Hannabal

I don't like it at all.

The 198cm Martin on Aker ? Yeah, sure. Your posts are pretty good for a laugh. In fact they lighten my day. Keep it up. (And I don't need reminding of his second place in the GF sprint.)

What a ridiculous assertion. Also, prior to this round he averaged 11 possessions in his first 6 games - he's now up to 12.

Out: Frawley, Rivers In: Cheney, McNamara Is Green a sneaky chance to get back this weekend ?

I thought it was time to send him to Casey after his average effort against Adelaide, but he was sublime on occasions yesterday. He has the potential to become elite, which is pretty exciting.

I'm not a fan, but he did well.

This is one of his last opportunities to play footy with his school mates. I hope he enjoys it.

I doubt it. A fibula is a pretty straight forward recovery, as opposed to the ongoing susceptibility that some have with knees.

Ask Rodney Eade.

To me there seems to be two distinct camps - there's the "we're doomed if we win more than 4" group and the "one top draft pick won't win us a flag" exponents. I'm not sure I agree with either, but I certainly have more sympathy with the former. The facts are one player can make a difference to us potentially winning a flag. Those that dismiss such a notion are far too flippant. West Coast wouldn't have won a flag without Judd (pick 3) and Hawthorn wouldn't have won a flag without Franklin (top 5). Buddy didn't star on the day, but they wouldn't have made a GF without this 100+ goal freak. It's stars that win you premierships and the best chance to draft a star is at the pointy end of the draft. There will always be those that point to Geelong and their lack of top picks, but they've been blessed with amazing Father/Sons. Also, there's no hard and fast formula to win a flag, but in a competition that is far from a level playing field due to club finances and a skewed draw I want my club to have the best chance possible to win a flag before I fall off the perch in 40 years. And they're not going to get any easier to win with more teams in the competition. So yes, I don't want to win more than 4 games because the system tells me that we're inhibiting the only thing I care about if we do - a flag. Sure, it doesn't make it impossible, but it effects our chances. Just as an analogy; if I saw Scully or Butcher starring for another club in 4 years time and knew that they could have been at my club save for one or two meaningless victories I'll spew. Now if someone wants to [censored] on about "victories not being meaningless due to the culture being developed within a young playing group etc" then go ahead and type away. One or two more victories in the scheme of things won't matter one iota. Give me a goal to goal line of: Martin Frawley Scully Watts Butcher and I'll show you a top 4 team in 5 years. What do you reckon the Dogs would give to get a Watts or Butcher on their list ? Or more to the point a Riewoldt or Roughead ? But we must make sure that we have the infrastructure to properly develop our young talent. There's no doubt that we've failed at this in the past.

The injuries to Trengove and Swift immediately put a line through their names. Pre-knee Swift was considered a top 10, or even higher, candidate. Whilst his second knee injury wasn't as serious as the first there's no doubt it completely ruled him out of calculations for a lot of clubs. Zaharakis was over looked in the 07 draft. He spent another year improving his kicking skills and flourished in the championships. Blease was bottom aged and considered a better long-term prospect by just about all clubs. And Strauss was considered one of the top handful elite kicks in the comp. Zaharakis is a good little player, but the upside for the other two is considered greater. Like all things, time will tell.

We are the oldest club to still be playing at the highest level of competition in our sport. The others have dropped down grades, leagues, competitions... They no longer represent the competition they started in. It's worth noting.

His courage is great, as is his marking ability, but his kicking is a major query. The club like him, but are concerned with the latter. I wouldn't be surprised if he's the one.

We've won 4 of our last 30+ games for a reason. Year in year out I read supporters lavish praise, or make excuses for players that are simply not good enough. There will be a handful of posters that unreasonably criticize players, but in the main most are very forgiving - too forgiving. Long ago I stopped making excuses for C graders. This club hasn't turned its list over nearly enough since Daniher misjudged our window. Thankfully, this is being redressed by the current footy dept. There's always a chance that the odd player is judged too quickly and Garland is a case in point, but in the main, most players are given plenty of slack to show their wares. So whilst I cringe at the supporters that write off a player well before is reasonable, I equally cringe at supporters that won't hear a bad word about players who are clearly treading water, or good VFL players at best. I've put up with crap since 1970, so my days of loving all players just because they wear red and blue is long gone. I love them if they're any bloody good. And I set the benchmark high. As all supporters of this success starved club should. I can't understand why so many on here are so easily pleased by the ordinary. Some on this site are very good judges of talent. And I appreciate when they call it as they see it - although I won't always agree. You're a pretty pompous, newbie. Fancy calling for posters that obviously had some inside knowledge on Meesen to be banned. Back in your box for a while.

Yes, his selection is discretionary.

It's all part of the wider plan.

Ridiculously tough on a 19 year old 203cm beanpole ruckman that's shown a lot this year - especially his game agaist Hawthorn in the NAB Cup.

When did Watts injure himself ?

Deegirl on Demonology says that Valenti and McKenzie will be elevated and she's virtually never wrong. At the least I'd expect one to be elevated.

And he wasn't even the OP Well done Godemons. Breaking news about 12 hours before official confirmation.

It's not a rumour. It's 100% irrefutable fact.

I'm sure that that scumbag Dwayne Snipe will continue the theme tonight on AW.

He's from the pissant town where most think there are too many teams in Melbourne. It's an old agenda.

Don't worry, he's on a winner this time. Fourth time lucky ? Also had Hodge, Ball, Judd from the one draft. And has Niknat