement at any time in the first two weeks of November as long as you have the space on your list?

What on earth is a "Neeld move"? IIRC one of the first people recruited under his watch was Mitch Clark. We also recruited Chris Dawes, Jack Viney, Jimmy Toumpas, Jesse Hogan, Dean Kent, Matt Jones, Dean Terlich and Mitch Clisby under Neeld. Can you compare these with the various "Daniher moves" and "Bailey moves" of the past?

According to the AFL Barometer for Melbourne, "players with one to four years' experience resume on November 6, while others are back on November 18." That's the start of the official training roster but it's my understanding that quite a few players have hit the gym early and there might well be a bit of rivalry among our ruck brigade to reach new heights of strength and fitness down there at AAMI Park. In any event, as much as I would love to be out there on Wednesday on that historic day when training under Paul Roos kicks off, work beckons. Is there any information as to the time and place for the first run? Of course, reports, as always, are appreciated.

I haven't seen him play and know very little about him except what I've read here and on the net. I found this article and clearly, he needs a fair bit of work on the track to get him ready to go at AFL level - Willie big draft chance A few years ago, I would have said a definitive "no" and for the reasons outlined in the post above by rjay, I'm still inclined that way. However, let's not forget that when his cousin Cyril was playing Under 18s for NT, the draft pundits were wary of him because he wasn't supposed to have a tank, wasn't fit or suited to the modern game etc. We picked Morton at 4 in that draft - about 10 spots ahead of Cyril who has now played in two premierships - enough said. Possibly a rookie on the basis of his willingness to work his butt off on the track as expressed in the article. There's also supposed to be some family relationship between the Rioli's and the Wonaemirri's, isn't there?

So I've returned from overseas and what did I set on the Foxtel IQ before I left? The SANFL Grand Final. At the time I set the timer, we had pick 2 (potentially James Aish) and somewhere around pick 20 (ditto with Trent Dumont). Now, we have neither of those selections and it's not likely that we'll draft either player. Apart from the joy of watching the red and blue win a flag, is there any reason why I should be watching this game?

Quite. It seems like there are always stories doing the rounds about coaches when they get sacked and sometimes, one or two of them might even turn out to be true. What intrigues me though is that the CEO was off duty in mid season. He didn't trot off to Wimbledon to catch some tennis by any chance?

I've been speaking with Stevo our draft guru who will be collaboration with me on a future article pre draft. He does get to see a fair bit of TAC Cup and Under 18 National Carnival stuff but this year his time was a little more limited and his report is going to cover a small group of Victorians. Stevo's a bit worried about his credibility because a few years ago, he was delighted to learn about our drafting of Lucas Cook. This year, he likes Ben Lennon. Do you have the Inside Football pen picture of him?

With a name that sounds like a film director you would think there might be a decent highlights package floating around. Can he play football?

Thanks. I just remembered that we had a General Discussion board that I haven't visited for ages so I wandered over there with the full intention of playing that game with the posters over there. You won't believe it but I found this thread called "Tony Abbott is an international embarrassment" and blow me down. They've been playing your game for months. Some of BH's best work's in there. Who needs footy politics when you can have the real thing?

I know of one bloke who's only serious about politics. Happens to be a supporter of the coalition but the same story could be told of Labor supporters. Anyway, from the day that Kevin '07 was elected back in 2007 he was a trenchant critic of the government. For six years all I heard from him was "pink batts", "carbon tax" and "Craig Thomson". Then on 18 September this year the public voted in a new government and ever since, this bloke has been running around, beating his chest and telling everybody about what a genius he is. If I start today and bag the coalition every day of the week for 3, 6 or 9 years, then one day, I'll be a genius too. Funny how politics and footy are similar.

I know the author of an article is not usually responsible for the headline but when this story about Jimmy Magner spoke of "Demons in disarray", I was a trifle bemused. Anyway, I can't wait to see how the HUN sub editors describe the situation at St. Kilda tomorrow morning.

This is their best line up assuming no injuries and that Saad somehow escapes any penalty? Wow. I am unimpressed.

Colin's right. You were confused. We might not have been playing all that well but there were some real flashes of good play in the first half and we even snatched the lead before half time with a nice goal from Jack Trengove before a late goal to Merrett put us behind again. I don't recall any booing at the time not even from the members. Whether you liked Neeld, Schwab, McLardy and the bootstudder of the time, please let's not distort or reinvent history. As for the Jimmy Magner article today, whilst I thought he deserved a better go especialIy late in the season, I think there's more inconsistency in its telling than in the accusations against the coaches.

Fair comment although I would say one thing about Neeld and that is there were glowing reports not only from Malthouse but also from many other club insiders about his diligence and his creativity in his work from 2008 on the forward press which resulted in a premiership for Collingwood in 2010. That was fine at a club which had an abundance of star players but not at a club that was lacking all over the field in ability, fitness, discipline and many other attributes essential for team success.Once things didn't work out Neeld lacked the flexibility and the cool headed approach that was necessary to get things right but one thing about Malthouse is that he's canny enough to adapt where circumstances demanded it. Neeld wasn't and nor was Watters and I suspect Buckley's in the same boat. However, I wouldn't put Brad Scott into that category.

Peters one of three early new signings for North Ballarat Roosters "... Lucas Cook is the Roosters’ other early key loss. Cook is going back to play in his hometown of Hopetoun after one season at Eureka Stadium." A little over a year ago, he was on an AFL list while today, he's left the VFL scene for an even more obscure and out of the way place. At least it's home and I hope he enjoys his footy.

The AFL says it has no idea. This appears to be it's view about whether infraction notices will be issued over the so-called "supplements" investigation - The AFL still believes Essendon will escape sanction over their supplements regime I think the AFL would be wise to continue to not rule out the possibility of players receiving infraction notices. This story still has a way to go before it's fully played out.

So unless I've missed something, we go into the month of November with only two uncontracted players - Nev Jetta and Dan Nicholson which, I think is a far more stable situation that that which applied this time last year. Twelve months ago we were under threat from the tanking enquiry and several players were going through what must have been a difficult period when they and some of their mates lived with the uncertainty of whether contracts would be renewed during a time when some major list changes were taking place. In hindsight, it was a situation not well handled by the club and which clearly caused some inner resentment among the playing group. Don't know the situation of the remaining two uncontracted players but it will be interesting to see how the next fortnight plays out for them.

I'm truly disappointed in you lot. Last year someone came on every day with the countdown to draft day but this year, there's simply too much nonsense. It's time to get back to basics, discussion about the price of bananas and the fact that there are 21 days to go till draft day.

I'm over this stuff about fixtures and financial viability. We have a new coach who's being paid handsomely. We're turning over a goodly percentage of the list again this year and, with the new faces, the return of a few players whose seasons were limited by injury in 2013 and the potential for dramatic improvement from many of our younger players, why should we rule out the possibility of a dream start to 2014 just as Port Adelaide had in 2013 or Adelaide (2012) and West Coast (2011) before them? If we come out in round 1 against the Saints with Tyson and Vince dominating the middle, Toumpas and Viney showing natural improvement and Clark, Hogan and Howe marking everything up forward and kicking goals, we'll have bums on seats for our subsequent games - no worries. Think it's not possible? The Saints beat us in round 13 by 35 points but the team we had that day was a bit of a rabble, playing with not much confidence or purpose. We were missing Clark, Frawley, Grimes, Jamar, Viney and Dawes got clocked behind play and was subbed off. Trengove, Toumpas and Blease were playing without confidence and despite all that, we had one more visit inside 50 than our opposition. A week later, we beat the Bulldogs after leading by more than seven goals halfway through the last quarter. Sure we slowed to a walk at the end but if that team could perform in that manner after all the turmoil imagine what we can achieve with a new coach, a different team and game plan and a bit of confidence? Time to start thinking positive (after all it is the off season).

I think it's fairly clear that the Roos philosophy with his team is to develop a culture which engenders respect. Anyone who read the Oracle's piece on Cross and his off the field deeds and the respect within which he was held at the Bulldogs would know that this bloke is a handy person to have at a club, especially one like ours that has lost a lot of respect in the football world over the past six or seven seasons when we went from being the best performed Victorian team to the consistently worst performed. Naturally, we need blokes who can turn games around off their own boots but that will only come about when your entire team is respected. I think therefore that Cross will be as welcome and as important an addition to the club as Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince, pick # 9 and Paul Roos himself. Of course, Jesse Hogan's another matter altogether but that's another story ... I'm ready for the Saints in Round 1. In fact bring on whoever we're due to play in that truncated pre season competition!

But only if he's released from prison prior to draft day.

Do you mean the head recruiter from one of these clubs or a recruiter from one of these clubs to head our recruiting? I think our new head recruiter Jason Taylor comes from Collingwood and Todd Viney who had a role last year (and I thought did well) was involved at Hawthorn but not sure if he had much to do with recruiting. Let's see what rabbits Taylor can pull out of his hat (if any) with 9, 40 & 57 plus those rookie picks. And then there's next year.

Oh, I forgot to say ... after that we take things one week at a time.

The point surely is that you not only need good administration to succeed but it has also to be good over more than just the short term. You can point to the failings of Schwab/Neeld over the past couple of years but they were underpinned by poor decisions made throughout the organisation before they came along. The mistakes made at the club over the past decade by various parties have led us to where we are and we should acknowledge this and move on. The fixture's out for 2014. We need to focus on what's necessary to beat St. Kilda in Round 1.