MadAsHell

I certainly don't want to go praising the enemy to quickly, but they're looking good at the crease. Very busy.

Cook looking dangerous already.

Was a shocking over, but will take the wicket!

England win the toss and bat. The Marsh brothers miss out and Voges & Watson get the nod ahead. Lets hope for at least 2 wickets in the first session. 3+ would be great!

Sad way for Rhino to bow out. Was looking forward to watching him, Hadds & Rogers walk off arm in arm after The Oval test celebrating a series win as all three retire at the one time. The XI for the first test will be interesting. My prediction: Rogers (can't go past his experience in England) Warner Smith Clarke S. Marsh (Voges very stiff) Watson (will be his final test series, so they'll give him first crack) +Haddin Johnson Starc Lyon Hazlewood Voges and Mitch Marsh knocking on the door!

Your right that does tend to be the way. Cloke ended up signing late and I think Dunn signed about mid year the other year if I'm correct. I hope he stays. Edit: Re-worded.

I get that, but when you continually see contracted names Terlich, M. Jones, Michie thrown around, just to name a few.... It's never to be traded, because as we all know, they have zero value. Wouldn't be the greatest look for the club sacking three contracted players. I agree with pretty much everyone that they're not long term players for the club, but I currently assume they'll still be on the list next year.

So I'm assuming in this thread that players contract status aren't relevant one bit?

I do agree with that point WJD, however you still need the players available to move on.What i mean by that is the only other players we have coming out of contract are Riley, Pedersen, Cross, Hunt and the rookies. Cross and Pedersen have done enough to warrant new deals IMO, the rookies are showing very promising signs down at Casey so that only leaves Riley and Hunt. You could make a tough call on Hunt, but the poor kid hasn't really had a good run. Roos himself on a recent episode of Roos views described him as very exciting which gives me the feeling they may stick by him. Then of course there's Riley who could well get the chop. There's reasons for and against. The final option would be cutting contracted players eg: Terlich, M. Jones, Michie etc, however you do that to often like we did last year and you run the risk of your club picking up a reputation amongst other players and the AFLPA of being a club to avoid as they cut players mud contract. All things for the list managers to take into consideration.

Still think this off season will be the calm before the storm of offseason 2016. Based on the fact that of a weak draft coming up, needing another year to see where the likes of Trengove, Hunt and our rookies are at as well as getting another pre-season into the likes of Hogan, Petracca, Neal-Bullen etc. If we delist Jamar, Bail & McKenzie and trade out say Howe, Grimes & Fitzpatrick that gives us 6 list spots. Trade in an experienced outside mid with pace and an another ruck to battle for a spot with Gawn. Can then promote Vanders & Harmes which allows you to draft two kids in the national draft and two in the rookie draft. This would then also mean at the end of 2016 Goodwin can make a call on the careers of: Cross (1 year at the end of 2015) Terlich M. Jones Spencer Pedersen (1 year at the end of 2015) Riley (1 year at the end of 2015) Trengove Hunt (1 year at the end of 2015) Michie Newton White (extra rookie year end of 2015) King (extra rookie year end of 2015) 1st Rookie selection of 2015 rookie draft 2nd Rookie selection of 2015 rookie draft Allows him to really take ownership of the list right from the start.

Fair enough. Everyone entitled to their opinion.

Yeah he's certainly in danger. Reckon he may get lucky with a 1 year extension, but don't expect the offer to come until well into trade period I reckon once they know how the list is shaping up.

Been to see him play at Casey this year?

Reckon they're all developing well. I'd be tempted to promote Vandenberg & Harmes and keep King & White both on the rookie list for another year.

What a shame the only two players listed that weren't in post #506 are contracted for 2016.

Pretty sure Matt Jones & Terlich are contracted. Doubtful, but we can dream!

Currently my thoughts for end of season: TRADE: Howe Grimes Fitzpatrick RETIRE/DELIST: Jamar McKenzie Bail Think the big turnover will come at the end of 2016. Given we're coming into a weak draft we may have the calm before the storm this year.

From what I've seen of Gorringe, and I'll admit it isn't heaps. He seems an aggresive style ruckman who'll really smash in at the ruck contest, and he's still yet to fully develop. He can also take a mark. Not saying I'd bring him in as our number 1 ruck, but I wouldn't mind bringing him in for competition with Gawn. Spencer doesn't inspire me with confidence as our back up to Gawn going forward. As for Plowman, I see him in a different light to both Frost & Oscar. I see both them as genuine key position defenders, and when fit I'd have Frost in the 22 with T. Mac, Dunn & Garland. Plowman is more in the Sam Fisher type mould where he'd be playing on a third tall rather then one of the two keys, and he's a guy who's hands it'd be good to get the ball into when coming out of defence. But I'm happy to draft one of those positions & trade in the other. Will be another interesting off season.

Spot on! I've now come to the view that we may just look for an outside mid with pace = Yarran And one of either a young ruckman = Gorringe Or a young third tall rebounding defender for post Dunn/Garland = Plowman Get Yarran & one of the other two, then go to the draft. Howe, Grimes, Fitzpatrick for trade. Starting to warm to the idea of holding onto Toumpas & Watts.

Watts was one of our best last night. After his dropped mark against Collingwood I thought he was very good also, and I thought he was one of our best in Round 1 v Gold Coast. He's our best users of the footy and from all reports is an absolute great bloke who loves the club, Roos, McCartney & Goodwin. The issue we face with Jack is his form fluctuations, and the fact that if we keep him, he's a free agent at the end of 2016 and if he were to walk we may loose him for less then we could get for him if we were to trade him at the end of this year? The other problem I think is that to me, I think he & Howe are competing for the one spot, the third tall forward who's also agile enough to push up the ground, but can still take a mark and kick a goal. Howe certainly a better contested mark and goal kicker. Watts is a much better user of the footy and over the last two weeks has shown an ability to win his own ball at times in the middle. Both can push up onto a wing or half back, so which way do we go? I don't have the answers. Howe could get us more in a trade this year. But he's one of the few highlight reels the club has, especially with young fans, and as our midfield gets better, he could really prosper from better supply. But same could be said for Watts. So for me it's one or the other. If Howe signs on the dotted line soon, then I think we should trade Watts. If we trade Howe out I hope we keep Jack and back him in all the way!

Surely not!?? And I'd rather keep Col then let him walk. Don't have an issue with any of your other suggestions, although I believe all of M. Jones, Michie and Terlich are contracted...

With Fitzy and Pedo finding form and Riley having an impact in his first game, it may take a little longer to figure out some of the likely delistings.

Harsh on Trengove when we need mids.Also reckon Cross has one more year in him.

Don't recall saying you can lock them in for a delisting, just that they'll need to show something to ensure they remain on the list before the years out. They'd hardly be the first players delisted after 2 years. And that's not just us, look at all the clubs and you'll see a similar list turn over.

Pretty sure Matt Jones and Terlich are contracted? At this stage i'd probably add Jamar and Riley to the list though. Also Max King and Jayden Hunt will both need to show something at VFL level before the season is out. As for Trengove, i can't see any takers given his injury history. I'll back him in to make a full recovery and become a vital cog in our midfield rotation.