I'm sure you did, I would have been soaking it up also
We didn't have Fox in 2005, but as an avid swans hater it would have annoyed me even more

Not nearly as annoyed as I was walking to the Spotless stadium and hearing Giants supporters chanting "we've waited 5 long years for this - it's our time!"

I am 38 and had been waiting my whole life for it to be our time. 5 years - pfffft. GWS will have their time soon enough. The AFL Commission will see to it well before they start kow-towing to Eddie McChins.

lol, pretty sure they would have been taking the piss if that happened.
Gold Coast and GWS were given enough con cessions to ensure success, had to happen that way once they committed to starting the two teams. Had to very unlucky, completely cock things up or both to not be strong by now, we didn't do either.
Our list is unsustainable and as of last year we are starting to leak a lot of quality players, either through lack of opportunity, homesickness or cash. It will stay strong for 10 years unless we cock it up, but will never become unbeatable.

Being strong doesn't gift premierships, 2009 still burns for me, at 19 in a row I was finally ready to believe it was OUR time but despite being inarguably the best team during the year we only just squeaked past your mob in the PF and then we weren't the best team on the day that really mattered.
I envy your success and hope it's the saints turn next at the knee of the fairy godmother..

@Len

Last year GWS lost Treloar, Bugg, Townsend, Hampton and the 4 traded to Carlton while getting Stevie J in. Besides Mummy and other key players mostly having a better run with injuries the improvement was definitely from a maturing core of players which is important to keep together.

GWS almost had "too much" depth this season - which as you mention isn't sustainable for more than another season or two - and as long as they move on enough "tradeable" players each year the team should continue to improve their draft position beyond where a top 4 team normally sits. It is then making sure you keep enough of the top 15 or so on the list at the right contract prices that is the key and while you sit in the top 4 or 5 you should be able to lure enough mid or late career players (Heater, Stevie J and Griffen types) back the other way if their is much cap room.

Who do you see as the most likely players to leave this trade period and are there any of these you would be desperate to keep (unless you get a deal too good to refuse) ?

McCarthy
Marchbank
Steele
Stewart

Them, though Steele is a chance to stay, plus Barrett, McKenna, Pickett and WHE

I don't think we'd be willing to keep any of them "at any cost", we have alternates to all of them which is largely why they haven't played as much as they would like to, WHE aside his was mostly injury.,Of them I'm most invested in WHE, Stewart, Marchbank and Steele and the members would largely feel the same.

They all have talent, I'd rate them
Marchbank
Steele
McCarthy
WHE
Stewart
Barrett
McKenna
and am NFI on Pickett, not sure he has worn footy boots in 2 years since we drafted him.

Lions awards a Priority Pick after the first round by the commission. Pick 19.

Seems appropriate

This was unexpected:

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/...st-squeeze-at-gws-giants-20161006-grwmi8.html

Apparently it isn't a knee jerk and was announced in 2014, just no-one told us, the club said something about knowing the detail, but this has never been known to fans.

I don't mind, it's all about equalisation, and that's just godly, pretty sure the other things decided in 2014 and to be announced after each Eddie rant read like this, purely in the interests of equalisation;

1. All clubs must have an equal amount of travel time during the season, Vic clubs playing each other will be required to playing in Wellington or Fiji on alternate weeks to ensure the air time and kms match the interstate teams.
2. All teams must play an equal amount of games on the MCG each year to assist finals preparations, this will be assisted by Collingwood and other MCG tenants playing alternate home games off shore.
3. AFL media, Fairfax and Newscorp outlets must all base a proportionate amount of quality reporters in each state to ensure that all clubs have an equal voice in the public manifesto of the game.
4. The club penalties for being better than expected will exceed the penalties for WADA infringements or illegal trading, because, yano equality.
5. All clubs will be allowed to trade draft picks with other clubs, but only the poor performing clubs will be allowed to draft players, because, yano equality.
6. The AFL will move it's HQ to Olympic Park Melbourne, because it's the AFL heartland.
7. The registered teams will be required to cooperate in synchronised tanking and shining with the sole aim to ensure that in every 18 year period each team will win a premiership, because, yano equality
8. Rather than having a national draft which encourages clubs to recruit local players to ensure retention we will ensure that the representation of Vic players drafted continues to be disproportionate to the other states, this doesn't aid equality, but ensures the AFl "heartland", the only really important piece in the "national" game will always be able to topup due to the go-home factor, ensuring the long term health of the game in the only place that matters.

Ok, I am going to stop now, I have a 100 more of worse or better quality

/rant

In all honesty, I'd be happy if they leave the sanctions at having more players but less cap than any other other team as is the case for next year, but I doubt that will be it.


.

Lin Jong has re-signed with the Premiers.

Surprised? He looked out 6 weeks ago

Apparently he told a couple of players a recently as last week that he was heading out the door.

The events of last weekend obviously caused him to change his mind.

He'd certainly get better opportunities at GC because he may remain somewhere around the 20th-25th best player region for 2017.

Indeed, that;s what made me wonder, maybe the other offers weren't what he or his manager were expecting, good luck to the kid though, missing the GF like that must hurt like hell on a personal level

Edit - I didn't know about talking to other players, just that he seemed to have very much put himself on the market

Gold Coast apparently offered $350-400k for 3 years while we only had a 2 year deal for (I'm guessing) less than that.

NDS's manager saying that he may likely retire - from memory he was the all time highest SC points scorer prior to this season (and likely still is).

At 32 I thought there might be a club out there who could use a guy like him off half back assuming he doesn't cost much contract wise.

Have we heard whether Richmond are matching Vickery's offer from the Hawks yet, personally I am not convinced we would want to trade for him until our other possible deals get sorted out.

Official: Daniel Wells has nominated Collingwood as his new home under free agency #NABTradeRadio