pantaloons

It's nice to occasionally see someone who is clearly a footballer in action. For me, I don't enjoy seeing guys like Simon Buckley (sorry) and Clinton Young running around, who have progressed this far due to attributes such as speed before footballing skill or nous. If he plays a few seasons, Valenti will become a fan favourite. I doubt that'll happen though. Jaded's pointed out that his leg speed and size will find him out. I agree, and I understand that's the way the game's heading and has been for some time now. In the mean time, I'll get accustomed to seeing blokes run around at full tilt and as though it's the first time they've seen a footy.

Nice debut without being spectacular. He's got good balance.

Where to start... Given our state at quarter time, today could have been a lot worse. After the midfield was completely unable to find the ball in the first 30 minutes, we at least battled the rest of the game out in that area. I thought we should have made up more ground than 8 points after the first break, but gifted North almost all of their goals after quarter time with our own errors or utter stupidity. Valenti battled hard. Buckley frustrates me. He finds so much of the ball, but his decision-making and skill level is irritatingly ordinary. Newton doesn't seem to realise he is playing for his career. North were very poor for three quarters, let's not forget that. And what price Bradley Miller for the All-Australian CHF spot?

Davey should be ok. He looked to try to avoid contact by going over the top of Thomas from where I sat. As for Newton, a three-year suspension may be in order.

If we merge or relocate I'd sooner see the collapse of the AFL than barrack for a mongrelised entity.

Davis is exactly the sort of miscreant soul we can do without at Melbourne when Bailey is trying to establish a strong culture. While he can play (though his defensive skills are poor, leaving him outdated), he is a proven flaky character and we're better off without him. I believe he can. Meesen is just embarrassingly below AFL standard and will be gone when his contract expires without any hullaballoo. Davis could come in and negatively influence those around him.

I've enjoyed your little series of polls on this, High Tower. Nice work. As you mentioned, its really quite difficult to give the full picture, as we're going to have another significant change in the list for next year, but it's a fun exercise anyway. Obviously Bruce would be ahead of the Chris Johnson for a starting spot, but his versatility has hurt him in this sort of poll. Apart from that, its a decent list. Like many others around here, I'm looking forward to seeing our list once the trading period and drafts are over. Exciting times ahead.

Yep. I'm sometimes surprised at the anger directed towards Carlton for their 'tanking' last season and perhaps before. Hannabal's quote pretty much sums it up for me. The Carlton players weren't going out there to lose last year, they are just that inept. Its been shown again this season that despite the addition of Judd and about one injury for the entire season, that they are a subpar team. Carlton successfully 'list managed' in order to get their desired result. Fevola was rested for the Round 14 game against Melbourne, etc. I don't have a problem with it. It's smart list management. If your team's hopes of reaching the finals are shot, why have players running out there who would benefit from going under the knife or resting? We're seeing it at Melbourne this year too. Tanking to me implies that the players are laying down. I don't see that here. As long as we have a draft system that rewards finishing lower, we will see teams out of contention wanting to plan for the future, not just in our game but in sports across the globe.

Let's get out of this wretched mess of a season with 4 wins, a priority pick at the start of the second round, and the boys looking like they've grasped the gameplan. Hopefully a number of our youngsters (Morton, Wonaeamirri, M Warnock, Garland, Martin) will have benefitted greatly from their AFL exposure this year and can make further contribution in 2009. Just two more wins, thanks. Not fussed about the final ladder position.

I've foolishly tipped the Eagles. Is it Braun's farewell game this week? If that's the case, surely they can't put in another disgracefully flacid performance.

Freak, who named him in the best? He certainly didn't have his usual impact.

Good times. Don't underestimate the importance of defensive skills and mindset. No team wins a premiership or any sporting championship for that matter without excelling defensively. It's often a trademark of very good teams that they're able to make their opposition look poor through the pressure and blanketing applied rather than their own attacking brilliance. Dunn's game will benefit greatly by applying a defensive approach to it. As long as it's not countered by offensive ineptitude then I'm all for it. His tagging roles have really added something to the team the last few weeks.

Max Hudghton - Achy Breaky Heart (Billy Ray Cyrus) Kane Johnson - Yellow (Coldplay)

Wonaeamirri has been one of a few brights spots starting to emerge out of the sludge pit that has been 2008. He isn't close to Palmer for the Rising Star at this stage though. Nobody is. There's a bit to like about Aussie however. He seems to put himself in the right spaces at the fall of the ball inside 50, which has been lacking since the Wizard's departure.

Good to see we're serious about that number one pick this year.

I think we'll avoid the spoon courtesy of West Coast's simply rancid football. Freo have been at least competitive for most of the year. Sunday marked at least the fifth time they've lost in single digits this season. I think we'll finish 15th, with the Eagles taking home the Nui Cup.

I've always felt Davey was seriously overrated by our own fans and the broader football public. He has serious deficiencies with his marking, and his goals per game average is nothing to write home about, but his importance to the side is greater than that. If he's used in the forwardline, where its painfully obvious he belongs, his speed is a vital part of the very forwardline Bailey is trying to create. Our forwards need to be chasing their opponents, and for years Davey has been left with the task of singlehandedly trying to round up three or four opponents his teammates couldn't be bothered chasing. Davey will be an important part of Bailey's future side.

Good times. If this only convinces ten families to come along to the game who otherwise wouldn't have bothered, then its been a great thing.

Robbo's not playing well, no question. Some of his efforts today were infuriating. Is it a coincidence though, that his careerworst form has come with a new coach, whose gameplan ensures that the ball trickles into the forwardline like molasses? Good luck being a key forward in this team. You can hardly fault a guy who has built a 12-year career on leading, marking and scoring and is now asked in the twilight of his career to change completely from a scorer to a defensive hound.

It is a sad, sad time we live in when we have to preface thoughts of beating Carlton with "this is not a joke". Sadly, we are at a low not seen for some time, and Carlton are little better if at all. A win is not out of the question, but neither is the receiving of a pants-down hiding.

No, but it does include fleas.

I might as well add my recollections here. On Bassett, he was indeed traded for Brent Williams and Matthew Collins. Bassett wanted a return to SA and the other two wanted to go home to Victoria. In which case, a trade of Miller and Petterd for Jonathan Brown should work!

I can't recall exactly. There was an extremely costly loss towards the end of 2004 agains Sydney at the Dome. I don't think we had a whole lot o the board at 1/4 time that night from memory.

I seem to remember Tim Boyle saying that he'd prefer to particpate in the Grand Final pre-game entertainment than play in an AFL premiership side.

Everyone's a winner! (Maybe not Staker though) Hall gets a virtually irrelevant suspension due to his injury, and the AFL now has evidence of coming down hard on Sydney next time the media/supporters are up in arms after Goodes is let off for stomping on an opponent's temple.