Bail as a tagger? I still think he's a HBF. Playing him as a tagger means we don't get that run of half back.

I agree - how quick we forget! Bruce gone, and within 24hours the entire [online! ie not truly representative] Deez fanbase has jumped off him like Shawn Michaels dumping Marty Jannety through a barbershop window!

Everyone here is pretty big on predictions, ie the complete unknown...Gysberts, maybe - he bolted out of the gates, then came back to earth with a thud! Bail got some good garbage stats but is still untested. Tapscott and Blease done nothing. Morton has been promising that "next year is his year!" for past 3 years! Dunn finally started showing some flashes...

But reality is, for better part of last 3 years, what we KNOW is that its ONLY been Green, Davey & Bruce! Models of consistency in faces of adversity AND the last link to times when, y'know, used to finish in the top 8!

He will be missed, regardless of the unbridled optimism we have in our list every year...

Classic Melbourne supporter.

1st para - Negative 'self' reflection on fans view of former player.

2nd para - Complete dismantling of all promising young players that come to mind to fill the void of said former player.

3rd para - Negative view of future with a romantic fondness for the adequate teams of the recent past. Even though the club hasn't been higher than fifth since Green and Bruce were first year players (is that ironic considering the rubbishing the rookies of today received in the earlier para?)

Last line - a flippant remark over the current state of the list, framing it in a negative light as pure blind optimism.

That's so rich that MFCSS - you can almost smell it.

rpfc - "Alleviating the symptoms of MFCSS since 2010"

I think we need shock treatment...

Bail as a tagger? I still think he's a HBF. Playing him as a tagger means we don't get that run of half back.

Good endurance. Tall, seems to be a good competitor. I'm honestly not sure he's the guy you'd be wanting to have setting up your plays though.

Poor Clint Bartram... has he even got a mention here, even as a tagger option?

Anyway, the trouble with 'replacing' Cameron Bruce is that he was more or less a utility. USed more recently as a shut-down-and-rebound half-back, certainly.

Looking at the pure tagger need (every team needs one) I'd be hoping for one of Bail or Bartram. Jetta might be an option if the engine gets there.

I prefer Dunn as a dangerous defensive forward. Petterd also is an effective medium forward who can go into the midfield and has a good defensive work ethic. Neither are 'the new Cameron Bruce', though!

Gysberts and Morton will both be pushed towards being tall utilities, and both will coached constantly on the importance of their defensive game. Gysberts seems to me to be the most likely to most closely resemble Bruce, for what it is worth.

On half-back flank - noting Gys and Beefcake are available there - personally I think Grimes will own that area as well as contributing to the midfield over his career. I like Bennell as a HBF, and if Strauss is going to 'make it' it will be on the back flank or tagging, if his engine and attitude get there. Garland plays tall and small, as does Frawley though he would generally be expected to play taller.

And of course there's Joel MacDonald, who even has the same shaped head as Bruce, but is a bit beefier. In fact, sometimes the same things have bugged me about MacDonald as have bugged me about Bruce... how 'bout that?

Classic Melbourne supporter.

1st para - Negative 'self' reflection on fans view of former player.

2nd para - Complete dismantling of all promising young players that come to mind to fill the void of said former player.

3rd para - Negative view of future with a romantic fondness for the adequate teams of the recent past. Even though the club hasn't been higher than fifth since Green and Bruce were first year players (is that ironic considering the rubbishing the rookies of today received in the earlier para?)

Last line - a flippant remark over the current state of the list, framing it in a negative light as pure blind optimism.

That's so rich that MFCSS - you can almost smell it.

rpfc - "Alleviating the symptoms of MFCSS since 2010"

I think we need shock treatment...

"classic Melbourne supporter" - i'll take that!

Disrespect/ disgregard our past at your peril!

i'm completely on board with the new movement, but the way in which half ppl here have been slamming Bruce and our so-called "average years" is hardly fair, and kind of self-destructive

dare i got out on a limb and say that our mid to late 90s forward line was possibly the best evers? Deal with it!

"classic Melbourne supporter" - i'll take that!

Disrespect/ disgregard our past at your peril!

You are a classic Melbourne supporter because you are filled with bitterness and hand-wringing and a desire, more than a tendency, to blame all negative happenstance on the club and our 'lot in life.'

It manifests itself in the romaniticisation of a past that was far from glorious.

i'm completely on board with the new movement, but the way in which half ppl here have been slamming Bruce and our so-called "average years" is hardly fair, and kind of self-destructive

dare i got out on a limb and say that our mid to late 90s forward line was possibly the best evers? Deal with it!

These years were failures - we played good football. But is that a decent measure?

We made finals. But is that enough?

We never capitalised on being top of the ladder after 18 rounds (2004), 3rd on the ladder after 13 rounds (2005), and a similar situation in 2006.

If you would like to go back to the 90's to laud the heroes of that era then I would say that those players were given a number of years to reach their potential as a team and they didn't get to the promised land.

The only thing that is destructive is the mindset that led you to write that previous post - bitter, disillusioned, overly negative, and cynical.

Edited November 9, 201014 yr by rpfc

"classic Melbourne supporter" - i'll take that!

Disrespect/ disgregard our past at your peril!

i'm completely on board with the new movement, but the way in which half ppl here have been slamming Bruce and our so-called "average years" is hardly fair, and kind of self-destructive

dare i got out on a limb and say that our mid to late 90s forward line was possibly the best evers? Deal with it!

Love some of the players from that time. But even that great forward line of the 90's, who are you including in that? Ox?, didn't see his best after the knees. Pike?, came and went quickly. Jakovich?, don't get me started, love him but gone too soon. Sean Charles?, not enough to say that should have been said about his career. Farmer?, loved him then he left on his own terms, to his detriment I'll add. Lyon?, champ, but injury problems and could've been better. Bennett?, well he nearly achieved the ultimate in NFL.

The forward line of the 90's had potential but did it ever reach it's ultimate potential? Even with the different set ups of players included above? 94 perhaps was the best, Jako, Bennett & Lyon in 91 etc but those teams failed to achieve in the ultimate sense and quickly dropped away.

I've got great memories mostly of the late 80's/early 90's teams being 35 yrs old. Getting older it has become more frustrating to see 'potential' chances come and go and holding onto memories of beating Hawthorn twice (Rnd 22 and Elim Final) in 1990 etc. I could reel off plenty of great games and players I've enjoyed watching. I suspect none will be held as high in my opinion than the group that win a flag for ME! For MFC, for all supporters etc.

I'm not sure if that will be the case, but how would I know? It's the only experience in football I've yet to have as an MFC supporter and it's about bloody time I/we got to experience it.

You are a classic Melbourne supporter because you are filled with bitterness and hand-wringing and a desire, more than a tendency, to blame all negative happenstance on the club and our 'lot in life.'

It manifests itself in the romaniticisation of a past that was far from glorious.

These years were failures - we played good football. But is that a decent measure?

We made finals. But is that enough?

We never capitalised on being top of the ladder after 18 rounds (2004), 3rd on the ladder after 13 rounds (2005), and a similar situation in 2006.

If you would like to go back to the 90's to laud the heroes of that era then I would say that those players were given a number of years to reach their potential as a team and they didn't get to the promised land.

The only thing that is destructive is the mindset that led you to write that previous post - bitter, disillusioned, overly negative, and cynical.

Still fail to see how i am the bitter, disillusioned, etc etc one when I am the one actually appreciating our "failures" being the past 20 years!! Fact: there's 17 other clubs who don't win a premiership every year - so by your logic, we should take zero away from any success we've had in the past - be it Finals campaigns, unearthing quality new talent, Brownlow medallists...

I'm possibly the most optimistic Deez supporter year-to-year!

The only thing that caused me to write a vitriolic post was the recent consistently poor manner in which we've treated our veterans on the way out, which reached an apex with Bruce - still, i'll get over it in time, as i am a true supporter!

The only thing that caused me to write a vitriolic post was the recent consistently poor manner in which we've treated our veterans on the way out, which reached an apex with Bruce - still, i'll get over it in time, as i am a true supporter!

FCS. How have we treated Bruce (veteran) poorly on the way out exactly ? When our club and Bailey are the one's who are left disappointed after 'Bruce's decision ?'

Still fail to see how i am the bitter, disillusioned, etc etc one when I am the one actually appreciating our "failures" being the past 20 years!! Fact: there's 17 other clubs who don't win a premiership every year - so by your logic, we should take zero away from any success we've had in the past - be it Finals campaigns, unearthing quality new talent, Brownlow medallists...

I'm possibly the most optimistic Deez supporter year-to-year!

The only thing that caused me to write a vitriolic post was the recent consistently poor manner in which we've treated our veterans on the way out, which reached an apex with Bruce - still, i'll get over it in time, as i am a true supporter!

The phrase "accepting mediocrity" is thrown around here a little too often, but I think here it might be apt. We've all gotten happiness from our past good performances, but for me, that happiness turned a little sour once I realized what we'd have to do to make up for the little bits of pleasure my team gave me as it rode the wave to the top of the ladder after round 18 of 2004, before being dumped onto the sandy shores of Elimination Final failure. We need to win a Premiership now, and anything less is failure. And I take no joy from failure.

Still fail to see how i am the bitter, disillusioned, etc etc one when I am the one actually appreciating our "failures" being the past 20 years!!

Really?

I agree - how quick we forget! Bruce gone, and within 24hours the entire [online! ie not truly representative] Deez fanbase has jumped off him like Shawn Michaels dumping Marty Jannety through a barbershop window!

Everyone here is pretty big on predictions, ie the complete unknown...Gysberts, maybe - he bolted out of the gates, then came back to earth with a thud! Bail got some good garbage stats but is still untested. Tapscott and Blease done nothing. Morton has been promising that "next year is his year!" for past 3 years! Dunn finally started showing some flashes...

But reality is, for better part of last 3 years, what we KNOW is that its ONLY been Green, Davey & Bruce! Models of consistency in faces of adversity AND the last link to times when, y'know, used to finish in the top 8!

He will be missed, regardless of the unbridled optimism we have in our list every year...

You go from hand-wringing about the fan reaction, to bitterness over our current youth (while earlier making reference to Bruce and Green being vestiges of the successful 2000 team - even though they were untested rookies!), to cynicism over the "unbridled optimism" around the club.

See it now?

See it now?

I have a feeling it's going to be as clear as mud mate.

I can't see any loss, I'm being blinded by the light finally appearing at the end of the long tunnel.

Edited November 9, 201014 yr by america de cali

Really?

You go from hand-wringing about the fan reaction, to bitterness over our current youth (while earlier making reference to Bruce and Green being vestiges of the successful 2000 team - even though they were untested rookies!), to cynicism over the "unbridled optimism" around the club.

See it now?

Bruce will be missed like a fart in a spacesuit. Rhino, that is not player abuse, he doesn't play for anyone now.

I smelt him out long ago

I agree - how quick we forget! Bruce gone, and within 24hours the entire [online! ie not truly representative] Deez fanbase has jumped off him like Shawn Michaels dumping Marty Jannety through a barbershop window!

Everyone here is pretty big on predictions, ie the complete unknown...Gysberts, maybe - he bolted out of the gates, then came back to earth with a thud! Bail got some good garbage stats but is still untested. Tapscott and Blease done nothing. Morton has been promising that "next year is his year!" for past 3 years! Dunn finally started showing some flashes...

But reality is, for better part of last 3 years, what we KNOW is that its ONLY been Green, Davey & Bruce! Models of consistency in faces of adversity AND the last link to times when, y'know, used to finish in the top 8!

He will be missed, regardless of the unbridled optimism we have in our list every year...

What... you don't like our All Australian pair Frawley and Jamar, hows about a fella called Liam Jurrah? Didn't like the first season of Tom Scully? Jack Grimes anyone?

Open your eyes, expand your vision. Your claim that we are a 3 player team is ridiculous.

Cameron Bruce will be missed, fortunately the playing list we have compiled by making these tough decisions will contain a worthy replacement. Chances are also that he will do the job as well, allbeit differently, for longer, and for less.

I am right behind the club on this.

Poor Clint Bartram... has he even got a mention here, even as a tagger option?

Why would he get a mention as someone to cover the loss of Bruce or Junior? He's already a regular in the team (and in a different position to Bruce and Junior). I don't think the fact he hasn't been mentioned is a sleight.

Why would he get a mention as someone to cover the loss of Bruce or Junior? He's already a regular in the team (and in a different position to Bruce and Junior). I don't think the fact he hasn't been mentioned is a sleight.

I agree, Bartram has moved on, he covers the small forward, tagging was so he could become more accoutantable and consistent and last season he showed it, same with Dunn....but if the need arises they can both return to the role.....