Plenty to be optimistic of mate. Add Cotchin, Gourdis and Rance. Pretty good draft.

Anywhere from 8th-16th I reckon.

Oh, I agree we did quite well in the draft, but you can't expect guys like Gourdis and Cotchin to come straight in to the team and make an immediate impact. The fact is, the guys we have who have a few seasons of AFL under their belt and should be coming into their prime are not good enough.

Sad to hear that Clinton Grybas died today. Did a bit of work with Fox Footy Channel and 3AW and was always good to listen to. He was found at his apartment and rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Not sure how he died, but apparently was from an accident at his home and I read somewhere that he may have fallen from a ladder but I don't know if that's true.

He was the best commentator on Fox Sports by a fair margin. RIP Clinton Grybas

yeh tragedy..... just the way he went, just shouldnt happen....

Apparently he hit his head while sleep walking

RIP Clinton Grybas.

Best commentator in the land. RIP Clinton.

Read that this morning. Very bizarre and apparently it wasn't the first time that he's done a similar thin when sleepwalkingas well as he's had a history of it.

Nathan Abblett retires at the age of 22.

He hasn't retired yet. So far he's just taking a year of AFL, not VFL or reserves. He might decide to come back and play next year for Geelong.

So that would mean he would have to be picked up in the draft again next year if they want him back? He'd still be under father-son rule though so wouldn't be much of a hassle I'd imagine.

^^No he's still on their list.

That is taking a big risk. He got a premieship though. He is off to Europe to earn 100k. lol, he might just be living the life.

Actually I think he might have been delisted, I'm not that sure now.

Well since nothing is going to happen for a while I think we should start talking about players who we think are going to have a breakout year. For Hawthorn, I think Travis Tuck is going to get much more game time this year and will be in the Hawthorn 22. He is probably the odd-one out in the Tuck family, probably due to the Ablett blood, because he has a fair bit of height and is more muscular then his brother and dad. Also Junior Rioli because he went to my school and my brother is friends with him.

From another club, Nathan Djerrkura, because he is a very fast midfielder who can evade almost anyone, but is crap at kicking for goal. Once when he was playing for Scotch, he literally danced around 3 opposition players, gave a quick one-two before taking a shot from about 40 out, and kicked it out on the full. He could become an elite player, and I'm hoping for it.

I just remembered that over the last 2 years my school, Scotch, has produced 4 AFL players, although one of them is a rookie. Junior Rioli, Nathan Djerrkura, Ed Barlow(Sydney) and Nick Smith(Sydney(rookie)). Also Campbell Brown went to Scotch. I know no-one cares but it's quite cool for a 15 year old.

nice idea mate.

well not from my club but i expect Bryce Gibbs to play much more game time in the midfeild and prove to the afl why he was the number 1 draft pick. he has genuine class and was thrown straight into the afl without playing any vfl all year. hopefully he becomes a key part in carltons midfeild in years to come

He is already been called a squib Milne was running at him and he took a side step.

Anyways for us Masten and Ebert sound AFL ready.

Trust me when I say this, Cyril Rioli will become Bruce Macavaney's favorite player. On Friday, Hawthorn had a training session at Dandenong. Apparently, him and Buddy were just strolling around kicking incredible goals, and just doing whatever the hell they wanted. He is going to be very, very "special". He once kicked a goal from 40, on the boundary, with his wrong foot while running at almost full pace while playing for Scotch.

How is Zac Dawson going? Hearing pretty impressive things about him.

Apparently he's bulked up quite a bit and had a good season last year in a disappointing Box Hill team. He might be pushing for senior selection this year.

Ah I see. Didnt he keep Hawkins quiet last season?

Once again Neitz has been given the Melbourne captaincy, even though he offered to step down. He is terrible. I don't understand how the club which has been going for longer then any other football club(all codes) has such a terrible player as it's leading goal kicker, most games played and longest time as captain. It's a fair disgrace.

Well anyway, only a moth to go until the NAB Cup.

he's been all australian a number of times and has had a few great seasons over the past few years despite having some poor ones.

you'e got no idea what you're on about.

And Melbourne aren't the oldest club of all codes, Sheffield FC are.

But compare him to other clubs leading goal kickers and games record holders. He is terrible compared to them. I guess I'm sort of bagging Melbourne also. Anyway, he's in his 30's, far from Melbourne best player and they need to rebuild. I just can't understand it.

My bad. I thought I read something that said that Melbourne was, but now I remember that it was Sheffield.

Only 20 days to go for the NAB Cup to start.

strange really, off season has come and gone really quickly this year

Thank god for that and our team has had no dramas off field yet.

Fev back with the leadership group announced yesteday.

good move me thinks. may straighten him out and make him less of a whinger

13 days to go. Freo-Carlton play next week yeh? Any coverage?

Where is it because if it is in Perth, then it will be on Fox Sports.

near perth....south africa

Oh...That will be a bit of a travel, but I'm guessing it'll be shown on Fox or really late at night on 7.

or just news highlights just like when they played in London.

Dont know yet aye, but I have heard Fox are going to cover it some days after the match on a late night.

My god this season is so open, there are about 6 sides who could win the flag! Cant wait!

Better inform the other ten teams that they can't win then I spose...

I guess I should.

But them teams are either in rebuilding or are just plain .......

wazza is havin a big off season

Eassam, if there are only six teams that can win it, then who are they?

It keeps getting worse and worse..

Geelong
Hawks
Collingwood
WCE
Sydney
Port

have a chance, but due to their past records are so-so:
St.Kilda
Freo
WB
Adelaide

The rest are in rebuilding mode.

You agree?

aussie_for_life- Wazza?

Yeah that's pretty much spot on for me.

Only 6 days to go now! Today Freo-Carlton play in SA but Fox Sports will show it on Wednesday night.

el nab cup has arrived

I don't even care that it is Collingwood, it is finally here! Also, the match is on at 8:30 EST on Channel 7.

Saw a bit of footage of the teams training over there and it will be good to watch just for the fact that it's being played somewhere else so to see what kind of crowd turns up and all that.

Does anyone feel that it's wrong that they're playing in other countries?

Adelaide trashed the Pies.

Bad news for us Eagles, Kerr tore his hamstring.

Ouch thats a massive loss, going to be a completely new look West Coast midfield for the start of the season.

How long do they think he'll be out for?

preseason is a joke and a half.