hoopla

I agree.... that is why I thought that this was an unhelpful poll! If he is a strong team-orientated character ( I hope he is... I am asking the question?) then he should be an asset over the next few years - although his value will fall over time as our youngsters develop and mature.

Well most Mums find it easier to lock their kids into the path towards soccer's governing body than they do to allow them to learn to play physically demanding games involving full on body contact..... The space is in the desert - and the Yuendumu for one has made its choice!!

Because it is artificial to select a defence without nominating a midfield, a game plan,a rotation plan - and an opponent etc .... and it calls for a direct comparison between two entirely different types of players - Rivers and MacDonald It also assumes that rain hail or shine MacDonald is in our best 22 - which is far from proven. Don't forget that Brisbane which lacks experienced defenders is letting this bloke go...... If anything the only thing this strange poll shows is that MacDonald does not fill an obvious need - except the need for depth - unless he has leadership qualities etc - which would only make Brisbane's decision even more puzzling. I can take him or leave him

Hate to break it to you ...but that doesn't make it the best sport. It makes it a sport that is easy to play in a confined space... with less chance of injury!

Has anybody seen Levi Casboult play? The videos on draft machine show him taking contested mark after contested mark - and kicking the ball along way. I note that he's not in Shifta's top 30. He's a big boy - and he appears relatively agile for his size.Has he got an attitude problem - or does the draft machine just flatter him? I'm not necessarily suggesting him for #11 - but perhaps a later pick?

Bub - you are spot on - vote 'no' to the World Cup. Unfortunately soccer is a threat to our great game - because of the convaluted logic which says that a sport must somehow be superior simply because it is played in a lot of countries around the world !It's one thing to compete - its another to deprive us of our game - and to prosper from the use of facilities we have built!! The AFL is right to demand significant compensation. If it wasn't for stadiums built by the AFL for the AFL - Australia would not be in a position to bid for the World Cup. The international soccer community is not poor. It can afford to compensate us for destroying our season - and it should do so generously.

I reckon your asking for the impossible there If Ball is draft tampering - then Eddie and his mates from Broady and Xavier are in it up to their armpits

You've got it , Titan .The comparison is spurious anyway - because Rivers and MacDonald are not competing for the same position Roost It knows what he's talking about as well

I'm one of those who think that a lot of supporters are being too hard on Rivers..He's a leader whose ability to read the play and fill the hole is exceptional.He's now fronting up for his first pre-season in 3-4 years........................ Anyway I don't think its valid to compare him to McDonald. Rivers plays as a tall defender - whereas MacDonald is a utility back best suited to a running role.

You'd think that we'd only take a 24-25 year old if he had outstanding leadership qualities - or topped us up in a position of need. It's not as if we are short of options for a mid sized defender.He may. of course, be an exceptional bloke - but other than that I can't get too excited about picking him up. You'd think that if he is on a promise for the psd , he'd at least be training with us by now. ( Did you see him at the club, Darren?)

Correct. I'm just not sure whether the worst thing about this bloke is the fact that he barracks for Collingwood or the fact that he went to Xavier - and is proud of it !!

That really is good news ..he is a very exciting prospect if he can get back to full fitness. If he can take up where he left off he will be a very important part of our side .... wherever he plays.

I wouldn't give McPhee a second thought. Ask an Essendon supporter - he is inconsistent and unreliable. He is 27 .. with a history of injuries - and he is holding out for a 3 year contract because he is concerned that he might start to struggle in year 2. Subject to his training form - and attitude - Thorp has an upside that Mc Phee doesn't

Ball is entitled to have a preference. Whether or not he has abruptly or politely spoken with Melbourne - and whether or not his manager has properly conveyed his sentiments- is pure speculation. For all we know he might be worried that he won't be able to give of his best if he isn't confronted with the immediate challenge of playing finals footy .He might have decided that it is less offensive to clubs down the ladder to keep his distance than it is to meet with them when his heart wants to be somewhere else. His approach may be utterly professional - and his motives may be entirely honourable. We should not take offence. At the end of the day it is his loss.

[ Quote Don 24 Still seems to be a boy? What basis are you making these judgments? Having spoken very very little in the media about this, no one really knows what has gone on in Balls decision making process. We are just guessing from the end result. As someone who knows Ball i can assure you he is an extremely mature and professional person, in general let alone for his age. Let's talk about professionalism in the business world that you seem to know about. Is judging a person or a situation, with no knowledge of the facts or the people involved, and making negative statements about someone in a public environment professional? No, it just shows your lack of professionalism in that you have let your support the dees and your feelings of being let down by not getting Ball cloud making a rational evaluation of events. Back to the drawing board mate, you have no idea...] Got to say that I agree with you Clearly it is a complex issue At the end of the day I don't think the whole situation reflects well on Ross Lyon. He narrowly lost a Grand Final after ignoring Max Hudgton in favour of Raph Clarke - and leaving one of his key clearance players ( Ball) on the bench for most of the second half. Now he has effectively pushed a popular former captain out the door without compensation If anything happens to Lenny Hayes, St Kilda will be screaming for Luke Ball...... and Ross Lyon's philosophies will come under the microscope.

This isn't all good - Essendon will be laughing!!!

Good to see that all of the 25 posters to date have dismissed this irrelevant time trial time trial. I'm looking forward to supporting pick #11

That is an absurd statement. For goodness sake teach one of your other supporters to read and write so that you can argue with him about things you understand like the big game temperament of Leon Davis or the benefits of holidays in the grand canyon

I reckon this is about right. Ball'd be worried that by the time we challenge, his body will just about have given out.

Not only that - but as so few of their supporters can read and write, their literate minority have to come to other club's sites to get a bit of intelligent debate!

I don't think anyone's answered this yet- Is he training with us or isn't he?

Just wish the 12th Man would make one more cd.... Boned was fantastic

Big Al ("Sideshow Bob") Nicholson beat Richo once. Other than that , he used to beat us off his own boot. Well played Richo

You'll note I put in a question mark? My overall point remains though. It's easy to say that we'll be 10th or 11th. The hard part is to find the 5 or 6 teams we expect to finish below us

Given that one Blue at least has the option of getting favours from Rebecca Twigley, we're doing pretty well