Pinball Wizard

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According to this report in Footygoss, Lance Whitnall will be playing some games next month with Palmerston Magpies in the NTFL - http://www.footygoss.com/main/club_news/af...6_ntfl_winners/ "Palmerston have had a dreadful run in recent weeks and had to work hard to get over the top of the winless Wanderers. The Magpies have been further bouyed by the recruitment of fomer Carlton star, Lance Whitnall who will join his cousin in the Palmerston seniors for a couple of games in December. One against the rampaging Bombers." It should be an interesting sight to watch him running for the ball against sone of those superfast indigenous players.

Here's a link to bigfooty which contains clips of some of the more prominent draft pospects - http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=396659 Thanks to The Big Unit for putting in the work. I must say I like the look of Morton, Palmer and Cotchin. Can we have all 3 please?

Here's a link to the official TAC Cup stats for the final between Calder Cannons and Northern Knights - http://taccup.footballvictoria.com.au/defa...aspx?s=fixtures (go to the 3rd round of finals matches). Second Preliminary Final Northern Knights 15.7-97 def. by Calder Cannons 16.15-111 Northern Knights Goal Kickers: T. Bongetti 4, P. Veszpremi 3, M. Hurley 2, B. Meredith 2, J. Cachia, M. Kreuzer, N. Thomas, B. Power Best Players: B. Meredith, M. Kreuzer, L. Stanton, T. Hood, M. Hurley, B. Hanchette Calder Cannons Goal Kickers: S. McKernan 3, T. May 3, J. Melksam 2, D. Putt 2, M. Farmer 2, A. Kite, D. Daniher, C. Tsardakis, D. Joyce Best Players: T. German, J. Trengove, J. Polkinghorne, T. Dulic, T. May, J. Melksam Player Name No Gls Bhd B KE KIE HE HIE HR Tks FF FA HO CM UCM Dean Putt (HFF, I, RU) 34 2 1 0 4 5 4 1 2 1 0 2 4 2 Matt Kreuzer (RU, FP, I, VC) 1 1 0 2 9 6 6 3 5 2 1 0 20 0 10 Do you still think Putt killed Kreuzer in the final?

TAC Cup flicked from MCG in revamp The changes, which involve the Under 18 Championships being played over a longer period, are going to hurt those private school footballers who are bound to their schools for most of the footy season. Also looks as if the Under 18 comp is downgraded by being taken away from the G on grand final day.

Sampi has arrived, is sharing digs with the Flash and started training yesterday - DEES LOOK AT SAMPI "Sampi, discarded by the Eagles, has been given no guarantees of a berth on the Demons' list. However if he sheds weight and can hold up to the rigours of a personalised program, Sampi is sure to spark interest from not only the Demons. Richmond and Carlton will get a crack before Melbourne if the talented forward slips through to the pre-season draft."

No worries Diablo. I have a problem with this concept of best player avaialble though. Don't know what it really means in the context of the draft because every man and his dog has a different concept of what is the best player available. Certainly, many club recruiters differ in their opinions about players and Henderson is an interesting one for me. Both of the phantom list compilers referred to his likeness to Matthew Pavlich. I think I'd feel really sick if we passed on him in favour of a guy like Palmer who becomes your average midfielder or wants to go home in 2, 3 or 4 years anyway while Henderson becomes a Pavlich.

TAC Cup Expert - Brett Anderson's Top 10 from the same publication. 1. Carlton - Matthew Kreuzer The jewel in the crown of the 2007 draft. The Blues will put the icing on the cake of an outstanding off-season by selecting Kreuzer. A midfield consisting of Kreuzer, Judd, Stevens, Murphy and Gibbs will give opposition coaches nightmares. 2. Richmond Cale Morton The Tigers showed their hand when they traded for Eagle Mitch Morton. Morton’s brother Cale should also be donning the Yellow and Black in 2008. At 192cm and 80kg, Morton is the prototypical modern day footballer. He can run and jump, he has very good goal sense and can play virtually anywhere on the ground. 3. West Coast - Trent Cotchin The Eagles wont worry about the "go home factor" and will take the best available player in Cotchin. He is equally as gifted on either side of his body and will fit beautifully into the Eagles midfield. He could turn out to be the best player in the draft. 4. Melbourne - Rhys Palmer The Dees could go one of two ways. They could take Henderson to boost their key position stocks or they could add a quality runner to their young midfield. They will go with the latter. Palmer is a ball magnet and a running machine who looks a ready made player. 5. Western Bulldogs - Lachlan Henderson A real no-brainer of a pick. The Dogs are desperate for a quality key position player and will be overjoyed that Henderson is still there at Pick 5. He can play at either end but is most suited at Centre Half Forward. Some recruiters have likened him to Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich. 6. Essendon - Brad Ebert The Bombers midfield is low on depth and talent so to add a player of Ebert's quality will be a priority. Having played a fair amount of senior footy already, Ebert should be able to step straight in and take some of the heat off Stanton and Watson. 7. Fremantle - Chris Masten The Dockers lacked run in 2007 and with Peter Bell coming to end of his fine career, adding a top quality midfielder such as Masten will be a welcome boost for Mark Harvey' team. Being a local boy is a bonus as he has already tasted senior WAFL footy and was a standout at the U18 Nationals this year 8. Brisbane - Alex Rance The only area where the Lions are a bit light on is in defence. Rance is probably the best key defender in the draft and has the ability to win plenty of the footy. He enjoyed a great carnival for WA providing plenty of run and rebound out of the back half and is well suited to Brisbane style of play. 9. St Kilda - David Myers This pick could go anywhere. Speed, speed, speed is what the Saints need but there isn’t anyone good enough that type of pace to warrant pick 9, so the Saints will take the best available player in key defender David Myers. And the Saints aren' exactly flush with tall backmen. 10. Adelaide - Ben McEvoy The loss of ruckmen Ben Hudson and John Meesen during trade week means the Crows will be on the hunt for a long-term solution in the ruck. McEvoy is better suited as a key forward but he has shown the ability to also play in the ruck. He is very much a Josh Fraser-type with good skills and has a good footy brain who will be a 200+ game player in Adelaide.

INSIDE FOOTBALL has a special edition out this week with an excellent covereage of this month's draft. Here's INSIDE FOOTBALL'S TOP 10 1. Carlton - Matthew Kreuzer Ruckmen don’t come any better than this kid. 2. Richmond Trent Cotchin The Tigers cannot afford a speculative pick and this kid is a bulletproof selection. 3. West Coast - Cale Morton Unlikely to take a Victorian with this pick. Morton is a great athlete for his size. 4. Melbourne - Rhys Palmer The Demons are keen to inject class into their onball division. 5. Western Bulldogs - Lachlan Henderson Key position player likened to Pavlich. The Dogs need size! 6. Essendon - Chris Masten Has midfield speed and class. The Dons need that big time! 7. Fremantle - Alex Rance The Dockers need to develop a key defender. Rance is a local. 8. Brisbane - Brad Ebert A quality forward/onballer pumped up by Michael Voss. 9. St Kilda - Ben McEvoy The Saints need a quality "young" ruckman. 10. Adelaide - Jack Grimes Mid-sized player who could be groomed for half back.

Not I.

The player many judges believe to be the next best player outside the big three draft prospects in Kreuzer, Morton and Cotchin is Chris Masten who is built on the Ben Cousins model. I think it will be a close call for the Weagles between home grown Masten and Victorian Trent Cotchin - either way, we win a top footballer.

The real mediocrity is in the pathetic way you support your club. I'm not suggesting we should go around with rose coloured glasses but at least we should have an understanding of what the new regime is trying to achieve and that is a new positive era for the club. That can only be done with a change of attitude around the place and not the same sort of negativity that's held us back for decades. I suggest you read The Oracles report on Day Four of the Trading Chronicles in the Drafts and Trading Section.

If you think that then you don't have much of an understanding of how the Carlton Football Club works. They will make way somehow for at least another player today and they'll find a reasonably big fish in the PSD. I hope that we can do as well and pick up a player or two today and offload a couple of unwanted players from the list as well. Hopefully, there will also be something for us in the PSD.

break that gf record!!!

Greg Denham of The Australian discloses that Melbourne has held discussions with the Eagles in the hope that both clubs could come to a deal if Chris Judd nominates the club as a relocation option - DEMONS DRAFT BID IN JUDD BATTLE. "Melbourne has the fourth pick in the November national draft, behind the Blues (one and three) and Richmond (two). The Demons chairman, who was not part of Melbourne's presentation to Judd last Friday at the MCG, said he believed Judd had been impressed by the Demons' level of passion. Next month, Melbourne could be in a better position to satisfy the Eagles as it has several top players who could be traded to other clubs. Forward Russell Robertson, who is managed by Judd's agent Paul Connors, is out of contract and has attracted the interest of the Western Bulldogs, who have selection No5 in the draft. Melbourne has made it clear it will not budge on a two-year offer it made this month to Robertson, and the Bulldogs are tempting him with a three-year deal. Other players, including midfielder Travis Johnstone, could be off-loaded by new coach Dean Bailey and general manager of football operations Chris Connolly. Gardner confirmed Melbourne would consider any offers for players, including Johnstone."

The Bushies won and for WJ's benefit, here are their best players:- Hockey Boyle McEvoy Hebbard Barolli Martiniello

The boy Kreuzer's season is over. The Northern Knights lost today to the Calder Cannons at MC Labour Park. Murray Bushrangers leading North Ballarat early in second half. Does anyone know if the gf is being televised this year?

That's about as idiotic as it gets because you might as well delist him instead.

Last seen heading to the snow fields. We're a shoe in now!

Crows resigned to losing Hudson Question whether this will affect Robbo's mooted transfer to the Bulldogs?

The melbournefc.com.au site has confirmed that we are officially in the hunt for Chris Judd and that according to CEO Steve Harris "we have the strategic and financial means to make it happen." .

Murray Rance didn't play enough games with the Eagles to make his son eligible. We can take him if he's available and we want him.

Do they really need Schwab to help out? SCHWAB TO HELP DEES FIND A COACH It's probably a good move because it does cover the criticism that there was nobody on the panel with coaching experience but there's a solid amount of support for Connolly, at least in terms of those who are close to him. It's a pity the supporters don't think the same way because the poll on this site shows he has the support of 4 out of 136 people who have cast their votes. That makes him less popular than Johnny Howard ATM.

The man is still a registered AFL plyer but he has just delivered a massive slap in the face to AFL boss Demetriou who can't do a thing because he's talking the truth. KOUTA: GET DRAFT PICK RETIRED Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides wants to see the Blues to lose to Melbourne this week and secure the No. 1 draft pick.

Clint Bartram (knee) - season Matthew Bate (thigh) - test Daniel Bell (back) - test Cameron Bruce (hamstring) - test Aaron Davey (hamstring) - season James Frawley (ankle) - 1-2 weeks Ben Holland (shoulder) - season Brent Moloney (groin) - 1-2 weeks Ricky Petterd (lung) - season Jared Rivers (groin) - season Matthew Whelan (ankle) - season Adem Yze (hernia) - season No Neitz or Robertson - good to see they're fit!