Its Time for Another

Didn't used to be like this. Seems to me standards have crashed in that place since Sheahan left and Slobbo was elevated. Will never understand that elevation. Certainly a long way from the top of my list of AFL journos.

There in lies the rub. Who believes anyone anymore. I believe Roos when he said we'd been discussing Hibberd. That's about the only trading info I have heard since the last trade period that has any veracity.

Seriously WTF!!!! Is it just me or is AFL journalism an utter farce. Yesterday that poor excuse Robinson has s "scoop" that Jaegar O'Meara is being shipped around for an asking price of $750,000. Today his management comes out and angrily denies it. Not the first time this year Robbo's been caught making porkies. Ie Collingwood's drug cheating players. And what about Lachie Neale. He's just re-signed for 3 years and says the stories that he was thinking of leaving were garbage. Supposedly J Howe's asking price was absolute rubbish as well. Where is all this coming from? Journo's or agents. We all know how many people were laying it on with Scully and many will never forgive his agent. I take any talk of any players changing clubs etc as bollocks now. Players, agents and journos all talk special speak nowadays which usually means the opposite to what's really going on.

At least for the first time in 10 years it won't effect us one way or the other unless the Lions are given a priority pick to compensate them for Essendon getting the first pick they shouldn't have. Then we'll all be shunted another pick.

It would only be fair if they lost a few players to us for nought. The AFL may have already factored in compensation for this by allowing them to get the first or second pick in this year's draft when they really should have had their first pick at least deferred to the end of the first round or taken away altogether. They obviously aren't a genuine bottom team they are only there for one year because of their transgressions. I couldn't believe On the Couch the other week discussed what they might do with their first pick instead of discussing how it is that they will have the first pick at all. Other than KB the whole AFL Community and media have been very very quiet about this.

That's a bit of a shock given this news just last month. Former AFL No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield has signed a two-year contract extension with the Giants, dashing the hopes of Victorian clubs looking to lure the talented midfielder home. The 21-year-old was due to come out of contract at the end of the season, but the new deal will keep him in western Sydney until the end of 2018, according to reports. Whitfield, the top selection from the 2012 draft, has played 58 games for GWS including the first seven rounds this year where he has averaged almost 21 disposals a game.

Are you going to be auctioning anything at the function? If yes, what are the items.

I love these functions. Sounds like a good group of speakers. Is it too late to book?

Here's a bit of objectivity for you. Shut down the player designated as the opposition's most dangerous player to shut down plus got 21 possessions at 66% DE. Had 3 clangers out of the 21 disposals. What you think you're seeing and what is happening can be quite different. I thought a lot of Bernie's disposals went to the opposition. In fact he only had 4 clangers and his DE was 78% Jones DE was 685 with 5 clangers. Felt like a hell of a lot more clangers than that. Viney was 66% DE and sits on that every week. 4 clangers. Don't forget their main roles are to see ball, get ball, get rid of ball, Bugg's is to stop a player first, second and third and if he happens to get the ball great. Sidebottom had 17 disposals. Wouldn't objectively call that a rubbish performance. Much more concerned about Viney's DE than Bugg's.

It means he presents as a target for players down the ground to kick to. So we play directly into the forward line. If you don't have a target like him you have to play indirectly from down the field and hold the ball up wide until other targets present themselves. He bursts into packs and busts them open in a way Pedersen has never done. Also is more consistent over four quarters. Pedersen has moments of taking better marks but never stays involved long enough throughout a game.

Some people on here need to get a grip. Seriously. The back six has 4 players who have played around 10 games or less. O Mc, Wagner, Hunt, Frost. Oh Dear we're not playing finals this year. Oh Oh Oh it's like this every year. Blah Blah Blah! Give me a frickin break. We are now where we should have been in Bailey's third year. It's not Roos's fault all those years were stuffed up. He's going to leave the place with a list that is going to be competitive. It's not his fault most of that list will be two years old when he leaves. Of the 15 players left on the list when he arrived at least 6 can't get a game. Dunn, Terlich, M Jones, Grimes, Garland, Pedersen. So he's built a list in three years with a start of 9 players. And they are not all in the best 9. Jones has gone to another level of leadership this season. His contested work is incredible. There's no one I'd rather have with the ball kicking a Captain's goal at a clutch moment. I agree there seems to be an issue lately with some of his disposals being shockers but don't ignore everything else because of it. Believe me, I'm as frustrated as anyone. That loss to the Bombers sticks in my craw now as much as it did on the day. But to ignore the improvement and the fact it's the youngest team playing at the moment week to week is ridiculous. I think we'll end up with around 9-10 wins. We're just too young to do much better this year. Finals this year were always going to be very unlikely. Next year is when we should be seriously talking finals.

Interesting. On the Couch ask each weekly guest whether they'd pick Stringer or Hogan. I've only watched it some of the time but no one's picked Hogan since I've watched it. Hopefully this sort of feedback from the industry will temper any out of control demands. Assuming we will end up in contract negotiation mode.

He's all good now thanks. It's a story worth sharing so people understand a bit more about how little it takes and how long it can effect a player. Like Ted Richards at the Swans. Just fell backwards after taking a mark and unfortunately the follow through of the momentum smashed the back of his head into the ground. He's been pretty crook for a few weeks. Wasn't even another player. Seems quite often concussions come from players hitting their heads on the ground not necessarily the impact from a player that might have sent them on their way. I've experienced it a couple of times. It's a shocking feeling. I can't believe how some of these blokes get up and keep going.

Thanks Moony and BB. He is fully recovered now and doesn't seem to be suffering any long term effects. He's in the middle of his HSC and maybe it knocked some sense into him because he's doing better than in the past. He suffered from headaches for many months and then even after that when he got headaches they were much worse than before. But its long gone now. I posted his story because it gives you some idea of what can happen with concussion. I can understand that any player suffering a similar concussion could be out for a long time like HL is at the moment. And why they need to be super conservative with a young man like Gus.

My son suffered a bad concussion two years ago in a game. It was an innocuous knee from a teammate into his cheek. He ended up having to be in a dark room 5 days after the hit. He was off school for two weeks and then he started getting bad headaches if he had to do anything involving too much thinking for another two weeks. Eg in visual arts he was fine. In maths he got headaches. It was a very weird five weeks. I've learnt a new appreciation for how serious it can be and for how long.

O'Meara 184cm. Prestia 175cm. I see Prestia as an in and under extractor. Hard to play as an outside wing nowadays at 175cm. O'Meara fit will be the best of his generation. Josh Kelly is also 184cm. What if he is available. Some muttering about him thinking about going back to Melbourne the city.

Ha! Turned out it was indeed. Still not there. Hope they do display this number for your sake when it gets there.

Can someone post the photo and or link to the article.

38,666 Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Club must be working the phones. That's an increase of 564 in the past week. The previous week's increase was only 336. We will definitely crack 39,000 now. The question is how close to 40,000 we are going to get. Go Dees.

Or weird unknown substances from Mexico that no one seems to know what was in them.

All they have ever admitted is failing to keep proper records. Even though they admit they have no idea what the players were given they have maintained the denial that they were given any banned PED's. Anything wrong with this picture?

Love your work Ethan. Was tempted to leave that typo there. Testes and Speed often go hand in hand so to speak.

Not scheduling this game so we have the bye after it is criminal. And two games against Saints at Etihad? Please Gill what are you blokes doing?

Surely if speed is such an issue the Club would have tested his 20, 50 & 100 mtr sprints by now and would be able to compare them to his speed before he was injured. Those records must be around. That would tell everyone exactly whether he's got his speed back or if not how far off he is. It would also tell them how much speed he is getting back progressively since he started running again. Surely if he is slow as hell they'd know and he'd know and he'd know he's cactus. On the other hand if they are going ok they would all know and it would all be good. You'd think they'd know that if as one poster said B McC said he' s now officially in contention for selection.

Agreed. I"m sure if he wants too much and others are prepared to pay it we won't be interested even if he can walk to us for nothing.