Nasher

Fair enough. Our difference in opinion is largely splitting hairs -- though I'm far from convinced that he's proven anything. Which part is my opinion? That he was out of form (read rubbish) in the first few rounds is cold hard fact. I did say at the moment, I don't believe any part of "at the moment" infers anything about what he might do in the future. My initial opinion of Aussie was that I wasn't convinced. I'm sorry if I don't declare players as superstars immediately after one or two games "reasonable" games, which is all his first ones were. That hardly amounts to a dismissal, just like I haven't dismissed Newton. Not everything is black and white. As for the question of injury -- do you know whether or not he was carrying an injury? I don't know, but given the way Bailey refused to play injured players at all early in the year -- hence Weetra getting a game -- I would suspect he wasn't injured.

Because prior to his injury/suspension his form was terrible, both in MFC and Sandy colours. You asked what he was if he was not a FF. I answered your question. At the moment, he definitely ain't an AFL grade full forward, and I don't think he's capable of playing in any other position. That makes him ... ?

Sure. But he's still nothing at this point.

Nothing at this point.

He's still only 21, which is easy to forget when he's flying. Still in the early part of his career. Very exciting.

Or he's holding out for the fact that the Tasmanian Government are trying to usurp the West Sydney bid. Both equally valid reasons.

Why didn't he take the three if it was on offer?

What was the Garland/Warnock part?

McLean.

The handball from the pack to Bruce was a beauty. Pity about the subsequent kick from #32. Like Hannabal I've done a full 180 on Wonaeamirri.

24 and a nerd through and through (apparently).

At the Roos. Ryan Pagan was on the list while Denis was coach. As it happened, Pagan junior was a dud, so it didn't matter in the end.

There's a fairly substantial difference between having a few beers with your mates and having your opinion expressed in a semi-permanent written medium such as a forum.

It's what makes moderating a forum like this hard. Ultimately we all want the one thing -- success for our footy team. We're well within our rights to voice our opinions and share our thoughts with one another, it's what makes forums fun. I do understand what an impact this can have on the players as individuals, and it has had very real consequences in the past. It's why I'll happily let posters go hell for leather against each other all day long (and sometimes engage in it myself), but I will not stand for undue heavily personal criticism against players or staff. Yes, free speech and all that, but in my opinion far too many forum members (and I'm talking about forums in general, not Demonland specifically) take on the right to post without taking on the responsibility that comes with it. It's a pretty tricky issue and it's one where the line is often very grey. I often think that some of the posts that blow copious amounts of smoke up the players' behinds are just as unconstructive as the negative ones too.

Poor kicks generally stay poor kicks forever. Some will progress to "adequate" but rarely will a poor kick ever become good unless they have come to the game late. Godfrey's biggest problem was that he had tunnel vision, and was terribly slow at disposing of the ball (back to my favourite argument of speed of leg vs speed of ball -- Godfrey had neither). This meant that by the time he was ready to give to the first option it was gone. His field kicking in general wasn't as bad as many thought. On Buckley, I'll suffer a few poor field kicks here and there, but until his defensive work improves, his negatives outweigh his positives. Like Wrathchild said though, you can't teach that level of natural pace, so the tools are there, but his mindset needs to change. Ball's in his court. He'll be an interesting development over the next year or two I think. If he can't learn the defensive side, he's finished.

I didn't realise you were a player on our list Madness

Devastating until you realise that every single team in the competition could build a coulda-woulda-shoulda side like that.

More to the point it's why Adelaide win games.

Rivers and Wheatley should come straight back in to the side. Whelan has been out for a few weeks, so if he is fit he should come back via Sandringham IMO. Assuming Rivers fitness, I'd omit Warnock before Garland, for the fact that Garland is more versatile, he showed this week that he is able to go forward and kick goals when required. We'd lose nothing defensively if Garland played back over Warnock. The ruck situation is hard. I don't want to drop Jamar as I like his presence in the middle, but he was a passenger yesterday and it's hard to justify selection on "presence" alone. I actually like the way our rucks were used yesterday, but I don't think at this stage that PJ as a permanent back is a sustainable answer. I suspect Jamar will make way for Wheatley if fit. I agree that Moloney is teetering on the fringe at the moment, but I believe he should be safe this week.

Personally, I think it's admirable that he chose to pass it up. I remember reading a story about the talented Adam Heuskes not long after his retirement, saying that he never really wanted to play AFL football, but just sort of fell in to the job. He never put the hard yards in, and always did just enough to get by. It was the easy option -- "hey, I don't have to work, I get paid good money and can do this without really needing to do anything other than train a few times a week". As odd as it sounds, I think it actually takes guts to pass up an AFL career when you've got the talent to make it. Like you, I'd have worked my backside off to make it if the carrot had ever been in front of me. I'd prefer to see someone like Sautner, whose heart was not in it pass it up completely, than see someone like Heuskes whose heart was not in it but faffed around in the league for a few years anyway.

Easily the most frustrating player on our list at the moment. Has leg speed but doesn't use it well defensively. Breaks the lines better than anyone then follows it up with a helicopter to CHF where there are three opposition players standing. There's plenty to work with there as he knows how to get the ball, and he has fantastic leg speed, but his use of the ball and defensive work just has to get better. Apparently his work ethic on the track is as good as anyone's, so he's every chance to improve. I really hope he does.

My recollection is that he has never nominated for any drafts as he had no desire to play at the top level. I may be wrong there though.

Spot on deanox. It's frustrating that Sautner occupies the position he does, but those that resent Sautner himself for it have misdirected their frustration IMO.

Geeves is actually a pretty popular character down here. He's always been promising cricketer but this season finally delivered. Don't forget it's a Tasmanian radio station you're listening to Jack.

How balls is it that they're broadcasting from the game but not actually calling it? I turned it off. No point wasting work's bandwidth for that pile of yawn. On the Hawks memberships/Auskick registration, that doesn't surprise me at all. They had a big following down here already. I reckon their partial move down here has been a huge win for both their club and footy in Tasmania as a whole.