C & B, I reckon you're wrong about Strauss....the kid'll make it.

He'll hold down a back six spot.

Don't forget, it takes a long, long time to recover from a broken leg....

What about Tapscott jr?

I have serious doubts

Can anybody confirm what the prizemoney for winning the NAB cup?

Can anybody confirm what the prizemoney for winning the NAB cup?

Don't think it really concerns us but the quick answer is I have no idea

What about Tapscott jr?

I have serious doubts

OD, Tappy has to step up like the rest of them.

If he's injured, the kid will need time to recover and then given some time to get to the necessary fitness levels that are required to play AFL footy.

If he doesn't 'buy in' or if he's sulking, Alberton awaits.

Don't think it really concerns us but the quick answer is I have no idea

I think it should concern us seeing we have a $500,000 hanging over our head.

I think it should concern us seeing we have a $500,000 hanging over our head.

It is not what we all want Philthy it is what our ability has a chance of producing.

Worry about developing a better team over the next three weeks so we can start 2013 with a reasonable chance in most games

OD, Tappy has to step up like the rest of them.

If he's injured, the kid will need time to recover and then given some time to get to the necessary fitness levels that are required to play AFL footy.

If he doesn't 'buy in' or if he's sulking, Alberton awaits.

My patience is running out at a rapid rate jr.

He has never started a season with a good pre season behind him.

This year there has seemingly been no major injury worries but still injury is talked about.

After three years at the club I have never seen more than a couple of average quarters per game from him.

2013 is put up or shut time for me

I think it should concern us seeing we have a $500,000 hanging over our head.

2 early season wins might get us an extra 2,000 members that at $100 each is $200,000. My point is we should focus on the season proper and the pursuit of a premiership not the nab cup.

IIRC the prize money for the Grand Final had to be raised as the NAB Cup was almost as lucrative.

Somewhere in the order of $200,000 to $250,000.

My patience is running out at a rapid rate jr.

He has never started a season with a good pre season behind him.

This year there has seemingly been no major injury worries but still injury is talked about.

After three years at the club I have never seen more than a couple of average quarters per game from him.

2013 is put up or shut time for me

Maybe you need to take your own advise. Some guys need repeated injury free preseasons to get to their best. It's the same across all clubs. Has their ever been any indication that Tapscott hasn't given 100%. Does he look like a guy who doesn't put in?

I've actually seem some good footy from tapscott including a very good game I think against gold coast last year. Let's worry about the end of the season at the end of the season

Maybe you need to take your own advise. Some guys need repeated injury free preseasons to get to their best. It's the same across all clubs. Has their ever been any indication that Tapscott hasn't given 100%. Does he look like a guy who doesn't put in?

I've actually seem some good footy from tapscott including a very good game I think against gold coast last year. Let's worry about the end of the season at the end of the season

Good kid. He'll be ok! Tough as goats knees and he'll hurt people!

Some guys need repeated injury free preseasons to get to their best.

I personally am getting very sick of this tune - it's just an excuse for anyone who is relatively young and/or has had even minor injury problems. It was an excuse trotted out for Colin Sylvia his whole career so far, and countless others. This will be Tapscott's 4th year after being taken at #18. He is 3 months younger than Jack Watts and a year older than Tom McDonald. He has 19 games under his belt. He has only been held back through injury to a minor degree, if you are declared match fit and available then that is that. Our side is a basket case full of other kids - there is no excuse for him not to be making some sort of stamp this season, whatever way you cut it. I have nothing against him, but the facts of the matter are we are three years in and seeing nothing.

2 early season wins might get us an extra 2,000 members that at $100 each is $200,000. My point is we should focus on the season proper and the pursuit of a premiership not the nab cup.

And a NAB Cup final win would net us $200k+ as well as possibly get us an extra 1,000 to 2,000 members... you do the maths ;-)

C & B, I reckon you're wrong about Strauss....the kid'll make it.

He'll hold down a back six spot.

Don't forget, it takes a long, long time to recover from a broken leg....

I was amazed that he played seven games last year and he played some food footy in those games. I'm backing him to hold a spot in the back six as well.

He has only been held back through injury to a minor degree ....

Yep, a minor degree - like injuring his hip and basically missing virtually a whole season. And then having to have an operation the following year to fix it, and having a reduced pre-season. Though that was after the shoulder injury. Last year, how about 6 weeks out with a hamstring? etc. etc.

It's not his fourth season, or anything like it. He's had a bit here, a bit there, in stops and starts. No way to build fitness, consistency, experience, or confidence. It's bad enough to go writing off 21 year olds under any circumstances, but at least lets see him string together even one pre-season and season before we get out the hatchets.

Maybe you need to take your own advise. Some guys need repeated injury free preseasons to get to their best. It's the same across all clubs. Has their ever been any indication that Tapscott hasn't given 100%. Does he look like a guy who doesn't put in?

I've actually seem some good footy from tapscott including a very good game I think against gold coast last year. Let's worry about the end of the season at the end of the season

Approx how many years do you think this is going to take?

He is up to three now!

Yep, a minor degree - like injuring his hip and basically missing virtually a whole season. And then having to have an operation the following year to fix it, and having a reduced pre-season. Though that was after the shoulder injury. Last year, how about 6 weeks out with a hamstring? etc. etc.

It's not his fourth season, or anything like it. He's had a bit here, a bit there, in stops and starts. No way to build fitness, consistency, experience, or confidence. It's bad enough to go writing off 21 year olds under any circumstances, but at least lets see him string together even one pre-season and season before we get out the hatchets.

Exactly. These are the facts regarding Tapscott's time at Melbourne.

He also has to find a position. I wonder if the above posters could name the position the club has in mind for him, or his own preferred position.

Sweating bullets over a NAB Cup game...

Hurry up and bounce the bloody thing.

I personally am getting very sick of this tune - it's just an excuse for anyone who is relatively young and/or has had even minor injury problems. It was an excuse trotted out for Colin Sylvia his whole career so far, and countless others. This will be Tapscott's 4th year after being taken at #18. He is 3 months younger than Jack Watts and a year older than Tom McDonald. He has 19 games under his belt. He has only been held back through injury to a minor degree, if you are declared match fit and available then that is that. Our side is a basket case full of other kids - there is no excuse for him not to be making some sort of stamp this season, whatever way you cut it. I have nothing against him, but the facts of the matter are we are three years in and seeing nothing.

I don't think there is a single professional involved in footy at a national, state, or even country level who would agree with you. The importance of player preparation during the pre-season is universally acknowledged as a cornerstone of modern footy. Given the pace and hardness of the game it is virtually impossible for players to build up a fitness base during the season proper due to significant amount of muscle recovery that occurs post match. It is absurd to suggest that Tapscott has had a clear shot at showing us his worth or that he is out of ‘’excuses’’, such an assertion highlights your lack of knowledge about the player himself and the modern game. Some of the hip and shoulders he dished out last year were some of the highlights of our pathetic season. I am positive that his penetrating kick,love of the contest and potential versatility are a lot more important to our coaches than how much older or younger he is compared to Jack Watts.

Approx how many years do you think this is going to take?

He is up to three now!

He's not OD, he's been on the list for 3 years, but is yet to manage even one full pre-season and season.

really looking forward to tonights games. first time i have followed the off-season like this and it has made the wait for the new season all that much more exciting

At Etihad, team for game 1 had just entered and its fair to say we mean business! Very few youngsters Dawes Rodan Gillies Byrnes Pederson all playing

At Etihad, team for game 1 had just entered and its fair to say we mean business! Very few youngsters Dawes Rodan Gillies Byrnes Pederson all playing

Hogan & Kent out there

Just saw Viney Shiz these squads are big!