rjay

Pretty sure they said similar things about Tommy Mac last year. I take what these 2 say with a grain of salt...

My opinion is that we need another good ball user in the back half. Hibberd is the only elite user in that line up, Jetta not to bad, Frost & Tommy Mac poor the others a bit hit and miss. I'm also not convinced with the idea of Frost & Tommy holding up the key posts...

I'm biased, one of my favourite players to watch in the AFL... Would be a great get...being under-utilised as a mid because they lack goal kickers. X-factor plus, right up with the best in my opinion.

I think we still need to be at the high end of the draft this year...we missed last years early crop and will have a few ageing mids (lewis, Vince & Jones) to replace over the coming years.

I also thought and still do think we need a kpd... Those 2 weren't the answer though 'steve', Brown in particular is a very poor kick. McKenzie is shot. We need someone who can use the ball as well as hold down the key post.

I'm not sure Kelly will ever be a game changer in the mould of an Ablett, Danger, Buddy or Selwood. He appears to me to be what he looked like in his junior years, a really neat footballer who goes about his business in a very professional manner. I don't see any of the so called 'x' factor...

I often think Champion data should stick to what they are good at. Counting kicks, handballs and tackles etc at games....their analysis is often wide of the mark and they really are not qualified to give it. A couple of examples come to mind but according to their analysis the Dogs had no chance of winning the premiership last year and we have the worst midfield in the AFL. Stats have their place of course and are a good tool to have but many have been fooled into placing too much emphasis on them. My eyes tell me that Petracca is heading in the right direction to becoming a very good player at a minimum and with all things going well could be an A grader, even a champion. Still a bit of water to go under that bridge but I'm happy to have him.

Great post 'ignition'....

Mason Cox has size but no football IQ 'MadAsHell'....Keilty would get smashed by any half reasonable AFL ruckman and that's not running him down it's just he would be outsized and outclassed by a player also more experienced in the position... For his own career sake I hope they give him a couple of seasons to develop, recruit the right players and allow Dec to go back and see if he can make it as a defender.

Sorry but he will never be an option as a ruck at AFL level...his best chance really is in defence. I know they've been using him forward and in the ruck at Casey but I think they are playing him out of position...

I would think their earlier flags are a bit dubious... The early 90's was an interesting time in football and a player had to be counted very unlucky to be caught out with PE drugs in the system.

The Herald/Sun are now saying that Gatto confirms meeting with EFC official. Well, it's getting interesting again....

EFC have reported it to the Police 'Lucifer'... Do you think they might find evidence or lack thereof to support EFC?

Apparently they are suggesting blackmail... Unfortunately for Wallis he played the party line during the scandal. His relationship with the truth and his record keeping in the past will not help him in this case. Have to agree with you about 'disgruntled employees'...seeing what Robinson picked up on the way through might have been a factor.

Not sure if anyone has seen this...most of you will know the song and have seen some versions. ...but this is a most fantastic clip, really well done. It took me some time into it before I realised what was happening.

Sounds familiar... ...lost the records, no backup lol. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/01/british-cycling-team-sky-package-bradley-wiggins

Nothing 'bb', just an educated guess based on previous form but Caro seems to be pretty hot on Thompson.

Interesting...I would have thought him the least likely. My bet would be...someone a bit sneakier.

No EFC didn't leak the audio, they have nothing to gain from it now...it was one of the 4 involved. Have a guess but I know who my money wouldn't be on and that leaves 2.

Here we go again...good old Robbo's mob at the Sun. Wow, I wonder were this came from???? The Herald Sun are reporting "Bombshell Rocks the AFL" secret tape emerges. Some people should give up and let the club get back on it's feet, couldn't care less about EFC myself but ones that profess to have a funny way of showing it...

Of course they have the power to do it. Don't underestimate what they can do when they have a mind to. Forget due process and such terms, the AFL march to the beat of their own drum. They can make things very uncomfortable for clubs that don't follow the company line. This is one area they chose to put in the too hard basket. Also, the AFLPA and player manager roles don't sit comfortably. It's hard to believe they knew nothing of what was going on at EFC.

I think the AFL were at fault for not putting a stop to the EFC program when they first found out about it. All they did was suggest it should be stopped but didn't follow up. They seemed to bury their heads in the sand and go all Sgt Schultz, I'm not excusing what happened thereafter and think EFC got off lightly, all considered but the AFL, AFLPA & player manager negligence has never been fully explored and if EFC got of lightly I would suggest these guys all but got away "scot free".

Agree with your post 'Vogan', and this part in particular rings true from what I've been told by people outside the club who know him very well.

He (Cripps) certainly doesn't have the explosiveness of Judd or Ablett and despite height differences his game is more the Williams type than the other 2, I guess that's the point. Always a problem with comparing players but particularly of different generations.

Cripps is a terrific young player but I wouldn't make a comparison with Judd or Ablett who were both explosive players. Agree with 'dazzle' that he is more a Williams type.