MadAsHell

Boring, predictable and underwhelming are some of the words that come to mind when I look at the Australian Test Squad that was announced today. http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-28/australia-names-bolter-joe-mennie-in-12-man-test-squad/7974820?pfmredir=sm Although Mennie doesn't do much to excite me, I can understand his inclusion the issues with Pattinson, Cummins & Coulter-Nile. However I roll my eyes at a few other selections i must admit. Peter Siddle's been a great servant, but it's time for the selectors to move on. Pick James Faulkner as a bowling all rounder or Chris Tremain to try and rough up some batsman and lets get some agro going. Sids line & length role is already covered by Hazlewood now. Given we've fallen off our number 1 perch, is there really much point playing someone like Voges now? Really? For goodness sake lets get a young middle order batsman in there to try and grow. Handscomb would be my pick, but Travis Head is an option also. But seriously Voges purpose has now been served. And while on the topic of young batsman, we'd finally started playing one in Jo Burns who showed some decent formon our wickets, yet struggled in Asia. So much so that we've dropped him for Shaun Marsh who can only score runs in Asia and can't buy one in Australia. Pitty the tests he's replacing Burns for are in Australia! And finally surely we've learnt by now that our 6/7 combination of Mitch Marsh/Nevill having a combined average with the bat of less then 45 isn't sustainable. Puts to much pressure on the top 5 as our tail starts at 6! We either need to go back to playing 6 specialist batsman or Matthew Wade has to keep and bat at 6 despite his keeping flaws. Until these issues are tweaked, I can't see us winning a series for awhile.

I'm actually hoping for Garlands sake that they give him a new role as a genuine utility who spends time back, forward, on the wing etc with tne view to see if he can force his way into the seniors in that role. He's got 2 years to run, so no point seeing him rot in a back pocket at Casey all that time. Give him a new role and see if he can make it work. If they do that with Col, combined with Dunn's departure, there's a few key defensive posts on our list that need filling as back up to the McDonald brothers and Frost. I suspect we'll rookie draft one from the U18's and target a matute age rokie with the other. Possibly Xavier, Mitch Brown, Silvagni etc.

If no one takes him, then I'd be happy to pick him up with our 2nd Pick in the Rookie Draft.

Cause they'll probably see Wagner on the senior list with someone like White or Smith upgraded prior to Round 1 more beneficial then Pick 84 in the National Draft on the senior list and only one of Wagner, White or Smith being able to be upgraded. There's every chance whoever we like at Pick 84 in the ND will still be there at Pick 8 in the RD. I'll be staggered if we use Pick 84 rather then upgrade Wagner.

Can't see it happening i have to say. Although i do suspect the club will rookie a mature age defender given the state of our stocks back there.

1. GWS 2. Sydney 3. Bulldogs 4. Geelong (just) 5. Melbourne 6. St Kilda 7. Adelaide 8. West Coast Hawks to just miss and Roos for bottom 4.

AFL should void the trade and send O'Meara into the draft, plain and simple. If it was the GWS 2nd round pick that was ontraded, then no issues. However what's happened is clearly in breach of the rules.

I get that Saty, however I suspect last year we thought our ruck stocks were covered better then they actually are. Many people, myself included were extremely underwhelmed at Jake Spencer's VFL Grand Final (in fact his whole VFL finals series was a little on the nose to be honest). So I think with it looking more then likely that Spencer may already be at his ceiling and the fact that Watts found himself having to play 2nd Ruck (a job he did admirably), it's more apparent that we're still light on. Mahoney himself came out at the start of trade period and said we'd be after a ruck, and then at the end of trade period said we'd likely target one in the draft. Cameron's had a career best season with Claremont where he's produced some very good numbers as a forward who goes into the ruck. He's spent these few season's since his draft year working on the flaws in his game. Given he's mature age, he'd be capable of playing from Round 1 also, unlike most freshly drafted ruckmen. That's my take on it anyway.

Maybe the same reason we took Wagner in the 2015 Rookie Draft when we didn't in 2014 Or Vandenberg in the 2014 Rookie Draft and not 2013. Matt Jones in the 2012 Draft but not 2011. See where this is going...........

Two words; DARCY CAMERON

6 Lewis 14 McKenna 19 Hibberd (as IDIG suggested. Can be next to his Essendon buddy) 31 Weideman (bit of irony. The hipsters will like that) 38 Maynard (his old man wore 36, his brother 37. Keep raising that number) 22 & 26 to selections 47 & 69 in tbe draft. 40, 45, 46, 47* Our three rookie selections * Potentially extra number needed if Dan Allsop is available for us to take as a Category B Rookie.

From memory his work ethic was the main thing. That and the fact that not many ruckmen get drafted out of the U18's anymore. From all reports his work ethic has improved significantly.

Actually your most likely right.

I like! Although with an ageing Sandilands & Griffin I'm also a bit concerned about Freo at Pick 40.....

I'll flip my lid if he goes at 46! Exactly the type of player we require. I remain optimistic!

Not just a pretty face!

Use Picks 47 & 69. Upgrade Wagner Smith gets 2nd year on Category B Rookie list. White gets 3rd year on main rookie list. Use three picks in the rookie draft Hope Allsop isn't drafted so we can take him as a Category B Rookie with Smith & Maynard.

Oh well, he s*%#s anyway!

No accounting for taste.

It really is poor isn't it! Try doing a best 22 for that mob. It's really hard work! My attempt assuming Caddy comes in & Deledio goes out. FB: Grimes, Rance, Houli HB: Batchelor, Astbury, C. Ellis C: Vlaustin, Cotchin, Edwards HF: Menadue, Griffiths, Rioli FF: Lennon, Riewoldt, Lloyd FOLL: Nankervis, Martin, Prestia INT: Caddy, B. Ellis, Grigg, McIntosh Miles pushed out by Prestia, however there's still a lot of question marks in there. Surely the likes of Jack Grimes, Michie, Tim Smith could walk into that 22,

Just get him!

Bit harsh to call Mitch King's development underwhelming when he did his knee Round 1 of the VFL this year which is his rookie year. The 10min I saw of him up till then he looked good. I'm hoping one of Darcy Cameron or Rowan Marshall are still available come Pick 57.

I wouldn't have thought so as that would leave our draft selections this year as Picks 83 & 84.

It's amazing isn't it! So to use this year as a guide, it would be Smedts & Pick 16 for Tuohy & Pick 25. Now on face value it isn't to bad. Certainly not good! But given next year Carlton will likely climb slightly and Cats drop in a strong draft, it looks worse and worse IMO.

SOS is becoming the new Dodoro if Tuohy's price is a 1st Round Pick. Totally unreasonable and on the flip side asking for two 1st Round Picks for Gibbs.