Nasher

6. Tyson 5. Jetta 4. Frawley 3. Bail 2. Jones 1. Jamar Watts, Viney, Garland, McDonald the others considered.

Don't know about giving him a pass mark DA; it's fair to say I'd have preferred he hit Tyson inside the boundary rather than outside it.

Exactly, they both showed why they are nearly good enough to play AFL.

I wanted to kill someone when he risked serious pain running the wrong way to make that spoil at the end of the third, and his reward was a shithouse free against and Port goal. There is just no bloody justice in this sport sometimes.

I thought the Grimes kick was a high degree of difficulty kick, in a situation that required the risk, that was errant by a centimetre. Some will rue that, some will rue the Jones cockup or the Dawes pass to nobody. I rue the 20 minute patch where they got 5 goals out. Again. We're so, so close, but still walking away with an L to our form. Such a flattening feeling.

That was the most heart breaking loss of the year without a doubt. In it until the last 30 seconds. Sigh.

If Gawn was a marking threat inside 50 then he'd be in the side. Watching him get outbodied and outmarked by Garrick Ibbotson - 21cm shorter - against Freo was one of the more embarrassing things I've seen this year and I reckon big Maxy would agree. I love that the Casey watchers are talking up his marking - it's a sign of progress, but I agree with BBO and others that it's been an area he's struggled in this year.

If nothing else, it makes me a lot more optimistic about our chances against Port. Say what you will about our form and our side; St Kilda have been consistently worse all season, and the ladder supports that.

That was only 4 years ago, and only 8 of the players who played in that game are still on our list. Wow.

Only depending on the Frawley outcome IMO. If Frawley stays then Malceski comes basically at no cost to us other than salaries we have to pay anyway. The upside of having a skillful runner of half back far outweighs the risk for mine. We need this type of player more than just about anything else. It does become complicated if Frawley goes and we're trying to weigh off compensation though.

It would have to be better than what the Swans would get as their own compo for them to agree to that.

If you'd said this to me 4 years ago rjay I'd have been nodding my head vigorously in complete agreement, but these days I question the benefit of hoarding early draft picks when you've (still) got far too few capable senior players to support them. We'd still have other early picks anyway; you're giving up one pick, not all of them. How would you feel about Frawley staying? If you drag out your logic all the way to its conclusion, that is essentially giving away a top 5 pick as well.

I would love Malceski - a classy ball user running off half back, who can slot straight in? Who would honestly say "no thanks"? I reckon we need that more than we need compensatory draft picks - if nothing else, it buys time to a) find the next young gun to play the role, and b) develop said young gun properly rather than relying on him immediately. Malceski's age might be the only thing to throw that in doubt; if he was 2 years younger I'd take him without question, regardless of the Frawley outcome. Surely this is all a pipedream anyway, and it's just his management getting the media machine to do their work. I expect him to sign with the Swans.

I love that you've captured the writing style as well as the content style. Brilliant. Poor Webber - it must be hard having an IQ of 190 amongst us mere humans! I love it when he turns up and embarrasses all the clueless wailers with his knowledge. h_h was by far the best one, though. I even read it in the same comical voice in my head that comes to mind when I read the real h_h's posts. I first read this at lunch time and am still giggling at "the sun is a loser".

Obviously wasn't the first picked this week

I had that perception too, but since my kids started school I thought I must have overestimated it. All my son's mates play AusKick, and when I turn up to pick him up, it's always a case of playing "dodge the flying Sherrins" (or "mark the flying Sherrins" if I'm in the mood) as I walk through the school grounds. I've not once seen a soccer ball out and being played with. It may be that soccer is making inroads, but its penetration amongst kids is not deep, or threatening to our game in my opinion.

This will be the first game Matt Jones has missed since being drafted.

Think there was always questions over his kicking, which was a contributor to his going so late in the draft. I always thought he and the team played pretty well within his limitations, especially at his best. I think as our team improves, it'll surprise some people how all the poor kicks suddenly don't seem so bad.

I'm not sure if this thread was meant to be serious, I can only assume it was, but what it's evolved to isn't very good. I'm closing.

If he stays, it will be for an amount that would make most of us blush. So long as it doesn't cause a salary cap issue - and it won't - I still can't work out why any fan would give a flying fig about that.

We are a much, much better side than last year. If we finish last, it means other teams have improved more - so be it. We won't finished last though, watched much St Kilda lately? We may not win another game, but nor will they. Edit: And the only game Brisbane have that may be winnable is against us, and their percentage is diabolical. Our game between them will most likely be the battle for 16th position.

I don't think PJ was brought in for his list management expertise.

Of all the things to complain about. Didn't think anyone would trump "gee, Geelong are arrogant", but you managed it.

Glad I popped in to this thread for a bit of good news.

I need a hug.