Pink Freud

I’m keen to hear how all of those in rehab are doing now that the AFLX Draft is done and dusted.

So basically, the news that Bradtke might play at least some of the season in the TAC Cup Under 18s, means that the Casey Demons need to find some ruck strength. This is especially so in light of the fact that it appears likely that Max Gawn and Braydon Preuss are going to be used in tandem in the AFL. I believe that the major deficiency that caused Casey’s downfall in the grand final last year (and in other games they lost) was in the ruck. The argument for picking up another ruckman before the pre-season draft cut off on 15 March must be growing louder now.

Not just the Dees but most of the clubs. It looks as though some of the clubs are going to take advantage of the post draft period stretching into March before finalising their lists.

Unless it was pick 28 in the rookie draft.

Basically, Jesse Hogan is saying that happiness off the field and being close to family are more important than potential finals success, which is why he was keen to leave Melbourne for Fremantle. If he was never going to be focused on the big prize in a team sport, then it was best that both player and club parted. Jesse Hogan’s priorities.

The $8m/8 year story combined with John Ralph’s piece in today’s Herald Sun really make you wonder why we shouldn’t keep Hogan for 2019 with the objective of keeping him at the club for the longer journey. The caption accompanying the Ralph article on p54 of the Herald Sun had Hogan’s stats down as elite for disposals and groundball gets inside 50 and above average for marks, marks inside 50, goals and score involvements. Together with the tale of the high price tag suggests we can work on him if the Dockers aren’t willing to talk turkey at our required price of picks 5, 23 & 30.

Dion Johnstone appealed against his suspension in the Preliminary Final and, as a result of him failing to win on appeal, I think he was given a 2 week suspension. He served one of the two weeks in the grand final but the VFL season next year starts in about Round 3 of the AFL. Does his suspension end after Round 1 of the AFL or Round 1 of the VFL?

There’s absolutely no realistic chance of us getting him.

Is it too early for one of those Phantom Drafts and is there one around that goes as far as the second and third rounds where the MFC choices are going to be?

Any updates?

Made a lot of money from the game, then got injured. Remembered for that and the subterfuge in the way he left the club he was drafted to after 2 years.

If, and it’s a big IF, we let Hogan go, are we back in the race for Gaff?

Boak has had one possession at quarter time. Making Watts like like a champion.

You would have to say now that Port won’t win by 150 points tonight and therefore, we are officially in the final 8.

6. Angus Brayshaw 5. James Harmes 4. Dom Tyson 3. Clayton Oliver 2. Christian Salem 1. Sam Frost

I think it's time for this one to fall.

Well FMD. Gaff played golf with brothers Andrew and Hamish Brayshaw just days before throwing the punch that broke the young Docker’s jaw. Must have been an interesting 18 holes.

And what makes it so nice is the fact that Carlton is playing no role in the finish to the season other than to sit on the bottom and hold up the rest of the teams on the ladder.

I agree that we need to be switched on from the get go but the Lynch factor will not be significant. Players don’t think in that vein and certainly not as a collective group. My understanding is that there is a bit of a split in opinion about Lynch among the players at the Suns and that would be evident if you were paying attention to the lacklustre way he was playing earlier in the year. I heard his manager Paul Connors being interviewed last night on SEN and he was high in praise of his client and the Suns about the way the whole scenario was handled by all concerned. To me, it came out as a load of bollocks. The Suns are a fractured organisation from the top right down to the playing group. If we want to become a ruthless team capable of going places in the finals, we should give them a mauling.

We took a punt with a player who impressed our scouts when he was in the Under 18 system but was lost in an alien environment for two years while recovering from his injuries. The hope obviously was that he would thrive back home and grow into the footballer he promised to become when he was a junior but it didn’t work out for him. I trust that the experience steels him for a different future and that he comes out a happier, more well rounded person.

We also won the VFL Women's game against Richmond by 5.9.39 to 2.9.21.

I went there before and someone started a thread titled "Positives" with the OP - hahahahahahahaha

I reflect on the past when the boot was on the other foot and we were down and out and playing a side that was in form and on top of their game. We rarely won and often barely raised a whimper after a quarter or so. The Dogs are in that space right now. We will win and do it well.

Sampson came to Melbourne when we were in a bit of a mess and the club was going through the merger crisis. He never established himself and lucked out when he went back home and got the honour of playing in an AFL premiership team at Adelaide.

If that doesn't do it, how about Ginger Baker after the famous drummer from Cream?