manny100

The dogs are a hard at it contested ball and spread system based team and it is working at both AFL and VFL level. No coincidence that Macca was at the Cats and the Bullies while they were developing. We have the hard at it contested ball winners and he (and other coaches) are teaching the insiders to spread, run and give off. Most insiders come out of TAC cup with little spread skills. We are likely at least a couple of seasons behind the dogs.

The AFL has a potential serious O H & S problem looming. With the bottom teams loaded with young 18, 19 year olds and injuries playing kids week in/week sometimes when they are not ready physically or mentally for the regular rigors sooner or later it may well come back to bite the AFL on the bottom. We were regularly resting tired players this season but we had the luxury of a reasonable year with injuries - the Lions, GC and Freo were crushed with injuries. The AFL has an obligation to ensure the kids are not pushed beyond their limits and may have to allow bottom clubs (who should have salary CAP room) an extra couple or more of spots on their lists to be filled by older players. Alternatively shorten the time games are played for, reduce the arena size and number of players etc, etc. So perhaps a few picks of players of players 21 or older before the National draft for the bottom teams already loaded with kids would be a better option. Maybe lucky to get a VB, Saad, Barlow or Adams etc.

For the sake of Queensland football the AFL should pull one out of left field - give the Lions a PP before the commencement of the pre season. This will prevent shad dealings to get O'Meara through to the Dons via the pre season draft or force the GC to take an inferior value pick. At the same time the Lions may be able to pick up an ok player.

Cam McCarthy will take a little bit off their CAP. Guess it means Freo will get him for a song. But in general other clubs will be feasting on GWS leftovers. Tomlinson will be highly sought after. Picking up 40 possessions in the 2's as a mid and he is a big body.

I think you have to delist/trade 5 players out and use a minimum 3 picks in the National draft. A club can redraft or rookie a delisted player. Dawes is reputedly on $500k a year. If he stays it will be reduced a fair bit. If he can get fit and injury free there would be some other clubs interested - so he will have some currency. Pederson will likely stay on a slightly reduced contract as well. Cannot see both staying as we have Frost and a couple of developing KFP's.

It was obvious in the first quarter we were very sloppy with the ball even though we were in front. I was worried at quarter time and completely over it by the end of the game. Just no fight in the team.

In an unusual step the AFL drug testers are testing the entire team. Evidently they are looking for balls. The coaching panel is confident there will be an all clear and no balls will be detected.

Do members just present/scan their card at the turnstyle to go through or do we have to line up at the ticket office show our card and get a paper ticket and then go to the turnstyle?????

Hunt deserves another game next week but Vince has been used through the midfield and half back so it is going to be a tough call.

Brayshaw passed the concussion test but he had a serious concussion pre season and his fitness suffered. He may miss/be managed to play at Casey where its less intense and he can build fitness and form. He was ok today.

Yes, but they already have quality tall forwards, would struggle to fit him in the CAP and would need to trade good players away to get picks to trade for Hogan. Cannot see WCE interested unless they are prepared to give up Kennedy which will not happen.

Hoges is contracted until end of season 2017. Would want Neale plus a top 5 pick plus a first rounder the next year - so good is Hoges. Freo is ageing and could be on the decline. Why would he leave a club on the rise if his pay is ok. Plus Freo have to fit McCarthy and Hooker if they go there in the CAP. Cannot see it happening.

We lost so it was crap. The positives were we showed a little heart, we matched North whose hard at it big bodied mids used to scare the crap out of ours - no longer, there are several players to fight there way into the team over the next week - 2 months - Trengove, Petracca (can take in turns with Hoges for the decoy role - only half joking), O Mac, Garlett, Dawes. Pederson is stuck in the revolving door with Frost and look to be joined by Dawes soon. ANB will surely eventually get back in if he keeps his form up.

The article was spot on. But it only takes a couple of 'special' players to change it. Players who demand nothing but 100% + from the group and peers gravitate to them. When Hodge, Lewis and Mitchel retire the Hawks will lose a lot more than talent and its hard to get those sorts of players, especially by trade as you just do no let them go!!! Who are our potential Hodges/Mitchell/Lewis/Selwood etc coming through???? Maybe Hogan, Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver?????? Of course it also depends on getting and keeping off field top notch.

Hogan has a big tank and some times gets a run in the midfield. He is clearly capable of playing a high half forward role if he is required to. Watts has been used as the quicker leading 3rd tall this season so far. We have some speed in Garlett, Kent, Lumamba and Kennedy is pretty fast. Also coming through the ranks are Hunt and Stretch who are both fairly quick. When we are playing well we move the ball quickly in any case. So I think Lethal probably did not do his home work before making those comments.

I guess he will be told not to put any weight on his knee until the scan results are in and they know the extent of the injury. It may not be as bad as we may think.

If we can keep the contested ball win rate up then Watts should be very dangerous up forward as a tall leading mobile forward. Cheers,M

Roos will get a great chance to look at the players in action without the distraction of coaching. Giving Goodey the job during the NAB should prove great for the team, Roos and Goodey. Cheers,M

Well done Taylor. Oliver looks the goods - and better!!

T Mc was pretty good without starring in the praccy. He did get caught a few times but that was the congested nature of the game - you had to be lightening quick to get a break. O Mc looks like he will develop ok - he needs about 5 kg. If he can eventually take a KPB it will free T Mc for an attacking sweeping back role, a wing or even 3rd mobile tall up forward. The story goes that Hogan was showed footage of the KPF prospects before the draft and his preferred was the Weed - whether that is a myth??

Really great summaries so I cannot add much. The game was very, very congested with lots of stoppages and contested ball. It was hard work in close and not a lot of time or space for 'pretty' skills. I guess that is the way Roos/Goodwin are wanting the team to play. Recruiting over the last couple of years suggests that also. Just as an aside the AFL Prospectus said that sheer numbers of possessions at junior levels mean little - its contested disposals that count. They cited Toumpass, Lucas and Morton as examples of players with high possessions but low contested possession count. Lesson learnt - pick up players like Viney, Brayshaw, Petracca and Oliver with early picks - so its been learnt. No one could have stopped the goals Hogan kicked. Harmes and Oliver looked good. Salem showed class and great disposal under pressure. O Mc looks like he will be good down the track. Weed also given time should be good. For perspective at this stage of Weeds career Hogan had already won a Casey B & F and goal kicking - so nocomparisons - take it easy on the Weed. He did take a pressure mark in the last Q and looks like he will be ok - just needs time.. If we can have some really good delivery forward Watts will provide plenty of headaches for the opposition as our 3rd tall. Plenty of hope in the offering. Wait and see how we go with the NAB Cup. We are definitely building a midfield that should take us places. Now lets get Hogan signed.

Plus Oliver is supposed to have way more break away pace than Parish. Parish should be good but I think Oliver will be better.

According to the AFL Prospectus Champion data players at TAC who do not win enough of there own ball tend not to make it at AFL despite their Junior Comp disposal numbers. They said Toumpas and Morton were relatively low 'win own ball' juniors despite high numbers. Our recruiters at the time were obviously not aware of this. Since those days its no coincidence that its largely been ball winners. Oliver is a ball winning beast. Evidently Parish can win his own ball as well. By reports Oliver has more pace than Parish and also more size.

The principles behind WADA apply to us all. If you use a tax agent to do your tax and they make errors whether intentionally or not you are liable for penalties no matter the trust you had in the tax agent etc. Its up to you to make sure what goes into your tax return (body) is legal. The only issue is that for us penalties are usually not backdated and the Taxman is far more ruthless than WADA.

When we obtained pick 3 we had full knowledge of all players available. We did not just hear about Oliver's great run in the last half of the season. The Bulldogs picked up McREA and Bont on the back of mid season onwards improvement. This is the time leaks start to appear. We will probably hear a little more tomorrow. The Dons will take whoever we pass on out of Oliver and Parish and likely take Francis as well. They desperately need mids and Francis is likely a play anywhere type. Still we cannot rule out Parish just yet.