Lutz

I can't see how anyone could misinterpret his intention without being purposely mischievous or seriously obtuse.

I don't agree that we don't have any.

Wait... What??! STUPID if we DON'T take Fev..?? That's a new one!

As to point 2, pretend we had to trade the compo picks for a small defender and anyone was on the table - who would you choose? There aren't many elite small negating defenders getting around. Who is Geelong's? Or Collingwood's? I don't think it's as much of a need as is perceived. Do we continually get burnt by small forwards we can't contain? I don't think so.

I wouldn't even bother including for consideration Green, Davey, Rivers... Maybe Jamar and Moloney too. You draft for the next 10 years.

As opposed to Victorian clubs currently..?

The meek will inherit once they sort themselves out and become the strong.

There's a little more to it than that. Red catches the eye more than dark navy. It evokes a better response from people. There's testing to back it up. Gruen transfer stylie.

No surprises here. It was actually a good clean break, in complete contrast with the splintered mess that was Brown's leg. Was always going to heal well. Not heard anything about his kidneys though - come again?

Shocked.

Failed not for lack of desire, but just wasn't up to it in the end. No shame in that.

I think that behaviour is standard. I'm told by a bloke at work who is good friends with Melksham, that Mark McVeigh is a complete [censored] and all the young players hate him, because from day dot he comes out and takes any opportunity to smash them when they're not looking on the training track. Really hurt them for no particular reason. He's a proper ****. But the net result is that the kids get tougher and understand they're playing a man's game. It sets the tone from the very start. I don't hold Essendon's leadership methods up as a paragon of best practice, but I think that it would be a common theme amongst all clubs to have certain players dishing out that treatment.

Far from a draft expert, but I think last year's draft was particularly strong. That and that while Tom seems a handy role player, he doesn't stand out from the pack much. He comes across as a non-dominant yet capable, mobile, relatively short ruckman with a big engine. Not the type you select early.

I think he'll attract interest in the coming offseason. Will be a capable ruckmen - as good as someone like Ivan Maric or Mark Seaby, maybe better. Not a world beater, but serviceable. Worth hanging onto for 2012 though.

We have a plethora of candidates for the HBF; not so many suitable for the small crumbing FP role.

Surely you're kidding! FP one of the hardest. You've gotta consistently produce on limited opportunities and there's a fair reliance on your teammates to provide those crumbing opportunities.

He showed some ability, but I think he has a lot of work to do if he wants to get elevated. He has a lot of decent looking mids who he is competing with for spots. Great nickname though. That's gotta count for something.

I think it is seen as being easier because of the relative ease of which players in that position rack up numbers of disposals. Often, if you've had 28 touches, you're seen to have had a good game, regardless of whether it comes straight back, or not.

I thought he said he was yet to address the leadership group, and it would be determined based on what he sees at training. Could be wrong though. Either way, I agree with the rest of your post. The players will never be in doubt about our direction or what is expected of them. It will be blatantly clear.

Blokes his size, with his speed & agility, and the head on his shoulders, don't grow on trees. Kicking skills have left something to be desired but that can be worked on. Has showed some serious promise.

I think he's a certainty to be elevated. Not sure that it'll happen this year though.

Hardly a sign of importance. There were 200 odd there to schmooze / be schmoozed by the coaches over lunch.

It's such a stupid comment too. "Don't smack the baby giant, because then it will grow up grumpy"?? So... I take it, if no one criticises them now, instead in 6 years' time they will be politely letting other teams beat them? Honestly! Their aim is to "grow up grumpy" irrespective of how they are treated in their infancy. It's just more rambling from an old bloke who has lost the plot, but still gets far too much airtime.

Uh... No. Not for me. We've strayed well off the topic, but has anyone seen Boardwalk Empire? Yet to see it, but heard it was good. And everyone loves Steve Buscemi.

Really? I've always found the acting in Dexter a bit amateurish. Only a step above a soap opera. Anyway, each to their own, but I often get bored with Dexter. Sometimes too predictable.