Choko

Crap. He has terrific closing speed and often affects a spoil. If anything, I think he should try to take the game on as a rebounder like he did in the past, but that is confidence. Daniel Bell is a quality player who uses the ball well, is still learning his trade and has buckets of courage.

My changes would be: IN: Whelan, Moloney (if fit) OUT: Garland, Robertson I would play Sylvia in Robertson's position and give him one week to prove himself. If Sylvia fails, he goes out for Robbo the week after. I think Robbo still has a place in our side, but not when his attitude is so poor. He played from behind at the Cattery when we were kicking into the wind, when he gets further up the ground he doesn't run hard and has no idea what options to pick, and he is not tackling, shepherding or doing the 1%ers. He needs a disciplinary spell. I would definitely give CJ another week. We have high hoped for him and he needs a fair crack at it.

Great to have Rivo back. Should help our structure enormously.

Sit. LOL. You are Kardinia virgins! Gen Admin is standing room. Get there early and you actually can get a reasonable forward flank position. Bring flags to show support.

I was definitely not going to go, for the first time in 20 years where I had a choice to go or not (in Vic). Then I went to an MFC function last night and after hearing from a few of the players and from Chris Connolly, I can see that now is not the time to stop supporting the demons. Therefore, I will be there to watch what I am sure will be an ugly game from our perspective.

This game will be the first time in 15 years I have not gone to the footy when I could go. I cannot be bothered travelling an hr up the highway to pay 50 bucks for the worst seats in the house to watch another disgusting display. I have a function on with the MFC and all the players on Tuesday night, and I really don't want to go to that either. I hate the feeling of not wanting to have anything to do with the club, but honestly, I have better things to do than watch pathetic, weak, skill-less dumb footballers who have no pride in the jumper.

The money I put on Richmond was one of quite a few reasons I was happy to see the cheating Blues lose.

I have to say I rarely come on here to give players a spray. Having said that.... Colin Sylvia needs to wake up to himself and think about what sort of a career he wants to have and the type of legacy he wants to have. The guy has enormous talenmt but his attitude is a disgrace. From his first game, where he was flying for marks from behind and being a showpony, he has yet to prove he is anything but a wasted talent. On the eve of our 150th season and in his 5th year at the club (or so??) he should be a leader. In fact, because of bad luck and a poor attitude, he is well behind other far less talented players in his development. If I were DB I would make Sylvia work with paralympians or with other disabled people so he can understand what an insult it is to have untapped potential, and be inspired by people who would love to have half his physical ability. Colin, pull your finger out. You are a footballer. Prove it.

If anything, I think Stevens has been a bit generous with his assessment of our list and our possibilities in '08.

"Carroll, 27, was not suspended for a specific incident, but the new-look leadership panel felt he was not showing the right level of professionalism." http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/com...5E20322,00.html

I am a naturally optimistic supporter, and when I saw that Carroll had been suspended for disciplinary reasons, my instinct was "good, a bit of discipline, line in the sand, etc..." But I was astonished to learn that it was a retrospective punishment for nothing specific. That really does smack of tokenism and in my opinion shows the inappropriateness and juvenile nature of our leadership group. And then it's 2 pre-season games! JOKE. This isn't going to improve the culture, it's a token and rubbish punishment not linked to the crime (and no-one even knows what the crime is except some incidents that McLean was also involved in). It served only to impact on Carroll's physical preparation, and is not a lesson to others. It's a signal that we are trying (badly) to copy the Cats. How would you like Yze, the laziest (talented, yes, servant of the club, yes, but honestly lazy) player serving a suspension on you when you have been training the house down and you exceeded curfew in the off-season. For crying out loud. And Neitz - great leader, but in all his years of being captain, all of a sudden he is imposing this? Yeh right.

Fair enough demonscoast. Maybe 64 is plenty, but it's an extended bench, hard grounds and potentially hot weather. And who cares if clubs want to get an edge by interchaging their players to share the load more. Also, in context, the change makes no sense. Either players will still go hell for leather when they are on the ground, in which case strain injuries are even more likely, or they slow the game down - in which case more of the crap keepings off. Certain clubs have already said they think it will be detrimental to older players, who they will now not play. And as I said, the clubs have the biggest vested interest in maintaining their players' welfare - especially NAB Cup. I can't think of many good changes to the rules since the 80s. Fair enough, it's only the NAB Cup, but I still think it's illogical but typical of the AFL.

Oh come on. Where's your evidence that players are getting crippled much earlier than in the past? Even if it were true, surely clubs would be very aware of the welfare of their players, and it is clearly in their best interests to strike the correct balance between playing their players and resting them for longevity. The changes to our rules have not made our game a better spectacle IMO. The hands in the back changes the whole balance of a contest and makes a black letter law rule out of something that has always been, and should be, subjective. It is in fact a new rule - PUSH in the back is the old rule, hands (no push necessary) is a new rule. I think it's dumb. I agree with the clubs. Next we will be capping the games players over 30 can play per season - after all, it's in the interests of health and wellbeing. Administrators are paid too much money and have to come up with things to do to justify their positions. That's what this is about.

It is absolute madness that in the hottest matches where the players are still working to full fitness, the AFL would allow an extended bench but then restrict interchange. The NAB Cup is a joke competition anyway, but these rules deserve the criticism they are getting. Still, not surprising for the same league that implemented the technical and rubbish hands-in-the-back rule.

Great retort - in your bin Jeff

What's wrong with Riley Dunn? Why did he never come on? I recall we were looking at him quite seriously in his draft year.

The only question I still have is this: Gardner said during the year and after round 10 that the club should still be in the position to make a $750K - $1M profit. Now he is saying that our disastrous year on field is the reason we are 500K - 900K short. That doesn't reconcile.

Well I'll go out on a limb. Unless someone new comes up that hasn't been touted as being available at the PSD , I think we would be absolutely mad not to go for Kepler. I think Essendon, like us in some respects, has the broom out, and for whatever reason had Kepler in their sights. I have no idea why they would reject a trade bid for him by Freo only to delist him. There is enormous upside, and if he was to come good, he would be a very exciting prospect. I would support picking him up.

Dunn was dropped for the exact reason of hardness, then brought back into the side to play midfield at the end of the year, where he excelled. I have a lot of faith in him and I reckon he will be a super player for us.

I think the mods should pull this post down, potential is the rudest word in the English language. If I played for Melbourne my heart would be in the right place too. He's a hack.

I am a big CJ fan, but he has not done anything to prove me right. I would love to see him take his opportunities, cos he's a ripper bloke and I think could become a class half back flanker or wingman. But he needs to focus on his footy.

That's the risk. No doubt about it. But on the other hand, as supporters we crave only one thing at the end of the day, and that's 22 guys who have a red hot dip each week. If that's Bailey's number 1 criterion, then for value, Trav must be looked at. FWIW, I would bet my left knacker no-one will give us what we want for him and this is being used as a massive wake up call to one of the most complacent (and, let's be totally honest, underperforming) footballers going round.

Why does everyone say we are at least 4 years off? it's ridiculously pessimistic. 3 of 4 prelim finalists this year didn't make the 8 last year, and both grand finalists! Collingwood was the 4th prelim finalist, and most people had them bottom few. We have a new coach, players back from injury and others who have had a really good crack at a pre-season, and we will get a draw playing more bottom 8 sides, plus some super draft picks and maybe some pre-season talent. There is a lot to be positive about. Stop writing us off!

Top 10 in a heartbeat. But he's not worth that and it won't happen! Which side needs him that badly?

For the right price, should definitely do the deal.