I'm still struggling to understand the difference between Leigh Brown and Paul Johnson. Paul Johnson has had purple patches in the past where he was played adequate-to-good football too. Brown is obviously a better player (his purple patch has taken him to good-to-excellent), but they're both the same "type" - that is, crappy midfielders in oversized bodies. My tip is that Leigh Brown will go down as a premiership hero at Collingwood this year, then next year he'll be back to the same old pile of dud that he was before.

General question to those who want a "Leigh Brown type": I can't think of any other player in the league in this mould besides these two, so if it isn't PJ you want, who exactly is it that you want?

Brown isn't great, but he uses his frame more than PJ does.

He acts on the field as if he is 2 feet smaller and 20 kilos lighter.

I don't want to put up with it anymore, frankly.

I want a White/Clark type.

But if we can't secure one then i guess it's 'here we go again' with PJ.

A White type?

I was never that impressed by him outside of a ruck contest.

A White type?

I was never that impressed by him outside of a ruck contest.

We are talking different Whites.'

I meant Jesse. Creates a spill, decent kick, and I would prefer him being mauled in the sqaure than Green, Jurrah, or Watts.

General question to those who want a "Leigh Brown type": I can't think of any other player in the league in this mould besides these two, so if it isn't PJ you want, who exactly is it that you want?

Key difference: Brown uses his body, PJ doesn't. Brown can take a mark, PJ can't.

What I meant by that comment was that our second ruckman should be someone able to use their body, to crash packs, to go forward and actually have an impact. Leigh Brown can do that. He's always done the first two, and now he's having an impact as a forward. PJ has never done any of these.

We are talking different Whites.'

I meant Jesse. Creates a spill, decent kick, and I would prefer him being mauled in the sqaure than Green, Jurrah, or Watts.

I rate Jesse White. Thought he was big in Sydney's win over Carlton, as did two of my Sydney-supporting friends. But I guess Roos didn't, since they dropped him.

We are talking different Whites.'

I meant Jesse. Creates a spill, decent kick, and I would prefer him being mauled in the sqaure than Green, Jurrah, or Watts.

Hahahaha oops.

Yeah, I was wondering how you managed to put Jeff White and Mitch Clark in the box.

Didn't seem to make any sense. Now I know why.

Edited September 26, 201014 yr by E25

Key difference: Brown uses his body, PJ doesn't. Brown can take a mark, PJ can't.

What I meant by that comment was that our second ruckman should be someone able to use their body, to crash packs, to go forward and actually have an impact. Leigh Brown can do that. He's always done the first two, and now he's having an impact as a forward. PJ has never done any of these.

I rate Jesse White. Thought he was big in Sydney's win over Carlton, as did two of my Sydney-supporting friends. But I guess Roos didn't, since they dropped him.

PJ plays quite well at VFL level and can take a mark and kick a goal but doesn't seem to be able to do it at AFL level.

The Russian used to play quite well at VFL level and could take a mark and kick a goal but couldn't do it at AFL level.

Well all that changed for the Russian and now he is probably the second best Ruckman in the AFL when two years ago he was considered a spud by most Melbourne supporters.

PJ has at times shown ability to get the ball, his ground work and his chasing and pressure are pretty good, all he needs to do is turn the corner and he might do a Russian.

PJ plays quite well at VFL level but doesn't seem to be able to do it at AFL level.

The Russian used to play quite well at VFL level but couldn't do it at AFL level.

VFL ruckmen generally aren't massive men and both Jamar and PJ tower over them. Jamar would physically dominate and with smaller grounds, he got to more contests and was an influence. On the bigger G, he couldn't do it consistently. He's worked his ass off and his tank is big enough to assert himself. He was always a good contested mark and tap ruckman

PJ has never had problems covering the ground. His 200cm translates well against smaller vfl rucks but in the big leagues everyone is just as big and his weaknesses are glaring. He can't take a contested overhead mark and ruck wise is very poor. Very poor attributes for a ruckman. He is not a late developer. Delist. without a second thought.

Edited September 26, 201014 yr by jacey

I'm still struggling to understand the difference between Leigh Brown and Paul Johnson

One can mark a footballer, and the other one can't.

They are both ordinary, but Brown can afford to be ordinary because he provides enough physical presence up forward. You may as well have kept Miller and taught him to ruck, because he'd be a lot more similar to Brown than PJ is.

Not big enough.

We need a TALL target as a bail out option when going long and create a contest for smalls. Anthony not the player we need.

Hale is a far better option even purely as a FWD, let alone as Jamar's relief.

ANother target who hasnt been mentioned publically is Setanta. Sure he isnt a saviour but he would be a target. But I beleive he is on the list at least, as is Minson.

But HAle is the one who is as close to done as can be at this stage pending is medical results from this week and the GC offer.

Provided me with heaps of laughs during his TAC years.

My personal favourites would have to be:

*Threatening to punch the oppositions runner because he was 'putting him off' while he kicked.

*Screaming at his own teams water girl (making her cry) because she 'didn't get out to him enough'.

*Cracking the sads after he was twice ignored on the lead by the same player ... and then refusing to pass to him (even when he was better placed) for the rest of the game.

To summarise ... the guy is a dead set clown.

Edited September 26, 201014 yr by Mr Untouchable

Provided me with heaps of laughs during his TAC years.

My personal favourites would have to be:

*Threatening to punch the oppositions runner because he was 'putting him off' while he kicked.

*Screaming at his own teams water girl (making her cry) because she 'didn't get out to him enough'.

*Cracking the sads after he was twice ignored on the lead by the same player ... and then refusing to pass to him (even when he was better placed) for the rest of the game.

To summarise ... the guy is a dead set clown.

The water girl was probably emotional...

You're right. I have heard nothing but bad things about this entitled SOB.

Just thought that I would throw this one out there to see what other posters thought of the prospect of drafting John Anthony now that he has walked out on the pies? At only 22 he is the right age for our young group and could be that developed big man that we desperately need in the forward 50, even just as a foil. Thoughts?

No...one dimensional player who can only lead. He also has no defencive pressure. Continued, this was discussed a month ago...

No...one dimensional player who can only lead. He also has no defencive pressure. Continued, this was discussed a month ago...

One dimensional player...who has kicked 50 goals in a season. Wish Melbourne had more one dimensional players

We'd be mad not to look at him.

No...one dimensional player who can only lead. He also has no defencive pressure. Continued, this was discussed a month ago...

If you looked at my join date you'd notice that I wasn't here a month ago. He is hardly a one dimensional player, he was originally recruited as a defender. He is only 22 so has plenty of time to develop his offensive pressure and would be quite handy as a pinch hitter or even an option down back if one of the towers in garland and frawley went down mid game. Much better prospect than Thorp.

NO.

NO.

As per usual, an insightful response... This is a discussion board not a voting booth, how about either raising some questions, sharing some information, or even (gonna regret asking this) sharing some more background on your opinion?

My opinion is that we won't go after him as he seems a similar size to our other lead out forwards in Green, Dunn, Jurrah, Watts, and all communication from the club seems to suggest we're looking for a big stay at home forward. You can't deny he has talent, but I would think we would only go after him as a backup and seeing he's leaving the reigning premiers unhappy with being that he would not be interested in that role with us.

I would think some strong contenders would be Carlton, Essendon, and perhaps even St Kilda.

Saying all that, I think with the new interchange rules next year players who are midsize swingmen, like Anthony could be, will be very handy, so I wouldn't be disappointed should he come to us.

I think he'll find a home, maybe as a rookie. At MFC though? He might squeeze out one of Watts, Bate or Dunn... all of which are better players.

IMO he is an AFL player and someone will pick him up and i would say Carlton would be top of the list

He has ability and looks to be down on confidence

I would think he is above Newton and he is still on our list

Why wouldn't we pick him up. Probably not in the AFL Draft, particularly not early, but certainly in the PSD, I could see us having a crack at him, especially if we don't get Mitch Thorp.

The guy is a [censored] and isn't really a key position player. Jurrah, Petterd and Green will do just as good a job.

One dimensional player...who has kicked 50 goals in a season. Wish Melbourne had more one dimensional players

We'd be mad not to look at him.

Agree

It was only a few seasons ago where Anthony was touted as the pies next big forward. Has fallen out of favor with player and coach, and his form certainly had dropped off last season for whatever reason.

Anthony certainly will be drafted. As for the dees, I would look at him as a rookie list candidate if he is available.

He is still skillful enough, and young enough to carve out another 50-100 games at this level.

THORW IT BACK, THROW IT BACK!

Why wouldn't we pick him up. Probably not in the AFL Draft, particularly not early, but certainly in the PSD

If we use our four picks in the ND, we won't have a pick in the PSD. Our list will be full.