PaulRB

"He's the best fister in the game!"

I want this to be true... so shall believe it for a while. How exciting is this!!!

Aren't the reigning premiers generally favourited the next year anyway?

My brother (who's a Dons tragic) plays footy with a Don's bigwig, reckons it's been a lock for months...

Heard a strong rumour that Kelly is deal done to Dons. For what that's worth.

Herald had Kelly to Dons today.

Not sure what those questioning Lewis's year and recruitment are thinking! We would not be looking at playing our first finals series in over a decade if we hadn't recruited Lewis. Try this mental exercise... take Lewis out of every game he's played and replace him with one of the extended bench players... and contemplate the result. Then consider we're about to play our first final in a decade and have a smattering of players with minimal finals experience (Jones, Vince, Melksham, Hibbard) and one, in Lewis, with more finals and Grand final experience than the rest of the team combined... ... and some nufties on here are questioning his value. Fork me!

Agree, while Clarry is awesome, he could be more damaging at times, but will quickly give it off instead (which is ok, but may not be as damaging). Amazing for a kid so young, as he further builds his confidence in his body and full skillset he will break games open.

I take Jobe at his word when he says "he feels like his wife cheated on him". And have sympathy for his plight, loss and disenchantment. As someone who's (ex)wife did cheat on, sometime you can "know" but refuse to take it on. Time to move on. Good luck outside footy Jobe!

I reckon the Swans are developing a reputation of overlooking their own talent's development and compensation needs (Tom Mitchell) in preference to buying in big name talent (Buddy, Tippert), which might erode the loyalty of players like Zac, especially if the Swans are actually looking to acquire someone like Dusty...

Has Goodwin named a team and then changed it at the last minute yet this year? Why'd he start this week? Clarry has become an essential clearance player for us.

I think the role model of Viney would say to all the younger kids, play, play hard and push yourself hard to support the team. Clarry, like Viney, is a competitive beast. Play him through to the pre-finals bye. No mollycoddling, no relenting in our push for finals and top four.

Should be half of what Geelong gave the Crows for Dangerfield..?

I prefer Jack Watts in that role (not in ruck), as watts far more damaging and creative.

Who is Christopher?

Another casualty of the wreaking ball that is our co-captain! http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-27/star-eagles-trio-ruled-out-against-bulldogs

How corporate of the clubs to Jack up pricing while never contemplating dropping pricing. AFL should offer incentives to clubs to fill the grounds at every game, so innovation goes in the direction of increasing access and interest, instead of extracting more from the already obsessed. But given how little regard supporters got in the recent divvy up of the huge TV rights windfall, I'm not holding my breath for the AFL to do anything but continue to mine and exploit fans for every cent they can gouge. Congrats to PJ and club for holding back.

With Maxy back giving silver service to our mids, their dominance of the Bluey may resume...?

Who'd you prefer to climb Everest with, a mate whose never done it before, or one whose successfully done it four times..?

There was a patch in the second when the Doggies got physical, then kicked a couple and it was "finals like". Lewis was one of several that were unfazed and enabled us to plough on when previously we may have dropped our bundle...

Given Tom rucked in the second halve Vs Pies and Oscar stepped up big time, it was a great game from a good developing key position back man. He's back on track.

That is an awesome handful of players, it's not a "spine"... with Lever our spine in 2018+ might look like. FB: Lever CHB: TMac C: Petracca/Oliver CHF: Hogan FF: Weid/Gawn/?? Not a bad old style spine.

I reckon we hold off judgements until Lewis has played his first finals series with the Demons, as I suspect his value at the pointy end may be being underestimated by some at this point of time...

Garry is poking the old bear. Will be interesting to see how Lewis responds.