Bang Na Demon

Absolutely the stand out rookie player from any of the 3 sides last night. He ultimately got disposseded but that time he grabbed the ball at a ball up running through the pack at full pace had me drooling and wishing we had taken him. we so desperately need a player who can do that

Matt Burgan Is possibly the worst interviewer I've ever seen, its embarrasing they let him do it. Having a rambling vague interviewer who needs 30 words to say what can be said 4 doesnt help an interviewee either. Bit like the standard of play being dragged down when you play a poor standard footy team

I had the pleasure of meeting Troy only 10 days before his untimely death to photograph his dogs for a book. He was a very decent human being as well as a very promising footballer. RIP.

Being shy and retiring doesn't have to mean to you lack self belief. For that exact reason I'm sure the recruiting staff are switched on enough to look for other clues beyond the obvious that give you an idea of the kid's character and make up in regards to being an afl player

Couldn't agree more. Addressing our midfield issues has to be the first priority, particularly the efficency (or lack of) of our clearances. A good midfield will assist the backline because the opposition is not delivering it as well and help the forward line with superior service allowing the them to the dictate terms. Forget key forwards or backs. Look at how we went against the top teams this year and we never got remotely close because our midfield was so far off the pace for whatever reason but some quality clearance specialists with speed to break out would be a godsend. Having said that, with the exception of Cyril Rioli and possibly Burgoyne, Hawthorn are exceptional at clearance work with a bunch of one paced inside mids

I wonder if Todd is doing what Schwab may have done using reverse psychology to generate interest in themselves. Make something unavailable and everyone wants it. Its the oldest trick in the book

Also the sheppard not being paid against reiwoldt in the first quarter allowing miller to mark and goal. He had his back to the ball and kept chip out like a gridiron linesman

+1

Collingwood's team work was what stood out today and they're defensive pressure on us. We were dismantled.

spot on

I had an arthroscope on my knee a few years back and my knee was still in agony 3 months later and it took a year till it felt like normal. It depends on the nature and extent of the damage. Didn't Aussie's knee keep him out for a year?

Our clearance work or lack of I believe was the source the whole fiasco tonight. I heard Stan Alves say how our youth was apparantly to blame for tonight' debacle but most centre square ballups I saw had Moloney, Jones, Sylvia and Jamar being smashed by the Hawthorn mid field. They are not youth. The Hawks highlighted in emphatic terms Melbourne's biggest weakness being a lack of quality clearance mids. Jones and Moloney are plodders at best

Too busy, trying to be too many things at once

Its always the way. When I played (suburban) footy the thugs in my team were the nicest guys off the field and the guys that used to do all the tough talk in the locker room were the softest on the field

I was absolutely RAPT when I saw his highlights, strong, great awareness of whats happening around him with the ability to get the ball to a teamate under pressure long or short, good overhead and runs to the right postions. Now not wanting to get too far ahead of myself in any assesment of him but Ron Barassi described a champion player as one who has 3 options and always takes the right one, he has that in spades. FWIW I like him more than Tapscott who appears a more one dimensional, bomb it long kinda player

Yes I reckon he can really play, really knows how to but the ball to teamate's advantage too. I'm hoping modern sports medicine can get him up because I had a similar knee cartiledge ingury 10 years ago and despite an arthriscope it really never got better despite being told it would be fine in 10 weeks

I'm rapt with all those resignings including Barts. Does anyone remember James McDonald early in his career? Quick and brave but would hit the opposition lace more than his team mates. I had similar frustration with him then that many now have with Barts. Tommy Mac is star in the making.

I worked with Steve Harris at Sunday Age many years ago and he struck me as not being particularly strong with the people skills. He spoke to me only once while I was there, that was most of the time he was, and that was to tell me he didn't like something I did, a very minor matter too, nothing that warranted the wrath of the editor. Not someone with true leadership who unites a team but he was an ambitious man and thats something I want from a CEO too.

I read a long thread either here or on demonology where someone descibed Clint's knee injury in great detail. It sounded IDENTICAL to the experience I had with a knee injury and subsequent athriscope. My knee never fully recovered or even came close to full recovery, after 18 months or so I could run a bit but my knee always became very swollen and painful, it still does 7 years later. I know Clint will have a lot more support and care for his injury than I had but after reading that post I felt a long career for Clint was very very unlikely.