Nasher

I've never really had it 'looked at' per se, but I have for a while suspected I'm on the spectrum. General traits: I impulsively avoid eye contact when talking to people, especially in forced situations (passing each other in a hallway etc) I can't small talk, at all. I consider it lucky if I can sustain any sort of conversation, often. I am usually the first one to cross the line in to inappropriate conversations, unintentionally. I can't read between the lines. If you're not explicit, I probably won't understand what you're saying to me. I can't read body language. I have no idea if the person I am talking to likes me or is at all interested in what I have to say. It takes me a very long time to make friends. It would be unusual for me to consider someone an established friend within the first year of meeting them, though there have been exceptions. I can remember the number plate of every car I've ever owned, and can remember the number plate of every car any member of my family ever owned up until the age of about 15, and a few of my friends early car number plates. I know the current sequence of number plates (letter number number letter letter) in Tasmania and roughly where they're up to (I've seen 'F' number plates, 'G' ones are reserved for Government vehicles, 'H' ones should start appearing on the streets soon...). With the older style number plates (letter letter number number number number) I used to be able to roughly guess when a car was registered based on its number plate. There used to be a car that parked near my house with the number plate next in sequence to mine. I was disappointed the time we parked next to each other in a car park and I didn't have my phone on me to take a photo. Did I mention I notice number plates? I have an elephant-like memory in general, especially when it comes to numbers I am obsessive about doing things right, to the point where I will abandon anything I can't do near enough to perfect for my own satisfaction on early attempts. I scored 36 on the Baron-Cohen test. The questions that reduced my score were nearly all around imagination - I have a very vivid imagination, I *love* reading fiction, I have even dabbled in writing some. I guess that's the whole thing about it being a 'spectrum'.

He'd have been accused of making it all about him in the throws of the season if he'd done that. If not that, someone would have found some other way to pan him over it. There's no pleasing people with the timing of things like this. I read his statement and to me it was as good as I'd hope for in the context of being a player who received a ban for drugs. It doesn't mean it was absolutely good, or that he's a hero, or that I admire him, it's just that I thought it was appropriate under the circumstances. I don't think it would kill people just to give him that nod.

I started very young if you're my son, Clint.

No, there's several father sons on here. The site is run by a father son combo for a start!

You can't look at it like that. What if pick 30 had a better strike rate? Would you then conclude that you'd prefer to have pick 30 than pick 29?

If they feel like going through the rigmarole of court proceedings. Far too late in the day for that now.

Not a free agent.

Because that would be a massive, massive pain in the arse?

I love people's enthusiasm, but I find things like this cringeworthy. I know, such a Grinch.

I don't think Redleg is referring to it being leaked to the media.

Yep - no dispute there. It's only the degree of "more confidence" that I'm arguing. I love arguing grey positions :-) I would love to see Wiz Jr running around in MFC colours (assuming his son is the same sort of player!) Probably my favourite player through my teenage years.

Fair enough. I wouldn't base a life decision such as moving thousands of kilometres away to somewhere where I didn't know anyone, when I could do the same job without moving 100 metres, based on the footy team my father barracked for. But I accept others might. I shall agree to disagree.

It's why I went for "barely relevent" instead of "totally irrelevant". The kid has grown up in WA, I think his desire to stay home (or otherwise) will vastly outweigh any other factor, including pressing from his father. I'm just not sure that most 18 year olds, given the option, would move to the other side of the country when given they don't have to. Don't get me wrong - I'm happy for the Wiz to push him in our direction, but I think people are overvaluing the weight of that pushing. He's his own person who will make his own decision.

Whichever club his son chooses (on the assumption he is up to the grade), it won't be up to the Wiz, so his opinion is barely relevant.

If Essendon want to prove they're not tools at the trading table, this is a golden opportunity to prove it. Fair price (our second rounder) seems to already be close to agreed upon, and the trade period is still a month away. There shouldn't be too much left to argue about when the time comes. Get it done on day 1, Melbourne and Essendon, so both clubs can turn their focus to other business.

Nah mate, doesn't count until a Brownlow medalist comes to us as a FA.

He's not in our system. The amount of MFC resources spent on his development has been minimal; we won't be compensated if he goes elsewhere and nor should we be.

Yes, indirectly. Gave up pick 3 (Scully compo) and 14, and received MD pick #2 (Hogan), ND pick #20 (on-traded as part of Dawes deal) and Dom Barry.

He'd be feeling relieved and excited and nervous I'd think. Moving on from this sorry saga starts today. Good luck to him. People have their views on him as a player, but for me, I've erased all past views and biases, go in with an open mind and am looking forward to seeing what he can add.

Sweet! Choke mentioned you in a topic: Declan Keilty Carry on :-)

One of his family members has been posting here in the VFL threads, might be able to shed some light. Paging @Drunkn167... Never tested out the tagging system on here before, let's see if it works!

You don't have to look very far back in to our history to see any actual evidence anyway. Shannon Byrnes and David Rodan were the types of players we were picking up not very long ago.

And therefore one less year he has to work for the average worker's salary after footy. These are the sorts of things professional football players would have to think about if they've got any sense. The extra 70k would make stuff all difference to their existing lifestyle, but has massive future implications. That's why I'm hesitant to ever refer to footballers who seek good salaries "greedy".

If I remember rightly, Heffernan didn't want to leave Essendon and came begrudgingly. This was reinforced by the way he played.

I see that as complementary rather than opposing. Oscar, Frost and Weideman playing ahead of Dunn, Garland and Pedersen are examples of young players being brought in to the side in order to fast track development. The rest of our young players for mine have been self-selecting on talent; I don't believe week by week selection of Hunt, Oliver, Stretch and so forth has been bold, just obvious. The difference between our appoach and Richmond is the goal has been sustainable improvement. The four top 10 picks is ensuring we continue to get talent through the door. We've traded very astutely to ensure that happens, and have picked up talent that will make sure we can continue to grow. We've still also managed to bring in senior players without spending those valuable early picks. 4 top 10 picks, but when was the last time you saw us use a second round pick? In recent years ours have all been used to bring in senior players - Frost, Vince, Lumumba, Melksham have all joined us from picks in the 20-30 range; Hibberd will do the same this year.