Nasher

Has the date of that video published by The Age been confirmed? If not, it is trash journalism at its worst.

You do have to love how when a player has a problem, clubs paint it as “just” being alcohol, as if alcoholism isn’t a serious problem in our culture as it is.

Neville Jetta stumbled through a career of being almost-good enough to just survive for almost twice as long as JKH has so far. Like many on here I have no idea what they see in JKH, but I didn’t with Jetta either. I can only assume they know what they’re doing; hopefully we get a similar pleasant surprise.

Only saw the first half, so can only comment on that. Midfield nucleus of Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes looks to be picking up where it left off. Pleasing. Happy with the half of Salem and Petracca also. Hore and Petty can play key defender roles if need be. Looking forward to May being in the mix though. Forward line looks to be functional. Probably the biggest question mark going in. Preuss for me was a stark reminder of how much we rely on Max. He was decent but we’re accustomed to far more than decent. I’d be interested to see what Preuss was up to when Balta got off the chain in the second quarter. One of the things you can’t work out from TV. I assume from the scores that the second half was more of the same. If so, a good enough first hit out.

To be fair, you wouldn’t expect random post about journeyman players from the 90s to come from people born in the 00s on school holidays.

As for the video, whether or not the substance was illegal, he is a complete and utter idiot firstly for doing that, and secondly for allowing it to be filmed. Why you would risk getting this type of publicity has me completely stumped. He’s not stupid, he must have known this might happen (whether it is warranted or not), especially after last time.

It’s hyperbolic nonsense to suggest Clarkson wouldn’t have played Watts. Like Roos and Goodwin (quality AFL coaches), he would have played Watts knowing his worst was still okay and his best would be great if he could correct the mindset. Sure, he’d have given up eventually (as Goodwin did), and it might have happened earlier, but Watts would have played a lot of AFL games in the meantime.

I’d rather he be fit to play AFLX and not have gotten injured at training, personally.

It’s hard to believe that next year will mark 15 years. The sick feeling I got as a young man upon hearing he was missing still lingers. Feels like yesterday.

Then we are back to complaining about the club not providing information again.

I’ve always been curious as to what type of human one has to be when on sight of someone who’s had one too many, the first instinct is to snap a photo and circulate it on the internet.

I'm not complaining, just don't get the funny.

Yep, this. T20 is popular because brings cricket back to the length of other sports, rather than the other forms of cricket which are one day minimum. Many people don’t have the time or inclination to sit down all day, or several all days, to watch a game. There is no need for a “fast” version of our sport, the main event is already the fast version.

It’s not that surprising that one season in the thirds and then the arse wasn’t quite enough to institutionalise him to be honest, WJ. Probably had the opposite effect in fact.

It’s a challenge not to go full @ProDee on your first two paragraphs, hemingway. I want to say what I think of the supporters and media who lit a bunsen burner under Goodwin in the early part of the season. I’ll just say I thought at the time, and still believe, that their opinion demonstrated hopeless impatience and a thorough lack of understanding of where we were at and what was happening. I don’t think it’s either in Goodwin’s or the club’s interest to sign any more than 3 years, on pretty good coin. He has moved out of “establishing” to “established”. That length gives him a clear signal that we’re a fan of his work and believe he’s the right man to steer the ship, without reaming ourselves if the unexpected happens and it goes south. From his perspective, it’s good certainty in an uncertain industry, with the opportunity for a big payday in 3 years time if he’s still delivering. Medium term contract should be where both the club and Goodwin are at in my opinion.

I read these posts thinking, "how could anyone possibly spell Jordan wrong???" Took me a good few seconds... The AFL draft tracker spells it Jordan, which I had assumed was linked to the official registered player database. The MFC social media group spell it Jordon, however it's the same mob who called Kade Chandler 'Kyle', so my trust in them to get it right is low. Which is it??

Exactly Red. I reckon it’s easy to justify all the reasons any player won’t make it. A player who has already been delisted once is particularly low hanging fruit in that regard. Visionaries will be able to see through that and project the possibilities for the player. I’m definitely not a visionary - I wouldn’t know a good player pre-AFL I fell on one, but I reckon Jason Taylor is, that’s why any player he takes earns automatic benefit of the doubt rights in my eyes. Wagner may well prove to be “depth at best”, but being right on that doesn’t earn anyone any extra cred in my eyes. It would be like chucking $20 each way on Winx.

Um, soooooooo... apparently I've been living under a "don't care much about the draft" shaped rock, but... why the heck is it going over multiple days?

Depth at best. You've used that phrase twice now and it's why I interpreted your post as rank dismissal. You're saying that the absolute, best possible case scenario is that he's injury cover, and that there's no possibility whatsoever that he could develop in to a good player in his on own right. The only other scenerios are that he's worse than a depth player, that's why being depth is the best. Unless you have some other meaning for the word "best"?

We might as well just delist him now based on Chazz’s appraisal. Obviously has no future. I understand the position, by the way; the evidence supports his assertion that players who get spat out don’t usually make it. I reject it though. I don’t see how he’s any different to any other ‘mature’ player, such as Michael Barlow, Aaron Vandenberg, Tim Kelly and so forth, who mature later and continue to develop as players in to their 20s and have successful AFL careers. The fact that he’s been on an AFL list before is irrelevant - not ready then doesn’t equal not ready now. As a 21 year old recruit, he’s clearly been picked due to his potential for development to be more than just a depth player. I am far more open minded about his prospects.

I wonder how many said this about James Harmes or Alex Neale-Bullen. Players can develop.

And you had to update it *yourself*? How could anyone live like that?! Nah, we had these when I was in primary school (90s). I remember once in 1995 we were doing a random quiz and the teacher asked which team was at the bottom of the AFL ladder. I put my hand up and confidently answered, “St Kilda”. “Someone check the ladder please.” “It’s Fitzroy”, said some snotty nosed brat. The two teams at that point had spent the whole season jockeying for the spoon and it had been Fitzroy the previous week. Whatever cretin was responsible for keeping it up to date had failed in their crucial duties. I was ropable and refused to look at one of those ever again.

The only downside I can think of is the captaincy may make Goodwin and co more reluctant to drop him than they otherwise might be when it gets to that point, but given Jones’ finish in the B&F, that point is probably further away than many think. That’s just me trying to come up with a counter-argument; I agree with your post.

You know there is officially nothing proper left to worry about when people start worrying Goodwin might leave for more money.

Even if Kolodjashnij turns out to be Viv Michie reincarnated, so what? The risk is super low but for the reasons outlined by ProDee above, the potential upside is enormous. The only thing at stake is the emotional well-being of fans who can’t cope with their own disappointment. I’m prepared to back him in; I think he will prove to be a great pick-up. If I’m wrong, oh well. This is sweating the small stuff.