BLWNBA

A 'big fish' doesn't guarantee success, don't be so naive. He's also widely regarded in amongst industrie professionals too, what I'm saying isn't just heresay. His work is well documented.

From what I've been told by several Collingwood supporters (albeit word of mouth) he's actually fairly uncompromising. Strong willed, not just another 'whiteboard tactical genius.' Absolutely stupid comment seeing he hasn't been at the club for even a single day yet. Out of all the assistants going around I think we have made the right choice. Personally I would have rather seen an established coach ie. Malthouse or Lyon, but that would be in an ideal world. As i've said at this stage I'm fairly happy.

Rumour doing the rounds at work, Chris Dawes has been offered a contract.

From what I've read in terms of reports, Neeld is basically signed at Adelaide.

Reported in The Sun that Morton and Martin both resigned yesterday. Looks like CM is in future plans for the time being.

Yeah I thought that I'd heard he'd sines as well, but someone posted on here that he's unsigned. Not sure what his current status is. Any info on that would be great!

Posted this in the rumours thread by thought I'd quickly post it in here too. Apparently Martin and Richmond have an interet in one another. Doubt it's true, but if it did have currency that could explain our interest in Clarke.

Nothing in this apart from the I've heard etc so I'd really say nothing in it, but I've ears Martin is a massive chance of going to Richmond. If it were true this could explain our supposed interest in Mitch Clarke.

Interesting. He's a good year and I reckon he can play but wouldn't it push the development of Gawn back? I'd say it'd effectively take game time off him. I'd say if Griffan were to go than Freo would definitely be front runners to get him.

Considering he's nominated for the draft and with a nominal fee, I really think we should look at him. Doubt it would happen, but if it did we could possibly put a clause in his contract regarding his own conduct on and off-field. This could relate to his pay and dismissal should anything occur. Also the fact that he's nominated on the base salary I reckon is a good indication that he's just keen to play some football.

Yeah I went to school with his son, he was one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet.

I was under the impression Casey was used all year in addition to GP? Apologies if I'm wrong.

Who would you look at? Doubt we'd get any of the 17yo's, but what about Lachie Whitfield? Sounds very solid, think he'd get to us at 12?

Obviously I'm not privy to everything at Westpac, however they have a centralized structure which enable them to minimize travel, optimize training sessions, focus on recovery as they have little or no travel time after training sessions, access to an altitude chamber which maximizes their Arizona trips, exclusive access to the VIS running tracks at Olympic park, plus the convenience of being next door to Gosch's paddock. Melbourne's AAMI park is fantastic don't get me wrong, howeve the fact remains that we have half our training and recovery facilities at AAMI, whilst our football training is out at Casey. This isn't ideal, recovery can't take place immediately after, there is the issue of travel between venues and our AAMI facilities are shared with the Storm and rebels. Yes this doesn't present a huge problem, but the fact remains that they're not our OWN facilities. Don't get me wrong at all, I'm not knocking the club, just presenting my views on why Buttifant wouldn't cross over on his own accord. From a proffesional standpoint I can't see any comparison with what Collingwood have at Westpac sadly.

Our facilities are very good, but I'd say that what is available at the Westpac center, would still be far superior to what we have available.

The gap between us and Collingwood is massive. A lot of this comes does come down to profit margins, sponsorship etc but at this stage we don't have anything close to CFC.

Yeah that's my thinking. I hope to God Cook comes along but at this stage I'm not sold. I'm concerened over Fitzpatrick on whether he can fulfill our needs longterm, but think he'll benefit from more game-time at Snr level and at Casey. Can't see him developing into the big KPF that we're after though. Watts at this stage has been very solid, and I like his game a lot but giving him another big buddy down in the forward will help him, not only in the short term but also in the long term. This would enable Jurrah to be released and play as a very, very dangerous third tall down in the forward line for us. Those who have touted Gawn, Jamar and Martin as possible options down forward are forgetting that they would only be spending periods of time down there, they would not be playing specifically as a 'forward'. They'd more than likely be rotating through there. I don't believe that would necessarily enable us to kick a 'winning' score. They could be dangerous from time to time, but I don't reckon it addresses our need, it'd be more a 'spot-gap' solution. I really think we need another big bodied player, with susbtantial ability in the forward. For me, forwards win games. I'm well aware of importance of the midfield too in the modern game, but I'm not sure drafting another 18yo mid would enable us to advance anymore than what we have. A mature bodied player, with some pace I reckon could be the go in this area. Though off the top of my head I can't think of anyone who could possibly suit us.

You can't be serious. Collingwood have access to a world class running track, altitude chamber, gym and other training facilities all at one venue. These are all centralized, where as we have Casey and AAMI. In terms of ease and exculsivity CFC do easily trump us. I would have thought that the advantages of having exclusive training facilities whould be quite obvious. Also let's not forget the FD spend that Collingwood have as opposed to ours. Please don't say that Buttifant would be tempted to cross because the reality is he wouldn't. As I've said before the only way I'd imagine he'd come to us would be if Malthouse were coach and part of the deal was he could bring across his own staff.

Shared facilities, albeit good none-the-less have nothing on CFC.

I really doubt he'd move from CFC at the moment. Training facilities are superb, and second to none. With an open cheque-book, and the chance to leave a legacy, I'd say the only chance he'd have of leaving would be part due to malthouse obtaining a new gig and choosig to take members of the FD with him.

Yeah noticed he'd played down back a fair bit too. A player like this I reckon would fit in really well in forward line, and in turn could help us get our own Buddy-Roughhead combo. The fact that he can play down back only adds to his value as well. I haven't seen him play myself, but I have been pretty taken on what I've read about him. Good-size, pack busting abilities, and been living in Patton's shadow. But do we thing GWS would over look him? If we we're after Butcher though and successful I doubt we'd go for him though. Personally I'd much rather seek to draft a mature mid and go after this kid.

Albeit being early I like the sound of Jackson Paine. He's being touted as a 194cm forward who also has the capability of playing in the midfield, seems to be being touted in the same manner as Goodes or Pavlich (in terms of gamestyle and physical attributes.) I'm not sure if I'd want to use pick 12 on him though, and it seems as though he'll be a second round selection at best.

Yeah something like this could be a possibility. Ellis has had a dissapointing year at Hawthorn, and I reckon seems to have fallen down in the pecking orderm only the 8 games this year. Playing him off HB could release a player like Tappy to the FWD line, to play where he was actually drafted to play. Could be an interesting trade. Would anyone think that STK could also be interested in a player like Warnock??

"It doesn't matter Howe, it's Howe many!"