Freddy Fuschia

Two interesting articles in the Age on tomorrow 's rookie draft - Consolation Prize and A long way to the top if you want to kick a goal

Sadly, Norm Smith decided that Mr. Bunt didn't have the necessary attributes to make it onto our list and sent him back home after just three training sessions.

Is anyone surprised at this story from Tim Lane in yesterday's Sunday Age - "LATELY, the AFL has drawn criticism over its enthusiasm for a tricky recruitment deal involving a father and son at Greater Western Sydney. Today's story of another father and son, from six years earlier, carries a similar tone."

Not on the subject of Brownlow votes but Terry Leahy won the Bluey Truscott in his debut season in 1967 but never lived up to that form again and ended up going to the Swans.

Brother's name is Max and is a couple of years younger. Let's hope that he avoids the pressure of bang Jack's younger brother and if he wants to play football will be able to do so on his own name and ability without being compared with Jack.

At a guess, I would say that although he is training with us, it's too much of a step up from EFL to AFL and that he's being groomed for a role at Casey, perhaps replacing Fevola. If he is able to put together some good form at that level then next year could see him taken on somebody's primary list.

Snoop Dog 2011 Mock PSD and Rookie Draft

It only seems that way to those whose minds are totally Clutterbucked. To the rest of us, I'm sure the question is of vital importance and I for one look forward to the appearance of the first genuine Phantom Rookie Draft either here or on bigfooty.

Lance also played for Richmond. Brendan's potential was highly touted when he first came to Melbourne but he struggled to get a senior game. He became a star player with Port Melbourne in the mid 70s. Off the field, he formed a partnership with Malcolm Speed in a legal practice. Speed was involved in basketball and later became famous in cricket administration.

Is there such a thing as a phantom rookie draft?

S is for Scullduggery. Says it all.

Billy Longer - great name for a ruckman.

Kevin Bartlett - the AFL is lies.

Brad Dick from Collingwood always played a blinder against us but it looks like he's gone back to live in Perth after all those injuries. Sellar from Adelaide was a high draft pick who was supposed to be a champion key forward. It just goes to show that we shouldn't necessarily swallow all the hype that goes around in the weeks leading up to the draft.

Jonathan Hay was a good player too until he suffered depression. Hope he's ok now.

There's been some discussion about Manson's height. He's not 195cm. Measured at draft combine at 191.4cm. Most of the draft gurus are predicting that he'll be gone before pick 36.

I wouldn't put anything past GWS and I do agree that the rule limiting them to one uncontracted player could easily be bypassed if the AFL turns a blind eye to Gubby's tricks. GWS are odds on favourites for next year's wooden spoon which gives them first pick in the PSD. They could offer big $s to any uncontracted player - even one from Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle and Western Bulldogs whose uncontracted players are supposed to be off limits and they will get him because they have the extra salary cap advantage. There used to be a time when the clubs were protected from predators like the GWS in the form of anti-poaching rules. That's now out of the window and the AFL is actively encouraging this activity out of season and during the season even while players are contractually committed to perform for their clubs. As we've seen this allows for a cancerous culture of outright deception and lies to develop in the game. This is not simply about Tom Scully and us and the recent revelations in the media about the extent the deception that included the offer of employment to his father. It goes beyond that. Phil Davis walks out on Adelaide and we're told he wants to go to GWS but they're all denying that he's even spoken to them. Callan Ward is spoken to out of season, the AFL investigates and surprise...surprise, there's been no wrongdoing. Anyway, it's now the turn of a few other clubs. Today's Herald Sun says Scott Pendlebury, Brendon Goddard, Michael Hurley and Ryan Bastinac are the next targets - Greater Western Sydney hunting AFL's biggest stars Let the speculation begin.

But this isn't a case of a club simply saying it's interested in a player. One of our recruiting people has gone up there, watched him play, met him and discussed his future. We're also a club that won't be put off by any difficulties, perceived or otherwise, experienced with taking an indigenous player from a desert community in that part of the country. I could imagine other clubs might baulk at the prospect but it won't worry us. Our problem will be what to do if he's still available at 36 and we there are other players around high on our list of priorities.

Ditto & thanks WJ. What interests me is what was it that impressed you about Cale Morton?

Let's face it. An honest interview on the subject from Scully would be short and sweet. "The offer of $6million over 6 years with some cream on top for the old man was too good to be true so I jumped ship and signed up with Sheedy's mob." End of interview.

I'm sure they also regret giving Col the bums too. Would've made the difference.

On my calculations I believe that we still have to delist another player in order to participate in the national draft. Is this correct and, if so, who else goes?

There's no rule that says the free kick stats must be even but I am still waiting for the day when we at least come close to it while playing an away game interstate.

If he is going to miss as much football as that, it would probably mean that he starts the season on the long term injury list which would make our rookie list all the more important.J

I still reckon he played some of his best footy in defence and I think we might see him back there in 2012.