Nasher

Thank heavens for that.

I've seen the "load up to the eyeballs in top 10 draft picks" before too, which is why I'm gun-shy on passing up a proven performer whose best years are still ahead of him, for draft picks.

I'm a fan. Unlike a couple of his locker room neighbours, I don't think he's symptomatic of our plight; I think he's undervalued among supporters. He runs hard, tackles hard, uses the ball OK most of the time, and finds the goals. My biggest concern would be more about finding the ball enough, especially on bad days - he can become the invisible man sometimes. I think this will improve with experience. Will play most games again next year I think.

I am. The two things are barely related. I highly doubt one compromised the other.

I know. He coached us for three years and we mourned him too. Eat a turd Kevin, you cantankerous old flog.

Danger's just a washed up hack on his last legs. Won't get near it.

Jones is currently second on our list, closely behind Dangerfield

All this count is doing for me is bringing back painful repressed memories.

I suppose, but at least there's some basis of plausibility with the fact that Dangerfield is a FA next year, so Adelaide's hands could be somewhat forced. There's absolutely no way in hell Sydney will let Parker go or be amenable to a trade. They'll tell us to get stuffed.

By my calculation, Dangerfield has missed 6 games in the last 6 years. The least number of games he's played in that time is 19, and he's played every game 3 out of 6 years, including this year. That hardly seems like a broken down, dilapidated old body. He's 24 years old and flying in every sense. If you reckon a bloke who's hardly missed a game since he started is showing signs of being a broken down old has-been by the time he's 29, you've got a very different take on things to me.

In other words: forget the trade that is looking viable, and go after one you have no hope of pulling off.

Why are we talking about Nudge and Chiliboy as if they are two different people?

They both just look like babies. It's easy to forget how young 20 is (and seems to get younger the further away I get from it!).

They've got to push him out. Didn't even come close this year.

The blank cheque we have allegedly handed him would be a good starting point.

That isn't a quote, it's an inference from the author of the article. The actual quote says this, which is much less black and white (in fact I'd say it's particularly vague): “I love the city, I love the Club and I love playing there,” Dangerfield said. “And that’s all that needs to be said.” And it's not being pedantic. The words people use are important. As soon as the author of an article (or forum post) leave out the actual quote, it goes from "out of the horse's mouth" to "hearsay". And funnily enough, you haven't given us the radio quote either.

Where, in the article you linked, was he quoted as saying he is not leaving?

He's in Perth, so it was before midnight when he posted there. Must be today then. Make with the F5 hitting, pantaloons!

34 out of 34 players believed they were going to get away with it? Nup. Can't believe that.

That's still not 100% though, is it? 34/34 players not asking a question, raising a red flag, asking the AFLPA, talking to anyone about it outside the Essendung bubble... Too hard to believe for mine. Either it's not true and someone's covering something up, or the players had reason to believe everything was legitimate.

I don't think it makes a lick of difference what the supporters expect. The only thing my expectations influence is my level of disappointment when they're not met (or my level of happiness when they're exceeded).

That's really the bit I've never understood, Jarka. You would think if anything smelled even slightly funny, at least one of the 34 players would've raised an alarm. I just can't believe that every single one of the players would be complicit. It doesn't make sense.

Viney is clearly gone.

As much as I enjoy seeing Essendon, Hird and Little get flogged, and would love to see them stuck on the bottom of the ladder and broke for a few years, I can't disconnect that from the players who have been completely and utterly screwed over here. Maybe fatherhood has done something to me but I always find myself looking at it through the eyes of a parent, and if it were one of my sons at the footy club I'd be furious beyond belief at the contempt in which these egomaniacs are treating their players with. They got completely pilloried in the court and they're still continuing with their denial tactics, while the future of a large group of their players are still at risk. The latest player comments show just how brainwashed these blokes have been by the EFC.

His trade value will never be higher! Because trading players is like the stock market! Sell, sell, sell!