Whispering_Jack

Giants lead Pre-Season Draft We're often told that the AFL clubs agreed to the new franchise rules. They'll be happy to know they voted in favour of the following pre season draft order when they agreed to this:- 1 - Greater Western Sydney 2 - Greater Western Sydney 3 - Greater Western Sydney 4 - Greater Western Sydney 5 - Greater Western Sydney 6 - Greater Western Sydney 7 - Gold Coast 8 - Port Adelaide 9 - Richmond 10 - Fremantle 11 - Western Bulldogs GWS did pass on its opportunity to take a number of picks in the national draft so it's only fair they should get the first six picks ahead of the other bunnies clubs with selections in the PSD.

The blond hair didn't hurt Greg Parke's ability to capture votes either.

In the light of the current state of the world's economies, if we can't snare a local sponsor, I would much prefer a sponsor from China than from Europe or the USA. And someone should remind Caro that much of the alcohol fuelled behaviour from that tour emanated from the other club that was there. She herself has documented the problems of one player from that club whose behaviour continued to spiral on a downward path, who never played for the Brisbane Lions again and who, according to Caro, won't ever make it back onto an AFL list. To connect lies about the tour from the Scully camp with this story about a possible sponsorship IMO demonstrates poor form from an otherwise well respected journalist.

It could be a total co-incidence but in the past couple of days I've acquired a new follower to my twitter account and that person is Chinese and writes in some form of Chinese language. Caro blots her copybook by repeating the fiction that Tom Scully left the club's China tour in October 2010 because some Melbourne players allegedly "turned the tour into an alcohol-fuelled series of late nights". We now know the real reasons why Scully left the tour and according to my source, who was on the tour (and stayed on it and thoroughly enjoyed the experience), the alcohol issues emanated primarily from members of the other club involved in the tour of which one Brendan Fevola was then a member. At least Scully should be happy having now joined a monastery in Bleaktown, NSW.

I think JT is future captaincy material but not at 20 years of age. I've always liked Jack Grimes for the position and but for the fact that he missed most of last season with injury and needs to concentrate on his come back, I would have had him as favourite. In the end its going to be a tough call. Nobody really stands out to me and I'm happy its not my call. Happier to leave the decision to Mark Neeld and the coaches.

I heard Davis' manager Liam Pickering explain on radio that his client had walked out on Collingwood for two reasons:- 1. He wanted to go back home to WA or to his partner's home town of Adelaide and 2. The money. I think Pickers also mentioned he had something lined up for Davis in the WAFL. I can't see us offering big money for a 30 year old rookie or him wanting to remain here in those circumstances probably for less coin and at a new club. It just doesn't add up to me.

It's not an easy one given our injury situation but because this would be a one off I'd open with Dave Warner and Usman Khawaja. If they don't want to expose Ponting at # 3 the selectors might want to try Brad Haddin who has opened the batting in the 50 over game. As I said, it's a one off and Watson and Marsh should be back for Boxing Day. I'm all for trying things that are a bit left field in these situations. Probably has no chance of happening because Clarke has just declared his undying love for Hughes as an opener.

Apologies for partially answering my own question but I decided to do some research and came up with this 2010 Age article by Paul Daffey:- It's tight in the east in what looks a stellar season I also found a reference to him being in an Eastern Ranges Under 16 squad in 2006 with Rory Sloane being the only notable player from that list.

According to the 26 October edition of Inside Football Leigh Williams is 195cm and 92kg. He turns 22 next May. Wayne Gable, the football director at Norwood FC in the EFL (first division) says of him: "Leigh is the first on the track, first in the gym and is totally committed to being as good as he can be. He is a strong mark both on the lead and in a contest, he is quite quick and good at ground level. He was double and triple teamed all year yet kicked 80-odd goals". Of course, you have to factor in that club officials do tend to give glowing endorsements for their players in these situations. I haven't seen him myself and one question I would ask is where was he three or four years ago when the best of his age group were in the TAC Cup system? Was he a late starter, is he a late bloomer or hyped up a little? Anyone know a little more of his story?

Sounds like the same thing to me.I'm not sure where you plucked out this notion of my taking things to their extreme. Fact is I was simply suggesting the consequences of when others take their own racism to extremes as we've seen time and time over in the history of mankind. It's a complete nonsense to suggest that a discussion on racism should not incorporate the consequences of its worst excesses.

Forget the modesty and the shuttle bus, Freddie would best be engaged organising that elusive second jumper sponorship with this prestigious American clothing company Cutter and Buck. With that name, he's probably the heir to the company's fortune and the sponsorship would have to be worth squillions for the club!

How's the diet going Redleg?

Rubbish.

I'm a supporter of Phil Hughes and hope he can iron out the well-documented issues he has with his batsmanship but I'll go against the tide and suggest that Dan Christian should come into the side in his place. The rationale is that without Shane Watson (who probably won't be bowling much over the summer anyway) we'll need the extra bowler on a flat track like Bellerive, if for nothing else then to preserve our dwindling band of available pace bowlers from being overworked if the occasion demands. I'm not big on using spare parts bowlers like Hussey and Clarke for long periods in tests. The batting order could easily be switched around to accomodate Christian's inclusion and I think the team would be better off for the change. That said, Hughes will no doubt stay in the side and belt out a century on that pitch just to make me look stupid.

It's also the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbour.

True but Scott was always a cut above Luke. Pity he couldn't be persuaded to stay in/come back to Melbourne. Fortunately, we got Brent Moloney in exchange. (Those were the good old days when the rules allowed a club to get a fair exchange when it lost a player).

Firstly, thanks Joeboy and Freak for your reports. They're most welcome and very telling. Secondly, to those who think we have Luke Williams training with us, you must have gone back a few years in a time machine. The Williams we have on the Permission To Train List is Leigh Williams from Norwood in the EFL. Luke Williams played for us in the early 00's under Neale Daniher and was much loved on Demonland - especially those of us who attended games at Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval where (alas) he performed at his best.

This is a strange article by Crackers. He's having a few bob each way when he takes aim at GWS and then says that the place is a "promised land". While he looks at the veterans (mainly on pensions) recruited by GWS his analysis completely fails to consider the inexperience and lack of physical and mental maturity and quality of the five uncontracted players picked up by GWS with the help of the generous concessions provided by the AFL. There's nobody there in that vital mid 20s age range who can lead this squad and provide the necessary on field guidance to cope with the team's initial years in a tough competition. At least the Suns recruited such players as G. Ablett Junior, Brown, Brennan, Rischitelli, Bock and Fraser who were the backbone of their team last year to provide that guidance for the kids. GWS picked the eyes out of the young talent in a shallow draft and have some very good young players coming into the system but we know it takes years of development with the help of seasoned players around them to bring them up to the levels required to achieve a successful combination on the field. I think it's going to be an even longer wait than even Crackers thinks and it might not even happen at all.

One of my favourites is Max Gawn whose latest tweet says it all:- My advice to Max is not to worry about the drive. The last bloke who did that ended up a permanent fixture playing on a cow paddock in Preston for the Northern Bullants.

What this discussion does show is that our list is developing more depth. Inevitably, the 3 - 5 players that need to go off the list are exposed one way or the other during a season. On balance, it's a good problem to have and I'm happy to leave it to the list management people.

Surely someone at the AFL has worked out the order for the Pre Season and Rookie Drafts by now. It couldn't be all that hard.

... er perhaps I'm getting a bit carried away there but good luck to the lad and I'll be happy if the give him # 33 or 1 or whatever ...

I watch the vision of his highlights for Vic Metro and recall the ripping game he played in the TAC Cup grand final and I know one thing. Even though his team, the Oakleigh Chargers produced the most players selected from one club in all of Australia including three of the top 11 picks who went to GWS - Congratulations to Oakleigh Chargers Magnificent 7 - we have the best of the lot of them and he's still a year away from being drafted. I'd like to put him in cotton wool for 12 months, give him the #31 jumper now and unleash him in round one, 2013, preferably against Sheedy's mob if he still has the gig. Bring it on!

Scheduled tomorrow (Wednesday) @ 9.45am Casey Fields The place to be unless you're working (like me).

I'm starting to believe that the club thinks like we do about the rookie draft being far more important than the national draft. After all, why would they be uplifting Dan Nicholson and Michael Evans' numbers and leaving all of those important jumper numbers like 1, 23, 29, 31 and 33 available for the new rookies? I'm campaigning to give Freddie Clutterbuck the #29 made famous by Hassa Mann and Tom Couch has to be given #31 worn with distinction and pride by Seymour's Peter Garratt in 1976. But who will get Max "Tangles" Walker's # 1 and will someone get the number once worn by the GWS Giants' best midfielder James McDonald? Will they rest Aussie's number or give it away to someone else ... or even back to Aussie. By golly, I love rookie draft time!!!