Ron Burgundy

I think he's been poorly handled/coached, particularly by Neeld. Neeld was clearly trying to turn him into a player he was never going to be. It's one thing seeking to plug weaknesses/deficiencies - it's another thing not recognising strengths and seeking to utilise them. I think Bennell had pace, good skills, and reasonable vision. Qualities we haven't exactly had loads of in recent times.

Cale Morton, unlike Lucas Cook and possibly Gysberts, was hardly at controversial pick at the time. He just never came on as expected/hoped. Bennell is the one I'm worried about letting go from that period, even though it seems we should've picked Sloane (in retrospect). Bennell had pace and class. He's been upgraded to the Weagles senior list and is described as a long term prospect. Wouldn't mind seeing him running off our half back line with some stints in the forward line. He was just never going to be a midfielder.

I've made plenty of mistakes that weren't a good idea at the time.

I blame Carlton. Had it not been for the infamous Kreuzer Cup game at the end of 2007, we'd have had picks 1 & 2 in that draft, not pick 4 which we ultimately used on Cale Morton.

If those guys pulled off those stats/achievements, they'd be our top 8 players.

As a player, I think Sylvia will be a loss. I think he'll do really well at Freo. As a player type, I think Vince will perhaps offer more to us than Sylvia. That said, I would've liked to have retained Sylvia and got Vince, Cross, Tyson, pick 9 and Michie. Quite simply, our midfield is coming from a very long way behind the pack. And we need quality mids/half backs/half forwards.

I'll get smashed for this, but I've always thought Schwarta should've been given the gig over Neita. Neita was/is an MFC legend. And he deserves to be. But he was boring.

I expect he will.

I should know the answer to this, but don't. Who's taking Nahas' position at Richmond? In short, why is he being delisted?

Grew up in NSW. Thought AFL was a stupid game and, like all of my friends, didn't play the game or even watch it. Played rugby at school and supported the North Sydney Bears in the NRL. When the Bears essentially got punted from the competition, I figured I needed a footy team and, as my Dad and his side of the family were all passionate Demons' supporters, I thought I'd give it a go. This was in 1998. Got totally addicted thereafter. Played one game of Aussie Rules for my college at university. Spent the entire game running away from some thug/massive unit who was intent on punching me in the head every time I got near the ball. Only a week or so later did I work out that I bagged his ex girlfriend earlier in the year. He was feral about it. I was just confused. Sporting claim to fame - played State cricket for NSW with Adam Gilchrist. In the under 12s. Was also offered a couple of scholarships to play tennis at Arizona universities after school. Sensibly, I took a gap year instead and spent the entire year in the UK/Europe drinking booze, and have done nothing spectacular ever since.

Was predicted to go at about 30. We used pick 9.

Luke Molan. A tad harsh, because he was apparently a top kid, but using pick 9 on him in that draft was idiotic.

That's a really good, insightful post Ben - thanks. I've been wondering whether we could've picked up Vince and not lost Sylvia. Probably not. And should we have had a big crack at Dal Santo in addition to the players we landed during the trade period? Dunno. I think we've also been marked down for the Dom Tyson trade. Unfairly. What some journos seem not to get is that, for the MFC in 2013, Dom Tyson and pick 9 in this draft is far more valuable to us than pick 2 alone. It's actually that simple.

I don't care what Barrett thinks. In fact, he's the guy who can't think.

Leadership. Las Vegas style. No wonder we had such a leadership vacuum for so many years. These guys look like a couple of peacocks. Hardly senior players in the mould of the likes of Luke Hodge and Cameron Ling.

When's the draw announced? I hope we play another Melbourne based club in round one on Sat at the G. Big crowd. High expectations following a disciplined pre season. I think we'll see a very different outfit. Well coached - good structures and set up. Fit. Our team lacked everything last season. No midfield. Poorly coached it would seem. Low on confidence/morale. No hope. It's possible that all of those things will have changed by the start of next season. For a start, I think our list is now well balanced, which I actually find bizarre, given how poor it seemed to be last year. We need another gun mid, which we should secure with pick 9. Our bookends are really good and we now have an engine. Clearly we have a good coach. 10 games is a distinct possibility IMO. There is now genuine and realistic hope. Why contain the hype?!

When do we play the Swans? And where?

I wish I was sufficiently tech savvy to post the photo I have of Col passed out at a nightclub last weekend that a mate texted to me. I don't reckon Ross Lyon would be particularly impressed.

I agree - I'm trying to be realistic about things. That said, we could win the flag next year.

He'll smash his medical. He's one of the fittest players in the comp.

Please say it's Frawley.

And, to think, we got roundly criticised for apparently paying Roos too much. It's pretty obvious where the value will break on that contract. No brainer territory. So, thank you Richard Colless. Thank you very much. I am now really looking forward to next season. And well beyond.

I predict that Franklin will be coaching Auskick in Bondi for the last 4 years of his contract. Has the added incentive of picking up a few hots Mums on the sly as well, before he heads down to North Bondi Italian with 20 or so of his 19 year old retail assistant groupies. And Josh Gibson. The Swans' no d1ckheads policy is officially over. Quite a relief really given that Roos is now on board with us.

I can confirm that GWS were genuinely gob smacked by the Swans play on Franklin. They thought they had him, and we're completely blind sided by the offer. They had no idea. It was kept so secret by the Swans - they were actually impressed by how secretive it'd all been. BUT - here's the rub it seems. I also reckon the Swans players had no idea. And, I suspect, many of them were not, and are not, cool about it. Perhaps this rumour has legs.

Franklin for 9 years in the dumbest deal in the history of the game. I simply cannot see how it won't have a negative flow on effect in terms of their list management going forward.