Diamond_Jim

Why don't Essendon play in Darwin ???

Because they have the third or fourth biggest following and Collingwood cannot be everywhere. We had three prime time evening slots in a row and stank on two of them. Guess who the public want to see.

didn't realise there was a second game on until you mentioned it. NM v Bombers is a snooze fest for me but I will watch the Eagles and Port. Hopefully Port puts up a decent show but I doubt it.

agree... but why do they constantly play him as an inside mid at VFL level if we are trying to develop the skills you mention. I know it builds up his tackling strength etc but perhaps it is time to .... Let Billy Run !!

he really has gone backwards from what we thought he could be in 2016.

Give the Pies their due... they have a plan B as well as a Plan A. Compare tonight to how they beat Richmond

no basis for saying it but I think you may get your wish on Anzac eve. Hopefully Spargo has a good game on Saturday and is then "rested" for JG. Same for Preuss and Keilty perhaps

So what has happened? Dropped again

dropped... listed as an emergency

What can one say except..... GO BEARS !!!

interesting outs and ins. Certainly not like for like.

well let's hope it's bruise free all round. Perhaps we will see Bradtke?

This guy is suggesting that you would need to pay the Swans with draft picks to take Buddy. Boy is he off the mark. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-toms-take-why-the-sydney-swans-and-lance-franklin-should-explore-a-trade/news-story/722955f723ec269ba3da0382e8cf6815 Mind you he does suggest Buddy would need to take a pay cut as part of the deal...(durrr.... why)

Out of curiosity ..what's your offer then At present the cost is around $1M for each of four years. Swans would trade him tomorrow at that price and probably throw in a second round draft pick.

Strange fixture.....men against boys... what can go wrong?

The no name brigade at Richmond are probably being paid unders. Could be worth a look to improve our bottom 6

Melbourne could certainly do with a wet week as could most of the country. ?

The 55k includes all the low revenue memberships including 3 game, interstate and children. Your idea is good but it probably needs closer to 75k to have an impact. As an example when as an AFL member I go to Essendon or Collingwood games at the MCG against a low draw club the AFL reserve is reduced dramatically to accommodate the season reserved seats of the home team. Against a high draw club it's fully ticketed so I don't often go to those. The cost of an Adelaide membership (no GF guarantee) with a reserved seat for 11 home games is $715. How does that compare with the MFC offering? https://www.crowsmembership.com.au/access-memberships-4

that's a good way to look at it. I suspect the figure would be at least $500k with the Swans paying the rest. The key is contract length which would make the deal difficult. On the best case scenario he has another two years after this one. At the right price Hawks might do it with the thought that they could use him for coterie activities etc in the outlier years.

Is that Bulldogs game on youtube? I would not mind watching it again. Friday night prime time with the Bulldogs given no chance against the unstoppable Bombers. A coaching masterpiece. In the history of football it was probably as important a game as the second half of the 1970 GF where Barassi gave the instruction at half time to handball at all costs.

thanks... that means he has five years to run including this one. On that scenario his 5 year renewal would have come at the end of 2018. Would have been interesting to see what he was offered assuming he was recontracted at years end. To make the original deal "work" they really need him to play this year and next.

Hi BAMF I really cannot see Buddy playing past 2020. That's why I did the comparison in the sense that a "reasonable club" would have offered him a five year deal and then the next would be a three. After that it would be year to year. No disrespect to Frost but if he can hold him to some cameos I'm sure that most backmen will do the same. His inability to train must also impact upon the team ethos

not that outrageous..let's say they had given him a five year deal which had run out at the end of 2017. They probably would have needed to pay him an extra $100k for each of those first five years. At the end of 2017 he would have commanded a three year deal at say $1.2M. Assuming he retires at the end of 2019 (big assumption) the difference is only around $1M. Not chicken feed but to get Buddy to Sydney it was well worth it.

that average is rather misleading when you consider that first year players earn under $70k plus match payments. On the other hand there are always 10 players at a club on or near $600k plus out of a salary cap of around $13M. I assume our ten are Lever, Gawn, May, Tom Mac, Oliver, Brayshaw,(?) Viney, Salem(?) Jones (?) Jetta(?) Would love to know the median pay level but I would expect for a fourth year player with fifty plus games that is best 22 without being top 10 at a club you are looking at around $450k. If he kicks 30-40 he will move into the top10 and will easily command $550k plus. Next year we will not have to pay Lewis but hopefully someone such as Petty puts his hand up for a decent pay rise.

it was a deal that on most people's estimation went beyond the length of his likely playing career. As it has turned out they didn't get it too far wrong but it was still an unusual deal.