THE HOWE JONES INDEX

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Neeld had to see whether Morton has the hunger and discipline to play AFL footy at the MFC.

Unfortunately, Morton got injured - his days could be numbered.

Morton is contracted in 2013. Hare it when any player gets injured. Its no disgrace being towlled up by Ablett but he did not give anything at all when on.

Should be rookied next year then likely to be delisted.

More like trying to give him some currency on the trade table.

Football clubs (other than MFC) arent that incompetent.

Well Morton's trade currency has fallen below parity with the Zimbabwean dollar!

pretty sure Green got 5 and I think he'll stay.

I like Green but uts a junk time performance. I think his cards are marked.

[Lord Travis 10,184]

Walls giving the votes

Bennell (GC) 3

Ablett 2 votes

Green 1 vote

What a joke he is. They were good but when does a losing side get the best two players??

He got it dead right. Bennell and Ablett were far better than anyone else on the ground. Nearly 40 touches and 4 goals and you're saying that's a joke? I can't remember the last time a Melbourne player had a game anywhere near as good as either of those two played today. Pull your head out of your ass!

[olisik 4,060]

Be fair - had some major injuries.

I, too, am concerned by his lack of size but he has sustained a broken ankle and a broken jaw.

He must play all the remaining games and start eating plenty of steaks around Chrissy time.

This is the afl. If he isnt up for it then dont play him. Simple. U dont give players games then make excuses like this as to why they dont perform.

[Nasher 33,111]

Walls giving the votes

Bennell (GC) 3

Ablett 2 votes

Green 1 vote

What a joke he is.

Agreed. Absolute joke that he gave the one vote to Green and not Nathan Jones.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Tapscott played his best game for the club and will be a player.

I regard Jones as now a bona fide A grader. Keep it up.

Trengove and Grimes will prove to be quality leaders.

The ingredients for a quality list are there when one considers our end of season opportunities. There is blue sky.

[Dr. Mubutu 694]

Walls giving the votes

Bennell (GC) 3

Ablett 2 votes

Green 1 vote

What a joke he is. They were good but when does a losing side get the best two players??

Honestly, no arguments from me. Easily the two best on ground.

[Nascent 7,337]

Is that the worst 7 goal win ever?

Glad to come away with the win but that was extremely hard to watch. McDonald attempting to bounce the ball provided some comedic value.

[beelzebub 22,229]

The best aspect from today ?

A game closer to the eos !

[george_on_the_outer 7,002]

Tapscott played his best game for the club and will be a player.

I regard Jones as now a bona fide A grader. Keep it up.

Trengove and Grimes will prove to be quality leaders.

The ingredients for a quality list are there when one considers our end of season opportunities. There is blue sky.

I think Tapscott put 2 of their players out of the game today. Shows the importance of big bodies in this game.

And until we have a team of similarly built players, that we can't expect much more than this season has produced.

[jane02 3,367]

I think Tapscott put 2 of their players out of the game today. Shows the importance of big bodies in this game.

And until we have a team of similarly built players, that we can't expect much more than this season has produced.

Agree - Tapscott is one tough cookie. He took a few hard hits today himself but just got up and got on with it. I like his attitude. The Dees need players like him.

[Cheesecake 92]

Neeld had to see whether Morton has the hunger and discipline to play AFL footy at the MFC.

Unfortunately, Morton got injured - his days could be numbered.

Yep, absolutely agree, Jumbo. And I fully support Neeld playing him as much as possible, to see if he offers us anything in the long term. I just question whether asking him to tag Ablett achieves anything at all. It's not a role that suits him, or that he is ever going to be able to excel at.

Maybe he wants him to get into more contested areas to see if he can increase his inside ball, or at least see how it is done. He certainly isn't going to just float around the outside of packs waiting for handballs, if he is tagging the best player in the game, I suppose.

I guess it's a mute point now, what with him doing his shoulder. A real shame that. I'm one of the few here who believe that may offer something, if he can just get his head right. He's a confidence player, who's been devoid of any for a very long time now.

[deeflog 679]

He's just far too skinny and probably still not fit.

and his intensity in all areas is not up to AFL standard

[Jerry Lundergard 382]

Yep, absolutely agree, Jumbo. And I fully support Neeld playing him as much as possible, to see if he offers us anything in the long term. I just question whether asking him to tag Ablett achieves anything at all. It's not a role that suits him, or that he is ever going to be able to excel at.

Maybe he wants him to get into more contested areas to see if he can increase his inside ball, or at least see how it is done. He certainly isn't going to just float around the outside of packs waiting for handballs, if he is tagging the best player in the game, I suppose.

I guess it's a mute point now, what with him doing his shoulder. A real shame that. I'm one of the few here who believe that may offer something, if he can just get his head right. He's a confidence player, who's been devoid of any for a very long time now.

I don't mind him being used to tag, but Bennell looked to be a better matchup for him.

[stuie 7,374]

My hopes for gysberts have faded slightly

He's just far too skinny and probably still not fit.

Gysberts had no impact.

WTF?! Were you guys at the game?! It was his FIRST game for the year after a pretty interrupted preparation, I thought he did well given where he's come from.

Bad calls.

[Redleg 37,758]

Is that the worst 7 goal win ever?

Glad to come away with the win but that was extremely hard to watch.

Agree. Aside from the first quarter we were ordinary. We were playing the bottom side who had 5 blokes injured and we couldn't really put them away. They attacked constantly and if Matera had got his 4 shots, all easy and Lynch had kicked a couple of his we would have been level. Glad to win, but not a great win in terms of our opposition and the way we played.

[Dee Dee 1,046]

Ablett is IMHO the best player in the AFL and for me was the best player on the ground today.

Even if he did drop of a little after half time every posession was used effectively and with skill.

His old man was great but he's better!

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Yep, absolutely agree, Jumbo. And I fully support Neeld playing him as much as possible, to see if he offers us anything in the long term. I just question whether asking him to tag Ablett achieves anything at all. It's not a role that suits him, or that he is ever going to be able to excel at.

Traditionally tagging Ablett is a way to teach players about how to move and find the ball in tight spaces. There is nobody better than Gary Junior at the moment and a lot of clubs are giving the run-with role to promising youngsters as a learning experience. Could this be an indication that the coaches like Morton?

[jumbo returns 6,494]

Yep, absolutely agree, Jumbo. And I fully support Neeld playing him as much as possible, to see if he offers us anything in the long term. I just question whether asking him to tag Ablett achieves anything at all. It's not a role that suits him, or that he is ever going to be able to excel at.

Maybe he wants him to get into more contested areas to see if he can increase his inside ball, or at least see how it is done. He certainly isn't going to just float around the outside of packs waiting for handballs, if he is tagging the best player in the game, I suppose.

I guess it's a mute point now, what with him doing his shoulder. A real shame that. I'm one of the few here who believe that may offer something, if he can just get his head right. He's a confidence player, who's been devoid of any for a very long time now.

How bad's the shoulder?

RR says he's contacted in 2013 but I'm sure you can trade contracted players?

[Bitter but optimistic 21,329]

Just home. Plenty of booze and a win on the punt. Otherwise my highlights were-

Howe's marking

Tom McDonald (what a player he will be)

Tapscott's muscle

and finally, the silken skills of Jake Spencer.

[Roger Mellie 3,530]

Could this be an indication that the coaches like Morton?

More like an indication that McKenzie was a late withdrawal

[Harrisonrules 273]

Walls giving the votes

Bennell (GC) 3

Ablett 2 votes

Green 1 vote

What a joke he is. They were good but when does a losing side get the best two players??

When they play Melbourne.

Bennell was a gun and clearly best on ground.(39 possessions and 4 goals) Sorry but Ablett was Ablett and just for a different party kick, hit the centre from the goal score. (Over 70 mtrs) Best two on ground

[titan_uranus 22,503]

Walls giving the votes

Bennell (GC) 3

Ablett 2 votes

Green 1 vote

What a joke he is. They were good but when does a losing side get the best two players??

When the best two players play for the losing side.

Come on. Anyone who watched the game knows the best two players were Bennell and Ablett. We had a much more even contribution across our team and we played like a team. They had two dominating stars and a bunch of hack kids.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I think Tapscott put 2 of their players out of the game today. Shows the importance of big bodies in this game.

And until we have a team of similarly built players, that we can't expect much more than this season has produced.

I like tappy up forward. That's where he played as a junior and his bash and crash is needed. I still love Tom Mac he will be a serious player once he sorts out that awkwardness between either bouncing the ball or getting rid of it. Is Bail the worst kick in our team? Two chances at goal in the same spot and he sprays them both. I know he kicked one but he is just a shocking kick. Spencer looked a bit better today around the ground. Oh well a win is a win. GO DEE'S!

[Guest KingDingAling]

Damn right Tapscott will be one hell of a player, tough as nails and although no-one has seen it yet,

Tappys skills are a touch magical, he will unveil them as time goes on.

Gysberts, you have a year to put on muscle and get a kick - we delisted Maric and you should take note.

Im absolutely furious at Gysberts, I had to be restrained and evicted from the house I was watching football at.

He made Sellar look good for christs sakes!

Trengove, I have been tough on you all year, you've played too heavy, but its good to see you slim down,

and was no surprise that correllated to a far better performance, I was happy to see Jack back to himself with his weight loss.

Jack Grimes and Howe, take a bow.

Nathan Jones, you are elite, thank god you didn't end up at the Bombers!

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Traditionally tagging Ablett is a way to teach players about how to move and find the ball in tight spaces. There is nobody better than Gary Junior at the moment and a lot of clubs are giving the run-with role to promising youngsters as a learning experience. Could this be an indication that the coaches like Morton?

Ah no.

More trying to teach him basic lessons which he struggled with until injured.

How bad's the shoulder?

RR says he's contacted in 2013 but I'm sure you can trade contracted players?

You can indeed trade contracted players. All you need is a willing counterparty with an acceptable offer. Thats the hard part as I dont think Morton has any trade value.

More like an indication that McKenzie was a late withdrawal

Good point.