Whispering_Jack

I suspect that the journos talking about things would barely know more than you or me. It doesn't pay our recruiters to let out too much information and when something is let out these days, it's for a purpose. We've indicated that we're willing to deal on pick 2 for the right trade which brings one or two quality midfielders to the club and nothing less will do, otherwise we'll keep pick 2. That choice is likely to go on favour of Aish or Kelly if the recruiters' intention is to draft the best young midfielder on offer.

I posted a few days ago on the rumours about St. Kilda being in trouble and, despite the positive spin the Saints have put on their trading of Ben McEvoy, I can't accept that the trade spells anything else but that they're in a bit of strife. So I'll add another rumour to the mill. There's another big one to come from St. Kilda in the next few days.

It's a long time since I had any great faith in most internet phantom drafts so I would regard any falling out of favour of Crouch and Dunstan among those who put these things together with a touch of scepticism. Still, I wouldn't spend too much energy worrying about these things until the final draft positions are known at the end of the trade period which is when we'll finally know what players and how many are in our range for selection. That said, they're often a good read and sometimes provide some interesting information. For instance, I knew that Marcus Bontempelli was tall for a midfielder but the article quoted above says he's now 194cm. Imagine both he and Jack Watts in our midfield? Now that would be defining a new trend towards taller midfielders!

And it's a very good morning from Liverpool, England and I have some sensational news for followers of this thread. We now have our own poet laureate in the form of one of the great female voices in contemporary Japanese literature, Tokyo's own (and now our own as well) Banana Yoshimoto . The author of a dozen novels including Kitchen and her latest, The Lake was featured in the British Airways in flight magazine which I read on the way from London Heathrow to Manchester last night. The sun's about to rise in Liverpool, the place we're staying at is right on the Mersey River overlooking the port. Can't think of a better spot to discuss Japanese literature and the fascinating developments of Melbourne's trade week over breakfast with Redleg.

How about Jamar for Sewell and we throw in Ryan Ferguson as the steak knife?

Redleg says "hello". As foreshadowed previously, we are going to have a substantial turnover of players by the end of the FA/trade period and recruiting is not just about the young but about young, old and in between. We will need experienced heads to fill the gap left by Jamar/Sylvia and Jolly would probably make an equivalent to Jamar. I just hope he's fit enough to play around 14 games (edit: plus finals). Perhaps we could look at picking up Paul Chapman as another who could add some class and experience to our playing list).

In London en route to Liverpool via Manchester. Got every British newspaper in the BA lounge and I see they haven't improved a single iota since I was last here. Not a single word about trading and free agency. Who do they think they are?

Rubbish.

In Honkers en route to Liverpool via London and Manchester. Could someone please briefly list all of the trades we've done before we board for Heathrow (about an hour's time)?

Burleigh Heads off into the Sunset.

... and I reckon there's a fair chance you didn't shout.

Redlegs send Bassett out on high

So much wishful thinking.

A well crafted piece and the last paragraph says it all:-

I didn't see the game but listened on radio. Aish and Dumont played well in the first half but both faded after half time. I'm taping the game when it's on ABC1 later in the week but won't get to watch it until I return from a trip overseas. The radio commentators were pretty happy with both youngsters and I was happy to catch the vision of Billy Stretch from the reserves game. I was genuinely surprised at his talents. Hopefully, he gets to spend some of next year at Casey like Jack Viney did last year.

Great hearing the song but I can't get my head around the words, "the team played fine in the year 29"? 5AA commentators praising coach Nathan Bassett and suggesting he's about to embark on an AFL coaching career. Could he possibly be in Paul Roos' sights!

Keep your eye on the red and the blue. Margin is 40 points.

Fat lady's starting to exercise her throat. Norwood by 28 points.

Me too.

Aish and Dumont have both been quiet in the third quarter. North Adelaide, with the breeze have challenged and the margin is back to 14 points.

... but Cotchin doesn't wear the glenelg colours.

51 in the Richmond colours.

Anyone who took my advice about watching the SANFL Reserves Grand Final to catch a glimpse of Billy Stretch would have been well rewarded. It is being streamed on www.sanfl.com.au and the young bloke is doing nicely. Glenelg leads by 4 points late in the third quarter. Billy has had 17 touches and kicked a goal. Lightly built and doesn't look like his old man at all but looks composed and kicks and marks well.

Absolutely cannot believe that nobody has bothered to mention this bloke yet. I have no doubt that he will be kept on the list and most probably as a rookie for another year (because we have the capacity to do so) but I thought he showed plenty in his eight games at senior level. I think he's the type who might appear to Paul Roos and with the right preparation over the pre season could develop into one of those midfield types we're crying out for because he has the run and carry and plays with a bit of poise.

I'm not sure if they're streaming the game on the SANFL site but it might be worth a look to see how Billy's travelling ... In other news from around the world, the omens are all good. Earlier today the Boston Red Sox (well, er, um redlegs to me) won over Tampa Bay in the MLB playoffs and the Demonland/Demonology footy team gave BomberBlitz a glimpse into a future of the red and blue under Paul Roos winning by 20 goals. Roosy couldn't make it today but I believe Wise marked his return from China with a stunning coaching debut proving my decision to step down (before I got knifed in the back) an inspired move