'Raising The Bar' ... 9 MFC players who must lift in 2013.

[alias275 259]

I'm a Mark Jamar fan, I think Jack Watts is finally improving and Lynden Dunn looks so much better in this new role.

But I cannot agree more with the OP. Especially on Garland, Col and Tappy. If all 9 play their guts out week in and week out. it will make the difference to 4-6 extra wins.

Then all the kids have much higher expectations to fill.

It's how all the big clubs do it.

[H_T 3,049]

I'm a Mark Jamar fan, I think Jack Watts is finally improving and Lynden Dunn looks so much better in this new role.

But I cannot agree more with the OP. Especially on Garland, Col and Tappy. If all 9 play their guts out week in and week out. it will make the difference to 4-6 extra wins.

Then all the kids have much higher expectations to fill.

It's how all the big clubs do it.

Agree alias275. And that's how you get improvement across the board.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Rangey and BH may well be the same person, but my response to the OP is as follows.

Nail. On. Head.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Oh and I'd throw Grimes in there also.

A solid improvement from our two captains will do wonders for this club.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

9!? More like 29!

[Range Rover 1,935]

Have you recently updated your car, RR?

I have indeed, Ronnie-B. Going to make it a pre-round 1 tradition each season now ... roll out a new model off the factory floor. A symbol of change and renewal.

I've also gone with the new sig: MFC 2013 .... Raise The Bar. How certain posters can be offended at that sentiment is some of the softest shyte I've encountered on here in three or four years of posting.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Rangey and BH may well be the same person, but my response to the OP is as follows.

Nail. On. Head.

I disagree with a lot of what he says.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Just like George Bush Jnr?

Take it the the general forum and when I have time I'll engage you in debate.

[old dee 24,028]

Well having read the last three pages all I have to add is

More power to your arm RR

[jumbo returns 6,741]

"What have the Romans ever done for us?"

Gotta love a good sword & sandal Movie, the entire cast oiled up, Frank Thring and Michael Pate cameos!!

Epic Theatre as a child was compulsory viewing on a sunday arvo.

Yep, but don't forget the wrestling or World of Sport as the prelude.

[Range Rover 1,935]

I disagree with a lot of what he says.

I actually agree with a lot of what you have to say ... on footy matters. The political dogma I can do without. I can never understand why seemingly intelligent people engage in such one-eyed partisan hackery. Life is surely more complex than that.

[hardtack 10,978]

Well having read the last three pages all I have to add is

More power to your arm RR

Are you calling RR what I think you're calling him OD?

[Moonshadow 17,678]

A tanker, hardtack?

[Sir Why You Little 37,341]

Bunch of kids playing for Fitzroy had a red hot crack tonight.

Yes it's march, but i have no problem with expecting the MFC to expect our list to play to that level.

Bottom line.

[hardtack 10,978]

A tanker, hardtack?

That's a nasty speech impediment you have there MS ;-)

[Hardnut 327]

Glad to see your new sig RR - much better than last year!

I would suggest ALL players need to adopt it, relative of course to their age, experience etc.

Dare I suggest that the whole club also needs to do the same!

[Hannibal 5,814]

I actually agree with a lot of what you have to say ... on footy matters. The political dogma I can do without. I can never understand why seemingly intelligent people engage in such one-eyed partisan hackery. Life is surely more complex than that.

I disagree with a lot of what you have to say on "footy matters". But that's fine.

And I'm not "one eyed" when it comes to life matters. Conservatives by nature aren't.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

I disagree with a lot of what he says.

That movie Me, Myself and Irene keeps popping up in my head for some reason...

[Hannibal 5,814]

That movie Me, Myself and Irene keeps popping up in my head for some reason...

Good for you.

[hardtack 10,978]

I disagree with a lot of what you have to say on "footy matters". But that's fine.

And I'm not "one eyed" when it comes to life matters. Conservatives by nature aren't.

I'm trying to fathom what politics has to do with any of this? Seems to me you have a few issues. The fact that you need to console yourself with references to left leaning gherkins and the nature of conservatives, would seem to indicate someone with either very low self esteem or a complete lack of confidence.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,407]

Have you recently updated your car, RR?

One thing for sure, he has not updated his thoughts on Jack Watts and his burning passion for Nik Nat who 'lights up Subi oval' with his big leap, hair and an average of 8 possessions per game.

[Hannibal 5,814]

I'm trying to fathom what politics has to do with any of this? Seems to me you have a few issues. The fact that you need to console yourself with references to left leaning gherkins and the nature of conservatives, would seem to indicate someone with either very low self esteem or a complete lack of confidence.

If you'd followed the trail you would have noticed that I was answering a question - as usual. Which had nothing to do with you - as usual. Although I find the infatuation with my posts as well as my "compelling reading" status rather endearing.

You're welcome to your amateurish psychoanalysis.

[Sir Why You Little 37,341]

The Dean Terlich I/V on the MFC app is an absolute beauty. He seems to have the right attitude.

Recruiting so many "kids" under Bailey was such a mistake that i think we have all learnt from.

A list should be balanced all the way through.

Good Luck Dean

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

A lot has been said and written about Neeld's revolutionary list overhaul in the off-season. Can Clark and Dawes gel effectively? Will Rodan and Byrnes be worth the punt? Can Viney and Toumpas have an immediate impact?

But for me the greater question will be how the blokes who've already been there for four or more years will go ... the 50 - 150 game players who until now, if we're being honest, have not exactly set the world on fire.

I think we should always expect improvement in whatever player enters the hallowed halls of the MFC, each and every year RR. Otherwise why are we in the comp. So i agree with the nature of your post here, just maybe not the method and some of the inclusions/exclusions.

However i think 50 games is too little to be able to say "had enough time in the system and needs to be showing something substantially more than what's being delivered".

Personally i think at least 60 games (approximately 3 full seasons of games played and 3 pre seasons) under the belt is needed before you can say, this player's not living up to expectations and needs to lift big time. From there, yes, i would have higher expectations, but i would want to see how they perform on the big stage for bulk of their 4th season (in terms of games played i mean....regardless of which season it might be), and then review versus expectations.

Even sticking with your original theory RR (ie. 50+ games) i wouldn't be including Tappy in the mix, having only effectively played approx 1.5 seasons with only 29 senior games. Not sure why he's included and the likes of Bail, who has more games under his belt (36), gets overlooked. Yes he had an injury filled 2012 but Tappy missed about 6 or so last year with a pretty severe hammy. So effectively neither of these two should have been included under your original scenario. A bit harsh on the Tapster IMO.

And why no Joel MacDonald and Grimes?

I think Mac improved last year, but the disposal effectiveness and willingess to follow up (2nd efforts) after his first contest are a fair way from AFL standard IMO, especially seeing he has nearly 125 games under his belt.

Grimes works hard and gets quite alot of ball, but his disposal decision making is often flawed IMO (ie., options/choices when coming off HB or the wing are too often "safety first". This might be ok if he was more accurate spotting up our players, but delivery in terms of accuracy/spraying the ball wide to the boundary where he usually goes are often sub standard. As a result we end up in a bad turnover situation and the opponents having loose players unmarked as a result = easy score for them. Needs to look downfield and/or inside to SEE if there's a better placed/more open player, instead of hitting the boundary or towards a player near the boundary so often. These are the 2 areas i'd be wanting to see him improve on using your expectations mantra)

Apart from the above 4 player inclusions/exclusions, i actually think you're pretty spot on with the rest who should be under the spotlight and have some reasonably high expectations placed on them this year.

Not that anything we say on here will make a skerrick of difference to what happens at any AFL club lol.

[nutbean 8,838]

And he's a gun. Totally agree. Just think we've put too much pressure on the young guys to carry the team when they should still be developing. IMO it's the guys aged say 24-28 that should be in their peak and having the most pressure put on them. The younguns should be showing improvement and work ethic, but they shouldn't be the one's doing all the heavy lifting.

His where I disagree. There is not a suggestion that he should carry the team but it is ill ring the individuals named to take a giant step. I have watched a plethorara of Matthew bates come through our club... Yeah... He was ok... But he never took the next step. Each of the players RR highlighted have something but they can either take that next which we are imploring them to do or be consigned to ...yeah... He was alright...