DeeSpencer

I have thought all along our 2nd rounder next year is a better deal. Not sure why Mahoney ever talked our pick this year unless it was to avoid focus on the issue. We lost Melksham for a year. The bombers can wait until next year for the Hibberd pick. Half a chance it ends up a better pick anyway. But for us we need to get in to this draft and there's every chance an even draft a kid we rated in the top 15 or so gets to 28. Too important to give that up.

New England Philly San Diego

Not sure it's unders for a guy who's nearly 27, had a year out of the game, has only played 80 games and has had a few injuries. I think it's more than fair given 100 solid games is really the maximum we can get from Hibberd. That's higher than the return on most pick 26'ers who have to develop and could easily flop but it's also a risk of giving up the 1 in 10 or so shot of getting an A grader around that mark.

It seems popular and I like it as well. Tipple D. Denver Dallas Detroit On pure line betting I like KC, the Rams, Buffalo and Cleveland all to have a crack at being competitive and covering. Thinking 3 of those cover the line.

Houston Arizona Pittsburgh Will likely regret tipping against the Pats at home on a short week but seriously a 3rd string rookie QB against a good defense. At least I'll see the wizardry of Belichick once again. Couldn't bring myself to tip anyone else, Atlanta and San Diego the best I could think of and they aren't very good.

He'll probably go on an all time great run now and make me look silly but I can't help but think there's something not right about Rodgers. I thought he fixed it in Arizona last year but he still seems to be jumping around way too much in the pocket. Moving in the pocket is great, but if the line is blocking well then just step up and make an accurate throw. I don't think he's selfish in any way but it looks like he's trying to create the great play and has lost confidence in his receivers and isn't getting the ball out and trusting them. Maybe the offense needs a tweak and some new plays mixed in to freshen things up. I'm super impressed with Stefon Diggs. He'll make Bradford look good all year. And if the Vikes O line can click in to gear and run the ball then they'll be a force. The Texans have impressed me and now get the luxury of the Pats playing an injured player/3rd stringer or guy off the street at QB on a short week. They should go up there and win and get to 3-0. Panthers still looking like the team to beat in the NFC. Nice to see the Cards bounce back. Some other teams I'm a bit up and down on including the Giants, Seattle, GB and the Vikes. Steelers looking the class of the AFC, with the Pats always in the equation and I expect the Texans, Denver, KC and Cinci to challenge in a strong conference.

I'm not sure he's as quick as someone like Hunt and I don't think he'll be a wingman, but his first few steps and agility impressed me plus his leap. And his willingness to tackle was great. I could see him becoming a rebounding half back, a lock down defender, a defensive forward or maybe even an inside midfielder with the ability to go 3rd man up in the ruck and to provide some burst to the contest. Half back is the best spot to train him up in and I think next year he could become a consistent VFL player and push to debut and play a few games, then it's a matter of where to from there. The big unknown with any mature age recruit and with any athlete from a non footy background is you can't tell how much they will improve. If he improves the same way Hunt did then we'll have a great player on our hands.

Kicking would have to be a big focus for him over preseason. I thought his action was fine if a little stiff, but given he's played all of about 10 games this year I didn't think it was too bad. His one kick to Dunn was perfect, others not so great.

Seattle Baltimore Green Bay Really wish I did the tips earlier and took the Jets. The Bills are a dumpster fire. They scored 31 and lost then sacked the offense??!

Yeah handy up forward and nearly took a screamer! Bit of a shame we didn't see him in his more suited spot down back or get him running in the ruck as the ball was just bombed forward a lot but he did look athletic and physical.

Essendon being Essendon will probably ask for the world. No point in going overboard if you're Goodwin. Given he was talking about being appointed the senior coach I thought it was more important to get the headlines on the club and current players instead of talking too much about a recruit.

Fair enough. I guess just being 195cm it's a fair effort to go against the 2nd rucks that are mostly 200cm plus these days. I'm sure he'd give it a go and probably be better than Pedda or Watts but I wouldn't recruit him for it unless he leaps like Nic Nat! Sounds like he's more of a power athlete so could be a full back a bit like Frost instead of a running CHB like one of the McDonald's. Might suit an Etihad team where he can camp back inside defensive 50 and then pick off contests. Could really suit North at FB whilst Tarrant does the running at CHB.

Feel free to correct any/all of this as I go but from what I've seen and heard: He's not big enough or athletic enough to ruck at AFL level. Nor does he have the talent to play forward - very few do. So we are looking at a key defender. To be a key defender I think you need: - Endurance: ok for a young VFL player but not amazing from the running I saw in preseason where he was a fair way down the pack - Athleticism: think he's pretty good in that regard, moves nicely considering he'll fill out in to a pretty strong lad - Speed: pretty solid but not Frost level fast - Good mark: yep - Competitiveness: yep, is willing to spoil and use his body - Kicking skills: doesn't make many mistakes at VFL but probably isn't his strong suit at the next level I think with good AFL development he could play a few games but in the few times I've watched Casey I haven't seen anything that really blows me away like a big game of intercept marks or a game where he's rebounded, broke lines and kicked like an AFL flanker. If we move on one of Dunn or Garland we probably need to add another young key defender, I guess time will tell who that will be. I certainly wish him well. It will be a big tick for the Casey program and help both the Dees and Casey to have someone drafted. The more players drafted from your VFL club the more incentive for young players to go there and as that talent develops the stronger your VFL team and the more entrenched your AFL players get with winning and winning culture.

I think whatever value there was to take from Hird and Thompson's time at Essendon we've got covered with Goodwin and McCartney. That said, the small group of banned bombers have been training with Sean Wellman who coached our backline better than anyone I can remember and it's been a select group featuring some pretty classy players in Watson, Hurley, Heppell and Hooker.

I don't know about that. I'm cautiously optimistic, although I would've preferred him playing this year. There's a few reasons: 1. He was very promising in his first few years and then seemed to hit a snag the last couple. Who knows how much the ASADA stuff played on his mind. 2. Then there's the chance that like many players they hit a bit of a wall around the 60-80 game mark where expectations have overshot performances and they have to fight through a bit of a dry spell to really become fully formed players. Nath Jones the best example of that. 3. The change of role to half back might see a lift in output. He can run, he plays well overhead for his size and he has kicking penetration. In our game style that is based upon defenders coming up to win the ball back and then attacking out to space and overlapping he might be valuable.

What are they? 24 and 26, with 100 and 80 games experience respectively. They'd increase the average but hardly send it sky rocketing. The youth thing does get overplayed but in some regards it's right. The midfield starting to get some continuity with Gawn, Jones, Viney, Tyson, despite a young average age/games they are entering/in their prime. But up forward it was often Hogan, Petracca, Brayshaw, Kent with only Watts and Garlett/Pedda as experience and those last two aren't exactly Luke Hodge style leaders. Then down back it was Tommy Mc, Jetta and a bunch of kids. To have Frost, Oscar, Hunt, Harmes, Wagner all with 30 games and under 22 or whatever they are in the same side there's definitely an inexperience factor there. Especially if trying to play a zone defensive system that relies on players making aggressive decisions on when to come up, when to drop back, when to fly for marks etc. It might take some time to mesh but I'm sure the hope is that a couple of experienced players being added to the backline group solidifies the unit.

I tipped the Lions. Indy have some bad injuries and suspensions, so I thought Stafford could make plenty of plays. They tried to lose it with the missed extra point at the end but got the job done. I don't think either of those teams will be good, but I like the Lions more because they were bad last year and got better, where as Indy are a mess outside of Luck. It seems the Bears were good for a half, but against a decent Houston defense the offense just ground to a halt. They double teamed Jeffery and with no Forte or Bennett there's no one else to make a play. The defense dug in for a half but with a weak secondary they can't get too creative and get after the QB. The Texans rookie WR Fuller was great and scorched the Bears. And if the Bears can't run the ball this year they won't win many games. If they do establish the run then they have enough in other places to test teams

Fantastic burn from Del Rio. I know they might've had some momentum but with Drew Brees at home I think the Raiders win < 50 % in overtime. If you lose the coin toss then it's probably < 40%. By going for it you put the other team on the back foot and have a controlled situation. Given the Saints defensive weakness I think it was an inspired decision.

Oh cool, probably before my time in being an NFL fan, either way I think it's a fun topic. I don't like pumping huge hours in to fantasy sports each week, although I probably would in America given the NFL is mostly consigned to Sunday which is half the appeal. Looking at Simmons + friends groupings probability says at least a couple if not a few of the teams in the 2nd and 3rd column of picks end up winning 8 or even 10 games and making play offs. And maybe someone in the first 10 teams falls off a cliff and finishes with 6 wins.

Cincinnati Green Bay Detroit

It might be too late to organise, maybe sometime next week before the 2nd round of games? But I wonder if we could get either 5 or 10 people to do this NFL wins pool that Bill Simmons has done. Could make it worth a point in the tipping Macca? Or just do it for fun. What do you think?

As a Bears fan I thought he was great as well. Quick and accurate release. Might only be a game manager but that's all you need with Denver's defense and their running game looked very good.

Tempted to tip the Panthers but I think I'll just enjoy watching the first game. From a better point of view the Pats with a 6 point spread seems generous even with Jimmy G. A fired up Belichick after a full offseason of preparation can work some magic there and at least keep it close.

Teddy: 65.3% 3231 yards, 14TD, 9 INT, 44 sacks, 88.7 Rtg Bradford: 65% 3725 yards 19 TD, 14 INT, 28 sacks, 86.4 Rtg I think Bradford can play as well as Teddy did last year and in a similar style. Obviously a run heavy offense takes down his number of attempts,, but with more weapons this year the Vikings might open things up a bit. The big questions will be whether he can stay healthy and whether he's good enough to do what's needed to win big games. Teddy last year was good but probably needed to improve to win play off games. That's probably the same level Bradford is at unless the Vikings defense goes to the next level or two.

After watching Hard Knocks I've got a bit more respect for Fisher. Or at least let me put it this way, I understand why he keeps his job and finishes with 7 or 8 wins. He seems competent and certainly isn't Mark Neeld level of crud. That said he must surely be running out of time very soon. Goff's preseason was rough and I think he was overdrafted by going number 1. I remember watching him against a decent Utah defense last year and they picked him off at will and he didn't play in a pro style offense. That said, I'm still a fan of his. He makes all the throws. He's got the temperament. He's physically gifted. I don't think sitting him for a few games/few months/the whole year even will do him any harm.