rjay

Personally I think it is a big mistake for Sydney and goes against the way they have built their famous culture but lets wait and see. I also don't believe they didn't know about the contract arrangement Tippett had to move to the club of his choice, why else would they have thought they would have any chance of picking him up with little to offer Adelaide in return. Remember, he wasn't a free agent. The AFL then opened the path to Sydney with their manipulation of the draft.

I think Bailey is a decent guy but there is a lot of revisionism going on here. I agree with WYL that he was hung out to dry in his press conference and I think he should have coached out the year, I mean there were not a lot of games left so let him leave with some dignity. The club handled this poorly in my opinion. However, he did leave with a little barb in the comment re tanking, he was hurting and that is human. My hindsight view is he would have been better off leaving with a comment as made by his lawyer today saying we weren't in finals contention and in the interests of the club I was looking to develop youth. The comment he did make was ambiguous enough to make Kevin Bartlett see that tanking may actually exist and it brought about the first AFL enquiry. As I say the club handled this poorly and it has come back to bite. I think his later comments in regard to the list saying we had a large window (bi fold I think his words were) opening and would play finals in 2013 and beyond were either delusional or designed to put pressure on the incumbent, Mark Neeld. This has been compounded by some in the media and on this forum who continually bring up the wins in 2011 v 2012. As for the idea of him putting the clubs interests over his own, I think he saw them as one in the same thing. It's just that after the Geelong debacle and probably before in the admin eyes this wasn't going to be the case.

It's worth a new thread to get this news out there, it is not more of the same because we haven't heard from Bailey about this issue since he left the club. I would say this is pretty significant news. The thread can be merged later when it drifts down the same path.

I think you are right with the intensity being down a bit but still a solid session. Post Darwin pre Christmas, I would expect the intensity to be up significantly towards the end of January. Nicholson went in early with Garland, they did some light work before the main group started. He wasn't with the rehab group. Grimes was with that group before moving on to the main oval to run some lap times as did Dawes. A few things I noticed were Toumpas gets around and gets involved, he's creating a positive presence. Dawes is a big unit and was working up some good pace in his run throughs, will be a handful in the coming season. Barry is an athlete with great skills, will be interesting to watch in match conditions. Davey is working into training, moving and kicking well. Evans looks in great shape and hopefully gets a clear run at it. Tommy Mc has been working on his kicking (ball drop) but will still be a work in progress, be interesting to watch when under pressure on match day to see if he can keep his technique. Sammy Blease still has a bit of work to do on the tank but his is doing it and getting support to keep at it, he has the right attitude (and ability) and that's why he is still there and others have been moved on.

I would have thought Wallace and the Tiges would be in trouble here. He has admitted to not performing on his merits and not allowing his side to perform on it's merits by saying he sat back and did nothing so that they could get Cotchin. It's out there in the public arena for all to see, no need for an investigation.

I think we have enough on our plate at the moment but down the track it is something worthwhile.

Think they're (read MR and CW) on holidays 'BB' that's why the AFL is getting things out of the way now, including AA's departure. Get things cleared up while Punch & Judy are away.

The good old 'VIBE', yep now that's solid evidence.

Fully agree mate and my consternation has nothing to do with Deegirl post either. That is information, but the roll over posts just p me off. Adelaide were charged with something and decided they should give themselves a penalty, good for them. We have not been charged with anything yet and may not be charged at all. If we are then we deal with it.

The new rule "poor attempt at comedy in an inappropriate place".

I wouldn't be worried about that, they are learning to go low in the tackle. If he gets anywhere near the shoulder it will be a poor tackle.

Give up your day job 'Redleg'.

This one is getting up there with the most ridiculous things I've read on here. Let's see the evidence first.

Nup! let them prove it. If they have written or audio evidence of a player being told to lay down then if they produce it we are in trouble, I doubt any such evidence exists. Otherwise there is no case to answer and they can go .......

Someone else with usually good sources posted recently that there would be no charge. However I think if we get through to Christmas and this investigation is still running, I would be very concerned that we will be charged with something. If it is going to be a no charge then now is the time to announce it while the media are out to lunch.

1. What are your realistic expectations for Viney and Toumpas, or even Hogan in the VFL? Keep in mind it's their first year. Hogan to make an impact at VFL level and show he is ready to step up in 2014. Both Viney and Toumpas have some senior experience and should become regulars. Viney, like Toby Green this year to make an impact from game one. Kent, Barry and Taggert to push for senior selection. 2. Who do you think will take it to another level? Trengove , Watts , Tapscott , Blease take it to another level. Clark (a revelation last season), Jones, Howe and Tommy Mc to keep improving their game. 3. New mature aged recruits, who needs to prove their worth? Dawes & Pederson need to show why the FD has placed a lot of faith in getting them to the club. Not to prove his worth but I think Terlich will be a surprise packet. 4. Last chance, who has flown under the radar for far too long? Sylvia, probably not under the radar but really needs to step up this coming season. Davis needs to get senior game time or move on. Strauss needs to show what he can do and use that kicking skill to advantage. 5. Combination (as discussed previously) where should all this lead us on the ladder, who are the key clubs we should be beat in order to climb the ladder? Move into a level with teams like North, ST.Kilda and Richmond. Hold our own against the power clubs and maybe pick up a win or 2 there. I don't want to see us getting blown away by Hawthorn anymore or any other team for that matter.

That's a pretty good resume to be taking over at Casey and developing a young group I would say.

True, but will Tippett tip the culture the wrong way? Have they pulled the wrong rein? this will be one of the interesting stories of the coming season for me, our rise up the ladder being the most interesting of course.

Not sure on your headline but I reckon Misfud and Wilson could be in a bit of trouble.

I'm not disappointed to see Moloney move on, I don't think his style of game suits where we are going. I never have. I do think after his manager tipped him in it mid season he left the club with some dignity and didn't rise to the media bait that was offered on many interviews. Good on him for that.

I don't think he is the whipping boy, but I do think most of us would like to see him reach his potential.

Going to be around Swan Street tomorrow morning, guess I better not plan on dropping in to training.

I wouldn't worry too much about Frawley and our defence. They were under constant pressure all season and even the best defences come unstuck in that situation. WC, Sydney and Geelong's defences who I would rate as the top 3 came unstuck at times last season and looked 2nd rate when the ball was coming in when their midfields were down. Hawthorns great kicking defence couldn't hit a target and at times couldn't even get ball to boot when Geelong jumped them at the 'G'. Our guys had to cop this most games, a better midfield and stronger defensive pressure up the ground and we won't have a problem here.

...and I think Knightmare's face will be bright red.

One thing it shows 'Jack' is that the game is always evolving, the list we have now is dramatically different to what it was a couple of months ago. If we have it right, then from now on it will be fine tuning. We have brought in some experience and we will start to grow our own experience with Frawley, Grimes, Jones, Trengove, Watts and the boys getting game time. If we have it right then any kid we bring in from now on will come into a good environment. The only one from these lists I've really seen is Billings and he can play. After the SA finals last year I was really hot for Toumpas and rapt that we picked him up, the SA kids have the advantage of being able to play senior football and we were lucky enough to give that to Viney and next season to Hogan. Stringer, Viney, Toumpas, O'meara and Crouch come in next season with senior experience under their belt, my guess is Aish, Dunstan and Dummont will have the same advantage the following year along with Hogan and Martin of course. Billings will play TAC but a lot of his time will be in school footy, he will start behind these other boys. The question is how long will it take for a player like him to make it up, we've seen with Watts it can take some time, on the other hand Green stepped up this year for GWS and acquitted himself well, although to be honest you wouldn't think the opposition clubs put much time into him. I expect given a clear run that Viney and Toumpas will be productive players in year one, their experience playing against men will go well for them. Viney didn't have a lot of game time but his competitive nature will let nothing stand in his way, have heard a local coach in the fitness field who has has a lot to do with current day premiership players say he is the toughest most competitive kid he has ever worked with. Anyway, enough rambling...as was asked in another tread 'when does Taylor start with us'? he's the one that will have to work the list from here on.