whatwhat say what

As someone said to me during the week - which top-rated player can we ruin next?

That's certainly what you'd expect if things continue the way they are - as others have said, we may be in the 'fortunate' position of having three early picks if Frawley bails on a big money deal. Good grief it's depressing.

Wright seems to be the consensus #1 pick this year, but from those who've seen him is he a forward / ruck or ruck / forward? What sort of comparison does he have to a modern day player? I'm hoping it ain't Kruezer!

You can't Cross either - he was delisted. Think of him as a PSD pick.

What was most disappointing was that Whateley and Robbo just sat there and didn't agree nor disagree. I've been saying it since before it came in - it's a disaster for clubs such as ours. We will be a breeding ground for the rich clubs to poach from to top up their lists. The only way free agency can work is if players have NO SAY in their trading - effectively reducing them to commodities to exchange. That's how it works in American sports - the player doesn't really have a say in where they play unless they've been a free agent acquisition. Instead it's a half-measure in the afl. I absolutely hate it.

Yes, even if the article basically said why stay at Melbourne after his contract is up at the end of 2015!

Given that it looks like this years draft is loaded with talls, who're the teams likely to be wanting early picks to try to nab them? Adelaide - absolutely they would, but they're not going to want to trade the likes of Dangerfield, Sloane, Crouch for them, and who else on their list would be that desirable? Brisbane - probably, but outside the three R's and Handley, who else is there as kids that they'd be prepared to give up? Carlton - absolutely, but for the third club in a row, there's little currency on their list to demand a top 3 pick outside the free agent Gibbs. Collingwood - might be a chance, with a surfeit of good midfield choices, perhaps a Sidebottom would be an offer, but wouldn't we want Beams in preference for instance? Essendon - have talls, but will they need to inject class if 15 or so players are suspended? Fremantle - my guess is their eye is on Hogan as a tall, not a young Vic or SA boy Geelong - would love to get Wright, I'm sure, but would a Duncan / Varcoe / Guthrie or some secondary combination be worth pick 1? GC17 - a big chance, with heaps of midfield depth, and I'm sure they'd love another key forward / ruck man of genuine class GWS - unlikely given their surfeit of talls Hawthorn - Frawley is their man, not a youngster, as they chase premierships over the next 3-5 years North Melbourne - absolutely a chance, but outside not Swallow and Ziebell I'd wager they'd be more likely to offer up the likes of Atley / Cunningham, and is that worth a top pick? Port Adelaide - would probably be in the race just to spite the Crows in a chase for Durdin, but their premium mids wouldnt be on offer, more likely the likes of Moore, O'Shea, which is clearly not enough Richmond - absolutely I'd say, with Riewoldt and Vickery not the greatest combo known to man, but could likes of Ellis, Conca, Vlastuin be prised free? They're the guys they really need the most St Kilda - would love it, but I'd be backing them to finish down with us with access to a top pick regardless Sydney - unlikely but you never know, would love to get Hanneberry personally, who may be looking for a change of scenery West Coast - unlikely Western Bulldogs - probably the best chance, but early indications are they'll have an early pick - and would they be prepared to give up a father-son like Wallis? Best chances of wanting an early pick but not having access to one themselves for mine would be Adelaide, Footscray, Richmond, Gold Coast and Carlton.

Toumpas reminds me of a far slower Scott Camporeale - he will look good in a good side but poor in a bad side as he has some nice skills when out in space, but looks ineffectual in close. He's an outside mid, but his severe lack of pace will find him always a b-grader, at best. The only way I can see him getting to a higher grade would be if he completely changes his game to be an inside mid, as his hands are good in close - but that will require a complete re-education of his game style. Massive task. Ollie Wines is Joel Selwood mk II - in a couple of years he could well be considered the best midfielder in the competition. He has pace, strength and for all the brickbats around his disposal I think he is a just about perfect mid as he can play inside-outside.

She knows her stuff, that's for sure. What's better is that she more often than not is fairly astute at judging which players are going to get better over time as well, rather than stagnate or drop right off, as so many of ours have.

We all know that Trengove had groin injuries in his last couple of years, and tbh he doesn't look close to recovered. I also don't think he's suited to big grounds - he has solid endurance, but cannot get across the ground with any pace whatsoever, which really limits him on grounds like the G. Whilst we have no forward line, we are in for a world of pain. GWS will carve us up in the middle, and their forward line is what we dream about. Tom Boyd to debut next week, perhaps?

Toumpas is... So.... Slooooooooow.

If Nate Jones walks away at the end of 2015 we are doomed. He is a genuine star. Repeat efforts time and time again, just constantly works unlike most of his teammates.

Shannon Byrnes you star! Two goals...

Dunn to the forward line has improved our targets in the forward line. Pedo to the back line where he doesn't need to lead at the ball, he looks much more comfortable.

My mum says McAveney should just shut up - says too many stupid things.

Well there we go - and even then Pedo tried to stuff it up.

I honestly wonder - can we kick a goal today?

We look atrocious. That was a term reminiscent of 2012-13.

Yep. Bail is one of the most selfish players inside 50 I've ever seen - just pings at the goals regardless.

those two would never get on the park! i've always been thoroughly disappointed that dollars had three boys and not one of them show an aptitude for the game. gypped!

ricky p was sensational i thought. tough as nails. he and cheney would both be auto-starts in our 22.

Should be the mother of all hidings. We get within 6 goals of them it'll be a miracle. God it's depressing.

Heard about him last year. Has talent and is super tough apparently. Viney, Stretch and Lovett running around again might bring us some success, god knows we want / need it.

It just doesn't feel like it ever ends!

It's only a matter of time until players are able to be traded without their consent. The players wanted free agency; they got it. One of the clear side effects of that is unrestrained trading, where if the player's contract is honoured then that's all that matters - in other words, they get paid what they're entitled to and where they ply their trade is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. It's part and parcel of all the big American sports, and it'll happen here eventually - probably not for a decade or more (i.e. in two broadcast rights deals), but it will happen.