DeeSpencer

The Freo Darwin game better make us some money as well! But yeah really it's the two NT games and the Collingwood game that will bring in coin. No Hawthorn, Richmond, Essendon or Carlton as home games at the MCG. That's a slap in the face. Commercial nightmare.

Key position defenders - Frawley, McDonald, Pedersen Medium defenders - Garland, Dunn Small defenders - Grimes, Terlich, Clisby, Strauss, Jetta, Nicholson Key position forwards - Clark*, Dawes, Hogan Forward/ruck - Clark*, Fitzpatrick Medium forwards - Howe Small forwards - Byrnes, Tapscott Forward/mid: Kent, Bail, Blease Rucks - Gawn, Jamar, Spencer Stoppage midfielders - Jones, Viney, Vince, McKenzie, Tyson, Michie Outside mids: Trengove, Watts, Toumpas, Evans, Matt Jones, Barry What we need Defense: Another key defender would be nice but Garland/Dunn can play tall. Another mid sized defender would be my first preference to replace Dunn in the team. Could easily play 2 key defenders and 2 Garland's and use one deep, one up the ground. We also need to clean out some of the small defenders. 6 guys for 2-3 spots doesn't make sense. Draft some young midfielders who can develop as depth defenders ie. Zak Jones Forwards: 1 dangerous small forward, as many as possible midfield/forward players, same as for defenders. Draft guys with the ability for both roles Rucks: A young ruck to replace Jamar. Either a 198-200cm guy who can play forward as well or a 205cm primary ruck either is fine Mids: Just more!

Just a better Nicholson. All he does is run around in circles and gather the ball and either kick short or turn it over. I'm hoping with who we've brought in and the draft that Dalziell wouldn't be a guy who improved us.

If Roos is 110% for winning from game 1 and thinks we are just short on that defensive forward position then the idea isn't so crazy. He's probably the best free buy defensive forward out there. Good trainer and high work rate guy. But I'd rather use Byrnes or Bail in that role considering we've already got them or play the extra developing midfielder.

I'm 110% confident that in his first 5 or so games and most there after in his debut year he played forward pocket/half forward with minimal time at all. I remember him a couple of years later then starting on a wing but that didn't last long. I also remember him doing time tagging Cyril in the midfield one day. This year he played back. All in all I think most people realise that Jetta, with his tackling skills and decent ability in close is more of a midfield player than either end of the ground deep. Doesn't have the deadly speed you need as a small forward or small defender. Then again I don't see him as much of a half back with that lack of size and inability to take bigger opponents not to mention he doesn't get enough of the ball. His best ever game was as a high half forward in a game at Darwin where he got 20 odd touches and 3 goals I believe. Who knows, who cares really.

Adam Simpson likely keen on the Hawthorn style game plan that relies a lot on very accurate kicking from half back. Therefore better to get rid of Morton and Dalziell now. Only need to look at Garland and Birchall and Isaac Smith to see how tall, hard running half backs or wingman can be very good players but Morton just had 1 or 2 flaws too many.

Instead of 1000 threads for a bunch of guys half of which wont get picked if you've got a guy who shouldn't be in our first 3 picks but is a good rookie prospect name them here. Aidan Riley (Adel) Delisted today I really like the way this guy plays. He's a clearance and tackling beast who has the explosive clearance game at SANFL level and I think can progress to AFL as a stoppage player who has the athleticism to play as a forward as well. Skills aren't amazing but that's not his game. Only 21, previously a rookie and NSW scholarship player. Unfortunately broke his ankle at the start of only his second game this year (10 in total) so will need a long time to rehab but for a rookie pick I think he's more the worth a chance. Bernie Vince could give us an understanding about his work rate and personality but to make it from a NSW scholarship player he's likely made of the right stuff.

Michie - 2010 draft and Tyson 2011 draft obviously gives us 2 players back from that age group but still we are one of the worst teams of all time and are hardly stacked with guns under the age of 22. No doubt Cain would help but the question is how much? If you had to pick Cain or Kent for last year we'd all go Kent right? Cain might have given us more consistency but Kent within 1 season probably got up to Cain's level and now can give us 10 years not just 5. I'd be happy with Cain at pick 57 or 40 for that matter if we had already had 3 or 4 picks before then but the reality is we don't. Just my view on playing the long game as well as the short game. I don't want to see Roos bring us up towards the 8 but then we end up stuck going nowhere as teams like the saints (3 picks inside top 20) go past us.

It's a myth teams aren't building from the draft. It's just GWS and Gold Coast took so much away. But Hawthorn and Freo both built the majority of their teams from the draft. Hawthorn were just is such a strong position at the end of 2008 that they then decided to fill holes through trades rather than drafts because they had a core premiership list besides the holes. With weakened drafts it made sense. So did the Collingwood side before 2010 and they've now made a huge effort to get back in to the draft. Same with Geelong. Built like crazy from the draft and then added some really nice picks especially in 2009 I believe. Port - young star midfield - Boak, Wines, Wingard, Hartlett, Broadbent, Gray, traded in a young Ebert who they would've loved to drafted at some stage etc. Richmond have built up through the draft. Same for Essendon with their talls and North with a bunch of young players. Sydney have been the only side who didn't strictly build from the draft and I think Roos has used this period to try to stabilize the list but will probably now look towards the draft until we climb up the ladder a bit. If we finally become competitive and win 5 or so games this year then maybe 7 or 8 the next it will be too early to make big trade moves. He'll go back to bargain pick ups as appropriate like you Rhyce Shaws and Josh Kennedy's.

Load of crap on NDS. He would've got the same money next year if not more at the saints than North. Then would've been all but guaranteed another year after than as Hayes retires. Every chance to get the third as well that North offered. But there is no way he left for money. He left for opportunity and the saints played the reluctant game but were happy to let him go when they worked out it would be Dal Santo out and Longer and Delaney in. North might not be real flag chances but they are 4 years a head of St Kilda at least. If the saints wanted to keep Dal Santo they would've and he might have mentored the kids etc. But they traded their first ruck FFS, they signaled their intentions.

With picks going awry from the 2010 (Cook and Davis), 2011 (Taggert and Tynan) and only 4 kids taken in last years draft (Viney, Toumpas, Kent, Barry) plus mature talent added over the last few draft and trade periods I think we really need our first 3 picks this year used on young guys plus Hogan. These trades we've made and picking guys like Terlich and Matt Jones help us be competitive sooner rather than later but we have to invest in the picks as well. So I'd be looking at the rookie draft for Cain. At some stage we have to play the long game and draft and develop a crop of kids. Pick 57 sounds pretty late but a lot of clubs will be out of the draft and promoting rookies or passing by then (Collingwood, GWS, St Kilda) so the plan will to hope a top 30 talent slips to pick 40 and then a top 40 talent makes it through to pick 57. The likelihood that Cain is a top 25 player on our list doesn't necessarily mean he should be in the top 40 of our draft order list.

One preseason, presumably limited by not stressing his back isn't enough for him to get full fitness. I'm not too disappointed by this decision just surprised. Jetta's VFL season was no better than Taggerts.

Well according to me Taggert has size, skills and injuries wiped out his first season so he's only really had 1 year to prove himself. He's not a serious talent but might be worth another year. And nor was his dismissal unfair but might have been premature. Nicholson has now had 3 years in which he's had opportunity at AFL level in all 3 and hasn't improved since his first game. He's proven thus far he's not a good close checking defender and whilst he can find the ball he struggles to use it. He also has moments where he shirks contests and generally has poor decision making. So yeah I think it's pretty fair to label him incredibly lucky. And considering he's bottom 3 on our list and we have the worst list then yeah he might well be right in the running for worst player in the AFL.

Taggert's problem wasn't his ability to break in to the MFC side but his inability to play consistent VFL footy. 5 goals one week, 10 touches for the game the next. The players at Geelong developing along slowly at least manage consistent VFL performances. A lot of us did stipulate that more midfield time at Casey might have seen an increased level of play but for whatever reason he wasn't given that shot. In a lot of ways though we look at a guy like Kent who in a very early game at Casey kicked a few goals and had 30 touches. That form demanded him to be promoted to AFL or at least given more Casey midfield time. Even Toumpas would have a bad week at AFL but then get 25 touches at Casey easily. Anyway I'm all for giving Taggert a 3rd year as a rookie to see if a preseason and opportunity in the midfield at Casey can help him.

I'm happy for him but would've rather used pick 57 in the draft than the last rookie pick and kept Clisby on the rookie list. The reality is their is rarely a period where someone isn't on the LTI list and you can promote a rookie half way through the year. One way or another he would've got plenty of opportunity.

Keeping Nicholson and Jetta over Taggert. Are you serious? Out: Davey, Rodan, Macdonald, Sellar, Gillies, Davis, Tynan, Taggert, Magner ®, Stark ®, Couch ®, Clisby (promoted) In: Hogan, Vince, Michie, Tyson, Cross, Clisby (promoted) So at the moment we've got 2 senior list spots - Pick 9 and Pick 40 and 4 rookie spots. I would suggest using a rookie spot on Taggert wouldn't be a bad idea although the history of players dropped down to the rookie list and then making it back is very disappointing. Everyone says this draft is weak after pick 40 though so maybe not much point even having pick 57 or the PSD pick but I'd rather use it than a late rookie pick if we can flick another player back to the rookie list in Jetta or Nicholson or just delist them.

Disagree on Clark. There are no stay at home key forwards any more. Cloke even playing deep forward puts up over 10km a game. Mitch would be the same. And ruck contests aren't nearly as physical as they used to be. Boundary throw ins are pretty soft with this new 1m rule and in the middle they often don't jump anyway. In a lot of situations the way Mitch throws himself at the ball in the air he'd be safer roaming around the ground playing on a lumbering opponent than big pack contests as the key forward. Remember he injured himself going for a mark inside 50. If Clark is back to full fitness then he plays in the role that helps the team. If he's not then he's pretty stuffed anyway. I also can't understand the Jamar over Gawn selectors. Maybe it's a Paul Roos thing? Because besides one game on a wet night against the strongest ruck in the league Gawn faltered but he did very well in quite a few other games. He marks the ball, he follows it up at ground level and around the ground and his ruck work is improving as well. His size means the only way he'll ever get consistently beat up in a game is if he hits the wall as he did against the dogs. Plus he's both getting games under his belt and young enough that improvement can be expected. Jamar on the other hand went weeks without any meaningful possessions. Has limited ruck work and can't seem to catch a cold yet alone take one of the strong grabs he used to back in his glory season! I'd have Spencer just edging out Jamar as well based on some glimpses of talent he showed in 2013.

Well my point is he wasn't just reading names out of a hat. The problem is the hat probably would've done better. But Prendergast could see where the game was likely headed in some ways. Kicking off half back in Strauss - sounds like Hawthorn. Big body mid - sounds like Freo. Invest in key forwards - again Hawthorn or Sydney. Speedy player in the front half in Blease - not much different to Geelong or Sydney's sling shot method. Prendergast was just like Neeld, Bailey and a bunch of others. Put in to a role for which he massively lacked experience and then provided with no proper supervision and all as part of an equally hapless group of colleagues.

A lot. On field leadership is still a vital part of football and all team sports. Our young players who go into their shell when things go bad, who are they meant to follow? And what about around the club where a guy not even playing becomes spokesman, which is not his job. And without a proper captain or captains who do the players follow? Do they form their own groups? That's why my plan is for multiple captains spread through the playing group. Each captain has a direct responsibility to a select proportion of the list. Each one of those players at least plays the right way with the right work rate. And trains the right way. And I'm hoping the 4 of them can perform as we all hope they can at least individually in 2014.

I'm referring to 2006. And of course what I'd give for a final right now! Just saying the Daniher years culminated in 1 finals win and left Dean Bailey in 2008 with a senior playing group of McDonald Bruce, Green, Moloney and Davey. Throw in a chunk of debt and poor facilities. Then people describe the recruiting of one particular player or the retirement of McDonald as the problem. Bad decisions sure, but not a drop on the surface of a bigger mess.

The delisted free agency period going from Nov 1 -13 is a joke. No time to evaluate sifting through discards and actually find the one you want. Time to let delisted players sign on to a club as training players and train up until Christmas before either a draft or allowing those clubs to add a player to their list. Weller was a talented 17 year old. Skills and athleticism haven't looked amazing at GC. Certainly hasn't looked like a half back flanker or back pocket. Probably more of a depth midfield type who may or may not develop in to a player. Why not allow him 2 solids months in Nov and Dec at least to train with a club and prove his fitness and talent. If it doesn't work out then he's in top shape for state league or other footy and he's been paid AFL level wage for that training. Plenty of time to start a new studies or work in the new year.

Sylvia will be a better player at Freo than here that's for sure. But I agree he's a half forward. And a nice half forward is a handy player to have but what we need right now are midfielders. For a guy who has the build and physical tools Sylvia was dead hopeless at clearances. This year he's learnt how to tackle and opponent but is still second to the ball. Vince isn't a clearance specialist but can provide something there. I'll also back Vince to accumulate more quality possessions through the back half and middle of the ground. Not to mention he'll kick to forwards much better. Sylvia was great if the ball was 90 out and you wanted a long bomb to your key forward. Went pretty well if 60 out and a goal on the run was needed. He burnt off 2 defenders and kicked a left foot goal this year that was amazingly good. But the opportunity wasn't there for that this year too often. Sylvia's best games, often against a young inexperienced Richmond team involved him looping in to the midfield then getting possessions and heading toward 50. We dont need that player right now. We need the guy who will run in the midfield, win some clearances, gather the ball on the wing and move the ball maintaining possession and work to defense to help clear the ball out. That's Vince >>> Sylvia any day.

Remember the majority of the condemnation occurred in hindsight. Most others didn't mind too much and I was one of them. I had faith in Bruce, Green, Moloney, Davey and Sylvia though. I really thought Green would prove handy at half forward with spurts on the wing. Moloney and Davey would continue the thunder and lightning set up they had where Moloney won the clearances and Davey carved teams up with ball use. Both were 25 possession a game mids in 2010. Plus McKenzie, Morton, Trengove, Scully had great promise and Sylvia looked like the wheel was turning. Bruce led the backline and along with Grimes, Rivers, Joel Mac, Frawley and Garland looked like a reliable back 6 with plenty of young talent in the wings. The forward line was the biggest shambles of the lot. Either way with Cross gone the dogs rely on Cooney, Griffen, Murphy, Minson, Boyd and Morris. That's probably more solid than the experience we left behind. What the administration should've noticed was that the older players they were leaving in the post Junior period were the same guys as young players who took a team with some quality talent (Neitz, White, Yze, Robbo, Trap, Brock McLean) and couldn't propel it any better than 1 finals win. Plus those guys they learnt from like Yze, Trav Johnstone, Robbo were very talented and worked very hard no doubt but never reached the level I think some of them could've. Jeff White and Trav Johnstone and 2 guys who could've been superstars of the game or the club at least. Instead they'll go down as decent contributers but that's about it.

Cornelius isn't up to it. Hasn't improved his chasing, ability to get cheap kicks or most other aspects of his game. A nab cup specialist. He's an undersized mark and lead full forward and their is no role for that player any more. Needs to develop in to a Gunston type player but hasn't shown the inclination. With all the key forwards and guys like Howe and Watts we dont need Cornelius.

In all seriousness. If he fails to fire in the first month then a good solid 6 weeks at Casey would be the absolute best thing for him. Stick him right in the guts and he can develop a stoppage game and a free rolling midfielder game. When he came back to AFL he would then be capable off half back, wing or half forward.