rjay

Hope Sellar gives him a chop out, he's a better ruck option but will depend a bit on how much he is contributing forward.

As said before without Kerr and NN it isn't. Kerr is the heart and soul, he's the type of player we need.

Without Kerr and NN WC's midfield is nowhere near full strength.

...they did early but it was Judd and Gibbs (BOG for mine) with Kruezer that got Carlton back into the game. Mclean came into the game as it slowed down, what a surprise. So no Richmond didn't kill the Carlton mids at all, Carlton's forwards killed Carlton with the help of a lack lustre defence and some strange positional moves by Mick. Another thing on last night, the decision for Cotchin to take the last 2 kick outs was nearly a disaster. Did he take it on himself as the on field leader or was it the coach, he needed to be at the fall of the ball.

I think Toumpas will, he already has runs on the board as a senior player. He will take a little bit of time and will frustrate supporters early I think if they expect big things from the start. He has the skills and the attitude to get there. Viney I would be certain of, the kid is a tough unit both mentally and physically. The word from a local trainer was that he is the toughest person he had ever trained and he was training AFL premiership players at the time. We're not talking Morton, Bennell or Cook here. I would be very surprised if he didn't have an immediate impact. But life is fickle so no one can certain, who knows what will happen but on the evidence these 2 look pretty good chances to me and it looks as though FD is better placed to develop players these days. Lets wait and see.

I wouldn't over sell Richmond's midfield. I think Cotchin is a star, Martin has the tricks to be but is not yet and Delidio is more a floater with a great foot a bit like Goddard and what Watts will probably end up for us. Other than that they fall away pretty quickly with Jackson, Tuck (real goer but not quality) and co and really miss the pace of Foley. Once Maric tired in the 3rd, Kruezer started to jump over him and Carltons mids and runners came into the game. As far as we go I think we will step up a bit this year.I know we don't want to push expectations on Viney but there is no reason he can't do what Toby Green did with GWS last season so that's a big plus. Grimes with a second full season will be a big improver and Trengove will give us more. Another good mid or 2 in the next draft, game time for Toumpas and a quality free agent and we will be set. I don't see us getting much more out of Silvia because I don't think he has the potential to be a star, never have. He has always lacked important parts of his game. Having said that without Moloney (was never good having 2 dumb footballers in the same team) he will give us something and has the ability to be a match winner at times just not an outright star. He will always tease.

Yeah, but that was from a Melbourne supporter, can't remember his name but he's from 'Inside Football'. He put up a logical case. We've flown under the radar this pre season playing games that have not been covered on radio or TV so unless you support the club like we do then you really wouldn't know how we are travelling at all. None of us will really get an idea until this Sunday and even then it will take a while to see if the changes Neeld has been making are the right ones.

Having met Derm on a number of occasions I quite like him but he is still a kid (the kid) and I don't take him too seriously. I remember running into him at the airport one Sunday morning before he was flying out to do special comments when 9 were doing to footy and I asked him which game he was covering and he said "I don't know". His preparation is legendary, what more proof did I need than that. ...but Darcy as I've said before is far and away the biggest [censored] on TV, radio or anywhere that he sprouts his vacuous sentences. Maybe they could use him as a host, he has a good head for the tele, and then he could pass it to the grown ups for the real stuff.

You are both falling into coach speak here. We do need to win, no win no respect. It's really that simple, we need to win and we need to move up the ladder.

The strikes are his and not tied to a club, and I would think the new club like the old would still be in the dark. Makes for some pretty risky business.

Luke Darcy hands down...just listen to the carp he is talking tonight, he really has no idea. Taylor not much better, thank god Ling is there.

Yeah but I don't expect Tommy Mc to play after missing last week, similar to Dawes and Trengove with match fitness so it's likely that Gillies will be in.

Trengove and Dawes not playing according to Neeld and he probably has a fair idea.

I hope you are right on this, some of the reports are indicating fresh incidents overnight.

Tommy Mc may well miss.

Probably didn't want to have too many debs, but both will be in the mix early in the season if their VFL form holds.

Yep

He has to get out of there if he wants to get back on track. The idea of him playing for a local team in the Alice is only asking for trouble, the opposing forces will not let him be. Might be no choice now though.

Agree "old dee', he's not going to be at Hawthorn, that's looking to be more certain as each week goes by. Not sure West Coast would like him with his mate over there either, could be a backwards step.

I think that would be pretty close to the mark.

I think they will play both Clark and Sellar. Clark is a definite going on what Neeld said on SEN this morning. Clark got the rust out at Casey and is ready to go.

From someone (me) who has been king hit from behind in a public place, I don't take any offence to the thread. I think it needs to be taken in the spirit of fun that it's mean't to be. It's given me a few good laughs, one of RR's better efforts.

I think he might have been on track after the intra club and first couple of NAB games but picked up a minor injury a few weeks back that has probably cost him. I also think the FD don't want to take to many debs into the same game. He's not far off though and I'm sure his name would have been up for selection.

Thanks mate, we've been spoiled this pre season. Good quality stuff.

I like your crystal ball much better. I would be surprised if we only won 3-5 games this year.