jumbo returns

OK - Scully hasn't signed, but let's go the pragmatic line. A club, starting off, needs big bodied, well known players to kick start their birth. Scully has ONE season under his belt and if GWS throw bucketloads of money at him, their FD should be sacked. That probably works both ways as I think the MFC shouldn't make a massive offer either. Having said that, here's my two cent's worth - no bigger target/s for GWS than Adam Goodes and Brendan Goddard. BIG signings, wait and see.

Jetta's speed? Can't agree with you on this one. His reaction time is okay, but his foot speed, well, is non-existent. BTW, did anyone else see Cam Bruce run away from Trengove? Is he carrying an injury? Surely he's just as quick as Cam?

The Crows are too quick for our team - the boys dazzled through their 2nd quarter yesterday, running their guts out and the Hawks were left flat footed. Unfortunately, they couldn't sustain the gut wrenching running. Against Hawthorn, the Crows just kept running and running and running. They will catch us out as our slow midfield will be found wanting.

Better? Not sure - I reckon tricky. So many unknowns from the other teams and I agree with Rhino about some warning bells. Hope I'm weeellll off the track.....

The last couple of years has seen the ladder quite stable after Round 7, hardly changing for the year, with the only exception being Port, who fell away badly. Having said that, our 1st 7 games appear quite a challenge. Swans, Hawks, Lions, Suns, West Coast, Crows and Roos. If there's going to be a legitimate challenge this year, you'd love to have the team in at 5 - 2 or least 4 - 3 as some players come back and others gain momentum. Sunday should be great day and even better if we can get over the Swannies, who I really, really, rate.

You're right, he'll need to be tag teamed. If Bailey starts Warnock on him we're doomed, Bail and Bartram don't have the physicality or size and Stefan Martin doesn't have the development. Goodes is an absolute star and his pre - season form has been outstanding. I'm getting nervous......

Cam Bruce is now a Hawk, Goodsey seems to save his best against our team - this player is a gun (imho, a GWS target) so, who will stop him? Chippa injured, Rivers has the ability in the air but no foot speed, Warnock is a class below, Garland? Left field? Grimes? That'll be worth watching. Thoughts?

I sort of know what you're coming from, old55, but I get so nervous when Spencer goes near the ball....

Whose turn was it to don (pardon the pun) the non - clash strip? We all know the game is beyond hectic with many, many close stoppages and reflexes need to be lightning..... It was difficult to discern the strips, regardless of the shorts. It was tough to watch.

I concur with some of your comments, but like I said, my concerns about Warnock are still there. Can a modern footy club continue to play any player that has minimal impact, average decision making and ordinary skills? Garland has the versatility and skills to be part of a rotation that is integral in today's game. Hey, of course it's your opinion and it's a valid one - I've really enjoyed the debate.

Soooo, what's your point?

I believe that defenders are the hardest to recruit - it's just so hard for kids to get picked if they're not midfielder, tall or forward. The last 'natural' defender to get drafted was Glass, imho, and that was how many years ago? Garland is not great in that position, but he's not a disaster either; however, jury's out with me re: Warnock.

Thanks guys - a real pleasure to read.

Back to my original point: 2 games 2 years Do the math. Thorp = damaged goods. Just because he was a high draft pick, it doesn't make him a viable proposition, not even as a rookie. List clogger. Time to move on.

2 games in 2 years with a dodgy hamstring history? Picking him up would be a backward step.

I've seen some natural freaks in my time, but this guy takes the cake. A young Schwarta (before the knees, obviously) Wayne Carey, G Ablett, Phil Carman - all had amazing presence. Jurrah's just got 'it'

I actually watched him play a couple of times with Marcellin (his old school) and the Knights. Too good for school footy and was serviceable against the Suns in one of the matches I saw. Not overly tall, lovely kick but there was no....sparkle? I don't want to malign the kid, but we've probably got too many players his size ....

Is it possible that he's still suffering from the Giansiracusa bump? He showed absolutely no awareness that day....

He hasn't hit a leading player for about 5 years - Freo saw this bloke's limitations.

Was he really? (Shakes his head in disbelief....) Some recruiters have NFI.

Honestly, I read somewhere on this very forum, that some of you were contemplating the possibility of seconding this bloke to the team..... He makes Mick 'The Galloping Gasometer' Nolan look like Chris Judd. For all you youngsters out there, google the name, if you're interested. He is the biggest gump playing AFL footy - talk about no awareness, turning circle of my old HG and just a dumb player. It was painful watching him. The fact is, St.Kilda's bottom six are woeful and he's in that bracket. What say you?

can't bat, can't bowl either!

If you want someone whose stats read 7 tapouts, no kicks, no handballs, no tackles, no assists, no blocks, no hard ball gets, no loose ball gets, no marks, no idea, then yes, what a great pick up.... Excuse me, I promised never to move into sarcasm city but Mark Blake is the worst AFL footballer going around.

'Cultural cancer' - that's the best description I've heard about him. Having said that, Redleg might have a point? Surely, surely, everyone grows up at some stage? Surely? Big body in the square will allow Jurrah, Watts, Pettard, Wonna, Green etc to run amok. Surely that front lobal part of the brain is coming together?