P-man

Too early to call long-term value, but right now Wines is so far ahead it doesn't bare thinking. The kid is a star. I'd love to lure him home one day to play alongside his best mate in a partnership that could carry the midfield for 10 years, but fairy tales often don't happen the way you expect. At least PJ has identified player development as priority 1. Toump has some great attributes. He's a raw talent.

Cheers for the response Andrew but I was talking about Wines. Anyhow, in the light of day I don't want to turn a Jimmy T thread into another discussion about Wines so I'lll leave it there.

Did you want to elaborate? His impact on games, certainly in the first half of the season, has been phenomenal for a first year player. Happy for you to throw up some names for comparison.

It's Round 17 and he's in his first year of AFL. Not exactly surprising that he's dipping. It's still one of the best first seasons I've seen. Unfortunate for him that he's paying in the same year as the J bomb whose basically what you'd get if you genetically engineered the perfect AFL player.

There doesn't seem to be much discussion about the possibility of him having an illness, or simply not adapting to the conditions. There was more to it than just a bad game. He wasn't right tonight. He'll be fine. He proved his wares against the best in the league last week.

I did quite like how the English press dubbed him Agar the 'Orrible.

If this is true then the mancrush is well and truly on.

Funny you say that. When we were 9/117, and my mates were texting me with their frustration over our total capitulation, I told them this was what it was like being a Melbourne supporter for the past couple of years, only you have to endure it every single weekend. I think they finally understood.

Master stroke from Boof to bring in another batsman, then stick him at 11 and tell everyone he's a left arm spinner. Not every day a 19 year old carves out a piece of history for himself. Absolutely brilliant stuff. Agar might have a few records to his name now but what he's also achieved is remind me why I love cricket.

There's so much to like about Toump. He's got a very good head on his shoulders, especially for his age. Has future leader written all over him.

Did it the hard way, coming down to very last game of the group, but fortunately avoided the HARDEST way. I wouldn't have fancied going into a playoff against the likes of Chile or the old foe, Uruguay. Some very positive signs for the future in Oar and Rogic. Serious talents, both of them. The reality is that we'll likely get crushed in Rio, but who cares. A third World Cup in a row is a tremendous achievement. I might end up going to this one actually. Certainly beats Qatar.

I was referring to Neeld's responses not filling me with confidence. "Oh yeah..who is being targetted again? Oh that's right, Syliva, Watts and Frawley. I haven't really been keeping track. Yeah, they're good players. We'll speak to them and their managers.....in the fulness of time...it's all good brah.."

With all due respect, you sit on the other side of the spectrum in your closed mindedness to accepting that Neeld is damaging the club. You jump into threads to attempt to shut down any criticism of Neeld with little demonstration of being open to discussion. Glass houses mate. Blind faith won't get us out of this hole. It only takes us deeper into it.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/neeld-readies-as-rival-clubs-circle-demons-20130523-2k2jc.html Doesn't fill me with a whole lot of confidence.

Okay what the hell, I'll bite. So I assume you're happy to lose Watts C&B?

The damage that Neeld may have done to this club is potentially alot greater than anyone could have anticipated. If we lose all of Sylvia, Frawley and Watts, we are pretty much cooked for a long, long time to come. It's a sickening thought because it's a realistic one. We have to move heaven and earth to keep these players, and something tells me that parking Watts in the backline isn't helping one iota in convincing him to stick around. He's not a defender. He's a goal kicker.

The only thing I feel for Nate Jones is an absolute truckload of admiration.

Sounds like a gripping contest.

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

Dunstall's commentary in the Hawks game was ridiculous. At times he would actually exclaim, "oohhh no.." when it looked like Melbourne were about to score. It would've been funny if it wasn't so shamefully biased. Anyhow, Commetti and Whateley, and you can't go past Bruce, are the ones I most enjoy listening to. Dwayne Russell needs to be dealt with. He ruins games of footy with his zany catchphrases ("get and go", "outside the paint", "plays for the free", "gives it some toe") etc etc) and complete misreading of the play. It takes a particularly bad commentator to actually ruin a game.

Unlucky against Wigan. That was the comeback to top all comebacks. It took them 80 minutes to realise that Sol Campbell is too old and slow these days and you can just run around him. Meanwhile my beloved Blues got done in the dying seconds against Man-ure. Again. Although I do like Scholes so if anyone was to head home a late winner I'm glad it was him. This season was heading towards a fitting and quite pleasing conclusion with Chelsea or Arsenal to steal a fourth title from Ferguson's claws (Chelsea to do so comfortably), and Citeh to play Champion's League football next year. In one week it's all gone to [censored].