MadAsHell

He's an outside midfield type (In the mold of Michael Long funily enough). Think they said there's a Long/Rioli family relation in there somehow. He's about 177cm I think, really fast and classy. Was one of the best for Vic Country on sunday and kicked a goal also.

He sounds like a Fevola or a Richardson in the making!

We will end up in one of these draft pick scenarios and this is what we should do if faced with each one: *Finish last winning 4 games or less 1 & 2 = Scully & Butcher *Finish 15th winning 4 games or less 1 & 3 = Butcher & Christensen (Geelong Falcons) *Finish last winning more then 4 games 1 = Scully *Finish 15th winning more then 4 games 2 = Butcher

IN: Newton, Robertson OUT: Bell, Miller FB: RIVERS, WARNOCK, WHELAN HB: FRAWLEY, MARTIN, BENNELL C: MORTON, MOLONEY, DAVEY HF: BATE, ROBERTSON, SYLVIA FF: GREEN, NEWTON, MARIC FOLL: JAMAR, BRUCE, McLEAN INT: GRIMES, JOHNSON, JONES, McDONALD EMERG: BARTRAM, BELL, WATTS Bell a little unlucky to get dropped but he didn't do anything to demand to be kept in the side. Robbo & Newton to add marking power to the forward line and allow Martin to go back to defence where he plays his best football.

According to the sporting pulse website Watts was in our best today so I don't know why some people are saying he was quiet and others are saying he was good. Think some people may just be expecting him to dominate which is a little unrealistic in my opinion at this stage. I wasn't there but from the sounds of it he's been a solid player in every match. I say lets bring him in round 14 to play out the season and get a good taste!

Miller is in our best side, he just needs the support around him. Idealy our forward line for this year would be. HF: Sylvia, Miller, Green FF: Watts, Robertson, Wonna* Obviously we wont be seeing Wonna for awhile so substitute him with Maric. If Bailey persisted with this forward line for the year we may see a better output from Miller and Robbo with the right support around them. Lets just hope Watts and Robbo play games today for Casey worthy of being promoted for next week.

I reckon he is! You'd have to say she's batting for Australia while Bartram would be battling to get a game for Frankston 2nd's in the district cricket! hehe. Wish I could meet people who look like that on myspace!

12, 138

There's no way the AFL would allow us to only have to play 2 away interstate games a year. The minimum they normally allow is 4.

Stupid isn't it! Surely it's just because they want to follow Wallace around and see what happens if they loose.

The Tassie Highlanders.

Agree with you completely. 2 home games in NT, 4 other interstate trips during the home and away season and our opening NAB cup match up there each year would be ideal. Three games a year up there should be enough. Unlike the Hawks who are playing 4 games in Tassie, Tassie's a lot closer then NT, 4 games there would take to much out. 1 NAB cup match and 2 home & away matches will be good and will hold us in good stead financialy.

Watts should hopefully be making his debut in round 14. Strauss is the only one I'd imagine who could beat him after his 36 poss with Casey 2nd's. If Strauss can get 30 poss plus two or three weeks running for Casey 1st's he might beat Watts to it. But I doubt it.

Melbourne-v-West Coast Round 14, Saturday July 4th. 9 games before end of the year and will still be eligable for NAB rising star award next year also.

Wish him all the best also. While it was well and truely time to go at the end of last year I would have liked to see him play out the year in Melbourne's team at FF. Robbo was injued and thought he could have done some nice work down there. Hopefully Meesen and Spencer will develop into a solid combination in the coming years.

He's a disgrace isn't he! Mind you if Cloke was in my team I think I'd be giving him a spray at least once a game also! Gee the Cloke's would have to be the most untalented footballers in the competition. hehe.

I reckon your onto something there and it's a great idea. Even if they started at say 3 games a year and slowly increased to develop a market there. And as you said it allows for a Tassie team to be the 18th side and I think we all know a Tassie team makes a lot more sense and would have a lot more supporters then West Sydney or even Gold Coast for that matter!

I say we give him his rest once we get our 4th win. Make sure he's good to go for the start of next year and give some of our young ones a go. Makes perfect sense if you ask me.

Why would we give up McLean and pick 3 for someone who has 4 years left tops???? Doesn't make any sense to me, it's not like we're pushing to win a grand final next year!

I agree with a lot of your points, however think your being a little harsh on Meesen. While at the start of this year I didn't rate him at all I thought he showed a bit in the 4 games he played and may just be a late developer. Also I doubt we'd get much for him seeing as he's going to miss the rest of the year injured. It will be interesting to see how Melbourne play this coming draft, whether they only use 3 or 4 picks or they continue with their clean out. Like you I don't think this years draft is going to be overly strong and suspect Melbourne may only use 4 picks at most. And that includes any potential priority pick.

The way that I'm watching our list unfold and our side improve I believe that the earliest that we could possibly returning to that last day in september would be 2012. But which players dp you think will still be on our list when this time comes around? Baring in mind also that both Gold Coast & West Sydney will be entitled to one uncontracted player each at the end of the 2010 & 2011 seasons respectively. Of our current list here's what I think may very well happen, but who knows? 1. S. Buckley - traded for draft pick end of 2009? 2. N. Jones 3. C. Bartram 4. J. Watts 5. B. McLean © 6. M. Bate - Uncontracted player to head to West Sydney end of 2011? 7. B. Miller 8. J. Frawley 9. Vacant - Maybe worn by J. Butcher (if drafted)? 10. C. Morton 11. P. Johnson 12. C. Sylvia 13. Vacant - Maybe worn by L. Jurrah? 14. L. Dunn - traded for draft pick end of 2009? 15. R. Petterd - Uncontracted player to head to Gold Coast end of 2010? 16. J. Grimes (vc) 17. Vacant - Maybe worn by J. Strauss? 18. B. Green - retire end of 2011? 19. A. Maric 20. C. Garland 21. D. Bell - traded for draft pick end of 2009? 22. B. Moloney 23. J. McDonald - retire end of 2009? 24. R. Robertson - retire end of 2010? 25. K. Cheney 26. J. Meesen 27. J. Rivers 28. Vacant - Maybe worn by S. Blease? 29. M. Newton - Delisted end of 2010? 30. T. McNamara 31. P. Wheatley - Retire end of 2009? Maybe worn by T. Scully (if drafted)? 32. C. Bruce - retire end of 2010? 33. A. Wonaeamirri 34. S. Martin 35. T. Zomer - delisted end of 2009? 36. A. Davey 37. M. Warnock 38. D. Hughes - delisted end of 2009? 39. N. Jetta 40. M. Jamar - delisted end of 2009? 41. R. Bail 42. J. Spencer 43. J. Bennell 44. S. Valenti - promoted end of 2009, delisted end of 2010? 45. M. Whelan - retired end of 2009? 46. S. Blease - number promotion to 28, as worn in u18 carnival? 47. J. Strauss - number promotion to 17, as worn in u18 carnival? 48. L. Jurrah - number promotion to 13, no particular reason? 49. J. McKenzie - delisted end of 2010? 50. R. Healey - delisted end of 2009?

Was a terrible effort on his part and he should know better. I'd say drop him for this week. Miller to FF and Dunn to CHF but leave it at that. Unfortunatly we still need his presence this year and next. However we wont see anymore of Robbo beyond 2010 I believe.

IN: Jamar OUT: Petterd or if injured Whelan. I agree Petterd needs a spell but if Whelan's nose injury keeps him out for a week I'd like them to keep Petterd in and start him off half back, see how he goes back in the more familiar defensive role. FB: Rivers, Warnock, Bennell HB: Frawley, Martin, Whelan* C: Morton, Moloney, Davey HF: Sylvia, Miller, Green FF: Bate, Robertson, Maric FOLL: Johnson, Bruce, McLean INT: Grimes, Jamar, Jones, McDonald EMERG: Bartram, Bell, Petterd

Do you think they could work a rotation with Johnson, Spencer or Meesen (whoever becomes our no 1 ruckman) and Martin in the coming years so that say: Martin plays an entire first half at CHB while Johnson for example is in ruck. 3rd qtr Martin plays first 20min in ruck with Johnson on bench before coming on for Martin for remainder of qtr. (Frawley or Garland who'd be playing on a HBF could go CHB for 3rd qtr.) Johnson plays entire final qtr in ruck and Martin at CHB. Would a rotational scenario like this allow enough rest for each of them while still allowing Martin to play mainly at his preferd CHB. Or would he need a longer rest considering that would require him to ruck the majority of the 3rd term?

He plays his best footy across half back but we're already taken care of there with Warnock, Rivers, Frawley, Garland, Martin and Bennell to hold down the defensive posts for at least the next 5 years. He's still only played about 20 games and is young but will be forced to play half forward if he wants to hold down a regular spot at Melbourne. He or Miller will be our un-contracted player to go to Gold Coast IMO just depends which one. It's a nice problem to have that we've got these talented players competing for spots. At Gold Coast he may get to play across half back unlike at Melbourne. Especially seeing as we also have Cheney and McNamara waiting in the wings also.