Bombay Airconditioning

The Izzy Folau experiment went exactly as planned. No one seriously expected him to hang around for long. He was purely a marketing tool, surely you knew that. As for Scully, GWS have to pay overs to attract players. Scully spent two years with us and was predicted by many to be the next big thing. Let's be honest, when he left we thought that too. Two years on we are all wiser.

i understand what your saying but if someone in Sydney doesn't want to watch AFL, whether it's live on tv, live at a stadium or being played in their backyard they won't watch it. In Sydney every Swans and GWS game is on free to air. A lot of GWS games are on 7mate. Surely a company paying for their ad to be aired in a specified time slot would have access to the number of viewers expected, plus the possibility of paying less then you would if their ad was airing on channel 7. Then if the extra money made has to be automatically pumped back into the club to prop it up the AFL will forever be chasing their tale.If Tasmania were the 18th club with a 25 thousand seat stadium they would less of a burden to the AFL than GWS ever will.

Melbourne has just one NRL side because there is just enough interest to support it. The AFL should have done the same in Sydney. The Swans do well to draw the crowds they do but I would estimate that 30% of those people have little knowledge about the game, the players and see it more as day/night of socialising then actually watching the footy. The Tasmanian government was prepared to come on board as their major sponsor, plus giving them the luxury of their own boutique stadium they couldn't do any worse than GWS. The AFL rest with the knowledge even if they shaft Tassie it will always be an AFL state.

The rule needs to be changed, just hope the umps don't stuff it up.

I take your point mate.

as good a contested mark Cloke is we all know his sets shot are disgraceful. As far as what the paper says I don't GAF, but a couple of star players would be nice going into a final series.

Sorry, forgot Mitch.

I live in Sydney so don't get the HUN, out of interest who was GWS?? ... Shaw?In the "Improvers and Sliders" thread I was close to writing for Improvers, would love one of ours to become elite. As good as Jones is and no disrespect to him I can't see him in the same class as a Pendles. I think it will come in the form of Hogan, Viney, Tyson or Salem/Toumpas.

I think McDonald will be a key player for us over the next few years.

If we have a good run with injurys and the majority of players pull their collective heads out of....we can finish above the dogs, lions , giants and saints. Teams we may not finish about but should trouble when playing are overrated teams like Carlton and Richmond. I have stated in many previous posts on different threads, there is only so many ways to play the game. I don't buy into 2-3 years to learn a game plan. 2 -3 maybe to perfect it. Cross and Vince both would have seen 2-3 coaches before arriving at Melbourne, every coach brings new tactics but they are all slight variations of what players already know. We have recruited wisely and have a good mix of ages. I believe our backline has been reasonably strong but has been constantly bombarded. We still need some skill/speed of the other flank, many think Toumpas will grow into this role. By years end our forward should be the envy of most other teams. The team will take time to gel with new coach, players and LTI players coming back, but there's too much talent now on the list to remain crap.

If Jordie McKenzie is getting a regular game in 2014 we are still in the bottom 4.

Will be interesting to see what extent (if any) Chip chooses to play games with regards to his new contract.

Thanks DeeVoted, would love to join the rookie league. Been playing SC for years and will continue to do so. Was planing on playing DT this year as well so this works out well. Team name : (trying to think of one, will edit post when I have one, Cheers Al

I earn decent coin but $60 for a hat(which I wouldn't wear) and $80 for a training tee is over priced. Would they make more money overpricing their merchandise and selling less or make prices affordable to more people and sell more?

We have the forwards that will want the ball moved quickly. Look what Horse has done, there is still a defensive side to their game but they attack a lot more.Thanks for the reports.

In 2013 Jordie played 12 games. His tackling average was 4.2, (O'keefe 6.6, K Jack 6.4, J Kelly 7.6, Barlow 5.9, Priddis 6.1, T Liberatore 6.2) Not even close to good enough for someone who's primary role is a tagger. I can't see why he can't ave 2 tackles a qtr.Frees against 1.7 Surprisingly his disposal efficiency is at 70.5%. His handballs double his kicks so that probably accounts for high efficiency. Having said that he had 32 clangers in 12 games.....kicking? We know we can't fault his endeavour but let's be honest, if we delisted him last year who would of picked him up?

I wouldn't consider Flash a reject.

I thought part of the Roos philosophy was putting the onus on the players. We already know he may be with us for as little as two possibly three years. He is putting the building blocks in place then it's up to the players to enforce the culture and pass it onto new recruits at the club. Doesn't matter who's coaching, if the players aren't unified it's game over before it starts.

Was this the game that cost Grant Thomas his career?

Thats what I am hoping will happen. The "no records were kept" line is a blatant lie. Their other defence was along the lines of " our medical team gave it the ok". If Dr Reid was cleared how can this be the case? ASADA said it's not banned but WADA says otherwise, a professional organisation would check it out? If so confident every thing was above board why the self reporting?

2014 should see a change in both.

And we can afford to match any offers, the point is we need to be able to offer a chance at success as well.

During Roo's first press conference he spoke if putting the building blocks in place.Last year we had Jack Viney, a first year player addressing his teammates after a game saying "this is not bloody good enough". Freo offered Harry Taylor a truck load of cash, he stayed at Geelong for less(rumoured, I have no sources ). Because of past success and the chance of future success. If Hogan becomes what we all hope he will become our marquee player and every club can afford at least one. We need to offer more than that other wise if it's not Hogan it's Chip or Salem in a few years.

Rethinking that, we can match anything financially. As we know if Roos wasn't coach, Watts would have walked. I think we are all out of excuses as a club. Trengove is no longer captain, the bad eggs are gone, new coaching panel with proven success ect ect. We know Roos won't be around for ever, time for the players to stand up. Our best 22 uninjured on paper should be able to match it with at least 12 teams. As we know some players chase money, some success. Hopefully we can offer Hogan both.

We should be in a position to match anything they offer.