You still don't know how to spell Trengove's name ?

Extraordinary.

Likewise SYLVIA.

Sorry 'pm', thought Rodan was pretty bad myself. Brings nothing on field at senior level.

Sorry 'rjay', thought Rodan was pretty good myself. He is willing to crash into packs and win the hard ball just like Jonesy. Did some quick, creative handballs to advantage.

Sorry 'rjay', thought Rodan was pretty good myself. He is willing to crash into packs and win the hard ball just like Jonesy. Did some quick, creative handballs to advantage.

Doesn't work back hard enough 'Bobby', he's ok when the ball is in his area but even then runs in too many circles which allows his teammates up field to be covered.

Doesn't work back hard enough 'Bobby', he's ok when the ball is in his area but even then runs in too many circles which allows his teammates up field to be covered.

Why knock Rodan?

See anyone else getting a clearance for us?

He's going well-get off his case .

It's Rodan's creativity and ability to get through traffic that I really think we need. At a couple of centre bounces he was able to still get the handball to a player while being tackled. To many of our players fail to do this. Remembering that he cost us a pick that we weren't going to use (pick 88), he's been a good contributor.

Our overall midfield set ups are still atrocious. When we do get the ball out it's usually by breaking through a tackle and then getting a hurried kick or handball away to anywhere. The Pies mids know where they are meant to be and who will be running past on which side, at what location so when they get the ball on the way it appears effortless and clean.

Our pressure is improving but when you're more concerned about defensive set ups at stoppages it's invariably going to effect the quality of your offensive ball movement and therefore clearance rate and efficiency.

We desperately need at a minimum 2 very good mids to rectify this. Viney and Toumpass may have to step up quicker than we all think if we fail to lure these mids at years end.

We desperately need at a minimum 2 very good mids to rectify this. Viney and Toumpass may have to step up quicker than we all think if we fail to lure these mids at years end.

From what I saw of Toumpas on Monday, that step up might come quicker than we all might have expected. The quantum leap in poise that he showed suggested that he's starting to find his feet at AFL level, and as that settles in, he will be more able to develop into the star mid we really badly need.

From what I saw of Toumpas on Monday, that step up might come quicker than we all might have expected. The quantum leap in poise that he showed suggested that he's starting to find his feet at AFL level, and as that settles in, he will be more able to develop into the star mid we really badly need.

I agree. He looked much more settled after the spell at Casey. It was a pleasure to watch him take that extra moment to pick the best option and then deliver it to him.

It's Rodan's creativity and ability to get through traffic that I really think we need. At a couple of centre bounces he was able to still get the handball to a player while being tackled. To many of our players fail to do this. Remembering that he cost us a pick that we weren't going to use (pick 88), he's been a good contributor.

Please.

Having drafted Rodan for off-field reasons rather than his on field ability shows just how far we've fallen.

I understand the cultural issues - if these cannot be addressed and driven by the leaders Neeld selected then Neeld's selection process has failed him and the club.

Let's play the boys who will be part of Melbourne's future.

Our overall midfield set ups are still atrocious.

I 100% agree and said the same at the game. Set up is not about talent (though perhaps a little about intellect), spuds can still stand in the right spots can't they? I lost count the amount of times the ball went to the our offensive side of of a center square ball up and there 2-3 pies players by themselves to raffle the ball. Like other sides they ran it out from the center so easily which is another problem related to how they are set up.

I wonder if the low scores are just a plan by Neeld to limit the number of centre clearances we have against us. If so its the only plan that has had any success.

Viney and Toumpass may have to step up quicker than we all think if we fail to lure these mids at years end.

like Scully and Trengove did?

like Scully and Trengove did?

Who knows what can happen with the right development strategy in place.

Who knows what can happen with the right development strategy in place.

And COACH

Watching the commentary on the AFL App from Berlin vindicates my decision to take eight weeks off in the midst of the footy season, something that l was apprehensive about at the onset of the year based on all the positive hype coming out of training. I will now enjoy the last five weeks of my trip content that l am not missing anything by being away from the "G"!

Sieg Heil!

Sieg Heil!

Ah, our very own cultural attaché Lord W.

Ah, our very own cultural attaché Lord W.

Sharing the love rtg

Whilst we lack talent, this is being exacerbated by Neeld’s game plan and team selection. The key issue is our lack of purpose when we have the ball. We don’t look to attack with ball in hand – our players do not run forward anywhere near hard enough or with any confidence and we are afraid to use the corridor. This makes it hard to retain possession, as it gives time for the opposition to set the press.

In addition to his defensive game plan, we are also being handicapped by Neeld’s bias towards ‘grunt’ and size, rather than skill. Blease should be played in the backline and Davey in the midfield to give us some drive. Tom McDonald, Mark Jamar, Jordan McKenzie and Luke Tapscott are not skilled enough (and athletic enough in Jamar’s and Tapscott’s case) and should all be moved on at year’s end. Whilst I like McDonald’s athleticism and his courage, I feel he is not skilled enough by hand or foot or especially good at reading the ball off the boot. With these deficiencies, I can only ever see him being an ordinary player.

Although I don’t blame Neeld when individual players miss targets, I blame him for setting up a system which sees poorly skilled players exposed week after week.

Why on earth not play Tapscott in defense? His first 6 games were down back and he was great. Votes in his first match from memory.

This brings me to another point. At a recent evening discussion someone asked one of the coaches whether they ever watched videos of earlier seasons. The coach in attendance said that they do not--ever! This amazed those present. One would think that videos would be a major source of information as to why so many players are performing worse than 2-3 years ago

It's Rodan's creativity and ability to get through traffic that I really think we need. At a couple of centre bounces he was able to still get the handball to a player while being tackled. To many of our players fail to do this. Remembering that he cost us a pick that we weren't going to use (pick 88), he's been a good contributor.

Honestly, this is rubbish! You can't justify bad picks on the basis that they didn't cost much. Watching Gysberts v Essendon in 2011shows how much more upside there is in him than in Rodan, trier that he is

Honestly, this is rubbish! You can't justify bad picks on the basis that they didn't cost much. Watching Gysberts v Essendon in 2011shows how much more upside there is in him than in Rodan, trier that he is

So you would have been happy for Gys to continue despite his well publicised issue with training?? Same for Molony really, You can't have the lunatics running the asylum.

So you would have been happy for Gys to continue despite his well publicised issue with training?? Same for Molony really, You can't have the lunatics running the asylum.

former very high up staff member told me straight out that Gysberts was given the A because he was considered too soft

And COACH

We can not blame the Coach as we actually don't have one!

former very high up staff member told me straight out that Gysberts was given the A because he was considered too soft

You don't really need a staff member to tell you that.