P-man

Just five home and away hoodoos left. Four of which we still have a chance to beat this season.

It's not a bad theory. I'd argue that Garland is no better than Dunn in that regard, and he seems to be getting ample opportunity. I also don't think the long kick (of which Dunn is the master) is the worst way of breaking through the press, but maybe I'm outdated. I know possession is king these days. As Steve says, some transparency would be novel but very welcomed. It doesn't have to be a Dunn bashing. Just a cliche-free explanation of what Dunn needs to work on to get into the side. Will never happen. If things like that happened, Demonland content would be halved overnight.

Well said. Selection has been a failing of the season so far. This week is probably the most reasonable to date but there are still question marks. Roos justified the five changes this week by saying players needed a rest. Garland and Viney are out injured, while Newton and ANB only just came into the side. Kennedy is the only one you could reasonably argue was "rested". We continue to load up the side with inexperience, and some of the players getting reprieves for average performances aren't exactly certainties to retain their spots in the future, i.e. Wagner, Hunt and Harmes. If it was Brayshaw and Salem it would be a little easier to digest. For a third year in charge, it certainly looks a lot like a development year. Dunn and Grimes aren't a panacea, but I don't believe we are genuinely fielding a best 22 every week.

I can confirm tongue being planted in cheek on that. Frustration re Dunn's non-selection is not, however. Suddenly he's become the slowest, fattest, stupidest footballer alive. It's absurd. He's in our best 22 players and should clearly be playing for mine. I take your point re following instruction but as you say it is only speculation. I thought it was a fantastic resurrection of a career culminating in a VC appointment last year. Things have turned south very quickly which I find disappointing. It might look like I overdefend the likes of Dunn and Grimes. I appreciate that eventually you move past players of that ilk. But for me, we haven't reached that point yet with Dunn, not when the guy taking his spot is bambi in footy boots, and we absolutely should be getting Grimes to 100 games.

I'm with those who are mystified. I thought the days of giving senior players the middle finger were in the past but apparently not. So he had a bad game against the Saints. He wasn't exactly alone. Maybe playing O Mac is a ploy to get his brother to sign...

Super duper. Vanders when fit to go straight into the middle.

What's sad is that when that happens, the sympathy for the injured player will be less than it should be.

Could it be any more blatant the way he raises his arm? Almost a McLean carbon copy. The AFL needs to do something now. For a first game player to be doing this is absurd.

Brown threw out the figure of $1m a season for Melbourne to keep him. Healy hosed it all down saying he won't leave and Brown basically agreed.

Love this kid. Kicking also isn't as bad as some reports suggested. Lock him in for Round 1.

No idea mate sorry. I pretty much only watch state of origin and the GF.

I have a birthday coming up soon Pammie. Just sayin.

He just seems extremely humble to me. I wouldn't be reading too much into it. Judge him on performances.

Hehe..nice attempt to save face. 5/10. You never have been one to shy away from the grand statement. That is what got you in hot water on the subject of this thread if I recall... The comparison right now is of slightly more interest to who you'd pick in 2012. Hence why 2014 is a reasonable means of comparison, given what we now know about Jones' injury affected 2015. Anyway, back to Oliver.

Over their careers, Cotchin gets the nod. We're talking about present day, assumedly. Right now I'm picking Jones and it's not a difficult choice.

On the same page too.

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).

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

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.

https://chimericalredamancy.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/why-im-not-a-grammar-nazi/ "Learning a language is never easy, especially to someone who hasn’t been given a shot at as good an education as they would’ve liked. And when people like that have the courage to try their hand at communication in a world where scrutiny, scorn and criticism is just a less than perfectly prounounced vowel away, it’s pretty remarkable. Shooting them down by disparagingly ‘correcting’ them will eventually discourage them from learning." ...or participating. Tough love my foot. IDAD is right. Lay off him.

His sidestep is surprisingly good when you see it for the first time. Unexpected almost given his general style of play. He definitely has a uniquely self-deprecating style about him. Burgo asks him to sell himself to the fans, and his three main points are inside player, slow, and carrying too much weight Compare that with Tracka who would've gladly sponsored his own billboard. I'm leaning towards it being a good thing. He seems like the type that will always be pushing himself to improve.

Just had a look. Oliver responds to user comments himself, mainly about his appearance. Clearly doesn't take himself too seriously. A good quality to have.

I'm pretty sure we have every base covered. A delicious melting pot of crazies. Re Parish's looks, he'll only get targeted if he plays in a manner that attracts such attention. Fyfe is widely admired and praised. Watts attracts derision from all corners. Both boyish looking with pretty hair. Poles apart in the way they play.

If that's directed towards me, you are misinterpreting. I'm not ruling anyone in or out based on a highlights package. If those who have watched him extensively deem him worthy of pick 3, so be it. I'm merely saying that on initial appearances, I wasn't overly excited.

I doubt anything will top that highlights package. To be honest, Parish looks extremely vanilla to me. He's clearly rated highly by those in the know for a reason, but his highlights don't scream top 3 pick.