nutbean

Its a stretch posting images of any politician as has been done on here and comparing it to that "madman" who verbally abused Abbott on the street with nonsensical ravings. Edit - it is akin to me putting the link to Stephanie Bannister ( One Nation Candidate) and suggesting she is the poster girl for the right - lunatics are lunatics whether they be on the left or the right

Different sort of players. Wells more inside and nuggety and bustling - could take a good grab for someone his height Alves was more classy and purely outside

This is why Tony Abbott is ridiculed. It matters not which side of the asylum seeker debate you are on surely all sides must scratch their heads when he comes out with these gems. At his press conference on Saturday when he said of the home insulation inquiry: "We've established a royal commission because we want to get to the bottom of the most incompetently managed program in Australia's history. Can any of you think of a government program that actually killed people?" Er yes - how about Manus Island ?? Abbott is right about the mismanagement on the pink batts issue but seriously are you that incompetent a politician that you couldn't have chosen your words a little more carefully ? I was no fan of Howard but admired his political skill and his carefully chosen pronouncements. Like or dislike his views I think he was the consummate politician.Tony Abbott is just a buffoon who doesn't engage brain before running off at the mouth.

Love this. I believe our recruiters should be hung out to dry on picks like Cook and to an extent, Gysberts who were picks taken well before the general thinking of the time. The debate about not Scully and Toumpas are hindsight - nothing more.

There is a difference between having friends and associates that may have some question marks over their past and the likes of the former sergeant of arms of the banditos who has had not one, but two broad daylight attempts to gun him down.

It will always be McKenzie's first option to handball and it may change, but he is not going to be your "finding space" footballer. Also my recollection is of his last few years is him coughing the ball up in close and to me a major part of that is that poor structures meaning there has not been an good outlet or release to give the ball to. I think he can work to his limitations with short kicks if required ( a bit like Mitchell of Hawthorn - who is adequate by foot over short distances but prefers hand ). The major difference I see between McKenzie and Nicholson is that McKenzie has usually made himself the beginning or middle of a chain whereas Nicholsons harder running has made him the end of the chain ( the released player) . With disposal like Nicholsons you do not want him the end of the chain - you want someone with Watts's skill for this role.

When you play run and spread football (which we haven't seen for a number of years), turn the ball over and you are dead. This will sort out the likes of Nicholson. He either improves or he is gone. I compare him with McKenzie. I was critical of Neeld telling McKenzie he needed to kick more. His use by hand is proficient enough. Why force him to kick more when it is the weakest part of his game. It is interesting to watch Hawthorn at the clearances. When the ball is bounced they seem to get one player within 5 metres of the drop who is clear. That allows the Mitchells and the Sewells who are in and under to give it someone who can then open up the play. The last two years we have had McKenzie at the bottom of the pack with no one clear to give to when he did come up with it. The thing I loved about Bernie Vince's game on Friday was not the hard balls he got but the easy ones. We haven't had a player giving other players an easy out for two to three years ! Vince knows where to run. The likes of McKenzie will appreciate having a player close by and clear to dish off to. Unless Nicholson can get a semblance of disposal he wont make it.

I may have overstated on NikNat tearing it up. Let me put it this way - Niknats first season had lots of nice moments for a highlight reel - a preview of things to come. Fitzy's first seasons had ,lets say, some comic relief ? That is no disrespect to Fitzy because I somewhat expect it but four years on and he is maturing nicely. Those tall blokes in the main are big and gawky and take time to grow into those bodies. My point is that at the end of the four or five years the Fitzy type of player may still be a "spud" and then you may need to cut them but I don't call it on blokes that size until they are around 23.

I think Rivers was a fine player for us for a number of years. I don't think he left a huge whole when he left - he just created another hole. I appreciate that he went to Geelong for his chance to play in finals before he retires. I wish him no ill will because I believe he gave his all at his time at the club But I think you need to drop the word loyal. Did he put in at his time at the club ? yes. But when you make the choice to go to another club when you could have stayed with us then I'm afraid you give up the right to be called loyal. I dont put him in the Scully class but I won't give him a tick for loyal.

I used to go Dougherty's in Brunswick and do boxing training (my personal trainer took me there - I didnt fit in at all with lots of muscled up blokes and tons of Ink). Toby Mitchell used to use the ring after my session. He was always very polite and friendly to me. I had no idea at all who he was. I stopped going ( my work moved to the other side of town) - three months later someone took shots at him outside the gym. It was then from the papers I found out more about him. Its not snobbery or being holier than though but I wouldn't want my daughters going out with people who other people find it necessary to take potshots at ! I dont say that players should be ashamed of socialising with them - I say they should use better judgement.

It is something that is forgotten frequently on here.

I giggle to myself every time I hear of the progress of Fitzpatrick. So many writing him off in the early days. He still has a long way to go but there is a take home message - Big boys around 200cm take longer to mature and develop. Guys like NicNat tearing it up from the onset are the exceptions rather than the rule.

I think you need a certain amount of self belief and ego to be successful but JK seems to taken the next 50 people in the lines share as well as his own.

I'm with you. Love lots about his game - just needs to tidy up his finish.

There should be a zillion x like button for this

I watched him tear it up too many to agree. Unfortunately 2-3 times a year over 10 years is not enough and the difference between his good and bad was enormous.

Sylvia was my most disliked footballer at the club purely because of the waste. Simply put, I saw enough to believe that he has the talent to be in the top 20 players in the comp. The only missing piece to his game is between his ears - application and attitude. That missing piece is a whopper and unless that can change ( which I have grave doubts) he will be an AFL also ran. ( compare this to Nat Jones who I love - I keep seeing "elite" being written about him on here . The only thing elite about Nathan Jones is his attitude and will to be the best he can be . Colin has more natural talent in his little finger than Nat Jones but it is no contest as to who you would have in your team.)

Swanny to Dusty " you call that a tattoo ? Now THESE are tattoo's"

I take full credit for getting Paul Roos to the club. I have been disappointed with the past years and told a few people that and that was just the impetus that the club needed to go out and get Roos as coach. Your welcome.

probably the biggest point that I didnt articulate too well.

The reason for the "decoy" was pretty obvious. We had zero talls outside Howe , who is not like your Dawes, Hogan or Clark type talls to allow us a normal structured forward line. So Pederson leading away from the play took the number one marking tall defender out of the play also. If we get some tall marking forwards into the side there probably isnt a need for that sort of decoy type setup. Pederson did exactly what was expected of him. In hindsight it looks like a simple coaching move but it is impressive that although Roos claims that there is no great attention paid to how the opposition structures up in NAB games and there is sole concentration on our gameplan, Roos did come up with a forward structure and plan for the night that would not be the gameplan during other games if and when we get a couple of Dawes/Hogan or Clark into the side.

The interesting part about improvement is that given good structures and a game plan that can be executed, improvement becomes easier. For example - Jordie McKenzie - limited talent. Undeniably courageous and will always be found at the bottom of the pack. For the last two years we have had zero spread so he would get the ball and see nothing but congestion and our players standing next to him with opponents on them. Watching the likes of Cross and Vince peel off on Friday night - seeing some spread gives the likes of McKenzie more simple options than he hasn't had for the last two years. That may mean that he will become a better player not because of more ability but because of playing in a better team. It is not coincidence that players at Hawthorn and Geelong improve rapidly - some players that I would venture are no better than some on our list. They shine because of disciplined structures.

corruption is corruption. Some sends to you the slammer - some makes you resign your post ( either with feigned dignity or in disgrace). Neither side of politics, the left or the right is immuned.

Showing your age?

biggest positive - possessions and spread (and winning of course) Biggest negative - Dwayne Russell