Darren Jolly

[Dr. Gonzo 24,192]

I don't think Jolly has much left to offer on-field and it seems like his "outspoken" news columns created some problems for the Pies this year. Plus of all the things we need a ruckman is not one. If we did recruit him Jamar would surely be gone and probably Spencer or Gawn too but we would have to eat Jamars contract and Gawn just re-signed for 2 years. Maybe get him in as a ruck coach but as a player? I don't see it.

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,762]

I'd take Jamar over Jolly. Jolly moves has though he has lived an entire life on horseback.

[deeko 952]

I really hope this isn't the case.

Not sure what he adds that we need. If it is for a big body Jamar is still around and can compete well enough.

If it's for leadership there are surely others as Jolly comes across as a fair whinger and the fact the pies let him go to rely on two relatively unknowns and an undersized overaged Hudson says a lot about there opinions of him. If he had some qualities then surely he would be retained over Hudson.

He had his chance with the Dees.

[stinga81 210]

I was shattered when he left the MFC as I thought he showed more potential and was the future ruckman when White retired. I'd be open to him coming back, although MN's scarred me with his recruitment of veterans last season.

However, the meeting with Roos could have been assistant coach related? Ruck Coach perhaps?

[Nasher 33,607]

I conceded a long time ago that I have SFA knowledge about footy, but this would just confirm it. I have no idea what Jolly adds at this stage of his career. I can't see Jamar being traded for anything worthwhile and I can't see why we'd want to carry two ruckman whose best are a *long* way behind them.

If it's coaching we're after, hire a coach. Don't hire a ruckman who no longer seems capable of playing a complete season of AFL footy.

In Roos we trust, I guess.

[Guest]

I don't mind the Daniel Cross stuff but we don't want to do this again do we? Get a bunch of old blokes over from their old clubs and then wonder why they aren't delivering on what was promised by the coaching staff. Experience is one thing. Being finished is another.

Plus, if Jolly brings his 'journalism' to Melbourne, he could be more of a distraction than anything. The man is entitled to his opinions but I felt his dig at ND was below the belt and totally uncalled for.

Use Jamar as the 'protection' ruckman. Russian must surely know that the end is near and will play these last couple of years as a mentor to Gawn and Fitzpatrick.

[Maldonboy38 6,390]

Those putting Jamar and Jolly in the same class have serious discernment issues. Jolly is a gun, make no mistake. Jamar is great when on but he is rarely on.

I think MFC would be really unwise to move any of Gawn (who will reach potential in 2014), Spencer or Fitzpatrick. We have put a lot of time and energy into them and we will see reward in 2014.

The problem seems to be that for both Jamar and Jolly, their best is behind them. I wouldn't be too disappointed if we recruited Jolly, but only if Jamar was moved on. But the real value of Jolly would be as a ruck coach.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Only if Jamar is moving on. I'm not against having 4 specialist ruckmen on the list, but one of them should be a long term project eg. a rookie pick in the draft.

Only one of Jamar, Jolly, Gawn or Spencer would play for Melbourne every week with Mitch playing FF/Relief ruck.

Two could play tandem at Casey with the no sub rule and Fitzy as a permanent forward.

One to play Casey 2's and that should be the project ruck. Not Spencer or Gawn, which is what would happen if we recruited Jolly and all 4 were fit at the one time.

[Strapping Young Lad 227]

I don't think Jolly would be a good move for the club. He is way to injury prone and was pushed out of his No. 1 ruck position at the pies by a first year player... We need better things for the team than a ruckman in his twilight years.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

If it means Jamar is somehow moved on then I'm all for it.

Jolly is a better tap ruckman, a better forward and a smarter footballer. It's an instant upgrade.

The problem is keeping him on the park.

But it's not much different to Jamar, in fact, even when Jamar is on the park it's like he's not on the park half the time.

I don't really want Jolly, but I REALLY don't want to watch another year of Jamar's "tap work".

[dee-luded 2,959]

Those putting Jamar and Jolly in the same class have serious discernment issues. Jolly is a gun, make no mistake. Jamar is great when on but he is rarely on.

I think MFC would be really unwise to move any of Gawn (who will reach potential in 2014), Spencer or Fitzpatrick. We have put a lot of time and energy into them and we will see reward in 2014.

The problem seems to be that for both Jamar and Jolly, their best is behind them. I wouldn't be too disappointed if we recruited Jolly, but only if Jamar was moved on. But the real value of Jolly would be as a ruck coach.

& relief ruck.

[Machsy 2,858]

I don't mind the Daniel Cross stuff but we don't want to do this again do we? Get a bunch of old blokes over from their old clubs and then wonder why they aren't delivering on what was promised by the coaching staff. Experience is one thing. Being finished is another.

Plus, if Jolly brings his 'journalism' to Melbourne, he could be more of a distraction than anything. The man is entitled to his opinions but I felt his dig at ND was below the belt and totally uncalled for.

Use Jamar as the 'protection' ruckman. Russian must surely know that the end is near and will play these last couple of years as a mentor to Gawn and Fitzpatrick.

Was Dawes a distraction in 2014?

[dee-luded 2,959]

Only if Jamar is moving on. I'm not against having 4 specialist ruckmen on the list, but one of them should be a long term project eg. a rookie pick in the draft.

Only one of Jamar, Jolly, Gawn or Spencer would play for Melbourne every week with Mitch playing FF/Relief ruck.

Two could play tandem at Casey with the no sub rule and Fitzy as a permanent forward.

One to play Casey 2's and that should be the project ruck. Not Spencer or Gawn, which is what would happen if we recruited Jolly and all 4 were fit at the one time.

...... yep I see it that we keep Gawn & Spencer for next year,,, with Fitzpatrick to play as a Tall forward in waiting, & getting rucking experience whenever he can... I think he could be great with the right development.

Jolly as a Rookie, with an assistant coaching contract.

& I'd like us to rookie a newbie project Ruck, that Jolly can also work with over a couple of years developing him...

the end of the 2014 season will show us more about the senior Rucks we have currently. & then may be time to look at trades.

* I think Mark Jamar will find an alternative venue.

[Guest]

Was Dawes a distraction in 2014?

Probably not but he didn't go around making derisory statements about ex-coaches or ex-teammates.

[Jaded No More 68,867]

I can't see Roos moving any senior players on. It seems to go against his policy of a unified culture.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,593]

I'm not sure about Jolly. From what I understand he had nothing good to say about our club when he left. Suddenly we are an option because the pies delisted him?

I'm sure Roos and Dawes know better than I but I assumed Neeld knew better than I...

[What 18,810]

Jolly is an absolute [censored]

Hope he comes nowhere near the MFC again

[Thehardtackler 785]

Short memories! Jolly and Jamar will be like Jamar and Martin. We will play our best football with two good ruck men hitting out. Gawn lacks the toughness to be a ruck and Spencer needs development still. Gawn is really a forward.

[BAMF 4,300]

Jeez some people have thin skin. Jolly wrote an article explaining why he left Melbourne. Daniher didn't play him and didn't have much time for him. So he moved on.

What am I missing here?

[Guest]

Jeez some people have thin skin. Jolly wrote an article explaining why he left Melbourne. Daniher didn't play him and didn't have much time for him. So he moved on.

What am I missing here?

I think there was a bit more to it than that. I believe the words used were 'not very inspiring' and 'in complete contrast to my other coaches'. Sure, it may be his opinion but why bring it up now? Neale had done nothing newsworthy in that time to warrant an article about him and why did Jolly need to do it? The bloke has won 2 flags. Surely that's enough to show that he was right and Neale was wrong. Is his ego that large he needs to write an article blasting a coach he had ten years ago?

[Bingo 297]

Don't think it's been mentioned...but maybe putting Jolly on the rookie list may be an option.

Keep Jamar, and if he misses a chunk of the season with injury (which has been quite common for him) then you play Jolly as the chop out.

This way you're not relying on Spencer and Gawn to carry the ruck division if Jamar can't play the whole season.

Jolly's experience and locker room culture would still be a positive even if he doesn't play an afl game for us.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,778]

The only positive about having Jamar and Jolly on the same list is that at least you'll know we'll probably have at least one bona-fide first ruckman available in most or all games next year, rather than relying on Spencer of Gawn.

I'd be filthy if both Jamar and Jolly were only available for 3 or 4 games.

[beelzebub 23,313]

You could take Jolly.. Keep jamar..trade not much and he can fill in. Keep Gawn as the up comer. Get Jolly to teach Gawn

give Pencil the flick as he MIGHT have some trade.

Despite Pantaloons legitimate assertion that we need to be mindful of finals it might be worth being cavalier and rolling the dice

I think Red is right though.. get another young piece of tall timber.

So:

Jolly, Gawn, Jamar and new kid

[Demoneyes 562]

Jolly a better option than Jamar. Jamar gets practically zero disposals around the ground! Move him and Spencer on.

[Guest]

I say this with no glee but I do think Spencil's time is probably up. A good honest trier but I don't think he will make it.
I say go with the existing rucks (Jamar, Gawn, Fitzpatrick). Darren Jolly can share his angst about ND at a suburban club and with the readers of the Age (which he will be unlikely to have if he isn't playing at an AFL club).