Darcy Moore will star in defence

My hero Billy Picken and his side kick Andrew Ireland also come into that category. They both started footy as half forwards. Wasn't Geoff Southby another case in point, too?

Collingwood Football Club B: 44 Shane Kerrison 21 Michael Christian 12 Denis Banks HB: 7 Shane Morwood 23 Craig Kelly 3 Michael Gayfer C: 42 Darren Millane 22 Tony Shaw (c) 19 Graham Wright HF: 29 Scott Russell 35 Peter Daicos 17 Doug Barwick F: 26 Gavin Brown 1 Damian Monkhorst 28 Gavin Crosisca Foll: 30 James Manson 34 Michael McGuane 2 Tony Francis Int: 24 Jamie Turner 27 Craig Starcevich Coach: Leigh Matthews This is what it looked like in 1990 and mind you the only big guy there was Damian Monkhurst at Full Forward. Are we going to turn back the clock and put Mason Cox in the box and everybody else will be running around like mad rabbits? There may be room for Kirby, Brown, Broqwn, Daicos, Stephenson, Murphy, Pendlebury, and a few others....Selection problems lie ahead because most of our current stock don't measure up to Russell, Daicos, Barwick, Crosisca and Brown, do they?

How can you forget the sale of Doug Searle to Fitzroy? We were without a Centre Half Forward or back-up key back for another twenty five years. Poor Billy Picken and Ted Potter had to shoulder all the workload. The only real Centre Half Forward we have had since the days of Murray Weidemann has been Craig Starcevich and he was in and out of form from time to time. Now, can you please tell me why are we obsessed with Collingwood six-footers? Because the fans want flash rather than substance. Tuddenham, Daicos, Didak,Greening just to name a few. Now the other thing that has cost us flags is the lack of a real rover. The last real rover we had was Lou Richards. We have not had the Kevin Bartlett type who is fast and a goal sneak. I think the closest we got to it were the two Croweaters: Tony Francis and Scott Russell. The spine of any football team wins the big ones and without a Centre Half Forward and/or Rover you can't win anything! Thanks folks.....

The talk about Darcy Moore is getting a bit too much for me. As a Collingwood fan of undying loyalty i cannot forget how his dad conspired to get rid of Tommy Hafey and thrust us into the wilderness for nine years. Now, Darcy can play anywhere the coach dictates but he and his dad cannot dictate how the team is to be selected because that will send us back to the bad old days when player power was rife at Vic Park and cost us at least half a dozen premierships. Now, can you guys speculate more about how the team should get their fitness levels up and play out games like T-shirt Tommy's troups and add a sprinkling of flash so that I may a see another penant before I die!

I can see how my words might be interpreted that way. Probably not my true intent. Perhaps its a delicate subject.

Because you and Harry agree he abandoned St Kilda in the context of he'll do the same by going to Collingwood...all on the basis of a Brad Hardie guff-fest. Fancy agreeing with that!

Ross Lyon chose to leave St Kilda. That is the truth of the matter. I don't understand why that could be perceived as a slur on him for doing so? It's a ruthless industry. Player/coaches are appointed and dismissed continuously. Why anyone would bristle-up in defence of Lyon leaving St Kilda - suggesting by inference - he is not an honourable man - is ludicrous. He is one of the best blokes I have had the pleasure of meeting RL within the industry. And now his honour is being discussed. Why?

Nothing premature about an out clause. That's what they are. I think you'll find that Ross would be surprised by any 3 year offer. St Kilda were dithering with really tentative offers. The slur on Ross as not an honorable man is best left to the Harry and Anon types (probably the same person).

5th round for Elliott, otherwise I'd go to the draft

Incorrect Don. Lyon had one year left to run (2012) at St Kilda. Coupled with the three year extension offer. The one year remaining on his contract did have an 'out' clause - which he chose to trigger. Thus my comment 'leave prematurely for a better offer'.

Lyon didn't have a contract to break at St Kilda. He wanted another one but the Saints would only offer one year. That's when Freo stepped in.

True Harry. Contracts do not seem to have the same legal binding as they once provided (I'm no lawyer). Well, I stand by what I've been saying for a while - Buckley's time at Collingwood will not end well. For Lyon to come across before his contract expires (2020) - his time at Fremantle must also not end well - in theory. For that to eventuate - Lyon must repeat what he did at St Kilda - and leave prematurely for a better offer. Or Fremantle's last two disappointing seasons extends into a third..... What the answer is too all that - I don't know.

With a jaw like Darcy Moore , he could make a good roger ramjet impersonation. In fact have Darcy Moore and roger ramjet ever been seen in the same room together.

I have it from a good source Stephen, you and I know contracts arent worth anything these days, players or coaches. McGuire can afford to pay out Buckleys last year and Lyon is probbaly just what the Wobblers need to do anything.

Fair enough

Only Brad Hardie says that. No smoke. No fire. Hardie has an axe to grind. Freo would not co-operate with 6PR until Hardie was gone. Hardie's rumours have been wrong at all times and sometimes did some damage. Ballas wanting to leave, Fyfe definitely going, Ross not wanted, Sumich disgruntled... Hardie is feuding with every football person everywhere (usually about borrowed money) and has burned just about every relationship he has in footy.

Good stuff muscles. Although the super small shorts and singlet is perhaps too much information! Lol. We'll have to agree to disagree on Carlton. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy Essendon beating them more than any other side probably. But I can see they are re-building a good list. And I try to call em as I see em. Even if I don't like it. Interesting point you make on Ross Lyon. He is signed until 2020 - Fremantle. I must confess to being curious why Brad Hardie made such a bold statement earlier this year. Where there is smoke.... I wonder if/when Buckley's tenure becomes hopeless - if McGuire, the great survivor, might just pay-out Buckley handsomely, bring across Lyon. And save his own neck until the 2020 Collingwood presidential election. You may be onto something.

I have thanks Stephen. I get up at 5:30 each morning, have a double espresso, squeeze the old tree trunk legs into the super small running shorts and the white singlet with the big biceps out and knock out a 5K to start the day. Would give some of these young fellas a run for their money in here I tell ya! How can you say Carlton recruited well? They actually went backwards this year, couldn't score over 100 points all year and had the worst points for total by a mile? As for McGuire, yes he has backed the wrong horse but that won't be the end of him as he has too much power. He will bring in Ross Lyon in a shiny new Holden like they did with Malthouse end of next year after both Freo and the wobbles have dysmally failed again and then announce a new era like the Buckley years never happened.

Hello Harry. Hope you've had you're 5km run today. Lol. I agree with you on Collingwood. I just don't see any way out for the McGuire/Buckley ticket. Their game style produced 402 possessions each game in 2017 (second only to Melbourne with 405). They chip, chip the ball around until some poor wretch in their undermanned forward line is in a half decent position. Even when this does succeed they rank 14th for goal accuracy. Combined with Buckley's smug, perfectionist and unforgiving style. Its difficult to see the improvement. Eddie has been very good for Collingwood. But he has backed the 'wrong horse' with Buckley. And his fierce loyalty and refusal to concede, will be his undoing. Its only a matter of time IMHO. Carlton, I tend to disagree. I think they have recruited very well.

I actually believe Stephen we are seeing the new "normal" now for both Carlton and Collingwood. They will both flounder now for decades together., Carlton have already had 20 years of practice and the Wobblers are now following them.