Nasher

It's not obtuse, it's just incorrect. If it gets the point across, I suppose it doesn't really matter though.

"Talent" is exactly what BB59 said it is. It's the inherent/natural ability you're talking about that may or may not be harnessed by the individual.

This is an outrage. Yet another disgraceful draw. Bloody AFL! Vlad and co are out to put us out of business for good, when will this vendetta end? Wait, sorry, pre-meditated response. Like everyone else, really happy with this draw.

The best part from what I have seen of Scully is that not only does he get his arms free, but he delivers a rocket hand pass and usually hits a teammate on the tit with it. I recognise that when looking at highlights you only ever see the best bits, but some of his handballs are jaw-dropping.

Phew. I feel much better now that Melb16 has confirmed it.

Two years on the rookie list for zero senior games and spending most of your time in the VFL reserves = certainty to be delisted. He'll have already been told even if nothing's been 'officially' released. If anything had been released, would anyone have noticed or cared? I imagine Healey and McKenzie will be retained for the obligatory second year. Don't know about Hughes, but personally I'd rather someone else took his spot.

I wouldn't call any of those "big fish". Just middle of the road players who would all probably add something to the side, but I wouldn't lose any sleep for missing out on them.

Awesome, Sam Mitchell III. And to think, we also recently delisted Sam Mitchell II recently. I'm going to spew if I hear another rookie listed player be described as being like Sam Mitchell. It's become a massive cliche.

Do you really believe that? It's not the same at all. Spreading a few rumours and lies like Haydo and Nudge do is a victimless crime. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's annoying, but mostly nobody gets hurt. Stealing someone else's work when they have clearly done the hard yards to build up the information, claim it as your own, then happily accept all the pats on the back is piss poor form in my eyes.

Interesting, isn't it? Especially since the poster on TC is adamant that his post was plagiarised. My particular favourite bit was where Dr. J claimed to have watched a bunch DVDs to form such a comprehensive, "informed" view. The guy spent the year playing in the Colts and the WAFL reserves, how many DVDs could there possibly be? Anything to say about this, Dr. J?

It's an interesting point about training. If the ND comes and goes and we hear nothing, it'll be impossible for Ball to start any pre-season training you'd think, until he makes a call. You wouldn't think he'd want to attend or be welcome at St. Kilda pre-season training when he hasn't committed to the side. Would that mean he'll have to simply have his own pre-season training regime until he commits to a team?

I don't know why you technically couldn't (beside the fact that it's probably against the rules), but why would you want to? It's not exactly doing right by your existing players. I reckon the AFLPA would make a lot of noise if clubs did that.

We need to clear off one more IMO to open up Pick 34 and PSD1, and it's down to McNamara, Cheney and Bartram; the only remaining uncontracted players. Yes, I know, everyone thinks it should be Bartram, but I've always gotten the impression that the brains trust like him -- presumably for his intangibles (tank, work ethic, courage etc). Despite it being so popular in opinion, I'll be surprised if they delist Bartram. Therefore in my mind it's down to Cheney and McNamara, and there's a great list of pros and cons to both. In that context, it's not that surprising his name keeps popping up.

No, I'm just going off what I've read in other threads. There's every chance it is wrong, I was just assuming for arguments' sake that it wasn't.

We're talking Freo here. Freo. The side who we were within 2 points of a record breaking come-from-behind win of in 2008. Freo. The side who we rolled by 10 goals at the end of 2009 at the tail of a demoralising year in which we were dead last, and they were second-last. Freo. The side who managed to kick a paltry 1.7.13 in a match this year. Freo. The AFL's running gag. If it were at the MCG then I'd put it down as the easiest draw that was humanly possible. Being at Subi only takes the edge off it, but it doesn't make it a doomsday task IMO. I'm still expecting that we give them a run for their money.

Yes, but to do that, the player will have to go through the ND and PSD first and then fall to us in the rookie draft, you can't just "put them on the rookie list". It's what I would do for one of Cheney/McNamara, but of course the risk is that they get snavelled up by someone else.

Just to clear up any confusion. Current state of play: 5 vacancies on the senior list, created by Robertson, Whelan, Wheatley, McLean and Buckley. That gives us access to: Pick 1 Pick 2 Pick 11 Pick 18 Pick 34 OR PSD Pick 1 We've got three players presently uncontracted: Bartram, McNamara and Cheney. Bartram and McNamara have allegedly been offered new contracts (though there's no concrete evidence to suggest this is fact); if we assume that is true, and we also take as given that we want to keep PSD 1 for that "just in case" scenario, then BBP's assertion that it's now a choice between Pick 34 and Cheney is correct. That is a lot of ifs and buts though. My preference would be to delist one more and use Pick 34, and keep PSD1 up our sleeve.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with his defensive pressure inside 50. There might have been in his earlier days, but not now. If anything, it's one of his strengths now. I think if he is able to gain a bit of confidence he'll become a useful player, but even if that happens, I'll always be wondering when it's going to turn "off" again. Such is the nature of confidence players. Edit: Sorry, committed the cardinal sin of not reading the whole thread. Well put vanlo.

Calling stevethemanjordan 'weed' and big_red_fire_engine 'knackers'... okay. Anyway, we like to keep the Demonland vs Demonology discussions away.

Having an influential family member and thinking for yourself aren't mutually exclusive.

Second consecutive top 5 finish in the Bluey too if I remember correctly. Might be underrated by supporters, but clearly not by the coaches.

Yes, it is.

Who do you rate as captain material, just out of interest?

Clint, what do you perceive as being Valenti's weaknesses?

I agree. Axis of Bob touched on this point too. The best use for the huge blokes is as bookends when they're not involved in ruck contests. If you're using your ruckman as a link man, it says two things: 1 - you're probably not using the most effective person as a linkup, since it's doubtful your ruck is the quickest (in both pace and quickness of disposal) nor the most accurate; 2 - your ruckman has not positioned himself to be put to maximum effectiveness -- i.e. where the contests are or will be. Maybe this means he is not working hard enough. Being where the contests are is something Jamar did really well when he played this year, and from what I gather, something he's always done really well at VFL level where the grounds are smaller. I think if Jake can get that part right as well as remaining fierce when actually in the contests, then his shonky kicking will count for very little unless kicking for goal.