THE HOWE JONES INDEX

[Harrisonrules 273]

How bad's the shoulder?

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

Despite the prejudice in this club (a la Stanton) the up side is far too good to get rid of yet.

[Harrisonrules 273]

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!

You've forgotten about our good mate clint B already.

[Jordie13 8]

Gysberts is a first round draft pick, coming back from a massive injury lay off. Silly to say hes on thin ice or what not.

Brad Green is a proven AFL player, as if we can afford to cut him loose. I love how people think you make your team better, by GETTING RID of players.

The exception is Cale Morton. I'm sure he's a good guy, but it's pretty embarrassing having him out there for the Dee's.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

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.

Pretty sure the player has to agree to the trade as well. Of course, if your club came to you and said, "hey, we're planning on offering you around to see if we can get some sucker to take you off our hands" would you really want to stay?

I have always had high hopes for Morton, but even I have to agree that he's running out of chances. We may well try to trade him for a pick upgrade this time, but if not I truly hope he can get his act together and show us how good he can be next year.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Gysberts is a first round draft pick, coming back from a massive injury lay off. Silly to say hes on thin ice or what not.

Brad Green is a proven AFL player, as if we can afford to cut him loose. I love how people think you make your team better, by GETTING RID of players.

The exception is Cale Morton. I'm sure he's a good guy, but it's pretty embarrassing having him out there for the Dee's.

Could not agree more. Sign him up for another year right now. He is good enough AND he deserves it.

Would also make a great statement to the other senior players, namely, "just because you're older doesn't mean you have a permanent target on your head like Junior and others had under the Bailey model. It's about performance and earning selection now - not just being a talented teenager".

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Could not agree more. Sign him up for another year right now. He is good enough AND he deserves it.

Would also make a great statement to the other senior players, namely, "just because you're older doesn't mean you have a permanent target on your head like Junior and others had under the Bailey model. It's about performance and earning selection now - not just being a talented teenager".

Seconded.

[rpfc 27,497]

Gysberts is a first round draft pick, coming back from a massive injury lay off. Silly to say hes on thin ice or what not.

Doesn't matter where he was picked he is a chance to be traded and is very lucky he has another year on his contract - he has not impressed the new regime.

Brad Green is a proven AFL player, as if we can afford to cut him loose. I love how people think you make your team better, by GETTING RID of players.

He is struggling and has all year, it is great to see him pick up 5 but his time is coming - he may not want to be around playing in a forward line that has moved past him. Make a forward line in your head and ask whether Brad would be first picked.

The exception is Cale Morton. I'm sure he's a good guy, but it's pretty embarrassing having him out there for the Dee's.

Oh, but he is a 'first round draft pick'...

He is also lucky that he has a year to run.

[stuie 7,374]

Doesn't matter where he was picked he is a chance to be traded and is very lucky he has another year on his contract - he has not impressed the new regime.

Just ridiculously dumb comments about Gysberts, and this is probably the worst, so far anyway... First game for the year and you want him traded?! FFS!

Edited August 5, 2012 by stuie

[old dee 22,926]

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??

Funny Jnr I agree with him

[Range Rover 1,935]

Brad Green is a proven AFL player, as if we can afford to cut him loose. I love how people think you make your team better, by GETTING RID of players.

I wouldn't be jumping up and down too high about Green after 5 goals against the Suns.

He's been generally below par for two seasons now and has reached the end.

Time to retire gracefully and not chuck a wobbly if he's asked to retire.

[DeeZee 6,758]

Highlights for me:

Bennell and Ablett for GC. Abletts A grade class, Bennell will be the same soon.

Tom McDonald (a rare highlight this year) and Nathan Jones.

Green's 4 goals were a nice touch but its his final year iMO. Great servant of MFC but its over and I hope he enjoyed the easy pickings.

The poor quality of the opposition makes it hard to enthuse about much else. Terrible standard of football

If you think Greens career is over, when he was our best player,god help the rest of them .

I think Green has his mojo back,and should be given one more year.

[Cheesecake 92]

Despite the prejudice in this club (a la Stanton) the up side is far too good to get rid of yet.

Yeah, it is Stanton-esque, isn't it?

I wasn't at the game, so I can't comment on the apparent cheering as he was leaving the ground with a bung shoulder and heading down the race, but based on some of what I have seen from a number of low-life Melbourne supporters (and I use the term supporters loosely) during past games, I'm not surprised to hear it might be true.

If Morton does ever become a valuable part of this team, I will be a very happy man. Firstly, for us, and for him personally. But also to jam it right up the clackers of those faux-supporters who treat a young man who does his best for our team as a pariah. They make me sick!

[P-man 13,224]

It did almost verge on being unfair of Neeld to place him on the number 1 player in the league in his first outing since Round 11.

[machine11 142]

If you think Greens career is over, when he was our best player,god help the rest of them .

I think Green has his mojo back,and should be given one more year.

i reckon green will get a one year deal. Still of value to a young side.

[old dee 22,926]

Well today I went to what may be my last game for the year.

Outside engagements and work may stop any further trips to the G in 2012

I went today to watch 6 players specifically

Bail, Blease, Gysberts, Moloney, Trengove and Tappscott

( and Caddy for GCS )

It is always better to win than Lose and I tried to keep in mind that we were playing a bunch of kids.

Interesting that it occurred to me that when our kids play mainly their near peers they look better.

- Bail obeys the first rule of football he gets the ball and seems to know where to go, looks fit and can run all day.

But he is a p--s poor kick. I was however more impressed than in the past.

- Blease played an average game, does some nice things but is clearly not fit enough. Goes in and out of the game.

At one stage during third quarter he could hardly make it to the bench. Leaves me wondering.

- Gysberts Poor game I know he has had a lot of injuries this year. Clearly not fit enough and his skinny frames gets pushed aside easily.

I have a bad feeling that what we see is what we get. Skinny kid who will not get a lot bigger. I would trade.

- Moloney Played a good game equal second in Positions for the dees.

- Trengove struggling, an average game, did a few nice things but compared to the co captain he was ordinary. Perhaps this is his Third year blues year.

Sure not playing like a number 2 draft pick.

- Tapscott I have wondered if he was more than just a tough competitor. Played what I thing was his best game. I was impressed.

In the end I thought Bail and Tapscott were better than I expected the others lived up to my expectations.

A couple of other observations from today

Dunn I thought he played well, tough and takes no prisoners and was seldom beaten.

Green Five goals 250th game came one week early. I would give him another year if he wants to go on.

Like Maloney for a reasonable price I would keep both.

We have so few senior players They can both contribute in 2013 to help the kids develop.

Last but not least is Caddy from GCS

Based on that game I would do nothing to recruit him. He can go to Essendon for mine.

Average footballer IMO.

I had a good time today winning is never crappy, sure beats tanking.

A couple of players went up in my eyes.

I hope 2013 is a lot more kind on the injury front.

2 more wins before year end would be good.

Go Dees

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Yeah, it is Stanton-esque, isn't it?

I wasn't at the game, so I can't comment on the apparent cheering as he was leaving the ground with a bung shoulder and heading down the race, but based on some of what I have seen from a number of low-life Melbourne supporters (and I use the term supporters loosely) during past games, I'm not surprised to hear it might be true.

If Morton does ever become a valuable part of this team, I will be a very happy man. Firstly, for us, and for him personally. But also to jam it right up the clackers of those faux-supporters who treat a young man who does his best for our team as a pariah. They make me sick!

I didn't hear any cheering when he went off the ground but I may have missed it. He was absolutely slaughtered by Abblett today and just didn't have a clue how to negate him, he was constantly caught out and found himself on the wrong side of the pack watching Abblett dish it off or whatever he wanted to do. Abblett can do that to anyone though, can't he?

I seem to feel that they play him in the wrong places and try to make him what he's not. I'd put him in the forward line where he can be creative instead of negative, I reckon he would be a lot better if they did.

[My TD 156]

I'd put him in the forward line where he can be creative instead of negative, I reckon he would be a lot better if they did.

then you'd lose his main weapon, his run.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

then you'd lose his main weapon, his run.

Problem is that's not doing him much good at the moment. It's a bit like Sellar, he needed to get his hands on the ball and get a bit of confidence so they put him in the backline and immediately he improved, he's no star but is playing a lot better all over the ground.

Morton has been given roles that just don't suit him and I reckon in another side or another position on the ground he would be a much better player. He's not a defender, he loses all his creativity when he's in a negating role and just isn't any good at it anyway.

[Chook 14,556]

Problem is that's not doing him much good at the moment. It's a bit like Sellar, he needed to get his hands on the ball and get a bit of confidence so they put him in the backline and immediately he improved, he's no star but is playing a lot better all over the ground.

Morton has been given roles that just don't suit him and I reckon in another side or another position on the ground he would be a much better player. He's not a defender, he loses all his creativity when he's in a negating role and just isn't any good at it anyway.

The only thing Morton is good at doing is running all over the ground and standing about 3 feet off the back of the packs to pick up the quick handball. Put him here and he'll show his worth. Put him anywhere else and he may as well be in the stands.

[leehow 285]

jess trengove about to run the marathon for anyone thats interested. hope she runs better than jack has been this year!

[Biffen 12,342]

then you'd lose his main weapon, his run.

wing?

[DeeSpencer 23,187]

Half back flank is Morton's savior, but with questions over his toughness and disposal you have to wonder if he's earned the chance to play there. Ask yourself if you want Joel Macdonald or Morton playing HBF and for me now its Joel Mac.

Morton could play HBF using his opponent as a starting point so he doesn't get lost on the field. You'd play him on the spare mid that most teams have on a half forward flank and let him come up the ground and then use his fitness to beat his opponent back to the backline and then run off his opponent to get the switch. However if you can't trust him to lay the hard tackle, win the contested ball or use the ball accurately under pressure he wont make it. But I dont like him up forward or on the ball one bit because that means he has to keep to structures which I don't think he can do.

Signing him for a 2 year deal last year was one of the more baffling list management decisions of late.

But other observations:

1. Tapscott was very good today. He worked damn hard to get the ball across half forward and that's exactly what he needs to do to become the player he can be.

2. Dunn might just have saved his career as a half back flanker, the secret will be whether he can prove to the coaches that he can focus on footy for a game not being stupid and also can shut down a half decent opponent. I'm worried about him being in the same vicinity as Milne

3. Ro Bail needs to learn how to settle before he kicks. His set shots are reasonable so he can kick the ball, but not if he runs flat out and tries to kick because it always ends in a point. He needs to steady and hit a target if he's worried about distance.

4. What on earth do we have to do to see Tom Mcdonald play at CHF. Please please make it happen even just for a half. Rivers is battling away, can we just swap him and Tommy Mc for a bit of a game and see what happens.

[The Red Fox 216]

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??

Are you joking? They were clearly the best two on ground. Daylight to the next best. Deserve the votes.

[Cheesecake 92]

I didn't hear any cheering when he went off the ground but I may have missed it. He was absolutely slaughtered by Abblett today and just didn't have a clue how to negate him, he was constantly caught out and found himself on the wrong side of the pack watching Abblett dish it off or whatever he wanted to do. Abblett can do that to anyone though, can't he?

I seem to feel that they play him in the wrong places and try to make him what he's not. I'd put him in the forward line where he can be creative instead of negative, I reckon he would be a lot better if they did.

Well, that's good to hear, Robbie. There were reports on another thread about it. Glad it either didn't happen, or was a minority of "supporters".

I'd like to think we can leave the eating of ones own to some other clubs I won't mention.

[jnrmac 19,044]

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.

Having watched a replay I now agree they were the two best but I am continually frustrated that when melbourne wins we never have three vote getters. When we lose we never have a vote getter in any of the major comps. Has been happening for years.