Webber

When did Lever do his knee, anyone know? That is, what month?

Pick 2 and 3 for Kennedy and Frost (from GWS for pick 39) is an absolute win. One superstar and one long term known quantity who is known quality with lots of upside. 2 and 3 are UNKNOWN QUANTITIES!

I'm sure the club will do its duty in providing JT the best medical outcome, and whilst I don't want to pre-empt further diagnostics, the club would be crazy to keep him on the list, rookie or otherwise. It's become unlikely his foot will recover to AFL standard now, and if it does, it's a very very long and uncertain road back. A horrible situation, but the way footy is, there's no room for keeping players on as an act of pure good will with no value to be gained on game day.

Sadly, this is precisely the thing you don't want with a navicular, on account of it representing the likelihood of developing 'avascular necrosis' of that bone, meaning death of the bone through lack of blood supply. It's not done just yet, but Jack's playing future is now doubtful. Huge knock for a seemingly very good bloke, whatever the MFC planned for him.

The hype on Scully and Trengove was enormous. Much bigger then than Petracca and Brayshaw now. Some people have short memories...

It's this part of Flanners article that I took too, 'hells bells'. He's managed to utterly nail the essential loss that the modern free agency era is driving. The future of the AFL is the fans.......us. It is a club based sport, and we value loyalty and diligence probably above all things. Yes, players have essential rights to self determination, and they should be protected, but if the current trends are working to diminish the importance of the kind of attitude that Robbie lived, breathed, and played, then woe to them that encourage them. Do you think the AFLPA and Gill and his mates will realise it? I'm not hopeful.

Sam Mitchell doesn't bother with ANY steps before getting ball on boot, and he's not bad.

Very informative, thanks Mondê.

I'm I misremembering, or is there some relationship between Jeff Garlett and Nev Jetta. Family? Friends?

Classic Roos rebirth project. We know what Garlett can do when playing well. Do we now have the culture and structure to facilitate good behaviour in 'troubled' personalities? Seems that way.

Is that near the 'Science explains how things really work' thread, Colin?

The AFL is slipping the way of this country. Free market fundamentalism rules the governing ethos of both institutions. It sounds good on paper, everybody gets the same opportunities, trickle down effect, blah blah, but historically the reality is apparent. The rich ARE getting richer, and the poor ARE becoming poorer and more numerous. It's just the evidential fact, and there's neither the will nor the power in those who aren't the 'elite/rich' to do anything about it. Deregulation as an excuse for greed. If ever there was a body that is turning it's back on the genesis of its inception, it's the AFL. Our great sport that crosses class, gender, race and age like no other sport in this country, is being mismanaged.

I'm interested how a draftee makes AA U18, and then is rated outside the top 22. Thoughts, anyone?

KingDingaLing, that's the best summary of Frawley's abilities yet uttered

Just told by someone with a paternal relationship to a current player that Dangerfield possibility is still very much alive.

Nailed it, bing181.

Well said again. Anybody who dares to utter philosophies or beliefs outside the cookie cutter mould of twenty-something male sporting mantras is going to raise the ignorant criticisms of many. Pure tall poppy-ism. He's different, and if people can't cope, then that's about them, not HL. I heard Luke Ball talking about him on the wireless a few weeks ago, and his praise for him as a footballer and person was both genuine and glowing. It spoke volumes.

With you there 'pitchfork'. Firstly we get the ignorant hyperbole about the terminal uselessness of the entire MFC supporter base, and then to raise the juvenile generalisations and fear baited paranoia to even greater levels, the Muslims get a mention. Wow.

I watched him play for 14 years, his entry to playing being my entry to footy consciousness. He was the greatest football hero a Dees loving kid could have. He was the greatest footballer never to win a Brownlow medal. He was the greatest footballer never to win a premiership. He was the most loyal of clubmen, when he had every reason not to be. and he was the most beautiful footballer I've ever seen. RIP Robbie.

He's a very consistent, premiership footballer at the peak of his physical and experience curves. He has very high professional and ethical standards (which is why he would appeal to PR), and if his adherence to those standards gives a few others the irrits, then too bad for them. An excellent get, if he comes.

Agreed, they should have that right. The problem is not free agency, it's the lack of fortitude on the AFL's part to use the draft as an equaliser. If it was good enough to give GWS and GCS effectively free run on the draft for 2 years each, a similar but obviously shared power should be given to all clubs toward the bottom (bottom 4 I reckon). It restores their power, year on year, to stock young talent or trade for experience.

Nail on head, Nasher. The only tool the AFL have to equalise other than through financial gifts (COLA), is through the draft. High draft picks have currency, taken as player/s or for trade. As such, each year the bottom four teams should get the top 12 picks. Those clubs would rise sooner, and the potential for future success for ALL clubs would be alive EVERY year.

Whether defending Frawley or not, whether he's a product of MFC performance or part of the cause, he's just simply not a good enough footballer, consistently enough, to justify in me any sense of loss. Assuming pick 3 as compensation well used, that pick is simply of much higher value than James Frawley. No disrespect to his efforts or years, but he's not essential, or worthy of that sentiment. If we were in the same position with Nathan Jones future, THAT would be a sense of great loss.

Reminds me a bit of Jobe Watson in respect to his first couple of years. We want him to be fully developed A-grade NOW! He won't fully hit his straps for 3 years, but will tear it up when he does. Great to see he's signed on....

It all comes from confidence in your base of support, being the feet. If you have no psychological or mechanical confidence in a foot, core strength has nothing to anchor on. At the risk of stating the obvious, because of the enormous non linear forces that go through the feet in footy, jumping, twisting, landing, if there's any vulnerability there, it's extremely hard to compensate. I reckon if JT's back to full capacity with his foot, he'll be a different player.