P-man

This seem to be the assumption but it really wouldn't surprise me to see Bugg a lot more freed up. He was clocking 27-28 possessions in his debut year before having limitations placed upon him as far as his defensive role. NAB is going to be very interesting to watch, although we all assumed Lumumba was going to dominate after his pre-season performances last year, so best to approach with caution.

Run an eye over their 2014 stats when Jones was physically unhindered. He smashes Cotchin. If Jones' body is 100%, he is destined for his best season to date which will again surpass lego hair. No way known would I be swapping Jonesy for that vastly overrated plodder. Superior skills? 20 metre kicks and one two handball receives, maybe. I've rarely known a player to accumulate as many touches while causing so little damage. Cotchin shot out of the blocks early in his career but much like Murphy has regressed rather than taking the next step. Right now it's Jones every day of the week for me. 2016 is going to be his year. Great to hear our boy Clayton is already looking the part at training (feeble attempt to get things back on track).

Not entirely accurate. "Some guys really stand out in that area – Jonesy and Dunny are the A-graders at it," Vince said. "We've got a lot of C-Graders when it comes to using our voices and we need everyone to improve in that area. "We don't expect everyone to be as good as [Jones and Dunn], but if you're a C-Grader you need to become a B-Grader. If you're a B-Grader you should aspire to become an A-grader. It's an area for improvement is what I took away from it. Not that Dunn and Jines are the only ones out there talking. Vince isn't going to name himself but you can assume he's also close to being an "A grader". It's blokes like Tyson and Viney that need to step up in this regard. It's unfair to heap it on Brayshaw so early but I would think and hope he's gaining respect pretty quickly. I also doubt Petracca is going to be a wallflower. Jamar wasn't even playing in the first team and whilst I love Crossy, he didn't hit the finish line with with a flourish. He was noticeably starting to slow down and his skills were falling away. The timing was right Imo. Vince and Viney are two clear inclusions in the LG for 2016, with T Mac a possibility.

It amuses me that someone can reply with "is this serious?"...and then puts up THAT side I get that some people will put up a side that doesn't include players we know will play. To me it's more logical to throw up the payers we know will play or are highly likely to play, and then fill in the blanks based on preference. But I get it's just a bit of fun. However that side isn't just unrealistic. It's unwise to have such little experience on the ground in Round 1.

Are you just ignoring the fact this is a Round 1 side? You offer snide responses and then put up that nonsense. Three players with ZERO games. Another player with ONE game. Another two players with less than 15 games. Another three players with less than 22 games. Nine players in your Round 1 side who are practically babies to AFL. Almost half the team.

Need confirmation on severity before hitting PANIC.

As was overlooked by BA, my side was a prediction. I would be surprised to see Grimes left out in Round 1 on the back of the points you've made. He isn't necessarily in my best 22, but if he can continue on from the form he showed in the latter half of the year, I have no great issue with seeing him there at the beginning of this season and trying to hold his spot. In a very inexperienced side, he adds value.

Quality response. Would read again. Get back to me when your reading comprehension skills have improved.

This is part prediction, part best side. There's little point in penning a side without Dawes and Lumumba when we know they will both be there. Reading between the lines, Petracca will come into the side via Casey. Round 1 FB: Jetta Dunn Garland HB: Salem T.McDonald Grimes C: Tyson Vince Brayshaw HF: Kent Dawes Watts FF: Garlett Hogan Frost R: Gawn Jones Viney I: vandenBerg Lumumba Stretch Bugg E: Neal-Bullen Pedersen Kennedy

So Essendon are in an enviable position? Come on. Weekly thrashings are all but certain next season meaning a huge drain on the younger players and we've seen first hand the effect that can have. As for the 12 suspended players, I'll be surprised if more than half of them walk back into that club. It's a complete unknown the toll this will take as far their career in general is concerned, let alone their ties with the EFC. They will be seeking fiscal compensation which could be a significant factor in their decision depending how that plays out. Essendon's youth isn't much to write home about to begin with outside of Daniher, Merrett and a sprinkling of others. The #1 pick will provide little solace during the next three years of them being largely uncompetitive. They were already staring down the barrel of a rebuild before this all went down. They are fooked.

Agree with all of that other than pressure being applied no earlier than 2018. Under these circumstances where Goowin is working so closely with Roos, if there is any decline in 2017 under Goodwin, the pressure will be immediately applied. It isn't like a new coach having a first year grace period with new philosophies, structures and player relationships to form. All of that is happening right now. Goodwin will be expected to hit the ground running and rightly so.

I'm being sincere when I say I can't recall the last time he said "they". On the club website, in radio interviews, it is always "we". It's a completely unfounded and imagined criticism from my viewpoint, unless I'm missing these instances of "they" by dumb luck.

Patrons are advised that the new Chris Dawes dartboard is being replaced. The darts weren't sticking.

Wayne - much appreciated. Did you note where Frost played when joining the full ground match sim? forward or back?

I do find it surprising that the oldest football club in the world decided not to put the year it was established on the logo. I know it's all about projecting forward but something so unique surely warrants inclusion. Maybe it can be subtly added in later.

Someone who looks and talks like Bowie walking into an outback pub. I'd be surprised if they didn't take an immediate dislike

Envious of those who got to see him at his peak, although it's debateable exactly when that was for such a musical chameleon. Having watched hours of interviews with him before and since his passing, you have to marvel at how he treated everyone with the same level of respect and warmth. I was unaware of the depth of his love and fascination for Australia, outside of his decision to film the "Let's Dance" film clip here. That was a happy discovery upon his death. A remarkably quiet and dignified exit from this world it must be said. A class act to the end.

Cross would bother me more from a logical standpoint given his role at the club. But strangely just the sight of him in an Essendon jumper would bother me more than Russian. They don't deserve him.

It's not as simple as saying Cotchin and Mitchell deserve the award as runners up. If we are to follow the CAS verdict then all votes in Essendon games have now been tainted, throwing up an immeasurable number of variables that could have dictated who got votes in those Essendon fixtures, e.g. who played on which opponent, who was at their "fittest" at any particular time in the season, notably the beginning when they won 12 or so games in a row. Scott Thompson for instance could have entered the frame but it's now impossible to say whether that would have been the case. This is a team sport with complexities outside of individual sports in a matter such as this.

^yuck I mean good luck to him in getting another year out of his career, but yuck. i really hope Crossy doesn't fill in for them. For some reason that would bother me more than Russian.

I knew nothing about it til I saw this thread. It likely would've gone unnoticed by the majority who aren't obsessed with this now historic episode. By the sounds of it, the reference was perfectly legitimate and hardly placing tanking on the discussion table again.

Everything you say here has merit, including the fact that we can only truly judge the value of the trade in the fullness of time. I doubt Melksham was central to any plans in 2016 so in the immediate term it's a frustration but not a massive loss. In short, we could sit and stew over what was a reasonably foreseeable outcome, but if he returns in 2017 and hits the ground running, all that stewing will have largely been wasted energy.

What a week, bloody hell.

Well, Carlton get to avoid b2b spoons. Class action taken by the players against the club is surely inevitable now.

Interesting comments on Viv: “Viv probably played his best footy towards the end of last season. He gave himself a chance, but we needed numbers on the list for the draft, so it meant he dropped back to the rookie list. He’s training well and he needs to get fitter – he knows that – but he’s working hard at that area of the game. He has shown he can play AFL football, but it’s just a matter of him pushing hard now and doing everything he possibly can to get in the round one side.” – Paul Roos On face value, Roosy has more faith in him than might be expected.