I'll guarentee one thing

that there'll be about 12 players on the current list not playing in a red and blue jumper next year

And they would be?

There's not that many coming out of contract. And we have at best 2 or 3 who are tradeable.

7 at most.

You couldnt guarantee nothing, except that your dole money will be in your bank come Thursday!

Steady Grimesy. Keep the dagger in the sheaf.

IN: PETTARD, MARIC, GRIMES, VALENTI

OUT: YZE, BARTRAM, NEWTON, WOOZ

B: WHELAN GARLAND MARTIN

HB: WHEATLEY WARNOCK GREEN

C: BUCKLEY JONES MORTON

HF: PETTARD MILLER BATE

F: MARIC WHITE SYLVIA

FOLL: JAMAR BRUCE MCDONALD

INT: VALENTI, GRIMES, BELL, DUNN

I'd be happy with that.

Any team that matches up OK against the Tige's and has got a hope of winning. Forget the priority of developing young players etc etc, we need a win to take some momentum into the summer.

And please any good football fairys out there, give DB a brainstorm for a winning game plan... something like, keep possession whenever possible, but KICK THE PILL FORWARD at all costs! Put some faith in our players to win the contests.

Please!!! Hoping...

(I'd even take a loss from this one, if we attacked and fought and kicked forward with some confidence of scoring, rather than the insipid chipping sideways and backwards and giving every indication of lack of any confidence in anybody winning a contest let alone showing some guts and kicking a fighting goal)

Rant

Why is it that the coach of the stone motherless last team with half a dozen rotating starters injured for most of the year, a bevy of kids, retirees and (lets face it) a number of has beens cops it from supporters for having 'no game plan'?

Football has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and yet many supporters still think that rushed forward thrusts (for the sake of forward thrusts) are a good thing. Ask Geelong how important turn-overs are to their weekly score. Even better, check out the US mens basketabll highlights.

Possession footy is the base requirement in todays game that you build your plan on top of. It requires accountability in execution and decision making under pressure and clearly shows up (as on Sunday) those who are lacking. Dont for a second think that kicking long against Port would've accomplished anything other than significantly increasing the margin of our defeat - in direct correlation with an increased turnover rate.

I'm stoked that DB has by and large persisted with this 'lack of game plan' and would be happy to see it next year as well (with isolated and appropriate small advances) with yet more youngsters inbound.

Rant off.

~

IN: Maric , Petterd, Grimes.

OUT: Wona, Bartram, Yze.

Rant

Why is it that the coach of the stone motherless last team with half a dozen rotating starters injured for most of the year, a bevy of kids, retirees and (lets face it) a number of has beens cops it from supporters for having 'no game plan'?

Football has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and yet many supporters still think that rushed forward thrusts (for the sake of forward thrusts) are a good thing. Ask Geelong how important turn-overs are to their weekly score. Even better, check out the US mens basketabll highlights.

Possession footy is the base requirement in todays game that you build your plan on top of. It requires accountability in execution and decision making under pressure and clearly shows up (as on Sunday) those who are lacking. Dont for a second think that kicking long against Port would've accomplished anything other than significantly increasing the margin of our defeat - in direct correlation with an increased turnover rate.

I'm stoked that DB has by and large persisted with this 'lack of game plan' and would be happy to see it next year as well (with isolated and appropriate small advances) with yet more youngsters inbound.

Rant off.

It's not just about long kicking, it's about making things happen as opposed to waiting for things to happen. Having possession of the ball is fine, in fact it's fan-bloody-tastic, but what's even better is doing something with it.

Rant

Why is it that the coach of the stone motherless last team with half a dozen rotating starters injured for most of the year, a bevy of kids, retirees and (lets face it) a number of has beens cops it from supporters for having 'no game plan'?

Football has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and yet many supporters still think that rushed forward thrusts (for the sake of forward thrusts) are a good thing. Ask Geelong how important turn-overs are to their weekly score. Even better, check out the US mens basketabll highlights.

Possession footy is the base requirement in todays game that you build your plan on top of. It requires accountability in execution and decision making under pressure and clearly shows up (as on Sunday) those who are lacking. Dont for a second think that kicking long against Port would've accomplished anything other than significantly increasing the margin of our defeat - in direct correlation with an increased turnover rate.

I'm stoked that DB has by and large persisted with this 'lack of game plan' and would be happy to see it next year as well (with isolated and appropriate small advances) with yet more youngsters inbound.

Rant off.

~

IN: Maric , Petterd, Grimes.

OUT: Wona, Bartram, Yze.

I thought DB did ok but some of his game plan and in particular selection decisions were a little confusing. The demons are the worst skilled side in the comp. We have a win and we drop a young bloke in Maric (who had a 100% efficiency record for the game) and keep Wona? Frawley, Maric and Valenti have one quiet game and its back to Sandy. Wona has 5-6 games that have been quiet and still plays? I am not saying that one or the other decision is right but consistency avoids confusion.

According to the match report in the Herald-Sun (at least Sandy managed a match-report!), Meesen suffered a stress-fracture in his ankle midweek, so he's definitely out for the year....

Col Garland listed as Hamstring 1 week. Is the MFC injury list up to date, anybody?

Where did he chime in with that one?

Bell and Whelan got votes in the Hun

INS: Maric, Valenti, Petterd, Meesen, Grimes

OUTS: White, Yze, Newton, Wona (really needs a rest), Bartram

Bring it on.

Wona needs a rest? It's the last game of the year you fool!!!

Yze and White will play as it will be there last games for the club

Why is it that the coach of the stone motherless last team with half a dozen rotating starters injured for most of the year, a bevy of kids, retirees and (lets face it) a number of has beens cops it from supporters for having 'no game plan'?

It suits the agendas of some posters. Baffling at best.

Question:

Is it possible Wonaeamirri has been given a good run of games to test his endurance, both mental and physical, before he is given a permanent spot on our list? It is my understanding the his elevation from the rookie list only remains until the end of the year.

Apart from a few great games to begin with, he has struggled to have much of an impact. Again I don't think we can be too hard on our forwards as they have been given limited opportunities. No reason being hard on a small crumbing forward if there are no crumbs to be had.

Question:

Is it possible Wonaeamirri has been given a good run of games to test his endurance, both mental and physical, before he is given a permanent spot on our list? It is my understanding the his elevation from the rookie list only remains until the end of the year.

Apart from a few great games to begin with, he has struggled to have much of an impact. Again I don't think we can be too hard on our forwards as they have been given limited opportunities. No reason being hard on a small crumbing forward if there are no crumbs to be had.

Good point. I've also noticed he hasn't played a good game without Aaron Davey in the side. He's obviously a shy young guy and probably relies a lot on Aaron to show him the way. Has anyone else noticed how often the Flash tries to bring Wona in to the game when they're playing together?

just a question- If we do win this week and west coast loses as they should. How much would west coast have to lose by for them to be wooden spooners?

I really want to beat richmond i really dont care about the Pick 1 in the draft, we have that priority pick now so who cares.

Question:

Is it possible Wonaeamirri has been given a good run of games to test his endurance, both mental and physical, before he is given a permanent spot on our list? It is my understanding the his elevation from the rookie list only remains until the end of the year.

Apart from a few great games to begin with, he has struggled to have much of an impact. Again I don't think we can be too hard on our forwards as they have been given limited opportunities. No reason being hard on a small crumbing forward if there are no crumbs to be had.

I dont think he has had the benefit of a good pre season. Hopefully he can come back next year with a few other strings to the bow as he should expect more attention from opposition backs next year.

just a question- If we do win this week and west coast loses as they should. How much would west coast have to lose by for them to be wooden spooners?

I really want to beat richmond i really dont care about the Pick 1 in the draft, we have that priority pick now so who cares.

Good question. Mark Thompson stating West Coast will be in for a hard day could result in the Cats at full steam this weekend. A win for us over Richmond and a quite possible demolition of the eagles by the cats could well see us finish 15th. Therefore avoiding the wooden spoon. A scoreline along the lines of Geelong 152 to West Coast 47 for example could give West Coast the Spoon and the number 1 pick.

But, we would have to beat Richmond for that to happen....

Is it conformed WCE are not interested in Jack Watts. If that is the case then i can't see any reason why we shouldn't go all out this weekend to beat the tigers and start a winning culture for next season

just a question- If we do win this week and west coast loses as they should. How much would west coast have to lose by for them to be wooden spooners?

I really want to beat richmond i really dont care about the Pick 1 in the draft, we have that priority pick now so who cares.

Check out this thread on Demonology.

Is it conformed WCE are not interested in Jack Watts. If that is the case then i can't see any reason why we shouldn't go all out this weekend to beat the tigers and start a winning culture for next season

- I doubt any Club has made up their mind.

- If it is confirmed, we'll never know.

(I'd even take a loss from this one, if we attacked and fought and kicked forward with some confidence of scoring, rather than the insipid chipping sideways and backwards and giving every indication of lack of any confidence in anybody winning a contest let alone showing some guts and kicking a fighting goal)

I can understand your point but as Bailey himself has explained we are young and learning. Getting it and kicking it ala Wheatley, invariably sees the footy back over your head with renewed vigour as seen virtually everytime this happens. All the sideways stuff is happening for several reasons. 1. The players skills aren't yet sharp enough. 2. Quite a few of our players aren't good enough and will be cleaned out over the next few years. 3. Total lack of player confidence. 4. Bodies aren't big or strong enough. Bailey is putting a game plan in place that starts with a sound defence and requires good skills by hand and foot. The handballs and sideways stuff happens because we are constantly caught out of position and thus rush to move the ball on. This happens to all young and inexperienced sides. As we get better we'll be able to absorb more pressure(Grimes, Mclean) and the sideways stuff will end up in space(Morton, Petterd)) and we will kick it forward(Watts, Sylvia)) ala Geelong. From the backline it might read Warnock spoils, Grimes grabs it in congestion, shoots a handball sideways to Garland, short kick to space where Morton takes it, has a bounce on defensive 50 Members side of the ground, Morton looks looks up and Kicks the ball to Petterd running through the centre, Petterd spills the mark players converge, Mclean wins the hard ball hands back to Petterd, under pressure goes back to Buckley, he steps inside Bartel kicks across the centre to Grimes, he takes off, moves inside Ling, kicks the ball inside 50 to the leading Watts who lays it off to Davey, GOAL! What I'm trying to say is that once execution improves and we get stronger and some of our young talent matures we'll be watching some great footy, even if the odd mark gets spilled. All teams are shite at this stage of development. It looks worse than it is. Forget the Port Adelaide and Geelong games, this season's dead and the players know it. Richmond will probably [censored] us too. Then we'll draft some serious talent, train hard over summer and over the next 2-3 years we'll see some good footy, hopefully we'll see some excellent footy.

just a question- If we do win this week and west coast loses as they should. How much would west coast have to lose by for them to be wooden spooners?

I really want to beat richmond i really dont care about the Pick 1 in the draft, we have that priority pick now so who cares.

Check out this thread on Demonology.

- I doubt any Club has made up their mind.

- If it is confirmed, we'll never know.

Rogue, I checked out that thread, this would be a more accurate example of score estimates and percentages: -

(Your welcome to paste it over there for their information)

http://www.afl.com.au/Ladder/tabid/74/default.aspx

As it stands at the moment: -

FOR AGST % PTS

15. West Coast 1605 2371 67.69 16

16. Melbourne 1588 2481 64.01 12

Now whilst its hard to be conservative in score estimates the following could very much be possible with a side as powerful as Geelong and as weak and as insipid as West Coast Eagles. Also included is a Melbourne win by 8 points.

Example: FINAL SCORES at Skilled Stadium: Geelong 23.14. 152 def West Coast 6.11.47 (105 point margin)

at MCG: Melbourne 15.7.97 def Richmond 13.11.89 (8 point margin)

FINAL LADDER:

FOR AGST % PTS

15. Melbourne 1685 2570 65.56 16

16. West Coast 1652 2523 65.48 16

And many would argue that I am being too conservative with a 105 point margin win to Geelong. It could very well be much more in margin.....

And many would argue that I am being too conservative with a 105 point margin win to Geelong. It could very well be much more in margin.....

We'll know what we have to do - or not do - after the WCE v Geel game on Sat. It's all academic until then, but you're right re: the possibility of an absolutely huge losing margin.

We'll know what we have to do - or not do - after the WCE v Geel game on Sat. It's all academic until then, but you're right re: the possibility of an absolutely huge losing margin.

I doubt WCE will be going full bore because they risk the priority pick.

I doubt Geelong will go full bore because they achieve little and they have finals to focus on and want no injuries from the game.

Expect an insipid one sided game. Cats by 50 points

Expect an insipid one sided game.

Us Melbourne supporters are used to that!