Nasher

They do year 12, it's one of the earlier years they miss (something like the year we call Prep). Net result is finishing a year sooner. Queensland is the same.

Jesse has finished school purely because he happened to attend school in WA, and they finish up a year early over there. If he was in school in Vic, SA, Tas or NSW he'd be in year 12 this year. Unless you're proposing different rules for different kids depending on which state they live in, then the rule is fine and works as it is.

Silly me - you're right. Hogan is the same as Watts, but bigger. Got it. The only way you could logically conclude that the situations were the same was if the players were the same. Watts probably wasn't mentally ready and certainly wasn't physically ready. Hogan is already bigger than most of the people he'd play on so he clearly is physically ready - as for mentally, we're in no position to judge.

Has no relevance to this situation.

Thanks for the info. It's always nice when there's someone around to translate the jargon.

And what's that worth? SFA. Still think it's a waste of time even asking. If he was eligible to play, he should have been in the draft. The AFL can't and won't change the rules half way through the process.

I assumed he'd still be on the MFC payroll anyway, just not fulfilling any official capacity, i.e. stood down on full pay.

I'm not keeping a lid on it. I don't understand the "we've been here before" crowd; which of Miller, Newton, McLean or Sylvia was an athletic barely-18 year old who weighed over 100kg and already marked and won the ball like a pro the year before he was eligible to play? This guy is something new; we haven't been here before and I'm wetting myself with excitement. You downers can go keep a lid on it all you like. I might not have been the first on the bandwagon, but I'm telling everyone I know how good he is going to be already is.

Haha Chook, that is *precisely* what I had in mind when I posted that!

There's absolutely no way this would ever fly, and we'd piss people off in the process of trying. Imagine that: the AFL rules decree him ineligible for the draft, we take him through the trade/mini draft system, then he's allowed to play as a normal draftee would. The other clubs would crucify AFL house. I'm all for using "innovative" ways to gain a competitive advantage, but trying to circumvent the rules isn't the way.

May I suggest forgetting what Demonland has blown up over in the past and watch the kid with your own two eyes?

But a champion team of champions will always crush the crap out of the opposition.

We need ALL THE CHAMPS.

Any idea where the Richmond supporter got that data from? I'd love to see a similar list of Melbourne's.

I'm still going to complain. He's on our list and it's a massive tease. I want instant gratification!

Already being man sized surely makes a big difference. It's hard to imagine Hogan getting a lot bigger - he may add more kilos but he's already a size and weight that is difficult to match up on. Frustrating that we have to wait a whole year to see him play H&A matches when he is clearly ready now.

Because they're no good? Hasn't been for a few years in Davey's case, and never has been in Dunn's case. Dunn, like Joel Macdonald, is filler. An ok player, warming the spot while we wait for a better player to unseat him. Davey won't get a game; the difference between he and Byrnes was stark.

Without meaning to be rude, does anyone even really care how Dunn and Davey went? I watch games like this so I can learn what to expect from players I haven't seen much of. Surely we're pretty used to these two by now and know what to expect from them. It shouldn't come as a shock to people when they're shown to not be so great. (For the record, I thought Dunn was okay,)

I agree, and I thought the team we fielded in the second game was significantly weaker than the first, so that takes the edge off any disappointment I may have had. Dawes, Byrnes and Hogan with Howe for x-factor made for a forward line that can do damage, and that's without Clark in the picture. I know BH has been pumping up Kent's tyres since the draft, and I thought tonight vindicated that faith. All in all I came out of the games feeling pretty good.

What fine?

Technically we didn't use it after we received it for Morton though

Sort of. Pick 88 started and ended with us. We gave 88 to Port Adelaide for David Rodan. Port gave it to West Coast for Lewis Stevenson. West Coast gave it back to us for Cale Morton - we were the ones who called "Pass" on that pick on draft day. Pick 88 was basically cancelled out and it amounted to a three way trade between us, West Coast and Port.

For both his bowling prowess and his ability to stay on the park. Edit: Also a late bloomer like Harris. The similarities are noticeable now that you point it out.

Without having seen or having any time to look at the science, pure physics suggests that some of the impact that would normally "rattle" the brain would be absorbed by the helmet. It's just a question of whether it's enough to make any material difference.

I agree old dee - given the events of last year and what we saw with Belly, this has got to be a real worry for him.