I THINK Hughes has done a very good job in the last few years and you only have to see the flourishing of the Freo list -not pavlich or the recognised guns but Murphy Crowley Mundy to see he is astute with his picks and not necessarily those early picks
Im happy to back his judgment given the track record.

Pafloyul wrote



I'm with you.

We can pick:

Draft: 1,17,19,35,51,67,83 = 7 picks
PSD: 1 and a 2nd = 2 picks (1 will be a special senior I hope)
Rookie:1, 17 (plus more with $$) = 2 or more picks (plus 24 yo ruck)

Now with that sort of choice I'd expect at least 8 new kids for 2007. That's a lot, but we have to continue to build a squad that will take us through the next decade, with a first finals placing in 2008.

This would imply that we delist/trade/retire a minimum 9 players and 2 rookies in 2006. The following 10 uncontracted players would be on that list:

French, Davies, Chambers, Longmuir, Livingston, Prendergast, Bryan, McGrath, Sporn and Bannister (Batson and Smith).

Next year's 2007 delistings/trade/retire for youth would include the following 7 uncontracted players:

Teague, Saddington, McLaren, Kouta, Lappin, Wiggins and DeLuca.

The following year 2008 would be Pagan's last if he survives 2007-8.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Am I right in thinking that the AFL are now going to pay for each club to have 4 rookies? Is that this season, next... Or have I gone insane?

i think the AFL have ponied up the dough but the club can use it in other ways. ie extra given is not required for full rookie compliment

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Ich bein ein Carltonian

Sanity prevails

Agree 100% as usual Frank you are spot on

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A macfart a day helps you work rest and play

Agree fully Frank - I think he is an excellent recruiter.

My worry is though that Hughes will cop a slap in the face next week. I just think that if Pagan has no time for Russell (as has been reported here on several occasions), that we will see the back of JR in trade week.

It won't look good to lose a first round pick so quickly for Wayne Hughes. We'll have to hope that Raso, Blackers, and Hartlett can make him look pretty good from that 2004 draft.

Don't tell me I have to jump from top of the JR bandwagon to another.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

Molly,

Either Wayne Hughes got it wrong with his selection or Pagan couldn't develop the kid. My bet is that Pagans skills in developing kids are just about non-existent.
Will be very sad if Jordon Russell leaves...will burn at a good club like Port or Adelaide.
Pagan is killing this club!!!

Let's see what happens first.

JR is only 19 and a high draft pick. He really showed improvement last year, glimpses, and he's learned to keep his eyes focussed on the ball, and go for it. To much upside to let him go. He'll come good. That's why I want him to stay.

Pagan doesn't seem to have been of much benefit to his development...sitting on the bench, and off right away for a mistake, not enough faith, then the bagging in the boardroom...that wasn't good Pagan, and definetely not a good idea to let that out (dumb sneaky leaker).

I hope he stays. from all accounts he's happy to be in Melbourne and at carlton with his new mates...I don't think Pagan will get a say on whether JR stays or not.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

PA are apparently keen on him.

Sign him up and see what they offer. It probably won't be good enough though.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

From which accounts?

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Blue Vain



I should have written, from what I've read on TC or maybe a Mike and Dan type interview???...hey I could be wrong...and I'm not going to do a search on it. But I do remember something about him enjoying living in Melbourne with his flat mates, the SA boys sticking together, the bond amongst the kids at carlton...and him enjoying his experience away from home, and at Carlton in general.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Nah wouldnt be us BB - last time we spoke to Russell officially was in February. There was someone in recruitment who said (over the last week) that Russell was happy here and wanted to be a 1-club player.

Look I hope we keep JR and he is a star, but merely because he is a 'kid' doesn't mean he is automatically going to be great, and he needs plenty of time to develop. I thought he was one of our best in the dismal VFL prelim and is improving. But also he shouldn't be rewarded merely for being young. Simmo took several years and has developed beautifully. JR needs to win the coaches respect by keeping his eye on the ball EVERY time he contests an overhead mark. I think he can do that but in 06 he took his eyes of the ball when going for a mark a number of times in seniors and ressies.

Development is not jsut playing guys in the seniors because of their date of birth, it is doing things that make them better. For Blackwell and Simmo - ease them in slowly so in a few years they will be stars and JR is the same. Reward them for the good things and send them back to the VFL to improve the poor things (like watching the ball when marking).

Having said that I always want to keep guys until you're sure they are going nowhere. Another two years for Jordan!.... But if he really wants to go we will have Salopek.

I like JR and he has impressed me with his character but he has taken his eye of the footy several times and its a stigma that is hard to rid yourself from and he is under pressure every week now to prove he handle the physical challenges that the game has to offer....If Port or Adelaide offered a good pick or trade I would look at it....

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

Given the speculation about Russell, have the club come out and stated that he is a required player? I don't recall seeing anything and maybe I'm reading too much into it, but given that they were quick to respond to suggestions of Thornton and Fisher leaving, does the non-statement make the statement?

Personally, I hope he stays and gets the first (decent) crack at a HBF next year.

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Patrick Smith - Just another reason to HATE Essendon*!

gerry wrote



Words of wisdom cometh with age...ey gerry attric.

Development is the key. Patience is a virtue.

If we look at the size of Russell when he first arrived after the draft, he was a skinny kid, with a good left foot and good hands. In his first season, he broke into the seniors or 5 mins ground time; nevertheless he earned it. A preseason followed and I was surprised to see how quickly this kid puts on the muscle. One more preseason is ahead of him, and I am hopeful that with strength will come confidence to compete against the bigboys, and not worry about his (in)abolity to absorb a solid bump.

He's a good one, and imo a fast developer. He's only 19, with plenty of development ahead of him, as well as time.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Yes, lets trade Russell and keep Houlihan, Teague, Deluca, Saddington, (the last three are contracted) and Wiggins on the list because their games are so perfect.

What an idiot if this rumour is true.

If Pagan had any idea he would have traded Lance for a good pick when he had the chance and invested in kids instead of looking for a quick fix every single year.

Sign him up.

If I remember correctly at the end of last season Pagan wanted Fevola, Whitnall, Lappin and Camporeale all gone.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

I think Pagan will have every say on whether he stays or not. If Pagan doesn't want him, he'll have him traded. Things don't look too good for JR but it depends on whether Pagan will trade for pick 40 something or so 20-something.

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky