Robbie57

Welcome Chris, we are thrilled to have you on board.

Terrific news.

Well done to all those involved in this years trade period.

Isn't 3 the same as current centre bounce?

Boundary throw ins will be interesting.

Martin is now worth a lot more than yesterday.

Nothing will be done until the compo picks are known when FA ends.

we just have to wait.

Ray's Manager says he expects him to stay with Saints.

Another pricing gambit.

Welcome Shannon. Tell a few of the boys what is needed.

Regardless of outcome a manager who says to the media he has spoken to all of the other 17 clubs in my view needs to be taken out the back ...

That statement means Beamer's currency dropped right off the chart. I feel for Beamer in this situation, looking at those statements and the one early in the year its fair to reach the view that his representation has failed him and no doubt he has heavily relied on advice from his manager.

The only other explanation would be that Essendon did the dirty on them.

So what trade would they offer? Oh yes I forgot details are irrelevant when Malthouse has spoken.

Far from a done deal I would think.

He is not a free agent and its hard to see what deal they will come up.

This smacks of his agent trying to manipulate the situation. Could be some tears befroe bedtime.

Very good thread.

I have been disturbed by the Port situation and think what Roos said this week about the lesser clubs getting weaker is true.

There has to be a real lesson in this for us as well. As much as we think we can attract talent the truth is we will struggle as much as Port and others at the lower end.

Free agency will drain away good players looking for sucess leaving us (and others) to try and pick up the crumbs. The reality is that high draft picks dont guarantee you good AFL players the process is very much hit and miss.

What is likely to happen is one by one the bottom teams will have their talent cherry picked, supporters will lose heart, and do it goes on.

This is a very serious issue for the AFL.

We will be treated to the usual media and AFl suggestion its the fault of particular clubs but I think this is a depper systemic issue.

Free Agency will only help clubs up the ladder as they will be the first choice of any player.

Take the Goddard situation they get virtually for free a a rank player forcing their B class players out to lower ranked clubs.

The salary cap doesn't work to even out the competition as its clear players are prepared to compromise on $ for success in a trade or free agent secenario.

I expect to see clubs south of about 9th place to suffer and the gap in performance and ability ot attract talent to grow.

I am with Paul Roos FA is going to kill weaker clubs as players understandably seek some success, those to go will be mature skilled players needed by the weaker clubs.

Really is a disgrace there is no hope of levelling the playing field. Draft picks wont do it because the younger players wont be playing in a mature culture.

It is sad to see. Port will be the first to fold.

Well done Nathan, well deserved.

Personally i think he should have got a few more in a couple of games.

Can win this thing only draw back is the umps seem to see some players more than others.

I am about a day away from my first child and have held off renewing the membership until that day arrives.

My partner a St Kilda supporter is now a Dees member and refers to "our boys" but the idea of getting married on condition she supports the Dees is a good one.

Each year I sign up my 2 brothers, my partner and our dog who also sleeps on the Dee pet mat.

Names are picked but whilst under the influence of the drugs I am going to slip the following names through onto the certificate:

Hassa

Ron

Mitch

Jimma

Ox

and if its a girl:

Hassa

Ron

Mitch

Jimma

Ox

So the experts have been watching tooty for 35 yrs have they?.......what makes them better judges than me

the AA team is a crock, always has been, always will, NikNat was a political decision to grow the game....

...I am so sick of the hype over this guy, yes he is big and athletic, yes he does some freakish things, but last weekend Jolley and Dawes smacked him and Cox.............

NikNat is just a highlight reel at the moment, and when Cox hangs up his boots let's see what he can do then...he may turn out to be a great player.....but the definition of a great player on this board according to some is a player who can influence a game and maybe win it....NikNat is so far off being that player

......Sam Jacobs by everything, stats etc was the best ruckman this season, then daylight......I repeat where are Gibson, Mitchell, Pavlich......

And Gerard "percentages" Healey knows it. His performance the other night when questioned about it it was pretty ordinary. How does a part time ruckman (50%) get the gig defies all logic.

NN in the last two weeks showed his fundamental problem. He cannot read the game.

If you watch him he often wanders around looking lost but when the ball falls in his lap he can run a bit with it.

In a lower team like ours he would be very exposed. He is fortunate to have Cox around to make him look good.

Very ordinary skills.

What is being forgotten is the value in him being in our system already unlike the others. No doubt he has been on a Mission devised training plan. He will have been learning our game plans. That changes the equation a bit because our coaches know when he will be ready and I suspect he is ahead of many others in the draft.

So the question is not, is he number 3, 5, or 8? If he is really not a first round pick then we wouldn't take him. If he is then we do.

I find the whole debate about which number a bit strange history tells us that pick order does not always determine what you will get.

Our recruiters may not know how serious the operation on Toumpas is and how long he will need in preseasons to get it right. (what is that worth is risking a pick?)

In any event I think what we saw when he broke his jaw said a lot, it will be hard to keep this young man anything than motivated and hard at it. You have to like that.

Rivers in contract talks with the club - Neeld thinks that Riv needs to consider going to a club that's ready or staying. Sounded confident. Davey almost finished annual leave and doctor confident that the break in his foot healing well and he'll be ready for full training 29/10 - but is already training on the bike at the club. Expained the captain selection process and is rapt with the Jacks - sounded like Trenners has finished high in the b&f.

Looks up the Hun daily to see who he's moved on and who's walked out. Explained the Jurrah situation really well.

I like this bloke and he keeps rising in my estimation. Cool calm and collected.

Do we as supporters have the courage to back him in the long run?

We good interview and I found it encouraging.

Looks like the travails of the year have helped build some relationships in the club.

17 first rounders. No stars. No midfield.

The dicussion really begins and ends there doesn't it.

17 - 0 - 0

I can appreciate this view, and no doubt it is the majority, but all I can do is look at his 2011 form when required to play 1 role (ie in the ruck) for weeks on end. He played some very good football when left in the one position.

I think he's harshly criticised on this forum. I know his form guide wouldn't paint a pretty picture, but there's just sumfin!

Martin is a potentially very good player no doubt about it but that is exactly why he is up for trade. We wont get the sorts of players we need by offering up our completely rubbish players.

Collingwood needs some talls and we need forwards or mids.

We didn't talk to Cloke so they see us as being a team they can and want to do a deal with.

Lets get it done and welcome Sharon to the Dees.

Funny this thread came up again as I just saw Todd Viney and Tim Harrington walking into the Westpac Center.

Now this is good news. Whatever the outcome its clear we are putting the time into some deals right now.

Dawes...

Wellingham.

Why is every done to death poll and worn our record being bumped?

Seriously can we look ahead rather than back.

Wouldn't be surprised by this, was thinking the same thing.

This is a real chance I reckon.

Recently found vision of RR at a match committee meeting:

I see RR has bumped some of his old threads for us all to enjoy. I freely admit I missed them.

Some exclusive RR footage: