Rogue

For those who don't want to listen: Wallace suggests we're inconsistent, but have plenty of potential. He thinks it's an important year for DB, needing to give the Board confidence the Dees are going to 'ignite' in 2012 if he wants to Coach beyond this year. Wallace likes our midfield but says it's too inconsistent. Points out that we have a couple of mature players in Moloney and Davey but plenty of young guys. He uggests we're still missing 1-2 inside mids. He suggests that with Campbell a back-up and Fitz/Gawn youngsters, we only have one ruck and thus will play with Jamar plus a makeshift. (No mention of Spencer). Wallace thinks Morton needs to make it for the Dees, and we should settle him in one position so he can become a good player. He thinks we have key backs in abundance with Garland and Frawley a strength, given we also have Martin and Warnock as back-ups. He's not convinced MacDonald and Rivers can play in the same side as they're too similar, and we should decide which one we want for the future. Bartram 'honest' and will always get a game, while Grimes is a standout 'quarterback' type who should play across HB. Points out that we still need a couple of kickers off HB - likes the fact we're trying Bennell down there. Points out that Davey and Green can be thrown back there. Wallace claims that Jurrah, Green, Dunn and Petterd give us the best mid-size forward group but thinks we lack key talls and for that reason thinks we should play Cook. He thinks Watts will be a good player for a decade but will never be a 'bullocking' forward. On small forward, he suggests we're 'decent' in that area, singling out Maric and Wona. Wallace wraps up by reiterating that Scully staying will be crucial for us, but suggests he will leave. He concludes that we're an 8-12 team, but in "reasonable shape".

Hahah, well done Ireland. Netherlands got close and now a minnow has knocked them over. What a great innings by O'Brien - wish I saw it.

Yep. What's the deal with sending players over to put out cones at training or whatever? Any rules against it? If not, you'd be silly not to have a wicketkeeper doing so, etc.

There's still hope for Hussey! http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/current/story/503569.html

I agree.

I went to both games. It was a better performance at Visy in 2010 IMO.

Haha

I know it's been mentioned, but Maric looked very good. The talk about him having a good preseason and so forth seems right. We saw some disposal that warrants the tags that were on him coming into the draft.

I'm sick of seeing Watts choose not to give the ball off to the first or second options and then prop, turn around and get caught. A classic Watts move was evident on the eastern wing/flank towards the south end of the ground just before 8PM - midway into the second quarter. As soon as he won the ball I thought it was going to be another one of 'those' Watts moments and he didn't disappoint. I don't know what the cause is, but he needs to find a remedy.

I'm pretty sure the Clubs had reps that made up that panel, as old has pointed out.

That's not my understanding and it contradicts what old55 is asserting. Got a source, by any chance? One, I think the framing of March's comments as having the 'fan' view creates a false dichotomy. That the compensation formula was flawed, or that the ability for players to sign for a GC/GWS (but no one else) while they are under contract for another season somewhere else is problematic for the league and the Clubs, isn't some romantic or one-eyed 'fan' point of view. The compensation formula has already been rewritten at least once. Two, Geelong weren't complaining either...until they knew Ablett was likely to go, considered what the compensation formula would mean for them, and then thought 'oh crap, what have we done?'. For them to complain, after signing off on these rules, seems ridiculous. That is the argument I've put forth in this thread.

Finch had a pretty decent innings too. I expect bigger things from him.

Wow!

I disagree. It's the Clubs - and particularly Geelong - who have no recourse to complain about compensation etc. I found the Geelong response to compensation regarding Ablett pretty silly since they had agreed to the rules. As you point out, Wells was on the committee. The fans didn't decide on the rules, and many immediately pointed out the seemingly unfair aspects of compensation once details were made public.

I'm sick of hearing this from the Clubs. I believe that there are some intelligent people working at the top of footy Clubs, so I find it beyond belief that Clubs didn't think 'hmm, so hopw will this compensation formula will we get if one of our best players is poached, and is it fair?' or 'how would we feel about our contracted players signing up with GC/GWS while they still have up to a season left on their contract?'.

Really?

Excluding AFL Members, afaik virtually every other membership (excluding Etihad Stadium m/ships) have no entry entitlements to this game. You just turn up and pay (unless you want to pre-book for some crazy reason ).

I like KP opening the batting. It makes England a better side. Pretty ridiculous he's not in the subcontinent IMO. Fairly standard modus operandi from Chappell. I think there needs to be a change of the guard but, for now, while our few decent older players are in good form they should be retained.

Haha

Ladder ranking is a fairly average way of judging a Coach IMO. Surely the context is important! If we have a horror run with injuries and finish ninth on percentage you'd cut Bailey, but he'd make it if we sneak in on percentage? There could be as little as a point the difference, and I suggest that is not significant in determining whether or not he should be cut.

I don't see that it's a bad decision. Bruce will still be a MFC life member etc.

If you have a general admission membership (you do) you're entitled to general admission only. Generally, only level three is general admission. Sometimes some (the front six or so rows) or all of level three is reserved. Levels one and two are generally reserved seat access only, but you can upgrade your ticket. It's much less than $40 to upgrade (at least for level 1, anyway).

Indeed. Good value, but to me he's nowhere near as good as some people are suggesting. He reads the ball well and works hard, but will get squeezed out of the side if we get anywhere near as good as I think we will. I don't think he's anywhere near an Ingerson, but we'll see.

If you recall the game that JCB mentioned earlier, we were repeatedly thwarted trying to switch the play because we a) moved the ball far too slowly and B) lacked penetration. Strangely, the only time I'm particularly worried about Grimes' kicking is the easy kick, because that's the one he seems to turn over. I imagine it's some sort of concentration thing - perhaps not dropping the ball properly or whatever.

Absolutely. I'm scared about our spin options - Kreza, Smith and Hussey. Given that our pace bowling options are mostly attacking, a Hauritz/Doherty type would have helped.