[quote name='fitness' date='Jun 22 2009,

"I think he has a huge amount still to offer for many more years at the club"

I'm a fan of Wheatley, too, "Fitness". Remember his game up in Brisbane when we beat them up there? (was it '02 or'03?). He did some brilliant things. On the basis of his form last season he should be an automatic inclusion when fit.

And if blokes like Guerra and Dew can play in premiership teams, then there's no reason a player like Wheatley couldn't when he is up and firing.

Most players could play in a premiership side.

Armstrong did it with WC and he wasn't a great player.

Wheatley was good again today I thought.

The man has his doubters, many want him gone at seasons end - Personally I'm undecided. Since returning Wheatley has added a touch of class coming out of defence. Something the likes of Frawley and Warnock struggle with at times. Not to forget his invaluable kicking in. Well done to Wheats, I'm enjoying his renaissance.

Wheatley I thought was poor today - lots of slow decisions and dodgy decisions and poor ball use.

Wheatley was good again today I thought.

The man has his doubters, many want him gone at seasons end - Personally I'm undecided. Since returning Wheatley has added a touch of class coming out of defence. Something the likes of Frawley and Warnock struggle with at times. Not to forget his invaluable kicking in. Well done to Wheats, I'm enjoying his renaissance.

You're joking right? ...right?

I can't tell if you're joking or not... surely it couldn't be possible that you're serious... could it?

He Is Not Up To It

Poor user of the ball, terrible decision maker, poor defensively.

Just keep giving him a game and make sure he takes the kick-ins Bailey, please! :D

On kick-ins, can Frawley not do it?

I don't mind Wheatley but if he's out of contact at the end of the year I think he's finished.

Given he's injury-prone and getting on in age I don't think he gives us enough that other younger players can't.

he can consistently hit targets by foot.

Hrm.

Hrm.

He made one really bad error. So did Wheatley, Bruce, Green on numerous occasions, Moloney etc... etc...

Bell didn't have a great first quarter but was really good in the second. I love his tackling and defensively he is good.

A real shame about the injury, because put simply, nobody deserves to get injured while doing the team thing and putting on a block for a teammate, particularly someone who has been so injury prone over his career and yet has never pulled away from a contest.

Don't think he has a long term future at Melbourne, but at least he won't bomb it 60m out of bounds on the full! :angry:

He made one really bad error. So did Wheatley, Bruce, Green on numerous occasions, Moloney etc... etc...

Whether because of decision making or execution, Bell doesn't consistently hit targets.

EDIT: If he did his career wouldn't be at the crossroads.

Is he a good user of the ball though? He's never struck me as such.

Whether because of decision making or execution, Bell doesn't consistently hit targets.

EDIT: If he did his career wouldn't be at the crossroads.

I feel like I should be a bit more specific. It really depends on your definition of the phrase "good user." If you mean strictly the action of kicking, looking directly in front of yourself, kicking to a one-on-one or a lead... Bell kicks superbly. Not only that but the delivery is beautifully flat and catered to the position of the player he's delivering to. We have a number of players who up-and-under, and Bell is great at running in a straight line and delivering lace out...

If what you mean is that his vision is somehow effected, or that he doesn't have that way of predicting where a player will be, a la Hodge... then yes, his delivery is sub-par.

Personally, it all comes down to his footy brain. Put his kicking mechanics, heart and body on Bruce and you'd have a player.

Thanks for your efforts over the years Wheaters, but time to move on.

Some of you lousy posters wouldn't know a good football player if you tripped over 1. Massive Wheaters fan. Some of you should hang your head in shame and show the man some respect. Another 2 year deal for me.

Golly, I'm not sure I've ever agreed with anything you've written

Some of you lousy posters wouldn't know a good football player if you tripped over 1. Massive Wheaters fan. Some of you should hang your head in shame and show the man some respect. Another 2 year deal for me.

Yeah, well your football knowledge has been measured and found wanting.

Wheatley offered up at least a dozen reasons on Sunday why he will be delisted as season's end, possibly more.

It was embarrassing, so much so that I was actually surprised the few times he did something that was acceptable.

BAD CALL!

wasnt great last week, better on the weekend, still re-adjusting to afl level after a long lay off with injury. He definately has a future with us, in a good side his long kicking provides great variety to a side, is a pretty versatile player, can play tall defence and wing, i see him as a possible part of our future premiership plans. Think stuart dew for the hawks last yr, pinch hitting and using his long kicking

Wheatley's strengths are his ability to run with pace all game and kick long. I don't think he will be capable of playing to his strengths this year due to his injuries and match fitness.

If he can get a preseason behind him next year then he will be worth perservering with. He is the sort of player that needs a lot of run in his legs IMO.

He actually was a full forward who learned to be a tagger who learned to be a midfielder.

Extraordinary effort I think.

Josh Hunt kicked something like 70 goals in the TAC cup playing full forward too

Didn't rate Wheatley's game at the weekend at all. Just finished watching the replay on the AFL website, and it further confirmed what i felt on match day.

Too loose, not dangerous enough and lacked polish with his disposals, and most concerningly, just looked pedestrian. IMO he makes too many silly decisions for a player of his experience, and for someone with a massive weapon of a booming kick like he has, how many times does he actually use it? More often than not his disposal by foot consists of safe, short & wide kicks, or silly short-middle distance passes to 50/50 contests, and rarely does he use this weapon to the advantage of the team.

He's probably in the side to give himself one last chance to prove his worth to the list and earn a new contract for next year. List management, as some say. Will probably play every game for the remainder of the year, but IMO, if he keeps serving up that crap, it'll be goodbye Wheaters, thanks for the memories.

Golly, I'm not sure I've ever agreed with anything you've written

Maybe 2 years is going over the top but the way some carry on in here you would think the guy is a..........

WTF??? The guy has played only two games after being hurried back from injury...

Where did he come in our B&F last year?

He is 28, and he is a large part of our future.

Just ask Dean Bailey.

WTF??? The guy has played only two games after being hurried back from injury...

Where did he come in our B&F last year?

He is 28, and he is a large part of our future.

Just ask Dean Bailey.

Yes, because Dean understands how important it is not to win 5 games this season... Paul Wheatley is very important for our future

I thought Wheatley played poorly, both against Port and West Coast. I keep thinking that the only reason he's in the team is because he can kick the ball a long way.

If it was up to me I wouldn't be wasting time playing him. I'd rather see younger players in the team. But I think I'm in the minority on this one.

I thought Wheatley played poorly, both against Port and West Coast. I keep thinking that the only reason he's in the team is because he can kick the ball a long way.

If it was up to me I wouldn't be wasting time playing him. I'd rather see younger players in the team. But I think I'm in the minority on this one.

DING DING DING. We have a winner.

I can't understand why so many people can't see something so obvious.

Mind you, just watched the TV footage of the Port match this morning -- the coverage flattered Wheatley. A lot went unnoticed due to the camera angles.