Nasher

I reckon you're wrong. It's always important to have developing prospects on your list, even if it's a position where you're full. Otherwise, why bother having McDonald or Davis on the list? Why rookie list Robbie Campbell? Clark adds competition for Fitzpatrick's spot, but it doesn't change our development strategy for Fitzpatrick (or Cook).

Ridiculously premature. Contracted for 2012 and 2013 and will be given every moment to develop.

Ugh, I wasn't. As it turns out it that was how the planets aligned and I'm happy for it now, but I can never go back to that dark place you described.

Because the alternative is sending the message that it's okay to play up and be as irresponsible as you like, so long as you're a good footy player.

Col Sylvia for captain! ...anyone?

Why is talent wasted on the HBF? He played there this year and I think his 'dash' was not lost due to playing on the HBF, if anything it added to its effectiveness.

As someone ("furious d"?) said in another thread, trading someone just because their currency is at its highest is the dumbest of the dumb ideas. Jamar is still young enough to be part of our premiership side, so as long as he remains better than Gawn then he remains in the side. If he later becomes surplus to requirements then by all means trade him, but we're not there yet. Obviously he'll have less currency then, but he'll also be less important to us.

Using dollar signs in place of the letter 'S' isn't funny or clever. Just sayin'...

Exactly. Nothing like letting the truth get in the way of a good story - Davey was one of our best in 2010.

You're currently second placed in the two horse race.

I agree with all of that H_T. Who knows where Gawn will end up, but I'm stunned someone can NOT be excited about a 208cm bloke who doesn't move like a glacier. This is almost unprecedented at AFL level - Sandi certainly didn't move in the same manner at the same age. He only needs to develop a little bit to become an adequate AFL ruck, so if he develops a lot?

Looked like he couldn't get off the ground at the end of the year. Hoping his body allows him to return to his best in 2012. His injury early in the year was a blessing in disguise as it allowed both Martin and Gawn to thrive under the added responsibility, but ultimately you'd still prefer to have your best ruckman on the park.

Started the year second in the ruck queue and finished it behind Gawn and Martin (and obviously Jamar). Development wise it was definitely an unfortunate year to do a knee (if a knee injury can ever be anything but 'unfortunate'). He gets a hard time around here, but he's still only a baby in ruck years. He's not the best user of the ball and he's a bit slow but he's strong and competitive - these are all the same things people said about Jamar at the same age. I still believe he's got a future at AFL level, but I can't see how it can be at the MFC. He's just behind too many now.

At the end of last year I also agreed that the jury was out. It's still out but this particular member of the jury is leaning towards him not being good enough. It's a shame, because he's got attributes that I wish some of our other players had.

Great logic - we gave Newton unlimited years to show his wares, therefore we should offer the same thing to every other bloke who struggles for whatever reason. How about learning from our Newton mistakes and cutting blokes at the right time rather than several years too late? Compassion and understanding of the cultural and spiritual needs is the reason why we retain him as a rookie. It balances that need against our need as a professional football club to have the strongest possible playing list. If we were ignoring those sensitive issues completely as you're suggesting, then there'd be a strong case for delisting him and saying good bye full stop.

A mature person who shows sound judgement doesn't become a headline for the wrong reasons. I'm not hanging Col or passing judgement (okay maybe a little), and from a club's point of view I'm happy for no action to be taken as he hasn't specifically broken any rules, but I think this shows why he continues to be a leadership group dodger when he's a senior player supposedly in the prime of his career.

Sylvia for captain next year! ...anyone?

Robbo kicked a lot of goals. He had a lot of deficiencies and sadly many of us mostly remember him for his last few seasons of him laying prone, punching the ground as his opponent ran up the ground with the ball, but when he was in his prime he was a huge threat to the goals. Howe has a higher work ethic than Robbo so I'd expect the ground-punch is not in his repertoire, but he'll need to hit the goals more for the comparison to hold. Early days yet, obviously.

Actually, everybody could disagree with everyone and the forum could still be boring, and everyone could agree and it could be very interesting. What makes footy forums interesting for me is depth of opinion and understanding, not how much everyone disagrees.

I disagree that the excitement has been taken out. Obviously it's a far cry from our participation in recent drafts, but the 36-54 range in the past has netted us the likes of Gawn, Howe, Garland etc - there's still a good chance we'll get a good player. It'll still have the same feeling of getting shiny new presents that it always has.

I think that's Shane Tuck. To my knowledge Travis Tuck has never been on Richmond's list.

Love this guy too. Moves exceptionally well for a guy his size and his second efforts are great. Ahead of schedule at this stage.

Nobody had heard of him when we took him with our mid 30s pick. Inspired pick it would seem, and from what I remember Prendergast took him that early because he feared he'd be gone by the next pick (Collingwood?) Needs to find some consistency as his game's not 100% there yet, but he's a really exciting prospect that had a fantastic first year.

Wonna and Macdonald.

Indeed - our relationship with Brisbane seemed to be all hugs and back slaps afterwards. Hardly looked grudge-y to me.