DeeSpencer

Both sides have seen a mutually beneficial opportunity, so now they study just what it entails. Dees will say we need an oval, an office building, change rooms, a pool, a gym etc. Caulfield say we’d love to have an oval in the infield if it doesn’t disrupt racing, we can sell or rent you land for your building for x amount of cost. Both sides then present a case to the local council (and any government that will have them) on funding for the oval in exchange for allowing public access and community sport. Perhaps the same for the gym and pool. If the numbers line up for everyone involved we’ve got a deal. The best case for Caulfield is they’ve already got or need a lot of things: - hospitality and catering, we don’t need to spend on a cafe or members function space, we can use theirs. - the oval - every local council needs more and they have a heap of space at Caulfield - pool and gym - if we are willing to share they’re about to have 5,000 new residents who’ll need somewhere to swim and work out - medical facilities can be shared with the community similar to the Saints at Moorabbin There’s a lot of potential for something to work here.

I think the footy department cap cuts and probably the shorter preseason took care of the interstate training camps. Huge expense to get up there for a week +. A few days at Lorne can accomplish the team bonding for a fraction of the cost

If you're reading this Salo, please pack the brick in the bottom of the backpack.

Big year for Bill Laurie, a lot of competition for spots and I worry his lack of pace will see him never consolidate a half forward gig and lack of size will hurt him in the middle. But his game against Sydney as the sub was really good, he’s got some real class. Hopefully he can keep impressing on the track.

Colvin’s a good player but she’s old and injury prone. Personally I’d try Bannan and see if she can develop as a player down back, and if that doesn’t work I’d go with Tay Harris. We have forward options including using Loz Pearce forward and Campbell in the ruck.

Or more likely the AFL want them to experience success given their men’s teams disaster last 5 years

We had to include a pick to get a first for Birch, yikes

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As a long term fan of hers it’s sad to see people pile on

We gave the Hawks 16 in the deal roo The big question is which of the top draft picks stay in the Vic only pool. No doubt the afl will try to convince someone to go to GWS. But if we effectively get the 2nd best Victorian that would be a great result. I suspect we’ll ask North for 19 and 38 at a minimum.

Haven’t they generally had a Christmas/Santa session at the end of the year? Also I’m fine with most Casey sessions being technically closed but accidentally opening the gate to allow fans to have a wander in won’t hurt anyone. Legally closed but decriminalise track watchers please! No doubt media and cameras will be there for at least one session.

Hopefully our drafting has improved a lot since then

Assuming we lose Sherriff, West, Gay, Wilson and Birch Veterans: Watt, Colvin, Paxy, Goldrick FB: Gillard Chaplin HB: Heath ***** Lampard C: B. Mackin Purcell McNamara HF: A. Mackin Harris Bannan FF: Zanker Hore Foll: Pearce ***** Hanks Int: Mithen Campbell Fitzsimon **** ***** E: Gall, Taylor CHB and a star on baller are both going to be major priorities.

This is the first time players can sign long term deals as well as a jump in salary. So not only can they make more money they can lock it in for longer.

JVR is a great prospect but even still, does he crack the top 5 for key forwards under 23? King brothers, JUH, Amess all ahead. He's somewhere in with Cadman, Thilthorpe, Logan Mc, Ollie Lord. Rivers is a very good backman now, we don't know if he can become a great backman or a very good mid. Bowey's a nice player but he's not an elite ball user. No one is with our safe ball use from half back. Bowey was lucky to have 1 elite kick a game, the best half backs have 1 a quarter. 15th is a bit low, we have a nice range of young talent, but it's hard to justify putting us in the top 10 unless there's a lot of weight given to Windsor and Tholstrup.

Might’ve been the way you asked the question or JT not wanting to give much away. JT after the draft was pretty clear, but there’s no rush: Tholstrup was the second and final player to make it to the Demons on night one, the WA-based forward set to bring strength and personality to Melbourne’s line-up. “He’s a great character and a powerful medium-forward,” Taylor said. “We’ve got no doubt that he can, at some point in his career, go through the midfield [as well]. “He’s going to add some real quality, both as a person and as a player…we can’t wait to get him down.”

Im out on deck chairs, but very in on pirate ships

That’s the reason why the max crowd in recent years has been mid 30’s rather than 40’s. But I believe the Lions have found that the extra corporate seats and screens make more money than regular paying patrons.

If you needed a 20k stadium for a show you'd probably have one by now. Sounds to me like they'll dismantle the temporary components and otherwise struggle to fill it. The sports really should just be using Metricon, but I understand the transport issues make it so unpalatable. If we weren't so lazy/cheap/stupid for most of the last 100 years we'd have express rail between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and you could zip down in half and hour and it wouldn't be an issue. Same issue for the Gabba. Expanding it to such a size that was never suited to its location then being surprised it doesn't work out. Then building a new train station so they don't want to move it. Now they're locking in building it right up in its current spot so it cost an absolute fortune. They better hope they get it done right and with some of future proofing given the cost. Just maybe if they do get it right it will be great. But I'd be tempted to start from scratch somewhere with more room and margin for error.

Great reports guys. If he’s in the team we really need to use Tomlinson’s big tank more, particularly to get rebound out of him. He can be a good field kick - good distance and penetration. Can cough it up a bit under pressure because he’s heavy footed. But he has to be instructed to take off and run and for the other defenders to find him with switches and link play. Makes no sense to have a player who can blow up the tanks of the big forwards chasing him and restrain him to simply sitting in the back pocket. Hopefully McQualter can get some of that Richmond rebound game going

I don’t think it has to be plus points, purely removing the discount and restructuring the points system so early picks are worth their true value would go a long way. And some kind of rule that says early picks require at least a pick inside 9 of the bid to start the matching, or the 2 picks max to match a bid rule. A design that makes it harder for teams at the top of the ladder to grab early picks is vital too. The Lions will have performed a heist with the Ashcrofts. A lot of ways to fix a flawed system that remained flawed for far too long. There’s so many smart data analyst people working in the afl system. To design something that allowed a pick 9 to be matched with some late 40’s picks doesn’t stand up to basic scrutiny.

Theory; If they’re still using last years jumpers Fullarton will be more comfortable in Hibbo’s fuller jumper than Billings.

The big problem with the Gabba is that the location is really too tight for a modern stadium. Thats why they have to knock the whole thing down and rebuild over the course of 4 years. I know we love inner city stadiums and they are great but if you actually had transport and hospitality options in a more suburban location you could easily have a great stadium there. The smarter and cheaper option would be to start again with a new stadium in a location with more room rather than a 4 year shut down.

Honestly I don't think it's unreasonable. It's clearly not the strength of our list and there's a lot of bad teams that have dominated the drafts with the pointy end of high talent. I do think it undervalues our spread of young talent in various parts of the ground. It's fair to say we don't have that lock top 5 pick that looks a sure thing at being a superstar. Although I wouldn't then say JVR and Pickett are a chance yet rule out Rivers and McVee. For every one of the games best players who's a super high pick like a Petracca there's another player like a Gawn who can make huge leaps as they improve.

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