The Chazz

Should be big odds for the Rising Star next year, but I'll be having a wee investment on him when markets open. If Goodwin has learnt anything from Roos over the past 2 seasons, Sam will be a lock for Round 1, and will be in the team for the majority of 2017.

Exactly right, jay, but he has, by far, the biggest room for improvement of any of the "ruck/forward" players being named. This bloke has the ability to be a star of the competition. Do we take the chance? At the right price, I think we have to, but I don't think Geelong would accept what I'd offer!!!!

Was a "good" year by Bernie. Played out of position for most of the year, possibly due to injury/reduced preseason. Hopefully he can start preseason on day 1 and get back to the consistent form that he delivered in 2015.

As I said, if he was cheap, which I would be looking at our 4th rounder, then I think he would be a good pick up, and would improve our list. That said, if they wanted something higher than that, then he's not worth it.

Your point?

I would take Langford in a heartbeat, especially as we should get him at a fairly cheap price. Hopefully the Hawks have good short-term memory and look after us given we did the same for them when they acquired Fitzy...(yes, that is sarcasm).

I have nothing to contribute, I just want to post on this thread before it gets locked.

He didn't just "play" on a half back flank, he basically was the general of the defence of the team that finished on top, in his first season. The importance of the half back flank role these days was franked in the GF when one of them won the Norm Smith. They are two totally different players, and I'm not saying that Clarry isn't special, or isn't going to be. But in my view, Mills is by far the more polished player already, and was more important to a team that finished runner up, than an inside mid of a team that finished 10th. I'd be happy with either, and the fact that we bid for Mills but took Oliver shows that our FD shared the same view (although they shared it before I hand the luxury of using hindsight!).

Apart from your first point, all other points in this post are MASSIVE calls! Personally, I have Mills way above anyone from that draft, and I don't think we can overlook Sydney's finals performances, and how they fluctuated depending on Mills' form and fitness. And I actually hope Mills does turn out the best as we did bid for him before we took Oliver. Happy for Clarrie to be a bloody close 2nd though.

Given his entire preseason was spent in rehab, and managed to earn a couple of games in the middle of the year, I would say that 2016 was an absolute success for Jack. As has been pointed out frequently, his speed is definitely a concern, however, knowing how professional he is, he'll spend his "holiday break" making sure that he starts day 1 of this preseason at 100%, giving himself the perfect platform to work on areas of his body and game that he has been unable to for the last 3+ years. Not saying that he will make it, but I just really hope the guy gets an uninterrupted run to see if he can make it. We know he has the brain to be an excellent player.

Think it was part way through the season, Jnr. Something to do with his soft drink intake, which he ended up dropping around 5kg. Regardless, I hope to see Gus play 22+ games next year, as I have no doubt about his ability. He's a beauty.

I was thinking about the Sydney academy on GF day, and started off thinking how unfair it was on Vic clubs, to then trying to work out how much benefit they have actually got from it. I could name Mills and Heeney straight away, but couldn't think of anyone else after that. Would love someone to put up a list of their current players that they have picked up directly from their academy. The GWS/Riverina deal is definitely something that the AFL should look at, and given it got a bit of air time this year, I'm sure the screws will tighten on that in due course. To be honest, I'd be quite against re-introducing a zoning style in Victoria. I think kids/parents these days will do whatever they can do to get their kids playing for a specific team. While I appreciate that the zoning would likely be based on their junior club location, I think the game is far too professional these days that parents would be more strategic to ensure their son (and now daughter) play for a certain club. It will continue to make the strong stronger. Bring back the days of the Under 19 competition!

Sheet, my memory is better than I thought, although I only scrapped in by 2 months! Would be surprised if he agreed to it for 2017, but 2018 could be a different story. Pencil is one unfortunate incident away from being a regular member of our seniors. He's likely to be that at a number of other clubs too, especially those in the sunshine state.

Can you trade a player that has signed an extension in the same year? I didn't think you can. (Also I'm only using my memory that Spencer re-signed this year).

VFL/AFL Squadron.

Someone was always going to come there.

Sydney were the best team all year, and did a job on an overrated team that would've been done had they both played the week before. The jury is out with regards to GWS being "ready" this year. They happened to come up a team that has an unbelievable competitive nature. Let's not forget, it was a cracking Prelim that could've gone either way too. While the fact that both the teams (Geelong and GWS) that had the extra week off lost, I think it was nothing more than a coincidence that they both got knocked out, and can't be blamed on the bye (for reasons I have stated above). I will bet that Hawthorn would've loved to have that extra week off - could've been the difference between them playing tomorrow and not.

Really? Unnecessary nitpicking. RIP Tangles, great character of life.

Has good hearing though...

I have no idea if he would make a good acquisition, so with this one, I'll just trust in Roos Goody...

Pretty sure I made mention of his injury history in my post.

Vardy would be the best pick up on that list if he could stay fit. Sadly he is as fragile as a wet tissue.

Yeah, because GWS has such a huge following? The 2 games you used as an example were the Top 4 teams. History would show that these games always draw bigger crowds as they are the "better" teams playing in them. I know you haven't used these exact words, Titan, but how anyone can see the bye round as a failure is beyond me. Even with the Eagles, other than Adelaide, they were to only side in the top 8 that played a home ground final in the first week. The fact the flucked up that advantage says more about them, more about the Bulldogs, and less about the bye round.

And to top it off, we had near record week 1 crowds. Clearly the week off didn't lose the momentum that some of the negative nellies were expecting...

I once organised a date with Ben Hur once. Looked nothing like Kate Upton in real life. But I'm with you, Mach, with some posters I do picture their avatar speaking their post to me. It's part of the reason why can never take anything Ethan says seriously, why I picture Ernest smoking a pipe while he is typing, why I feel dirty when I read Uncle Bitters contributions, and feel slightly aroused when I read something from Munga.