MadAsHell

Shattering news but not suprising really. Once LJ went to Adelaide without telling the club I knew this was on the cards. For the record I reckon LJ will enter the PS and rookie drafts and will be overlooked. He'll be approached by Port and will sign on to play the 2013 season with Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL where Port can watch his form and work rate. Then if he doesn't end up in jail and his form is sound Port will try and draft him the following season. Probably in the 2013 PSD. As for other posters suggesting Rivers is off to Geelong, the only thing mentioned of that was Gerard Healy two weeks ago saying he's be a good fit down there given Scarlett is retiring and Rivers is a free agent. He didn't say anything of it being a done deal or Geelong even approaching or being keen on Rivers. I suspect and hope he stays, but with our long list of KPD it wont be the end of the world if he were to. And as for Howe changing numbers, I'm happy for him to keep number 38, but if he were to change he should take number 18. Also worn by a great Tasmanian! And as for people's concerns about Darwin. I agree the crowds are a concern. I'd like to see us try the new roof stadium in Dunedin NZ. St. Kilda can have the north Island, we'll take the south! Playing a home game a year under the roof there might help us with our form at Docklands? Edit: Spelling

Wouldn't expect that to happen. Ritschitelli chose Gold Coast ahead of Carlton when he left Brisbane because he didn't want to leave Queensland. Good player, but don't expect that one to happen.

WEEK 1 Hawthorn def Collingwood by 30 points Adelaide def Sydney by 19 points Geelong def Fremantle by 44 points West Coast def North Melbourne by 65 points WEEK 2 Geelong def Sydney by 5 points Collingwood def West Coast by 20 points WEEK 3 Geelong def Hawthorn by 1 point Collingwood def Adelaide by 40 points WEEK 4 Geelong def Collingwood by 13 points

Can play both ends and knows how to kick a goal. Playing with the Zebras in the VFL this season and spent most of the year in defence. Having said that I'd prefer Haretuku or Smith as I posted.

Bail will be there next year but will be moved on after 1 or 2 more seasons. Once players like Taggart have developed, Gysberts has improved his fitness and our new batch of draft picks come through then there'll be no spot for Bail on the list. He's playing a role for now and has his moments. There's more players on the list that I'm more concerned with.

He is lightly built but still reckon he could be an absolute gun! Another possible scenario that's been mentioned elsewhere is that we trade MD pick 1 to West Coast for Andrew Gaff which would allow them to take Jack Martin and we could still take Hogan at pick 2. Reason for me wanting Russell are his ability to play on smalls, his running ability and he uses the ball well. He also is in Carlton's leadership group and we need leaders! Same goes for Moore as he's in Sydney's leadership group. I agree McKernan will be tough to get as Tippett is likely to leave so Gumbleton is more likely. I agree he's injury prone but I reckon the guy can play and will back Misson in to get him up! A few other options for a tall forward I reckon we could look at Aaron Cornelius from Brisbane and Jesse White from Sydney. Wellingham is an option, especially if we miss out on Mackay who I'd prefer.

I'd be happy enough trading picks 3 & 4 for both MD picks and take Kelly and Hogan. Assuming we get Viney with our 2nd round pick I think we have enough inside midfielders to have a really good balance. Although we've really only had Jones playing well this year we'll be able to add Viney and then expect the development of Gysberts, Taggart, Trengove & Grimes and the ability of Sylvia to play inside and out and we've got our inside mids covered. Kelly and Blease on the outside will add the class that we need and then we can add to those touches in the coming seasons through Free Agency, trades and later draft picks. Hogan is a must for me. If we can add Hogan with Clark, Fitzpatrick and hopefully a Mason Shaw at pick 13 and then all the pieces are starting to fall into place.

Khan Haretuku from Frankston Dolphins? 198cm, 98kg key forward and kicked a few bags of goals in a forward line starved of opportunities. He turns 23 next month also so we wouldn't be waiting on a kid. Also has the ability to pinch hot in the ruck if need be.

I'm starting to warm to the idea of gaining both picks in the mini draft. So as far as recruits go this off season I'm hoping for. Trade picks 3 & 4 for 2 mini draft picks being Josh Kelly and Jesse Hogan. Secure Jarred Moore and Jordan Russell as free agents. Trade maybe Stef Martin to get David Mackay (I remain hopeful). Trade Ricky Petterd to secure Koby Stevens. Package Moloney with our 3rd round pick for either Scott Gumbleton or Shaun McKernan. Draft: 2nd Scully compo pick, either one of Mason Shaw, Ben Kennedy or Dayle Garlett 2nd round pick, Jack Viney (F/S) 4th round pick, either one of Paul Marschall, Josh Scott or Mason Wood 5th round pick, upgrade Daniel Nicholson PSD: If with Melbournes 1st pick in the national draft Melbourne secure Mason Shaw then I'd be looking at someone like Jake Neade If Melbourne secure Ben Kennedy or Dayle Garlett with the first pick then I'd be looking at one of Khan Haretuku, Tim Smith or Beau Dowler.

It's called collateral damage Lord Travis. Neeld and co are attempting to change the culture and set standards. As Neeld said in his first player address, there will be some players who if they don't play the role he wants them to to the standard he'll set then they wont play. Moloney seems to fall into that category. If he can't adjust to the new standards that the coach has in place then there's no spot for him in our team. If these rumors are true, then I thank Beamer for his service. He'll always be a 100 game player, B&F winner and will always be welcome back at the club. But it's now a matter on getting the best return for Beamer as possible.

99.99% sure. Only reason why I'm not 100% sure is because you should never say something's 100% until it's done. It'll work just like any normal trade for an out of contract play (for example Troy Davis) would work. If a trade doesn't get done then they can either take our offer and knuckle down like Ryan O'Keefe did with Sydney all those years back or they can go into the draft. Restricted free agency is more to allow players get paid what they're worth. So if their current club is under paying them, then they can go to another club that will pay them more. If we can match the offer then there's no right to walk to that club of his choice. It's the unrestricted free agency which is all about awarding player loyalty and letting them go anywhere for whatever money, even if it's lower. If there's 6 clubs interested then if we match the offers we can make those clubs put their money where their mouth is and see what they'd be willing to give up. I reckon Moloney in a package with our 3rd round pick could get us something decent.

Please tell me that's not true Olisik??? Hadn't heard that one before.

Fair call.

While we're at it RR why don't we talk about why did we pick up Luke Molan in the 2001 draft when we could have picked up Dal Santo? Time to move on!

Correct. Only thing your missing is even if we match the offer then he can still go either by way of the draft or through a trade which I reckon will be the likely outcome.

Care to elaborate?

Great minds think a like King C.

We get a compensation pick if he leaves without us matching the offer and we don't pick up any free agents ourselves. If we match the offer then we can trade him and get a better return on him.

http://www.afl.com.a...20/default.aspx This passage is the relevant one re: Moloney A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is one of the top 25 per cent highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service. (restricted free agent) The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs. If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club. His club has the right to match the presented offer. If the club matches the offer, he may choose to remain with his original club, seek a trade or enter the Draft. If the club does not or can not match the offer, the player can move to the new club of his choice. His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula to apply where clubs lose more free agents than they gain in any single transfer period. If we match the offer then we can trade him and it's what we should do.

Because he's a restricted free agent and we've got a heap of salary cap space we should match whatever his best offer is and then trade him to the club of his choice instead. We'll get more for him this way then we would through compensation as he'll have a shocking B&F return this year.

I agree with that Ron. Would be a pure financial decision if he decided to leave and would be our only hope of landing him. Maybe make it a bit more attractive with an assistant coaching role as midfield coach after his playing days may help it along?

I'm assuming you mean because they both play in defence and not because they play the same position as Toy is a rebounding defender and Rivers is a KPD.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/negotiations-for-simon-black-to-continue-at-the-brisbane-lions-have-hit-a-sour-note/story-fndv8d6r-1226461136865 I know the article says he's likely and wants to stay but if we made him an offer to good to refuse, keeping in mind our connections with Mitch and Jade, could we steal him? 2 years on good coin would be well worth it just for the experience and leadership that he'd bring to the club. I say we make it happen. Come on dees, get it done!

Are you sure? I thought they were covering the Port Melbourne v Geelong game on sunday.

Yeah he is now. Don't think he was when he was drafted though, and even now he's probably not the ideal body type for footy compared to several other less talented players. Probably was a similar build when drafter to how Kennedy is built.