DeeSpencer

There's some stuff in here about NFL QB Sam Bradford's time with Knowles. http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/08/16/chip-kelly-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-monday-morning-quarterback In short, I hope Petracca likes playing badminton!

1/2 Bancroft and Burns 3 - Smith 4 - Khawaja 5 - Voges 6 - M Marsh 7 - Nevill 8 - O'Keefe 9 - Starc 10 - Siddle 11 - Lyon

AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR QANTAS TOUR OF BANGLADESH Steve Smith ©, Adam Voges (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Patrick Cummins, Andrew Fekete, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Stephen O’Keefe, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc Interesting squad. 10 thoughts: 1. Nathan Lyon stiff not to be VC 2. Just the one keeper, selectors seem confident in Nevill 3. Usman is back 4. Shaun Marsh never dies 5. Johnson rightfully rested 6. Maxwell and O'Keffe are both interesting players, batting allrounder, bowling allrounder 7. Bancroft and Burns the first youngsters to get a chance 8. Not sure what to make of Cummins, I really think he needs to play first class cricket before his next test cap 9. Shocked that Fekete gets the nod over Sandhu 10. No Agar, shame, still think he has a future as a test spinner, just in the long term not short

I can understand clock management mistakes from some players but they are inexcusable for coaches and for starting QB's on 20 mil a year. Didn't matter if they ran or passed, all Eli had to do was take a sack instead of throwing it away. I guess that's easier if you run the ball and takes out the problem. But feeding in 2 plays and allowing Eli to run the correct one based on the coverage and seeing if he gets an open receiver makes some sense to me. I have no idea how much they can communicate via the QB headsets but the coach really had to say 'if there's no one open then take the sack' and Eli had to know that anyway.

Add Mason Shaw to the list http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/player-profile/mason-shaw Out of contract with Port and had a bad 2nd year due to injury after kicking a good amount of goals in his first. Reminds me a bit of Tippett. 197cm might be a little short to ruck but close enough.

He's always looked slow and mechanical at AFL level. Like Jamar of late (who still largely dominated the VFL). I don't know how much better than Spencer he would be. So I wouldn't be in a hurry to find out. I'd rather draft and develop a guy who has the athleticism for AFL.

Forgot all about tipping! Damn. Would've certainly gone GB and liked Miami and Carolina as well. Oh well. Everyones an expert in hindsight. Better start remembering for next week. Watching the highlights now, Bears did enough to show they might at least be a physical football team this year. Definite rebuild on the cards needing to draft most of a new secondary and eventually make the big call on a QB. But hopefully in the mean time we win some games. That or finish dead last and get the first pick. The same old story shaping up in the AFC I think. NE, Denver, Ravens.... Steelers don't write off San Diego. Teams with the best QB's. The Colts still way too reliant on Luck but also still in the weakest division unless....Mariota can keep having 4 touch down games. Bucs fans wouldn't be happy right now. Fix that leaky run defense and the Packers will be favourites for the NFC but I feel it's probably more wide open than the AFC if Seattle's struggles, particularly with the O Line continue. Although if your O Line is your weakness the Rams aren't a fair guide.

That people think Tim Boyle is a gifted writer says it. [censored] footballer, [censored] writer who can really only tell half finished stories about his own sad career. That the Age thinks to publish a story of him [censored] his pants says a lot about where they are at.

There's a few who might be equal with him, but there's no one harder than him in the AFL. I reckon that's awesome. Also Jones might lead by example, but I think Viney might be the drill sergeant. We need that type of player who demands respect.

Not a huge fan of the pain the neck headline, this is pretty serious stuff. Really hoping for the best for Nathan's sake. The good news I guess is he's played through it so hopefully it's a more minor procedure to reduce pain, but either way anything neck related is full on. The good news I guess is we can be really conservative as he's got the build up of preseasons to regain fitness quickly once his neck is ok. Big test for our young leaders and other mature leaders to set the standard that Jonesy does over preseason.

I agree the extra bench spot is wiped out by the drop in rotations. But looking at the top teams Freo and Hawthorn play 2 rucks, whilst WC and Sydney play 200cm forwards who can legitimately ruck. So either way the days of Pedersen or Dawes are numbered. We might be able to play a 2nd ruck more easily and just cop the drop in rotations but that's not a long term solution and Gawn struggles forward whilst Jamar and Spencer are both liabilities forward. Zac Clarke is one I didn't mention in the first post, but even though he's nothing special as a player he'd probably cost a bit in terms of a trade and salary, he doesn't appeal to me.

3 years would be about right for Howe. He'd be a free agent after that. He's in his prime, can run and kick and has so far stayed healthy. Got no issue with him asking for 4 and us saying 3. The money is interesting. Hard to get a value on a player I rate as only fringe 22 at a good club. Still puts him well above the league average of 340k but well below 700k. If a team wants to pay him they better give us a good trade, that's my thinking on Howe. Otherwise we might say ok Jeremy 3 years at 400 or 450, maybe a little more with incentives.

Just canvassing some thoughts on this position which is one of our weaknesses: Option A: Stick with what we have Part 1.Pedersen (?Out of contract) or Dawes Part 2. Max King rookie retention/promotion Part 3. Frost or Tom McDonald as potential swingmen Option B: - Draft Brett Anderson's draft big board has twin brothers Harry and Ben McKay both 200cm in the top 25. I'm sure draft watchers will know of others. Option C: Trade Kreuzer - unlikely we will want to invest the money Casboult - Don't like his wayward kicking and he's not really an athletic 2nd ruck Josh Walker - only 196cm so not really a ruckman, makes some mistakes forward but on his day can kick goals. Would only be a slight upgrade on Pedersen and Dawes but much younger I'd say sticking with what we have and looking for best available in the draft would be the best idea but instead of starting a thread on every big man who comes along I'd put them here. What does everyone else think? Should we prioritise help in this position?

Heeney will be a lot closer with the rest of the Sydney team and his NSW based family, and I bet he enjoys playing in a top 4 side. He'd be contracted for at least next year and the swans would laugh at pick 6 and Watts. It's not going to Hanners or Franklin who have signed long contracts. Kennedy and Tippett are too old. I doubt Parker would be interested. I really don't see a lot on the Swans list who would want to come to Melbourne. Zak Jones is the obvious one but I think he's signed a deal and pretty happy up there now.

Probably the 2nd least likely to leave Sydney for Melbourne. I had a look at the swans list, there's not a lot of depth not getting games. Hawthorn have Jed Anderson, James Siciliy and Angus Litherland all who would make nice pick ups for Melbourne. Can't see the same thing at Sydney.

If the bombers have offered him a 2 year deal then we'd have to do the same and I'm not too keen on that. If he gets delisted he'd probably be better than most and worth a shot at taking one of the last spots on the list. A benefit of having AFL level fit and semi skilled (ie he can kick a reliable drop punt) player finishing off the list compared to a late pick in a bad draft is probably reasonable. He's the kind of player you consider late in trade week not in early September.

Witts is soft, mentally and physically and his best chance of making it is being the number 1 guy, if Mumford goes down he'll get that chance. Kreuzer isn't exactly the most physical ruck around but he's a competitor and whilst Witts is more likely to take a grab I think Kreuzer is more mobile forward. Pretty much Kreuzer is better at staying out of the way forward and provides more energy in the ruck. Plus of course Kreuzer will be free where Witts will make a nice steak knive to go to GWS. To complete the loop of ruckman swapping around Phillips from GWS will go to Carlton if they lose Kreuzer.

I really think we'd be better off waiting til next year for an aggressive approach at JOM. Yes he might come good, play a great season and the team push back towards the 8 and he signs a long term deal, but with his injuries I'd think he'd be a huge risk this year. How many games do we need to win to be a destination club? Brisbane had a hot finish to the year last year, won 7 games and signed Beams and Christensen. But they both wanted to get to Brisbane (the city). Victoria is obviously a more competitive market. The Pies won 10 games this year and have attracted Treloar, although they beat out Richmond, as well as North who have won more (with a much older list). The Dogs mega trade for Boyd is looking foolish considering they might've got pick 4 and 6 instead and drafted more young talent on an already impressive list and had the million a year spare to find the key forward at some other stage. That said, maybe landing Boyd was a big boost for club morale. I still lean towards keeping picks and sticking to drafting and developing until we find the guy who wants to come to us not someone we've chased with a huge offer.

They can't keep him, they'd look too stupid. They can't send him to the PSD - he's not out of contract. They have to agree to a trade and Harley has to sign off on it. Pick 6 for Bennell and 19 would value Bennell somewhere around pick 12 I'd say. That's probably the maximum offer. Our job is to do a thorough background check and to get Bennell to commit to the club as his preference. After that happens we can start the bidding much lower. If other clubs want to make offers for a player who doesn't want to play for them and refuses to be traded too them then good luck to them. We can up the offer to one that placates Gold Coast for a player they have all but effectively sacked. I'm not trying to be petty like an Essendon staff member, I'm just saying Bennell's value surely can't be sky high and Gold Coast have minimal leverage. I'd hate to use pick 6 given all the risk involved. Bennell averages 15 games a year the last 3 years and hasn't exactly polled huge votes in the Brownlow. I'd usually reserve pick 6's for guys with a much stronger pedigree regardless of off field problems.

By the way we need to sign Harmes up ASAP! So competitive they had to stop living together, that's awesome.

Since he's come we've gone 2,4,7. If we get to 10 in 2017 that will probably be enough IMO. We don't have to reinvent the wheel we just have to keep steady progress. A tall forward mate for him would be a really big help as well I think.

He used to love Strauss kicking it to him lace out at Casey as well. I bet he'd love Watts doing the same. Everyone wants to play with competitive guys but they want to play with skilled guys as well. So I wouldn't make it so personal. Those guys aren't just competitive, they are good!

It's how I'd answer it. If we give him a reason to stay he'll stay. If we are stuck at the bottom of the ladder going knowhere and a club will pay him twice what we can and there's a personal reason for him to move he might move. Nothing in that is unreasonable.

So Bernie was 11th in the coaches votes. All 10 players above him got AA noms. Gray, Martin, Nic Nat, Rance, Deledio, Josh J Kennedy finished below him and also got noms.

Riewoldt leaving will set them back, but McCartin and Bruce should form a nice combination. Not sure if Bruce is a 2nd ruck though, so they'll need someone in that role. Hickey and Longer are decent ruck prospects but I'm not sure if both can play in the same side especially with 2 big key forwards. Dempster and Fisher will leave a big hole in their backline, so Carlisle will be a huge get for them. If they get Carlisle to go with Goddard then that's most of their spine sorted. They have a greater depth of young guys who have stepped up to play some decent footy - Newnes, Webster, Lonie, Sinclair, Savage. A lot of guys who seem to have solid fitness, pace, skills etc to play 2 way footy, so in many games this year they pressured well and also scored. I think they have a lot of guys who are a bit like Billy Stretch or Neal-Bullen in how they are developing in to neat AFL footballers who do a lot of the basics. No doubt Montagna and Riewoldt contribute heavily to the their ability to move the ball and score. A gun outside accumulator and probably still the best lead up CHF in the game is a huge advantage over us (for now). Where our advantage lies is I don't think they have: - A young ruck as good as Gawn - A young key fwd as good as Hogan - A young key defender as good as Tom McDonald (although that changes if they get Carlisle) - Young midfield top end talent or depth (not counting Steven and Armitage) that Viney, Tyson and Brayshaw give us, I prefer our 3 than Dunstal and Weller. Steven and Armitage are younger than Vince and Jones (especially Vince, less so Jones). - A young back flanker as good as Salem We need Petracca to be our Billings I think. The half forward who can do it in the air or on the ground. Then we need a 2nd key forward to help Hogan. Otherwise I'm keen to see what a preseason and a fit bill of health can do for Kent, JKH, Toumpas, Stretch, ANB, White ,O Mc, Harmes, Newton etc as I think with more of these guys playing more regularly we will start to play a more attractive style of footy that regardless of win-loss will get more compliments.