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I agree where Watts is concerned being a Brighton Grammar boy. The school is known for it's softness. Playing them in Amo's it's well known they are soft.!

So Brighton Grammar is known for its softness is it? Fairly provocative comment I would have thought....

So you would advise anyone who wants their kid to turn out soft, to fork out a bit of extra money and send him off to Brighton, would you?

Some people think "soft" is a disease that his game will be burdened with for his entire career.

It's only a characteristic that can be ironed out or just grown out of.

Right now, I agree that Jack Watts is soft.

(That isn't to say that next year he won't be bigger and suddenly find an appetite for body contact).

No one who plays AFL football is "soft". Jack is not yet comfortable in the physical clashes because he is not yet big enough to win them ..... but that doesn't make him soft. The problem for the opposition in a few years time will be to find someone tall enough to stop him in the air and fast enough to match him on the lead.

Like anyone ... his appetite for body contact will grow when he finds himself big enough to withstand it.

Some people on this thread have suggested that he wouldn't be getting as many games if he had been a No. 20 draft pick......................... Give him a break - if he had been a No 20 draft pick , we'd all be salivating at the way a skinny 19 year old who hasn't done a pre-season is contributing to the improvement in our forward line.

Back to topic - a $300k front-ended contract would not be over the odds

My selections:

Bell (McKenzie elevated)

McNamara (Spencer elevated)

Miller (Rnd 1 Draft Pick)

McDonald (Rnd 2 Draft Pick)

At this stage I don't have a 5th player to delist since it would only give us access to a Rnd 3 Draft Pick which with the GC concessions won't actually come until around Pick 50 in the Draft. In my opinion, a Draft Pick 50 is not a better prospect than any of the players remaining on that list.

Have at it.

Thank-you Inner Demon , for an excellent analysis.

There are two matters that might alter the scenario

1. The possibility that The Gold Coast will take Miller giving us formula- driven access to another pick - potentially in the top 50

2. The possibility that we might be able to trade out someone like Cheney to a club that will give him more opportunity .. ( which the playing group might see as a positive)

The big question you raise again surrounds Junior. On form before his injury - he would have been a certain starter next year. I reckon the decision will be his .... and his form in the next two weeks will be crucial.

With Fitzpatrick, Gawn Spencer and a fit(?) Martin the mix, there must be a question mark over PJ?

Whether or not Strauss gets an extension must surely depend on the extent of his injuries this year ... and his own will to succeed. These are things we are not in a position to judge.

It just seems to me he is getting a very good run because he is the No. 1 pick.

Meric or Cheney should be so lucky!

Wrong... If he is getting a good run ( and for the most part he has been contributing to an effective forward line) , it is because he is a fast and agile tall capable of causing headaches to the opposition for the next decade in the most important position on the field.

Unfortunately Cheney and Maric are dime-a-dozen small to mid-size players without explosive pace. In fairness , Maric may have some special "football smarts" .. and I'd like to see him get a few more chances to show it

Its important to remember this is Strauss' second season only. Another pre-season could do him the world of good.

He might end up a dud, but still too early

Fair call ....

But just to check - has he had his contract extended past this year?

( and good hear that Tapscott's injury is not serious)

One positive is that Blease and Tapscott will be bargain dreamteam pick ups next year

Good point.

Still no info on why he's not playing for Casey this week?

Just noticed that Luke Tapscott has not been named for either Casey team this week.

Has anyone heard anything about an injury or illness.He'll certainly need to play the two remaining games with Casey to qualify for the experience of participation in the VFL finals.I trust he hasn't suffered any major setbacks.

The game originated with 18 players onfield, with 2 subs, (19th & 20th Men)...

Now we have 22 players accessible to the field,,, = congestion.... = defensive & stoppages...

Although only 18 are on the field at any one time ,the game has effectively become 22 v 22 ..... and the contest is distorted ( 22 v 20) when one team loses a couple of players early in the game. For the integrity of the competition ,I think it is important to re-introduce the concept of a substitute.For many years , clubs only had a 19th man .... and the 20th man came later as more and more teams began to finish a player short. As injured players began to recover on the sidelines, the call went out to allow substitutes to interchange - and then as teams continued to struggle to cover on-field injuries, the interchange bench was increased to four. Somehow this core issue has been lost in a debate about the ability of sports scientists to rotate players for maximum speed.

The question should be : Do you want 18 plus 4 interchanges plus 2 substitutes or do you want to cap the total at 22 (so as not to put more pressure on total player numbers)?

If you want to keep it at 22, then you have two of the AFL's three present options. Leaving 4 on interchange and capping the number of rotations will do nothing to overcome the distortions caused by injuries during a match - and is an unnecessary arbitrary restraint on the evolution of the game.

Let's make it 20 v 20 ( 18 on the field at any one time) plus two substitutes - and allow the 20 to rotate as many times as they like.

Unhappy players go else where and Bailey has shown he doen't cope well with unhappy players. (EG C Johnson, S Buckley) He prefers to get rid of them. Morton is not the only young player unhappy with their treatment by the coaching staff. ( inside information)

30 into 22 won't go ... and so 8 are unhappy. I'd be worried if we had a group of players who were as happy as Larry when they didn't get a game !

Thank goodness Harrison doesn't rule !

(Sorry - just had to add to the chorus of those who have criticized this mischievous post)

He didn't 'do' his knee to the extent he did last time, in his words he tweaked it. Connolly also confirmed this in an after match function

Also the initial article referred to a medial ligament strain. Medial ligament is not nearly as serious as anterior cruciate ligament damage. Hopefully he won't be gawn for long.

People canning Watts are blind. He played a blinder himself in the last quarter when we had to pull out all the stops (so did Scully), but even before that despite not too many disposals he'd had an important hand in several goals. He's getting there. I agree that he's a bit tentative when he has the ball forward of centre, but surely that's just confidence and learning.

Agree .... every time he gets near the ball - which is a lot - he has to carry the weight of all these blind detractors.

Just saw the same thing. The kid can't take a trick! Sure hope it aint serious!

Bad luck Max

Hopefully you're only gawn for 6-8 weeks ...... until the start of pre-season

If Miller goes to the GC next year, I cant see them paying much for the pleasure.

They won't pay a fortune for him - but I reckon he's definitely worth a bit to GC. They need strong bodies, leadership and experience to help out the youngsters. He has all those qualities

I'm not so certain PJ will go out anymore. Someone above suggested Jamar will be given the week off, but that aside, Vickery is in the 25. He's not that good just yet, but that would be 2 ruckmen, which might give DB a moment's pause.

Got to agree with this ... can't believe how many just happily list PJ as an out

Unfortunately we do need a ruck option - Jamar is a better player when he can take a spell up forward - and PJ has been a contibutor over the past two weeks.

I really don't know who'll be dropped. May be someone is sore ( Dunn?). At this stage, I'd probably say Morton ( to work on his defensive skills) and Wona ( because he is struggling to put together 4 quarters).

Leave it to the FD .... but I'd be surprised if PJ is not in the 22

Great email. Great Emblem. Great club. Great President.

Quite brilliant.

It's now up to all of us to grasp that imagery and spread the message far and wide. We have more reason to be proud of our club than any others have.It just took an Irishman to bring it all together - and communicate it

Thanks Jim ... now you get well

I tend to disagree. I would have thought that if we lose another game before round 22 and we are no longer in finals contention, then Bailey will give Tapscott a run. It would be an invaluable for him. I would also expect to see Fitzpatrick get a run.

We will still be in contention if we lose a game before Round 22.The other contenders have tough draws. Our game against North in Round 22 will be a battle for 8th spot -- if we can win 2 of our next 3.

Wait for Robbo to also nominate Hurley to be in the top 5 voting at the end of the year.

For what it's worth, I think it should be down to either Hannebery or Rockliff both are super in the contested ball situations and clearing it, then our 2 boys. Stratton has also been good playing on key forwards.

You get the impression that a lot of scribes want to encourage someone other than picks #1 and #2. The fact that Trenners not in the side at present must be working against him. My money'd be on Hurley if he plays another standout game - just ahead of Hanneberry

I must say that I would love Jordie to get a nomination...... he's been fantastic all year

From Chris Connolly on Saturday; Trengove had still not recovered from his injury before the Brisbane game and is still only a 50/50 for this weekends game vs Richmond.

Why then did he play for Casey on the Sunday ? Every time he came to the interchange, he got a lower back (hip) massage .... though he didn't seem inconvenienced on the field

I hope the MFC is very thorough in its analyasis of the Bentleigh club before any decision is made.

I like the Bentleigh club but it must make a profit, otherwise we will Fall over again.

I personally think the venue is too hidden-I would prefer a premises closer to a main road or shopping complex/strip.

But i trust our board to get it right.

To me the Bentleigh Club is a tired facility in a staid residential area removed from public transport. The Yawla St venue is surely a dead duck.

If there is any way the merged entity could cash in on the land value and use the funds to build a new facility in Casey,say, then it might be an exciting opportunity .... no risk - no reward.

Like you ,I trust the club to identify all the complex legal and commercial issues that will certainly be involved.

OUT: James McDonald & Rohan Bail

INS: Brent Moloney & Jack Trengove

Against popular belief Jmac is droppable and should be after Saturdays performance. If people think we should drop PJ,Jurrah or Bennell I'm glad your not on match committee.

Please lets not pick teams on sentimony rather on talent and team balance.

Moloney and Trengove should be automatic selections.

The problem is that Jurrah is the only player who couldn't reasonably complain if he was dropped. He needs his confidence back ... Will getting dropped add to his woes - or will a game at Casey give him a better chance to fire?

No idea who goes out - surely it will depend on fitness, general soreness etc.

Great position to be in

Thread title alone - possible the worst one I have ever seen. We support all year and the players work hard and train hard all year to make finals, for someone to suggest we don't deserve it or to even raise a thread like this is insane. It is as simple as, every game we play we get better, more experience, every final we play we will get better and more experience. In saying this I think we probably needed to win one of our closer games earlier in the year to give us a good chance.

In principle I'd be just as happy if we finished 9th or 10th - but I want us to win at least 3 of our 4 games from here on in ..... and if we do that - we'll just about sneak in.

Logically everyone who has criticized this thread is absolutely right.... get some reward for effort and some finals experience to boot.

Just as long as everyone recognizes that the difference between 8th and 12th on the ladder is just the luck of the draw .... and that we will have to work just as hard in the off season to be any sort of contender next year as the 12th team will.Who will push themselves harder in 40 degree heat over the summer.... a team that has just been congratulated for making the finals - or a team carrying the stigma of finishing 12th ? Its not insane to recognize that some of our youngsters might work that fraction harder during the pre-season if we finish in the bottom half of the ladder.

I desperately want us to get an edge over Richmond and North .... and to beat our AAMI Stadium hoodoo. If we do that we'll make the finals. We'll just have to trust that DB will keep everyone's feet on the ground ... and that competition for places will ensure that every individual works like a navvy to improve before next season

Decisions, decisions. Anyone that goes out will be unlucky.

This is one week when I'm perfectly happy to leave it to the selectors..... and to accept whatever they come up with. Its been a long time since we've had 22 players earn another game - when there are several automatic selections out of the side.All of the players know that this year is a development year and that selection will be a balance between long-term plans (including pride in earning the jumper) and week-to -week imperatives.

I just hope we can reproduce last week's form on the road.

I have not mentioned the word rumour, I have not stated it is a rumour, you mentioned that word. I have only stated that as long as he is an unsigned player he is up for grabs.....impossible for you to understand but that is fact.

Bad luck mate.... we've all rounded on you.

Yes ... it is a fact...... and I see it as a real positive. It shows that he's been prepared to back himself to improve his asking price over the rest of the season. Quite frankly I would have been a little concerned about his confidence and ambition if he'd locked himself in when he was running around on the wing at Casey.

Keep on posting!

Lazy journalism. "here's my short opinion. What do you think?" Yawn...

I've read much better on the same topic on bigfooty forums.

Couldn't have said it better myself............... very lazy journalism. Ando must have been too hung over to come up with anything worthwhile. It is a pointless argument anyway ...

Your right & I think also, that we should have another look at McNamara to give him some development time.

Don't disagree with this (esp Maric) ................ the problem is that you have to drop someone. Junior , Trenners and (hopefully) Grimes all have to come back over the next few weeks.