Pink Freud

Possibly but only if you make the mistake of misinterpreting Neeld's original comments and their purpose. Some here suggested that Neeld humiliated the players he targeted but, as maurie and some others explained, this was simply not justified on closer examination. And as footynut has gone to great lengths to explain in this thread, Neeld is smart enough to know how to handle his list and the individuals who comprise it. His opening gambit (together with Misson) was to point out how far the group was behind that which is standard at the top clubs and then to point out what was necessary to emulate them. Now, after a couple of months' hard work, he is building his players up by telling them that he's pleased with their attitude and how they're working hard to achieve their goals but there's more hard work to come. He's working to a plan and I can see no contradictions in that at all.

To think that, absent the debacle of 186, we might have seen the reappointment of Dean Bailey as coach for another year or two, the mind boggles.

Oh, so now I should advise the wife not to go to the butcher shop and I should become a vegetarian because some abbatoirs might use cruelty to the animals they slaughter. I'm not satisfied that Pets Paradise are implicated and in any event, when I bought a puppy from them I gave her a warm and friendly environment which it might not otherwise have had. Robbie's right - this isn't a proper subject for the football board irrespective of the merits of the poster's campaign against people who are cruel to animals. The Pets Paradise people I've come across certainly are not.

I admire your position with respect to caring for animals but should we also end our association with the Age if we don't like it's editorial views, sever our connection with Deesbet because it encourages gambling, Tyrell's Wines because we could all end up drunkards? I don't think so. If you have an issue with a particular sponsor, you don't have to use its product but before you accuse Pets Paradise of that sort of conduct you need some harder evidence than what you've produced above and then it's up to the authorities to act if there is any wrongdoing. I've patronised Pets Paradise in the past and never seen anything remotely resembling cruelty to animals there.

The AFL is up to its neck in it as usual. Not GW$ this time but the $ydney $wans - All-clear on Jack deal can't be taken seriously. Watch your back Tim Lane. Vlad does not like this sort of thing.

You mean they look a bit like the father of a former Melbourne player who has a highly paid job with another club doing nothing.

It seems that all clubs trying to develop a much harder edge in their playing groups and were going to see a much tougher style of play in the AFL. Makes me even happier to see Neeld and Craig running the show.

I recently watched a replay of the Preliminary Final where Collingwood pinched the game from Hawthorn with a goal late in the game. I won't say they were unlucky but I do think there was enough hurt there on the losing team to suggest that they will steel themselves to avenge that loss and make up for it with nothing less than a flag. Hawthorn will be the team to beat in 2012.

Ma Jong will be pleased - son's now a rookie with the Bulldogs.

Gee. That means Phil Scully misses out.

Wouldn't that mean you're disrupting both clubs?

Have no fear. Your dreams are normal for this time of year. But if you start having dreams about Phat Phil then call my nurse for an emergency consultation.

I agree with Matthews. Let's re-open the whole thing and have an independent panel look into the entire conduct of the AFL, GWS and the Scully clan and also investigate whether the compensation package offered by the AFL is adequate. Does pick 1 in the 2009 draft + two year's input into a player = two mid first rounders plus at least an extra twelve months before you can activate them. Let's see some transparency, integrity and some justice at the AFL.

Just a thought WJ. Who impresses you the most of the draft prospects and if you had to plump for someone available at our selections, who would you go for?

The best 18 year old in the country by far comes from Paramatta in Sydney's western suburbs and GWS should draft him with their first pick. His name's Patrick Cummins.

Does anyone know what happens with the players drafted on Thursday night. Are they already expected to turn up to training on Friday?

Brilliant.

Oh, and what part of the closing paragraph of the article suggests to you that Sheedy doesn't want us to be his team's opponent in China?

Kevin Sheedy wants GWS to play AFL game in China for premiership points in 2013 Another harebrained scheme from the maestro but it's an idea that we could grow to like. I have a mental picture of Liam Jurrah booting four goals in the last and Sheedy's highest paid player scurrying home to mummy and daddy offended by teammates enjoying themselves by partaking of the local brew.

Scully was a "marquee player"? Go figure? How many times did you come home after a game saying "Scully won the game for us today"? Zero. He was not a marquee player and neither Melbourne nor any of the other AFL clubs could have stopped him from going to GWS. The AFL saw to that. Geelong couldn't keep Ablett and the Dogs couldn't keep Ward. Yet Denham and his apologists single out Melbourne and Melbourne alone as they do over the tanking which was carried out by at least half a dozen other clubs. Yet Denham and his apologists pick on only one club and rub it's nose in it.

Austin Wonaeamirri was a "marquee player"? Go figure?

Thanks for the read. I will never abuse an umpire again. Well, at least not till the NAB Cup starts.

Casey Sibosado was delisted by the Dockers last week after a three year stint as a rookie. He did play 1 AFL game in round 24 of this year when the club was ravaged by injury and there was nobody left to select.

The clubs have known the rules since the start of the year and they've had plenty of time to get their act together. It's ridiculous that all this posturing is going on now to spoil deals.

If anyone is setting up the Scullys to look cheap and tacky it's the GWS Giants. While Tom and his father face the cameras and tell Hutchy he hasn't made up his mind and he's only having a look around, the media are reporting that GWS officials have an in principle agreement. Well, if that's the case then what are they telling us about the player and his father?