rjay

Not really setting it alight at VFL level.

I think we could but you would probably expect Geelong to get a deal done before it came to that. I couldn't imagine Port digging in and loosing out again like they did with Stevens.

A kid who has a life dream of being a career footballer putting his career on hold, I don't think so. Jack needs development in the big time, he owes Melbourne nothing.

No!

Thought the same and at the time it could have been a good move but Brown was just to strong that's why hindsight is so good. A lot would say Neeld should have seen it coming but it could have been great for Watts' development, worth a try.

Morton and Bennell have yet to prove themselves at AFL level, Petterd, Gysberts and Tynan are all coming back from injury and also yet to prove themselves at AFL level, they are hardly Cox, Kerr, Glass, Embley, Thompson, Rutten, Dangerfield and co...

McDonald was on him at the start, Watts moved across when he was injured and didn't last too long. Would have been a better move to push Frawley to him but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Not a chance, he is great at the 2nd level but does not have it to step up the same as someone like Maric who now can't get a game at the Tiges. Cook is a really smart player who makes good decisions and can use the ball well, if you could put his head with Juice's athletic ability you would have a world beater. It is time for Cook to step up though.

Time for Cook to come in, let's see what he can do. I know he didn't have a big one yesterday but he did kick a couple. Blease needs to be developed in the ones and not at Casey, he has class and pace that is sadly lacking at the club. Give him the rest of the year and let the coaches ride him where they can see him, not push him back to Casey. Gysberts will give us much more in the middle than our dumb duo of Silvia and Moloney, for their size neither of them are inside players, they don't go hard and low enough and they don't make good decisions with the ball. I know Col had a bit of it today but that kick into the forward line in the last quarter where we had no one sums up the way he plays, see ball, sometimes get ball, kick ball where I am looking (not looking where to kick the ball). Time for Garland and or Rivers to go back, keep in mind that we can swing them forward in a game to create a spark but not start them there as a regular thing.

I'm not saying they should have recruited Ablett at all, what I'm saying is that chasing the one big fish is too big a price to pay for both Carlton and GC. Carlton would have developed well without Judd and who knows where they would be placed today with Kennedy and other early round picks they have given up. Culture, Judd hasn't really had a big influence on that in a positive way, Fev, the Casboult issue, Twitter........... Recruiting and development, development and recruiting the chicken or the egg. Some smart trading yes, Clark is our smart trade lets use our early picks at the draft then see if there is anyone around for our later picks maybe or a player trade (not young developing from us), are there anymore Kennedy's (Swans version) out there?

There is a big lesson for us here. Carlton tried to trade into a flag (along with a bit of tanking) with Judd and to a lesser extent Brock. In doing so they let draft picks and some good young players go. It has meant that they don't have enough quality when they get a couple of injuries, they don't have the young players pushing through to fill places as a team like Collingwood do. Football is about team, Judd alone won't win Carlton a flag and Ablett won't win GWS one. Invest in the draft and development and we will build our team, try for the quick fix and we will come unstuck.

Wouldn't surprise me, there would be no reason to take Spencer up with Martin already going otherwise.

I would like to see Blease get a consistent run at it but it seems he is out of favour with the coaches and they feel the best way to get the best from him is to drop him until he gets the message, whatever it is. Brisbane have a pretty quick side now and he would be a handy player for us in this game, i hope we don't regret leaving him out.

12 or whatever pick it is will be a compo pick and not use for F & S, if another club bids he falls through to our next draft pick which will be a second round pick.

He has had a good season up to the last couple of games where he has struggled. He is a good player this kid with a lot of upside so I hope they keep with him.

Looks about right to me. Cook maybe named as an emerg to give him a push, getting close mate, keep working hard type of thing.

Watts?

We will have Jamar and Rivers and I think we may hold another couple of the older group for the reasons you outlined. I wouldn't be surprised if Green called it a day at the end of the season though, he is chasing injuries now and seems to be a step off the pace. The end of season with the draft, trade and all is going to be a very interesting and important time for the club. I know I'm not telling you anything new there.

A few are calling for Davis to come up but his form on the weekend doesn't warrant a call up just yet. He was pretty well beaten by Wilkes and besides our defence is going pretty well at the moment. The only change I see is Martin for Clark. A few more weeks for Gysberts to get some run into his legs and it will be great to see him up for the rest of the season with a bit of luck. Hopefully we get to see Cook before the end of the season, it's up to him now to perfom on a consistent level and push selectors for a spot. Would also be good to see Strauss up before the end of the year but I'm sure they won't be pushing him too hard after one false start. He looked good on Saturday for a first up, great kick of the ball and looked confident in his ability which was one of the things that held him back in early years, lack of confidence that is. Tappy and Magner are playing for the same place as a defensive forward and according to the skipper they are happy with how Magner is going so I think Tap will get a run back at Casey.

Stuie, I understand your point but I think the older blokes now are going to be the likes of Frawley, Jones, Clark and Garland with Rivers being the old man of the group. Where Moloney, Davey, Silvia and Green sit will depend on form and the desire to go on.

Thought the same thing when I saw it, he really is in 2 minds at the moment.

Similar problem to Scully and Cooney?

They probably would but so would we and we've got them.

Maybe not as set as last year and as has been stated they have no cards to deal anyway unless they want to give up a top liner.

One of those rumours (a friends uncles brothers sisters gardener heard) but believe he is not that hot on Essendon anymore and besides as has been mentioned they don't look like they have much to offer unless it's players.