Webber

It is true as you say deanox that homeopathy has no statistically significant effect BEYOND placebo. This can be confirmed by looking at any number of 'double-blind controlled trials' performed worldwide on homeopathic 'substances', or what we would happily call 'water'. However, the placebo effect is provably acknowledged as being about 60% of any 'therapeutic' intervention, so as homeopathy is, unfortunately for those of us who value science, an intervention, it is piggybacking on placebo. And this, coupled with desperation, ignorance and gullibility, is why rubbish therapies exist, and always will. Meditation makes for scientifically measurable improvements in both psychological parameters and at certain levels, physical health measures, reducing hypertension (high blood pressure) being one of the most obvious examples. Experienced 'meditators' can have extraordinary skills and measurable changes to their physiology. Buddhist monks, being the superstars of meditation, have measurably larger parts of their brain associated with contentment or happiness than us mere mortals for example. Much like hypnotic suggestion, meditation can alter the physical state, ( e.g. Non chemical anaesthetisation ), all through the power of the mind! Very quickly then you get into the whole area of consciousness theory, and the other abilities humans and sentient animals have that have historically been thought of as being bull***t by that part of the scientific community unable to move beyond the limitations of classical (or Newtonian) physics. These abilities have impenetrable scientific validity at measurable levels, such as psychokinesis, precognition, and telepathy. Whilst they definably exist, the explanation for them is purely theoretical via quantum physics, and whilst pure, beautiful and absolute, I'm not smart enough that quantum doesn't make my brain hurt. It's all very well to know that something happens (sun rises in the east every morning), but we grant it either mystical status or just dismiss it if we don't know HOW it happens. This has been the history of science. We just struggle to accept the reality that some phenomena even exist, despite experimentally repeatable evidence that it does, until we know why and how. Then we work it out, and it becomes 'valid'. Mrs.Roos is however dealing in unadulterated fantasy with things astrology, numerology and whatever. But hey, if it makes her happy! A bit off topic? Oops!

Great reading, thanks WJ. Tim Boyle has quickly become the ex-footballer who you HAVE to read, his insights being honest, unique, and beautifully written.

Also felt the same at that practice match. The saints split us open in the second quarter I think, and there was just no response. It proved to be a characteristic for the whole season. I think if you can guarantee one thing with Paul Roos, it's that he breeds a tenacity for the contest, probably built on collective unity and responsibility within the collective more than anything. It would seem we have a list that is potentially able to carry this out more effectively, so my hopes become higher. I think the biggest hindrance to our progress will of course be injuries, because albeit that it's only November still, all the other boxes look to have been ticked.

Andy Collins support is probably the only thing that WOULD make Travis Tuck worth considering for me.

This. Full fitness can be well and truly gained from this far out. If it is just fitness that Mitch Clark has to deal with, he will be playing round 1.

One of the only good stories this year, I think there's ample upside in Matt Jones considering he shone when so much around him was s**t. As such, I expect him to improve in pretty much every area, and hold his spot in the best 22 well.

Feel better now 'stmj'? 'you goose, you nonce, high horse, get over yourself'. Why don't you try getting personal, it always seems to edify the discussion?

Yep, frequently hilarious. Most of the Taggert speculation comes from a combination of disappointment at past recruiting failures with pure irrational idealism. The idea that the MFC list builders would let someone go who could be 'a gun' if only he had the right chances/development/attitude correction/luck with injuries/opportunity, is just waffling nonsense.

According to Demonland, Taggert is a serious talent unfairly dismissed, and Nicholson both the luckiest and worst player on an AFL list. The hyperbole and unfoundedly speculative comment on here is just WOW!

'Should' be going past him based on presumed potential frankly less reliable than the form he showed this year. He was far from slow in decision making, and his skills were in the top handful of this years's list. There's a big difference between slow decision making and having limited options, and MFC were this year nothing if not a team of limited options!

His highlights package is very impressive, and he looks every inch an inside midfielder. If his work ethic and improvement arc are anything like his brother's, he's going to be a great pick up for whoever gets him.

Considering he wasn't even a VFL player until mid 2012, to then say that after one season (where he outperformed all but Nate Jones in the midfield) he has reached his ceiling is just laughably presumptuous. To be basing his relegation to the fringe I guess is a product of the rosy hue that comes with the enthusiasm for last week's recruits, odd considering that Tyson, Michie and pick 9 are unproven. The reality is from a base of nothing, and against all the odds, Matt Jones became one of our best players. To forecast his demise based on new recruit romance is fantasy.

I knew that George Stone was coming to the MFC about a week after Paul Roos was announced, but couldn't reveal the source. He wasn't confirmed from the MFC until 2 weeks ago. Crossing T's, dotting I's. An unrevealable source but irrefutable confirmation is sometimes just that.

Amazing how few of you have Matt Jones outside the best 22. Top 5 B & F in his first year of AFL, playing for an excremental mess of a team. We have not seen the best of this guy, and with his work ethic and durability, and with structure and belief around him, he's in for a huge 2014.

The whole point about getting Daniel Cross is twofold, as has been all our trade/draft activity......developing culture and plugging midfield holes. For where we are, or have been this year, for the next season he fits the bill absolutely perfectly. The fact that he is not part of the Bulldogs development plans and thus surplus, in no way means he won't be of huge value for us next year. If you compare picking him up against last year's end of career recruits in Rodan and Byrnes, and for similar expense and sacrifice, he's a glaring winner. The other way to look at it is how he compares against the 2-3 years younger Col Sylvia. At least for the next 12 months, and barring injury, I know who I'd rather have. Great pick up.

He's a bit tantalising is Pickles. He dominated the last quarter of our win against GWS, and seemed to have all the skills, but just hasn't had a consistent string of games to build his form or confidence otherwise. Could be anything IMO, a regular best 22, or a not quite there. Let's hope he gets a chance to build games.

Not at all a long term concern, or a short one. He's fit and ready for preseason it seems. Due diligence will have been done on these guys, and they will both start with a clean slate injury wise. But, to state the obvious, anybody can get injured at any time, and I can just hear the demonland squeals next year if either goes down, albeit with unrelated injuries.

Dom Tyson is quality. If he can stay fit and on the park, it's a great choice. The interesting thing coming from the Tyson and Michie gets, and the off field recruits (Stone, Miller ....) is the investment in culture. Dom Tyson was a uniquely impressive character for his age when I had contact with him 2 years ago (and I can tell you will be rapt to come home) and according to some of of the reports on here about Michie, he has a great rep also. When you think of the character of Nat Jones, Jack Viney, Jacks Trengove and Grimes, and Jimmy Toumpas from the midfield alone, I think there's as much an effort to build culture and ethic at the 'New Roos Dees', as there is to recruit talent and plug holes. We can see what you're doing Paul Roos, and we LIKE it! :-)

No doubting all that, but specifically on development of players, any perceived failings of the past are now just that. A player will NOT baulk at coming to the club for fear of being poorly developed. In fact, the Roos/Stone team are historically a brilliant development set up. All other reasons not to come to the club relate to recent results, ladder position and 'culture', which is a very malleable intangible. As reasons to bypass the MFC they stand, but that has NOTHING to do with the CURRENT development qualities of the club.

Any idea that the club can't develop players as of the Roos/Stone period, that is NOW, are utterly redundant. It will NOT be an argument used against the MFC this trade/draft period because neither players nor management are that stupid to see it hasn't ALL changed. Some on here seem to be though.

I see what you did there....... As high as the eagles I'm thinkin'.

The way you guys are talking about him, sounds like you think he's a definite to be taken with father/son?

This. A well chosen draftee or good swap for the compo (high 20's?), should give us much better value than Colin Sylvia has been for 10 years. Definitely a good thing IMO.

Couldn't be less concerned at losing Sylvia. Good luck to him though.

Depends whether you see it as a sacrifice, or innovative territory/supporter development. The latter for mine, much like MFC's NT push. On the balance of things, AFL policy up until recently has been good for the competition and the game, and of course there is no such thing as perfection. There is such a thing as pursuing perfection though, and it can be pursued, and Rome can be built more quickly, and with a better project manager