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Hogan paying $8 to win the most votes for Melbourne. Surely that's good value - he will poll in the Richmond game, kicked 3 vs the Dogs , 4 vs the Lions, 3 vs the Pies, 3 vs the Giants.

Just passing on a message - although when I asked who wasn't there - his answer was Jack Spencer so...maybe best to disregard!

You dont know my old man - fairly dopey

My old man was on the same flight as the team to Darwin, said JKH, Hogan and Garland were all there. Didnt see Spencer (but could easily have missed him(

Frustrating to lose - but we played footy that was at least watchable (compare to last year!) Oxley hurt us and we lacked class, but the effort was solid If we turned up like that each week we should all be happy, challenge is without the build up etc how do we go against the saints

I saw JKH walking down swan st in his civvies around 8am - very odd!

Mate of mine is on the footy staff and I asked him

Not going to Hawthorn - a short angry man in charge hates him

I think the next two games are very winnable, 7 day turn around to the doggies helps. Richmond are down in confidence , so if we are in the game late we are a chance! They will wilt. The most enjoyable thing about these wins is against who, sides we never beat! I'd love to claim one more scalp, someone finals bound! North? Realistically we could win 6-8 this year which would be awesome!

So Rohan Bail had 7 i50s for the game (game high I believe) for no goal assists. I tried to track down involvement in scoring chains as i realise i50s to GA is not a perfect science. I can't remember him creating a goal shot. He is simply not skilled enough to be a HFF and create/convert enough oppurtunities. Its like we need two Watts, one in the midfield and one at HFF to hit up our forwards

Spot on re our trading, There would be no better indication of the improved development of our club, if our late picks such a s hunt take 2-3 years to debut, because it means we are for once giving them time to develop! Check out hawthorns list, guys from 2009 and 2011 draft who have play 0-20 games, still on the lis, so rated highly, but just given the required time to become AFl standard footballers. Be awesome if our man works out and kills it, plays 100+ games, but even if he doesn't we at least (fingers crossed) know it's not through a lack of development.

Hawthorn are also looking for someone to replace Mark Evans, so this could also be linked. Evidently Fantasia is not doing a great job That leaves 4 Clubs looking for this type of person (Pies, Hawks, Dogs, Dees) and maybe Essendon depending on the wash up of ASADA, makes it tough for us to get a top one

FWIW I don't think Fitzpatrick will get up for this week. The fact he didn't ruck in the 2nd half might be a sign his knee hampered him a bit

Although it was very frustrating at the game, it was actually kinda nice for the umps to be a factor in the game. We were in the match for long enough for those decision to hurt us, instead of being being 60 pts down at half time.

You would assume a well drafted employment/ coaching contract would include a thorough 'conduct unbecoming' clause that is applicable to any termination/payout.However this is the MFC so who knows

Our top draft picks showing something Think we can agree if this is the minimum we get footy is watchable

Relax guys, not suggesting their success is a fluke. Agree the Ablett name would have turned "bidders" off, but it is interesting to note some of this stuff. Definetly got lucky with the Selwood/Hawkins thing...Who knows what they would have done, Hawkins was touted as the best player the Vic Metro Coach had seen since Chris Judd! Can't fault their other recruiting and/or development, been spot on 3 flags the result. In any event, here is hoping that other people are debating the MFC's Luck at landing Toumpas and Viney!

Nathan Ablett was another.. though not as successful If the current rules where in place they would have had to pick between Ablett and Bartel (assuming someone bid first round) or even Ablett and Steve Johnson (pick 24) in the 2001 draft. In the 2006 Draft, Hawkins was definetly a first rounder (Won the Larke Medal as MVP in National Champs and was FF in U18 All Australian team) meaning they would have missed out on Selwood at 7. In another twist of irony, Geelong used their pick 12 and 16 (12 gained in the deal with Melbourne for Moloney) to drag Ottens across, which may or may not have been possible depending on who would have bid for Nathan Ablett

Couldn't agree more. We seem to value use these mythical defensive skills as a reason fellas aren't getting a game, yet when a player actually executes these skills we drop them, very disappointing.

I'm might get crucified for saying this but.... I went last night and sat high behind the goals and I actually think our zone isn't the worst, when it worked really well and made good intercept marks at half back or forced them to attack wide. The really issue was A) got slaughtered at clearances (esp centre) so the zone became redundant B) some horrible defensive blunders (gillies letting his man get goal side twice etc) 5 minutes into the 3rd we were mentally shot and it all went to pieces. I also some nice attacking passages of play offensively that showed we have some plan and its not the worst (trengove shot from pocket) In every sport there is a form of zone defense, in a true man on man we would get slaughtered (ie centre clearances) because we are just reactive, by creating a zone or releasing a spare man it forces sides to have to make decisions I have coached another sport at a sub elite level and I reckon it's the players, the culture is obviously stuffed and needs rebuilding, have we hit rock bottom? I hope so. But the passages of play that we executed well shows a few glimmers and a potentially very long road.

Caddy is set on Essendon, he will go there via any means possible

Was training at Casey or Gosch's?

Its a given we will take JV with our first round pick, I trust the club, they are professionals, I am not. Also would make me sick watching the son of a team of the century member running around potentially tearing us a new one. So we go two ways 1. We suck as bad everyone makes appear we will and get JV (potentially) paying overs and pick 4 (in essence the 3rd best player in the draft); OR 2. We continue our improvement, finish 14th or above, get JV paying evens and pick 6 or later. I kind of see the pros and cons of the outcomes canceling out. Let the media beat it up, footy can change pretty quick.

Agree age, very well put. Ball speed is crucial to outletting the ball successfully from defence, in the cause of AFL, ball speed is primarily achieved by quick decisions. Watch a few players gain a yard of pace, when successfully 'release' players into space

If we use pick x on JV we still have pick x+1 and pick 12 ish. So we can mop any sliders and still get viney (cause we have two picks in a row). I'm happy with a JV and a top 10 pick and pick 12 (or whatever our mid round compo pick is) in exchange for TS, we need several quality players (ie small forward, line breaking outside mid) rather than one potential star. Side note, be interesting to see GC and GWSs strategies this off season. A potential new GC coach may trade for immediate success ala Sydney as Mckenna could be burnt for playing kids, will the trade period expose a go home factor? Anyway all to play out.