demoniac

24 February. Very early booths indeed.

If there were online forums in the 80s there would have been many posts expressing similar sentiments expressed about Sydney and Brisbane. They were both going to non AFL cities and they certainly were circus like with their private ownership struggles and lack of support from the AFL. But the AFL learned from their errors and both Sydney and Brisbane were given sufficent support to allow them to establish themselves in non AFL cities. Yep $100 million is a stack of cash but for mine it is an appropriate expenditure for a business of the AFL's size and ambition to underwrite the expansion of our great game into 2 large population areas in western Sydney and the Gold Coast. Sure its going to be hard and we need to make sure that the money is well spent and good people are employed to establish good solid sustainable foundations but its the confidence in our code that saw us expand successfully into Sydney and Brisbane originally which has led us into western sydney and the Gold Coast. If we want Aussie Rules to maintain our dominant position in Australian sport we cannot rest on our laurels. Thats the same for the AFL as it is for any business.

I don't see why GWS is regarded as a circus. Yep new AFL footy clubs in these days of multi million dollar professional sport are not established by a few gentleman convening a meeting but there is not much today that we do similar to the days of the second half of the 19th century when most of the traditional VFL clubs were established. The expansion of the VFL into the AFL has underpinned Aussie Rules becoming the dominant sporting code in the land. GWS and the vast expanses of the west of Sydney represents the next logical step in that expansion. As for Scully I trust Tim Harrington will offer him a contract worthy of his performance and his undoubted potential and not a dollar or contract year more. Simply put GWS can afford to pay him more than we can given their extra million in the salary cap and the number of players in their first few years who will be on standard rookie contracts. We can't afford to pay him more than we estimate his worth under our standard salary cap or what do we do when our other exciting young talents come out of contract? Melbourne has a good story to sell Scully. The oldest club in the game, the club that created the game is poised to once again challenge for flags after almost 50 years in the wilderness. He knows the depth of outstanding young talent that surrounds him and that on and off the field we are building to something truly special. He has a chance to be part of that. Or he can take GWS's millions and ultimately be a wealthier man but a man NEVER EVER to be welcome at Melbourne. I hope he does stays to play his part but if he goes I don't see it as being a fatal blow because our playing list has plenty of young exciting talent apart from Scully which would be added to by the 2 first rounders we should receive as compo with Jack Viney on the horizon. Thats ultimately my point. This club is now in a strong position on and off the field and the words of Maloney at the 2009 Best and Fairest ring loud and true. Is he likely to go? Well the drums were beating about the identity of players going to the GC last year and they were correct. Then there is the disingenious nature of the statment released by his managment company re Scully not negotiating with the Dees until the end of the 2011 season. Presumably they don't consume any media otherwise they would know, as everyone else does that by not signing a new contract with the Dees speculation would build all year a la Ablett, Brown, Bock et al in that media that the Velocity Sports folks obviuosly don't cconsume. The words of Maloney at the 2009 Best and Fairest that ring loud and true. "We are on a straight line and we will not deviate . . . if you don't want to be on that straight line go to Carlton, go wherever,"

I am 40 and I have never been happier with the club's list managament. In the modern professional era players earn so much money that most of them will want to play on even when their form wanes and the game passes them by. As a result clubs have to be proactive in 'retiring' players because when the time comes the players generally will want to play on. Robbo, Yze and White were all finished when the club 'retired' them. If i recall correctly all were hoping to continue their careers at another club but no club came a calling. Tells you something I think. Mcdonald is one of favourite ever Dees players. Always gave 100% on the park and an absolute gentleman off it. Still he would have been 34 in 2011 and the old legs looked more than a little tired in 2010. Fair enough for me for the club to prioritise getting games into our elite young midfield than another season for Junior. Bruce is 31. Apparently a great role mode off the field but for an experienced player he never showed much poise or good decision making or good disposal on the field. If you believe Mike Sheehan he just finished a contract that had him in the top 15 - 20 players in the league. Well he was never in that echelon let alone in the top 50. Now at 31 he has looked at our list and he has looked at the Hawks list and like Cheney he has seen less competition for a place in their 22. Thats the certainty he has found. And of course for mine the reason both Bruce and Cheney see more opportunities at Hawthorn is that while their list does have some elite players it does not bat deep. To wit we have embarked on a thorough and sustained rebuild and we have a list deep in emerging young talent whilst the Hawks are paying for early draft shockers like Thorpe, Muston and Dowler with a lack of depth. Good list management all round for mine by the Dees. And the lesson for the players. After years in the wilderness the team that created the game is ready to take it back. The whole club is focussed on winning a flag and finally there are no easy rides for senior players. Spots in the best 22 have to be earned by consistent performance not reputation. Its probably been..oh.. 46 years or so since this was truly the case.

Just watched the presser and could not help but think that Brucey and his rug will be right at home at the Hawks. Can swap rug maintenance tips with Guerra and Hale. I am quite confident that our list is in much better shape than the Hawks. Bruce and Cheney both saw more opportunities for them at Hawthorn. The former a 31 year old fearing he would be pushed out of the team by more youthful talent and the later seeing too many players ahead of him and a spot in the best 22. Indicative for mine of a Hawthorn list that has some elite players but overall does not bat very deep. I look forward to Brucey showing his normal lack of poise and errant disposal in the Hawks jumper in 2011.

Cameron Johnston Height: 181cm Weight: 78kg DOB: 24/02/92 Club: Geelong Falcons (Vic) Kevin Sheehan says: Quick and versatile player who can play a hit-up forward role or go down back. Very athletic type overall and a long kick. In his own words What type of player are you? I consider myself to be a fast-running half-forward/midfielder who can kick goals. I can also play in the backline to rebound the ball either by foot or by carrying and drawing with speed. I run, carry and break lines. Which AFL player do you feel you resemble, and why? A few players - Ryan O’Keefe, Andrew McLeod and Brett Ebert. I can play a running half-back like McLeod, as a midfield/half-forward like O’Keefe, or be a hit-up target like Ebert. What are your strengths as a footballer? My running ability, both pace and long distance, and long kicking. I can run a 2.8 in a 20m sprint and continuously drop punt a ball 60m. My main strength is that I can play in a number of positions. What parts of your game would you like to improve? My game knowledge and set up. I'm also always working on my skills on both sides to be the best player I can possibly be. Which AFL team do you support and how did you come to barrack for them? Geelong - we live in Geelong and my whole family supports them. My favourite player when I was growing up was Garry Hocking. Who has been the biggest influence on your career so far, and why? My St Joseph's senior coach, Mark Havey. He has helped me in all areas of my game and has given me the opportunity to play key roles at senior level at a young age.

DAN NICHOLSON Height: 183cm Weight: 76kg DOB: 02/11/90 Club: Uni Blues (Vic) Bio: Pacy midfielder/running defender who has dominated Melbourne's amateur footy competition for two seasons while playing with University Blues. Grew up in Victoria's western district then went to school at St Pat's in Ballarat. Is 20, but has plenty of improvement to come. In his own words What type of player are you? Agile half-back player who loves to run and create plays. I try to stop my man and run off him, and make him accountable for what I do. Which AFL player do you feel you resemble and why? Robert Murphy, who doesn't have the heaviest build but plays bigger than he is. I offer run and creativity from the back half and can play as a utility. What are your strengths as a footballer? I have a decent engine when it comes to endurance but my speed over 10-20m is my greatest asset. Solid left foot. What parts of your game would you like to improve? Contested marking and mid-range kicking. Which AFL team do you support and how did you come to barrack for them? Hawthorn. Dad always tried to make me barrack for Richmond so that pushed me away from them. My best friend barracked for Hawthorn, so I did as well. Who has been the biggest influence on your career so far, and why? Dad. Living in the country, opportunities are hard to come by so Dad drove me everywhere. He eventually sent me to boarding school at St Pat's

One is not sure how your rating of the 'South Tassie competition' is relevant to a player recruited after a season with Hobart which was in its second year in the Tasmanian State League.

It is that flexibility that will be a key to causing problems for opposing defences. Its a forward line filled with genuine markng targets with good endurance who can all move between deep in the forward line and the wing. Its a potent recipe for confusing opposing sides as players drift up to the wing and back losing their opponents or making them wonder who they should be matching up on. Jezza Howes is listed at 190 and 80 with a 14+ beep test so with an AFL pre season can't see why he won't enter 2011 season at around 83 to 85 kgs and be a chance to play senior foooty. Seems to have the combination of good endurance, good footy smarts, great well timed leap, ability to mark out front or with arms fully extended and good goal and positional kicking to make an impact.

In short Bruce and his manager Ricky Nixon thought the Dees would crumble on the 2 year deal. Used to be that we would have. That is of course why Bruce got the just finished contract that landed him in the Top 20 money earners in the AFL when he would have been unlikely to be in the league's Top 50 players. Times have changed. Travis Johnstone learnt that. Brock Maclean learnt that. In short Schwab, Connolly, Harrington and Bailey have set about regularising our player payments. Elite players get an elite player's contract. Good players get a good players contract. Sensible TPP management. And of course players 30 and older get one year deals just like Crawford did at Hawthorn and Fletcher does at Essendon. Sensible risk management. Simply Bruce and Nixon were slow on the uptake otherwise they would have requested a trade and the Dees would have facilitated the deal and Bruce would already have been at his preferred club.

In the old days older players had to be cajoled in to playing on for another season. Most could earm more momey at a regular job or by playing/coaching at lower levels. Now they are payed so well that most will try and play on for as long as they can even when their form is faltering. I don't blame then for that but it does mean that it is necessary for the club to be proactive in getting players to retire when their time is up or to take 1 year contracts at a lower amount that reflects their declining form as they get older. In short for mine the Bruce decision is a good one. By all accounts he was very professional in the way he trained and prepared so his leadership in that regard will be missed but other players such as Scully can also provide that. On the field I never thught he displayed much leadership so I don't think that we will see an impact there.

In the old days footy players and cricketers had to be cajoled to play on for another season or another tour. Now they are so well payed that they have to be cajoled into retirement or accepting shorter and less lucrative contracts reflective of their lesser performance as they move into their 30s. So no, what has happened will not be a once off but I would prefer the club be proactive in addressing the issue and acting in the best interests of the club rather than letting players play on too long or paying veterans whose best is behind them too much.

Indeed we will reap what we sow... and I am quite looking forward to the resulting feast. Our list management in recent years has been the best in my lifetime (I'm 40). Exiting Johnstone and Maclean for well used high draft picks. Saying see ya later to CJ when he wanted more than the 1 year we were offering. And equally as importantly mastering the art of saying to veteran professional sportsmen that their time is up when they all think they can play another year a la Bizzel, Yze, Robbo, White, Junior etc or not offering them multi year deals a la Bruce. Actually Tim Harrington should really offer his services to Cricket Australia... As for Cam slotting into a Premiership contender.. if you are alluding to the Hawks then didnt we just give them a tough but limited half back flanker who could only manage 3 games for us this year in Cheney? Maybe they have more holes in their list than we do and are not really a premiership contender... Maybe their list managment and recruiting just is not as good as ours has been under Schwab, Connoly, Bailey, Harrington and Prendergast?

McNamara to rookie list? May get an offer elsewhere, pretty sure he signed a 1 year deal only for this is year PJ to mature age rookie spot as ngr tall.er ruck insurance.. or delist..

Cheney and Pick 66 to Hawthorn for Pick 52 says SEN n Twitter if so good luck Kyle!

rumour and speculation via a bigfooty report off SEN...Cheney off to Hawthorn

Setanta turns 28 next year and his best footy has been played as a mobile non marking tall forward which is really a not quite right position. That'd be a no for me. At best a late pick if Footy Department thinks he can pinch hit as the secnd ruck/utility tall. Warnock actually plays a position so I think he is of more value than Setanta. If not to others then to us. Perhaps Ol 55 has been getting to friendly with Talking Carlton types!

22 year olds who finished the year playing Box Hill Reserves as Dowler did are at best a contender for a rookie position. In terms of final day Dee deals... think any Dee involvment may involve possible deals for draft picks.. Cheney - contracted i think...is back in the queue for a half back at Dees so may get offered more regular semior footy elsewhere which I think we should facilitate even if for an unused pick... a club like Essendon could do with an actual half back flanker rather than the not quite right utilities they generally play there... Maric - contracted..has undoubted talent and finally managed an full season albeit at VFL level except for one game after a couple of injury interrupted years.. so may seek greater opportunites elsewhere... would not give him away and would not mind him staying Warnock - contracted... 27 in May next year...played only 13 games so spent some time in the VFL which may lead him to seek a a trade to a team offering a spot in the best 22. Tim Harrington said he is a required player which of course can mean he is a required player or that if another club wants him they'll have to pony up what we want in a trade..would only trade for something of value if Footy department is confident Stef Martin will stand up next year.. interestingly over at TC they are claiming a swap of Warnock for Setanta is on the cards which is most amusing! thats all really.. also interestingly Warnock and Cheney should be currently winging their way to China..presume Maric has gone top..they might have to jump off the plane and fly back!

Spencer has shown enough for mine to get the 2 year contract and upgrade to senior list. Turns 21 today. 203cm and 100kg so is the right build. Is not afraid of the physical stuff which is essential for a Ruckman. Competitive in the ruck and his overhead marking is improving. Generally runs to good positions. In the context of the 3 interchange and 1 substitute rule he is in essence a Nm 1 Ruck rather than the more versatile second ruck/follower position that the new rules seem certain to result in. Jamar turns 28 next year so hopefully has 4 or 5 years left which would have Spencer ideally situated at 25 or 26 to take over. If he develops at a reasonable rate he may even play first ruck with Jamar spending more time up forward and relieving Spencer in the ruck. Gawn only turns 19 in December and missed most of the year recovering from injury so is a fair way off.Have only seen limited footage but is written up as being capable forward. Fitzpatrick turned 19 in June. Only seen limited footage of his footy but reports indicate he could be the versatile tall utulity who can ruck and go forward or back that the introduction of the substitute results in. All in all I think we have good ruck depth but we are going to have to be patient while they develop. In the meantime we may be forced to perservere with PJ. Hopefully a large part of his pre season will involve drills where he puts his hands up in the air and tries to mark it or at least bring it to ground. Martin could also be an option for this role. Certainly he is a better option fwd than PJ and probably on par in terms of ruckwork.

pros - quick - versatile - can take a mark cons - injury prone: has had repeated shoulder problems - kicking suspect - tackling suspect: possibly due to lack of confidence in shoulders all in all that'd be a no from me...

Cheney may feel his opportunities at Melbourne will limited which they probably are so understand why he may seek a trade to a club offering regular AFL football. Pettard will be going nowt except China. Can see why the Pies would want him though as our fleet of marking medium forwards means that the likes of Maxwell, Shaw and O'Brien have to play on a man rather rather than zone off and spread and set up Maggies attacks.

The imperative for North to trade is in the $425,000 a season they'll be paying a ruckman to pay in the VFL for each of the next 2 seasons. North are strong in the ruck with Goldstein and McIntosh who form one of the better ruck divisions in the AFL with Petrie to return next year as a key forward who can take a turn as a follower. Therein lies Hale's problem in being the third best ruckman at a team with 2 very good ruckman. As a result he has been played as a key forward which he is quite simply not. He is a ruckman who can take a mark when rested forward. We have the All Australian Jamar, the very average Paul Johnson and then the still raw and developing Spencer, Gawn and Fitzpatrick. Quite simply Hale is a better ruckman and a better forward than PJ and thus represents a significant upgrade as a Second Ruck who can take a mark and kick a goal resting forward. If the cost was Pick 12 and 31 for Hale and 17 I'd be a little bit uneasy and want to be assured that we think Hale has the desire to be the best player he can be and not just a guy happy cruising through an AFL career and counting his money. I'd hope that Barry Prendergast is ok with the drop in first round selection in terms of the players he is hoping to get. To a degree we've been spoiled by the Johnstone and Maclean trades. They were exceptional for us and disastrous for the Lions and the Blues. That sort of imbalance is rare in a trade and if we judge all trades by them we'll never do a trade again. In terms of the 2 remaining years at $425,000 on his contract I'd presume that he would sign a 3 year deal with us at $1.1 million incorporating around $200,000 in the third year. Of course there are a few other teams in the market for a ruckman such as the Hawks and the Bombers so it all may come to nowt.

the Lions are a complete rabble at the moment and the Lions fans I know are hurting which I presume they would not be if it was just a soulless corporate franchise..heck we have been a rabble for most of my 40 years on this planet.. so the new clubs are being formed by a different mechanism to how the tradtional clubs came together..doesnt make them soulless corporate franchises

I don't care who we play ina granny as long as we win one..or two.. or three as an aside...why are Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney soulless corporate franchises? Are you happy with the likes of Pettard and Bail and Spencer...bet you had the same words to say about the Bears then Lions when they began....without a team in Queensland would there have been the systems in place to develop them... if the code is not strong then we will not be strong

If Hale can stick his arms up in the air when marking he already has more KPP attributes than PJ.