The heart beats true

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-shock-as-hayden-ballantyne-joins-list-of-dockers-looking-elsewhere-20160812-gqr90i.html something is up at Freo. There was a few rumours floating around Perth earlier in the year about players being unhappy about favouritism. It seems like something has definitely changed the culture of the club. Fyfe and Sandilands are good, but they aren't that good that the rest of the team becomes completely incompetent.

You know what's great? We've got something everyone wants, it's very, very scarce - which means you're going to have to give up something equally remarkable to get it, and we are very, very happy to keep it. This is the 'downside' of great drafting. Well played MFC.

I'll take him in our best 22 over Jordie, Bail, Terlich and Riley. Sometimes drafting is just about improving the middle to bottom end of your best team. That's what this deal seems like for me. Don't understand all the hand wringing over this really. You guys could be accused of being overly 'negative'. Welcome Jake. Play well. Go Dees.

I played footy against his brother as a jnr and then with him for a little while when I was older. He really developed into a good player and was very hard at it. I like the look of his kid brother. I'd trade Bail for him. I don't see Bail's skill level improving and I don't see him winning enough inside ball. Caddy is a no brainer in that swap.

He looks a player to me. A mix of in and outside. I think he's at a perfect age for us to develop him with out new midfield. I do think he's 3-5 years off his best which is great if he gets there but he needs someone to show him the way. We really need an experienced midfielder that lifts the workload from day one. If we can get someone like that (Boak) and then Caddy and Viney I'm very happy. If it's 3 more young blokes I still have concerns that they don't have enough on field leaders in the middle.

Keep an eye out for the amount of times Bruce McAvaney calls someone with a 'good kick' that manages to miss the mark or even be turned over to the opposition. He does at least once a quarter. I think he likes the kicking action more than the result sometimes. I do think the AFL needs to get involved with the relationship between commentators and player managers. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Ditto with anyone that sits on a board. Pick a side and then be as good at it as you can be. It's why a lot of the best callers historically haven't been players. They understand their role and people trust them for it.