Dappa Dan

The recent vetoed trade is a good answer. JLH had only a couple of keepers. So he traded one currently playing superstar, for 2 keepers that will likely play next year. The guy he traded to is still very much in it this year, so he keeps his list alive for season 2012. And another guy gets his already ruined season 2012 out of the way and nails down a KP forward who kicks bags AND one of the big 6. That's one of the good reasons keepers exist. You can have a woeful first 10 rounds and still have something to show for it. To win this year, yes, of course. But look at the bottom four sides current keepers: JLH: Sloane, Murphy, Kennedy and Hodge. That's pretty damn good. RR: Leuenberger, Goddard, Griffen, and one of Bellchambers or Schultz. Nothing wrong with those. Jackattack: Judd, Ryder, Fyfe and one of Iles or Barlow. 3 out of four, and can trade for another as he has some good 100ish players that are handy in big lists. Scarlett: Swallow, Dustin Martin, Nicnat and Tomohawk. With Tuck and Hayes having huge seasons, but are older. I don't see anything wrong with those guys having problems with depth, but at least going into next season knowing they've got their 4 best from last season. Consider the comparison to someone higher up on the ladder. Let's say Mad Melbourne who you would think would have easily the biggest name keepers going round in Watson (4), Deledio (6), Kennedy (12) and Franklin(27).... Wow... Now that's a big name top 4. But let's say it all ended as it stands now. MM has to say goodbye to Crameri, Broughton, Sewell, and David Swallow, who you would think would be good keeper material as he's only going to improve... Even my own list I might have some depressing decisions to make. I have to make a decision between Maric (11), Selwood (19), Redden (21), Mitchell (39), Jack Riewoldt (74), Van Berlo (90), and Kreuzer (132)... Going by those stats, Riewoldt Van Berlo and Krooz are my offcasts next year. Consider also that going into next season, the teams who are doing badly now will more than likely get FIRST CRACK at those offcasts... So in the end it's a great evener. Also... If you have a superstar one year. It kind of sucks when you get to the next and he's on someone else's list. I like the idea that every year I play MM, I know he's "the guy with Franklin." Because let's be honest, even if he did a knee, he would still keep him. I love the keeper concept for this reason. The irony of that is that the keeper concept EXPLAINS it. That's the idea. It's supposed to add a bit of "your man/my man" to it. I think it works with a bunch of mates who like the smack talk... but this year... The smack talk has completely vanished. Actually... JCB is positively Edwardian in his manners. This league needs to lift in this regard. Sure it does. The trades ARE the competition. And for sides that are 3-7 and with nothing on their list, like JLH, it gives them some hope. He wasn't going to win a game anyway. Yeah. A lot of trades have taken place this way. But as with all things, we should revisit it in the off season and put it to a vote. If keepers is gone, we should go to Robbie Flower and talk to them about an EPL situation I think. I really don't think tanking is as evil as everyone makes it out to be. Certainly not in the context of ultimate footy. The intentions were always pretty transparent. You get a player for his career if you want. I love that my favourite player outside the dees is on my team. And I'll keep it that way as long as it's reasonable. I think that's great personally.

Is it something to do with the fact he's won at other clubs? Cos Mitch was in there? I'm actually really embarrassed for the team. And a bit [censored] for James. He was one of the biggest reasons we won, and he wasn't even supposed to play. Tremendous effort, and attitude. Let's hope he gets a win again this year and they make it up to him.

No to Tommy mac on Cloke. That dude is fair dinkum massive. I think it has to be Sellar or Frawley if he gets up. Unbelievably strong man.

EXAAAAACTLY!!!! Been saying it for ages... The kid is a gem when it comes to field kicking, decision making.... he is and I'm not even close to kidding here... One of the best field kicks I've ever seen. Probably the best, certainly up there, for a 195cm player... on both feet. Under pressure too. He's not quite Davey/Goddard... but he's in their league at least. Everyone seems to gloss over this... But his skill is absolutely elite I reckon. Watching him crash packs fills me with massive joy and pride given then knowitalls who think he doesn't know how. Of COURSE he doesn't. He's a twig. Anyone on here who played, is over 6 feet tall, and took ages to fill out, know what I'm talking about. Once you get weight on him he'll be EVERYWHERE on the football ground. And to make my point even more? Neeld said exactly that in the presser. Comparing him to Hurley on the day, who is a sensationally aggressive player, and one of my favourites outside the dees... you could see very clearly why Jack went ahead of him. Hurley's played games like that in defence, certainly in terms of crashing packs, but his kicking has never been as good as Jack's, and likely never will. Now if we can just get this kind of game when we play WC...

Really like him. He's a modern day footballer... tough enough, gut runs enough, very fit but importantly he has useful pace. I think the yanks call it "quickness" as opposed to speed... I still don't really understand the difference. Maybe they mean acceleration... If that's the case, Nicho has it... so once he knows how to shut a small forward down, he can be a punishing defender I reckon. Definite keep, in a list riddled with players that need to go.

In GA with little brother, along with a recent demons convert we all feel a bit sorry for, and my little bro's best mate who's a lifelong pain Essendon supporter. A years-long standing bet between him and me involving a great deal of shame would have finally been lost had we lost the game... but we won... and it stays alive another year. He'd be one of the only dignified Dons supporters around, he was very complimentary of the side, and us for turning up in the context... It really doesn't get much better than beating Essedon in my circle of footy friends.

Bear with me... I didn't cry, but I have to say I didn't really feel anything... I think in times like that, when the result is such a shock that was impossible... Your brain goes into it's storage banks to find a file on what you've seen to compare to, so it can decide how to feel, what endorphins to transmit... And there just isn't information. There's winning, then there's winning a come from behind victory against a good opponent that means more than an average win against a bad side. And then there's a win like Saturday. I know what I thought... I thought "this can't be real. All my intellectualising can't actually process this. It doesn't make any sense." But what I FELT... I was surprised to not really know how to feel? How do you? How the hell did that happen? I STILL don't understand. We didn't get hauled over the line by a herculean individual effort. There wasn't a defining 4 goal game from someone. The best player on the ground was probably Watson. I don't think I'll ever see something as plainly incomprehensible in a result again. Here's something stupid. I felt about the same at the end of the game as I did after 186. My memory banks had no reference point for either of these games. And to be honest, I still don't really understand how either happened. In the washup, it's a tremendous thing, of course... But I really still can't quantify the 120 minutes. How often can you say that of a game? And of course from there, you have to say that all roads lead to Neeld. He reckons he knew what he was doing. He reckons he had the instructions sent out to the team and they FINALLY were taken on board. So from that we have to say that something happened here that in all my accumulated knowledge in footy, I can't explain. Suddenly, I have an inkling of faith in the man. I mean let's not get carried away... scoring 58 points a game will win you maybe one game a year. But at the same time, his method, to me, is a bit of a mystery. And if it's a mystery to me, maybe it's going to be a mystery for opponents when we finally rise. This win, in it's context, could be more meaningful than a GF win in the grand scheme. Alright Neeld. Now let's see what else you got.

I left the game with a dons fan tonight who loves Hurley, and he mentioned how impressed he was with Watts. That whenever he went near it good things happened, that he never badly lost any contests. And it's true. His big contested spoils and hits proved he's capable in the contests in the air. That was easily better than his 30+ possession game... His best footy so far actually. Did the lot.

If you're gonna beat one team (that's not Collingwood)... Amazing... Great day at the football. Every bit the memorable night that the Freo game in 2008 was.

Agreed. The trades proposed were hairy. They were vetoed. Notice also that in involved the only two new guys in the league. Now that it's done, we can expect two things... They'll know to explain trades when vetoes happen, and people will have to get used to trades involving injured keepers like this. Personally I reckon everyone wins, and there's no reason to jump up and down and change things.

The best KP forward since Neitz, already.

They were supposed to come good this last season. They still probably will this year. That'll make that division much more watchable. The Cards are on a hiding to nowhere, and the Seahawks aren't likely to be going to a superbowl anytime soon. So the door's wide open for the Rams to meet the 49ers head on. Manningham is a good one. And yeah, Newton is amazing to watch, so RG3 might be similar. Vick and he in the same division will be awesome too...

He'll be fine. He won't be Hurley in style... but when he finds a good role, which a player with his engine, smarts and kicking skill always finds, then we'll have a player.

Finey had some interesting points to make on his show tonight. I got on late, and he was repeating an earlier conversation, but the gist was to do with where Jack ran to at certain times. He said that it wasn't a courageousness thing... he said that he's certainly got courage... the problem is to do with decision making. I didn't hear the original convo he was referring to, but I think his point was that the issues are fixable. He's making incorrect decisions, and making choices with his last effect on a contest that lets him down.

As I said to WCN earlier tonight, it's all about communication... The Ryder/Grey incident from last year was a one-off, and it got us all through the teething period when it comes to major trades. These two guys are new to this system, and don't realise that usually trades are discussed on here before they go through, allowing some transparency. Had JLH gotten on here and explained why he's pleased with the trade, then that removes a lot of the doubt... had they played last year they might have known. So as I say, I reckon if they jump on, and they probably will, and offer the explanation they did to me, this problem will have been dealt with. One other thing though, now that keepers are included, and teams are now seeing that they're done for the year, these kind of trades will continue to happen at greater frequency. Speaking of which... Anyone interested in Mitchell?

Now they've added two waiver players to the trade, which doesn't make it look any more legit.

I reckon the JA one is ok, He's bottling out this year, and what he gave up were annoyingly patchy players who play in good teams, liked Walker who can benefit a team this year but aren't anywhere near being a keeper. This kind of trade was always going to happen. But the other one, I'm not surprised it was vetoed. I can't see how it helps JLH. He's not looking good this year, has dropped a lot of games, so why trade away a top-4 player for a KP forward who's only just a keeper, a medium range midfielder who's stats are way higher than they should be, and a backup ruck? Not sure how that one works out.... but as usual, both those guys can make their case and try the trade again. As per usual.

If you agree with that statement, then some of what you say is fair enough. If you don't, then the article is fair enough... The is the AFL. When the media makes you their darling, you love them for it. When it's the other way round, you expect parochial support from a man who has never in his career written from the perspective of a one-eyed supporter of an AFL club. This is why Mike is respected by most. He's NOT one-eyed like Robbo. If only all writers were like this.

He's still the best coach I've seen as an adult at MFC. If Jolly wasn't getting enough cuddles, he wouldn't be the first, and won't be the last in the AFL to suffer that. No-one gets every player right.

I'm in contract talks with a 300 pound woman who was shortlisted for "the voice." She'll be performing this week before our game in honour of my chances. Come Sunday night, it'll be a fire sale in dappaland... My whole list for four bordeline keepers for next year.

What's wrong with it? It's true, he was an awesome midfield coach.

Nice avatar Daaaaaaaaave... The reality is after we lose to GWS and GC he will be under severe risk to lose his job. It's you that's missing the point. "Should" doesn't come into it in the context that you used it. Someone's head has to roll, even if it's not the right one, and you can't fire 50% of a list in one off season.

Yup. But then it's gone so far past him it's now not worth persisting. Watching his little brother run around proved that for me. He's such a small guy, under Neeld's system of just go in hard and forget the rest he was always going to suffer. He's an outside player playing in a team with no outside game. Stick a fork in him, Green, Moloney, Sylvia... They're finished at MFC.

Incredible player. Star of the uf world. 2 kicks and 1 mark... ouch. Game on.

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