Redleg

Agree.

I believe that Jamar has had a few leg or foot injuries. I stand to be corrected on this point. We were always going to be in trouble in the ruck if he went down as we all knew that PJ wasn't really a ruckman and Meesen isn't an AFL footballer.

Good post. You have whipped up my enthusiasm for a practice match.

A draft pick that we gave to Geelong for Brent Moloney. We may have done better using the pick in the draft.

Jamar has not played one practice match and Meesen was apparently very poor again on friday. Our ruck selection for the opening game is looking interesting.

You don't need to. Just hope that our youngsters perform well.

Out of respect for Chris's father's contribution to our club and the fact that Chris is a young man who was neither a star or a regular team member, I suggest we wish him good luck and end this thread. PS. We as a club have a lot to look forward to with all of our young players.

Absolutely.

Does anyone know how many on average we would sign at the first G game each year.

How do we fit him in on the list without a long term injury and with auto uplift not available until the middle of the season?

That is disappointing if true.

I am not coming to any conclusion on salary cap breaches that is for the "totally fair" AFl to decide. Whether Pratt is President or not is irrelevant. It is an offence for a supporter of a club to employ and pay a player over the odds if that is not included in the salary cap. The real question the AFL must decide as I said earlier is to determine if he is being paid over the odds, which means it is a payment for playing footy at Carlton and should be in the salary cap. Many players work for friendly employers to a club, but the salary must be realistic in the market place.

He may still be. He was employed by Visy a short time ago.

Carlton have rorted the system often in the past and are now playing the system to their advantage, just like everyone else does or should be doing. I heard that Judd was offered $1.5m per year for 5 years and that and that alone is why he signed with them. Obviously part of that figure is made up by his employment with the ex President's company. It would appear if my info was correct that he is on about $half a million a year with Visy. I have since had further info that it is 6 years not 5, even better for Judd. The problem the AFL has is how do they decide if Judd is worth the half million Visy is paying. In other words if he is worth that to the company and they have declared it how can you stop a player having outside/football work. This is a real grey area and is a real problem in stopping rorting. Visy would say that Judd is the best player in the country and therefore his marketing value to them is easily worth the salary. Judd is entitled to have a job away from football and how the hell do you police it? Any club can do the same within limits. The AFL has a real problem on its hands as this is a complete form of salary cap rorting. The question that has to be determined is would Visy pay Judd this figure if he was for example a magpie or a bomber. Interesting to see the AFL response, if there is one. PS. John Elliott would see nothing wrong with it.

Considering we have no forward talls who can win a match, why isn't Dunn played there. He is a big unit who can kick a goal and surely he would be of more value there than tagging.

He actually doesn't have great hands but he is getting better. He was let go by the Eagles for that very reason. As for being a dangerous kick, do you recall his miss from 25 metres straight in front last last week?

Amen.

That's funny.

I don't expect Sylvia to be a star nor do I expect Newton to be a top full forward. All I expect is that if they are in the team they perform to a standard that retains their spot. If not, drop them until their form warrants a return. I don't want to see poorly performing players in the side. End of story. At the moment they belong with Casey.

It would be an absolute impossibility for him to be worse. If he lay down on the ground and slept through the whole game he would be better, at least he wouldn't be giving away silly frees and disposing of the ball straight to the opposition.

There is a clear upside to yesterday and other games like it. It allows us to see who are never going to make it and who might. Some players out there are just not good enough. Luckily we have a number of others who can be given a try. It is up to the Coaches to keep trying out the list to determine who has a future with the club and who doesn't. Softly earned reputations should count for nothing. If you are not good enough you don't play, end of story. Of course I don't put a 17-18 year old recruit in that category as they need game time to show their wares and time to improve physically. I am really talking about the 3 year plus players. In the last two weeks when I add previous performances I have just about written off Newton. He doesn't seem to have it. Sylvia is a few steps behind him. I am as guilty as everyone else in talking up players who don't perform and I am truly sick of posts labelling a Demon a champion after drafting or having played one fair game. I feel our recruiting has been good the last two years and if it continues we will see a brand new team in a few years. The likes of Spencer, Grimes, Cheney, Aussie, Frawley, Martin, Garland, Bate and their fellow recent draftees will lead the way. I can see exciting times ahead but only when we become fairly pragmatic with who stays and who goes.

That sums it up.

I am trying not to get carried away with a pre season game. However, knowing where we are at as a club and how important a message a win could have sent, I fully understand and don't disagree with your views on CS. I will now try and adopt the views of Fan, if they don't show it they ain't got it. I will stop hoping. Simple as that. Newton is firmly in that category as well.

Or should that be plays like "cheetah". ( Tarzan's monkey. )

I am hoping Zomer makes it but at this stage he needs a few good performances. Newton needs a good game. Purely on form Valenti can feel really [censored] off considering his game last week. Rookies do play in the Nab cup and Carltank for example is playing several of them.