Diamond_Jim

Dare we admit it.... Nick..... At $250k per year with the Pies paying $1.25M per year for 10 years

If you're going to grow Ireland you probably need a feeder academy that identifies the talent by age 12. The kids can keep playing Gaelic football but use the off season to develop Australian Rules skills. Have no idea how you'd fund it or how you could get exclusivity. Probably too expensive for us but as a JV between the wealthier clubs (Pies and Eagles for example) it might work

I'd always thought that the Port Melbourne ground offered a good training site if you could get hold of the Australia Post site next door. Seems as though others had similar ideas and now it's a bunfight There have been growing tensions between footballers and cricketers over access to North Port Oval as the popularity of AFLW increases. Port Phillip Council was relying on the Australia Post site being converted to open space to relieve the pressure on the ground and keep both clubs happy. The site was earmarked in the Andrews government’s 2018 masterplan for Fishermans Bend to be open space – a document created in close consultation with Port Phillip Council. But Australia Post has confirmed to The Age it is in “fairly well progressed” sale discussions with the Victorian Department of Education, which is seeking to fulfil a funding commitment in the latest state budget for a new school in Fishermans Bend by 2026. The City of Port Phillip had responded by also putting in a bid to buy the site, Australia Post confirmed. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/school-or-sports-field-state-and-council-in-absurd-bidding-war-over-fishermans-bend-site-20230807-p5duhl.html

Natanui said to be contemplating retirement.... West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett won’t seek a contract extension beyond next year but expects Adam Simpson to remain as coach of the AFL club. The long-time Eagles boss also confirmed that cult figure Nic Naitanui could join veterans Shannon Hurn and Luke Shuey in retirement. The 33-year-old Naitanui, who is contracted for next season, has been sidelined for all of 2023 after managing just eight games last year. “I’m sure he’s weighing up his future as we speak because it’s a long, long journey back (from his achilles injury) and he knows that,” Nisbett told SEN Radio in Perth. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/ginnivan-in-again-magpies-lose-sidebottom-for-cats-game-because-of-foot-injury-20230809-p5dv42.html

If you thought the IOC are demanding... FIFA is at another level altogether FIFA must be licking its chops at the apparent success of the WWC. Their only problem is how to monetise it in the Middle East but I can see Northern Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia) getting a WWC in the not too distant future. Another four years of EPL and Champions League competition will see interest grow. Unfortunately I can't see the A League version cracking on but who knows. My final word on the subject... why we co-bid with NZ I'll never know...most of their crowds were abysmal

Allows time to decamp.. remember FIFA control all aspects of the stadium during the event (clean stadium) For example the caterers need time to pack up as does the media facility provider. These exist only for the tournament. The logistics are substantial. Just de trucking the Budweiser must take a day or two not to mention those USA jerseys !!

The available figures are very rubbery Essendon's facility at Tullamarine is quoted at $21M whereas Hawthorn's new facility at Dingley is quoted at $100M. $15M sounds reasonable compared to the Hawks contribution at perhaps $30M Jimmy S wiped out $5M of debt so hopefully over time we can find $15M

Weid's biggest problem even at VFL level was that he constantly got manhandled under the ball. No signs of that happening with Jefferson so far. As others have said he had a relatively quiet patch mid season but he's now displaying several games of reasonable promise. If the VFL comp can get it's act together he'll make pleasant Autumn watching

Second half of 2024 at the earliest assuming all goes well for say a run of three games. One of the problems at Casey this year is they have had too many tall forwards at times (T Mac, BBB, Grundy, Smith etc) which when combined with byes makes consistent development a challenge

Ah... the infamous TBC Worse than 4-6

Why not... I think every other player has been suggested

It's unpaid and would conflict him out of most jobs (including media) in football Leigh Matthews discussed on radio a few weeks back how he had been approached and what it would have meant for him at the time

Great to see Angus with support. I thought his game was one that provided a high percentage of our drive

I'm going for 6-8 weeks.... or simply TBC for the next week or two

Oh great... Hope 2nd spot is not still on the line on late Sunday afternoon

At junior level these guys star because there are few opponents who have the strength or ability to go one on one with them. They literally have the ball on a string. Different at AFL level. My guess is that midfielders give a little more indication of future ability simply because of midfield congestion. Seeing some potential draft picks at VFL level may change the dynamics. Personally I'd like to see the draft age moved to 20 and meanwhile they play in the VFL or similar

T Mac due back this week so he's in the medium term mix. Agree on Jefferson but in a break glass environment he's not that far off. If he was paired with Petty maybe but he and JVR... cannot see it

It's contract length more than dollars is my guess $425k approx x 3 would be sensible but someone will probably offer 4 years. Is he the answer.. Will leave to others

Hopefully the next 6 odd weeks don't resemble the Punic Wars

Interesting... the live ladder end of season projection flipped us from second to third at the last minute. Even with Lions at season's end but behind on %. Let's hope it's wrong

no... the one point win to the Lions is the best of both worlds for this week. Lions have a slightly harder run home than we do.. Hope springs etc PS... 8 points is stretching the equation but we're still ok

So you're trading Grundy because we may as well. Who is your forward... Smith or Schache ?

Grundy is a more than adequate ruck replacement but he's useless as a forward. Play to your overall strengths not necessarily individual strengths. Would you prefer Schache or Smith up forward... the cupboard is bare

Don't think the draw is our best result Tending towards a 20 point Freo win as my desired outcome

STOP that game Perfect result.... Lions by 1 point