Webber

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.

Luke Ball, Brad Sewell (at his best). Extractors with strength and fearlessness. As you say, JT needs to go that way too.

He's well under the radar Robbie 57, for a whole bunch of reasons, including the suggestion from the beginning of the year that we got the bad end of the whole Kelly/GWS trade. His profile is going to grow exponentially when we start winning more and better. A gun, and he attracts votes.

He has had plenty of opportunities as a forward, and can do the all too occasional freakish thing. When put under tough physical defensive pressure however, he simply folds and never touches it. He is not and never will be a forward, doesn't matter how good a mark he is. Defensively he has to be accountable, and is better, and his athletic abilities suit him best to space, so halfback pushing through the wing is his only option.

To model your game on Sam Mitchell would require the innate vision and disposal skills that I reckon sets him alone in the AFL. Greg Williams and Brian Wilson had it, but BW was flakey. JT isn't at that level.

but he DOES get the ball, just sometimes butchers it. Although a lot less than some on here think.

The All Australian team is 90% popularity parade and 10% objective reward for quality.

Yep. It's all wrong and we all know it. Worst of all, we all know the AFL don't care. The strength of the game in Sydney rates much higher than equalisation and the health of struggling Victorian clubs.

A natural footballer. He's not as fast as Lewis Jetta for example, but hunts the ball, has great agility, and makes the right decisions. Of any of the 'potentials' and 'maybe's' on our list for the past however many years, I've got a very good feeling about this kid. I think he'll end up an onballer on account of the breadth of his abilities. Similar hopes with Salem.

This. So far, he's been a classic MFC tease. If all his planets align, Jack Fitzpatrick could be a more than valuable regular. If not, he's just part of the frustration heap.

The essence of a true professional footballer. Dedicated, self motivating, and team committed. The Bulldogs were very lucky to have him for so long and should have kept him on. Hopefully we can get another 2 playing years out of him, then keep him on at the MFC. Much as we should have with James McDonald.