hoopla

.... which is just as well - because he was a long way short of AFL standard even before a knee reco. hindered his development

Thanks for that Hopefully its good news for us - and (more) bad news for North.

It may be an honour but it can also mean 80 hour weeks, no family time and a dramatic cut in income. These people are highly skilled professionals - the novelty would wear off pretty quickly ! Good news - I hope you are right - and I hope the concerns expressed in this thread will lead the club to announce it quick smart (just as it announced Daff's departure)

Yes.. especially given the scarcity of suitably qualified specialists. Club doctors are required to give up an enormous amount of time - including at least 30 weekends. Presumably they sacrifice a lot of money - because they are not available to build their ongoing practices. No sooner will people come up for air after the holidays than the pre-season cup will be on us. You'd like to think that the new person would be up to speed with the condition of all players before the season starts

I think you'll find that they have to have one.The problem is getting a good one. Can't afford to have someone who is less than fully competent or committed The bloke at Richmond is a life-long Melbourne supporter - but he had so much respect for Daff he'd be sceptical about going into an environment which alienated him. I just hope others in the industry don't think the same way

The position of club doctor is not included in the staff list set out in the Yearbook. Does that mean the club intends to manage injuries using a panel of specialist medical practitioners without a fully qualified in-house resource - or that they have not yet found a replacement for Andrew Daff? As a fully qualified medical practitioner must surely be on hand at every game, I presume the latter. I have heard that sports medicine experts of Daff's quality are very hard to find. We have until late February to find someone. Does anyone have any inside information on the status of attempts to fill this position?

Eddie is a disgrace. He made these comments on his radio show............. how does he front a national football channel (Fox Footy) as someone supposedly interested in promoting the game when he has threatened to destroy an interstate club. His continued unwillingness to recognise that he has a fundamental conflict of interest is shameful For once - although I hate GWS - I absolutely agree with Sheedy for having a crack at.him Eddie - you are either President of one club ... or a balanced media personality. You cannot be both

Doesn't have to be in the last quarter. Crucial moment - the first minute of the 2000 Grand Final - David Neitz .... shouldn't be overlooked. But Simon Eishold's performance in 1987 will never be beaten. In fact I'd have it for the double - "Worst Important Kick" and "Worst Kick"

Correct.... he is a leading forward. Smart footballer - and a good kick - but has never stood front and square ready to dive in and under in his life. Not an option for us.

No and No I have it on good authority ( a fellow medico) that politics was behind his departure.These things happen .... and they are rarely one person's fault Daff is certainly one of the very best around .... and he will not be easily replaced - both for his considerable skills and his commitment to the club. We need to find a quality replacement asap . That is the key

Great comprehensive post mate.... not bad for no.3 !! Thanks for the info

Yes... definitely showed leadership .... except that he missed a couple of captain's goals. For a deep forward , he does lack a bit of pace on the lead but he is prepared to put his body on the line when the ball is in the air. He is a beautiful kick - if he can recover his accuracy in front of goal he will be an asset next year.

This clearly a case of too many journalists chasing too little news. The situations are so different they do not bear comparison. Apart from the obvious ... there is the small matter of a father wanting to settle his family in Melbourne so as to minimize the uncertainties/distractions facing his son during his VCE year !!

Agree. If those sporty parents who conceived in 1993 had known that their sons would have to start their careers in Blacktown , they might have been a bit more careful with their use of contraceptives. Anyway back to more serious matters. How many of these picks are we going to use? I think I'm right in saying that the 3 compulsory changes on your primary list can now include rookie promotions. If Evans or Nicholson are promoted we'd only have one spot to fill .... unless of course two or three more delistings are to come

So Joe Gutnick asked Jeff Kennett to be President as he walked out the door ..... hardly news I would have thought

I'd agree.... except that we have to save one of those places for Michael Newton's promotion from the rookie list

Announced today; Johnstone (delisted) McNamara (delisted) Campbell (retired).................... ....waiting....waiting......Silence! Has he pulled it off again? Has he fooled a 3rd Coaching Group? Credit where credits due ... one of the great con-artists of all time. Wonder if he's still driving THAT car?

I've got a mate who's a fanatical St Kilda supporter. He was rapt when Lyon walked out because "he didn't give a potential gun like that Walsh kid a go" He reckons Walsh is a beauty Walsh is just the sort of player we should put through our new development programs

To me its a great move .We went into the draft with money to spend ( the money put aside for Scully). If we can't pull a big- bodied big monied player in next year, we'll have to pay our current list above the odds to meet the 92.5% minimum payment rule. Clark is a special talent .... and he wants out of Brisbane. His preference may be Perth - but word is that his main aim is to get out of Brisbane. Rawlings knows the man - and he knows his motives Now that Dawes is out of the picture - why not try to put something together that will get Clark down here?He would add size, depth, flexibility to our list. He'd make a huge difference to us leading into our premiership window. You can't compare Clark to Setanta .We could pick up Setanto for a song if we wanted a protector on the forward line for the next year or two ... or a work horse to help out at training. Nothing ventured.... nothing gained Think about it, Mitch!!

Saw Jordan Lisle play a lot in his last year at school. Relatively agile for his size and capable of taking a strong contested mark. Tended to play in bursts and go missing for long periods. Played most of his junior footy at CHF with occasional runs in the ruck - but got drafted ( at 50) because of some good performances at CHB for Vic Metro. Has played mainly forward with Box Hill - where I have heard he has again struggled to put in 4 solid quarters. Definitely has ability - and may look the goods from time to time - but would have to be regarded as a speculative trade at best

No ....would only take one average to good player at the most

Well said .To write off a 200 cm 19 year old on the basis of one game is ridiculous.

I hope you are wrong ... because If you are right , we won't be moving far up the ladder

A couple of years ago , I would have confused this announcement with a Monty Python script or a misdated April Fools'Day gag. But right now,I'll back him in. He has been a part-time coach at the Calder Cannons for the last four years .... so coaching is clearly what he has set himself to do. The way he has re-invented himself over the past couple of years shows he is deep thinker about the game and a hard worker. He understands what success means. He will be aligned with Neeld's philosophies. Within 48 hours of the Grand Final- no mucking around. Good stuff

That just about sums it up If he remains in our best 22, then we will remain a battling club There is not a place for him on the list of a club that is serious about playing finals'footy