Straight Sets Simon

That's what I was alluding to. It's refreshing in a way.

Hawthorn lost one of the best players ever to play the game to this same system and picked up Frawley, I know which one out of the two I'd prefer. The issues is more that players have elected to go there hence held a gun to their current clubs to get the trade done. However, this is not a new system as trading has been around for decades.

True. I'm very happy the Melbourne had picks 2 and 3 instead of 1 last year. The pressure to take certain players is enormous and in a lot of ways it is a lose-lose situation unless that player ends up being a super star.

Good list management. Hawthorn have basically built their current success around a couple of good drafts, just like Geelong did. The only difference is Hawthorn have probably been able to top up better.

I can see him going to Hawthorn, especially if they move Lake on and maybe a couple of other players.

You can still get those players if you have the first pick.

I cannot remember the last time a player requested a trade before the end of the season.

I think the best trick is using it well.

It will most likely go to Channel Ten as Foxtel are now a shareholder of them.

The AFL don't get it. They are busy trying to develop New Coke while other sports are simply getting the basics right.

No one will want to coach Bombers with WADA hanging over their head. If Essendon were smart they would have sacked Hird after the WADA appeal, irrespective of the result.

No one will want to coach Bombers with WADA hanging over their head. If Essendon were smart they would have sacked Hird after the WADA appeal, irrespective of the result.

What scares me most is how many players who we would like to go are contracted to for next year.

Fact or opinion?

I think he just stuffed up.

I think it was our first goal so second quarter? It should be easy enough to find on the Smart Replay. EDIT: Found it here.

I loved Hogan in the middle, that move highlighted his class and I thought Grimes was excellent when he came on. Still not sure why he was the sub in the first place but the most composed I'd seen him for a while.

I don't think this game was lost by Roos. This game was all about effort which we saw in the third quarter (after a Roos spray) but the players just couldn't get up for it the rest of the time.

The Bulldogs have nailed a few drafts in recent years too, I think I've undervalued the importance of the draft in recent years but seeing Melbourne and Carlton stagnate while other teams flourish is further proof of its importance. Mind you, how Jarrad Grant still gets a game is beyond me.

I wish I was drunk, just angry.

The two free kicks where the Bulldogs player ducked into Lumumba were incorrect.

I hope it's because they got sick from the previous week, otherwise it is a worry.

That pretty much sums it up. The funniest free kick was the one to Garlett I think it was who got a player holding the ball, everyone stopped and about three seconds later the umpire realised it was a free kick and then decided to blow the whistle. How that can happen in professional sports is beyond me.

I wrote it half time after McDonald had a few blunders, see revised changes down the bottom.

Did he actually say that?