binman

No one suggested Macrae was coming. Someone just guessed/hoped that the rumored quality mid (big fish) Roost it said we were in the market for might be Macrae.

Good summary RJ. I'd add he is a smooth mover who has good vision. Is a good kick, but what I really like about his kicking is he is a surprisingly long and penetrating kick (looks effortless) who hits targets, which is something we really lack

Mcrae is exactly the player we need

Just what we need. .. ..

Good post PD (assuming it is the real PD - this new incarnation is very considered. Perhaps it is like Dr Who with each iteration being different to the last?). My thoughts on a couple of your points Could it be that he did the hard yards at the Bulldogs that helped set up Beveridge's success ? If only a small part ? Yes and yes, ridiculous to think otherwise. Macca has not received anywhere near the credit he deserves for their flag success and for mine i lost some respect for the the dogs for not publicly giving him any (that i saw - perhaps i'm wrong). Macca correctly predicted where the game was heading and was ahead of the curve at the dogs. At a time when the hawks slice and dice game plan based on precision kicking and deliberate ball movement was the go he implemented the total pressure and all team intensity game adopted by the last two premiers(not coincidentally both teams were not the most talented or skillful). A DL poster (sorry forgot who) compared this model to the Dutch 'total football philosophy', which i though is a brilliant analogy. Goodwins is a total believer in this total football philosophy - which goes a long way to explaining why he wants Watts gone and why he rates Macca. Could it be with what we're now seeing with Stringer and others such as Liberatore, that there was a core group at the Dogs with an unhealthy influence over aspects of their behaviour, or disenfranchisement with McCartney ? Absolutely. A real challenge for the total football approach is it needs total buy in with every player totally invested in the approach and their teammates. The tigers were a brilliant example of this being the case. The bulldogs were an equally brilliant example of what happens when a team using the Total Football system does not have total buy in and cohesion. I wonder if the Dogs will be able to get it back. I believe we're in excellent hands with Goodwin, et al. Could not agree more Will he be a better coach and media performer in year two or five than year one ? Yes. He has made clear personal development is his mantra and i have every confidence he will continue to get better in all facets of his role.

Say what you like about jack but he sure does generate pages on DL

G'day PD. Been a while. not much doubt that Goody shares your opinion on Jack. At least i can say i got his one really good season right!

And given Watts, just yesterday, has said he wants to remain in Victoria is likely to be another Nixon hallucination.

Agree, though i don't think it was designed as a wake up call. I think they expected him to seek a trade, which he may still do. As i have said before, despite the fact that as you say he has under performed, Jack is one of my all favourite players. But i fully respect Goodwin's position (and his right to ask Watts to leave) and it is crystal clear he has failed in meeting his coaches expectations - the key ones being intensity and attack at the ball i would think. All that said i am glad Jack has stuck to his guns and i hope it actually will be the wake up call he needs. To be honest i can't see him getting to level of intensity Goody demands so if he does stay he better get used to being wacked in the VFL and playing at windy casey. But if he can be the rare leopard that changes his spots i hope it is with us not another premiership contender.

Terrific first post. Welcome

yeah because you know what he is feeling and thinking and are also across how every vic club assesses the value of Watts. righto. Such talent on DL. Pink Freud where are you?

I think burton might not be the best person to be negotiating deals. I mean aren't most negotiations involving player's contracts financially motivated?

You have a contract with your girlfriends? I think that is something else......

How much do you charge per hour. Do you bulk bill?

Crying? He is doing the opposite. He's standing firm. He is being ruthless. As i have said all along he has the whip hand and to the surprise of people who have pigeon holed as a soft playboy he is using it.

Jack hasn't. He has a contract. Why should he be forced to leave if he doesn't want to. He has every right to stand his ground and not roll over like the club wants - and probably expected - him to. Good on him i say. Respect.

Blimey dl has a lot of amateur psychiatrists. Seem to know exactly what jack wants, needs, thinks, understands and most of all what is wrong with him. By the by does jack's comfort zone refer to a spot in his board shorts or perhaps a bar he plans to open?

We have a good range of feedback buttons now. That said we could use a HOW IRONIC one.

Its possible of course that his confusion is due to the message being poorly communicated

Same could be said then of lever

told by?

Computer says no.

Radio Sports Netwok. 927 on the am dial. The racing station. But a good sports show in tge morning

Well obviously that is up to you. But if you post a rumour without some sense of where it came from and it likely veracity - everyone reading it will ask the same question - what is the source? You read about sloane via the Zanotti file. That's helpful to know because i can make an assessment of how reliable it is based on my knowledge of the Zanotti file from previous years. It would have been helpful to know that in the fist instance, even more so if it was correctly quoted. But sure, if you don't mind causing some low level frustration and/or being disregarded when posting a rumour knock yourself out and post rumours without naming (or even hinting at) the source.

He is exactly what we need. A genuine A grade mid who win the hard ball (though we also need outside pace and elite kicking skills).