jnrmac

Luke and his manager have requested to meet with the Dees next week. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/demo...f-1225791493885

Luke Ball is out of contract. Period. They offered him a 3 year deal which they withdrew after trade week. If they lose him its their own fault. It IS actually up to us to convince Luke to come to Melbourne. We can do that because we can guarantee to draft him with PSD1. Others can say we will take you with pick 26/34/etc but we are the only ones (asided from the Saints who might still convince him to stay) that can guarantee it.

Its clear they wanted someone who was unlikely to be available at 6!

He struggled as he had a knee injury which he only shook off in the last 6 weeks. suggest you look at his form in the last 6 weeks which was in fact very good.

My recollection is that St Kilda commented after the draft that they chose Reiwoldt 1st because of the pressure/expectation thing and that Nick was better prepared mentally to deal with it. If Jack Watts wasn't mentally tough it would have been difficult dealing with the tripe that was directed at him during the year. I believe the club will consider that part of the equation when selecting 1 & 2. But from what I've read they would both be worthy and would both deal with it well. One small consideration might be Trengove and the go home factor. As a No 1 it might make it more difficult for him to return home given the deluge of press coverage and profile he would get as No 1. Just a hunch of mine.

Because they are the standout players in the draft. Should become elite. We don't have any of those mids. Haven't for as long as I can remember - I'm talking Buckley, Voss elite.

What do we know about Burgoyne's knee? I read that it was a scrape or clean up not a reco or major op. He has taken longer to get over it than is usual but I would be happy to trade pick 18 and Jones for him.

Nah, He was being honest, not disparaging in any way. Juice would admit the same. Hasn't been able to string games together. COnsistency is a problem. You're reading too much into it.

McLean is not right. Too high. And Bate is way too low. My tip is for him to finish 3rd in the Bluey. He was one of our better players in the first half of the season.

I get confused with the Burgoynes. Which one was better? I know Peter has retired. It seems to me that Port are downhill skiers and the defensive side of their midfield is pretty ordinary. I don't think I would want to give too much for this trade. PSD maybe but at what cost. $600k is more than any other player gets paid.

Grimes payed ONE game last year. I'd hardly call it his second season.

Hello??Are you kidding???? Have you forgotten how they stiffed us on Mission Foods sponsorship? Came over the top of a $2m a year deal and did the deal for $1.5m IF we can shaft them its great in my book.

I DO mind the Blues and seriously hate this bloke. COuldn't happen to a nicer team. They know we are coming. Ha ha ha ha ha

But why was he doing it? Impact is irrelevant if you consider Moloney was ouoted for attempting to bump!!

13 in 13 (13th premiership in 2013)

I'd be happy if we can keep our injury list to less than 2 or 3 and get genuine games into young players and settle them into positions. We have already shown we are more competitive than last year for longer periods of games. A settled team will allow players to develop more quickly.

The Saints have a stunning midfield and a strangling defence - they don't need to kick lots of goals. I'd be happy if we can build an elite midfield with picks 1 & 2. Thats what we have desperately needed for 10 years or more. We can build a fwd line out of Watts, Garland, Green, Jurrah, Bate Wona and Jetta.

Depends on whether the award is for games played and impact rather than potential. If its the first then Bennell. If its future and potential then its LJ!

Great post. Well done.

Good stats. Well done for putting them together.

I'd rather not look at Robinson. He is a gutless thug for belting Rohan Bail behind play at Casey.

The worry for me is that the senior players have not developed into more consistent players. When I think about this my criticism of the past few years is that we have lacked true leadership. Junior prior to this year has shown it but we are lacking. The only bloke to show it this year from the senior brigade is Green. Maybe Davey as well. I would include Sylvia if he can keep going for the second half of the year. Is that the coach? Is that lack of success culture? Ultimately the coach cops it if these senior players don't perform. DB has been good at dropping them if they are not playing to his plan (whatever it is!). But the team can become unsettled and thats the trade off. Players in my view that are running on the spot (no improvement) are: McLean, Bruce, Miller, Rivers, Bell, Jones PLayers going backwards: Bartram, PJ, Whelan, Dunn. The improvement we are seeing and yes despite the past two weeks we are seeing it is coming from our junior players: Warnock, Frawley, Morton, etc These guys have stepped up but then again you would expect them to. The new guys like Bennel Jetta, CHeney, Watts are going to make plenty of mistakes. And at this time of year they also get tired.

Gutsiest player we have.

According to German Bail has good disposal skills but just had a shocker on the w/e. Watts doesn't want to and probably won't play 10 games this year because a) he has exams and, B) he can then win the Rising Star next year!

Tambling went at 4 Franklin went at 5!