whatwhat say what

We are trying to be far too clever for wet weather football.

Trenners' speed - or lack thereof - will be negated if the interchange cap comes in, especially if its at an extreme number like 80 - it's likely to be 100 I would wager. Players with elite endurance will benefit enormously.

Most important or best? Best is what I think you've proposed. Most important would be the players we want to lead the club forward and be genuine stars of the competition: Hogan Frawley Watts Gawn Viney If those 5 can be in the best dozen of their positions (ie key forward, key back, floating forward, ruck, inside mid) we will go a long way to being a competitive finals team once more.

That's fine, but as I've indicated I beg to differ. Sylvia doesn't work anything like as hard as those two fellow free agent examples. They work both ways, something Sylvia does sometimes. They lower their eyes when disposing of the ball, something Sylvia does all too rarely. They're both also younger and have far more upside to their future careers. Jordan Lewis is what we should have got from Sylvia. Instead his career is on a par with Brennan, someone who is capable of the magical but all too infrequently. Just like Col. When Stokes misbehaved he worked hard to sort himself out off field. Col has been a recidivist.

Just like everyone else!

I've heard the rumour that the deal is done too. Source has been spot on previously, but admits that at this stage it's more speculation rather than 100% confirmed.

Nonplussed I must admit. Would rather take the $300-450k he thinks he's worth and give it to a player like Daisy Thomas or Matt Stokes, or use it to help re-sign Chip. Sylvia will stay at the Dees cos he'll earn more $$ here than anywhere else. He needs to go a long way before he's repaid the faith invested in him.

The difference between Roos and Blight is that the former won't be given half a season and then shafted by the CEO for his best mate to take over. Ask Blight what he thinks of Butterss and Thomas, and how he thinks his time at the Saints would've turned out if they hadn't been there.

As a tea-totaller who had never smoked anything of any substance not sure how Craig will feel about that comparison why you little! It would be hilarious if the AFL in their infinite wisdom awarded us a priority pick at the front of the draft - ie the Boyd pick - thus gazzumping their golden child GWS. Won't happen, but it would be so, so sweet. The more time that passes without him ruling himself out the more confident I am about Roos being our man in 2014 and beyond. One of the reasons why I'm such an advocate for him is that I believe he'd be a 'whole of club' coach. Craig has already worked hard - using Barassi's maxim that if you want to be a footballer, look like a footballer - and if Roos comes in then I hope he stays on.

that's awful. all the best to casey and his family. really, it's surprising it doesn't happen more in the afl as well.

Kennelly is in town as he's involved in multicultural round this week.

Would love Stokes. Absolute gun.

i have killed the gys and butcher.

want bird or parker. or both.

We need to sign Gawn up pronto. Ruck men as tall as he is and as good around the ground as he can be don't grow on trees. His ruck work needs to continue to be refined, but I believe that the sky might be the limit for the big man. Very exciting.

We were well beaten for the ball and still only lost by 5 goals. Everything I wanted to see - Watts putting in, Gawn good, Jones against the best collective of midfielders, etc, etc - I did see, which was really pleasing. Very impressed by Fitz again, and McDonald's reading of the play excellent. Really can't fathom how Nicho makes the side, and remain worried by Toumpas.

I think we'll get smashed. Yet for the first time in a long time I'm on my way to the G with a bounce in my step. I just want to see a continuation of the effort put in last week. I want to see if Watts can do it 4 weeks in a row. I want to see how Jones against the side that I think has the best collective midfield group in the comp. I want to see Chip take on Tippett and the Swans' array of tall forwards and resting rucks. I want see how Gawn goes against a powerhouse ruck unit. I'm genuinely excited. Go Dees!

get off media street! concentrate on yr football!! i understand that sheahan is sympathetic to watts, but agreeing to do this is misguided from the comms department, who would have made the ultimate decision to do it.

righo then, decision made!

Kelly moves so smoothly. Really, all those highlighted in this thread should be fine AFL players.

he doesn't have a massive leap on him, but he just has so much space around him. so exciting.

caro should stick to football politics, she's not really the best reader of form on the field.

kelly is more like a cotchin in his ability to move smoothly through traffic; he's very smooth. bastinac is more a battering ram. kelly, dunstan, sheed, and aish are the top-line mids in this draft from all reports, with scharenberg the wildcard who may appeal to some clubs more than others because of his versatility - i don't like him for us, for instance, as he's more finish than he is engine-room. alex mcdonald will also go top 10, as should billings and kade koladjshnij, you would think. plus there's boyd, who some club will trade to secure with gws. i know the story is that it's a thin draft this year, but the top line talent looks seriously strong.

Adams wants to return home to Geelong unfortunately. Wells will make it happen and the Cats' midfield rejuvenation will continue apace. They are awesome. No to Horseley and neither here nor there for Anthony.

it's his right to shop himself around. it's our right to match any deal offered to him.