DeeSpencer

I think he'll play wing and be a stronger, faster and more penetrating (but not more accurate) version of Matt Jones. He'll cover the backline better as well and probably rotate between wing and half back. I am hoping he can run the members wing and pump it in to good forwards. The important thing is we play well enough to have forwards capable of staying deep in the forward line. Worst comes to worst I think Lumumba and Dawes will at least be on the same page. A link up player and CHF on the same page sounds like a nice combination.

AFL players can be pretty deluded. In fact that' true of local footballers. I've never met on that thought they should've been dropped. But if Grimes is perceptive about his game he would realise his form was poor in 2014 and a chance to be dropped. Therefore he couldn't continue as captain. I don't think you can have a captain in and out of the team. If Roos and co had to push Grimes to make that decision then so be it.

I think what you'll find is that Jamar and Moloney were getting together down on the peninsula and best mates Dom Tyson and Tomlinson were also down there and Petracca was and they all got together to do their running. It's a strange combination on face value but it makes sense if they were in the area to do it together. Love the comments labelling the red head Sam Blease and sledging Moloney about being fat.

Very Ross Lyon like

Have to go different to you! Dallas - am I little worried they have nothing to play for. But they are red hot Indy New Orleans - Tampa must tank! Hoping the Bears tank (not that it will be hard for them) and lost to the Vikings

Anyway, Brayshaw had 40 days off from September to mid October not running on his ankle. So he might be in a hurry to get his fitness back. Almost every AFL player is a committed professional. Especially any good one. So I'm impressed by Brayshaw, but if other players took xmas day off then they did some really solid sessions on boxing day or Christmas Eve.

Did you end up successful or go down in a blaze of glory Mark Neeld style?

Plenty of hard work and risk involved in both. But can't help but feeling he's had some luck in his time. AFL football player and now multimillion dollar swim wear company owner. Come on. That's not fair!

It limits the number of big games in the first 17 rounds as well as creating a tankapalooza in the last 5 rounds for bottom teams. I'd rather play a mixed fixture in the last 5 rounds and have the comp close enough that a bottom side can knock off a finals contender as well as not tire out the top teams by having them play huge games every week in a short space. It also creates a silly system where you are much better finishing 7th the year before than 6th. I'm fine with playing all 17 teams in the first 17 games, but 6th place shouldn't have to play 1 to 5 just before finals. I like it how it is now where by 6th will play 2 other top 6 teams, 1 middle 6 team and a bottom 6 team, the issue is finding that 5th game but it can be somewhat fair. That's a fair fixture that says if you're good enough you should win plenty of the 5 teams you play twice.

I don't like rolling draws. I think it will be more unfair in some ways if a top team gets lucky one year and has Melb, WB, Saints, GWS, Bris as their 5 teams to play twice and that gifts them a top 4 spot. 5 in to 18 is pretty hard, but I think they've done ok how it is now. 21 games would make it easier to just play 2 from the same group of 6 you finish in and 1 from each other group of 6. From that point of view I'd rather play the better competitive fixture than the financial fixture. Of course that creates the problem of whether it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and the top teams play the best financial fixtures and stay at the top and the bottom can't spin a profit and stay at the bottom. However I think GWS and Gold Coast will rise soon and throw the order out a bit. Especially if teams like North, Port, Freo, Syd, West Coast and Adelaide stay strong. That should result in some of Richmond, Carlton, Essendon or Collingwood taking a tumble down the ladder. Whether they hit the depth of us, St Kilda and WB I'm not sure. The competition badly needs to see big clubs at the bottom and small clubs at the top and the ladder changing it up year to year. My biggest gripe with the fixture this year is actually the TV games scheduling. The Friday night games for Carlton, Richmond and Collingwood, all whom aren't that high on my finals list is ridiculous. Whilst North (slightly better) and Port (miles better) get little love from Friday night footy. The AFL always said win games and you'll get the exposure, but that's been shown to be a lie.

I've named who I think is in the best 22 and ready on track to play round 1. As preseason goes on I'll try to fill it out. FB: Jetta Dunn ***1*** HB: Garland McDonald Howe C: Vince Jones Lumumba HF: Kent Hogan ****4*** FF: Garlett ****2** ***3**** Foll: Jamar Tyson Cross Int: ****2/3*** Viney ****4***** ***3***** 1) Grimes v Frost. Could fit both in with one on the bench, but mostly I think these two are fighting for part of the best 6 defenders and going small or tall with Dunn/Garland. Gold Coast's 3 prong big forward attack leans towards getting Frost in. But I do want to see him play in preseason first 2) The second tall forward and back up ruck spot or spots comes down to Pedersen, Gawn and Fitzpatrick. I'm not sure if we will fit 2 of these in or go small with the extra forward. If Petracca is a freakish man child capable of playing as an undersized full forward then I say we go that route and then just pick one of Pedersen or Gawn. But if we need the extra tall for structure then so be it and probably hope you can sub at 3/4 time. 3) Half forward/midfield rotation/sub spots are available for Bail, JKH, Petracca, Salem and probably others 4) The remaining midfield spots (which includes one of the half forward spots) should be filled by the likes of Toumpas, Newton, Watts, Salem, Matt Jones, Michie or Brayshaw

That is Pig's breakfast way of naming a team!

Watts is a midfielder/half forward. Treat him as a 185cm player because he rarely uses his height. It should be in competition with JKH, Kent and the midfielders, not for the 2nd ruck spot.

1. Allows him to do handball drills and thus stay participated in training which is likely good for his mental state 2. Lets him keep his leg somewhat elevated which might reduce swelling 3. Reduces any risk that he stumbles on crutches and puts weight on the foot

As a standalone VFL club Willy might actually be better for opportunities. And he may well be moving to the area of study/work etc. So I don't think unless you know the facts you can say either way. I think it's important we have a pathway with Gippsland, but I don't think it's a case that it's a failure to not get everyone.

But there's probably what 10 guys in the league now from Ireland trying to find their way? Brisbane - Hanley bro's Port - Dan Flynn Carl - 3 - Touhy, Sheehan, Ciaran Byrne Geelong - the recruit lad Ess - 1 West Coast - 1 So if you take away Hanley and Touhy as established players it's mainly 1 guy per club and I think there is a reason behind that. The first is probably cost. You can try one speculative guy but that's about it. But with increased professionalism in the game I think there's lots of other reasons why 1 club wouldn't be able to own the Irish recruiting model. Firstly, the best kids now know they have currency and therefore can probably ask for 2 year deals on good money. They can then choose from a variety of clubs. So if they have family in Perth or Adelaide they might go there. Whilst being with a countryman might be nice, they probably are also smarter to split up and therefore develop at their own pace instead of in competition with a fellow Irish recruit because for the one who struggled that would be bad news I'm guessing! And it takes away from development opportunities if you are sharing the coaching. I hope we get an overseas player as it's a wasted opportunity to not have one. But I don't think having one Irish player puts you on track to having more success with them. So if it's an Irish player or Kiwi or American or whatever I don't mind!

You know he got picked up by Geelong right? He was a bit soft to begin with in terms of his attitude and application to training, but he improved quickly and always had a crack in the games. Hopefully one day we have the funds again and can spend the money on these speculative pick ups. Jimmy was a Brownlow medalist, who finished his career shortly before Kennelly became a good player then a premiership player who finished up before Pierce Hanley has now become a top class player. So at the moment I'd say the evidence points to about 1 very good player every decade with a handful or so of solid players. Ciaran Sheehan from Carlton impressed me late in the year, he's one to watch.

But you look at the Cowboys who nailed 3 O line picks in a short time period and have now really rode their O line to what looks like a playoff appearance. That said I think the difference between a top pick and bottom pick is smaller than in the AFL. You just need to find a guy who wins his position and there are more at the top but they come throughout the rounds of the draft. So yeah I'd much rather win the games as well. The one difference is obviously the Quarterback. You only need to look at the Colts going straight from Manning to Luck to see that if there's a QB to be had you may as well tank. Same with Washington. If they had pick 2 and took Griffen it would've saved them a swag of picks that could've given them some much needed depth and RG3 probably would've been heading towards a solid future as at least a midlevel QB.

Oscar Mac - no. He's a beanpole. With Tom, Dunn and Frost ahead of him I don't think he'll see many preseason minutes and would need to play super well to even be considered. ANB - no. He trains well. He's got good endurance. But this knee dislocation will probably mean plenty of time in the rehab group whilst they make sure it doesn't happen again plus get his conditioning back and therefore I can't see him being given much of a chance in the earlier preseason games Stretch - maybe - he had that vital head start of a couple of weeks training. But then has been held back a bit. I could see him getting a bit of preseason footy, maybe coming on in the second half of games. He's a skinny body though so I dont think they'll be too keen to risk him Brayshaw - maybe - he seems to have an appetite to get involved in training. A natural go getter and I believe he had a small scare on Friday but otherwise has been progressing well in training. Petracca - maybe/probably- whilst the training intensity is clearly testing him (which is not a surprise) you can see he's got the size, skills and power to not only compete but to beat experienced players. The questions will be on his repeat efforts and adapting to the pace of the game. But if he keeps making improvements then I think he's on track for preseason footy. He does too many classy things to not be given a chance Last year JKH adapting to training like an absolute pro. He pushed himself in the running, was assured in any skills drills and in any match simulation drills was bobbing up everywhere with his reading of the play and intensity. It's early in preseason but I haven't seen that level from any of the knew draftees. Maybe because the standard of the group has improved. JKH then well and truly backed up his training form in the preseason games. ANB's injury may well cost him time in the preseason games depending on how many of the senior players we play. But otherwise all 4 mids should get a look in for preseason games and form will dictate.

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/119496/Zak-JONES A decent first season. Bit different being NEAFL and less opportunities but not dissimilar to Salem in many ways.

He was a first round pick and in just a small section of game he showed skills, toughness and a fair bit of poise. You could make an offer now then gamble on his year. Or wait and see. But barring a career threatening injury this year I'd be guessing he'd still be worth a second round pick and a lucrative contract at the end of next season. His ability to play half back is the reason I'd be very keen.

I missed it. The thing that I thought was going to make it truly terrible was that is wasn't just two 2 and 12 teams but a predictable result. Jax thing they have their QB and are at home. They needed to win and had motive to win. Once Tenn lost to the Jets they had to tank this one. They are now heavy rivals with Tampa for the number 1 pick. You'd have to think the Raiders (as the third 2 win team) would back Carr in and trade it to either Tenn or Tampa as well. Anyway, that's for another day. Feeling pretty confident this week: Green Bay - See above re Tampa Detroit - Clausen might give the Bears a kick along, but this team has packed it in for the year New England Could've tipped Philly, Buffalo, Seattle or Denver (Dalton melts in Prime Time) as well.

That's what Saty always says anyway! Good old Herbert

It requires a leap of faith, but if you disregard anything he did before these last two seasons (as I believe judging ruckman under 23 is pretty much irrelevant) then his career consists of: 5 games this year where he; smashed Hickey and had 9 tackles, got towelled by a triple threat of Eagles rucks, battled on against Mumford in the wet, beat Warnock silly and had 5 marks, played under heavy duress (ankle injury) against Gold Coast where he shouldn't have even played but we had no alternative. 8 games last year where he had a crack and threw his weight around unfortunately not too cleverly against the Saints when he got himself suspended. In marking contests he still battles. If he doesn't improve his coordination against better rucks he wont be of much use around the ground as clearly he's a poor kick. But he's definitely good at scrapping around the packs and has laid some big tackles. He's not Watts in that regard. Watts has never done this:

Except it's not. Benefits of Melbourne: - Lives in Melb - Plays with his brother - 1 year under Roos before an untried coach - No guarantees about winning games Benefits of Sydney - Success! - Isn't at a basketcase of a club - Plays with superstars - Lives in Bondi - Coached for the foreseeable future by a Premiership coach Then there's the matter of the trade. Sydney might still be banned from signing free agents or trading for players. In which case they might scoff at our likely offer (if Zac shows something similar to his 2014 form) of a 2nd round pick (which is hopefully later than earlier in the 20's). They might walk him through to the PSD out of spite and he might then end up at another club. Maybe the saints, where training at Seaford wouldn't be so bad for a Mt Eliza boy.