Ungarieboy

Thanks, am about to hit the road this morning for the trip to Melbourne, and am wondering if there are any updates on the captains run. Daughter is now bringing a friend, who is just as keen to attend despite being a GWS supporter (I think we can convert her)!

And ate these the world's dumbest commentators, Picket I'd playing limited game time because he's suspended for the first few weeks!

If JVR is injured then we are in big trouble!

Okay, I'm trying to purchase tickets for the game, and my daughter s requested to be on the wing near the fence; but I'm seeing g very little seating options available - surely its not nearly sold out. Could someone please advise whats happening (yes I accept I'm a novice at this.

Thanks, sorting out final accommodation now. If anyone could give an indication of when the captains run might start that would be very helpful. Our plan is to drive in from the Lakes Entrance that morning for it. Also with the Grand Prix on at Albert Park for the game, has anyone any suggestions about parking. Is it likely to be taken up by F1 fans (walking across)?

Would be an interesting game if they played a multi-cultural team (parent, grand parent born overseas). As a start their tall backs look ok with Alir Alir, Mac Andrew, and Leek Alir. Any other suggestions? I'm sure a heavy Irish contingent would give it plenty of run!

Would anyone know when, where and what time the captains run (training session) for this game is. My daughter is very keen to make it. Also if anyone has access to good tickets and not using then as a result of the Gran Prix; then we'd be interested in them. We = 7yr old bot, 15yr old girl and someone who can remember Jim Stynes and Neil Daniher playing footy!!!! We are traveling from Canberra and trying to coordinate this with missing some school, limited accommodation options (gran prix), road trip with an easily bored youngster, plus a very passionate Dee's fan. So need to organise now, to try and make it work.

Sorry, for some reason I couldn't edit the post to correct Langdon, include Jeff White instead of Petty and Yze (though not sure for who). There's always fan favourites (mine is Tingay, who I would pick first everytime) but in my opinion an objective assessment should prioritise their football ability in comparison to the strongest opponents and team mates - a premiership player will therefore automatically start you higher than most. Normally in team of century, decades, etc achievements count for more than favourites or highlights. Still all your suggestions are worthy of consideration and can be very easily argued for. Question is a premiership Tmac more deserved than a post injury Schwarz?

Jetta May Frawley T Rivers. Lever Salem Brayshaw Oliver Langford Robertson Tmac Petracca Davey Neitz Fritsch Gawn Viney Jones Int:J.McDonald Woewodin Hibberd Petty Sub: Bruce You should start with the premiership side and then improve it; noting that to even be in a premiership side requires a lot more skill and ability than starring in a bottom side!!!! CHF was the position I struggled with, and was tempted to put Robbo there, so that Green could be fitted in. Tried to pick players in their actual positions / roles; allowing for Petty to provide relief in ruck and both ends of the ground as a tall. Probably only need one of Junior or Jones, if desperate to get Green in. Woewodin can also provide additional outside coverage. Picket is not yet in Davey's class. Was really tempted to put ANB in for the role he fullfilled in a premiership year; and consistently since.

Also maybe it could be ................... We have a very strong defence!!!

Perhaps the turnovers at training is a positive, reflecting our ability to generate turnovers!!!!!! This too needs to be planned, trained and practiced.

Doesn't GC have a few academy kids coming through next year; and may struggle to get all of them; particularly with the restructuring of the points/bidding. He may just find it easier to nominate Melbourne if he wants to avoid the randomness of the draft.

Could this pick be influenced by Mentha now likely being a Cat B Rookie - essentialy giving us an extra list spot (taken by a small).

I'd be pitching g to get Jeff White down to Melbourne, so that he doesn't have to move away from family!°

Noting how many talls we have on the list (playing at Casey) I'd be surprised if we took a kpf unless deemed best available. Noting Jefferson, Kenterfield, Fullerton Smith and Verral can't all fit there (Assuming Campbell rucks) and this is with JVR, Petty and Turner all holding kpf positions for the Dee's. More importantly for our Casey forwards to develop; they need to be fed by a strong (dare I say dominant midfield) as you can't improve you marking/forward craft if the ball is not being delivered to you. From what I can see Casey's midfield really dropped of last year and is currently weaker this year. SO get the two most midfielders available at both 5 and 9!!!! Note: watched perth SEN with Mick Ablett and apparently he really rates Kenterfield.

Oliver Withers is someone worth investing effort on. Though I believe he would be a better rookie, Many believed he was best on ground for Belconen Magpies in their Grand final victory (ACTAFL) as a 17 year old. He also dominated the rising stars league B&F the year before as a 16 year old. I believe last year he was signed by a VFL club but did his knee in the pre-season. Was part of GWS academy, but not sure if still is post injury.

Don't settle for good, in deference to chasing great!!!!! Think Oliver v Parish! We should be looking for champions with these picks while they are available, as not all drafts have them, or easy/obvious access to them. For instance look at 2016 draft.

We need to be recruiting the next Oliver/Trac replacements in this draft, so that in 5 years time they are approaching their peak as we lose our champions (if they are even still here). So this draft should all be about getting the elite (potential brownlow medallists); not settle for good players, talls or flankers. You draft for the future and trade for the now!!!!!

Always go with best available with first round picks, particularly top 10. Good coaches will adjust the game plan to suit. Good clubs will trade in players to fic gaps. Note premiers often have players traded in to fix gaps i.e. Brisbane with Daniher, Collingwood with Howes, Geelong with Tuohy, Dee's with Brown, Tigers with Lynch. The trick is to identify where the gaps are likely to be, before they evolve. Unfortunately Brayshaws early retirement and possibly Smirh's unavailability could not be foreseen (throwing future planning into chaos).

Is there so.eone I could name drop a potential rookie to the club (a kid who was considered best on ground by many in AFL first grade grand final as a 17 year last year - but injured since)

The interesting thing is, could Smith be the tall forward option we are looking for. Has he been suspended, how long is his suspension. Maybe he is rookied, for 12 months and comes back after that. How long do you need to be out of the AFL to come back as a Cat B rookie?

To be honest if I was in Clayton's position, I to would have been chatting to other clubs, if I got wind of the club shopping me around for the second year in a row (i.e 2 can play that game). At the very least taking some control of the situation and being proactive in the finding a preferred destination. As for Pert, what was he hoping to achieve? Oliver had as much right to refuse any prospective trade, just as much as Melbourne has/did - so for Pert to be successful he would have needed to get Clayton sufficiently disillusioned to leave (agree to being traded).

Wasn't he highly rated, where would he fit in, what's his point of difference or weapon?

Something doesn't feel right. Why would Pert reach out to Geelong, a club without the draft capital and salary cap space to make it a viable option. Just as an example - Richmond, North and Eagles makes more sense!

As to the Northern Academy's, if they didn't exist then talented players don't get to train and play with/against enough good players to improve (at the same rate as AFL states). E.g In Melbourne there could be hundreds of kids (majority of a team) who can kick a ball properly on the run at the age of 13/ 14, providing greater opportunity to enhance their marking skills (can't practice marking the ball, if it doesn't get to you). This means these Victorian's are getting exposed to more complicated and better training drills far earlier than their Northern Counterparts (without the academies). Even at the 18s Victorian's train and play at the Coates league level for the entire season, while the Nortern Academy's get a handful of games in April/May. Then back to uncompetitive club football. What a lot of people don't understand is without the Northern Academy's, these players won't get the necessary development to be drafted, or at best be drafted late or as rookies. Consequently the 4 Northern clubs would have to pick more of the best Victorian, SA and WA kids - diluting the pool further for the other clubs.