Port Adelaide 2015 / 2016 Discussion

[Atto]

Chad Wingard named the best pick number 6 in National Draft History  ;D

Chad Cornes named the best pick number 9; and

Shaun Burgoyne named the best pick number 12 (if only Mark Williams selected Burgoyne over Cassisi as captain all those years ago, he would still be with us*)  ;D

Good to see we rarely flower up our picks (besides Butcher, Moore, & Ben Jacobs  :P )

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-11-13/riewoldt-over-hodge-shifter-chooses-his-best-30-draft-picks-in-three-decades


*Although, in hindsight, Burgoyne being named captain would have likely cost us Travis Boak

Let's just remember that this is only in Shifter's opinion. Also, sneaky but informative fine print there, powersuperkents

[JBs-Hawks]

Surely theres been a better #15 then Brady Rawlings

[powersuperkents]

Surely theres been a better #15 then Brady Rawlings

Yeah it's all Sheehan's opinion

This one I really contest... "Best No.22: Scott Selwood (West Coast, 2007)"... He has never been good, he was just the best player in West Coast for one year (2013) when the rest of team was shower  :P

Maybe picks #15 & #22 have just been inherently bad picks  :P Although, I rate Rawlings significantly higher than Scooter (obviously just getting a good wrap because his recent move to Geelong was high-profile free-agency news - although, Suckling should be significantly more high-profile as his contributions to the Hawks insurmountably outweigh Scooter's one year of ineffective disposals, and seven years of tagging, for the Eagles haha)

[powersuperkents]

Bullshower call by the AFL imo.

We should have got at least one top-up player. We knew the risk with Paddy Ryder (as did the other clubs) but Monfries was deceptively traded to the Power before the ASADA investigation was initiated.

That should entitle us to one top-up. It's not a big deal in terms of the team, but if Lobbe goes down, the AFL has prevented us from providing some form of back-up (Dougal Howard would have to shock the comp. if it came to that - and a 19yo ruck is next to useless at AFL level).

Obviously a decision to protect rival clubs  >:(

[nrich102]

Yeah, as a Lions supporter who hates port, you guys have been ripped off big time. I think the other clubs should have got top ups, but I'll take the 'you know what you were getting' reason. Should really get a top up player for Monfries at least.

Really the call by the AFL today has been pretty representative of the way they've handled this whole saga tbh.

[JBs-Hawks]

Bullshower call by the AFL imo.

We should have got at least one top-up player. We knew the risk with Paddy Ryder (as did the other clubs) but Monfries was deceptively traded to the Power before the ASADA investigation was initiated.

That should entitle us to one top-up. It's not a big deal in terms of the team, but if Lobbe goes down, the AFL has prevented us from providing some form of back-up (Dougal Howard would have to shock the comp. if it came to that - and a 19yo ruck is next to useless at AFL level).

Obviously a decision to protect rival clubs  >:(

Why should you get to get a top up ruck to replace Monfries?
Like you said, Port knew the risk in recruiting Ryder so they should have had contingencies in place!

[ADEZ]

Yes Port should have made contingencies but we certainly deserve a top up for Monfries and I believe all clubs deserve the top ups. This "knew the risk" argument is silly, Essendon knew the risk of implementing the supplement program so going by the same logic they should not have been allowed the top ups and will have likely opted to forfeit the season. The Bombers hierarchy was at fault and it is unfair that the punishments impact other teams at a club level.

[Rusty00]

....... but Monfries was deceptively traded to the Power before the ASADA investigation was initiated.

Monfries was a free agent. Port arranged a trade in lieu of picking him up as a free agent so it didn't dilute their compo for losing Chaplin and Pearce as free agents that year. There was no deception ::)

[powersuperkents]

....... but Monfries was deceptively traded to the Power before the ASADA investigation was initiated.

Monfries was a free agent. Port arranged a trade in lieu of picking him up as a free agent so it didn't dilute their compo for losing Chaplin and Pearce as free agents that year. There was no deception ::)

But regardless, no one... no one (even Essendon) were cognisant of any risk involving Monfries whatsoever...

ASADA initiated it's investigation months after Monfries moved (the only people who knew the risks would therefore be ASADA - Essendon and Port alike did not assume any risks, besides those in Essendon who consciously knew how bad the program was).

The AFL ultimately came to its conclusion by surveying the clubs that were unaffected... BIG SURPRISE WHAT THE RESULT WAS  ::)

Keith Thomas (our CEO) said he doesn't blame the other clubs for acting in their own self-interests. He blames the AFL for this ridiculous arbitrary process (the AFL made up this BS top-up rule for Essendon, yet they say it is unnecessary for other clubs - considering the circumstances surrounding the Monfries trade makes it even more unreasonable. This rule allows Essendon, the club who started this whole ordeal to have one more player than Port Adelaide on its list by the start of the season... We could be level if we at least got a top-up for Monfries).

Also, to the stupid statement above, top-up players don't have to be 'like-for-like' so if we received a top-up for Monfries we would have been perfectly within our rights to recruit a ruck. I tolerate the assumed risks argument, but regarding Monfries the AFL has once again shown why they are the most poorly organised and operated sporting league in Australia... These problems would never arise in the EPL, NFL, NBA, NRL etc., and better yet, they would not incompetently handle the whole process like the AFL have since the ASADA investigation began (ultimately allowing the whole thing to blow up in everyone's face and flower over 34 players who's career's have been detrimentally affected and has flowered over multiple clubs (including Essendon who many inadvertently blame for the actions of a few which were overseen by the Hird coaching staff - I think Dank's team and Hird and his coaching staff are the ones who should be a ridiculed, not the Bombers as a whole).

[Ziplock]

I personally never thought the AFL would give the clubs top up players, but I thought they all should have gotten them- the arbitrary decision making of the AFL has always pissed me off.

[plumdog millionaire]

These problems would never arise in the EPL, NFL, NBA, NRL etc., and better yet, they would not incompetently handle the whole process like the AFL have since the ASADA investigation began.

As someone who follows the NFL I can confirm they are completely capable of incompetently handling a situation like this.

[powersuperkents]

Dougall Howard set to play in the first NAB Challenge game by the looks of things.

He is our back-up if the unthinkable happens to Lobbe. At only 19 years of age he has developed quite the reputation in the SANFL for being an aggressive ruckman who isn't afraid to contest at ground level, or go to ground...

Will be worth a look for all Port fans - seems like more of the midfielder type of ruck (that is, closer to Stefan Martin on the spectrum of Martin to Nic Nat). 

Polec also set to play the first two games of the NAB Challenge before being rested in the third (looks set for a round 1 return).

[elephants]

Think I read that Polec took a couple of kickouts too! I'm very tempted to shortlist him in my Elite Draft and even in AF!

[Grazz]

I personally never thought the AFL would give the clubs top up players, but I thought they all should have gotten them- the arbitrary decision making of the AFL has always pissed me off.

Same, the money these incompetent twats are making while doing it also powers me off.

[fanTCfool]

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2016-02-25/hartlett-elevated-to-vicecaptain