Left Field

Will never be a big accumulator/AA type. But Jake can hit to hurt, has pretty good range with his taps, has a good defensive mindset and will develop his presentation around the ground with more match fitness (remember its only his 2nd game in a year). To me he doesn't look massively more unco than Will Minson for example. He should develop into a decent backup ruck option within the next 24 months if eh stays fit.

They are clearly playing practise matches for 2013. Or does Dunn in the backline = tanking. He is cringeworthy. And Joel Mac......gawd.

It was a flying elbow to the head with no eyes for the ball against a completely open traget. Disgraceful and not anything remotely close to a classic shirtfront. Should get 6. Will get 4. Uproar over MRP consistency will rage.

First time I've seen him but didn't strike me as an outsider. Good reader/presenter I guess. On a related note, the commentators spoke about Vic Country's lack of spread. I didn't see the whole game.What did people think of Whitfield (clear #1 pick apparently)?

Toumpas clearly on that showing. Although he slowed down in the second half, his ball getting, composure, kicking action (especially the posture) and ball use were all fantastic. By the way, that smallish leftie Kennedy (?) is a Shannon Grant lookalike. If he were available in the second round, I'd grab him. He will play a lot of footy - very nice penetrating kick and gets the ball well.

If it were prescription medication, then Richmond would be open to a really serious restraint of trade action (or alternatively workplace bullying). Not buying it.

I Maric, Cotchin, Foley and Tuck (plsu rotations with their quick runners) still wins a lot of clearances. Frawley usually beats Reiwoldt but I still think they have us covered this week DW.

I've been watching him very closely now for the last couple of years. He can take a terrific contested mark but just doesn't get enough stats. Agree he is probably not a first ruck, more of a pinch hitter, but not sure why we need another one of those. Think we would be better off chasing anojther genuine #1 ruck.

Need McKenzie to Cotchin who is more damaging inside. Maybe Nicho to run around with Deledio?

Dylan Grimes? Alwyn Davey?

I like Nev, he is a well rounded small player, but he must prove his value quickly. Not quick enough for mine.

So we are clear, I am on the same side of this debate. But I need to understand if you have seen Cook live yet or not. What did you see (or not)? If you haven't seen him live, this is a stupid post.

Bobby, I am seriously happy that Watts is clearly improving but don't embarrass yourself either. Cameron played on or inside of the Giants 50 metre arc. They got the ball to that line or beyond 32 times (Melbourne 74) in the whole game and he still kicked three goals. That is a good return from a key forward playing ahead of a decimated midfield. Seriously, the Giants ball movement going forward was abysmal.

Caddy's output has dropped this year - maybe one of the young mid's whose development is being stifled by Gablett (???). Highly rated junior but having seen him a few times on TV, I am struggling to see his point of differentiation. Interested in the opinions of those who have seen him live.

I've watched Jeremy Cameron live 4 times now (including the preseason). Its not just the great athleticism, the frame that will eventually be perfect for a KPP, his marking or anything else. He seriously knows where to be. He gets to all the right spots almost all of the time. In his first season. Promising start by Patton and clearly a big watch. But Cameron is the real deal.

You cannot be THAT serious.....

Easily the best and most missed poster IMO - Knackers.

There might be an opportunity in this to flip the perspective. Initiate discussions with the appropriate federal government agencies to switch out support of Energy Watch in favour of becoming the paid face of multi-cultural focus programs (for the remaining term of the EW contract). Reclaim the moral high ground by distancing ourselves from racism while helping promote appropriate government propgrmas. Richmond and others have been sponsored over the years by TAC - what's the difference? Need to do more research but certainly you would think Gillard would be a bit interested, given she was also targeted in this nutbag's rants. That and the federal government gave $7m this week to a nothing soccer franchise in Sydneys west.

In 1964 I was just 3 years old. In terms of my personal context (and I have lived a very full life), our last premiership just seems "other wordly". Love the clumsy attempts at stakeholder engagement CS but "gee whiz and gee whilickers" some sort of result might help smooth over some of these issues. Any chance we could start winning some footy game in the near future?

Of the newer players: * Magner is a real find and will play in R1. Instantly forms part of the midfield rotation. * Davis was very solid. Looks a year away but has skill, poise and gets to the ball * Couch got better as the other players got tired/slower. Need more convincing * Tom Mac only got a few minutes - why? * Seller - bigger and better than Matt Warnock. Not sure yet why Adelaide delisted him. Looks like a fairly ready made gorilla-minder * I thought Jack Fitz contested really well around the ball and showed a good motor to get away and win possession Of the known entities: * Nathan Jones could become elite. Go ahead and laugh. But his rate of improvement, especially using the ball, is amazing * Jeremy Howe will be a freak. * Joel MacDonald is likely to spend the majority of this season at Casey * I am a Jamie Bennell fan, but he needs to play closer to his man * Watts is a better #2 forward at this stage - I thought he did OK with limited opportunities - he will ebnefit from Clark being in the arc. * Sylvia is all class * Stef has every possible gift but is somehow NQR. Hoping the brain-fade doesn't reappear during the regular season. * Petterd needs to improve his set shooting To me, there will be a lot more contests for spots on game day. This is a fantastic development. Top 8 beckons....

Could it be that Cale lost confidence from the subsequent analysis of him running away from Brendan Lade? Pretty hard to watch - much harder for a young guy living under the microscope to forget I'd guess.

No...seriously. I will not buy Mission products EVER. Undercut by underachievers.

Eakins would have been the aggressor. Chris won his last fight by 50 yards.

The Aitkens are my cousins. Chris is living in Darwin with his new wife. Still a supremely fit and athletic bloke for his age. Brother Willy is loving his golf and living large.

To be a mid-sized player and be guaranteed a start every week, you need to be versatile. If you don't want your captain sitting in the stands, they really need to be top 10 automatic selections. Green last year played as a one dimensional lead up forward. He would have been dropped more often if he had not been captain; indeed it became a bit of a distraction when his form really ebbed away. Unless he can rotate back through the midfield, which he realistically probably won't, then Green is not a top 10 pick. Green cannot be captain. Grimes has only played as a medium sized rebounding defender. Until he spends time rotating through the midfield (and putting a string of games together) he is not a top 10 first pick. When available, Jamar, Frawley, Trengove, Jones and Moloney will all be amongst the first 10 picked. Frawley for me, with these others as his deputies.