Embrace mediocrity ???

And we are clowns????

Should listen to what youre saying...

Just so i know were on the same page can you tell me how Acland plays??

His strengths and weaknesses...

Lets put what you want to embrace to the test.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

There are some simple realities that need to be faced:

We needed a new and experienced ruckman, and recruiting Leuenberger was not going to solve our ruck problem in the short term.

Ackland had to make a decision whether to stay at St Kilda, so we had to decide whether to commit to him.

Ackland seems to be the best offering for the pre-season draft.

While I'm not jumping for joy over Ackland's recruitment, I'm not that disappointed, as he is probably the best result from the pre-season draft a club could hope for.

St Kilda are clearly disappointed to lose the player, and I'm prepared to give Ackland a go, as Thomas was notorious for his disregard of ruckmen.

Ackland will be 25 next season, which is about the age ruckmen mature. Combine that with a club which respects the need for a ruckman, and we might find Ackland's a better pick-up than we first believe.



PS: I don't see how this now guarantees we won't select Leuenberger in the National Draft, as I wouldn't expect a young ruck prospect like him to be a leading light in the following division for at least three years. We'll probably take Gibbs, but recruiting Ackland doesn't impact on our draft decisions this year.

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

But the same could have been said about Dylan Mclaren last year..

And the year before that Knobel...

From year to year we go out looking for a ruckman and none of them are any good so we go out again... and again...

who is it next year????Blake????

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

196cm

Did anyone see what Sandilands did to White?


Aren't we trying to build the best team?

or are we simply trying to be competitive?


yipeeeeeee


we're so competitive!


yipeeeeee

who needs to be the best



yipeeeeeee

we're so competitive!

Give me a yip

give me a yips

give me a @#$%&! yipes!


no really I was praying we'd bag a 196 ruckman

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Id rather develop what we have as best we can and draft a midfielder...

Boy Pagan has no clue about ruckmen...

And Sticks helped to get him over the line?????


"300k and a 3 year contract.. what do you think.. will you come .... pleaseeeeeeeeeee???"

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Not half as sorry as I feel for you guys, I suspect.

The enthusiasm around this forum for your chances in the immediate future is not exactly overwhelming or awe inspiring.

But it is good reading, all the same.

garth... youre closer to your next wooden spoon than your next premiership...

but thats nothing new....

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Could say the same about St Kilda. Opportunity lost, another year closer to Carlton reaching the finals. Scary thought for Saints fans after rubbing it in for the past five years, you may actually have nothing other than a Pre-Season cup to show for your efforts at the top. Oh that's right, we won a pre-season cup as well

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

Your guy who does the draw slipped up this year. We get to play you twice in 2007. First time in about 5 years.

Now that's a positive.

For the Saints.

The problem with Cain is that he always jumps too early. To avoid any contest, I presume.

Guess that is what he has done again.

Good luck.

Ill look forward to playing you twice too.

The problem with Gardiner is he cant jump.....

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

At 200cm, he doesn't need to. To beat Akkers that is.

...run or kick. Another patient for 'Player Services'

"Nuuuuurse!!"

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end of message

Who was Saints ruck coach while Ackland was there?

I'm not in raptures about getting Ackalnd but I reckon where streets ahead of having Gardiner - now their No 1 option and better than Knoebel.

Anyone who thinks a kid can be drafted to slot into senior rucking first up is kidding themselves. Sure draft some rookie ruckmen and bring them through, but let's be serious, Ackland is a better option than Gardiner, Bryan, Knoebel, McLaren, DeLuca and Batson.

Sure I'd like a Sandilands or Cox but what are the chances of them walking in off the street. Both have been brought through the ranks. I haven't read that we've dismissed that option upon signing Ackland.

At least he's got more agro the the accountant.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

I had a dog named Garth but he kept getting out and I had to put him down.

True story

I went to school with a Garth.


He was a wanker. True story.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

There were other options than Ackland......Ackland cant compete at that size as a ruckman thats the reality of it....as for agro...he is soft and doesnt like body contact..and had a lousy attitude when he was at Port.
I'd rather ruck a kid like Renouf or go with a player like Griffiths from East Freo..209cm........
Mclaren is a better ruckman than Ackland and he cant compete with these bigger ruckman.....it was a ludicrous decision to recruit Ackland..
Why not try and get the right type of player for the job rather than this patch and repair stuff we always end up doing...

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Oh sorry, it was Garth - I thought you said Gareth

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end of message

All this crap, what else is in the the pre season draft.

Are we being led to accept that no choice is better than Cain

Come on guys, it is time you started wearing boxing gloves to bed.

let's get excited

Garth was the name of my next door neighbour. Unfortunately his bed wetting problem followed him into his 20's. I think he followed St. Kilda. too


True Story.

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Ich bein ein Carltonian