whelan45

Threw the bait out and you snagged a few

I initially worried about this myself, however I think Garland is showing that despite his physical appearance, he is up to the task on these type of forwards. He actually plays them extremely well. Rivers is great in the Maxwell role, defiantly best 22. I think the fact we have Martin as the back-up ruck gives us terrific flexibility as he is able to go down back and play on a gorilla if they are showing they are too big for the other boys.

If Melbourne are looking to move a player like Bate or Dunn at the end of the year, I doubt they are going to be after a player in return. We are going to have a hard enough time as it is deciding on which players to cut from the list, so a trade for a draft pick makes a lot of sense. It is a very realistic possibility another club will like the idea of downgrading a 2nd round pick, 3rd round pick, whatever it may be to aquire one of these players. Nobody is suggesting we trade a player like McNamara or Newton in a deal like this. But players of the Bate and Dunn ilk would be considered worthy by some clubs of downgrading a pick for. It would be fantastic if we could keep players such as Bate and Dunn forever as depth, however we are required to turnover at least 3 players every year. So trading depth players, particularly those that have been on the list for quite a number of years, for a draft pick, even just an upgrade of a pick, is a smart move.

Bennell is extremely clean below his knees too, particularly in the wet. I think he has performed quite well in the defensive rolls he has been given this year

You're basing the fact he is gone on body language, really?

I wasn't happy that we didn't man Norths loose man in defence up. Instead we put our own loose man in defense. This occurred after quarter time, clearly didnt work, contributed to the game being played on Norths terms, yet wasnt addressed. Why play Watts in an unfamiliar role as loose man in defense instead of using him up forward to make Norths loose man accountable?

I reckon McDonald is a smokey if Martin doesn't get up. Probably before Gawn.

Are you kidding me!?? The end result was Dangerfield hitting his head on the ground, hence high conduct, WHICH IS WHAT THE INITIAL CHARGE WAS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! Tribunal system is a joke. 3 weeks for a tackle that happens on multiple occasions every singe game. Find it hard to believe. BTW, with the questions and rebuttles this Tinney bloke is putting forward, has he got any feel for the game at all?

What happened to James Strauss? Didn't play on the weekend and not on injury list?

Oh boy, that was the worst decision I have ever seen! It wasn't even a judgement call, it was just blatantly wrong! Not blaming the decision on us losing, but definatly the worst decision I have seen in my 23 years on Earth, nothing else comes close!

I think any player that pulls the jumper on and gives 100% is a long way from an embarrassment to the MFC. I'm far more embarrassed by your comments than I am about Newton. Rubbish players we hold onto year after year after year.... Not happy with the turnover of players in the last 3 years mate?? Or should we have got rid of them all in the year after Daniher and replaced them all from the one draft with some brilliant picks after 60 in the draft?

I do agree that short players have it against them to make it at AFL level. However you have chosen a horrible choice as an example. Brent Harvey is by no means overrated. He was good this year, but for about 4 years prior to that he was a star, North would have been half the side they were if it wasn't for him.

This^^ So often does not get thought about I think when supporters especially want to clean out the list. Only works if you have a bunch of early picks which the Hawks don't. If Dowler is around come the rookie draft I'm interested. Purely because he was a gun at junior level, there may still be a chance he can produce at the top level. Slot of tall forwards left at that stage realistically probably don't have that potential.

Hoping we pick up Beau Dowler. Will most probably be delisted by the Hawks, so could get him for a very late pick I would say. Found it difficult to break into Hawks side due to rough and buddy. Hawks tried him down back, but he is a natural forward. Finished the year with no confidence and in the Box Hill ressies. When given a game at AFL level he has actually looked all right. Hawks supporters I know are not happy with their clubs ability to develop players, and recent history suggests their fringe players have done well at new clubs (Kennedy and Mcglynn). Was an absolute star throughout his juniour days and highly rated in his draft year. I think it's worth a punt, we don't lose much if he doesn't make it, but potentially could gain alot if he lives up to his potential.

Haven't had much time to keep up to date with all this, but if we are keen on him, are we able to do what Freo has done with the Suns (for another VFL player) and get the Suns to nominate him and then on trade him to us with a swap of late picks involved? He looks a likely type and just by going off his highlights and profile, could be worth a shot I think. Seems to fill the exact need we have

I dont't think the game these days allows you to have someone on the ground, anywhere, who cannot put pressure on without the ball. Even with crumbers, you need to be able to compete, create space for the crumbers. Hale just doesn't do this and hence I don't think it is worth us chasing and giving up assets to aquire him. I'm not even convinced he's better than Paul Johnson. PJ is no world beater but when given a consistent run of games he shows that he can hold his own.

David Hale is completely and utterly rubbish as soon as the ball hits the ground in the forward line, you're virtually playing a man down. I have a die hard north supporter as a mate n he is over the moon Hale asked for a trade! We don't want him

It's probably a heart rate monitor

Completely agree, Bruce in one on one contests is excellent. He uses his body and thinks his way through it to great effect. In regards to Cale I can't see him becoming a permanent CHF but someone who will play that role in some games due to match ups

he is 185cm so I don't think he will end up a ruckmen at AFL level. The league he is currently playing in allows him to use his incredible leap to compete in the ruck

I'm hoping we go Black at 11 over Talia. I've only seen highlights of the two but I get the feeling people rave on about Talia been the next Hurley who can play forward as well as back. He may have a bit of ability to play forward but due to Hurley's success, people automatically say Talia will be the same. I'm keen on a key forward and by the sounds of things Black looks like he could team well with Watts up forward. Gawn at 18 is a very interesting prospect by the looks of it. His highlights show that he looks like he is quite mobile with a terrific set of hands. However I didn't think it really looked like he towered above everyone else considering he is 207cm which I thought was odd

wow, just watched the highlights and he looks nothing like 207cm, he looks way smaller! Gotta say though some very impressive highlights

Will SEN be covering it live?

Could you change the thread title? You say it as if it is confirmed or there are strong rumours about it. Instead its just your own opinion on what could possibly happen

So the point of this post was so you could say it first?