Hannabal

Yes, and I was giving some credence to your post. Yet you took it the wrong way.

Yes, I know. Thanks. Don't know what I'd do without you.

Exactly.

Yes they do. We've had heaps.

Confident is too strong, and remember, I've been a Melbourne supporter for too long to be 'confident'. But it's just pieces falling together. I 'know' that Melbourne was coming from behind at the beginning of this process, but I also 'know' we knocked his socks off. He was exceedingly impressed with Bailey and our overall presentation. He loves Garry Lyon. He wants to play at the G. We're the only club where he gets to wear no.3 without taking it off another player. His manager has tremendous respect for CAC and looks after a number of young players on our list, and speaks highly of our future. The 1 percenters are adding up. Also, I don't take notice of 1 or 2 leaks, but Hutchy, BT, etc are strong in their reslove he'll be at the Dees. All the rumours that you shouldn't take note of are about the Dees, such as D Williamson's about Hansens parents for an example. There's none of those about any other club, they're all about the Dees. There's also the difficulty of getting to Collingwood and the two club's history. Do Judd and Connors want a bunfight ? Do they want a drawn out difficult process ? We also came in from 9's to $1.70 to be favourite in the betting. I have nothing concrete to go on Chook, but it just adds up. Tomorrow I could be wiping egg.

Send me a pm.

Unlike most here, I'm more confident than I have been. I reckon he's ours.

Elaborate Mick. Where are you hearing these words, etc ?

OK. Thanks.

You said "sadly I think Huddo and BT were wrong". I'm asking what's changed today to make you say that ? Patrick Smith, Caroline Wilson, Mark Robinson, Dwayne Russell have always said "he'll go to Collingwood". Then the rumours about Melbourne started on thursday. Mark Doran, Craig Hutchison, BT, and numerous rumours on message boards have said the Dees. What I want to know is what has changed today ? What have you heard or read to suggest he'll be a Pie ? And again, what were the closing odds on sportsbet ?

Can you elaborate ? Smith, Sheehan, Wilson, Robinson have been on the Pies for over a week. What has changed today ? Also, what are the close of betting odds ?

What are the current odds ? Anything changed ?

Sheehan has consistently said he's going to the Pies. Even as late as yesterday on Ten's GF preview.

Not that it's earth shattering news, but I can say he's made up his mind. I don't know which club, but he knows where he's going.

Thankfully, you have no input at the MFC. And from what I've read, never will. Given a choice I'd keep Petterd.

My information is prior to the interview process. We definitely firmed after the meeting. Look, I'm hopeful. Every waking moment is consumed by Judd and the Dees. But when I sift through everything I can't find evidence. And combined with what I knew 10 days ago, I'm doubtful. I just want to be put out of my misery.

But the only 'evidence' you're mate has given you is BT being adamant. Steve Harris sent an sms to all MFC players last night saying that they know nothing and not to be swept up by the rumours. There's lots of rumours but I don't think anyone has definite 'mail'. If there was a real leak the media would be all over it. At the moment it's purely speculation. You're mate gives me no confidence, Deers. I wish he did. My gut feel has always been the Pies with us as outsiders. I reckon we closed the gap after the interview, but may be the bridesmaid. I know for a fact that we were outsiders before the interview. Hopefully we'll soon know.

I'm just relaying what I was told. I don't know the bloke and he may well be wrong. Go with who you like.

I just spoke to a sportsbet rep. He confirmed betting was suspended on the basis that Judd was announcing his preferred club tomorrow. I asked him if he knew the club and he replied "apparently he's going to name Collingwood, but that doesn't mean he'll get there". I momentarily felt ill. That said, he may not know. It just may be an educated guess. Let's hope so.

No kidding.

A comparison of Meesen and Cameron Wood by Colin Wisbey: *COMPARISON: WOOD vs MEESEN: Neither has obvious significant flaws. Wood's height/reach is much better and he almost certainly has more upside. Meesen's endurance, work-rate and bodywork are better and he is likely to come to hand earlier. I rate both as definite AFL. I rank them at 5 and 7 and expect both to go perhaps within the first 8 or 9, certainly within the first dozen. Wood ready year 3, maybe year 4, and Meesen perhaps year 2, maybe year 3. If I was buying purely on potential / upside, I would definitely take Wood. If I could afford less patience and/or risk, or wanted a bit more versatility or more of a dependable work-horse, I'd take the harder-working Meesen. If (!) the club looking at the two kids deemed none of these factors more important than the others then, on balance, I'd possibly take Wood if I was a SA club, Meesen if I was a Vic club and virtually toss a coin otherwise. On exposed form, those two are way ahead of the other rucks, not discounting the promise that Deluca, Moran and co are beginning to show. Wood and Meesen are possibly the best ruck prospects in the past 3 years. In comparing them:- 1. There doesn't seem to be much between their ruck abilities. Both have a bit to learn and are not yet all-time standouts for ruck technique but show a lot of promise, including at centre bounces. Both seem to enjoy ruck contests. (I believe that matters). When opposed to each other in the U18 Champs, ruck contests were about even. At this stage, if they contested about 100 ball-ups against each other, perhaps 80-90 would be "dead rubbers" and each ruck would get 5-10 hitouts to targeted advantage. 2. re Ruck Style: Both usually try to target their palm-outs. Both have very good leaps and time their leaps well. Both vary their run-up approach on occasions, perhaps Wood more so. Wood's approach tends to be from further back, leaving him more vulnerable to a bad bounce. At this stage at least, Meesen makes much better use of his body. Wood has a bit to learn about protecting the ball. 3. Although Meesen has grown about 8cm since about early last year, Wood is 9 months younger yet already 5cm taller and with a bonus 4cm reach advantage compared to the average player of his height. 4. Their overall stats for the U18 Champs were virtually identical in most areas, not just ruck. Meesen usually has an even split of kicks-to-feeds that the Champs stats suggest but, other than that, their U18 Champs stats, although a small sample, accurately reflect where each is at and their style of game. 5. Both have good leap, agility (despite DC results), and reflexes, and are very mobile for their size. Both are courageous, coordinated and very skilled for their size, including below the knee. Both are clean for their size, all levels. Meesen is quite good off the ground, Wood better. Ditto re inside traffic. These two are modern era rucks, not dinosaurs. 6. Meesen has proven he will push himself to the limit and Wood hasn't. DC tests are not everything but they bear this out. Messen's beep test beat 83% of all-time "at least 195cm" DC/SS attendees. Wood's was very poor and disappointed me greatly - particularly as that poor result was no improvement on one earlier in the year. 7. Meesen is a schools runner and has proven endurance. His DC 3Km time beat 98% of all-time "at least 195cm" attendees. I don't have any evidence of Wood's endurance (and his 3Km time was very poor) but there is no doubting Meesen's. 8. Not that Wood is a slouch but Meesen is a fair bit ahead for intensity and ethic. Meesen has a "ruckrover" work-horse mentality around the ground, with usually better 2nd efforts and a more intense attack on man, ball and marking spoil. Wood is also inclined to go for marks at times when he should try to spoil. Meesen is a very committed chaser, even over 40m or so. Wood has a bit of mongrel in him though. 9. That said, both have good 2nd efforts at ball-ups (especially centre-bounce). Wood's ability to rove his own spill, before or after the ball has hit the ground, is as good as any genuine ruck I can recall in recent years. Excellent agility and reflexes, clean hands and good vision. Wood's efficiency inside traffic is such that he can have days where he gets as many "rove the spill" CB clearances as some of his "rovers". That is very impressive, especially in a 204cm bottom-age kid who has only recently focussed on footy. 10. Both have similar speed. Both are OK for tall rucks but guys like Moran and the shorter Gibson would leave Meesen and Wood in their wake. Neither Meesen nor Wood is probably as quick over the first 5m as their DC times might suggest. Meesen's action over a few metres is as if trying to run with his pants around his ankles. (He's had that action as long as I've seen him but used to look much more unco). Wood has the better running action over a short distance. 11. Both are/will be good overhead. At this stage, Meesen perhaps has slightly better hands and judgement and is harder to spoil against than Wood. Wood might become the better mark down the track. Both hold their ground quite well (for their builds) at marking contests, Meesen a bit better. 12. Both are very good readers of the play across half-back (and move well) dropping back as loose man. Both routinely show good judgement. Both have good vision and poise, can think quickly and they make the right decisions. Both do some clever things. eg hitouts behind their head, or deft tap-ons at knee level, etc. 13. Disposal-wise, Meesen looks for creative/ impact options more often in situations where Wood is too often inclined to just automatically dish off a "1m" feed behind him instead of checking for clear options upfield. Both are accurate by hand, have quick hands and are capable of power in their feeds. However, as mentioned, many of Wood's feeds are those virtual handovers that rucks often feel obliged to automatically lay off to a linker. Meesen's feeds have a very much greater hurt factor. Wood is arguably the better kick. 14. Meesen seems to understand the game a bit better at this stage and will probably be ready a year earlier than Wood. 15. Meesen has already shown an ability to at least pinch-hit in at CHB and CHF on the right opponent, in addition to his prime role of ruck. I wouldn't be surprised to see Wood be capable of occasionally pinch-hitting at CHF or FF in time too though. 16. Meesen has improved dramatically since late last season. Wood also has plenty of improvement in him, having only recently committed to footy after apparently knocking back a US baseball scholarship. 17. Physically, both are skinny but should fill out fine. At the moment Meesen appears more physically developed as both players are the same weight even though Wood is 5cm taller. Wood's current weight though is virtually skinfold-"free" whereas Meesens' skinfold reading, athough good in its own right, is softer.

Yeah, ask them what they think of him.

Jackson clearly stated that they weren't after the best available coach they were after the best coach. I found it amusing when he plagiarised Dick Pratt. Well, they got their reserves coach. *applauds*

They sacked Sheedy 6 weeks early so they didn't miss the boat.

If he comes to the Dees it will be almost like winning a flag for me. That said, i won't allow myself to get caught up in the myriad of rumours. I need a lot more concrete evidence.