Little Goffy

Heh heh. Three years ago Carlton supporters were talking about how they had this great spine and it would set them up for years. Even then they had Whitnall as a full-time CHF and CHB. And their midfield was a wreck with zero depth. Now they'll tell you they have the greatest midfield ever assembled... it's just a shame they have zero depth in their key positions. They haven't even come full circle - they've just stood on one spot and faced the other way.

I really think we need to get over the Yze bashing. First up, the last time he was headed for a contract negotiation was exactly when his form fell away seriously, and he's been struggling to bring it back up since then. So these 'he plays when it's contract time' accusations are outright rubbish. Secondly, he's been a consistently good player for most of the last ten years, and an occassional matchwinner as well. (eg. his 250th, despite his form being in decline at the time) Finally, the key problem with his game has been a habit of getting 'spooked' and 'hearing footsteps', as people have pointed out many times. Everything else (particularly his clangers) has flowed from that and if he controls it then he could be back in good form in a real hurry - so the time spent not playing really could do him a lot of good. If he does step back up, then we're looking at a second 300 gamer and one we can be truly proud of. If he doesn't, then this will be his last year and after 250+ games can we just accept that players don't usually run at top performance right to the last day of their career. But seriously, there is absolutely no need or point slagging him off now. This year's performance will decide it all, it's clear he's not going to be handed any further favouritism from the coach, and for those who choose to pass judgement in early december, please stay well away from the coaching panel!

There was, and there were quite explicit comments that he had decided to stay with us despite financially more appealing offers from other clubs. It's part of why there's so much love for him, I think. I'll cling to hope as long as I can, because these last few years of CAC has seen the best draft performances, pick for pick, of any club if you ak me. But this article is pretty overwhelmingly clear that Cameron is going to Richmond. I haven't seen such a confident article written since it was confirmed Judd was coming to Melbourne. I'm more than happy to take a grain of salt with this rumour.

Lets see if this explodes in controversy - I think trading Johnstone was a double win for us. Not having him is good. Having Pick 14 is good. Also, I really expect the medical staff and coaches to do what is right by the players, and over the long run the club, and ensure that injuries are given the best reasonable time to be corrected. If Neitz has his career shortened by a year because, unfit, he played three too many games in 07 and aggravated his leg problems, who does that help? It's hard to stand up to the pressure to get them onto the park, but I think medical staff who can firmly draw the line should be applauded for doing such a thankless task - So long as they actually do it.

Holland has done a job. He was recruited to fill a positional need as a big fullback gorilla keeper, and extra tall in the forward line. He's done so with full commitment and has produced a satisfactory perfomance. Bulldogs with their height crisis would have accepted him, for the same reasons. Hawthorn (Mark Williams at one end, Zac Dawson at the other) might have found him useful, too. So there's two possible lists he could be on, and I've spent as much time thinking about it as I have typing it. He is now 5 years older than when we got him, of course his options would be very limited if we delisted him. But remember that when we picked him up we really were just a little excited about him being able to fill a role. I think it was a fair decision to grab him at the time, and a fair decision to keep him on the list for 08. If Carroll hadn't turned it right up when Nicho faded out into retirement, Holland would have been our only fullback for two years now - Far from ideal but we would be glad we had him!

Early days yet, but if Newton continues to perform even at his current level, he's a top pick in terms of value-for-position (pick 53, wasn't it?). Was Alistair Nicholson a CAC selection or before his time? After all, best ever pick 22! I guess most of the rest of the options have been just 'appropriate value', rather than standouts. Carroll from the rookie list, after being dumped from Freo's list, was a good call in the end.

Ok. Here's another variation. VFL vs WAFL vs QAFL vs SANFL etc.. It won't get the ratings, it wont get the cash, it'll just be authentic and it'll mean a lot to the VFL level players. It'll also raise the profile of all these state leagues by having their best on show. I'm a big believer in strengthening AFL below the top, professional level.

Yep, I've been using 'hoist', not so much as a name, just yelling it when he gets it. Such a dag.

I'm having a little fit here. Just did a player comparison on footywire. Bate now and Pavlich at the same age are comparable in all stats, except Bate has more than twice as many tackles and a few more possessions. (I presume because he's had a wider midfield/wing role, but then, where was Pavlich playing at 20?) Could there actually be something to this? Hee hee, this thread is fun.

Dammit. There I was comfortably believing that it was only every workplace I or anyone I knew had ever worked in which was where the managers with poor people skills worked. But seriously, I really do expect better. I've been known to quit jobs in direct response to poor managers, it's not something I stand for.

Worked beautifully for North Melbourne. If we want to translate our impending on field success into off field success through supporter numbers, merchandise sales, higher media profile, better broadcast arrangements, and sponsorship deals, then we must have a full range of strategies in place to tap into the euphoria of the fans and the admiration of the football world in general. Engaging with the fans, asserting ourselves with the AFL management, and actively seeking out sponsors and new members are the key to off-field success. It's simply not a case of 'if we win it, they will come'.

Best. Post. Ever. Meanwhile, I think there's a limit to how much a recruiter can do. Anyone who is destined to be an out and out star and shows it by the time they're 18 will obviously go top of the draft. We've only been right at the top of the draft picks twice in recent years, 1997 (oops, Travis Johnstone) and 2003 where we picked up Sylvia and Mclean. Mclean has been interrupted by injury but is so obviously an impending star that it's not worth debating. Sylvia has been even more injury troubled, and hasn't been able to deliver consistently yet. Jury is still out if you ask me, given he is yet to have a pre-season. A great many other top players are shaped by their first few years of coaching. A recruiter can't really do so much about that, but I think he's done very well. We are hopefully about to see a couple of mature players deliver their full potential. And finally, Jared Rivers. Pick 20ish, Rising Star Award winner. So far has been cruelled by injuries but if they clear up then I would be shocked if he didn't claim a couple of third tall defender All-Australian selections in his career. A recruiter simply can't be held responsible for superstars. Perhaps for a general rating of A,B,C,D quality players, but so much is out of their hands for the ten years and more after the recruiter's work is done. One interesting point- at 'thedrafter.net' Melbourne under CAC is rated (by popular vote) the second-best drafting team of the last ten years, behind only Hawthorn which is of course influenced by the bulk first-round selections they've acquired in the last few years. This does not inlcude Rookie and pre-season drafts, either, where at the least Davey would push us up a little more.

I'm glad someone else picked up on that. Has me worried. Both are famous for futile bombing, too.

A new generation is emerging, a full cycle is almost complete- 1. Knowing how to spell 2. Not knowing how to spell because the spellchecker corrects everything anyway. 3. Not knowing how to spell, and being on a forum/chat which doesn't have a spell checker. 4. wtf lol 5. Callaps of civilizashun as we konw it This is what happened to the Romans, I swear. 'Visigoth' is actually spelt 'Visalageth'. Fight Back! Hand write a letter to your grandmother. It's the only hope.

I think you need to reassess there a little, Y_M. Nathan Jones is obviously Paul Kelly, not Robert Harvey. And Brock Mclean is no doubt Leigh Matthews for the modern age. Sir Cale will clearly be the next Wayne Carey... except not an arrogant womanising [censored], one hopes. I think the list needs some reworking. Whatever happened to the old 'Bate-ifides', too?

WTF? Cool down over there Sleeve.

It'll be interesting to see if Carroll makes it to 100 games, actually, given his late blossoming. I rate him, even this year when he hasn't been as effective. But you've got to remember, despite his mid-age status this was only his second full year at AFL level. I'd give him good odds of bouncing back and being a stalwart.

One way to get free advertising is through sponsors - the FOOLS thinks they are promoting themselves by having, for example, James Hird plastered all over their mobile phone shop. Actually, it's doing more to increase Hird's 'Brand value'. We did well for a while with the iPrimus ads which included a couple of cuts of Davey doing exciting, (telecommunications-related, I'm sure) things along the wing at the MCG. More of that helps. We should be targeting sponsorship deals which can offer us that cross-advertising benefit. Let's see, Melbourne Zoo could have Ben Holland doing a thing as a gorilla keeper, since that's his main job on-field already. Carlton have apparently run a few ads in 'Jewish News', the cost savings going through smaller publications make it a good idea - you can reach 100,000 people by advertising very cheaply in a couple of small papers, or pay a lot more to reach the same number through a major daily. I think the 'Team Melbourne' thing is a good idea but needs to be used more effectively. We (all current participants) should be getting involved with gyms / fitness centres / pools and expanding that brand so it is visible in people's ordinary daily or 3-times-a-week routine. There's even a case for Team Melbourne operating it's own network of sports centres. Again - the centres will benefit from the brand association, the brand benefits from it's extra visibility, eveybody wins. Also, sports facilities seem like a more wholesome and appropriate investment for a sporting club than, say, poker machine wholesale.

Gutted. Strangely, I think he's my favourite Demon. Is there anything we can do? I guess not. Best wishes to him, I hope Richmond's next five year plan for failure focuses on the general coaching rather than the recruiting. Congratulations CAC on setting us up with a young list that can realisitically make a tilt at glory. And we'll miss your smokeys. Now, if you could land us a star fullback and a ruckman from the PSD/Rookie drafts before you go, that'd be the complete package! Now, who do we bring in? Tough gig, big shoes to fill.

This'll sound weird, but I've been making all sorts of scribblings about 'community mobilisation', 'building networks' and such stuff. It's a big part of my skills background. It'd be a massive post, even for me, but it wouldn't take me long to put together from what I've got so far. Maybe I could send it in to a mod, or something? Get it picked apart here and whatever is left that looks good gets sent to the club?

Initially I did this just as an exercise, but there's an obvious point when you put this lot together: Michael - 190cm Martyn - 190cm Glass - 192cm Scarlett - 192cm Daryl Wakelin - 192cm Silvagni - 194cm Nicholson - 197cm Fletcher - 199cm Admittedly, Michael and Martyn (are this first names or surnames?) were seriously strong, but they are also the shortest on this list. Frawley's weight at the start of 07 was just 82kg. Dunno how much he put on during the year, but hopefully he'll be 90kg in time for next season, and then reach a long-term playing weight of mid nineties for season 2009. By then he would be both physically and mentally ready to be a full-time fullback. Fingers crossed. I still think your point is valid about needing someone who can match the true goliath full-forwards, but I think it's a more specialised role. Kind of why Holland is still on the list but unlikely to play more than a dozen games a year. Whoever plays this position would probably need to have another string to their bow. In my mind, it'll be Paul Johnson as the Two-Ton Utility - gorilla-keeping in defence, a big man forward option, and occassionally in at the ruck contest.

Kruezer was anointed a Carlton player four months ago, just like Gibbs had been. Thus, by the time the draft comes around they are both ridiculously hyped. Hell, I've heard he's "already as good around the ground as Adam Goodes" Rumours of OP issues with Masten put me right off, which is very shallow of me I know but I really, really, hate that feeling of 'will Moloney ever really be back'. Is there anything worse than an injury you don't know whether you'll recover from? But let's not suggest that any of Kreuzer, Cotchin or Masten are duds. But I was still stoked to hear their names read out one two three. I actually cheered out loud when I heard Masten called for the Eagles, and then Morton for the Demons. Cale Morton. He just seems... right.

Minor point? MINOR POINT?! The rest was interesting, but this gave me a shiver of joy! Fingers crossed, touch wood, all of that. Also, no mention of Whelan or Rivers in that recovery group, anyone know if they were there and running free, or just not at training?

Right, here's an idea to bring back state of origin and restore international rules, all in one swoop. Combine them. I see a two-year cycle - Year one - the Irish team tours Australia for an international rules series, playing against a selection of state of origin teams. Each state is playing both for their home state and for Australia. Year two - an Australian squad tours Ireland, as per the current (temporarily suspended) system. There's the basics of the idea. Any merit? How to run selections for the tour to Ireland? Can it be improved without overloading the fixture? Option two would be a state of origin series in year one, from which the internatinoal rules team is selected for year two. Let's here some ideas.