Whispering_Jack

Big night at the Sheraton Mirage buffet tonight. Kevin "Shifter" Sheahan (the father figure of Australian footy was there with a group - obviously in town for tomorrow night's big IR face off between Oz and Ireland (to which I'm a late scratching). I didn't ask any questions. I would've felt stupid asking him who he thought we would pick at #36.

His wife was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Does that count as meaningful?

I think Sam will be very good at half back as long as he keeps improving the defensive side of his game which is what he spent a great deal of time doing at Casey this year. If he keeps working on this aspect he can become a very damaging player for us and allow Jack Grimes to spend more time in the midfield where he is destined to play in the future.

Thanks Bob. So I take it you think Mosquito isn't up to scratch?

I was surprised to read that the coach of the Irish team is a former MFC listed player Anthony Tohill. He never played seniors for us and I remember nothing about him. Anyway, the build up to the game here is about as exciting as the above snippet of information.

No. All that I'm suggesting is you can put your own brand of spin on anything and that's exactly what Denham is trying to do. Personally, I don't really worry about how we as a club look to Greg Denham because, for some reason, he seems to have an unhealthy obsession about Melbourne and the more he prattles on about it the more stupid he looks. I don't care about Scully any more either. He and his old man are someone else's problem. I don't believe either were loved by the Melbourne insiders or Tom by the playing group and I cant accept the description of him as a marquee player simply because he was might have been used by the club in its marketing. Matthew Pavlich is a marquee player. Buddy Franklin is a marquee player. Jeff Farmer was our last. Jim Stynes is doing the right thing. He's looking forward. He's highlighting our new coach and our extended coaching set up. It's exciting, it's special and really does mark a serious attempt to match it with the big boys. We've just scored the recruiting coup of the trade week and we're moving forward. That's a good look to me and I prefer viewing my club in that frame a damn sight more than giving oxygen or credibility to that ratbag Denham.

I've just realised what an ordinary operation the Geelong Football Club is. They lost Gary Ablett Jr. They couldn't convince 3 time premiership ruckman Brad Ottens not to retire. They were nearly broke until they did a cosy stadium deal and their fitness bloke nearly destroyed half the team till they sacked him. That Thompson bloke was pretty ordinary the way he shafted them too. And I heard their president talking about how good a coach Scott is. Ordinary club. Poor look.

I'm sure it's just a wind up and that Denham gets off reading this thread. If he was really serious and a decent journalist, he would fly up to the Tiwi Islands and get the low down on Austin Wonaeamirri and the reasons why he's up there and not here in Melbourne doing a pre season. I'm sure the Australian could afford to send him up there. Surely, they would have a few Qantas seats after the last week?

I'm more worried for Denham than anything else. Does he really believe some of the stuff he comes up with?

... and that's the very point Jock. We all know that Sheeds is terrific at spruiking but he's well past it as an AFL coach these days. When I first heard that Sheedy was throwing his hat in the ring for the Melbourne job in the post-Daniher era, I was keen but then I thought about it and, after speaking with a number of Essendon fans (mostly disillusioned) I realised that he'd gone well past his use by date as far as the responsibilities of modern day football (then) was. Today, he's even light years further behind. It's all pretty much moot but I doubt whether Sheeds would have lasted the four Bailey years and I reckon we would have been in no better shape than today. Probably worse off. I feel sad for those young players, many of them the cream of our young footballing talent, who are about to embark on their careers at a club that is going nowhere. Some of these kids will end up on the scrapheap because from what I can see, GWS is not going to be a football club as we know it.

That would be right. I've seen several Broncos guernseys on the streets, a few Titans jumpers but not a single GCS or Lions outfit. I'm going on Friday night to support our three lads and have a look at the stadium but it doesn't appear to be attracting any publicity.

I've just noticed that my list doesn't include GWS's second most highly paid player in Israel Folau. His inclusion leaves room for one less experienced footballer in the GWS squad.

Thanks Old. The current GWS primary list as published has thirty players: 1. Kurt Aylett 2. Dean Brogan 3. Josh Bruce 4. Tomas Bugg 5. Jeremy Clayton 6. Stephen Clifton * 7. Chad Cornes 8. Sam Darley 9. Phil Davis 10. Shaun Edwards 11. Jonathan Giles * 12. Tim Golds 13. Joshua Growden 14. Curtley Hampton 15. Jack Hombsch 16. Adam Kennedy 17. Anthony Miles 18. Tim Mohr 19. Rhys Palmer 20. Luke Power 21. Sam Reid 22. Sam Schulz 23. Tom Scully 24. Dylan Shiel 25. Jacob Townsend 26. Adam Treloar 27. Gerard Ugle 28. Callan Ward 29. Mark Whiley 30. Nathan Wilson * elevated rookies The GWS Giants entry rules provide for an expanded list size and TPP allowance in the club’s initial time in the competition, which in 2012, will be as follows: • Between 44-50 senior list, nine rookies with $640,000 - $1m TPP extra allowance. The same applies in 2013 & 2014 and subsequently the list numbers and TPP extra allowances reduce progressively until 2019 when they will be in line with the other AFL clubs. At this year's national draft, they have the following provisional selections:- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 56 and 85. If they use all of the selections above plus take Junior in the PSD, they get to the minimum of 44 and could theoretically take more (TPP allowing) and add some mature age rookies (I think they might have a few rookies left over who haven't walked). The first eleven selections will surely be kids coming into the system for the first time so I'm absolutely stumped as to where on earth they can expect to find the players with strong bodies and capability to hold down key positions for a tough 22 game season and to provide that steadying influence to all of those young, immature players. A handful of players cast off from other clubs' lists won't do the trick. A bad run with injuries to the few players they have with AFL experience will leave them exposed as no team at this level has ever been before. At least, the Brisbane Bears had some men who could play football. Further, one of the reasons given for the wide reaching concessions given to GWS was the need for early success in a tough market. This path might get them somewhere in about 2016 or 2017 if they're lucky enough to survive till then but I have my misgivings. I really fear for this mob and can understand why the AFL might be upset at the direction this club is taking.

We need to add class into our midfield and we don't have the luxury of an early draft pick. By having him down at the club for a few weeks we have the chance to decide whether we want him and can fit him on our list. Tuck's career to date hasn't been all that flash but it sounds as if he's highly motivated to succeed. I'm happy to see him getting an opportunity.

Although this thread has now been rightly closed by Fan, I think our posters should be reminded that we have a code of conduct and abusing players is one of our red lines. Those who read Michael Newton's final twitter thanking the club and it's supporters might also want to reflect on the fact that in doing so, he showed far more class than did those posters whose words have now thankfully been deleted.

Craig Lees is currently Melbourne's player resources manager and, prior to that, he was football manager with the Casey Scorpions. I think (but not 100% sure of all the names) he was also responsible for a great deal of the Scorps' recruiting which in recent years produced Tim Mohr and the likes of Alex Silvagni, Peter Faulks (now both at the Dockers), James Wall, Rian Mcgough and many others. He has a brother at Casey, Wade Lees who plays a stopping role. Not sure if the VFL has a Phil Scully rule but I'm pretty sure that Craig's last job didn't involve anything to do with roof tiles. Anyway, going on what Casey said in the OP, his recruiting skills will be invaluable and, on what I've heard, he has what it takes to coach at this level as well. Before he went to Casey he coached EDFL side East Burwood to consecutive premierships.

Craig Lees of the MFC tweeted earlier today:- Looks like more of the same from Monday @ Goschs Paddock. Reports welcome.

Yesterday's Herald Sun published the changes to AFL club lists including GWS list additions and Junior Mac was not included. I'm wondering if that's an inadvertent mistake, whether Junior has to actually be drafted (possibly as a mature age rookie - yes, I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous but most things associated with GWS are) or whether there's been a change of heart on the part of GWS. I suppose we'll find out in the fullness of time.

Knows his football and knows Casey well - would be a good choice.

Kevin Sheedy has gone on record on numerous occasions saying that Fevola wasn't on the radar as far as GWS was concerned so that's that as far as I'm concerned. Surely, nobody would suggest that someone from the Giants was telling porkies?

Correct, as soon as we stop thinking and acting like we're meek.

I guess that's right. By missing that follow up visit to the surgeon who operated on his ankle, he is sending out a loud and clear message that he doesn't have the will to complete his rehab to the point where he can play again. I had been hoping that he might be rookied so he could do a pre season and then reclaim a place on the list but that's unlikely now. I wish him luck in his future.

In the end the AFL adjudicates on everything and it's amazing how well the outspoken clubs fare compared with the timid, subservient ones. But I suppose that's the AFL mantra - the meek do not inherit.

I proudly possess Austin's 2011 jumper with autograph purchased at the club's foundation heroes dinner earlier this year. I truly hope he hasn't tossed it in and that my jumper is not the last he wears for the Demons.

Yet another red herring.