Optus has caused Fantasy Football discussion to be put on the back burner after they were allowed to telecast Football to their customers

What I cannot understand and get my head around is why should we have to pay money to watch a game? Surely we have enough TV channels replaying tv shows only my grandmother would sit through at the moment, its time we get FREE to air 9 AFL games a week.

I must admit I have thought long and hard and will probably even buy a Foxtel subscription once I have moved into my new house but only because I am sick of channel 7 delaying football in the past and do not take their word that they will start to show it live. But should that be an option for a football fan who wants to watch their team live and to choose what they want to watch, instead of a TV station?

So should we jump on the pirate bandwagon (or should that be ship) or just become another in the matrix signing up to Foxtel?

What ever media device we decide to follow our football on, its going to cost us an arm and leg which means Andrew Demetriou is laughing his way to the bank. Forget banking and mining as the jobs to push away the debt crises, Andrews job itself is holding up the Victorian economy.

So the point in the article? Unsure really, what are your thoughts of the TV rights vs Optus vs AFL situation? Have you brought a Foxtel subscription yet or are you one of the unlucky ones who are still waiting? Is this really even an issue? Should the laws be changed to protect the TV rights or is it open season on every sporting event?

I tend to think its time every AFL game is on free to air, not four, five or even 8 – all of them! and while we are at it, can we get rid of the delays on TV and radio where they do not match up? Either that or get some descent commentators…

However now, I fully believe the season proper starts when the Fantasy leagues are opened. Even with Australia doing well in the cricket and a team not full of NSW players, even cricket takes a back seat when the website is open and every Tom, Dick and Harriate starts wasting our bosses work hours every day thinking and debating who is the better choice out of Gary Ablett/ Dane Swan and Lenny Hayes/ Michael Barlow.

So like every other AFL related website its time time to shake off the cobwebs, upgrade the website and start regular writing articles that you the public like, want to share and comment on to expand the Kick2Kick community.

However like every year in our favourite AFL side, there is always a shake up with forced retirements, the oldies no longer capable of holding the side together and its time for the young blood to come in.

Kick2Kick needs you, it needs you who have time and a passion to write articles (regular or casually) for Kick2Kick. Like normal, we have our regular AFL tips, bet tips, articles on the latest in the world of AFL and of course our fantasy Dreamteam league. If you would like to help out in any of these areas, let me know and what your passion is and you are drafted. We also are after Guest posts from other AFL related websites.

Talking Points from the Trade Week

GWS Giants Coach Sheedy and his boys were the big winners of the week as they gathered several top picks & now have 11 of the first 14 draft picks

Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Hawthorn and GWS were the winners imo this week. Melbourne stepped into the big league by pinching Mitch Clark from Fremantle’s nose while Adelaide have been one of the busiest clubs with seven different trades. GWS have now 11 of the first 14 picks after some clever trading and the Gold Coast picked up the first pick in the mini draft and Matthew Warnock to help strengthen up their defense and upgraded several picks for #24.

Hawks were another winner imo as they get what they wanted with Jack Gunston and Jarrad Boumann as they chase another premiership with their current squad.

It is rumoured that Melbourne was not included in the discussion with Josh Caddy, why not? Surely if the AFL and Josh Caddy was serious about getting back to Melbourne, he would go to any Victorian based club. Its idiotic to think Gold Coast would accept a pick #19 and a dud fringe player from Essendon. However if Melbourne offered one of their Tom Scully Compensation pick – surely it would have had more chance of it happening.

Mitch Clark made noise about coming home to Perth so he could be closer to his grandmother and jailed cousins but when a better offer comes along he takes it. Now the Go Home Factor has been an ongoing discussion for many years (Chris Judd, Jeff White, Des Headland, Shane OBrea, Nick Stevens, Anthony Rocker, Brad Ebert and the list goes on) but maybe just maybe its all bull dust!

If the player really wanted to go home, he would choose any club that could make it possible yet they choose the club they want to go home too. Every player I named above only gave their club the one club to select and deal with. To me the clubs that initially spend the time and money on the kid looses out 9 out 10 times.

The Trades

Now lets looks at the separate clubs and I will let you know what I think of each clubs week.

Adelaide Crows trade week

Gained: Luke Brown, Tom Lynch, Lewis Johnston, Josh Jenkins, Brad Crouch
Draft Selections: 27, 41, 46, 64, 89

IMO besides GWS, Adelaide was the best performed side were while they lost several important players they gained a lot more with Brad Crouch who will be a star and is one of the first times they get access to one of the best kids in the country. Luke Brown will be a top 20 pick in the 2011 draft and Tom Lynch was a 13 pick a few years ago while Lewis Johnston and Josh Jenkins are highly rated.

Brisbane Lions trade week

Gained: Jordan Lisle, 12, 69, Dayne Zorko, 47, Ben Hudson
Draft Selections: 8, 12, 30, 47, 69, 88

Dayne Zorko and Ben Hudson are depth players and Jordan Lisle will be a very important player and will play 22 games a season unlike at Hawthorn. They were always going to loose Mitch Clark but with what they could get for him, they would be happy – must question why they did not chase a Blake or Seaby who you will get 5+ years from.

Carlton trade week

Did nothing and was the only club to do so

Collingwood trade week

Gained: Marty Clarke, Jamie Elliot, Peter Yagmoor, 50, 67
Draft Selections: 50, 65, 67, 83, 101

Jamie Elliot and Peter Yagmoor are unknowns but 25 for Marty Clarke who was an average depth player at best. Andrew Krakeour was a steal last year but I think Collingwood have maybe spent too much for their two first round picks.

Essendon trade week

Gained: 31
Draft Selections: 19, 31, 59, 77, 95

Only traded Josh Jenkins but still is a loser from the 2011 trade period as no one wants to deal with them. Whether its a legacy thing from their past reputation or the fact that they over estimate their own list as no one wanted to touch Gumbleton, Myers & Hooker.

Fremantle trade week

Gained: 20, 29, 58, 71
Draft Selections: 16, 20, 29, 58, 71, 74, 92

While they stuffed up the Mitch Clark trade, they gained a lot of earlier picks which will help them continue to build their squad as they push for a top four spot in season 2012. Surprised they did not chase anyone else as they need goal kickers and quality.

Geelong trade week

Gained: 32, 34
Draft Selections: 32, 34, 48, 66, 84, 102 (Jed Bews)

Won in the sense that they kept Tom Gillies and gathered an extra pick – a quite week.

Gold Coast trade week

Gained: Jaeger O’Meara, Matthew Warnock, #24, Compo pick
Draft Selections: 24, 86

Its obvious they needed to get rid of several draft picks and by picking up Jaeger O’Meara and Matthew Warnock, they would be happy.

Greater Western Sydney Giants trade week

Gained: 4, 10, 14, 25, Compo pick x3, 10, 56, Chad Cornes, Dean Brogan, Luke Power
Draft Selection: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 56, 85

11 of the first 14 draft picks… Enough said!

Hawthorn trade week

Gained: Jack Gunston, Jarrad Boumann, 53, 33, 38
Draft Selections: 33, 38, 53, 82, 100

Apparently the trade with Fremantle was so they get access to Boumann which is obviously why they traded Lisle as he would have been playing in Box Hill again for majority of the year. Many see them as winners in the Adelaide trade of Jack Gunston but I think they paid too much for him as he is unproven and Adelaide have gained a lot more with the picks.

Melbourne trade week

Gained: Mitch Clarke, 52
Draft Selection: 36, 52, 54, 72, 90

Alongside Adelaide were the big winners with Mitch Clark and almost pinched Josh Caddy from Essendons grasp. I agree with Schwarz that he is better than Tom Scully.

North Melbourne trade week

Gained: Will Sierakowski
Draft Selections: 18, 40, 76, 94

Promised to be big players yet hardly got out of second gear, they are scared to make mistakes like they did when they traded in Hay and Thompson in the early 2000′s. Will always be the poor struggling club of the AFL…

Port Adelaide trade week

Gained: Brent Renouf, Brad Ebert, #45
Draft Selections: 6, 28, 45, 51, 87

Port got what they wanted and lost very little – Renouf and Ebert will add depth and talent to their thin squad while they can get a good few kids in #6 and #28.

Richmond trade week

Gained: Ivan Maric, Steve Morris, 14, 26, 79, Comp Pick
Draft Selections: 15, 26, 55, 73, 79, 91

Lets face it, if Richmond tarded they would screw it up so its best they do not trade too much. I wonder if Steve Morris was worth swapping #14 and #15 with GWS but only time will tell if GWS selects a player that Richmond need. To get Ivan Maric for #37 is a win-win but do they need him? Is he a number one ruckman? To end up with two first round picks could be a good pick up, if it was a solid draft but again only time will tell.

St Kilda trade week

Gained: Terry Milera, Ahmed Saad, #25
Draft Selections: 25, 35, 37, 42, 60, 68, 78, 96

After the selection of Milera and Saad who I thought would be solid pick ups. They then lost Walsh and Lynch two key position players for next to nothing. Big losers of the week! I expect St Kilda to be struggling down the bottom of the ladder for a while now.

Sydney Swans trade week

Gained: Mitch Morton, Tony Armstrong, Tommy Walsh
Draft Selections: 21 (Tom Mitchell), 43, 61, 97

Sydney would have been disappointed to loose Lewis Johnstone but to pick up Mitch Morton, Tony Armstrong and Tommy Walsh for next to nothing sees them as one of the big winners of the week… They add goal kicking ability and pace to an aging and one dimensional side.

West Coast trade week

Gained: #28, Josh Hill
Draft Selection: 23, 28, 63, 81, 99

Losers of the week behind St Kilda, Josh Hill is a WAFL/ VFL reserves player at best and to basically only get a #28 pick for Bard Ebert is a bad decision – would have been almost been better to let him go through to the Pre Season .

Western Bulldogs trade week

Gained: 49, 70
Draft Selections: 17, 39, 57, 70, 75, 93

Its time to rebuild and was lucky to gain anything for Josh Hill who would have been delisted and a retired Ben Hudson so a big win for them!

Your Opinion on Trade Week

So what do you think of the 2011 trade week? What do you think of your club’s trade and what they did? Was your side a winner or a loser trade week time? Give us your comments below and let us know your thoughts.

Brad Ebert has asked to be traded to Port Adelaide but will it happen? What can be done about the AFL trade period which is usually a non-event after so much build up and hype?

First of all its stupid to think clubs are as dumb as North Melbourne after loosing Wayne Carey in the early 200′s when they traded for Hey/ Thompson and who can forget the madness of Fremantle with the names they lost is a list of A graders on AFL players in McLeod, Hodge, Ottens, Lloyd, Lucas etc. Clubs have smarten up and you cannot pull the wool over another anymore…

The next issue is that clubs think the only way to get to a Grand Final/ Premiership is through the draft which means the first round of drafts are worth their weight in gold and everyone wants an extra pick and not prepared to realistically give something for one.

The third issue is that clubs over rate their players. For example no way is Bradley Ebert from West Coast Eagles worth Port Adelaide’s #6 pick – he was left out of the finals side for a reason. He is worth a #10-20 but Port does not have a pick in that period.

These issues see us the fans and newspaper reporters coming up with stupid ideas/ rumours and trade suggestions. What is needed is a reshape/ rethink of the trade period from the AFL clubs but also from the AFL. 2010 saw nearly 30 trades which is four times the normal amount of past seasons – yes the new clubs was a main reason but this was because they had access to pre listed/ nominated players and the ability to onward trade them. We will see it again for the 2011 trade period with GWS but what about 2012 onwards?

I think the AFL looks at this solution were instead of getting priority picks they can select one player each and then either ontrade it to another club or keep him for their own club. Yes it will mean we may need to get rid of the pre season draft (which is almost extinct anyway) and or have a pre Trade draft where the clubs who have won less than 5 wins can select a player.

This could be a solution but I think it will be better than the AFL pinning their hopes of Free Agency. What do you think? Do you have a better solution or do we just keep it the same and leave the game alone? Or do the clubs just play ball and be realistic?

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Grand Finals are a time when heroes are made, reputations are made and lost and this was such a time. The margin at the end of the game makes it look like it was not a close game but it was a classic game – in fact it is probably a good thing that the game was not close because we would then be discussing the incompetence of the umpires instead of the players who fought and left nothing on the ground.

Cameron Ling celebrates his last game with the last goal & a dominate display on the Brownlow medal winner Dane Swan which went a long way to see his team win their 3rd premiership in 5 years

Geelong started the game with a goal inside 15 seconds of play and then two minutes later Travis Varcoe kicked his second goal and it case a devaju for Leon Davis as he again struggled at times on the big stage. Early on Geelong had all the play but could not capitlise their dominance and the fact that Travis Cloke was marking everything and kicking goals from every chance he had.

Second quarter was all Collingwood and it looked like they were only one goal away from breaking the game apart. The Cats were three goals down, the jPod popped his shoulder out and their game style was questionable. However they somehow managed to get back into the game with some luck including a miss mark to Dane Swan, the bounce up saw Darren Jolly put the ball over the line on the full which saw Jimmy Bartel kick a Johnson style goal.

The third quarter saw several lead changes and in the jPod absense after a half time chat by the inspirational Cameron Mooney Tom Hawkins stepped up and played a quarter to remember. While Tom stepped up, Travis Cloke was missing and went from the most dangerous player on the ground to a liability.

The fourth quarter was a fizzle but could have been different if Collingwood kicked the first goal it could have been different.

Discussion Points About the Grand Final

What decides most Grand Finals are not the stars but the lower end of the players and whoever lifts usually sees their team win. While Duncan and Christensen struggled at times the difference was that they lifted while Collingwoods lower players did not. Blair, Didak, Davis and Fasolo struggled and Ben Reid was injured – playing injured or half fit players is not a good idea and it rarely pays off.

Mid season we all agreed that we would know how the Malthouse vs Buckley saga would affect Collingwoods chances of winning back to back at the end of the year. I think it is safe to say that it was a distraction now and I think the decision for Nick Maxwell to drag Malthouse into the huddle and say ‘Do it for him’ was poor. Anyone should know football is bigger than any man, including a legend who has been involved for 40+ years.

Sam Mitchell had an awesome season in the middle of an up and down personal season

At the start of the season for Hawthorn to go to the next step they needed young guys to step up. We all know they have the talent at the top end with Buddy Franklin, Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead and Cyril Rioli but they didn’t have the depth and key personal down back.

2011 was however a different story with Jordan Lisle stepping up down back and forward in his limited opportunities, while Schoenmakers coped a lot of flake in the finals however with another pre season and the experience he will show why he was a high draft pick. Add to that the names of Luke Bruest who kicked 30 goals, Liam Shiels who was an unknown player pre season but soon became a must for all Dreamteamers. On top of these kids standing up you can add Bailey, Hale and the new recruits of mature players Isaac Smith and Paul Puopolo.

In 2011 only 5 hawks kicked more than 20 goals, Roughead will be back but will he be playing in defense in 2012 and Rioli looks more dangerous in the midfield. West Coast had 7 players kicking over 20, while Geelong and Collingwood had 9 each. Hawthorn have a history of recruiting to get what they need (Gibson, Hale, Dew, Smith etc) no matter the cost, so expect them to be busy during the trade period.

Season 2011 Snap Shot

Trade Bait

Matthew Warnock is looking for a new home but I do not expect him to get a Hawthorn Guernsey come season 2012. Rick Ladson and Xavier Ellis have both slipped down the peaking order down at Hawthorn so they may be looking elsewhere to renew their falling career.

Quinten Lynch and Matthew Priddis are two of the reasons why they skyrocketed up the ladder in 2011.

While the veterans in Dean Cox, Darren Glass (who both won All Australian), Andrew Embley and Daniel Kerr all had their best years since 2006 the improvement came from their young kids but more importantly the second tier players in Mark Nicoski, Quinten Lynch, Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis and Eric MacKenzie.

If the veterans can stay fit for another 2-3 years they may be able to experience more finals and maybe even another premiership as the young guns in Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey, Scott Selwood and Jack Darling will only improve.

However like any side that has fallen short the side has holes and needs that have to be meet for them to take the next step. West Coast need pace in the midfield and up forward to sit at the feet of the big men. Nicoski and LeCras are good midsized forwards and their tall timber forwards are premiership material but they still need (to recruit or trade) a small in the ilk of Gartlett, Krakeour and or a Milne.

Season 2011 Snap Shot

Trade Bait

West Coast do not usually take part of the trade period but with a side that now has competition for spots and depth they may have a few players who may look elsewhere.

Chris Masten and Brad Ebert: Both are high picks (Masten #3 and Ebert #13) from the 2007 draft and both have been in and out of the side having been forced to play a high half forward role when both were recruited originally as midfielders. Brad Ebert was rumoured to go back home to Adelaide in the 2010 trade period and is now out of contract.

Koby Stevens, Bradd Dalzell, Jordan Jones and Callum Wilson are handy depth players but may also want to look elsewhere to get a regular game.

Dane Swan wins his first Brownlow Medal after being favourite last year.

As I was following the Brownlow Medal/ Trophy on the AFL website and through the radio, a few things caught my attention which I will discuss below. If you notice anything else or have your own musings from the night, please add them to the comments below.

The high amount of votes: Nick Dal Santo polled 28 votes and in most years he would have won the award. Also 8 players had polled over 20 votes and another 10 players polled between 15 and 19. Dane Swan won the most polled votes in a year since the 3-2-1 polling method has been in use. I think of 1994 where Peter Matera polled 28 and also missed out.

Sam Mitchell: How dumb is it that his captain has to hope and wish that Sam Mitchell does not poll anymore votes? He must’ve rubbed the right genie as Luke polled a few 3 votes and Sam did not poll anymore. So do we need to change the medal from Fairest and Best to just Best? Personally I think we leave it as it is – just because Jeff Kennett has made noise does not mean we change tradition for an ex-club president.

The issue is not the rule but the idiots in the match Review Panel.

The Future: Every year you get the same players polling well in Chris Judd, Simon Black, Nick Dal Santo etc but this year we got to see the future in Tom Rockliff, Marc Murphy, Nathan Fyfe, Andrew Swallow, Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Luke Shuey all catching the eye of the umpires. I expect a few of these to become high vote pollers in the future.

To Win a Brownlow you need to be a stand out in your Team: Chris Judd was an un-backable favourite yet could only poll 23 votes when last year he polled 28 and won. Was the difference the umpires or the fact that in 2011, Carlton are a more even side? Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Mitch Robinson have all had their best years and between them they polled 40 votes. If you look at Collingwoods Brownlow votes tracker, they had four players polling over 10 votes (including Swan and Pendlebury) but had another ten players only taking 30 votes from Swan and Pendlebury.

However if your the standout player in the team you will gather more votes. This year the  best examples were Matthew Boyd (24 votes) and Gary Ablett (23).

The Umpires Prefer Consistency than a Few Flashy Individual Acts: A few have said Nic Naitanui will win a Brownlow in the next few years however even though he had his best year and had more highlights than others he did NOT poll one vote in 2011. Other flashy players like Leon Davis, Chris Yarren, Daniel Wells, Eddie Betts, Stephen Milne and Robert Murphy all failed to score more than 5 votes this year.

Does a Brownlow = a Premiership? I have a mate who is a Collingwood supporter and straight away he texted me about the Brownlow equals a premiership but does it?

Since 1980: Only Robert DiPierdomenico (1986), Gavin Wanganeen (1993), Simon Black (2001), Jason Akermanis (2002), Jimmy Bartel (2007) and Gary Ablett jnr (2009) have won a Brownlow and a premiership in the same year.

Andrew Walker took what some called the Mark of the Year yet when it was time to announce it, the gong did not go his way.

Andrew Walker, Robbie Warnock, Marc Murphy and Mitch Robinson all made significant rises in their careers while Nick Duigan and Jeremy Laidler were fresh recruits yet played like veterans for the Blues. Also the masterstroke move off Chris Yarran and Lachie Henderson to the back line almost guaranteed he would have won a coaching extension.

Injuries hurt every team and with Michael Jamison and Jarrad Waite missing large chunks of the season it hurt the key position posts they normally fill. Late season injuries to Matthew Kruezer and Bryce Gibbs  hurt their charge in the finals.

The question now is can Carlton take the next step in the finals and finish top four? Only Heath Scotland is over 30 and apart from a blue chip key forward the side does not have too many holes with Duigan, Laidler, Yarren and Henderson all filling holes into the defense. I do not see them active in this years trade period unless they can get a key forward to the club and no it wont be Brendon Fevola.

Season 2011 Snap Shot

Trade Bait

Jordan Russell has finished high up in Carltons Best and Fairest before so to only play 3 games means he either really struggled or he is moving clubs, while he has not yet signed up for GWS as the rumours said, would he look elsewhere? Another who may be looking elsewhere could be Brock McLean who cost Carlton a first round pick two years ago has only played 10 games in two years.

Kane Lucas suffered a difficult second year and maybe West Coast or Fremantle could entice him home to WA.

Adam Goodes played his 300th in the finals and is he the best inform 300 gamer ever?

Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton and Ryan O’Keefe all had standout seasons. However the shinning light was their younger lesser players who all stepped up. Shane Mumford who is now a top five ruckman in the competition continued his rise along with Sam Reid who held down CHF with some of the best contested marking in the AFL. Other young players in Luke Parker and Gary Rohan also made their marks along with Hannebery, Jack, Johnson and Smith all continuing to improve.

However the issue is the difference in the squad between their better players and the next level. While I understand the reason why they cannot wait 2-3 years for every draft pick to become a regular but not every recycled player works. Do you think they need to again target recycled players in the trade period while there older players are still playing good enough football?

Season 2011 Snap Shot

Trade Bait

Apparently Tony Armstrong has asked to be traded to Sydney which will be a handy inclusion for the Swans but what do they give Adelaide for him? A draft pick or maybe a Trent Dennis-Lane who has been unable been able to cement his spot in his second year.

Other possible players could Mark Seaby who has been out of favour with LRT and Mike Pyke getting a spot ahead of him as the second ruck and Jesse White who has played 50 games yet has not been able to go on from his promising 2009-2010. However will anyone want them?