DeeSpencer

I know the finals now come quickly, but I would've preferred that Ange rested guys for the Oman game and started Cahill and co v Korea. Oh well. We have to be good enough to beat China. Then it will be Japan first then someone else instead of maybe the other way. The biggest same is apparently if we beat China we are set to play Japan in Newcastle, which is such a shame for fans because that game deserves a bigger stadium or a bigger city (think Newcastle stadium is slightly bigger capacity than Melbourne but lets be honest Melbourne would do it better!).

Dimitroff in Fed and Murray's side of the draw. If he's in form this could be the year he beats both of them and makes it through to the semi at least. I like Nadal over Berdych as long as Rafa is fit he's too mentally strong. Stan gets a pretty strong draw to get back to the semi's. Can't see the Djoker being trouble by Raonic. The unseeded Del Potro or Gael Monfils might cause more trouble in that quarter. Those latter two could have a heck of a second round match.

That's a distrubing list. Some absolute tennis journey women including the two Aussies. I thought Venus gave it away years ago? Nope top 20. Suarez Navarro actually looks like she's from the 1980's. She looks ripe to beaten by Steffie Graf. Garbine Muguruza is the one to watch from that list. Could go deep.

Love: Ponting - wow Ch9 stuffed up not getting him Flintoff - what a lad! Mel McLaughlin- yep Like: Gilly - great bloke KP - just for someone interesting 50/50: Mark Waugh - plays the grumpy old man sometimes, but generally knows his stuff Howie - bit of excitement, fair bit of knowledge, works well with the ex-cricketers Nope: Andy Maher - dead set moron Damien Fleming - giant nose, small brain. Had enough of the avenue of apprehension and all it's synonyms. Carries on non stop

Solid win from the stars. But they look much weaker now Tiffitt (sp?) comes in at 6 and having to play 5 bowlers. They need another all rounder - Stoinos - to bolster the batting and then need to hope Hastings, Bird and Beer in particular continue their good form and that they can find the 4th and 5th bowlers from either McKay or Boland and an all rounder. KP trotting out some overs tonight was a smart move. Good to see Cam White in a little bit more like something resembling form before that horrible decision. The openers have not being playing well. KP is now the star batsman. Although Handscombe and Quiney are decent replacements and as I said they just need that one more all rounder.

Quite simply, how many people see Jack Watts in the streets and suck up to him? And are the same who bag him on here? At least I know I'm consistent. I'm not going to go yell at him in the streets (unless I'm drunk), but at the same time I wont go up and tell him how much I think the media give him a hard time.

Smart clubs just on the rookie list. They are already poached just before they hit their peak quite often. And they are signed up on long term deals despite offering nothing (see Jake Spencer or Shaun Hampson). My issue with the current free agency is I think it's flawed and it's created this crazy trade market. I'm all for: - 6 year unrestricted free agency - 5th and 6th year franchise tag years at big wages - 4 year restricted free agency with the right to match a contract - 1-4 year draftee contracts that are tradeable So pretty much you enter the draft and you are treated as an asset by clubs. Once you hit 4th year you get some freedom to move. Once you hit 6th year you can do what you like. It's harsh on first to 4th year players. But that increases the value of the draft. And clubs will be compassionate to players in harsh situations.

Just how many Melbourne supporters see Jack Watts (either at training or wherever) and apologise to him for his poor play being questioned. And why?

Green Bay 21 Seattle 20 - Everyone thinks it's Rodgers v Seattle's D that will make this game. I disagree. I think the champion QB and champion D will slug it out all right. But I think the key to the game is the other side of the ball. In the superbowl and in the great 49ers v Seattle games it's always been the Russell Wilson does enough on key 3rd downs or Marshawn Lynch blows off the big run and from there the defense has the upper hand on a QB playing from behind. I'm backing Green Bay to have finally worked out how to trap Wilson on key 3rd downs and also stopping (or containing) Lynch. Which of course starts from their own running game as well! Colts 17 - Pats 34 - The Colts don't have a running game. The Pats seem to be able to create one against defenses they can beat that way, otherwise they just Brady it up. The Colts have a defense that's come right at the right time but lacks an obvious pass rush. The Pats have Revis! As much as I like Luck I don't think he's at that otherworldly stage needed to go in to Foxborough and beat the Pats. Only Joe Flacco does that!

Happy with Foxy. Reckon he'll bring a steadying presence similar to Roosy. But we need good coordinators. Mike Mularkey ex Atlanta and Steelers OC sounds interesting, would run the ball. But I'm really intersted in the Defensive Coordinator. I see they've put in a request for Fangio and I think he's done a fantastic job at the 49ers so I'd love him. Long road back to relevance and nothiing fixes our QB problem but I certainly feel we've done better than some. I can't understand why the Bills hired Rex Ryan. I understand defensive based coaches for Oakland, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and even the Jets and 49ers if they want to be a defensive based team. But the Bills have a good defense. They have no answer on offense. They really should've kept Jim Schwarz and gone after a coach to either draft and develop or build up a free agent QB (Hoyer seems the perfect fit).

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Well that makes more sense as TAC is all about finding guys with draftable traits and by the time you're 16-17 if you don't have it athletically or skill wise they don't really owe it to you to keep you on. It's their job to then move on to new prospects and try to get new talent in. They've been guys drafted from 1 or 2 TAC cup games when they lobbed in late in the season, so I understand that. The thing about soccer, like tennis and many other sports is that as such a highly skilled and popular sport you need the hours of training and muscle memory and that has to start very early. Elite foot (and hand) skills are important in footy but not as much. Physicality is vital, as are the athletic traits that can improve from training but I'm not sure starting a 10 year old on a weights program or fitness program is really going to do a heap of good long term. Neither will bashing them up to toughen them up. There probably is a gap in the AFL market for elite academies for 8-15 year olds. There are a number of knock off versions of these for soccer around Melbourne yet alone around the world. I actually read about Ange P and how when left between jobs prior to his A-League gig he started what sounds like an ethical and successful one of these set ups to keep him busy. Yet it sounds like their are heaps more fleecing parents. I guess the question is what benefit would these have for the AFL compared to cost? I like the idea of kids being kids and parents not shelling out big bucks just to heap pressure on kids, most of whom will fail. That said there's more than a few AFL players who would've benefit from proper coaching at a younger age even pre TAC. I think the first step is to try to get more players out of QLD and NSW as well as remote Indigenous talent before the AFL invest or support any programs for younger kids in addition to existing ones.

I think Hogan is much fitter and more adaptable, but I also look at someone like Hawkins who after a great debut took years to find his true form and even Jay Schulz, who is now a reliable key forward at Port who had to change clubs to get to that level. Then there's someone like Joe Daniher who's a great talent but can go from kicking 4 one week to 4 touches the next. Hogan will have his good and bad days for sure this year. What I'm excited about is that he wont be afraid to have a go. So unless he really struggles he should be able to do something positive most weeks that keeps us excited. Even Salem this year, even though he was a sub and didn't have the match fitness, most weeks he laid a strong tackle, or dished off a clever handball or kick or used his body to protect the ball.

It's a bit chicken or egg though isn't it? Do they look better because of the coaching or are they getting that coaching because they are the better players? Hunt's definitely a project, but at the same time he was coached by Robert Shaw so got better than the average standard coaching I'd suggest. Hopefully he stays fit and can play some decent footy at Casey. He showed some speed in the grand final sprint and doesn't look so raw as to be hopeless from what I've seen at trainings. Our first years this year set the bar pretty high, comparatively besides Oscar McDonald looking very skinny they are probably ahead of Hunt and King.

I think implies is the wrong word. Synonymous is better. Anyway, I'm glad the sun came out for the boys today. If you want heat training it's better to have some heat!

I'm happy to add the sober, mentally impaired and drug affected as well.

When the second most likely option is that you may have lost a bet you probably shouldn't be surprised that people think you're a moron. At least Jones shows some loyalty to his footy club as well as his family. I believe the last two who branded themselves with their surnames are now down in Geelong.

That much is already clear. It was designed for the likes of Angus Monfries and Matt White of the AFL, maybe Rivers and Moloney. Certainly was never intended for top class players.

Tex Walker when Rory Sloane is also available? Strange. Guess he hasn't signed yet either. Can we have both Sloane and Dangerfield please?

Because of the hypotheticals! We have to finish higher or about level to Geelong, Collingwood and Adelaide, without Richmond finishing top 4 and looking legit. I think they are the biggest competitors to the Dangerfield market. I doubt Hawks, Essendon or North have the salary space, doubt Carlton can entice him, same with Saints, Dogs. Now there's every chance Richmond again are in that 5-10th not looking likely to win a flag any time soon region. But to ask us to finish close enough to 3 other sides, 2 of which in Geelong and Adelaide could still make the 8 is a big call I guess. Then there's the money. If Geelong have locked Selwood, Taylor, Motlop, Duncan and Hawkins away on salaries that fit within a team structure then I don't see anyone else on their list who's cashing big money. The older brigade - Bartel, Enright (both whom probably retire next season), SJ, Mackie, Lonergan, Stokes are either veterans or not on much anyway I'd say. Maybe Caddy, Vardy or Guthrie have somehow snared big deals but I doubt it. And surely they didn't over pay for Clark, Stanley, McIntosh etc. Even if we look a more promising side (which is a huge if) they should still have a big chunk of coin as well. Remember there's every chance we are paying Jones, Vince, Dawes, Dunn even Hogan, Tyson and Viney overs because managers know they have leverage. I'm not too worried about signing a free agent though. I'm more concerned about getting on the right track. Build your club properly the free agents will come. If it's not on solid foundations then I don't think you'll get the right free agent anyway.

I hope our players hit the beach. For a few reasons. Hawthorn have led the way with training in Queensland and the media stuff from their trips so often features them doing training on the sand. Always some commando stuff. I've seen the Swans doing sand dune sessions pretty much every preseason. They also probably do more beach rehab than any other team (besides Gold Coast and maybe the WA sides) due to their location. Even our best player keeps fit and fresh from surfing. I just think there's something about the way sand takes the pressure off the joints but at the same time requires really high intensity to get through that makes it ideal for footy training. I think it's the combination of needing short sharp powerful and agile movements as well as feeling like you're battling through the 4th quarter of a game where your legs just aren't moving. There's plenty of hot days to train in Melbourne over summer so I reckon if you're going to Queensland you may as well use the beaches!

I think Roos thought it of more benefit last year to get extra skills training in combined with a short camp at Sorrento to work on the leadership and team bonding. With less remedial work this year they can invest the time in moving the program and having a longer camp. Financial concerns might have been a factor but mainly I think staying town was the right move. Roos also had the trip to Africa in which he missed a weeks training where they did mainly fitness work.

As for the rest of the games: - The Ravens are a great playoffs team, but needed either one more offensive weapon or even better a healthy and good secondary. The pats, hmmm, best team in the AFC probably and definitely the best coach team. I hate them and even more I hate their bandwagon fans. - The Panthers weren't good enough. The SeaHawks look beatable though. Their offense isn't at the level of last year and it's just impossible for their defense to be although they are still the best left in it. - Manning- well he has such little physical tools these days that he can't afford to be slowed further by injury. If he comes back he should take a pay cut and let them buy a couple extra hands on the offensive line to make sure they are up to it in January. As for that defense, I think they were really weak. The colts O line and running game should be weaknesses in playoffs, but Luck had way too much time and space. I didn't actually see any of GB v Cowboys, but I am impressed by the Cowboys. Rod Marinelli will continue molding their defense and finding great D line men. And on offense I think they have something sustainable as well. Maybe another year for Romo and Whitten slows them down, but if they stay at a high level then I think the offensive line, running game and receivers are sustainable.

Here's a few things I don't get: If you've caught the ball and are down by contact as Dez was, then that's the end of the play normally right? And if you catch the ball and control it the whole time then what does it matter if it moves in your arms as you go down as long as you don't lose it. That said I think they got it right according to the rules. But in an offensive league that gives so many soft penalties to offensive players I'd rather see them relax the rules on a catch.

I've always said, if late to tips and just wanting to rip off someone's then pick the prettiest. Well that happens to be Biff's! Baltimore 17 New England 28 Carolina 10 Seattle 31 Dallas 17 Green Bay 31 Indianapolis 21 Denver 28 Funny thing is I'd tip Dallas at Seattle and Baltimore at Denver but the seedings don't fall that way so I think all 4 will prevail. But I'm praying for all and any upsets. 4 really really good home ground advantages help. Carolina travel cross the country, Indi and Dallas go from nice indoors to strong outdoors. Baltimore are the ones going somewhere they suit, but have such a huge challenge.