Another article from the great mark stevens.

Made me sit back and go FFS

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/expert-opinion/the-demons-most-pivotal-draft-day/story-fncqi979-1226332168836

Can't read it.

Can you pull out the paras that made you go FFS.

FYI, a way around the H-S paywall is to click on the article. The abridged version will show up. Copy the URL and paste into Google. The Google search result link will then allow you to view the entire article.

Plain bad luck that both Blease and Strauss have had bad leg breaks in their first few years in the game. In hindsight, Redden and Shuey would obviously have been great pickups, but I hate hindsight draft heroes. Once their names are read out on draft day we need to concentrate 100% on turning whoever we have picked into AFL footballers, and anyone else I don't care much for.

Ok, so if we had Redden, we wouldn't be in the predicament we are now?

That is specious reasoning of the lowest order.

Hello, Mark?

Look at our senior players.

That is why we are where we are.

The ramifications of Watts, Blease, Strauss, and Bennell will be felt, but not yet.

It's nothing that most posters here don't already know.

Although it must be said that there are a some supporters that are so blinded by their parochialism they still won't concede we stuffed up - broken legs or no broken legs. But every clubs has supporters like these.

Please don't paste full articles in threads. If you want to read HS articles you'll have to subscribe, or find "other" ways as Swooper suggested.

It's nothing that most posters here don't already know.

Although it must be said that there are a some supporters that are so blinded by their parochialism they still won't concede we stuffed up - broken legs or no broken legs. But every clubs has supporters like these.

Well, my view is that it won't be known whether we stuffed up for a couple of years yet.

I can tell you that we stuffed up our drafting, and development of, most players drafted pre-2005. And that is why we are this bad.

Ok, so if we had Redden, we wouldn't be in the predicament we are now?

That is specious reasoning of the lowest order.

Hello, Mark?

Look at our senior players.

That is why we are where we are.

The ramifications of Watts, Blease, Strauss, and Bennell will be felt, but not yet.

Id much rather we have redden and shuey, hindsight is a wonderful thing though

We've become Richmond.... Sad state of affairs really. A plethora of wasted draft picks and underdevelopment of players.

Id much rather we have redden and shuey, hindsight is a wonderful thing though

Throw Shuey and Redden into our mess of a team and they will look just as bad as the kids we are playing anyway.

Our kids are asked to do too much, too soon and they get no help from those 25 and older and that is damning them.

Well, my view is that it won't be known whether we stuffed up for a couple of years yet.

I can tell you that we stuffed up our drafting, and development of, most players drafted pre-2005. And that is why we are this bad.

+ 1

Throw Shuey and Redden into our mess of a team and they will look just as bad as the kids we are playing anyway.

Our kids are asked to do too much, too soon and they get no help from those 25 and older and that is damning them.

Redden was thrown into a mess at brisbane. Seems to be doing fine.

I agree though, our senior players on field leadership is woeful, they just roll over

It's nothing that most posters here don't already know.

Although it must be said that there are a some supporters that are so blinded by their parochialism they still won't concede we stuffed up - broken legs or no broken legs. But every clubs has supporters like these.

Sad you still think this way but you are right on one thing you have plenty around here that will agree with you - but such is life.

Constantly looking in the rear vision mirror will kill you if you are not careful.

I have no issues with Watts and still think he is devloping nicely, ifact I still believe Watts will have a better carreer than Nic Nat (although his highlight video will be much better). Strauss is to early to make the call on but Blease and Bennell are useless. Blease should go and joing his mate in GWS.

We've become Richmond.... Sad state of affairs really. A plethora of wasted draft picks and underdevelopment of players.

Tigers didnt look all that bad last-weekend - but maybe the "penny" dropped for them - sad it couldn't be said for many around here.

Remind me how much money they secured from the federal government to improve their facilities?

Remind me what Mark Neeld said about Dimma in his press-conference after the game - go listen!

How is Blair H going at the Tigers - Geez Griggs went not to bad against us - How many possessions did he have?

Might be a little cryptic for some - but Google should partially help you out. Off you go.

Crap article with no real substance...so it looks like he somehow got Melbourne's drafts order for a few years ago. You choose picks up the track record up to that point, nothing else. the rest is development and the existing team to see what their impact is.

If i had perfect forward sight (like hindsight in receiver) I"1d be so rich by knowing what was always going to happen.

Oh yes, I'll have Watts a million times over Nat. except for the odd freakish thing, and I mean odd, Nat is a crap footballer. he just gets attention as he's Fijian, big with dreadlocks, sot he media love him, but you watch him in a game, his influence is minimal.'

Please don't paste full articles in threads. If you want to read HS articles you'll have to subscribe, or find "other" ways as Swooper suggested.

No worries, sorry about that. Thanks Swooper too!! Cheers

Throw Shuey and Redden into our mess of a team and they will look just as bad as the kids we are playing anyway. Our kids are asked to do too much, too soon and they get no help from those 25 and older and that is damning them.

Rpfc is on the money again.

We lament our drafting of specific players but fail to put it inot context. If Watts had gone to Wetcoke he would be thought of in a very different light and would be far outshining NikNat who would have developed at a slower rate with us.

An example was Cheney when we played the hawks earlier this year, he looked good but he was getting support and surrounded by players making it a lot easier for him to shine. Add that being in a good team gives you confidence something we lack at the moment.

Our most mature and senior players who are on the paddock and performing are Jones (who is not that old) and Clark.

If our senior players regain fitness and form we will see an improvement with those still learning the craft.

Throw Shuey and Redden into our mess of a team and they will look just as bad as the kids we are playing anyway.

Our kids are asked to do too much, too soon and they get no help from those 25 and older and that is damning them.

I don't know about that. Throw Shuey & Redden in instead of Bennell, Blease, Bail etc and I think they would perform better.

I have no issues with Watts and still think he is devloping nicely, ifact I still believe Watts will have a better carreer than Nic Nat (although his highlight video will be much better). Strauss is to early to make the call on but Blease and Bennell are useless. Blease should go and joing his mate in GWS.

HA unbelievable

So Strauss has played 11 games, and it's too early to call

Whilst Blease spent near on 2 years recovering from a snapped leg and has played 6 games but he's useless?

Unbelievable

Rpfc is on the money again.

We lament our drafting of specific players but fail to put it inot context. If Watts had gone to Wetcoke he would be thought of in a very different light and would be far outshining NikNat who would have developed at a slower rate with us.

An example was Cheney when we played the hawks earlier this year, he looked good but he was getting support and surrounded by players making it a lot easier for him to shine. Add that being in a good team gives you confidence something we lack at the moment.

Our most mature and senior players who are on the paddock and performing are Jones (who is not that old) and Clark.

If our senior players regain fitness and form we will see an improvement with those still learning the craft.

Robbie you are correct but what are the chances?

The majority of them were poor for most of 2011 and are now a year older and the same form line continues.

While I would like players like Green and Davey to produce 2010 form IMO it is not going to happen.

We have to accept that there is a number of years in bottom half dozen spots ahead of us

I hate to admit it as i am running out of time but that unfortunately is the sad truth.

Well, my view is that it won't be known whether we stuffed up for a couple of years yet.

I can tell you that we stuffed up our drafting, and development of, most players drafted pre-2005. And that is why we are this bad.

We haven't stuffed up with our picking.

But we do have some players who are very 'Outside', maybe too outside... every club will havve some who miss, & IMO it's not looking good for Morton at this point.

Bennell still has some time to get himself into a boxing regime, where getting Hit doesn't worry him so much, to overcome his Fear. Time is ticking Jamie.

IMO the others are mostly OK & Talented. Watts, Strauss, Blease the colt who needs some special treatment, Tapscott, Fitzpatrick, Gysberts, Howe, Tmac, Davis, Tynan, & some others are slowly coming along.

Last year many here wanted to get rid of Fitzpatrick, & Spencer - they still do. Way too soon IMO.

Heres a MFC player List based on Age >

http://www.footywire...ear=2012&sby=15

see the size of our list from the 25Yr mark, & down, it's sizeable & talented. Just needs to be continually developed.

The game itself has swung wildly over the last 2+ years, catching many off balance.

We recruited up to the 2009 draft for an open style gameplan of run & carry. The last 2 years were full of flooding but the AFL is steering the game back to > some space to run into, & more one on ones, IMO... this is where more talented individuals will shine, once they grow their bodies & experience.

we've just started to draft for some strength & aggression in recent drafts & these boys are starting to come thru. http://www.footywire...emons?year=2011

more will no doubt follow.

We have class, we need to continue to develop them.

Its the older bracket that is thinning & wanting. the + 25's. with the cultural thing going

Edited April 19, 201213 yr by dee-luded

We haven't stuffed up with our picking.

But we do have some players who are very 'Outside', maybe too outside... every club will havve some who miss, & IMO it's not looking good for Morton at this point.

Bennell still has some time to get himself into a boxing regime, where getting Hit doesn't worry him so much, to overcome his Fear. Time is ticking Jamie.

IMO the others are mostly OK & Talented. Watts, Strauss, Blease the colt who needs some special treatment, Tapscott, Fitzpatrick, Gysberts, Howe, Tmac, Davis, Tynan, & some others are slowly coming along.

Last year many here wanted to get rid of Fitzpatrick, & Spencer - they still do. Way too soon IMO.

Heres a MFC player List based on Age >

http://www.footywire...ear=2012&sby=15

see the size of our list from the 25Yr mark, & down, it's sizeable & talented. Just needs to be continually developed.

The game itself has swung wildly over the last 2+ years, catching many off balance.

We recruited up to for an open style gameplan of run & carry. The last 2 years were full of flooding but the AFL is steering the game back to > some space to run into, & more one on ones, IMO... this is where more talented individuals will shine, once they grow their bodies & experience.

we've just started to draft for some strength & aggression in recent drafts & these boys are starting to come thru. http://www.footywire...emons?year=2011

more will no doubt follow.

We have class, we need to continue to develop them.

Its the older bracket that is thinning & wanting. the + 25's. with the cultural thing going

De-luded I cannot agree with you in two areas

In my 50+ years of playing and watching football I have concluded that frightened players never improve.

Bennell will never change, he will always be that way.

Blease is IMO a one trick pony, gets the ball and dashes down field. might be ok at VFL level but from what i can see he has no other tricks and his kicking is poor.

We need to drop 5- 6 from our list at the end of 2012.

Bennell is on top of my list and Blease is a maybe based on how he goes over the next 16 weeks.