rjay

John Butcher is not a FA and not available this week, if he is at all it will be via a trade. As I've said before, I don't think we are going to be as active as some think but we will be focussed looking for another Clark type deal and a good draft. To me this is a better way to build the club.

Did we make him an offer?

Nothing

Could well be the plan, lets wait and see.

Structurally, is a good word "demon-4-life" and that's exactly what he is, their most important player.

I'm not sure that an ongoing culture survives at any club but I do think that a group of players along with coaches and admin at a point of time can build something special that we currently call culture. In Norths case that was the Pagan era, Hawthorn had it through the 70's with Scott, Matthews and co then it carried through with Tuck, Ayres, Brereton and co then nearly lost the club in the 90's. Geelong with their 3 premierships were know as the handbag club for a long time, they may live to fight again because of the strength of the playing group handing over to the next group along with a very well run club. Our own club in the late 50's and early 60's is another prime example, with Smith and Barassi our culture was strong. A good culture is more about a club at a point in time, I don't believe in the mystical ongoing culture of a club otherwise we would be sitting on top of the world and we aren't. It's amazing how good a President, CEO or Coach are when winning and it's also amazing how they become no good and a rabble when losing. All of a sudden the egos get in the way, the politics begin and the ship springs a leak that lets the media feed. As fans we want blood. I like the way we are trying to build a winning environment; If this is achieved a good part of it will be how the group work together as a team, the players, coaches, board, admin. This is what we will call a good culture.

How bad was that, couldn't see the ball at all with that stupid shot. As for HD, well that is a joke.

I love that almost every year the winner is marked back. I guess it is harder to win back to back.

Me too Jose

The shinboner spirit is a myth. North have been consistently thumped by sides above them on the ladder over the past few seasons. Their game against the pies last year was similar to our 186, it's just that they have been able to beat up on lesser opponents that has seen them up and about the 8. If it ever did really exist the lights went out with Archer and even in his last seasons they copped some bad beatings.

Lucky to switch across to Fox after the game and get some good game analysis and inside interviews from Roos.

Here's hoping for a good coverage from 7 today. Pray they don't lose the ball and that they give away all those strange camera angles. Probably asking for too much.

Yeah we do, we can draft well including players from State leagues in the PSD. More draft picks (from our FA) will give us better trading options for the 2 - 3 players we have targeted. It's not going to be scatter gun but by being smart I still think we will turnover something like 10 players which will be a substantial list change. Then with ongoing development of Grimes, Trengove, Jones, Watts, Blease, McDonald, Frawley, Garland, Silvia, Clark and co. with another full Misson pre season and I think your membership will be safe.

Rumours don't equate to evidence "Norm", as I said I may be wrong so lets wait and see.

I don't think we will be as active as you think WYL, most of our work will be done in the drafts and add maybe 2 to 3 targeted players from FA and or trade. Maybe wrong but that's how I see it.

The whole role player thing is a bit of a buzz word, phrase or whatever you like to call it. I remember hearing that great football genius Luke Darcy saying something like it's not the player it's the role. Well let me say this, one thing that always holds true no matter what Luke or any others caught up in this role BS say, A grade players win games of football, and A grade players working as part of team environment win premierships. When Adelaide needed to get back into the game it was Dangerfield and Walker that provided the spark and when Hawthorn needed to win it was Rioli, it wasn't a role, it was Cyril. Sydney the ultimate role side, in my mind the ultimate team rely on Goodes, Jetta for the polish and some A grade mids in Kennedy, Bolton, O'Keefe and co. ...and "Dee" you are on the money about the changing face of the game, this is why Neeld and Misson have been working on the teams fitness and mobility, blind Freddie can see the AFL will not let this rugby maul thing go on, 2+2 or capped interchange will come in and the game will open up a lot more.

If Viney goes through to the 2nd round I will be happy, can't see it happening though.

Not Rodan, please.

I get your point but you are probably over stating it a bit here "angry", not all are recycled players. Out of the Hawthorn GF team none are what could really be considered a recycled payer, all were actively traded from clubs where they were regular and required players reluctantly let go. Gibson, Burgoyne and Gunston would all be in the top 22 of the clubs they came from with Hale being borderline, he might be considered recycled. From the Sydney team you could count a few, Shaw, Richards, Kennedy, Mattner and Morton. Mumford was a required developing player at Geelong, they didn't want to let him go but just couldn't match the offer from Sydney.

Be smart about it sums it up well "Ben", good call.

Clark may be a sign of good things to come, lets hope this FD can get it right. They started well, we have to trust they know what they are doing.

I get what you are saying but pick 4 would not be a cheap price in my opinion.

Point well made "Wells" although the late picks may be a little more black and white as they will probably fall in Collingwoods area. It also may get a bit iffy at the top end where trades and picks are involved. I do agree that Collingwood created this situation, respectful on our part is probably a good call. We can't expect him to be our silent partner in the draft.

Me too, and if Jason Taylor offered some "tips" he would not be seen as being a trusted employee. In fact I would be very surprised if the club would employ him. We've made our bed this year with Todd and co. and lets just hope they get it right. Time will tell.

These kids look good, Cutler was really good off CHB particularly early in the game. Interesting to see he is a bottom ager, Franetic has a touch of class and Billings has already created a bit of interest with some good performances in the championships.