Dr. Gonzo

This is my big fear for the draft - GWS go Whitfield, Toumpas, Wines and then we end up taking Grundy. We have enough KPP/rucks we need midfiedlers goddamit! I'm sure the club will take the best available ready to go midfielder and I'm hoping it's Wines - but hopefully they're not tempted with Grundy.

Petterd did OK under Bailey but I would have thought the fact he couldn't get a game this year would have given a fair indication where his future lay. I can't understand how anyone is surprised by his delisting. Bennell surprises me more than Petterd and even he was 60/40 gone in my mind. What is surprising is that neither of Fitzpatrick, Spencer or Gawn were shown the door (moreso Spencer & Fitzpatrick, Gawn only due to his injuries).

When Blight first came to the Crows he immediately delisted sacred cows McDermott, McGuiness, Anderson and a couple of others from memory. Supporters at the time weren't too happy but 12 & 24 months later they were bloody ecstatic!

The fact his knee is completely shot might have something to do with it.

I hope there has been some real research into this and how it might effect the different types of athletes (eg endurance compared to burst athletes) - because from my rudimentary observation I would have thought training in an extremely humid environment would lead to a greater chance of soft tissue injuries.

If that was the case he would be in the draft and we may not have got him anyhow.

If we can get a decent pick for Martin (33) or back for Gysberts (39) then I wouldn't rule it out - but yeah looking unlikely now.

1) He was contracted so we couldn't just delist him. 2) We want extra spots on the list. 3) He obviously wants out and wants to go home to WA. 4) We have to have "something" in the trade paperwork for Ken Wood to sign off otherwise the AFL won't approve the trade. If we could have we probably would have just delisted him.

Pretty sure they're giving us one but what's the point if it's anything over 40?

This si the thing that worries me the most - are we behind the 8-ball again? I want our coach to be innovative not just copy something that worked for someone else 3 seasons ago. In 2012 3 of the top 4 teams played a highly skilled kicking game slicing through the zone/press with short accurate kicks. Kicking long to the boundary was made redundant and is too easy to defend against.

We need to free up spots on our list so getting nothing back for him isn't that big an issue. He's never going to make it with us, let's see how he goes at WCE on the bigger Subiaco field.

Martin is not a natural footballer and moves awkwardly. Pedersen looks like a natural footballer and takes clean grabs of the ball.

No way known North will give up pick 15 for Gysberts.

Fractured wrist, ankle injury and broken jaw in the last 14 months.

I thought Morton wasn't too bad this year. He did some things occasionally which had your head in your hands but overall he was OK.

Barrett has been having a cry all during TWR about MFC - and then he makes snide comments about our supporters when we attempt to defend some of the clubs moves making comments like "just like all Melbourne supporters who think they know everything about the club" etc - yes idiot there's a fair chance they probably do know a hell of a lot more about it than you do. No MFC supporter has come out saying the Dawes move will win us a flag either, they've tried to point out that overall we have done quite well out of this period albeit not being able to address every single deficiency on our list. But clearly Barrett's ego (what has he done to deserve one anyway?" can't handle someone having an opinion different to his.

Yeah cheers I realised that after the fact. I had seen that article last year, just thought there might have been somewhere you could search those stats (current ones and comparisons to other players).

If North want to bend us over a barrel walk away - then we can just take him next year if we still want him once his contract is up.

Macintosh is also 28 and struggled with injuries the last few years (knees and achilles?) so may be speculative whether he will actually be able to contribute much to the Cats.

Where did you get the "hitout to advantage" stats. Can't find them online anywhere.

Yeah he has speed and athletic ability. It's a pity he doesn't have a football brain, good skills or quick decision making because he could be a really valuable asset.

The midfield is poor due to other factors. However it has failed to improve in part due to Royal. I don't really see what this has to do with Gysberts though. The kid was injured all season - give him this pre-season and next year to show what he's got and if there's nothing there cut your losses.

It's funny, I suggested at the end of 2011 we should trade one of Martin or Jamar because their respective trade values were at their peak and I was howled down. I agree with you about Jamar, Martin has similar problems though. Both of them can be serviceable but neither of them are particularly very good and both are one dimensional without being particularly damaging. Having both on the list when you can get rid of one and address another area of deficiency is a no brainer.

I had a read there the other day and was surprised - the comments on the official NM website below an article or his profile (can't remember which) also were glowing about him and couldn't believe they were going to get rid of him. As far as I can gather the "questions" about his character seem to amount to his dissatisfaction with not being given a go especially considering Tarrant & Hansen were given multiple opportunities without showing much.

So no Darwin game next year?