DeeSpencer

Hmmm, I just don't like this. Besides the obvious which is the massive conflict of interest in having to recruit your own son there are so many issues. What does Viney know of the kids in this years draft class? Every other clubs recruiter has watched this batch go through the under 16's and has extensive knowledge of them. If it is for a one year as the article seems to mention then why wouldn't we promote our number 2 recruiter who at least has a head start. I've got no problem with Viney being involved in an overseeing role as a link between Neeld and the recruiting, but why take on recruiting as well. I'm starting to worry that our football department is full of people with fancy job titles who probably don't contribute much to the day to day work of recruiting talent and developing it. It's trademark Schwab to me.

Femoral-Acetabular Impingement has been an in vogue diagnosis the last few years. Pretty much instead of just playing through a bit of a sore or tight hip for your career then ending up with osteoarthritis and a hip replacement at 40 the idea is to fix these early and hopefully for good. http://en.wikipedia....lar_impingement Besides from FAI I'm not sure what else is going on, it might be due to increase work load as suggested above, or due to better imaging and surgeries. Tapscott obviously had hip issues secondary to trauma, but lets hope they are resolved. I don't know what Lucas Cook had last year or what Stef Martin had a couple of years ago. Anyone else on our list had hip surgery?

I like Sellar, but I think he has to prove himself over Rivers in the NAB cup. I see having Sellar along with Rivers, Frawley and Garland being very tall in the back half. If all 4 are playing well in the NAB cup and we are rebounding the ball well then I'd go with them, but if not Sellar tops the list of first out of the side.Martin of course will be likely for round 1, but I'd like to see him have a run against Jamar before the NAB cup. I didn't think the red team deserved to have Fitzpatrick as their ruck man. Meh, ok, if he has to be. As I said, just an example.

Here's an example of Team A (penciled in for round 1) vs team B (not). Just an example I've obviously missed a few players. FB: Bennell Frawley Grimes FF: Blease Cook Jurrah HB: Garland Rivers Bail HF: Dunn McDonald Sylvia C: Nicholson Moloney Jones C: Taggert Magner Tapscott HF: Howe Watts Petterd HB: Strauss Davis Jetta FF: Davey Clark Green FB: Bartram Sellar Macdonald Foll: Jamar Bate Trengove Foll: Martin McKenzie Couch

Maybe its time the players stop getting treated like babies and only get a 2 minute talk when they are dropped from the leadership group. All I'd expect from Neeld would be to outline the reason behind his decision and what he wants Green and company to do better. If that only took 2 minutes then so be it. They had to get over the Junior thing and now Brad and co have to get over this.

Well put, that really is the underlying factor. Hopefully our best runners in Nicholson, Bail, Trengove and Jones really do measure up against the best in the comp and the likes of Moloney, Magner and Couch are around the mark. Gysberts has made good strides this year, a positive step for us as a team will be the point where best on grounds for Gys in the VFL doesn't mean automatic promotion. Unfortunately McKenzie and Tapscott haven't due to injury. I think limited fitness is a big reason why Sylvia, Davey and Grimes will probably stay out of the starting midfield rotations.

There are 2 main issues with out midfield. 1. Clearances 2. They don't work hard enough to get forward and help keep the ball in and to get back and help get the ball out. Personally I think Neeld has decided he wont try and turn guys into midfielders too much. He'll let Sylvia and Davey play forward and Morton and Grimes play back. Let's start with issue 1 - clearances. Moloney is an interesting one. I'm impressed that he's trimmed down so he can cover more ground. That's important as he could never break a tag and has a habit of getting burnt the other way. But at the same time he's still the best we have for now. Jamar and the rucks have to step up again this year. I'd love to see Jamar and Martin go to another level with their ability to win hitouts, and win them to more than one area. This year I think Moloney will be rotated out of the hit zone area that Jamar and he used to combine to so often. I think its time McKenzie, Trengove, Jones, Gysberts and Magner have a run in that position to try something different. I'm not convinced by Bate but he's another option. Issue 2 - work rate. This is where I see Nicholson, Jones and Bail coming in to the game plan. As the 3 best runners on our list I see a big role for them playing on the wings or tagging. Nicholson has to develop his accountability but a full AFL preseason and winning our time trials should count for something. Not to mention his pace. This is a big year for Jones to prove he can match up against a decent opponent and play a balanced game with finding the footy but not getting exposed the other way. Neeld's first statement at the club was to make us the hardest team to play against. I expect our midfield to reflect that desire this year, and whilst we won't be the hardest to play against I expect our midfield to have a strong focus on physicality, tackling and hard running.

Neeld would be crazy not to speak to Mick at times, but personally despite Malthouse being responsible for a quality refinement in the way modern footy was played that helped enormously with Collingwoods flag I wouldn't consult him too much on gameplan. The game plan is for Neeld and his assistants to master. I'd be more interested to talk to Mick on man management and leadership. Wherever he went he got players supporting him and playing tough footy. I'd like to know how. Because even if we aren't too flash this year if we are actually having a dip it will be a big step forward for this group.

I've got no idea but personally I wouldn't understand who would pay big bucks for the losing team, but you never know. That said its a nice thing to have. Any idea how many were produced? Best chance of finding a price if you don't get one on here might be calling up SEN when they have Mario from Gardenvale Collectables on, or dropping into his shop or a similar one.

- Solid business man who can oversee a football clubs commercial activities - Solid character who supports Reach and by all reports is a good citizen - A unified board with the right experience in the right areas and all still part of the Stynes set up - A man who has had ample time to make presidential statements like Kennett but instead has been steady in his support of the club without interfering (except for sacking the old coach of course) - A president directly involved in the recruitment of the new coach and most of the football department I don't expect Stynes like miracles with debt demolition but if McLardy can keep the current board together and motivated then we should keep going in the right direction. Jimmy was continue to be our spiritual leader as well.

Of course they are, everyone knows the only Brisbane, Essendon and Collingwood will content for the flag this year. But lets not get too harsh on steve. In general he is right. Ex AFL players probably know more than D4 Ammo's who would know more than guys who never stepped on a footy field. But there are many exceptions and I'd bet my left nut that Brendon McCartney or whatever his name is knows more about footy than David Schwartz.

I doubt it. I think the knee injury at the start of the 2010 season hurt him though. He's started behind the 8 ball in the last 2 seasons, he might benefit from playing all NAB cup fixtures this year to build confidence. And to have the opportunity to win his spot. He's been gifted his return too often in his career.

Your opinion on Cale would come across alot easier without the mightier than thou attitude embedded in it. Recruiters still draft players because of what they can do and not what they can't, largely that's the coaches job. That said I do agree with you in most points. When I think of Cale's strengths - height, endurance and high possession winning I really think it's a good start for a half back flanker. I just wish we could fix his kicking and get it back to how it was in the U18's. The rest, the lack of physicality and the lack of size can improve with confidence and coaching very easily. If he can't get a game in the seniors this year I'd like him to play half back flank for Casey and be in charge of kick out and instructed to get as much ball as possible. Sure it might not fix his problems with strength but just getting the footy in his hands and having the responsibility might be a good start.

This is where Neeld's plan is different to Baileys. Bailey's seemed to be about recruiting the kids and then forming a team. Neeld's seems to be about forming a team and then adding to it. The problem so far is that a once talented generation has fallen by the wayside. The 2003/2004/2005 draft classes of McLean, Sylvia, Chris Johnson, Bate, Dunn, Newton, Jones, Buckley, Bartram etc are looking very thin, just like the 01/02 drafts before them. So we go forward and try to build upon the Frawley, Petterd, Garland, Morton, Maric, Grimes era and add in the Watts and co and Scully/Trengove and co. Now we lose Scully but replace him with Mitch Clark and next years draft batch. I like how Neeld has added in a few mature bodies to lift the team and now next year we'll get a good run of draft picks again. If Viney and co can be a deep draft class for us then we might just have enough talent to do something, especially as they will be stepping into a team, not stepping in to a bare shell of a side like the guys coming in especially under the Bailey early years.

The bit I don't get about Morton is why he needs to put on weight. He isn't ever going to be a key position player he just needs to have enough weight on to stop injuries and to have strength on the field. James Hird and Nat Fyfe are 2 examples of skinny blokes who haven't struggled. Morton just needs to find a consistent position and fight for it. Bigger than his physicality problem is his disposal problem. Hopefully both improve with coaching and confidence.

Whilst we are in dire need of more midfielders now I'm pretty happy with Cook and Howe. I think people will start to realise development is just as important as recruiting and Cook has a lot of it to do still. His year wasn't too bad last year before he ran out of puff and he's now had an injury set back. I'd hold all judgement to 2013 or probably even 2014.

Form what I've seen Collingwood's sessions always involve more specific drills and lots of close in technical stuff and match simulation drills. Our training is more big picture and fitness. However they went to Arizona just for fitness so it makes sense that our fitness is more spread out whilst theres is kind of out of the way potentially. The other issue is what is stated above. Neeld and Misson are clearly trying to get the guys very fit so they can play at a level and then teaching them the general aspects of the game plan. In a way I hope this season is a lot about the team getting the plan by the end of the season and playing for each other at a high work rate. Next year we can tighten the drills up and do some specific stuff. The other thing I'd like to see at training is remedial work with some players foot skills and others tackling and things like that. I'm yet to see that or hear reports about it.

Can't wait to see Garland playing Back Pocket/CHB/Half back flank and really adding an attacking side to his game by running off his opponent, getting to the wing and kicking the ball long to someone like Mitch Clark. Will be good. Especially if our midfielders, who will be playing in the midfield are doing a good job.

I agree, but he's the same age as Jamar and I'm not sure the pies could justify big bucks on having 2 * Jamar's when only one would get a game. It's a big expenditure for depth in a tight salary cap.

Hmmm lets see. Well the first thing we'll lose is our AA FB from the backline, after that we'll probably lose Frawley to injury as his body isn't set up to play midfield, oh and after that we'll probably lose clearances when you are trying to get a 193cm guy to bash around with guys who've been doing clearances for years.Martin resting as KPD is not the worst idea, but how many other players rest down there, and why. I'd say none because Martin doesn't have the precise skills or defensive know how. He'd be replacing Frawley, Rivers or Garland anyway and they have a reasonable amount of run for key defenders.

They tightened up the Judd rule to stop us keeping Scully, now making it the Scully rule. Those clubs can try, but it's harder to do these days. And Richmond and Clinton Casey had problems with after career property deals.

I'd be confident Sellar got a 2 year deal. For a guy his age to be picked in the national draft you would take him on a 2 year deal. But dont worry, Bate, Dunn, Macdonald, Fitzpatrick, Spencer, Bartram and Jetta could free up your 5-6 delistings, wouldn't be surprised if Green is over the hill as well.

Don't be naive. If Smith went in the draft he would have been top 5 and you wouldn't question him. Renouf is a premiership ruckman who's battled injury since and Lobbe showed a fair bit of promise. He certainly wasn't smashed by Jamar this year. He could form a nice combination with Renouf, unless they want to pursue a one ruckman policy.I'd be more worried about a club on the up without a ruckman making a play at Jamar. At the moment Coll, Carl, WC are all well served by rucks and Bailey does a good job at the hawks with Hale. Geel might be an option but I think there money will be too tight to lash big bucks at the russian and West and Vardy are a reasonable combo.

I'll counter the big call earlier and say Bennell will be our first choice lock down defender for crumbers but in a year or so Strauss will be a very capable and versatile defender who can defensively or offensively, just needs a lot more time now due to injury.

I can't imagine a NAB cup game would do anything outstanding for Viney's development. I'm glad he gets to play VFL which is just as good as a crappy Nab Challenge game. Let's have a look at the list an pick the best side so we can win round 1.