Diamond_Jim

contrary to the collective wisdom on the Jake Lever where the "experts" kept telling everyone that a player beats a speculative draft pick any day of the week.

Fascinating .... wonder what is the driving force in the change

Seriously nice beach at Byron Bay One of the few northerly facing beaches in Australia. Noosa is another as is 1770 (but no surf there)

that deal will probably require us part paying his salary I suspect

Kardinia Park has a capacity of 34,000 persons. It effectively precludes any substantial attendance by opposing supporters. This will only get worse as it increasingly becomes a reserved seat stadium. Not sure why MFC supporters should continue to be the ones who are effectively locked out.

traditional in a game plan sense ... if any thing they are the Frankenstein of the traditional game plan with big forwards, running backs and a deep midfield. Again they will have good draft picks to top up the "machine" but has the game passed that model by? Sure they will win more than they lose and therefore give themselves a chance at the big one but statistically is it still the better style. Frankly I'm not sure .. thus the question.

Lot in what you say and obviously the MCG was a factor. Last year the Bulldogs played mainly outside Victoria in the finals and they just won those games. The Tigers on the other hand won by decent margins at the MCG. In truth given the relatively easy shots they missed in both games it is arguable that they should have won by 3-4 goals more. What I cannot understand is why both Adelaide and GWS gave up the corridor to the Tigers. Their hug the boundary line and kick to the big forward was slow and relatively easy to defend. Of course they had the contested marking talls but it seemed that when they didn't fire around the wing or thereabouts it was game over.

perhaps OD but as he will probably spend most of the year at Casey I cannot see him qualifying as a regular whipping boy. I was starting to think Lewis was making a late run for the role this season but I suspect his B&F position will keep the wolves away for the first half of the season at least.

perhaps we should move onto a flugel as distinct from a mere bugle .... far more in keeping with the blazer and handkerchiefed pocket look

Agree ... just a hypothetical that I am putting out there... let's say the pick is 46 (or whatever we have around that number). Personally I think Fritsch will go late second round but others think he could be top half of the third which is not too far from 46

but if Jack goes we will at the very least need a new whipping boy .... though somehow I think Tyson could firm for that position

That Watts for Tippet trade that everyone was lambasting earlier in the week is starting to look reasonable

If you have to chose between Balic and Fritsch which player would people favour?

Brilliant summary PSD .. it was the kind of discussion I was trying to initiate when I opened the thread about where the Tigers would end up next year. Both against GWS and Adelaide, Richmond denied them the corridor. Will be interesting to see how the classic clubs restructure to try and regain dominance. Why not come over to this thread to continue the discussion. http://demonland.com/forums/topic/42981-richmond-2018are-they-the-bullogs-of-2016/

read the post !! "he became a valuable cog in their Grand Final Team."

this is becoming more of a farce by the hour... why am I not surprised anymore by the MFC. By the way... anyone remember Woewodin who we traded to Collingwood and then part paid his salary while he became a valuable cog in their Grand Final Team. We are the team that keeps giving !! And yes... we were paying W way too much based on his Brownlow year in 2000

The original Oak Dairy milk bars (just outside Newcastle) used to make a fabulous milk shake. Can't say I like their chocolate milk these days .... way too sweet !! As my mate Andrea Bocelli used to say..... Time to say Good Bye !!!

How about .... " we rate Jack highly as a player but after discussions it may be best for him to look around. This being said both Jack and the club agree that if we cannot be adequately compensated for the services of a player whom this club regards as a significant contributor there will be no trade." The second sentence is the key and leaves room for bargaining as against hanging him and the club out to dry

not much choice after the way this game has been played. To say it was amateur is a gross understatement. Remind me never to ask the MFC list management team to negotiate on my behalf.

Interesting that people rate the Tigers so highly given that pre 2017 most pundits had them missing the 8 in 2017. They will have a harder draw in 2018 and other than Rioli there are no stand out youngsters coming through that I know of. An injury or drop in form to any one of their main 3 in Martin, Rance or Riewoldt will test them. 7-10 is my prediction. In my opening post I also raised the question of the way the game is going from a tactical sense. While it seems that the "pressure" game works well (best) in finals it is a very had game plan to maintain for a whole season. As MFC appears to be favouring the pressure plan it will be interesting.

It was obvious to many that the Bulldogs were a lucky winner of the 2016 GF and good luck to them. Are Richmond the same ... will they make the eight even in 2018. I'm not sure but my gut feel is that at the end of the home and away they will sit between 7 and 10 and that will be the end of their season. Will there be a new Richmond (MFC perhaps) or will traditional football (Adelaide, Geelong and GWS) re-impose their dominance. The only caveat I have is that whereas the Bulldogs rode their luck in the 2016 finals and had some close wins the Tigers were rather emphatic in their victories.

That is my concern as well. Next years first rounder could be used to trade for another player or go into the draft. Now we will have to rely upon picking up an unrestricted free agent (hard with salary cap restraints), trade a decent player (we don;t exactly have a surplus) or do nothing. Of course the pessimist in me says we will have a few first rounders next year when our full forward heads home !

Impey goes to Hawthorn for pick 33 and Freo are asking pick 27 for Balic !! Tell'em I know where to get a good deal on some jousting sticks !!

of the fringe players he is probably one of the best but will need to show something this season

and what coin do we have to trade with next year as Lewis Jones etc etc come to the end of their playing careers. Not as though we have a wealth of players we can offer up for trades