Webber

Dunno what’s going on here, but if it’s patellar tendinopathy, any surgery would be to debride (remove and freshen up) the affected bit via arthroscopy. Don’t know why they’re talking about cortisone, it’s not used in tendons now. I suspect it’s something completely other than what’s been confusingly reported, but if they say JLT’s on for him, I believe them. ???

The lack of realisation that Oscar McDonald is one of the first picked every week (yes, even with May and Lever) I find continually bemusing.

I’m pretty cautious these days about assuming positions for players are career long. How many of us would have thought TMac would be one of the league’s best goal kickers? (I actually did privately predict a move forward, which sadly counts for nothing). I think his brother is a better footballer at equivalent age, and really doubt he’ll stay back. And some have already forgotten that Fritsch is a natural forward, just because he filled a hole down back. Don’t be surprised if Joel Smith moves forward either, as his exposed form is negligible really, and he could be anything. Charlie Spargo is about the most likely future midfielder I’ve seen, so expect that in 2 to 3 years as well, and Vanders could be there more as of next season. Football now is about versatility, and many players best use is discovered well down the track.

Excellent interview and full year’s podcasting, congrats to you Andy and Grapeviney. I’ve really enjoyed listening, and to your regular contributors, Supermercado, binman, Nasher, particularly after wins of course, although your calm and reason after losses is admirably well measured. Should be compulsory listening for all the knee-jerkers and doomsdayers of us out there who tend to let emotion cloud the senses. Looking forward to next year.

Excellent outcome. Now our list is truly balanced, and with enviable depth. However talented he is, Jesse Hogan was never part of this team’s growing brotherhood. He always appeared to be on the outer. Best of luck to him, but if we want a team where everyone is happy to be there, he was never going to be part of that. We got the players we were after, and whatever with pick 23. Arguing over petty details of draft order picks is pointless when the goal has been achieved.

Considering his poor set-shot abilities, and his overall talent, the only reason CP isn’t playing more midfield minutes is that he doesn’t have the tank. It’ll improve, but game-long, on-ball endurance may not be his thing.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

It's also where the Vineys live.

That's the context that all those dissing Oscar have failed to apply. He's going to be huge for this club, as he showed yesterday. Consistency comes with age and experience, particularly for a KPP. Too many of us just fail to allow for the bumps and imperfections along development road, thus having to make an about face when those players start reaching their potential. We do it to so many young players, but never learn it seems.

So many problems with this draft oversimplification and failure to account for the exceptions, that it doesn't warrant rebuttal. You obviously thought my last sentence of satirical hyperbole was a serious comparison though, which is a worry. Your claim that Oscar "CONTINUOUSLY makes errors, is slow to react and looks COMPLETELY and UTTERLY out of his depth" is some of the best hyperbole I've seen, and clearly nonsense.

For some on here binman, Oscar's card is stamped. They'll never see beyond his imperfections, but will nevertheless expect something closer to perfection than for other 'favoured' players. As you so accurately make the point, some of those other favoured players made mistakes that were just as significant yesterday. There's just no eliminating subjective bias, so Oscar will continue to get a bagging unless he miraculously morphs into a cross between Matthew Scarlett, Glen Jakovich and Gary Hardeman.

For a KPP of his size and age, he's way ahead of the curve, and always has been. Classic whipping boy status without an ounce of perspective or context from many posters. He's just gonna get better, and when TMac gets back down there as Gawn and Hogan come back, the brothers McDonald will become one of the great stories of the AFL over the coming years.

This. We got two first rounders last draft, and they both look like diamonds, so am perfectly happy to forego early draft picks this year considering the quality and balancing out of list age balance that Hibberd and Lewis provide. And, Hibberd is a gun, just the power and propulsion we need off halfback.

Wow, this idea that we were 'the better team' just continues to baffle me. Adelaide and St. Kilda are better teams than us, it's just a fact. The Eagles we should have beaten on the day, but they too are a better team. Ladder positions at this time of the year speak the truth. Skills, vision and decision making are all things that constitute quality, and those three teams have more of all of them, hence they are better.

His agility is his point of difference for me. Evades, sidesteps and wrong foots like nobody else in the team. A natural footballer from the moment he stepped on the scene, he's smart and clearly committed. Once he hits 50+ games, the extra polish and poise will only increase his core value.

The last player we could afford to lose, sadly. Not only is he our midfield grunt now, but he sets the culture for competitiveness. That and the fact that oppo teams now know how to expose our defensive shambles means it's going to get very very ugly this Saturday, and not much better for the next 4 weeks. All of a sudden getting to last year's seven wins is looking like a good result for the year I reckon.

Absolute gold rpfc! Just proves that nobody really knows anything.

Above pick 25 apparently, which is being talked of as a quality marker. The panel all thought it was a good deal and fair, and very Roos-like with its efficiency.

Big trade chat on ABC grandstand an hour ago with industry insiders. Melksham straight swap to Dees for second round pick on 4 year deal is done they reckon. Of all the trade talk they discussed they were surer of this than any others.

Agreed. He's rubbish, who'd want him?

Ok, I'll bite. Nate Fyfe to the Dees on an 8 year deal.

Clearly the ones you know are the moderate ones, maybe the Malcolm Turnbull variety. I wonder how they feel about Kennedy, Betts, Waite and Jacobs?

Exactly the attitude of Carlton supporters to Garlett last year.

Just because the Bombers supposedly play hardball on trading doesn't mean we'll cough up more than his value. The last 2 years have shown us to be very smart at getting more than we give. Garlett, Vince, Lumumba, Cross. Any exceptions? Wouldn't we expect the list builders to remain smart? If we can get him for value, we'd be crazy not to as he's just coming into the ripe stage of his career.

Reading this thread, and in particular seeing the wraps on Colin Sylvia from 2003, taken at no.3 in that draft, then watching Petracca's interview and both highlights packages, it's just fascinating how unpredictable the draft can be. CP is very very confident in his abilities, and this could be a great thing, or part of a 'young prince' complex. He's got all the weapons at this age, but so did Sylvia. He could be a superstar, or he could be a journeyman, or he could be a bust. To borrow from William Goldman speaking about whether Hollywood success can be predicted, 'nobody knows anything'. As is our lot, we can but watch, wait, and hope.