Left Field

Good luck to your family mate. Here's hoping for a cure soon.

I really like Dean. Although TBH I am struggling to understand the game plan (do the players understand it?). For now, Dean is doing the required heavy lifting. And The Stynes-led board is loyal. So he should get an extension next year but.... if it comes down to a good process or a good result, then I am barracking for the pragmatists who care more for the result. In baseball, a hugely professional sport, they have starting pitchers and finishers. Bailey has played a solid game and set it up well. But its a question of timing. When do we call for the finisher?

If Tom Scully is super-straight, driven and fiercely-anti boozy club cultures, the question for me is "where would he prefer to go to in the AFL?" Last time I checked, AFL clubs existed on planet earth where 20-somethings enjoy the company of their team mates out of hours in legal pass times. Have no doubt, if he leaves its for the cash. Simple as that. To say its related to a cultural issue is to give it substantially more credence than is warranted. FWIW I think he will stay, the coach will go, and that we are roughly on the intended track.

What qualities has Setanta shown you Old? I rate him alongside Minson as a hard hitting heavywieght who seems to do little or no damage with the ball.

Last pick in the ND plus room on the list is Gold. Is this why some of our tier 2/3 players are being discussed? Pick 79 Melbourne - Pass = PSD Pick 1.

Is it possible we have countered, or leaked having countered, to give the impression of wishing to retain MJ whilst intending to trade him anyway? I think its fair to say that MJ is not in the top 10 ruckmen in the comp (name your stat - hitouts, hitouts to advantage, posessions, marks in general play, marlks inside 50....). Why on earth would he be worth any more than a low second or third round pick? I'd do a deal in a heartbeat.

IMO Mumford is best fit for us. Allows us to release Jamar to PA, is the right age and size and will be there or therabouts when the window opens up. Blake is easily intimidated and has limited impact on games - god I hope it isn't him. Nevertheless CS has twittered about needing a minimum 12 players to rotate through the midfield. And S Burgoyne is quality...

Josh Kennedy to Sydney - straight swap for Luke Ablett. Make sense?

"...dominated" - really? Not sure I know which poster you are referring to. To the topic, and on face value, Trengove sounds terrific. Young bloke from SA - any risk of another Scott Thompson scenario? I wonder if that's in the thinking of the footy department.

Rivers had his first (almost) full season in years and performed strongly. I know this sounds a bit strange but if he can get a full pre-season under his belt, he is well capable of having another break out year. Footy smarts, reads the play beautifully and almost always gets across to help out his fellow tall defenders. Keep Riv or take a speculative pick in a shallow draft? No trade thanks.

Zero - but I would go every week if I lived in Melbourne.

Doesn't hit enough targets. Half backs require skill, speed and poise. He only has 2 of these. No trade.

Feel that I need to add that a large percentage of people moving into western Sydney are from non-traditional NRL backgrounds. This region has a vast first generation migrant mix - Blacktown Shire especially but true generally for the region. And the new housing is purpose built for young families with children. So soccer, not NRL, is the elephant in this particular room. Is the AFL right to target the area? Probably more of a defensive play than anything else.

Went all the way out to Bruce Purser Reserve in Kellyville last week for my youngest son's first final. It took just on one hour to get there. The final was played at this purpose built facility which they spent somewhere between $8-12 Million on. The field runs north south with the clubhouse and small amphitheatre on the eastern side. Got to look directly into the setting sun for the entire game. Great planning that - generally representative of the professionalism on the NSW ACT. The field itself was rock hard with a jagged turf wicket in the middle. Not surprisingly, the baking sun combined with the clay soil has produced an unplayable surface. The general area, which has added tens of thousands of households in the past 5 years, features huge houses with no eaves (so they can build all the way to the planning limit) and has no trees over about 12 feet tall. It is hot and dry and that is in winter. Sydney western suburbs is home to the hilarious reference, often repeated by grown adults, that the game is GayFL. Add to all this that my son did his ACL within 90 seconds and it was a really pleasant day all round. What a sh1theap. They can have it.

Still trying to give this one some legs......... I'd take Dangerfield and Adelaide's first pick (11?) for pick 2 (gives them Trengrove) which still leaves us with a tall forward option with our second pick.

Paul should be proud of his contribution to our club - I have certainly never questioned his spot at HB when he is fit enough to take the ground. I hope the rumour is just that, and that he plays on next year at least. His ability to run, carry, break a line and hit a long target will be sorely missed as the next generation get games under their belt.

I've heard it up here. They remember the day he played one good game in defence on BBB. Hit hm off the ball and generally frustrated Hall into one of his poorer outings for the year. And now they are 2 KPF's down and with limited scope/patience for a rebuiild, I reckon they are made for one another. Roos' has got some mileage out of duds previously (eg Ted Richards & LRT) but Miller could be the start of his un-making.

If the rumours I am hearing are true, I would seek to do a trade with Adelaide. Pick 2 for pick 11 (currently) and Patrick Dangerfield. Instead of a first year player who may or may not have the "go home" factor, you would add a 3rd year player who wants to live in Melbourne, who can play and who can kick a goal going forward (all seen already at AFL level). Either trade for Dangerfield or play hardball via the PSD. And the bonus is that Pick 11 may still net Butcher.

I know the FS rule used to give you the player in R3 but didn't they change that? What is the new rule? Given the compromised drafts coming and the fact that there seems to be a number of ex-Demon son's coming into the right age groups, this could be a real advantage. Or not, depending on the answer to the above.

Agree that his foot speed and engine are concerns but this is consistent with someone who has had persistent OP - they never get fully fit. How about trading Brock for Ball as a straight swap? He would certainly get a game in our guts.

Good question H. Too many posters are relying on third party assesments of 16 and 17 year olds. Some of them are playing in seniors; others are playing in schoolboy footy. Etc. Its really easy to echo the views of those who are spoon feeding us their opinions of the next generation. Would love to hear from soemone that has actually watched them play some footy.

Haven't seen the game or the contest this thread refers to (am away from home on business). But its really interesting how people in the stands can question the courage of those on the ground. He is an 18 or 19 yo kid, he has played a handful of games. He oozes quality, he can use the ball and he may or may not end up being an outside player. But I love that he is a one-touch player who rarely fumbles. I love that he is a well balanced player. Jamie wil be a quality long term AFL player. Hopefully our "supporters" allow him time to find is feet.

Damned if we don't.

Fair enough Dog. Didn't see it and could be that I just don't like him. Punchable head imo.

To start, I didn't see any footy today. But I don't agree that Footscray are not real. In general terms, I think their defence is under-rated. (especially the attacking bit). For mine, Lindsay Gilbee is a star. Given the unchallenged logic that defence wins finals, I think they are well placed. Their ball carrying and skill levels are as good as anyone. Concerned about their ruck combo in finals. Minson is a spas and the Adelaide bloke is average. But they have a nice lightweight, skilled look about them. I think they will go very deep into the finals and are an outside chance of winning.