John Crow Batty

That wont happen unless maybe they put another 1.5 million bucks on the desk for him to pick up on his way out.

Important to consider Wines is playing in a team that looks very together, focused and energised. Toumpas is playing in a team that has been dysfunctional and yet to demonstrate it can get its act together. Far easier to play like a million dollar baby with the outstanding support and team elan Wines enjoys. Just dying to see what we dish up first round. No doubt both have talent but some grow up in the right families.

No use crying over spilt wine.

He got lucky with his career, has at least 21 other team mates who give more than a rats arse.

I think I heard James Hird say that once.

This thread is a bit premature. Hopefully we can bump it up after our first game.

All clubs have highly paid players that turn out to be boat anchors. More worried about next weeks 4 points at this stage.

You were happy to spruik and cheerlead all the spin from the previous administration. What gives?

Its like family for me. May not like some of them but stuck with them forever. Have only followed the Dees in my life. Cannot fathom the possibility of changing sides unless they folded for good. I suspect those who switch allegiances have some character flaws. Could never trust them. I prefer to live my life out in unrequited success than rat on my club.

Well said, the club has a lot of bridges to build. A refreashing change from the previous administration's saturation saccharine coated spin and tripe.

You must have gotten there on a very bad day. There are frequent airport meltdowns in China. Staff get overwhelmed and especially so at Guangzhou when flights can arrive at every 4 minutes. I would give them a second chance if I were you. I have had my frequent share of annoyances with airlines too. Qantas once left me marooned at Bombay airport for over 30 hours and no hotel room.

I can vouch for China Southern. Have used them at least 60 times in my travels to China. As for delays, its more of an airport problem over there. Too many flights in a rapidly expanding country. Every second flight is delayed no matter the carrier. Once we had their staff waiting for us as we left a flight as we were delayed and in danger of missing our connecting flight. We got taken down on the tarmac, got our bags off the plane and driven very fast 2km to the other side of the huge Guangzhou airport and got on our connecting flight with no time to spare. Great service.

My thoughts too with his family and friends. RIP Dean. Unusual coincidence that three identities from our club are struck down in their prime with cancer in such a short time frame. I have trouble remembering other AFL/VFL identities dying early of cancer since Peter Crimmins. Without knowing the specific facts, Sean Wight's and Dean Bailey's illness's appear eerilly similar if not identical.

Two respectable efforts in the NAB cup and this tripe in a low key practice game. If we won there would have been premature ejaculation everywhere and what a waste that would have been.

Tend to agree, at this stage Roos is still developing the team ethos and game plan and there is no realistic prospect that we were destined for instant success with all hands on deck. Give these injured guys all the time they need to recover. When they get back hopefully they will be the final piece in the puzzle to complete a well structured team.

I protest, that should be Paul Roos there.

There should also have been receipts and invoices for the quite substantial costs of the drugs. Looks like there has been some fiddling with the books or payments were made in brown paper bags to illicit drug dealers

Going to the backline seems to have helped him. Reminds me of Rod Grinter. Flaky selfish undisciplined half forward who found his true grit when Northey came along and rebirthed him as a footballer. Come to think of it, I sense some deja vu of 1987 coming along.

I am somewhat surprised by Dunn's improvement. Where did he develop that poise and coolness?

Frawley has told The Age if Roos extends his contract he will definitely sign up again with us.

First time in years where I see we actually control the tempo of the game. No reactive footy here.

This is cool watching the game away from the idiot box in my garden with a rum. Looks smooth with a couple of hiccups. Rivers a nice early touch. Grundy tired and emotional after a big hit. Game a bit sloppy.

Too late, they have my money. I can handle 4/3 on an ipad. If no good, its back to radio.

Not much chance with Abbott in Murdoch's pocket.

Anything that takes pennies away from the Murdoch Empire is a good thing. I kept Foxtel for far too many years just to watch our interstate games. Having satelite reception also meant I got crap picture. Ditched Foxtel and bought the AFL app for a years subscription recently and looking at past replays it looks OK. For the price its worth a try.