Dr. Gonzo

It's all speculation; without it this website would close down.

Yes.

He is an idiot - Fremantle has the same salary cap as Collingwood so if Cloke walks its not like it was due to an unfair advantage. Completely different scenario to losing players to GC or GWS. He just likes to sook and bellyache to make others scared of going after any Pies staff or players but at the end of the day that's the new era we live in and there is nothing he can do about it which I'm sure is upsetting to a control freak like him. Focusing solely on the club that poaches one of your players is short sighted and counter productive. If they have $800k a year to throw around surely there's better players to entice than those on Freo's list.

Yeah fair enough, I was just commenting on that particular post of Jose's I read. It won't be impossible but I think it is improbable. Would be happy to be proven wrong though.

Surely regardless of what we are saying publicly we would be in Jack's ear to tell him we will be taking him regardless and it is all just smoke and mirrors to try and get him with our second round pick. I'd hope we're not stupid enough to be making him sweat on it and possibly putting doubts in his mind about our commitment to him.

My point is its all well and good to say we have to make a deal with GWS but what about GC? You have to factor them into it as well. I also didn't mean Boak isn't worth pick 4 (though on reading back it does some like that) my point is more I hope we don't pay overs for someone just becaus they are the players that happen to be available this year. Boak may be worth it, I haven't really seen enough of him to say otherwise (or really noticed him when I have watched Port).

That sounds good in theory but how do we satisfy BOTH Gold Coast & GWS? Considering they'll both finish below us we will need to do deals with both of them which is going to look very suss to the AFL who has already warned about draft tampering. I'm resigned that we will use pick 3 on Viney I just hope we don't waste pick 4 on someone who may not be worth it like Boak.

I have seen it before though where they have referred to banner size being an issue - actually it was in regards to flags to prohibit people from bringing enormous flags into the ground. Pretty are there is something as you walk into the ground referring to it in the conditions of entry.

Or have full time professional umpires.

Additionally, it's more about getting the players to play as a cohesive team and develop them to work together as one organism rather than merely focusing and developing on individual talents.

Who knows but I [censored] hope so. Edit: I still think we lack a decent crumbing forward, would have been a good pick up to get Saad in hindsight who some on here touted last year.

I don't know where I stand on the Boak situation because honestly I can't say I've noticed him enough to make a judgment - I have watched a decent amount of Port games though so maybe it is the fact he hasn't stood out that has me worried we might blow a top 4 pick on him. With your comment above, I'd just like to say I think guys like Pendlebury are actually worth two top 10 picks (similar to the Judd deal) so given that maybe a top 10 pick for Boak is reasonable, He is ready to go, about to hit his prime, and is more of a certain bet than taking a kid who only has potential and will need a few development years before he hits his strides. It is rather interesting to compare the methods of Neeld to Bailey though. The Bailey-era plan was to load up on as many kids through high draft picks as possible and build a team that way whereas Neeld seems more confident in being able to build a team through the trade table by poaching some key players from other clubs.

Although I think Anderson's comments are ridiculous and wanting to have their cake and eat it too, to be fair FA was basically forced on the AFL by the AFLPA. The AFL pushed back against this for years.

I went to last years one as well so kind of knew what to expect - location was way better this year how good is that Jim Stynes room? Beautiful view of the ground, do we get access to that as part of our Tridents membership or is it for the top grade members (or corporates) only?

I was hoping for some Q&A as well, was a bit disappointed but at the end of the day it was something to make the supporters feel more involved and there was a match about to go on shortly after - not really the time and place to open up cans of pent up supporter frustration worms.

GWS +22.5 is paying $2 seems pretty good odds considering their form. Otherwise Melbourne 40-59 paying $4.90 or 60+ paying $5.50. It'll either be close with GW giving us a run or a blowout like we did to Adelaide/Freo last year - I don't see it being in between.

It is a weird custom native to our game and I'm not sure if that makes it a good thing or not. I like it just for the fact that it perplexes people foreign to our sport much the same as having these jaunty American Civil War-era anthems blasted out of the speakers and mascots in velvet jackets paraded out to play a rendition on a trumpet before the game.

Big Max Gawn went the yawn So Scully ran back home Went to Sydney town to look around And then he just f***ed right off

I've always been torn on Clint, love his attack and intensity but shuddered at some of his disposal. Loved him in the team though and he is the type of player every team needs. Will be a big loss if he can't come back. PS His goal against the Saints this year was brilliant, I haven't cheered louder for a goal this year except against the Bombers. Inside out banana on the run, jjust a crazy goal. Skip to 20 seconds in. [media=]

Yeah he usually jumped right on top of them.

I liked Supermercado's Demonblog idea (3rd last paragraph) of the "$cully Filth" sign on the bed-sheet on the top level of the Ponsford - apparently has a historical call-back as well as when Peter Moore came to the Demons the Pies fans rolled out a "Moore Filth" sign. I like that sort of continuity in the game.

Get off my ground!

Essendons first pick will be around 30-35 most likely as their first pick will be used on Daniher as a F/S. So they will need to trade away a decent player to get either Caddy or Boak and not just a Monfries or Gumbleton so I just don't think they will have the bargaining power to get any trades done this year.

No I think you misread my post or I was unclear - I just said people who wanted to vote were locked out and unable to, I didn't make any guesses as to their intention.

Yeah that's a really good point about Essendon - what will they have to trade? Surely they don't think they'll get away with a Monfries or Dempsey for something trade?