Ouch!

why's that? you hoping for footage, and then staggered that the MFC didn't consider her with pick 3?

Bit torn on Curnow, he is probably the one that I would hate to miss out on in terms of having the highest ceiling in terms of Weideman, Parish, Francis, Milera etc. But pick 3 sounds like it is perceived as being a little high for him. Just struggle to see him lasting to pick 7.

Melksham plays the HBF role that Howe was in, but is faster, can tackle and is generally more accountable. Probably a better kick, but that doesn't say a lot. Toumpas wasn't in our best 22, Kennedy is going to be a borderline in the 22, might be able to play Kent's role if injured, but has more outside pace and gives us something a bit different. I think the success in this trade period hinges on what happens with the picks we get in from this trade rather than the players we've gained... I don't think we have lost, but no big gains either.

Toumpas being a top 5 pick 3 years ago, and in a weak draft Port are backing themselves to get him to come right. If anything I'd say we are losing out if you focus on that part of the trade alone Not dissimilar to us going with Melksham really, except he's played a lot more football than Toumpas.

you do realise tomorrow is Friday? No official trades can take place over the weekend, so it's not a far stretch to assume Tomorrow is also end of the week.

Apparently Carlisle still wants to head to the saints, although the shot at a flag would be appealing I guess. Bottom line is the saints will need to hand over pick 5 otherwise they miss out. Not as if they haven't had ample opportunity to deal with EFC

The main point I was trying to make is that the article was posted as if it's new info, which it wasn't. Slim chance given that his GF is from Perth, but Freo can't get into a bidding war with Bennell and McCarthy and Manager is indicating that it's GC or the 2 Melb based clubs (assuming C'wood and North)

FYI, that Freo article that someone linked a few posts back is from the 29th of Sept.... Don't reckon they are in the game at all.

Ummm... Brendan Goddard isn't a Brendan Goddard... His first 3-4 years were ordinary, and he was not unlike Watts in terms on intensity and attack at the ball. Still not a fan of his... Shite body language as a player !

So, why wouldn't his manager or the player himself state that directly. I can't see how anything can be gained by just stating you are coming back to 'Victoria'.

I agree that it is highly likely that he is going to Geelong. ... it does strike me as odd, that he has said he is coming back to Victoria, he hasn't named the Cats... Why? Every other player who is leaving their club seems to name the club of their choice... why wouldn't he say he wants to play for Geelong? BTW... I don't see a conspiracy theory that could result in him coming here, but I wonder whether the Hawks or another power club could have got the jump on the Cats... similar to the Franklin to GWS story a couple of years back.

Wasn't there a bit of talk that the baggage of Darling had been staged somewhat in order to enable him to drop down to West Coast. Now obviously this would amount to draft tampering, and we know WC are a clean club....

Last I heard from the Dave Misson reports was that he was meeting a specialist at the end of this month...

Whilst not like for like, I think that if Jack can get fit, he could assume a similar role or at least occupy the place that Cross has currently in the team, Cross will probably have a season or two more in him you would expect. Not every player has to be fleet of foot. It's the speed and confidence that the team plays with which is more important. So sure we need some line breakers and players with speed, but equally we need smart players with clean skills under pressure. I don't have any concern that Jack can contribute this to the team if fit. I think another important thing to note is that Jack will have the best part of two years away from playing, and a lot has changed since being injured. He left a team where we heaped on a huge amount of expectation on our young 'superstars' and many cracked or didn't perform. The way the team is playing now, and the structures in place are a considerably different environment to the one he left. Jack *should* enjoy playing in a team where he isn't considered the Messiah, and that the clear message from the coaches is just to play your role in the team to the best of your ability, we have a team focused approach and we are seeing some high quality/high potential across the ground... If we have turned the corner (big if I know) after the Geelong game, Trengove can come into a team where we have Hogan Garlett, Watts and Howe up front, Brayshaw, Jones, Vince, Viney, Gawn in the middle and McDonald, Dunn, Salem and Lumumba down back, this is a vastly more balanced team than the one he played in, and the expectations from the club, fans, the media will be vastly different! Would be a fantastic feel good story to get him back fit and healthy, and I'd love to see him and Petracca getting a game (and a win of course!) early in 2016.

Other thing that I didn't particularly like (from either Jones OR Goodes) was the fact that Jones wasn't really close enough to put pressure onto the ball carrier, he wasn't going to catch him, and he knew it. He was probably going 80%... therefore I reckon Jones didn't expect anyone to come in and take him out as a result of that either, as pointed out above, he didn't need to bump, could have just blocked, yet he jumped into the bump and caught Jones high, and unaware that contact was coming would suggest the MRP might take a look at it.

... I didn't think the bulldogs would get within 40 points of Adelaide last week either.

Dunno why, but I give us a chance this week. I think the competition this year seems more even than it has in the past. I thought we put in a fair effort against the Dockers in the NAB Challenge. Freo coming off a pretty tough game against the swans, and they faded pretty fast in the second half. We have an extra day up our sleeve to recover than they do, and there is still the travel factor for them. I am not going to tip us to beat Freo, but it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if we cause an upset. However losing Jetta is going to hurt as we have to cover Ballintyne and Walters, as well as losing Kent who I thought looked our best player and was in for a special night prior to doing his hammy. Not sure if we have anyone with similar pace, skills and aggression to cover his loss at the moment.

Agree thatTmac has excellent timing with putting a fist out to prevent the mark. Didn't think it was his best game last night, at least not early on. He was trying hard, and trying to take on the game and create, but I think he was perhaps trying to do a few thinks beyond his capabilities.But Reiwoldt didn't score a goal on him, so at the end of the day it's a good result... And better than Rance's game !

Seriously? are you even watching the game? Yeah the ball hasn't been around him, but in the times it has, he has actually gone back with the flight several times so far, playing as if he has something to prove. Stop refreshing your browser on the AFL site looking at stats, and watch the bloody game FFS!!

I thought his first game back last season was his best, and I didn't think he came close to that game for the rest of the year sadly. That said, he's a big body in the forward line, he is talented enough to require one of the two best defenders to mark him, and he is providing a foil for Hogan & Watts to snag a couple each which makes the forward line more potent.

Hi Sue, I agree that no comments should be made by any parties until after the decision has been handed down. But the AFL tribunal convened by the AFL conducted the hearing, therefore I think that the AFL is going to be 'aware' of the evidence presented, which is different to being privvy to the findings, or knowing the penalties (if any) are to be handed out. Dank, ASADA, players etc shouldn't know what is happening until tomorrow. I totally agree that nothing should be being played out in the media in regards to this prior to Tuesday, but that to me is different than whether certain parties have an awareness of what is going on. The fact that Gil is saying anything to anyone is stupid....

I agree with BB, I don't see an issue here. The AFL have a competition to run, and need to be able to plan the contingencies for whatever may come. and it makes no mention as to penalties or the outcome that the tribunal has come to.

I thought Garland played a pretty decent game on the weekend from what I saw. Not quite back to the form of a couple of years back, but certainly a good contributor on the day.

Not sure if RGRS was looking at the same article that I was, but the ABC inititally in their reporting of this actually stated that Crowley would be the second player after Travis Tuck to be struck out on the 3 strikes policy. They have since changed that article to be more 'accurate'

Not to mention that several of the other players listed are contracted to as coaches or other staff to AFL clubs, not a chance in hell that these players would come back, or be released by their club for a short term contract to help Essendon. Most on that list retired rather than being pushed...