Little Goffy

WEAK! ABSOLUTELY WEAK! Here we have living proof that the AFL simply doesn't understand that what the ans, the supporters, the members are a part of is a club, the motivation is to see their club, to follow the fortunes of the 'collective identities' of the AFL clubs. Not even a trivial attempt to emulate that driving force of AFL participation and involvement. At least State of Origin invokes some kind of identity. Bloody hell, releasing some action figures without club colours would achieve the same effect. AFL has, as the saying goes, 'completely lost touch'.

McNamara was a little, I get the impression he was overlooked a bit because he skipped the Draft Camp. It's hard to see how an under16 & under 18 All-Australian got missed until pick 66. Nothing to do with Judd, though!

Richmond really need to stop making their recruiting decision based on Bigfooty threads. Like most, I was surprised we didn't pick up one of the big defenders available in the draft, but I'm prepared to accept the call. On the bright side, there is a great selection of athletics-background tall defenders, relatively new to AFL, still available in the Pre-season and rookie drafts. And there's a couple of rucks who were expected to go mid-draft, too, like Bellchambers. I expect we'll have a ridiculously tall rookie list! I've been converted to the opinion that it's not so much a case of 'we need key defenders' as 'we need one, genuine star, defender', and if that wasn't available, fair enough to pick up other types.

Fremantle. I'd like to take a moment to thank them for Jeff Farmer. Handed to us for Phil Gilbert. Taken back half a decade later, giving us pick 17. So, net result, we got some of the best years of Jeff Farmer and pick 17, for free. Anyway, the best thing about the Bradley & Johnson move to Freo is that either way, at least one of Essendon or Fremantle will look like idiots. Given our past experience with trying to recycle bombers (Heffernan, Moorcroft) I'm glad we didn't give it a go this time, and don't feel very optimistic for Freo. Stat of the day - Bradley didn't lay a tackle in any of his four games for 2007. He laid four tackles in a single game in his debut season (2005), which represents 10% of the tackles he's laid in his 50 game career.

I read that and think it's more a case of the AFL not wanting to admit a problem than actually making a decision either way. Since the 'hands in the back' issue is merely one of 'interpretation', as they said so many times, it would be quite easy to make it dead without actually having to kill it. The hands in the back interpretation can be watered down without so much as a whisper - unless the AFL Admin actually sustain pressure to keep enforcing it, hands-in-the-vicinity-of-the-back will die of it's own accord, since not even umpires think it's a good 'interpretation'. I still hold out hope for a quiet return to normality.

Well, now we get into economic semantics! Kennedy, Masten and Notte are what Eagles got for Judd. Pick 3, 22 and Kennedy we're the price that Carlton paid for him. Pick 4, 14 (or a player, eg Petterd) and 21 would have been the price we would have had to pay for him. But it's a fair call that if we get more out of Morton, Grimes and Maric combined than Carlton get out of Judd, then we've come out winners in the end! I'd argue that the extra funds off the field will be balanced by the on-field tension as the salary cap constricts around the futures of Carlton's young guns. Also, if the Golden Groin doesn't hold up, or any other serious injury leaves Judd omitted or unale to play at full capacity, then the Judd trade will have done almost as much damage to Carlton as the salary cap breaches. And if, by some cosmic intervention, the arrivial of Judd doesn't suddenly make everyone on Carlton's list 20% faster, 20% fitter, 20% more skilled and 100% better at working as a team, then they'll still be rooted anyway.

It's true, there is simply no need for Sampi in our list- we have creative smalls loaded in now, he'd be a replacement for Shannon Motlop, and thats all. I'd be looking at Bellchambers in the PSD to make sure of him - supposed to be a top-rate tap ruckman who hasn't yet learnt to work effectively around the ground. Good for Sandy, and the general play element can be developed, while the 'art' of ruckwork can be hard to build if there isn't the original talent. (IMHO) A couple of tall defender rookies sounds good to me.

Actually, I think it'll be some veterans who step up. We'll see good growth and development from the young squad, and that will make for an exciting accumulation as players like Jones, Mclean and Bate put in consistent great games. But I honestly think we'll see something special from Neitz, Robertson, Bruce and Green in 08. I've said in another thread that Neitz returning to fitness would be a bankable 50+ goals, he remains a star full forward, Robertson really should be aiming to pass 50 as well, he's being underperforming these last two years and we know it, he knows it, and the coach knows it. Bruce and Green will play better with Johnstone gone. They will have physical and psychological space that used to be monopolised by Johnstone. They are now our top line veteran midfielders, we know it, they know it, the coach knows it. We also all know that they can deliver, despite frustrationsin the past. These four stand up, the kids get to play with confidence in the team, everything starts to tick along beautifully. Certainly, if we're going to be a top-tier side as soon as next year, the core veterans have to deliver. Otherwise, well, I guess we look to 09-10 as the young guns we've got start to peak in a big way.

B: Garland Frawley Bell HB: Bartram Rivers Wheatley C: Bruce Sylvia Petterd HF: Green Bate Morton F: Davey Newton Maric Foll: ????? Mclean Jones Inter: Grimes, Moloney, P.Johnson, Dunn Apologies to Whelan, Robertson, McDonald and Carroll who all may still be going strong then, but in the spirit of the thread they've been omitted. Hell, Neitz and Yze might still be going. On this card, Sylvia has had a few consecutive full preseasons and is a midfield monster. P.Johnson is in as a back-up ruck and 'KP utility', almost like Holland is now. I've got no frickin idea who our number one ruck is. Jamar or Meesen? Some brilliant Noob we get in next years draft at pick 16? Bellchambers, after picking him up in this years PS or Rookie Draft? Miller is touch and go whether he'll come good. We'll know if he'll be around in 2010 within the first half of 08, I think. Obviously Garland is a question mark, maybe it'll be McNamara, maybe someone we rookie this year, maybe even Warnock will be our third tall defender. I can easily see our forward line being Dunn instead of Green and thus becoming one of the youngest forward lines combinations ever seen, with Davey the old man at 27, the rest between 24 and 20! Bate / Morton / Dunn could prove to be an impossible HF line to match up on.

Chris Kangars – Geelong Falcons, VIC, 193.1cm, 84.9kg, DOB 1/8/89 David Gourdis – Subiaco, WA, 192.4cm, 88.9kg, DOB 14/3/89 Didn't both of these guys miss out completely in the national draft? I'm guessing we'll take a closer look in the next few weeks and see if they can be accomodated in our currently empty rookie list, or with the pre-season draft. Interesting times, a lot of rookie potential still around, particularly athletes yet to transform into footballers. More fun for the recruiting managers.

The ultira-bright red will standout from a distance, and also will be visible in background/crowd shots during games, offsetting what will probably remain a predominately blue colour range. Here's a bizarre little study to quote - Olympic Tae-kwon-do competitors are assigned, randomly, either red or blue gear for each fight. Over a sample of many hundreds of fights, a statistical prevalence of red winning was established, approaching 55%. With all other things being equal, this represents a real advantage. We have to go with more red!

Just McNamara at 66. I was definately surprised that we didn't grab Rance when available at 14, or Pears at 21. McNamara looks like great grab for 66. Now for a super-long post, and then I'm off to watch today's 'other event'. Grimes and Cheney will be competing in what is now a very crowded list of promising midfielders and small defenders, including Whelan, Moloney and Bartram all returning from injury. Several players in this category will be spending most of the year at Sandringham, and there should be pressure on players to keep their senior spots. GOOD! This is a particularly handy circumstance should McDonald retire soon or either of Moloney and Whelan fail to return from persistent injury troubles. McNamara is the only addition to our tall defenders. However, Rivers, Frawley and Garland are all quite young, Carroll is mid-aged and while Holland is older he is not generally seen as a critical component so much as honest depth. What we need in defense isn't additional back-up or succession planning but the addition of a STAR. If that wasn't to be found in CACs eyes this draft, so be it. Better a smart speculation than another Molan. I see Maric as the succession plan for Yze's present role in the forward pocket, appropriate given that Yze's other common role at HBF has been loaded up with prospects. It's been noted that despite his small size he can provide a leading target (like Hawthorn's Williams) as well as creating scoring opportunities from general play (so better than williams) Thank Jeebus that Morton is a flexible player as well as being known for him awesomeness. Whether he eventually claims a CHF/wing role in tandem with Bate, or asserts a presence from the midfield that allows mature players like Green and Bruce to play further forward as they get older, I think his contribution will actually help our forward options, even though he's not strictly a KPP. Remember that Mebourne now has a wide slection of highly mobile 190-193cm talls available for forward duty - Newton, Dunn, Bate, Morton, and even Bruce (he did kick seven against Carlton once, gotta love that).

Replace Johnstone? This guy sounds like Johnstone and Bate rolled into one. Happy happy happy, joy joy joy.

Still no KPP, these small guys must be pretty good to get in ahead of apparent need! Always a bright side

Little surprised there's no KPP in there, especially with Rance having been available at 14 at Pears available at 21. Still, I guess that means they got the players they wanted rather than the leftovers, if the choices were rated higher than those options. Excited about Maric now that I've heard he has an 80% goal kicking accuracy - sheesh!

Well, I've gone with Rance over Rioli for 14, so I'll take Vesprezidente at 21. Potato Pears if it's Rioli at 14.

Arrrggghhh... It's Rance or Rioli, surely our luck will be good enough for one to slip? I'll say... Rance

Morton Morton Morton, everybody loves Morton.... I'll just throw my name on the pile.

Pcs have virus problems because billions of people are using them every day, constantly transferring information. Macs are, admittedly, much better insulated from such issues.

If the Kangas refuse to make the move North, will the AFL veto any further deals where they sell games up there, and move the deal to another club? An interesting and potentially ugly scene there. Even with the 'soft-loan' arrangement North would still be in deep trouble without the income from the sold games. The AFL would rightly much prefer games which were a possible prelude to relocation than mere 'exhibition matches' from clubs that have no deeper connection with the target market and fans.

111645 Rhys Palmer, WA, 13 February 1989, Small Midfielder, 181.4cm, 79.8kg. He was the leading possession winner at the 2007 NAB AFL U18 Championships averaging 32 per match and was named the undefeated Western Australian teams Most Valuable Player and also earned All Australian Honours. Demonstrated elite endurance at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp at the AIS in Canberra where he ranked fifth overall in the beep test (14.8) and second in the 3km time trial (10min 25sec). 111942 Tayte Pears, WA, 24 March 1990, Tall Defender, 190.1cm, 91.8kg. Composed and disciplined tall defender who is renowned for his good decision making and excellent use of the ball. Recorded an outstanding 2.92 seconds for the 20m sprint – placing him in the top 10% of players at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp. 113904 Alex Rance, WA, 9 October 1989, Tall Defender, 192.3cm, 87.6kg. Strong, hard running tall defender noted for his dash off the backline. His father Murray played 97 matches with the Western Bulldogs and West Coast between 1986-1990. Alex was a leading player for rebound 50’s with Western Australia and averaged 17 possessions throughout the 2007 NAB AFL U18 Championships earning All Australian Honours. There they are. One after the other on the offical list. I see Palmer 4, Rance 14, Pears 21. I'm sorry guys, but we have an omen here. Time to pack up the discussion and start picking out their jumper numbers and nicknames. And maybe learn to say nice things about Western Australia. But not too nice.

Played at East Fremantle, yes? Isn't that where Woey played out his days before helping out as some kind of assistant coach? Mmmm.... Woey with skills. Well, that settles it, it's Palmer, Morton or Masten Unless Cotchin slips to 4... Or we decide to make sure of Henderson or Rance Or CAC banks on Cyril Rioli Or puts his money on McEvoy delivering in the dual-role Oh Jeebus Christos, and this is just the first pick. Now... the first four named, I think we're all ok with having them on board at pick 4. Preferences, each to their own and all that, but we wont be complaining and will love them dearly (even if they turn out like Trapper) The rest we'd love to pick up but I think we all want to go for the finesse and hope to land one of them at 14, right? Ok, can I make a request? Could someone start a new thread with some kind of a 'map' of our draft - Pick 4 and the likely players. Outsiders for pick 4 that might slide to 14, plus other good options at 14. And possible sliders who we'd love to see at 21. Give Height/Weight and usual role/type. And give each one something like the three word analysis people do here after games? Would earn whoever did it massive Brownie points. Maybe CAC would like to come on, you know, in all that spare time he's got.

That's a golden post right there. If there's one thing I'm sick of in football, it's people who say 'yes, I follow AFL, I'm a Collingwood supporter' but have never been to a frickin game. That, and the absurdly imbalanced broadcast arrangements for Victorian Clubs. Here's a table I threw together based on the fixture, this should be enough to silence anything but pathetic excuses from Collingwood fans. Club Free 2 Air Fri Ngt Sat Ngt Sunday Collingwood 19 7 4 (11) 3 Geelong 18 6 4 (10) 4 St Kilda 16 5 8 (13) 7 Essendon 15 5 4 (9) 7 Carlton 14 2 6 (8) 8 Hawthorn 12 3 6 (9) 7 Kangaroos 10 2 7 (9) 7 Bulldogs 10 3 3 (6) 11 Richmond 11 0 4 (4) 11 Melbourne 10 1 0 (1) 15 Average 13.5 3.4 4.6 (8) 8 * Note: all interstate clubs have ALL games broadcast free to air in their home state. If Collingwood only had double our exposure, I'd accept it's a matter of business. But the limits placed on some clubs so that others can load up on media are worthy of Dick Pratt. It's anti-competitive practices santioned by the AFL in order to create revenue for themsleves. If this is a matter of business, then it should be taken to the ACCC. In internatinoal development, there is a perpetual debate about the merits of 'picking winners' when trying to promote industry in developing countries. Those in favour argue that by choosing an existing company in the, say, electrical supply industry, and then pumping capital assitance and technology into that company, you quickly get a massive, cost-efficient boost to infrastructure and capacity. Those against this policy tend to be able to envisage the future, beyond a five-year plan, and argue that doing this will result in a monopolistic environment where a single company controls all energy supply and sets prices to suit themselves, resulting in gross price exploitation and a total failure to delvier services to much of the population and economy, who then need to be perpetually subsidized. Guess which one the AFL is pursuing. Envisage, beyond a few years, what it would do to the AFL competition in Melbourne. I think, over the next few years, a campaign will be needed to replace the 'competitive balance fund' with a 'competitive balance policy', as the existing way of doing business will ultimately result in the less promoted clubs requiring more and more assitance to compete with the 'picked winners'. Anyway, does the AFL really have the right to choose which clubs are commercially advantaged, based on how best it can line it's own pockets?

(shift to evil mastermind voice) NOTHING!!! NOTHING!!! BWAA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAA!!!!!

Agree 100%, the perfect rundown of Davey's role. Sounds like Cyril Rioli is actually the player to take that wider role, with stints up forward, almost a mirror to Davey. Could be fun to watch, but sadly I'm still in the KPP midest for pick 14. If he slips to pick 21 I'd be stoked.