nutbean

Jezus - I read this too quickly and just saw - distinguished looking gentleman with the grey beard and hooters and now I am having a disturbing visual that just won't go away.

I wish you a speedy recovery and good health always ( as an aside - did you do your knee injury before or after we put you on our rookie list ?)

I saw your posts on Demonland back in 1976 before you did your ACL and in fairness, your posting has never been the same after you did your knee.

I was going to jump on this too - when you look at the stats you will see that they are similar for the first season. The major difference being what the two players actually did with the ball once they had it - this is where the comparison falls flat.

Im not prone to calling other peoples statements ridiculous - but I need to know where the line is between a big statement and a ridiculous statement when stating that a player with a first year draftee preseason who has never played a game of senior football is worth 1-3 wins for us in a season. When you arrive at the town of "big statements" for that post I think you may need to keep driving for a while longer.

Makes me feel way too old. I have a picture taken at Echuca of Todd Viney with my two girls when they were 12 and 10 taken many moons ago. As i took the photo I had a very young Jack Viney standing next to me. Even at the tender age of 7 he looked like he could steam roll me.

This is it for me. He has enormous confidence in his own ability ( with lashings of skill to back it up) - it will keep opposition guessing - is he going to pass it off first time or is he going to take me on ?

That's not a glass half full - it is a glass that has overflowed 10 times over with rose colored juice.

Yes it is. I don' think we can afford to lose any talent but I am not expecting any of our youngsters to step out as guns from day one ( I can hope but never expect). My main disappointment as discussed is more longer term... Good luck to the kid - I await eagerly for his return next year...

Apparently what I am saying is not obvious as you are only focused on the impact on this season - my point is not about the short term as i agree with most that we shouldn't rely on draftees to be saviors in their first seasons. But if we take it at face value that he is a talent and he is now one year further back then yes - it is a big deal in terms of his development. I don't resort to sharps but I am bitterly disappointed. We have seen what stalled development of youth has done to our club ( for reasons other than injury) and this is something that I felt bullish about that under the current regime this problem was put to bed. Losing a year of development to any of our talent is a big deal. Under Roos I think we can finally "enjoy the journey" - seeing a step up each year - but part of me would also like to fast forward 3 years when the likes of Hogan, Salem, JKH, Tyson, Brayshaw ( and others) are reaching the 50-70 game mark and coming into their most productive and exciting best. Stating the obvious - for us to be premiership contenders we can't afford injuries to our potential talent.

I am not big on self flagellation but as I explained to my squeeze..in the words of Paul Roos, "we are coming from a long way back". For us to rise up the ladder we need everything to go right for us. We don't have the Swans luxury of a club overflowing with talent so losing Johnson doesn't impact them as much as any injury does to our club. I concentrate on who is playing not who isn't but even the wildest "glass half full" supporter would recognise what the loss of Clark, Hogan and a late starter Dawes with no preseason did to our forward structure last season.

I am pragmatic about injuries - they are very disappointing but they happen. However I said it earlier - I don't agree with your thinking. We need as much talent coming through our talent depleted club as possible and whilst you are correct in him probably not being a vital cog this season, coaches these days don't talk about players taking to 22-23 to mature - they talk about 50-60 games being important . Petracca has now lost a year of essential development. Yeah he can start again next year but his experience next year will be like a first year player and he is 12 months further away from getting those necessary games into him.

Footy is what footy is and each year each clubs get season ending injuries. Our problem is that we don't have enough talent to have any injuries. My only one disagreement with the " he wouldn't play much or contribute this year" is that having a year off means he will come back next year with no experience at any senior level be it the MFC seniors or Casey. He is basically one year behind. But like you, I am going to worry about who we have on the field not who isn't.

The big guy upstairs does make it difficult to follow this club.

Not to say that I have panicked but I just did an ACL hearing about his ACL.

Ill give you feedback ! Thanks for that. Talking of wholesome look - have a look at the boys out of Parkway drive - they look like they should be in one direction right up until they start playing.

Too much music next weekend. Seeing Bombay Royale at the zoo on Friday night. Then two days of soundwave - any suggestions on less light bands I should see ?

Based on today's population the comparative crowd would be186,000

I really despair with the issues around indigenous Australians. There is no going back but such a struggle to move forward - caught in no mans land between a culture that is being broken down by an opposing culture that is so difficult to embrace.

The foolishness of these boys and anyone caught dealing drugs in Asian countries defies description - you are gambling with your life - no one can say they did not know. I do divorce this though from my thinking on capital punishment. Short and sweet - we have not progressed one millimeter as a humane society if we think capital punishment is acceptable. If causing death/murder is abhorrent (which it is) then how is state sanctioned death/murder any less abhorrent.

What I don't understand is who the hell is advising him or is he just going "cowboy". 1/ Reported that two weeks ago, that his "messenger" asked for Gillian Triggs resignation. The human rights commission is meant to be independent with the President having a 5 year fixed term. The fixed term is in place to remove political interference !!! 2/ The removal of Ruddock. Ministers being removed from positions and reshuffles is not a rarity but I question the timing. When he has just defeated a spill motion ( and with any huge majority) you would think that fence mending and softer, gentler approach would be the order of the day.

I think we extended Hogan for two years ( correct me if I am wrong - but I don't think we have locked him in super long term). Rather than lock in players for contracts of the length of Franklins I prefer the other option of extending out the contract in the second last year of the existing contract. Problem is that not all players will do that as that may not maximum their return,

With Sting ( and Bono) it's not the promoting of causes that grates my grits - it's the extent they do it in their concerts. I have seen many a performer push their pet causes and have little problem with it unless it overshadows the music. Its about balance and moderation. Eddie Vedder is quite political but he is a good example of getting a message across without it detracting or dominating his performance. I have no answer as to why Peter Garratt doesn't offend me as towards the end of the Oils reign half their show used to be a protest. I think you hit it on the head with the word "lecture" - maybe it was how the message is delivered.

I guess this is the forum to slag off on all embarrassments. Putting all policy aside, there are only a few pollies that to me are what I consider an embarrassment. As stated earlier - In the main, I did not like Howard's political agenda but I admired the way he presented himself and represented the country. Abbott has been well covered here but I think I have a new poster boy for " I am a big goose and seriously should consider a new vocation as I am not suited to a profession where people put a microphone under my nose". Christopher Pyne.....seriously. I heard him late last year make a goose of himself on "the hack" and he was at it again yesterday on Adelaide radio. I stress, this is not about policy - it is more about how he handles himself in the public arena ( or more accurately - how he makes a complete botch of it) http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/christopher-pynes-incredibly-awkward-moment-on-abc-radio-in-adelaide/story-fni6uo1m-1227215940897

Are we doing that with Hogan ? Setting a star up for life is good in theory but is fraught with danger. Giving a player long term contracts ( more than 4 years and even that is long ) with the crash and bash their bodies take ? Big risk that clubs are adverse to taking. Then there is a question of how brightly the star will shine and for how long. I will admit that Wines looks very good - would I give him a creative contract for a very long period of time. Not sure I would.