rjay

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.

He is a very good VFL player but struggled to step up to AFL level a bit like Newton.

The small forward discussion is a good one to have but personally I think it is an over rated position. Of the recent premiership teams only Rioli stands up as having a major impact and before that Akker. I would much rather have strong goal kicking mid/forwards who exert maximum pressure and think players such as Petterd, Howe, Silvia, Trengove, Jurrah, Tapscott and others can do the job. An Akker type (player not personality) would be great for us as he was also a class mid, Rioli similar but I really don't see the point of a Milne or Betts type, they are too one dimensional for me. A quick, highly skilled running mid is what we need IMO, a perfect match to Viney.

Ian Dicker was fantastic for Hawthorn, a quiet unassuming but very astute business man who let his actions do the talking, Frank Costa at Geelong has been similar (with a slightly higher profile). I hope Don Mclardy can provide us with the same leadership going forward and build on the great foundation work done by Jim Stynes. A good president doesn't have to be a loud mouth like Ed or Jeff.

I think we have enough coverage with the small forward brigade if you consider LeCras, Nicoski, Johnson and co as small forwards. I guess the classic small forwards are Betts and Milne and both of these guys struggle in the big games, is it them or is it the role that becomes redundant in these games. I would rather have a Chapman, Johnson, Lecras, Didak, Bartel type who are goal kickers also capable of some time in the midfield. In Trengove, Howe, Jurrah, Petterd, Davey, Blease and co I think we are developing this. So to me a bit of run and class in the mids will be important for us, in the next draft there are players like Toumpas who is already a senior premiership player in the SANFL who will probably be available to us according to draft pundits and Haynes very quick tall mid but probably gone by our pick.

Buckley was a good old home grown boy too, via SA and the Bears. No matter what Ed says Collingwood is and will always be a suburb of Melbourne, I think he may be suffering from small town syndrome.

Might be a bit harsh, didn't see any clangers last night and he set up play with a nice kick forward for a Silvia goal.

What an arrogant sook, Eddie that is.

Funny thing about this is that I heard from a reliable source (close to family) that the Dons were seriously into Brock Mclean last trade period, go figure. Seems these family sources are either as reliable as tips from trainers and/or the backroom boys at Essendon were looking for any mids they could get their hands on. Maybe GWS weren't the only ones to approach KB.

Too late to trade any (no currency) except for Jamar (maybe Silvia if he has a resonable year) and he is going nowhere, a required player. Jamar is worth something on the trade table like Jolly was to Collingwood but he is worth too much to us. A trade is not about giving away under performing players but if you listen to supporters of all clubs you would think recruiters at other clubs are brainless individuals just waiting to give you the next Ablett for a couple of discards and anyway free agency is not about trade it is about the player wanting to move on, the club gets nothing in return. To trade we have to have a player under contract who is worth something. Any ideas? As for the players listed, apart from Jamar (hopefully signed in the early part of the season if not before) I would think all of them are playing for their contracts at Melbourne.

Sam really needs this kind of discipline if he is going to make it and use the potential he has. Looking from the outside in to me he seems to get ahead of himself, after a good game last season he started to lairize in the next and got caught out. He showed some class on Friday at match practice so it's ok to be late to a meeting, maybe not his thinking here but it is the action. I hope he takes it the right way and as part of his learning experience otherwise his potential won't be realised which would be a pity. The coaches need to ride Sam hard, he is one of the players that will make it or be broken.

Like the homework. The danger is that we get too greedy with these picks. If we get one good A grade player then that will be great to expect 2 might be pushing it.

It's about time, I hope it filters through to the player match reviews this year as last year they were a joke. Going by them I thought we hadn't lost a game all year, were sitting clear on top of the ladder and our players had little or no faults. I don't want the players to be bagged in a public forum but an honest appraisal would be good to see, not the rubbish we have been served up in the past.