whatwhat say what

it hasn't been. for years. sanfl is still 'traditional' football - players in set positions, kicking to contests. it's actually really great to watch, and is probably why run-and-carry youngsters such as stretch, aish, toumpas and trengove can stand out in it, but it's no longer a good indication of how players play in the afl system. that may be changing with port and the crows having their own sides. port in particular have been dominant this year.

grimes is like a broadbent / pittard for port adelaide, or a rhyce shaw for the swans - you know that he'll go out there and give his all. some days his disposal and decision-making will make you tear your hair out in frustration, other days he'll take intercept marks and spearhead attacking rebounds like it's nobody's business.

Watching the Port-Sydney game, and I've said it before - Watts reminds me of Westhoff. When he's in a good side playing well and using the ball well, i think Watts will be a good player, albeit still hot and cold. But in our side? No way.

Gonna be a massacre.

Just watching O'Rourke for the Giants today, he's reminding me of Morton with the way he goes at marks one-handed.

where's picket fence?

players we should be building our side around: hogan n jones salem dawes viney trengove tyson dunn kent pedersen jkh mcdonald gawn howe jetta keep (no discernible trade value / veteran depth / under contract): mckenzie cross vince jamar michie riley hunt evans georgiou harms king trade bait: watts toumpas garland grimes barry tapscott spencer bail m jones terlich fitzpatrick ufa: frawley retired: byrnes clark delist: clisby blease strauss nicholson bail is absolutely a best-22 player for us, hence why i'd have him as a trade option. he's another player - like watts, toumpas, garland, etc - who will perform better in a better-performing side. if we can get something of value for any of those 11 players (and tapscott only makes that list instead of 'delist' because he appears to have an afl-ready body), i'd definitely look at it. the concern is we 'spent big' in terms of draft picks on the likes of watts, toumpas, grimes, tapscott and we won't get anything like the deemed player 'value' back - but when you consider how those players have not lived up their billing, could a traded-for player or a draft pick perform better? there's reason to believe either could. however, they're our players with actual 'value' in the market. i'd personally be loathe to trade grimes. he is a bit like pittard for port or houli for richmond - will drive you mental as a supporter, but does enough to be guaranteed best 22 at his club.

For mine, Trengove's biggest disadvantage has been his ability to repeatedly get to contests, be involved in play, and then provide spread both offensively and defensively. He can do it every now and then, but with no consistency. I'm hoping it's been his foot issue. Toumpas just looks slow, soft, and lazy and worst of all like he can't hit a target to save himself. I have massive concerns and he's been a big disappointment. The big advantage that both these guys have is that time is on their side and hopefully they're now being developed correctly.

Grimes and Gawn in both?

Zero to 0.00001%.

bird stays a swan after signing a two-year deal.

not invited to state screenings. Under a different approach this year, AFL clubs were asked to provide a list of 50 players they wanted to see at the national combine. After that was announced, the clubs each produced 25 names for the state-based combine, with players needing two nominations to attend one of the state screenings, which will be held in Melbourne on October 4, Adelaide on October 11 and Perth on October 12. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-04/state-combines-named

Well, I think I'll stick with someone who has commented about it on the record who has direct links to the deal as the then head of football at the club doing the trading as opposed to a Melbourne supporter.

Not true. Sticks has gone on record many times saying they didn't want to let him go but had no choice in order to get Judd in.

Adelaide or Port, cos it's an SA boy who wins. Edit: allegedly.

Jones is an a grade footballer imo.

We are way too loose defensively. And Blease is such a dumb footballer.

Watts goes to ground far, far too easily.

Turnovers by foot are ridiculous.

He's electric with his speed. Very exciting.

Martin is just looking terrific.

On ya Chip.

Oh, Kent. FFS.

They're looking dominant.

God, the two bummers I know are still swallowing Slobbo's Kool Aid and are desperate for jabbin' Jim to return. I just keep telling them he and the club and the afl and every other club are losers - the only winners are the lawyers!