binman

Only the true messiah would deny his divinity

I agree, have flagged something similar (though had put the question out there if we might do a straight swap for the 4, but you're prob right, that's a very high price). I reckon Caddy is the other player who Melbourne might look at. Also i reckon peeps should forget about Sheedy's nonsense. When it is all said and done they won't play funny buggers with Viney - its just too big a risk. Also as he flagged this week they will be after some mid 20 players to bolster their youth. Remember Cornes, Brogan and McDonald will in all likelihood retire. They'll go after a couple of stars no doubt but players like Bate, Dunn, Pettard and perhaps even Moloney will hold some interest for them if for no other reason to provide a bit of a buffer for their youngsters, who so often struggle in their second year of AFL (Rich being a great example). The experience of GC this year will be salutatory. This might give us something to trade with them with

i agree and disagree. I agree we would be better off with Boak than Cloak (mainly because our mid field is the worst in the league) but the successful sides over the last 3-4 years have all had two big forwards and this is the current orthodoxy it would seem - Dawes/Cloke, Riewoldt/Kosi (successful is relative but they did make 3 GFs), Posialdly/Hawkins, Lynch/Darling-Cox (a stretch i know but they're been good over last season and a half), Franklin/Roughhead-Hale etc

Before the Essendon game i predicted we would finish with 5-6 wins for the season. I saw nothing yesterday to suggest we would not make that mark

Or simply jerk

I worked out the ignore function. Excellent feature. Goodbye tonotopia. Enjoy the next 10 years of Neeld as our coach.

I have read some pretty poor posts on demonland (hello Dr Who) but if there was a poor post chart this went straight to number 1 - and will be pretty hard to top (please don't try). Serious question - how do i activate the ignore function?

Then why do you bother posting at all?

Spot on. There is big chance we will finish above 16th i reckon

I don't know Tim. I went to the president's lunch where it was announced they were our sponsor (the GC game). He gave a short speech and a bit of an interview then swanned around a bit. I said to my mate i was with that there was something totally wrong about this guy. Definite nutter material. For example he said in his speech that he actually barracked for the Bulldogs and banged on about it. No probs about barracking for the dogs but why would you say in front of a room full of dees fans when you just become the major sponsor? Also his whole energy and body language was weird, quite aggressive in vibe and very macho As i said i called it then and was not surprised when he unravelled (i didn't know jack about him btw ie wasn't aware of his ADHD or back story)

I reckon Martin is a monty to come in. He is big enough to play a similar pack busting role as Clark and having that player is a key to Neelds game plan. Also he played well last week so a call up is warranted on form. Cook was average at best last week and in any case isn't big enough. It is funny how players can fall out of favour, Martin was given heaps of respect and love last year when he stepped up to cover Jamar being out. Deservedly so IMO and he was a massive improver. Perhaps Clarks injury represents a similar opportunity'. I really rate him and despite his flawed kicking technique can still play that forward role well.

I watched the replay last night and made a point of watching Watts. He is very confident down back, much more than i have seen him previously. In the last quarter he brought the backs together and almost seemed to be giving instructions about where to go and to keep shape etc. In a post match interview he said that people were saying he was a loose man but that was wrong and always has a man. I noticed this during the match, he often played well off his man when the ball was say in dispute on the wing or midfield and if it came back towards their goal was prepared to run to the space where it was coming or cover his man if that was more of a threat. Very impressive confidence and reading of the ball and was never caught out. His disposal wasn't as good this week as it has been (only 70% efficiency) but he reads the play really well. he seesm also to have permission to set up on the wing at bounces, which he did a few times He also went to the contest when he it was his turn but when it wasn't he sat of it and on few occasions ended up with the spillage and got it out with quick hands. I doubt Neeld will risk stopping his momentum at the moment but swinging him up forward in bursts, say swapping with rivers or Garland for 10 minutes, and he could be lethal

No i don't think so, see post number 111 for my rationale

No i don't think so, see post number 111 for my rationale

According to an article in today's Hun they were seeing a specialist today and getting more scans. I assume from what i've read that they should have a pretty good idea of the extent of the damage, indeed this info would critical to determine how to best treat it (surgery and plaster or just plaster/boot). Hopefully we'll get some good news today. If they decide no surgery it would indicate injury is on the lesser end of the scale apparently

I actually don't think that's the case having watched both incidents now a few times on replay and having read the (excellent) article J Riv posted on the injury (see below). In that article it says how it explains how it occurs and one way for footballer is their foot getting stuck in the turf and the weight of the body moving across the fixed foot breaking it basically. If you watch the Magner - Clark incident this is precisely what happened, his foot got stuck and flexed badly in the middle as he dived forward. Similar i suppose to the turf toes Sandilands has had (but more serious). Apparently an injury jockeys get when they fall and their foot gets stuck in the irons. When he was on the ground he motioned to to his foot to the trainers indicating something was wrong and though he looked groggy from the hit when he got up he was limping quite badly. Nothing to do with Magner though. After the first problem (first quarter mark when he came down stiff legged) he was pointing to his knee and when he came to the bench the trainer was working on his knee and upper calf The article makes for depressing reading as it sounds quite a serious injury, can impact and much depends on whether there is any fractures to the bone and how many bones are injured. On 927 they were reporting it as a fracture but i reckon that might not be right as the injury has also been called a broken foot amongst other things. Fingers crossed http://www.sportsmd....les/id/283.aspx

Ok thanks for the clarification. I agree having faith your teammate will win the ball etc is a player responsibility, though i would say trust is often a function of the whole culture at the club. A unified strong club on and off the field will more likely have players who trust each other on field. I would also i have no doubt the increased uncontested possession count is also a function of an easing in the training load meaning they are fresher in the game and more able to run hard to space, something which as been very evident the last 3 matches

I'm not sure if you are quoting me RP with the "tweaking" reference but seeing i put that word in a recent post i am assuming you are. To be clear i wasn't referring to his game plan i was referring to his man management, in particular how he has managed his senior players. As i have said on a number of occasions he appears to have, softened is the wrong word, but certainly eased up on the stern tough guy talk and seems to be taking a more inclusive approach. The players are really playing from him and i applaud a coach who is man enough to change and adapt.

No absolutely spot on HG. I watched the Neeld presser (with Sylvia by his side which was interesting - again after a win not one of the skippers but someone who is oft criticized) and that is exactly what he said. I almost fell off my chair. Perhaps more evidence of what i have previously noted ie Neeld seems to have tweaked his approach a bit, partic with the senior players and appears open to learning and growing which is crucial, not to mention a great example for his players

Yep me too. Happy to join you in a serve of the old humble pie if Sellar continues to improve at the rate he has in the last 3 weeks

Absolutely, as was his perfectly weighted 40-50 metre kick on the same wing (going the other way) with his left foot to a dee (i can't recall who - perhaps trengove). Gorgeous kick and gutsy too as if it had dropped short even by a bit the GWS player would have swallowed it and it would have come back over his head When Nik Nat can do that come and tell me we made the wrong choice!

Yeah that makes sense. FIney on SEN mentioned stress fractures. Chinese whispers. He has just been fantastic for us and just seems to be a great club man. I really hope everything is ok

What is the key concern - stress fractures?

Just heard on SEN that the club is concerned about possible stress fractures - test tommorow. I assume the problem was that mark in the first quarter where he came down stiff legeed and then went off after slotting the goal

Bang! Panned out just as i had predicted, love it. Go dees. The 2012/13 season commenced today