Earl Hood

Actually I think if we had nailed the first rounders between 2007, 08, 09, we would be better but still off the pace compared to the Dawks. I don't think the talent was there, at least amongst those who were perceived to be top10. We should have drafted Hurley or Nic Nat, then Dusty, guys like Fyfe and Shuey were not so highly regarded. We would have needed to pick the eyes out of those drafts, first and second round picks and so pick up the likes of Fyfe, Shuey, Selwood, etc, etc and we may be competitive today with the Dawks. My point is they got fortunate to have a chump like Freemantle to get Hodge and to have Mitchell sitting under their nose at Box Hill, then to tank and go to the 2004 draft and have Roughy, Buddy and Lewis there to be picked. The 2003 draft was threadbare when we had the picks, it produced very little for everyone involved. From there they had the nucleus of what we see today. Priority picks in 2005 helped and then pulling out Cyril in 07 was icing on the cake. I have lays smelt a rat with Cyril's selection in 2007, spent time at Scotch College under some Hawks people and come draft time put in a shocker at the camp and several recruiters commented later on that he interviewed appallingly. I remember Matt Rendall saying he had obvious talent but he seemed too shy and just wanted to go home. Anyway they have three and I can't see hy they won't get four. It is usually injuries but these guys don't seem to get injuries. Full list to chose from for the second year running and we are talking about the oldest team in history for heavens sake.

Yes bizarre image. Not the place for a six day old.

Every commentator, coach, official and player, in other words every vested interest in the AFL has been saying all season how even it all is, any team can beat anyone at any time. Yes but somehow we keep seeing the same team smash their opponent in the GF year after year? It must be just a coincidence.

Gee it is embarrassing now, not even circle work intensity in a Grand Final! Great showpiece for the AFL.

Chip has played well but really the way the ball hasn't been delivered to Kennedy it doesn't surprise me.

Oh we had a 10 minute contest there in the third.

Shuey just blew any chance of a contest, oh now add Darling. Are the Dawks blessed?

The biggest news at half time is that Brad Miller and Pia have announced they are separating! That's how enthralling this game is.

We can't even get JKH into the sprint! There are a couple of cabbies in the final? What is going on?

Agree zoning works when you are on top, not when you have lost control of the midfield. You need plan B, man up and make every contest you can and make every tackle hurt. The Dawks backline has moved into a zone setup because there is zero pressure coming in to the Eagle forward line.

WC clearly out of their depth but oddly at 3.8 if they had kicked the ones they should have, they would be about 6.5 and still in the hunt. And I will say it again who is on Rioli???

Time for WC to knuckle a few Hawks!

Who is on Rioli?

The predicted swirly conditions with 30 km northerlies should upset Hawthorn's precision kicking The predicted 30 degree heat should favour the Weagles who are used to heat The Dawks have played one extra game and travelled twice interstate There are fitness questions about Gunston and Hodge When you factor all those variables into it my prediction is: The Hawks by 6 goals!!!

I got dragged off to the Grand Final parade by my Hawk supporting in laws today. I decided to wear my MFC cap and shirt in defiance and it paid off. Jesse Hogan was in the back of one of the first few cars as the Rising Star and stopped briefly next to me frantically waving and although he was talking to a child next to him in the car, he did a double take when he noticed the colours and gave me a wink and a thumbs up! The next car was a let down with only Clarko and Hodge on board and I lost interest from there.

At the moment as long as the AFL can use their secret formula for FA agency to overcompensate lowly clubs who lose good players to FA it is having a reduced effect on equalisation. They are using the FA compensation as replacement for the old priority pick to try and throw a lifeline to the battling clubs. But it is messy and the Commission is to blame and really they need a backbone.

Biff I must remind you that you are not to talk or even acknowledge BBO until his month's Demonland suspension is completed! Otherwise you risk suspension for consorting!

What I find astonishing is that Malcolm has to move slowly on climate change policy because he has done some deal with the Nationals who are determined to hold him to Tony's hard line position. Now Tony was an unthinking apologist for the coal and gas industry who were big donors to the Liberals. But the Nationals are representing farmers and farming communities, many of which are under seige from the coal seam gas cowboys. So what have the Nationals and the farming industry got to fear from sensible climate policies? Do they have a death wish? They want more droughts and floods for Queensland farms? Alternatively if they dont believe in climate change what do the Nationals lose if a Government brings in tighter rules on emissions? Not sure unless Every farmer is hellbent on land clearing or something?

Talking of bananas has anyone heard from Demonfrog lately? I depended on him for the latest update on the banana blight.

Howe a bit stiff to miss mark of the year but it was always going to go to the human highlight reel, Nic. Nat. But in pure athleticism, Howe got up there without assistance and from the side. Degree of difficulty quite high I thought.

Round 4 N Jones in the lead!!!

N Jones takes the lead after round1 with 3 votes!!

I think he was the sub a number of times in games, so his stats wouldn't be great.

He obviously knows where the goals are and moves very well. I think he will develop into a very smart half forward, part time midfielder.

I watched a bit of the VFL Grand Final and a Patrick Lawler playing for the losing side Box Hill took my eye. He is 22, he didn't rate in their best but he seemed to have clean hands and be quite elusive in traffic. Does anyone know more about him and if he would be worth a late pick?