Nasher

Final bench Grimes, Michie, Stretch, Harmes for mine.

John Fidge posted on Demonland a few times a couple of years back. I recall him being a bit confused by the guy who has "Ted Fidge" as his username. I wonder if JF still visits?

It's yesterday's argument anyway. I really doubt we'd be that much better off if we had NicNat instead of Watts. Both are good players with flaws that will prevent them from reaching the top shelf. Both players are a case study in how elite attributes don't necessarily translate in to an elite player, and that even very early draft picks are still just a lottery, no matter how sure a thing you think the player is.

Thread too far gone to rescue.

1) Clubs, particularly shrewd ones like Sydney, don't rate draft picks anywhere near as highly as supporters do. There's no way they'll offload a good player like Parker for what is essentially a lottery ticket. A bird in hand and all that. If anything, they're much more likely to offer "reasonable" value for players they want - see first round draft picks for modest role players Ted Richards and Darren Jolly. 2) If they truly have salary cap issues, they won't offline players out of their top tier, they'll lose middle players (see Heffernan/Blumfield/Caracella from the Bombers mid-00s). I doubt they have issues anyway - they wouldn't have taken Franklin and Tippett if it meant having to ditch really talented mids. There would be some magic happening under the bonnet there somewhere. 3) Adding guff (Fitz, Spencer et al) does not increase the value of the trade, it devalues it. Sydney do not want our junk. I know I was being a smartarse with my previous comment, but in Sydney's shoes I would truly dismiss the trade with a curt "not interested".

Yep, the fixturing sure comes up with some strange scenarios - playing the Saints twice in very close proximity when there are still teams we haven't played yet. Hopefully the rematch has a happier ending.

I wholeheartedly disagree with everyone who reckons Harmes needs a rest. He's played 2 senior games, and is still gaining momentum. Nothing in the way he played yesterday said "tired" to me. I have no doubt he'll end up back at Casey before the season is up, in the meantime let him capitalise on the form he has built up over the season.

I put my Sydney hat on, laugh, and walk away. And I'm keeping the hat.

Apparently Kent only played briefly and pulled up sore, haven't read any confirmation of that though. I didn't get the impression it was a disaster. Salem would be a half in the dev league at best if ready this week.

Jakovich

Liam Jurrah - 26 Allen Jakovich - 67

Burgs, I love your work mate, but seriously, no post match Harmes interview? The kid is living out all our collective dreams, I wanted to see him beam.

They are just hopeless. Tanking happens at selection and with bizarre player positioning (apparently). They're a side whose confidence has deserted them. I felt sorry for them until quarter time, when the MFC seemingly dropped to their level out of sympathy.

No way, been out for yonks with consecutive hammies. If he's ready, he can join Kent for a half in the VFL Dev league.JKH and ANB for whichever of the VFL revolving door players are currently at the front of the queue. Grimes and Michie I guess. Wouldn't be averse to only one or neither of those changes. There definitely won't be four changes - Stretch and Harmes going OK for mine.

Haven't changed my view, but was really impressed today. Happy to have McDonald forward as an ace up our sleeve.

Harmes definitely a positive. Giving the FD a lot to think about for the end of year.

Any questions?

I TOLD you sorry lot Brisbane were poo.

...and this year, they're poo. Like, really really crap. I don't think you people understand. I understand that it's natural to expect the worst as an MFC supporter. I know we might lose. I know we're not travelling well. Just don't get the surprise at us being favourites, they're the worst side in the competition, playing away.

Brisbane are poo. The only people in the world who think we won't beat them are MFC supporters, that's why we're short priced favourites.

Come on Redleg, don't be disingenuous. It's not that people *wanted* to get rid of him, it's that many of us just thought we probably would. It's a well used recipe - player taken as the last active pick, does nothing for two years (either injured or just no good) - gets the chop.

Sooooo... Kent?

Do players "trade value" really fluctuate that much based on current form? Damaged good scenarios aside (ala Garlett) I think in general the price is dictated by the players ceiling - we didn't give up pick 2 because of Tyson's injury riddled, disjointed couple of seasons at GWS after all. I really doubt other clubs will look at Howe's stat sheet for this season and go "nup, fourth round pick". Everyone knows Howe is a better player than what he's exhibited this year. If they want him, they can pay accordingly or sod off - he's not a FA after all. The whole idea that selection policy is driven by trade value is just rubbish to me. Howe is getting selected now for the same reason Watts was earlier in the year and Dawes is now - because he's a good player in the eyes of those in charge and they want him to find form in the seniors. I never understand why people find themselves drawn to hidden meanings behind things when the more obvious reason is the more likely one.

I know the change don't get one all that excited, but would people have really been that much more satisfied to see Newton or Michie added to the side at the expense of whoever doesn't get dropped out of ANB/JKH/Stretch? The cupboard is bare until Kent and Salem come back. No point getting upset about the lack of revolving door changes.

This is where I would hope on field leadership would kick in. It's a team game - it is everybody's responsibility to make sure everything is in place, but none more so than the leaders of the club.