Diamond_Jim

Had a good game against Carlton (16th) but his previous games were very forgettable. Interesting to see that he had a low conversion rate by comparison to 2018 and 2017. 18 g 15 b A major reason why we had the season we did. Understatement to say that he needs to kick 40 if we are going to do well.

Agree... but seemed to little attempt to build their skills by encouraging an open game plan for example. I enjoy the Casey games for a day out but not many players have come out of that team.

Was hoping to see a negotiated retirement on medical grounds but not so. Probably the same for KK. Anyway let's see what 2020 brings for them both but surely if they don't get on the park that's it.

Watched him many times at close quarters at Casey. An infectious and enthusiastic young man who is obviously great to have around the club. He racks up big possession numbers at Casey in their midfield but like many at Casey he has not been tried in various specialist positions such as forward or as a lock down back etc. Much the same goes for Stretch. Makes me wonder about the development/experimental path at Casey. After Maynard's departure the only back up mids at Casey are JKH and Stretch. If the two first round draft picks are used to pick up mids then I think they are both gone. If as suggested we use one pick on a forward perhaps one of them stays. TBH both need to go to other clubs for better opportunities but it seems that time has passed them by.

Do MCC members get free entry to Docklands? I think not which drops the crowd by 7-8k. The other issue is that the second level which is the prime viewing area is reserved (read empty) seating. If we are performing I will go along but it is a rather soulless venue. Presumably we will also be there against it's tenants for their home games if we have them...Essendon, Carlton Saints and Footscray

Demonland aka One who is never afraid to ask the hard question. If only one of our many former Jacks was available.......

Not so sure. Tigers need to move. Punt Road just has no room for expansion. (2 ovals plus an indoor hangar type facility are the new standard.) Carlton ...not sure but expansion into Princes Park would be a mammoth battle. Collingwood already making noises about moving. Whittlesea-Epping area is my guess but don't count out Yarra Bend Park if they are willing to allow public access to the training ovals.

Suspect you are right. Remind me was the Brownlow considered part of the "medals" etc that the WADA rules required be stripped from a guilty player or was it just an internal recognition award.

This has been a growing mantra but let's remember he was played exclusively as a backman at VFL level and he was only tried forward for a few games at AFL level because both MacDonald and Weid were absent. Might work but it's no guarantee by any measure.

Tempting to say that he suffers from MFCFS (MFC Fringe Syndrome) in that he is too good for VFL but can't make it at AFL level but it's not that simple. Preuss is an old style ruckman in a world that doesn't value that style of play. Not sure that it will change.

how odd . I had not seen this but I ranked us at C+ as well. Simply put we overpaid in every trade. If they come off great. We also continually undervalued our second round pick. At 21/22 it was almost a first rounder. Most of us agree with the risk because let's face it... we're desperate. Hell we had better nail those draft picks.

nothing on Billy S or JFK Had hoped they would find new homes but perhaps some luck in the PSD (assuming we don't offer them a contract.)

Hawthorn has done it rather successfully and of course North like us are desperate for $$ GCS play in Cairns. Footscray play on Mars and others even play in China. It's the way. The trick is to make it work and Darwin just doesn't. That aside I really admire the Socceroos. Last Thursday they played on a cold wet night in Canberra and then last night they were playing in the humidity of Taiwan and of course many are back to Europe for games on the coming weekend.

The Free the Essendon 34 will be loving it https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/16/a-stitch-up-new-twist-in-essendon-supplements-saga-reported Pity the spin will hide the real story: “Thymosin Beta 4 was included on the 2010 prohibited list by Wada .... Thymosin Beta 4 has never been approved for human use. Whether a substance was on Asada’s former Check Your Substances tool has no bearing on its status as a prohibited substance on Wada’s prohibited list. “It is impossible to list every substance that may be used for performance enhancement in such a tool, particularly those not approved for use by humans.”

Have posted before the ditching of the Darwin game which I thoroughly support will almost certainly result in the loss of around 5k of memberships that would have been sold to the NT govt as part of the contra deal for their sponsorship. So we get both a revenue loss and a nominal membership drop. Pity about the abysmal 2019 on field performance. If we had made top 4 we would take it in our stride.

As long as we don't play the GWS cast off game again I'll be content. We've already done that a few times and it hasn't been a happy ending.

tin rattling and chook raffles are the usual ways for old clubs like ours

Might try and make the Alice game next year with a side trip to the Rock. Nice roadtrip via Broken Hill perhaps sampling the roadkill cuisine at the various truck stops.

are you suggesting our 8 for their second rounder and Gunston? Maybe

not for a first rounder...

we will get a pick (4th round) presumably in the Stretch trade and as I understand it the picks never run out... you just keep going through the order until al the clubs say "no more"

It was the sweetener to get North to bite. Imagine if we had given them 22. It will work out if we get two good players. Fingers crossed.

High price no matter how you spin it. Need to nail these two selections. Given our parlous position it's a worthwhile gamble.

One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.

Must admit in light of the Hogan trade last year 5 and 9 for a player who had played 6 odd games in two years does seem overs. The person I feel for is Daniher who obviously has some problems dealing with the mental pressure of football. (Not Robinson Crusoe in that.) This circus doesn't help him and most commentators agreed that a fresh start may be what he needed. So much for Essendon caring about player welfare.