bing181

1. Brayshaw 2. Oscar Mac 3. Salem

I was at that gig as well ... but can't remember anything about a support band. Wasn't there an issue with the weather or something, and the concert was cut short? Memories ... I must have seen Madder Lake at some point, but it's all a bit of a blur to be honest.

Let's be realistic, if we get through till Christmas without a reasonably serious injury or two, we'll be doing well.

Exactly. This is no longer the team that cancels its own 3 km time trial because they don't feel like it.

Yes. Unfortunately, he won't be able to put in place what he's learnt until next pre-season. In the meantime, we get someone who'll be underdone all year, but perhaps more seriously in terms of finals etc., we get someone who runs out of steam late in the season - as we saw with Hogan, who went through a similar experience last pre-season, and has confessed as much.

"The proportion of drivers and motorcycle riders who lost their lives with a Blood Alcohol Content greater than 0.05g/100ml has declined from 38% in 1987 to 17% in 2015." http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/statistics/summaries/drink-driving-statistics

Don't know about that. To have to stand up in front of the whole team and all the coaches with your mea culpa is not something young Clayton is going to forget in a hurry.

I've had the opportunity (blessing) to be on the other side of this from time to time, i.e., seeing/receiving these kids. I remember one time, a kid came in, must have been in November/December, and in chatting to him someone said "so, what's Santa going to bring you for Christmas?" There was silence, and eventually his father lent over and said "he's not going to make it to Christmas". Something you never forget. Great work by the club and the players, though I'm sure this goes on more than we're aware of.

Interesting that he didn't want to explore either the option of a rookie at another club, or even VFL ... yet alone interstate options. He's not that old, could have easily had another 5+ years at a decent level. Still, he must feel that it's time to move on from footy, though wonder if coaching is on the horizon. Good luck to him, could never say that he didn't put in.

Lots of speculation. None of us know the real story. But whatever is going on, would be good for all concerned to find a resolution sooner rather than later.

Messy and unfortunate. Not helping himself, even if he is frustrated with how things have turned out.

Replace your "wasn't auto-triggered" by "now can't be auto-triggered". Hard to see what case he has. But if you thought you were right to play, and the club was stopping you, and you were left watching the possibility of another year and another $x00 000 disappear, I don't know that you'd be too happy (even if the club were right).

If there's movement on the retirement front, no matter the circumstances, then given the upcoming draft etc., better sooner than later. Clearly though, there's something going on, either physically with lingering symptoms, or in terms of his motivation to put himself out there again after what he's been through (serious concussion).

Spent much time in Belgium? It's the national dish. And deservedly so. Many's the night I've stood in a queue in the freezing cold for "frites mayo". Goes very well with a Belgian beer (just to pull the post back on topic, cough cough ...)

One artist I regret that I never saw live. My loss. One of the last of the bards, not too many around like him any more - at least for the moment.

Go for it.

Not sure about Gawn, but agree that last year's run with injury can't be repeated. On the other hand, it did play havoc with the seasons of Brayshaw and Salem, not to mention The Prince, and on a developmental note, JKH, so were weren't entirely spared. But yes, I'm sure someone will go down early in the season with something. Fingers crossed.

Makes sense now ... but WTF. Journalism school isn't what it was. My apologies for starting a junk thread ... mods, trash?

Not sure if anyone noticed this, or has any more info: "Assistant coach Luke Power will move to Melbourne to join the club's list management and recruiting team. He has also been linked heavily to the AFL Academy position vacated by Brenton Sanderson."

My fault, I should have been less ambiguous ... what I meant was that our next year's second pick would become less appealing as a trade in the Hibberd/Essendon transaction if we were more likely to move up the ladder ... which is the case with Lewis onboard. Wouldn't give Lewis back for anything ...

I'm not sure why the Brownlow question is even being asked. In any sport, if you're found guilty of a doping infringement, you lose all victories, awards and prize money for the period when you were found to be doping.

Difficult to choose, especially the last 3 or 4, but I think Stretch will be there. He ran out of steam late in the season (wasn't Robinson Crusoe), but across the middle of the year he was very good, especially given his youth. I don't disagree with some of the teams leaving him out, but I'd be surprised if all those players are available every round.

The one disappointment amongst that is Max King. For a moment there he looked like he could come on, but wasn't to be. Puts us a back at square one a bit in the developing rucks department.

You've got to have picks or players you can trade. But with any/all our older/tradeable players with any currency gone (e.g. Frawley), and only one pick in the first 2 rounds, there was never much of a chance of doing anything this year. We've been massive players the last few seasons, but that can't continue indefinitely, and these things need to be looked at in the longer term.

Getting in Lewis hasn't helped the next year scenario. We suddenly look like a decent side, and if we get into the finals, that second-round pick is going to be even further back than where it is now.