hardtack

OD, these days I look at everything in terms of the cost of a cup of coffee. The GF Guarantee equates to about one and a half cups per week, or in my case having my son’s to cover as well, three cups. Weird I know, but somehow it helps me deal with the cost ?

Well, he will definitely have no injuries next year as he won’t be able to participate for 12 months from the date of the operation, meaning he will miss the entire 2018 season. Hopefully he will be good to go for the 2019 preseason, but he’s concerned that the jump in pace and physicality going from under 15s to under 17s may be a bridge too far.

I think you SHOULD be having a go at the club here... without members the club would be in dire financial straits, so if they want to ensure members stay within the fold, then it is their responsibility to keep us informed of any changes that are going to affect us financially; particularly in the case where memberships are set up for automatic renewal. Christ, even the emails welcoming my son and I back mention absolutely nothing about the costs (a receipt would be nice) let alone the break up of costs!! How hard is it???

I phoned them DC and gave them an earful over the fact it was taken for granted that I would be happy to part with $458 as opposed to the $240 I parted with this year - plus my usual membership fees. I was offered a refund, but as I explained to the membership person on the other end of the line, they had put me in a very difficult position with regards to the promise I made to my son (and now I can add the fact that after round 1 it increases to $299 each). Now, if I opted out (took the refund) and then decided to opt back in later, it would be even more expensive. I suppose the price increase is the thing that really rankled me - I wouldn't have minded so much if I had a steady income, but I don't.

Seriously??? That's a 150% increase on the cost of the GF guarantee last year!!!! I was angry enough over the fact that they automatically renewed that guarantee that I paid $120 for earlier this year, with my membership, but now I'm absolutely seething!!

I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one Ding. The problem is, and this is my biggest issue, the GF guarantee fee is automatically charged with the membership renewal... I believe they should not have done that and that it should be something you opt into, rather than out of. If that had been the case, then I probably would have held off until later in the season. My son has been through a lot having had an arthroscopy at age 13 two years ago, and more recently a full knee reconstruction after reinjuring the knee in what was essentially his first game back this year; so I think he’s had enough disappointments for one so young. If we make the GF and I couldn’t get seats after promising him I would, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself (not to mention the personal disappointment after waiting 54 years to actually see us win a GF... could only listen on the radio back in ‘64).

Essentially it gives us admission to any Dees games played here in Sydney (or Canberra), the usual home games in Melbourne as well as a scarf, calendar etc. The problem is that there have been so few games here in the past decade or so and that a Canberra game involves a minimum of three hours driving in both directions and the added expense of accommodation.

It went from $80 in 2016 to $120 in 2017. The big jump to $229 is for 2018... I expressed my displeasure directly to the club over the phone... particularly as it was included in my automatic renewal! I expressed the thought that an extra such as the GF guarantee should be something you opt into rather than opt out of. I was pizzed off because I’m in a position where I can’t really afford $458 for mine and my son’s guarantee, but I have the dilemma that I can’t ask them to refund it as I had promised my son that we will go to the GF if the Dees get there.

I might try to make it along to the ‘aints gig. Pete Oxley’s an old acquaintance from way back in the days of his earlier band The Shy Imposters and it would be a good chance to catch up... also, as I’m missing out on seeing the ‘aints here in Sydney, that could work out well.

I could handle most of those, but that last one... that's a hanging offence!

This band is the Low Down Riders playing at the same bar (in Marrickville) that my band plays every month. Their line-up seems to change almost every time they play so I've not seen this large line-up before (usually just a three or four piece). I saw them a few weeks ago with a visiting Melbourne "troubador" named Archer... that was brilliant; if you like CW Stoneking, then you would adore Archer. And here is Archer...

Is that the only time it will occur in November? I'm planning on heading down to Melbourne for a few (5) days around mid November and wold love to have made it along. Anything else of note that's coming up?

Now that we have an extra 2nd round pick courtesy of the Lever trade, is there a chance one may be used to secure Fritsch in the draft, while the other could still be used in a trade?

Never mind the fact he plays a completely different role.

And further to my last reply, I was kind of replying while (in my mind) referencing Wrecker's comment along the lines of "...but no club will pay enough with his injury history". Apologies for the confusion.

Yeah, fair enough... definitely not an injury, and I'm pretty sure that once his condition is under control, it can be kept under control.

I think that brick knocked his sinuses out of whack.

I'd be interested to know just how many football related injuries Salem has a history of having had. As far as I am aware, he missed the most time suffering from a thyroid condition (hardly football related), then concussion as a result of a brick hitting him in the head (again, hardly football related... self inflicted) and most recently suffered a hamstring injury (and I get the feeling Salem is not the first AFL player to have done a hammy). So, just what is this injury history he has, and what "worse prognosis" could the club possibly be holding back on?

Aaaaaaand cue GNF!

I believe it was a severe case of tonsorialitis that did it.

I stated clearly why I thought we probably hadn't got a great return from him yet... injuries and illness cruelling his chances. You however called an act that you had not even seen, a "dog act" and then went on to say that "he is a liability with some talent" and then in your next sentence query what his trade value may be. As I had not used quotation marks, I was obviously not quoting you (and hence not misquoting), but rather I was making what I would have thought was a reasonable extrapolation on your critique.

I beg to differ SWYL. The tone of your post was suggesting that he should be traded. It really wasn't hard to read between the lines given your "dog act" statement based on no actual actual vision of the incident having been seen by yourself.

In his time at the club, Salem has played just 45 games in total and this year had been averaging a tad over 21 disposals per game, which is not so bad. He has been cruelled by injury and illness. Yes, he might not be elite (although as someone stated, his kicking is), but he is certainly a cut above numerous others on the list, and with a good run free of injury/illness and another preseason under the belt, he will start to show the class that got him drafted by the club. You had him traded earlier this week based purely on what a few people had overstated regarding his being reported on Saturday - if you had actually been at the game and had seen the incident first hand (there was no available footage at the time you made your comments), then your comments may have at least had some validity... but instead, your judgement on that occasion was indeed clouded..

We're learning to win more than we lose... foot on the throat can come later.

I'm still yet to see a single episode of this show.