Yelling at clouds... I get it...I'm out of touch.

Yeah and since 2007, Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney have won 8 of the 11 flags on offer. Similar sort of ratio. Nothing has changed except under this type of socialist run AFL comp. some clubs have benefited and many more won't as there are now 18 teams in the comp.

The basic point I have is I have no faith in the draft equaling up the system. Get rid of the draft or modify it. It is a lottery as we are recruiting young kids. In the American system under college football they get recruited at 23 or whatever so you have a better way of analysing the worth of the recruits & even then they can get it wrong. We are recruiting 18 year olds. Not enough data.

Good on you BondiBlue! Good to see we have some common ground.

I sometimes think what if we had Judd and Kennedy...and instead gave them picks 3, 20, 34, 45 or whatever it was.
or 4 picks over 2 years (a future pick eg if they did it then) but not Kennedy...could the outcome of 2010-13 been different.

All in all, I was glad the Blues got Judd. It was one silver lining and source of pride in the last 20 years.

THE JUDD TRADE IN 2007

* Carlton gave up Josh Kennedy and draft picks No.3 (Chris Masten) and No.20 (Tony Notte)

* West Coast traded Judd and pick No.46 (Dennis Armfield).

I have never liked free agency - I wonder if the introduction of it coincides with the stats above.

Seeing seasoned players going to premiership window clubs to chase a premiership will never see a fair comp.

Richmond now chasing Lynch??...

Go Blues

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

I agree 100%. Trading, free agency (as it stands) are not mechanisms that enhance an "equalised competition".

The Lynch trading thing is just another scenario...Hawthorn, Geelong etc will be the options.

Strong clubs can make a killing out of trading as players WANT to get there. Supply and demand.
What has Hawthorn given up to get Burgoyne, Lake and McEvoy?
What has Geelong given up to get Henderson and Tuohy?
Not much.

There are some interesting articles on the trade of Brian Lake, which I always thought was very fishy.
So Hawthorn get..................a player who covers their one weakness in 2012. A reliable key defender (the one missing jigsaw piece) who effectively wins them the 2013 premiership and
Bulldogs get ..................... pick 21 & 43...two gamble picks.

Doesn't seem equal to me, but according to Lake breaking his contract with the Bulldogs was justified. He was just trying to get to a club that could win a flag. Otherwise he was being "held to ransom" by the Bulldogs. Thanks Free Agency!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-03/f ... -to-ransom


http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl ... 72f56f62ab

Free agency is players driven (PA) and not from the AFL.

As for Brian Lake trade you think 2 picks (21 & 43) for a 30yr old is under value?? You serious?

Brian Lake - arguably the best full back from 2000-2015 in the league was effectively traded for Nathan Hrovat? who is Hrovat? ...pick 21 & played 30 average games for the Bulldogs. The trade benefited Hawthorn by a long, long way. It was a killing.


Your post indicates to me you have a lot of faith in the draft mechanism. I have NO faith in the draft. I think it is a large gamble.
Recruiting Lake was no real gamble for Hawthorn- he was a proven star defender. All-Australian x ??. He played in 3 consecutive premierships for Hawthorn and was a key factor in them getting over Fremantle in 2013. Would they have won 2013 without Lake? Interesting question. People go on about his injuries...the year prior he was killing it.

I am sorry, but I don't have any faith in the draft. Everyone seems to think...ooh, pick 10..you can't go wrong, but it is a gamble. All of it is a gamble in the draft as they are only 18 years of age. Change the draft, modify it or delete it. eg one option is to have a draft for only 20 years or older. SANFL, VFL, WAFL should be more of a recruiting zone. It isn't working the present system.

I think we got judd at the right time but allowed some tryers to stay on the list too long. We assumed we were good enough and needed to be ruthless.



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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

The draft is definitely a gamble if you dont have a decent recruiter who does his homework. Otherwise it can be an educated decision, but of course there are risks involved and you dont always get them right.

Matthew Scarlett.

I think I'd rather gamble in the draft than trade any more picks for players off GWS's "almost but not quite" list.

I want to trade plowman while he still has value,for me he just another slow backman which we dont need.Icannot think of a game where he stood out and just flys under the radar while jones/weitering take the heat.What is everyone else thoughts about L P.

I think he's probably been our most effective defender this year.
Not the answer you wanted?

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Would not be trading Lochie P.

Plowman is not the issue on our list.

He most certainly is one of the issues, too small and weak to be a key back, too slow and cumbersome to play on smalls.
If he is carrying an injury he gets a pass but if he is fully fit then the game has past him by.
A shame because he looked very good in the St.Kilda JLT game, but since then he's been disgusting.

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"Then joked and said he (Jack himself) probably wouldn't even need to play until round 2 against Collingwood."

Jack Darling.
1st in the AFL for contested marks
3rd in the AFL for goals
3rd in the AFL for marks inside 50

Averaging 16 disposals, 3 goals per game, over 7.6 marks per game against the other teams this year.
Against Carlton, 8 possessions, no goals. Who was his main opponent? Plowman.

Disgusting this year? You're dreaming.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Plowman is the 3rd defender.

Some think he's selected as the No 1 defender because he is.
It is NOT the case.
Injuries to Marchbank, Silvagni, Rowe and question marks on form of Jones and Weiters forced Bolts to play him as our Key defender.

Pity for his reputation (with some) he's had to play out of position.

He can run. Always could. Superb athlete.
He can play wing.
He could probably become an accomplished mid too.
I salivate thinking of him and Cripps in the guts inflicting pain.

He has a good footy brain and a leader of the club.

Perception is reality.

Wait till we get all our injured back and he plays his 'normal'/ 'earmarked' role.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Hey Smithy I love your passion, but stop the Carlton bashing mate.
You are starting to sound like a Carlton enemy TBH.
The media really make me angry when they don't consider our plight fairly: youth and injuries.
You are sounding like them. Don't let the media brain wash you. They need a wash.

A lot hasn't gone our way since the JLT. You would know that.
Plowman was one of the main reasons we did so well in the JLT, with his team mates injury free, standing up and playing a role.

Watch out when the boys have close to full list and they click...as they did in the JLT... and, be fair.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That isn't the only example this year BV.
Plow plays 3 roles: minds his man, zone defence and leadership.
Tough gig for a young man.


Plow has 10 years ahead of him.
Who the @#$%&! do we want from StKilda for him? Carlisle?
Nah. I'd rather stick with Plow.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue