Nasher

Yes, sorry, at work today and left my phone at home. I'll give you a buzz later on depending on how late I get home.

Sorry. Brain operating had less than optimal levels today.

He is. Well, was, until a few hours ago before the site thief revoked my access. Don't worry about that though, there are other ways and means to skin this cat. It just has to wait until I get home.

Redleg, I don't understand why you're so anti-Byrnes. I get that he didn't have a great year, but he wasn't any worse than a number of other contracted players and the team on the whole was an absolute trainwreck, yet you single him out repeatedly. The idea of paying him out is just silly; there are more than enough uncontracted potatoes for us to give the boot without flushing money down the toilet by paying out a contracted player, who could still prove to be useful under a competent coach. I'm not pro-Byrnes by any means, I just can't see a justification for your extreme far-anti position.

What the..? I did some work with gsmith a while ago but life got in the way and it all stalled. I've still got the keys - if someone can tell me what's going on.... ??

Bzzzt. Byrnes was a UFA. Gillies was the delisted free agent we took from Geelong.

Likewise.

It depends on if you're expecting to lose any free agents, I guess. If you thought you were going to lose (say) Sylvia, you'd offer pick 99 (or whatever pick we've got). Otherwise you'd just save all the hassle and take him as a DFA. Do DFAs even count as compensation for the loss of a UFA/RFA?

Why can't we have someone better than Cross *and* Cross? "For what" - because he makes our midfield better. I'd like our midfield to be better, even if it's only for a year. Wouldn't you? The only question I had on Cross when this was first raised was whether or not he was finished. He didn't look at all finished to me when we played them in round 22. I'm definitely in favour and hope we get him.

And yet, he's not coming out and saying that, even though improving on the field is clearly the intent.

Not that it really matters in the big picture, but he has easily been the best coach of my lifetime. His achievements were remarkable considering the cesspools that occurred either side of him. Get well to one of my favourite adopted Demons.

He's a sensitive kid who is up to his neck in feelings, so he's probably more prone to confidence swings than most players. He is exactly the sort of player I'd expect to respond to a coach like Roos, who connects with his players better than most. Furthermore I imagine his hip troubles would play a huge impact in his present lack of core strength. I'm still very bullish Toumpas. He's skilled and clever, just needs confidence and body strength to go with it.

Indeed. If he wasn't a cultural sore we wouldn't be having this discussion, because the guy can clearly play.

I wonder why Rawlings has been spared? I have always had the impression that he was a class above the others, but it's a view that I have nothing to support other than perception from a long distance.

This thread isn't about the PP, so I have removed all the posts that seemed to pretend that it was.

I'm all for bringing in hardened experience and so forth, but I'd prefer we avoided players who are clearly finished.

Anyone else get the impression that Redleg isn't a fan of Patrick's?

What about today? Was fine for me all of yesterday and still is today?

Yellow tends not to clash with navy blue.

I'd do the deal for pick 2. There's still a good chance he'll become top shelf I think, so it's trading a maybe for a maybe (as opposed to the Selwood trade which is a maybe for a definitely not), only this maybe has a couple of years development up his sleeve. I see it as a lowish risk way of skipping a couple of steps in the long winded improvement process.

Looked like running in a match was going to kill him early in the year, and finished off the year looking like a well oiled machine. Has the right shape for a solid midfielder, backs his pace and runs until he chucks. Another big fan here.

Ugh - jeez. I'd prefer if we could just sneak up the ladder quietly this time. The bleaters on BigFooty and such have been a massive source of embarrassment over our previous iterations of "rebuilds".

Bitterly disappointed with Toumpas' output in finals so far.

Yes, number one flog is my chief ambition. I'm not against differing opinions. I'm just not going to argue with someone who has at best misinterpreted, or at worst misrepresented what I have said in a gross fashion. You're clearly not catching what I'm pitching so I'm giving up. Edit: if it helps, in principle I'd love it if we picked up Scott Selwood and don't think it would set us back in the least. My problem isn't with Scott Selwood.

If you think that's what I said or it's the point I'm trying to argue, I'm afraid I'm no longer able to help you.