Emma Quayle's article on tanking

[Jaded No More 68,974]

I'm sticking fat with McLean.

The ONLY reason he wont make it is because of injury.

Amen!

[beelzebub 23,383]

well then we have consensus... rest Brocky for rest of 09.. get him 100% for season 010 as he'll need to be on his toes to keep up

[rpfc 28,780]

So Hannabal etc--don't just tell us of your most favourable outcome--tell us how we get there!For everone[i think] agrees that once the team runs out on the ground it must give it everything it's got.

I'll have a go.

If McLean, Moloney, Rivers, or Jamar are carrying anything they should be wrapped in cotton wool. Same goes for the rest of the players but especially those 4.

Player protection - McLean, coming off a low PS base, rested for a few weeks or the rest of the season. If he gets injured, and he has hobbled off more than once in the past two months, in these pointless games that would be an indictment on the club's management of an important player that is injury prone.

Player development - Jurrah to HFF, Bate to FF, Grimes to RR, Jetta to HBF, Bennell to FP, Morton to CHF, Petterd to a wing, Jones remains as tagger, and, maybe, Watts to the other wing. Bring in Watts and Cheney for, possibly, Dunn and Batram.

List management - Newton for Robbo, Wheatley stays out for Bennell, Whelan stays out for Grimes, and Miller stays out for Dunn or Watts. Sylvia serves penance for a week or two for his roundhouse. And, possibly, McLean for McKenzie or Valenti.

Against Richmond I would like to see us line up like this

FB: Cheney Warnock Bruce

HB: Rivers Frawley Jetta

C: Petterd Moloney Watts

HF: Jurrah Morton Davey

FF: Green Bate Bennell

R: Jamar, Jones, Grimes

I: McKenzie, Martin, Newton, McDonald

This team will have 14 players 22 or younger. Even Rivers could be wrapped in cotton wool for McNamara but it is still very young and experimental - it serves the future.

And if they still beat the Tigers or NM (they won't lose to Freo) then that's how fate will have it.

[beelzebub 23,383]

mothball the Russian now... hes starting to get in the swing...best he not risk anything til 010 Bring back PJ.. his chance to earn his scheckles

Mothball Brocky, Riv and Beamer,

Keep Jurrah at FP..god knows what damage he'll cause with licence to roam..yikes !! lol

Whelan can come back for Grimes but only the Richmond and Freo games

Watts doesnt return til the Blues/Saints games

Bring in Juice but play him at HFF and Bate at FF.

Somewhere fit in Cheney , Mckenzie and some games for Valenti

With no feed we ought to be pretty safe

[Carn dees 108]

I'll have a go.

If McLean, Moloney, Rivers, or Jamar are carrying anything they should be wrapped in cotton wool. Same goes for the rest of the players but especially those 4.

Player protection - McLean, coming off a low PS base, rested for a few weeks or the rest of the season. If he gets injured, and he has hobbled off more than once in the past two months, in these pointless games that would be an indictment on the club's management of an important player that is injury prone.

Player development - Jurrah to HFF, Bate to FF, Grimes to RR, Jetta to HBF, Bennell to FP, Morton to CHF, Petterd to a wing, Jones remains as tagger, and, maybe, Watts to the other wing. Bring in Watts and Cheney for, possibly, Dunn and Batram.

List management - Newton for Robbo, Wheatley stays out for Bennell, Whelan stays out for Grimes, and Miller stays out for Dunn or Watts. Sylvia serves penance for a week or two for his roundhouse. And, possibly, McLean for McKenzie or Valenti.

Against Richmond I would like to see us line up like this

FB: Cheney Warnock Bruce

HB: Rivers Frawley Jetta

C: Petterd Moloney Watts

HF: Jurrah Morton Davey

FF: Green Bate Bennell

R: Jamar, Jones, Grimes

I: McKenzie, Martin, Newton, McDonald

This team will have 14 players 22 or younger. Even Rivers could be wrapped in cotton wool for McNamara but it is still very young and experimental - it serves the future.

And if they still beat the Tigers or NM (they won't lose to Freo) then that's how fate will have it.

Add hueghes and valenti into the mix and id agree, its there time to show what theyve got.

Ohh and big spencer.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Carn dees

[donny williams no 25 0]

I'll have a go.

If McLean, Moloney, Rivers, or Jamar are carrying anything they should be wrapped in cotton wool. Same goes for the rest of the players but especially those 4.

Player protection - McLean, coming off a low PS base, rested for a few weeks or the rest of the season. If he gets injured, and he has hobbled off more than once in the past two months, in these pointless games that would be an indictment on the club's management of an important player that is injury prone.

Player development - Jurrah to HFF, Bate to FF, Grimes to RR, Jetta to HBF, Bennell to FP, Morton to CHF, Petterd to a wing, Jones remains as tagger, and, maybe, Watts to the other wing. Bring in Watts and Cheney for, possibly, Dunn and Batram.

List management - Newton for Robbo, Wheatley stays out for Bennell, Whelan stays out for Grimes, and Miller stays out for Dunn or Watts. Sylvia serves penance for a week or two for his roundhouse. And, possibly, McLean for McKenzie or Valenti.

Against Richmond I would like to see us line up like this

FB: Cheney Warnock Bruce

HB: Rivers Frawley Jetta

C: Petterd Moloney Watts

HF: Jurrah Morton Davey

FF: Green Bate Bennell

R: Jamar, Jones, Grimes

I: McKenzie, Martin, Newton, McDonald

This team will have 14 players 22 or younger. Even Rivers could be wrapped in cotton wool for McNamara but it is still very young and experimental - it serves the future.

And if they still beat the Tigers or NM (they won't lose to Freo) then that's how fate will have it.

look, positions on the field don't mean much these days. How can they when anyone who kicks a goal is immediately rewarded by a nice sit on the pine.?I doubt that we can try Jetta in the ruck.

Anyway, the team you've listed will beat Richmond, Freo and possibly North and Swans.That's one of the pluses/minuses of a relatively even list. I would prefer Newton to Robbo in any event at present.

That's my point--absent the outright dropping of half a dozen of our best I can't see what list management tactics can be tried with the intention of losing a game

[Einstein 1]

It's not going to happen?

Err, that come out awkward. What I meant was, I was referring to my comment that I didn't want to see Scully waste his time playing on an ordinary team without success. I was agreeing that if Scully does end up a Demon, with the potential of our current list, he will likely be part of a successful team. I just don't want to see another great Melbourne player, play out a career without the ultimate success. Something like that. And that's what we need to be all about, the ultimate success. But I think I'll worry about that when he is actually on our list. First things first.

[H_T 3,049]

First things first.

One week at a time...

[Deeman 1,513]

Why is Emma Quayle picking on Melbourne and only Melbourne?

Fremantle is playing without Pavlich and Sandilands, WCE without Cox and Kerr and Richmond without Cousins and Cotchin.

Enough said.

[Sir Why You Little 37,149]

Why is Emma Quayle picking on Melbourne and only Melbourne?

Fremantle is playing without Pavlich and Sandilands, WCE without Cox and Kerr and Richmond without Cousins and Cotchin.

Enough said.

I agree, the AFL should Look Closely at Wet Coke. That Club is so Dodgy. But of course they won't. Makes me sick.

2005 Runner Up

2006 Premier-Player Sacked for alleged Drug use.

2009 Tanking for a Priority Pick

STINKS

[Hannabal 4]

And I'm not ware of anyone playing at present who should be rested [for the remainder of the year] on health grounds.

So Hannabal etc--don't just tell us of your most favourable outcome--tell us how we get there!For everone[i think] agrees that once the team runs out on the ground it must give it everything it's got.

I think you have a good point, Don. And unlike some others, I'm not an advocate of playing too many players in a position that's foreign to them. Bailey has said that some young players will get a taste in different positions, but it's unlikely that any coach will do it on mass. The coach is selling a message to his players. He's urging them to develop a competitive attitude and the last thing I want, and I'm sure the coaches want, is for the players to have any inkling that something isn't right. Players aren't stupid and they understand the sentiment out there regarding tanking, so it's very important that they don't feel that anything is wrong, or unusal.

It's a very hard question to answer when you're not in the inner sanctum. Obviously players carrying an injury need to be put in cotton wool, and perhaps fringe players given an opportunity before a decision is made on them. As a coach, perhaps I'd think twice about moving a player that was being soundly beaten, but I wouldn't do anything too overt that would arouse obvious suspicion. I'd try to be as subtle as I could. I think that there are small things that can be done that can make a difference without telegraphing your intentions to the world. But I'd also accept that there's only so much you can do. If the players are on and they get that win that some of us don't want, so be it. I'm sure west Coast didn't want to beat Hawthorn, but they got the win anyway. There's no fool proof way of manipulating results.

In reality, Don, I don't think that we'll have too much trouble only winning one more game. Others may disagree, but I don't think we'll beat Sydney, Richmond or North. But they are nervous times.

I just want to reiterate where we differ. One player can make a huge difference. Whether that's Flintoff in the cricket, Carey in football, etc. Stars have a massive impact on their team. And if we can unearth a couple it will impact greatly on the MFC. We really do need Scully. I just have to keep my fingers crossed.

[Roost It 1,434]

FB: Cheney Warnock Bail

HB: McNamara Frawley Jetta

C: Petterd Valenti Watts

HF: Jurrah Morton Dunn

FF: Green Bate Bennell

R: PJ, Jones, Grimes

I: McKenzie, Martin, Newton, McDonald

Now that's a Tom Scully and pick 2 team!

Edited July 21, 2009 by Roost It

[45HG 1,559]

B: Cheney Warnock Bail

HB: McNamara Frawley Wheatley

C: Dunn Green Bennell

HF: Petterd Miller Bate

F: Hughes Jurrah Morton

Fo: Johnson Moloney Bruce

Int: Hughes Mckenzie Jones Bartram

Em: Spencer Whelan Watts McDonald Robertson

Whelan, Robertson, McDonald and Wheatley coming in to bid farewell, hopefully during a win as this is what they (especially the first 3) deserve.

Grimes in cotton wool, one of Bruce, Green and Moloney will possibly need surgery... Bail, Tmac and Mckenzie given a chance to show their wares, though I'd also agree with not playing them having them not earned their spot.

Would like to see Hughes have a dig. Morton have a go at a marking, KP type position.

Bell, Bartram, Newton, Dunn to show why they should be kept on board.

Edited July 21, 2009 by 45hotgod

[beelzebub 23,383]

ahem !! ummm Belly's out for the season !! otherwise much 'merit' in that team there 45 !!

[45HG 1,559]

Knew I'd make a blunder or 3

Had a feeling that was shot, any others?

[Einstein 1]

In reality, Don, I don't think that we'll have too much trouble only winning one more game. Others may disagree, but I don't think we'll beat Sydney, Richmond or North. But they are nervous times.

We really do need Scully. I just have to keep my fingers crossed.

I think you're right Hannabal. I know some people think we'll crack 5 or even 6 wins but the more I think about it, I don't think it will happen. I say the only win we will have is against Fremantle, and even then that'll be only because against that group of clowns, a loss will be totally unavoidable.

Plus I'd like to have at least another win this year.

I haven't been an advocate of out-and-out tanking and I don't think that will change. But I do understand the value of adding a player like Scully along with another quality talent. It is much needed.

I also don't believe one or two wins more than 4 this year will somehow have a dramatic positive impact on the future psyche of the playing group. Wins right now are not that important. Competitive efforts are. I do believe however that the coaching staff manipulating the gameplan in order to lose would not be good for the playing group.

So it's a balancing act. It's all about that mysterious term 'list management.'

I still feel compromised on the issue. I genuinely find it difficult to hope that we lose games. But at the same time, as the moment of truth comes closer, ending on 5 wins would make me sick.

It's just a terrible position to be in as a supporter. It's a Bizarro Premiership.

[beelzebub 23,383]

Knew I'd make a blunder or 3

Had a feeling that was shot, any others?

dont think so..!! :D I mean they might as well really have a go with a line up like that. Cant hurt.. hehehe

[Roost It 1,434]

FB: Cheney Warnock Bail

HB: McNamara Frawley Jetta

C: Petterd Valenti Watts

HF: Jurrah Morton Dunn

FF: Green Bate Bennell

R: PJ, Jones, Bartram

I: McKenzie, Martin, Newton, McDonald

Now that's a Tom Scully and pick 2 team!

Grimes out only helps the equation

Edited July 21, 2009 by Roost It

[Sir Why You Little 37,149]

I also don't believe one or two wins more than 4 this year will somehow have a dramatic positive impact on the future psyche of the playing group. Wins right now are not that important. Competitive efforts are. I do believe however that the coaching staff manipulating the gameplan in order to lose would not be good for the playing group.

I would sit the Entire Playing Group down & tell them the whole List Management thing. It's for the betterment of the club, A real Crack at a flag. It's no secret. Players can still play Hard.

It's the Big Picture Scenario

[Jerry Lundergard 420]

I think selection this week will give us the biggest indication as to whether the coaching staff are interested in the priority pick or not.

[rpfc 28,780]

I think selection this week will give us the biggest indication as to whether the coaching staff are interested in the priority pick or not.

To a certain extent, but I think the week after will give more of an indication.

Sydney at Manuka is completely different to Richmond at the G.

[Roost It 1,434]

To a certain extent, but I think the week after will give more of an indication.

Sydney at Manuka is completely different to Richmond at the G.

Sydney have packed up for the year, Roos confirming as much in today's media.

This game is a real worry, for me more so than Richmond and North.

They are smart operators and if they want to lose they easily could.

Grimes and Jamar out is a step in the right direction.

[H_T 3,049]

Sydney have packed up for the year, Roos confirming as much in today's media.

This game is a real worry, for me more so than Richmond and North.

They are smart operators and if they want to lose they easily could.

Grimes and Jamar out is a step in the right direction.

Why would they pack up for the year? They've won 6 games.

[donny williams no 25 0]

Bizzell, Brown, Yze and White were all played in the AFL prior to their retirements.

If you believe his devoted supporters, McLean is injured....when he does not play well

Sorry Rhino--Bizzell, Yze and White WERE played at Sandy for much of their last few games at Melbourne. I can't recall so much about Brown who was playing very good footy.

If Mc Lean is injured[and I understand he was close to our best v Pt Adelaide] yes, of course, I'd rest him

[donny williams no 25 0]

B: Cheney Warnock Bail

HB: McNamara Frawley Wheatley

C: Dunn Green Bennell

HF: Petterd Miller Bate

F: Hughes Jurrah Morton

Fo: Johnson Moloney Bruce

Int: Hughes Mckenzie Jones Bartram

Em: Spencer Whelan Watts McDonald Robertson

Whelan, Robertson, McDonald and Wheatley coming in to bid farewell, hopefully during a win as this is what they (especially the first 3) deserve.

Grimes in cotton wool, one of Bruce, Green and Moloney will possibly need surgery... Bail, Tmac and Mckenzie given a chance to show their wares, though I'd also agree with not playing them having them not earned their spot.

Would like to see Hughes have a dig. Morton have a go at a marking, KP type position.

Bell, Bartram, Newton, Dunn to show why they should be kept on board.

so you just leave out a couple of our best players?

Let me put this to you. It's R21 and Carlton are battling for a place in the 4 or bettter still, the 8. And Essendon and others are breathing down their necks. And we've got almost a full list to choose from[i accept several players are out for the season but they're not pivotal anyway] Wouldn't every Melbourne player, supporter, coach, official , to say nothing of our poor president, get the greatest lift if we could knock the Blues out of whatever spot they're hoping to achieve?And wouldn't the competition be buggered if Essendon and any other club wanting to get past Carlton, suspected that Melbourne were throwing the match?

Remember, it could happen to us next year or in 2011. The integrity of the competition IS bloody important