Dr. Gonzo

That would be awesome MT look forward to it

We would've had to have been pretty ignorant to not see the writing on the wall, or at the very least factor it in as a possibility.

We knew going in that would be the case. I don't think Essendon are doing anything wrong here, they want this year's 2nd we want to give them next year's because we already gave away our 1st this year. Both clubs are trying to get the best deal, no one's being difficult it's just the way it is. We may end up giving them next year's 2nd but with a swap of later picks this year or some other sweetener thrown in.

Dunn and next year's 2nd to the Lions for a 2nd this year? (Dunns not a FA is he?)

That was a Queens Birthday game - I was only 7 at the time but went with my dad who had got some kind of corporate tickets I think because we were sat up the top undercover near the coaches box on a crappy Melbourne winters day. The ground was a mudheap but we beat them pretty convincingly from memory with Garry Lyon starring. I think I scored the Monday Night Replay of that game a couple of years ago.

There's one that's missing from your list Win the premiership

Well that's not psychotic

What a change to a few years ago when Melbourne Storm players used to laugh at our approach to gym work.

It's part of the reason we turn the ball over too often and fail to take advantage of transitions across the ground. I was talking with my brother on Sunday and saying the reason you transition is to open the game up, create space and move the ball forward quickly into space so teammates can run onto the ball and move it down the ground. If you kick backwards/sideways then wait too long and just chip it around then transitioning is pointless and you may as well just bomb it down the line.

I agree with this logic but am also wary that it is the same logic that brought us undone under Bailey.

Only goals are reviewed I think cos there's a stop in play. Reviewing points would take too long and stop a team from kicking in.

They've always said that every goal gets reviewed anyway since the introduction of the review system. It happened in one of our game's a couple of years ago where the ball was about to be bounced then was called back as it was overruled as a point.

Yep - and the only vision that is close to accurate is the goal line one to see if a ball is touched/marked before or over the line (see Tippett example from Friday). But the amateur AFL won't even fork out to ensure the goal post cameras are installed at every ground! What a farce.

We definitely nailed this pick - interesting to see the difference between our drafting and Collingwoods since Taylor came over no wonder Eddie was filthy when we poached him.

Interestingly an article in the paper the other day talked about the Crows targeting Hurley and speaking to him last week when he was over there visiting his mate, Josh Jenkins. It mentioned he also went to the Showdown while over there.

And it's not based on "potential" as in the past (although we haven't seen Petracca yet I am confident he'll "hit the ground running" once he gets senior games too).

Yep, there was a bit of consternation around picking a bolter who didn't play in the nationals but I'm happy to say the recruiting team have got this one right. They haven't done much wrong since Taylor came on board and I think it's an area of our club that definitely deserves some praise, especially turning around from where they came. Well done for backing themselves and not getting caught up in the hype of Parish, a player who we definitely would've picked a few years ago. Targeting these big bodied, aggressive players has been a real focus and will see us be one of the more hard-nosed teams in the coming years.

There you go, my memory fails me!

Cotchin has more talent than Jones but Jones has more heart. I'd take Jones. Cotchin also misses far too many goals especially in crucial situations.

Interesting though that Brayshaw started as sub against Gold Coast in round 1 - Oliver won't have that luxury. I hated the sub rule but it did give rookies a chance to become accustomed to the pace of senior footy without having to run out a full game.

No sh*t

We did take Matthew Bate at 15 previously...

Seems the biggest query is on his tank which would make sense considering his ankle issues. Get the ankles right then work on his stamina over the next 12-18 months and I've got a good feeling about this kid. The other thing to keep in mind is that he won't be the number one option in our forward line as long as Hogan's around which will give him greater capacity to exploit defenses once he gets his aerobic capacity up and gets more strength and muscle definition.

It was definitely awkward (looked like Gabo's run in keeping with the old school Pies theme) but it was effective. He didn't look like losing control/possession and it came straight back to him. Like Hogan's run up if it works, no need to tinker despite how awkward it looks.

Not a chance we get round 1 comp for him, we'd be lucky to get any compo for him at all.