Macca

Yeah the Packers are up against it this year but we might still win the division unless the Bears & Vikings can get on a roll. 9 & 8 might get it done As you said, the D is a worry. We'll be able to score but the 49ers game could tell the story I certainly won't be including GB as a road winner this week!

There are a few good matchups SNF Packers @ 49ers is a big game

Leaderboard in the Tipping Comp 2 - Go the Biff, Clintosaurus, JV7, Dee Zephyr 0 - The Usual Suspects

The 2013 off season was another turning point ... we added 3 long term good players in Harmes, Hunt & Salem as well as 2 veteran players in Vince & Cross (who were more than handy) And Tyson was good for 4 years before his best form deserted him Add 3 good players every year and a club will nearly always be in contention

Good call DS Yep Half right picket For the record, Salem picked up 25+ possessions on no fewer than 14 occasions this season. 1 Brownlow vote

Fair enough Col, I now vaguely recall the events of the day but it was the number of players (13 or so) that threw me So 3 or 4 of the high profile players wanting out makes a lot more sense ... of course, a higher number can be a consequence as a result of the misgivings of the 3 or 4 high profile players. Players take sides or become influenced The issue back then was expectations and what the draft could deliver in a more immediate sense Those expectations were more tempered with the arrival of Roos. For instance, we left Salem alone for Roos to do the developing. We trusted Roos as opposed to looking for the player to be some sort of saviour Oliver was the same ... we only realised how good he was until he was good (apart from a few who stuck their neck's out - again, sample size too small)

He also gets it wrong a lot Spargo & Viney have been the targets this year and he's had to concede because both have played so well of late. And it wasn't mild criticism either ... calling for them to be delisted and/or traded out OK, he got Oscar right but PF will admit that he's as hit and miss as the draft turns out to be

Fact is that the numbering system known as the draft is not accurate, never was, never will be. The proof is in all the results That doesn't mean that it's not a very good guide and it also doesn't mean that reasonable accuracy levels can't sometimes be met But the draft isn't foolproof and can't be relied upon the way people think it should be relied upon. It's a wait and see situation Are you sure this happened? Got any documentation or links to back that claim up? I'm happy to concede if you're right ... I just don't remember him saying that and to be honest, he had the axe out as I recall Back on Toumpas ... I went through all the posts and threads on the bloke and not one person here (or elsewhere) was castigating him until way after he'd played a number of games. 2014 was when things warmed up. 1 or 2 might have gone hard early but that's too small a sample size anyway. At best, they're guessing So it's a myth that he was being criticised from the word go By the way, he only played in 4 games under Neeld and 3 of those games were the first 3 games of the 2013 season ... losses of 13 goals (Port) 25 goals (Essendon) and 14 goals (Eagles) Hardly the fault of an 18yo kid At the time I blamed the senior players & Neeld and called for a cleanout at the club And that's what happened

And again, it's not Toumpas' fault He didn't ask to be drafted so high or to be drafted by us. Just a young bloke trying to live out his dream My attitude has always been is that you win some, you lose some The wheel turns eventually, as it has with us We won't be the last club to have close to zero luck with the draft. The thing to remember is that bad luck doesn't last forever Keep battling away, never give up and your luck will turn But top level appointments need to be made ... the AFL installing PJ was the game changer

#freekickbulldogs? Not against Port last week ... at one stage Port led the free kick count 19-8 yet trailed by 10-12 goals I wouldn't be concerned about the umpires and I'm sure Goodwin & his FD aren't concerned either They will, however, be stressing the need to play in front at all times because the numbers say that 7 or 8 of every 10 free kicks will be awarded to the ball player Play the percentages with skill and you win In the 2 finals, we've played in front with an almost manic desire and we've been rewarded We've been switched on from the word go

Toumpas played half a year under Neeld and half a year under Craig (who most people here didn't have a problem with) His other 2 years were under Roos. PJ had arrived earlier than Roos too So the development angle doesn't quite cut it as far as I'm concerned as others like Jones, T-Mac, Gawn, Jetta & Viney all seemed to cope quite well The biggest issue is the draft itself and why so many here seemed to be convinced (or were convinced) that it's not obviously flawed Wines comes instead of Toumpas and he plays under Craig for half a year and then Roos ongoing. I'm absolutely sure that he would have coped just fine The issue with Toumpas is that he didn't cope well with the huge jump in standard. He wasn't quick, he didn't have a manic attack on the ball and he wasn't highly skilled or clever enough But hey, that's not a crime. Plenty of others before and after fell away the same way

In a couple of our annual reports going back 5 years or so our combined revenue from both venues was around $11Million with a net (after costs) of around $4Million That sort of money isn't easily replaced unless other forms of income are introduced as well as a more streamlined FD with less costs (as we've now got during cxxxx) With the capital gains we've acquired it will be interesting to see what we do with the $23Million

Hey but keep punchin', picket I like the comments from those who stick their necks out ... makes for interesting conversation

So you got one right, PF What about all the one's you get wrong haha Tell us all about them!! Seriously, when it comes to draft prospects and even after 2 years evaluation, we can all get it wrong. That's footy I once declared that Tapscott was a future captain, a year later he was delisted! Ugh! And our posts are written in stone (so to speak) There's no escape!

Hell of a lot of missed opportunities there ... but most years are similar and sometimes the draft is an absolute gold mine But as you've pointed out, 2012 was a stinker especially at the very top and in the 11-23 range So either the recruiters are incompetant or the draft is flawed. Logic will give you your answer if the same sort of pattern happens year by year Development is a very big factor too But I compare it all to 2yo prospects in horse racing. All the great breeding in the world often doesn't matter if the horse can't run fast (or gets injured)

Ha ha ha! You need to learn how to read properly The draft is flawed and most supporters know that ... except you it seems So much so that the club was prepared to risk 3 x first round draft picks to acquire Lever & May And you lambasted the club for doing so ... how do you feel now? Changed your mind?

There is no question about that and never was (apart from the mutterings of the harry hindsight types) But the AFL sorts out a lot of draftees. I'd class it as a completely different sport to under 18 footy where the threat of real violence is quite diminished as compared to the big league. And the pace of the AFL is something else as well. If you're not quick, you need to be a very talented player or very clever It's a tough sport, not for everyone

Yet you're on record here as believing that Toumpas was going to be a top player So which story are we meant to believe? You're in the same category as many others here though. We even had a poll here where nearly 70% favoured Toumpas Mind you, we also had a poll here once where 97% of people wanted Neeld to continue on and see out his contract (after his first year)

Week 2 Preview (2 Hours) Highlights Giants/Washington

KC, Saints, Rams

Yep, time to get on a roll Gorg I do like the 2/3 parlay bet ... it's a lot of fun when all 3 salute! 4 decent collects speaks for itself Gator is on RSN tomorrow around 11.00 - 11.30 and there are sure to be people messaging in about his 2/3 parlay saluting The 3 winners were Annavisto, Nonconformist & Bella Nipotina. All highly fancied to boot

Hard luck Had my best day In quite a while ... mind you, I was due! Gators 2/3 parlay helped and I was on Sierra Sue and got the exacta up in the same race

Sierra Sue wins!! The unlucky Feehan Stakes run was the pointer Not sure what happened to Probabeel & Behemoth. Beau had every chance 3 lightweights filled the placings

Eduardo continues to impress and is a specialist at the 1100 (or 1000m) Now an 8yo but it isn't slowing down! Hunted down Nature Strip like only a good horse can

Prizemoney is very good all the way down to 8th in the Caulfield Cup so the connections would be thrilled. These days, only the real class horses generally win the Caulfield Cup but the race has opened up for the locals with not nearly as many overseas entrants. Certainly, Nonconformist is in with a show!