RalphiusMaximus

No one is denying that changes happen, or that they are often good. However, the constant picking at the rules engaged in by the current administration is nothing short of ridiculous. How many rule changes in the last 15 years have actually improved the game? Compare that to the number which have had an adverse effect and you might begin to understand why everyone is so upset. This attempt to outlaw the hip and shoulder is yet another example of Vlad and co. pushing their own agenda to the detriment of the game. As for your points regarding Sandilands and high tackles, perhaps the rule-change department should take a look at how the NRL adjudicate high contact. There is no penalty for touching an opponent above the shoulder, only if it is done with force. Imagine how much better the game would be if players like Selwood (the Geelong one) weren't making a career out of ducking the head and lifting an arm to force a tackle to slide upwards. I find it interesting that so many people are saying that according to the rule he had to go. As has been repeatedly said, the rule states that If the player had the option to tackle and decided to bump instead then they can be in trouble. I would be disputing the claim that he could have legitimately tackled. The write-ups I have seen of the game have suggested that Cousins fumbled the ball and did not in fact have possession at the time. As such a tackle could not be legally applied and the bump was the only option.

Plus we'd then have Majak and the Wizard in our forward fifty.

I've been interested in him too. Do you think he'll still be available for the rookie draft? I wouldn't be surprised if he went in the ND. As you say his skills are not great but his freak factor is high.

I am not at all sold on Jetta. I really don't think he belongs in the list with the other players mentioned. From the footage i've seen he's fast and nimble, but not the best kick, not the smartest player and tends to be selfish. I'm sure there are plenty of other players we could take who tick the same boxes. Maybe take him if he's still going in the third round.

Very interesting footage. It looks like Scully as a machine when it comes to winning the contested ball and getting a quick handpass out. Is his kicking a little dodgy or was it just a bad day? Trengove looks to be a significantly better kick and finds teammates better, once again judging only by hte footage shown. He didn't seem to be as good at winning the ball. Both would be very welcome in our midfield though.

It'd be a great way to go out.

I'd have us at better odds than West Coast personally. No way they are in a better position that us. Probably Sydney as well. And the Bulldogs aren't going to win anything with their list the way it is now.

I mentioned this in another thread, but I feel it warrants it's own. How pathetic was it that the channel ten commentary team didn't know that Robbo had moved up to third on our all time goal kicking list? When he kicked his fourth yesterday and celebrated equaling Lyon, the only remark was to wonder why he was celebrating so much. When he kicked his fifth and players ran over to congratulate him there was nothing. I simply can't understand how supposed professionals could come to a game and be entirely ignorant of a milestone like that.

You're way too harsh on Frawley. He was great today and had the umpires not been playing for the Blues would have had even better numbers. You need to remember that the three goal burst by Fev was while Frawley was on the bench. Bate was one of our better players for mine. He wasn't a star, but he was pretty solid all day which is more than most can say. Martin was great. He took the no. 1 ruck role and did a great job both at bounces and around the ground. His disposal is improving too.

Now now children, I think we all need to calm down and focus on what's important in this discussion. THE UMPIRES!!! [rant] Seriously, how can the AFL continue to defend these clowns? The notion of impartial umpiring is dead and buried. Can anyone watching that game have any doubt that Carlton had 21 players on the field? As always, it's not the number of frees but the circumstances that truly tell the tale. How many goal did the umpires score for the blues from dubious if not downright laughable frees? How many were payed to the Melbourne forwards? This is the greatest blight upon the game in the modern era. [/rant] I would also like to say well done to Robbo for becoming the third highest goalkicker at the club. It's a huge achievement and should not be forgotten. Shame on the TV commentary team for failing to notice, even when his teammates came from far and wide to congratulate him.

That's entirely up to him. If he'd prefer to live in Adelaide rather than play finals, good on him and I hope he looks back on the decision without regrets in ten years time. If the rumour proves accurate that is...

So he's Barry Hall's Mini-me only more injury prone is what you're saying. I'm not sure that's the type we really want at our club.

James Wall 198cm 90kg 22 yo. Ruck He's been around a few clubs but he seems to be pretty good at VFL level. Anyone actually seen him play? Is he worth consideration?

Is it wrong to be happy that Chris Johnson isn't playing again?

Damn. He must've been taking on some absolute gorillas. Some weeks he's looked tiny next to his opponent.

How old is Silvagni? How tall etc? The few times i've seen him play he seems a little undersized for the roles he's playing. What about Wall? I've seen nothing of him at all, but he's generally in the best each week and seems to be pretty dominant at VFL level. Our ruck stocks are not great at the moment and according to some could be getting worse after trade week. Is he worth a look?

Strangely enough, both the [censored] and the Booby are birds found in England. Of particular note is the Blue [censored]. Indeed, if you wander through the nightclub district of London in the winter, you see blue [censored] everywhere. But seriously, what we've seen of LJ thus far is flashes of brilliance punctuated by moments of "bloody hell I'm stuffed" and stints on the bench. What I'm looking forward to in the next few years is a Liam who can keep going like the Energizer Bunny and not just perform in short bursts. When he can sustain the brilliance for a full 90 minutes we'll see some real magic.

I've made no secret that I am a huge fan. I would be shattered to see him take the field against us, but if he does so then good on him and I wish him the best of luck. Interesting to see that he's only four goals behind Lyon on the same number of games. Should give his detractors something to think about that he's come out about level with one of our club legends.

I'm amazed at the way some people see this. Barry Hall in the bottom half? Neitz in the top few? Bizarre. Lloyd - Clearly the best. Great on the lead, able to take pack marks or wrestle in the goalsquare and probably the best shot for goal of the lot. Grant C - Grant spent years playing as the only worthwhile tall in a crap undersized team and worked miracles playing a lone hand in the forward line. Hall see below. Tredrea - Hall and Tredrea were absolutely dominant in their time and deserve to be acknowledged as such. Richo - I've dropped Richo down the list a fair way for his kicking. No matter how good he's been in every other aspect his job was to kick goals and he's never been reliable in that role. Neitz - Took him a while to seem comfortable as a FF. While at times he was able to dominate, he was inconsistent and his output was never up to that of his higher rated peers. O'Loughlin - O'Loughlin would have rated higher for his skill level but he's rarely dominated games to he degree others on the list did. Lucas - Did a lot of his best work well away from goals. Would have rated higher if he did the same inside the fifty and kicked more goals. Robbo - A very good competitor and trier who fought well above his weight division for much of his career. Never really a KPF, but put up a hell of a fight pretending to be. Rocca A - Inconsistent, injury-prone and not overly skillful. Doesn't really belong in this company. His (sometime) ability to take big marks and his long goals redeem him to some extent, but he's not that great.

Yes on Scully. Don't know about Trengrove but he's doing well in the SANFL.

Well that was constructive... (I know, this wasn't either, but still, it really didn't need to be said and someone needs to call him on it)

I'm not thinking so much of players who have been traded as players who have actively sought to be traded. I have absolutely no issue with Moloney, for instance, but the Jeff Farmers and Chris Johnsons of the world I can do without. It seems to me that it speaks of an underlying arrogance and self-importance to say that they are better than their club and would be better off elsewhere when there are so many other people who would kill to be where they are. Surely that attitude is going to translate into the way they play. And then what happens when they decide that they're not getting enough game time or the team isn't winning enough finals? They've already shown that they don't believe in loyalty to their club...

Well a few different footy shows have mentioned that Sydney are interested in Miller. That's one trade that might happen. I still think we might get a late pick for Newton from one of the clubs desperate for marking targets.

Could well be by the sound of things.

What did we get for Thompson? I can't remember. I do remember that we were shafted on the Jeff Farmer deal. You just can't bank on these things going our way. History shows that we have been shafted in these trades more often than not.