Hannabal

Given all your predictions of last year, you know - we weren't going to finish last, etc, then it's an absolute certainty that Butcher won't end up at West Coast. In fact I'm now worried we won't get Scully given your prognostication that we'll finish with picks 1 and 3.

1) when will that be ? 2) you don't think the quicker Garland, Frawley, or Martin will be able to handle that long kick in ?

How was our midfield travelling in the first half that day ? Cloke, who's not quick, made Rivers look slow. Then again, he is.

It was a needless point to make. Are you female ?

I don't believe this.

The value of Rivers was his ability to read the play, but teams rarely bomb it long into forward lines these days. Rivers isn't quick so he gets burned on a lead and just doesn't have the value he had a few years ago. The game has changed a massive amount since he won the RS. I'm not saying delist him, but I'd certainly look at a trade and in fact advocated this last year. I've had no reason to change my mind. I reckon he'll be pushed out of the backline within two years.

Cloke played very well. Have you seen the year Franklin is having ? He can't take a mark since his injury.

I don't believe this.

E.x.p.e.r.i.e.n.c.e

You and Dappa watch too much tv. He even used the word "chops" in another thread.

Rivers has been very ordinary this year. He hardly gets a touch and no longer takes his trademark marks. He's been negating OK, but his lack of athleticism in the modern game is telling. As Garland, Frawley and Martin mature I doubt we'd miss River.

Presently I'm not overly fussed about winning for obvious reasons and in the main we've been far more competitive this year, but the fact remains we are woeful. I'm not sure that we should be as bad as we are and I believe that it's quite resasonable to be asking questions of Bailey. Half the team that ran out a week ago against Collingwood played in our last final (semi final 2006 versus Freo) : McLean, Green, McDonald, Bell, Davey, Robertson, Bruce, Rivers, Sylvia, Jones, and Bate. Add Miller who's played every other game this year and it's staggering that we're as bad as we are. Yet we want to constantly blame our youthfulness. It's too easy to use age as a constant cop-out. We should be better than we are. That said, if you put 2 genuine stars in our current team things would be different. I don't reckon that supporters fully appreciate the impact of a bona fide star. We desperately need a couple. Tragically, we haven't had one in the AFL era.

This from BF by someone who attended the match: "Also was quite dissapointed with with Butcher. Have heard alot of good things about him but today he seemed to lack intensity and clean hands. The conditions wouldnt have helped him though"

Garland is 3 years and 3 months older than Dylan Grimes. When Grimes is 22 Garland will be 25, not 29.

Stick up for the masses, Son. They need a strong leader like you. Keep it up. Oh, and it's good to see that you've studied up on troll behaviour. I'm impressed.

Yes, that can apply, but not when the thread is 9 posts in. There are impressionable nuffies that read here

Tippett is a young 201cm ruckman that plays forward. You're not comparing like with like. Newton is an immature slowish young tall with ability, who's not great below his knees. Will be a good VFL player - once he gaisn more confidence.

I sense a troll. And I seem to be the only one. NicNat will be a very good awkward mobile aggressive tall. Watts will be a creative tall in the Hird mould. I saw them both in juniors and haven't changed my mind. Definitely Watts.

How can you remember something that didn't happen ? It was a big issue at the time and all eyes were peeled on the scoreboard in the last quarter to see what the attendance figure was. I'm surprised that any supporter wouldn't know off the top of their head that it was 59,000 something. As I said, it was a big talking point at the time. Also, there are numerous websites that give crowd attendances. Look them up.

I feel like there's a group of teenagers posting on here. Many people at the beginning of the year thought Watts would be mainly playing with Brighton Grammar with the occasional appearance at Casey. It's quite possible that his manager, Paul Connors, in consultation with his family and the club have decided to limit his load in what is a very important schooling year. Any games in 2009 were only ever going to be a bonus. If true, I'm quite content with the programme outlined.

When there's limited spots on a list it all gets intertwined - especially for like type players.

Wheatley and Buckley are the same height, they both have good pace, they're both penetrating kicks, and both have most recently played off half back. I'm not sure why you don't think they're competing.

I completely agree. There are only so many spots on a list up for grabs and I reckon the FD will err with a younger player such as Buckley, especially considering his upside. I've waxed and waned on Buckley. One minute I've ruled a line through him due to decision making and costly turnovers and then I picture him kicking a 60metre goal into the wind at Kardinia Park and recognise that dreaded word 'potential'. I have this nagging feeling that something could be moulded from a guy with some of his talents. The bottom line is, there's more I'd presently like to delist than him.

It was when he coached. A hell of a lot has changed since then.

2010 will determine Bailey's future. Right now we don't want to win games, but the blowtorch won't be avoided next year. He's weeded out the right players and that will continue at year's end. Can he coach ? Who would know ? But there's one thing I do know. A [censored] coach can win a flag with great players but a great coach won't win a flag with [censored] players. In reality, Bailey as a coach is less important than the issue of our list development. Bailey won't go under the radar forever, but right now he's not the most pressing concern. And in reality one should take care of the other. Developing stars presently concerns me more than the current coach.