Bluey's Dad

This. Maybe the pain we're feeling right now IS of change. We're so used to a [censored] weak administration cutting and running and looking for quick fixes, we're legitimately scared when they actually stick to their guns. The MFC is changing - by NOT changing.

Come on guys, we're better than this.

How does a team that is 'on the right track' lose by 186 points?

Yep, I'm with Telstra and was having issues before but today it's responding fine

Biffen. There is no other choice.

If you do take it down, don't use the standard "Server Maintenance" message. Go with something like "Mark Neeld's sacking has lead to a server crash," or maybe "We're rebuilding the server, expect delays of up to 5 or 6 years. Possibly longer if we have to rebuild the rebuild." Just for the funnies.

That's why we need to trade it for an a-grade midfielder. Even if we 'picked right', I have no faith in our ability to develop that pick.

I think in light of yesterday's loss we need to consider the very real possibility that we will finish last on the ladder this year. Surely the AFL would deem this a situation warranting a priority pick? I think they said they would now address it on a needs basis - well I think this demonstrates that we need it. Personally I think that the AFL is partially culpable for our current situation here. The bottom few teams were always going to be the worst effected by the compromised drafts by not being able to draft the best talent available - the franchise teams got dibs. Then free agency comes along. It's now apparent that that system also does not assist with poorer (financially and performing) clubs as free agents of high quality wouldn't want to come here. We've been hit very very hard with these AFL dictated changes at a time when we were already struggling. I doubt the AFL envisaged the franchise clubs using their mini-draft picks in the manner they did. They thought they would use them to trade in some experience, instead they used them the further compromise the draft by trading for picks instead. I think we need the pick and we need to trade it for a real A-grade midfielder. If we can convince one to come. This is not an 'entitlement' argument, nor is it an excuse for our poor performances and development. I simply think that all things considered and if we finish last on the ladder, we should get that priority pick.

"Once Jack Grimes returns to playing, both Nathan Jones and Colin Garland will resume their previous roles."

I think we've all been on this roller coaster far too long, waiting for it to stop the downward fall and start clicking back up the rise. Next time I'll ride the tea cups.

Sure thing. Demonlands DT Rookies League update: Leage Ave = 1819 League Ranking = 6788 2 team undefeated after 4 rounds: Viney's Vindicators / Jiagars Big props to Jiagers who is currently ranked 1,051 overall. On a personal note this is the toughest DT league I'm in this year, there are some very very solid teams in here. Then there's also Hardtacklers. I don't know WHAT that guy is thinking. edit: just realised he posted above me. Get on your bike mate you can still make finals!

I actually thought that one was pretty good.

BIFFEN?!?!

/all threads

Hardwick's comments sound very much like Neeld's last week: "If you take the third quarter out of the game, we lose by 11-points," he said. "The thing we have to get better at - and it goes with a young inexperienced side - is that when that does happen you need to be able to stop the run on and that is something we need to address. "For three quarters we were OK, but in that third quarter we let ourselves down badly."

Not at all. Show him a video of Buddy and tell him 'that could be you'.

I think it would be referring to attitude and mindset rather than strategy and tactics. Going in with a real belief that the game is winnable IS something you want every time.

Good, maybe if it's framed right we can get it done, Sheedy seems to have a massive ego and enjoys taking from the Dees. If he can be convinced the story will be 'Sheedy bags another Dees star', then maybe he'll take Jamar and we can get someone useful in return.

That article also states that GWS are on the look out for a 'big-name ruck option'. I wonder what they'd give for Jamar? Can you even trade in-contract players?

Indeed, for my use of an emo gif is surely the best evidence of my political stance.

Why? He'll get killed.

Interesting point. We implement a youth policy just as the game becomes more hostile to developing younger kids by gifting them games. So maybe the youth strategy we tried would have worked in the 90's, but the game changed and no one noticed until now? I'm trying to think of recent new AFL players that were a little older - Podsiadly, Dickson, Barlow, Zorko, Dwyer. Even Magner had immediate impact before his role was changed. The only young players from last year's draft to play up to AFL standard already are Viney and Wines - both regarded to already possess bodies older than their ages. O'Meara and Crouch both got great benefit from being at their clubs a full season ahead of their first AFL matches (as did Viney). Hell, Jones is 25 and Terlich is 23 and they both look the goods. Maybe those are the kinds of new players that thrive in this new 'established' environment, where blooding youth early results in lower confidence instead of better development. It's interesting that at the time, blooding Watts so early wasn't seen as a mistake. It's only now in hindsight that we see that it undermined his confidence. The comments from other coaches at the time (Voss and Malthouse I think?) were very positive towards our list, and no one was telling Bailey he was an idiot for giving early games to kids. Everyone assumed that this would work as it had in the past. Then the game changes and we didn't see it until it's too late. This is all supposition of course but I find it interesting regardless.