rjay

Yep he usually does play well on him but Buddy towelled him up last year in round 18.

Same in the round robin first games, he made an appearance but Martin and Fitz did a lot of the work.

I would be surprised if Frawley plays more than 1 or 2 quarters this week, he has had a couple of games already this pre season. May be the chance to try Sellar out on Buddy.

Just don't have Alistair Lynch commentate on our games. Lacks credibility.

From memory the leadership group at Geelong had to take Gary aside and talk to him about his work ethic, seems he listened. Watts will be a player, as the coach says he is coming from a fair way back (APS) and has only 40 games under the belt. Maybe Mick is doing his mate Mark a favour and providing an extra bit of needle. One post said he was "scared", that reminds me of the day Greg Healy played with a fractured cheek bone and one of our supporters called him weak and gutless. No one running around in AFL football is scared, they may not all be Jonathan Browns but it takes courage to take the field.

Yep, it is good news and Strauss in particular is a great story coming back from the broken leg that looked like it could have kept him out for a lot of this season if not more.

Spot on, depth is an illusion. What it is is you have 5 players who can replace your 5 last picked players, you can never replace the top 5 otherwise they would already be in the side. The Australian cricket team is a case in point, we were all going on about the wonderful depth of our cricket but when we lost Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist and Haydn what happened. You don't replace champions.

Just not this year.

Even funnier than Spinal Tap.

Great work!

Gary Ablett!

He will be playing round 1 AFL, may not be doing the flash things or getting high stats at the moment but some good blocking for team mates, knock on to Pet, good use of the ball in heavy traffic and pressure. I think Neeld's assesment was on the money, 20 yo 40 game player with a lot of upside who doesn't need to do a lot to influence a game.

It can't be underestimated the experience that players like Smith, Swallow and Hunt got from a season in the VFL. I've been on about this since last year and think it was a big mistake by the AFL not to prepare the GWS guys in the next best comp in the country, but then a lot of what has been happening up there is second rate.

...and Mathew Knights is safe, we haven't spoken to James, Mark who???

I think it is drawing a long bow also, but Bartram played his junior footy with Ocean Grove before heading to Geelong Falcons.

Wouldn't bet on it yet, Hurley and Gibbs are sprouting the same stuff at the moment. Gibbs hasn't heard from GWS? If I were GWS I would be making Hurley an offer that maybe to good to refuse, do they have anything in the bank? your guess is as good as mine.

Agree, the only one of our senior players (over 25's) who is comparable IMO is Jamar. That's why we need the next rung, Frawley, Garland, Jones and co along with the new captains to stand up.

The bit I really like about this is that the AFL are pleased with the trial results in the NAB cup. Good trial, so far we have only played a few 2 x 20min half games unless I've missed something. Looks like it's on the way for 2013.

I don't overestimate their value at all, they are what they are and whilst they won't be the magic dust to attract a major star they will be valuable in the 2012 draft, not just other crap. I'm not so big on the idea of recruiting a star to the club anyway having seen it all before with Diamond Jim. Big Carl, Peter Moore, Kelvin Templeton etc. .......the mesiah has come to lift us to a flag. No, it doesn't work that way, let's keep developing our own, look to the draft and look for a good oportunity that may come with one of the GC or GWS kids wanting to come home, that's where the compo picks will be useful.

I would hardly call the compo picks random other crap.

There's no guarantee anywhere. I think you are correct to say if we were to trade we would need to trade something of value. So many supporters of all clubs seem to think they can trade their unwanted players for gold, you hear that rubbish all over the radio talk back around trade time. I think in the past we have held on to players who had good trade value that I personally would have liked to move on, I know you feel that with Watts. I don't feel the same way, I think he has something to offer and is still a developing KPP with a lot of upside, he is about to turn 21 in March. To trade a Watts for a Martin just doesn't stack up for me. If you look at the Carlton swap (Judd/Kennedy) they were getting a senior player with leadership to captain their club. That has taken them so far but it may not surprise that they really miss a key forward to take them that bit further, Kennedy. As you point our in your posts, you can't have it all. I would rather have Watts and you a mid, it's just a matter of opinion. I believe we are not in as bad a position with our midfield as others but this year will tell the tale. New coach, better organised midfield group hopefully working as a unit, another year under the belt for the younger players. This season will tell the tale.

Not a chance

Really wanted to see Taggart in the NAB games to have a good look myself, will have to see how he comes up at Casey. Ablett is the best player in the game and there is only one of him. I can see where you are coming from with Trengove but speed is not the only thing that makes a player untaggable, the ability read the ball and to get in and get the ball out like Black or Diesel Williams (neither are know for their speed) can also make a player untaggable. Let's see how Trengove develops in this area of the game, he has the tank to run all day which is becomming a bigger asset with the changing interchange rules and he is also good in the air, something that wouldn't be said of either Black or Williams. But ...if he just makes it to Bartels level I think I would be pretty happy with that.

I agree with you on Howe, he has the attributes to be a class mid and his marking ability makes him a good go to (get out of jail) option. Not so sure about Watts as a mid as I think he still has a lot to offer forward but I wouldn't rule it out. You missed Trengove in your mix of potential mid stars maybe an oversight maybe not but I think along with Grimes he is our best bet, has a lot of Bartel about him and has already been a match winner. Gysberts injury from late last year unfortunately hampered his ablility to get a good pre season in the gym, strength ala Black will be a real asset for him in extracting and using the ball. I'm really interested to see Taggart and was disappointed he is on the injury list, at 188 and 87 he is a big kid who can play mid or maybe release Grimes to the midfield. He is very strong overhead and has a good kick on him.

No i don't agree at all, I think the Tiges will stall this year. They have some cream at the top but are shallow for talent IMO over the list, I think we are a better balanced list but this year will show.