P-man

Johnny famously keeps doing his "last ever tour". I thin he's done three or four "last ever tours". The old bugger just won't retire, despite his insistence that he has. A bit like Mike Sheahan.

To recap for those who've just joined us: Ben likes Kent's arse.

Unlike that killer riff they have playing on a loop over the highlights packages..

Nah, spell the name right. It's really not difficult.

Why though Ben? Can you provide some players of a similar mould to Neitz and explain how/why they differ or reached a different level in order to warrant the label of "champion". Perhaps I and others are slightly more liberal in applying that term. For me his record speaks for itself, but he was also an absolute joy to watch.

That is one very decent looking seconds team.. I think we might actually have some pleasant selection dilemmas this year.

If Neitz can't be described as a champion of the game then I'm not here.

Thread needs a poll, NiceGuy/Hulkomania/Rangey/? One suggestion: "Was Trengove carrying an injury last year?"

His presser is gold. Mr No Nonsense.

I admit I have a massive soft spot for Flash and the amount of disrespect I hear thrown towards him doesn't sit well with me at all. I really hope he can put his injury woes behind him and end his career on a high note, shoving it down the throat of all the naysayers who fail to even acknowledge just how good he was at his peak.

Well said. Champagne corks remain unpopped until we see what the team is actually capable of in 2013. I'm excited sure, we have done tremendously well in this trade period, but pats on the back all round are premature as far as the bottom line: RESULTS. We were horrible this season, and that's putting it mildly. The only way is up.

Sounds like a gripping contest.

More or less signified our season. Alot of Jones predictions that came true, but alot more to be excited about across the group than this time last year.

I understand those who are hesitant for reasons stated but I'm in favour. Seeing someone like Grimes take the number, who absolutely bleeds for this club, will be something pretty special. It's simply not right that Voldy is the last one to have worn it and that is being rectified. C'mon you mighty Demons.

I only just noticed that they call Nathan Lyon "Garry" or "Gaz". hehe..good stuff.

This guy will sell memberships, and I'm not just talking his extended family.

Welcome aboard Megahead.

Geeze he can give it a fair old roost the lad. Good size on him too.

OP needs more Rory muf***in Taggert.

It's all immaterial anyway as others have pointed out. The coaches and players are the best judges and they will decide who are the leaders for next season.

Okay keyboard hero, settle down. You're living up to your name so keep up the stellar work. I fully expected the suggestion to be met with such responses. The very idea of readmitting a senior player into the leadership group causes offense, I get it. I am however yet to hear a bad word said about Davey in terms of him supporting the younger players as they establish themselves within the club. If you know anything to the contrary please enlighten me. All criticism seems to boil down to his performance on the field, a large part of which can be attributed to his run with injury. If he hits the training track hard I don't see why he should be excluded from the discussion.

Agreed, and saying it's a [censored] stat is a cop out. Tappy's kicking is overrated, period. However I feel he has a heap of improvement left in him in all facets of his game. Regardless, I will love him forever for the aggression he has brought to the side the past couple of years when we were crying out for someone to stand up and show we weren't going to be pushovers.

Oh well. I wasn't much of a fan to be brutally honest. I could put up with the meaningless panel discussion, but the way they treated the racism allegations was the final nail in the coffin for me.

..how good are you at dealing with night terrors?

Appreciate the response and you raise valid points. It is a difficult thing to judge being on the outer from preseason training where judgements will be made such as Clark last season, and I absolutely agree that inclusion in the leadership group should be largely based on hard work. Any player who gets the nod will need to have proven themselves in that regard. I'm not married to the inclusion of Watts as I still think he has a fair bit to prove, but there are certain players that you can see relishing in an official leadership role and I think Watts fits into that category. Personally I think this will be a very big year for him. I plead guilty to there being a bit of sentimental value attached to my suggestion of Davey getting a recall, but I stand by my reasoning. It is a very young leadership group all things considered, and I wouldn't see the inclusion of Davey as a backward step so much as having another older head to guide the young leaders coming through. I'm sure he does this anyway, without having the label. Once again I'd suggest that nominating Dawes and Rodan who literally have just set foot into the club, whilst Davey doesn't even get a look in, is a little bit insulting to someone who has been a long time servant. Clark was a standout talent. I'd strongly suggest Dawes and Rodan aren't at his level. There is a distasteful tendency among supporters to want to sweep the senior players from a couple of years ago under the rug. I don't abide by that. There is a good reason someone as ruthless as Neeld has kept Davey around. Yes he has been poor by his standards of late, but a bit of respect wouldn't go astray. As I said I doubt there's any chance of it happening.