Just now, Vogon Poetry said:

I'm moaning about not making finals and looking for explanations.  If you don't like my posts put me on ignore and your problem is solved.

Then you are picking on the wrong player for losing on Saturday. 

Just now, america de cali said:

Then you are picking on the wrong player for losing on Saturday. 

You are welcome to look at that game, I'm looking at the season.

Just now, Vogon Poetry said:

You are welcome to look at that game, I'm looking at the season.

We were in the bloody 8 on Saturday morning. 

Just now, america de cali said:

We were in the bloody 8 on Saturday morning. 

We should have been close to the 4.  Look, you've got your perspective and I've got mine and I'll express my view if I want to.  It's called freedom of speech.

The more interesting issues for me are whether he really does offer leadership and does he have a future, but you keep punching on the suspension.  What was your view when it happened?

7 minutes ago, Vogon Poetry said:

We should have been close to the 4.  Look, you've got your perspective and I've got mine and I'll express my view if I want to.  It's called freedom of speech.

The more interesting issues for me are whether he really does offer leadership and does he have a future, but you keep punching on the suspension.  What was your view when it happened?

I agree we should have been close or in the 4 but we choked all the games against bottom sides.

On 8/30/2017 at 4:09 PM, Fifty-5 said:

The proof of the pudding ...

Jones has led by example for years.  I expect more of Lewis, that's what we recruited him for. We failed at the final hurdle and really that's exactly the situation I expected him to be able to change.

I can't call it a success.

You are re-writing history. Lewis came to us and said I want to play at Melbourne. No player of that calibre has come to melbourne in 25 years. It was a coup that he wanted to come to us. He has added to some steel and composure to our side. We didn't 'recruit' him per se to become a match winner for us. You are over egging the pud there.

8 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

You are re-writing history. Lewis came to us and said I want to play at Melbourne. No player of that calibre has come to melbourne in 25 years. It was a coup that he wanted to come to us. He has added to some steel and composure to our side. We didn't 'recruit' him per se to become a match winner for us. You are over egging the pud there.

A few of our other leaders deserve the Blowtorch, people expected Lewis to carry the whole side all year. It's ridiculous

20 hours ago, TGR said:

Would be an interesting sliding doors, but imagine no Lewis in 2017; but we kept Howe.  A guess, but Howe would have commanded 35% more of Lewis' wage.  Yes we wouldn't have had Lewis' leadership, which is overrated.  If our boys had any steel and thirst intrinsically, we would have finished 5th, not 9th.  Lewis' last month was pretty good, but I still maintain he gets a lot of cheap handball receives that inflate his stats.  Oppositions realise he can't run with it, won't break a line, and hence zone off him on to potential targets.  When they have the ball, they know that he'll make a hail-mary contest and lose his feet, and if he doesn't, can easily be run off.

 

Howe had a lot of detractors on coincidenceland.  Could never understand it.  But I had faith in Roos, as players that he has attracted (Richards, Jolly, Ball, Joey Kennedy, Hally, McGlynn, Cross Vince etc...) over the journey have been mostly ticks; and he hasn't let go of many that would be regretted later.  Howe might be his first stuff-up.  Intercept marks at half-back (McGovern, Howe etc...) are vital in the modern game.  Howe was unlucky not to be AA this year.  Could have replaced Docherty easily.  BTW, Howe single-handedly spooked us in the first quarter with the obvious directive of not going long and direct.

 

But there was something in Howe that Roos didn't rate.  Workrate?  Tackling pressure?  Surely, it is on par or better than Wattsy.

 

I think bypassing Kelly (or Roos now says Billings) for Tyson, Salem & Hunt was OK, in view of the fact that Neeld depleted our list with B-grade trash (Gillies, Couch, etc....).

 

If Melbourne were fair-dinkum, Lewis should join Montagna, Rooey, Hodge, Mitchell, Jobe and Co.... right now.  If we think we need Jordan Lewis to make finals, we don't deserve to be there in the first place.  Petracca should play on-ball next year, so JL is destined to play loosey in defence.

 

 

Yawn x 10

Actually, I wonder if we could recruit Mel McLaughlin? Some here are besotted by her.

Jordan Lewis had a very good year. He showed leadership and will grow again next year. Some of the others need to copy his leadership and listen when he directs them. 

Another key player in 2018.  Don't measure his value by stats alone. 

He wanted to come play with Melbourne.  Thanks Jordan. 

1 hour ago, martin said:

Yawn x 10

Dude, you've got issues. 

15 hours ago, jnrmac said:

You are re-writing history. Lewis came to us and said I want to play at Melbourne. No player of that calibre has come to melbourne in 25 years. It was a coup that he wanted to come to us. He has added to some steel and composure to our side. We didn't 'recruit' him per se to become a match winner for us. You are over egging the pud there.

I didn't see the side's steel and composure in the winnable matches against North x2, Freo, Hawthorn or Collingwood.  For a player of Lewis experience and credentials, there is no try, only do.

1 hour ago, Fifty-5 said:

I didn't see the side's steel and composure in the winnable matches against North x2, Freo, Hawthorn or Collingwood.  For a player of Lewis experience and credentials, there is no try, only do.

Jordan was fantastic against Hawthorn. Played a big last quarter, had 30 odd touches and kicked a couple including a tight last quarter goal keeping us in it. Didn't think he could do much more.

Pretty sure both games vs the Roos he was in our best also.

He cost us big time missing the Freo game with suspension. I have no doubt he would have been worth at least a goal.

I don't think his role this year was to be the number one midfielder preferring to leave this to the Olivers/Jones/Viney/Tyson. He rarely went in there that I can recall.

I think he's been a fantastic recruit and would still have him in the team ahead of half a dozen. I'm looking forward to the day our "depth" rises above him and pushes him out the door but until then I'm comfortable with him being in

Boomer Harvey in an MFC jumper in 2017 would have offered so much more than Lewis.  Boomer was a commodity we didn't have; and needed.  He was captain of North, so might have offered 10% of the "leadership' that many here think Jordie gave us.

 

Also, not a good look in my book to be sitting with Hawthorn mates, in the Hawthorn rooms, at a Hawthorn game 1 day before what became our most important game of the year.  Of course his blood runs brown and yellow, but you don't have to cut yourself and show his teammates.

4 hours ago, TGR said:

Boomer Harvey in an MFC jumper in 2017 would have offered so much more than Lewis.  Boomer was a commodity we didn't have; and needed.  He was captain of North, so might have offered 10% of the "leadership' that many here think Jordie gave us.

 

Also, not a good look in my book to be sitting with Hawthorn mates, in the Hawthorn rooms, at a Hawthorn game 1 day before what became our most important game of the year.  Of course his blood runs brown and yellow, but you don't have to cut yourself and show his teammates.

Yawn?

1 hour ago, martin said:

Yawn?

TGR is relentless!!

29 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

TGR is relentless!!

I'd say tedious or anal.

39 minutes ago, martin said:

I'd say tedious or anal.

All of the above....

1 hour ago, martin said:

I'd say tedious or anal.

Whatever your cuppa tea.  Each to his own.

Edited September 2, 20178 yr by TGR

All for Lewis but he must be subject to being dropped if he stinks it up as he did mid year.

Cannot have the veterans getting a free pass because of their "IP which amounts to knowing where to set up for a contest.

Lewis peaked at the right end of the season. Shame most of the rest didnt.

Lewis in 2017

Played 19 games (v career ave 21.8 games per season), averaged 26.3 disposals a game (v career ave 23.9), got better as the season went on (unlike many of his teammates), showed composure in a number of tight finishes (Carl, Port, WCE), was amongst our best in many of our crap losses (Nth x 2, Haw, Adel, Coll).

Yes, had a couple of stinkers (QB and Syd) and got suspended (even though that act was clearly targeted at young bull and leader, Cripps, who at the time and like his team was strutting about and getting on top) but, overall on field, he did this season what he’s been doing for 13 years. Nothing too fancy: accumulating, persisting relentlessly, creating, moving the ball forward, setting up, going again, finding a way to win no matter the situation. All in a new team, new coach, different system, different role.

Oh, and I’ve obviously been waiting for this, he just finished equal 3rd in the Bluey, singled out for his leadership by both Goodwin (in presenting trophy to Lewis) and Jones (in his own acceptance speech on sharing same award).

I’d say there is incontrovertible evidence now, if there wasn’t before, of Lewis’ worth as a recruit AND leader, isn’t there? Oh, that’s right, the jury’s still out - 1 year out of 3 proves nothing, he’s just playing for his pension, he bleeds yellow and brown, he’s clearly past it, he got reported, not worth it, slow, fumbles, broke Jesse’s collarbone himself, got reported, slow, falls to ground and - did I mention? - he’s slow and got reported.

As I’ve said before, the day a young Melb player tenaciously grabs his spot in the 22 will be an auspicious day for the club, ‘cos the old hardened 4-time premiership bastard ain’t gonna surrender his position in the team any time soon.

Well, thank you, Jordan, for another typically solid season (in a long line of solid seasons), this time as the general down back, whose importance grew the longer the year went on in Lever’s absence.

21 games, averaging 23 touches, designated kicker (with Salem and Vince) from opposition points, an absolutely cracking 300th in Adelaide with all to play for, slick hands, cool head, steely character, club spokesperson, exceptional leader - and I stress that last point. The bond between him, Jones and Gawn - and his influence on those guys and the playing group as a whole - is clear for all to see. From Oliver: “When he says something, you do it.”

One thing I’ve learnt over many years, both as a participant and spectator, is to write off champions at your peril, especially those as proud and competitive as Lewis. Two good years for the Dees should not come as any great surprise. Who’s to say he can’t be just as effective next year?

Well played, Jordan, and looking forward to your September contribution in the red and the blue!

He's had another solid year. He's obviously not the quickest player going around now, but he still goes in hard when it's his turn. Now that we've made September, his experience, maturity and on-field coaching will be vital. This is what we recruited him for. Let's hope he delivers!

Edited August 26, 20187 yr by Lord Travis

Today he delivered from the back half superbly, made contests, and importantly calmed the guys down in the back half in the last quarter when under fire.

sags 30m off his man, which either makes him look like a millionaire, or as a grandpa as his opposite number strolls away.  It is obviously part of our plan, and today it worked brilliantly.

he can be exposed by this, and his pace, if the opposition get out and away.

he has been very important, and now he will really earn his keep as we move into September.