Clint Bizzell is 30 years old and hasn't played a game of AFL football since August 2005. As he braces for a make-or-break year the question must be asked whether he still has what it takes to be a regular in the game.

I think he has and in any event, time will tell, but I wonder what the club would do if another player, say CJ, performed equally as well in defence during the pre-season. Would the selctors play the older, wiser, more experienced head at the expense of the rising young talent?

Would the selctors play the older, wiser, more experienced head at the expense of the rising young talent?

One would hope not.

I would be very surprised if this was not his last season.

No Deal!

If miller can play 22, than Bizzell can and should. Try him in millers position for all i care. he would kick more goals anyway. Nah bizzell is under-rated by so many on these boards. At his best(which i believe he still has it in him) he is on par with Whelan in my opinion.

One would hope not.

Why?

I want them to play the best player, not the youngest.

Many here rate youth over experience. If the ball was being swept forward in the final quarter of a GF who would you rather one out against their opponent.

Bell, Bizzell or CJ?

I think Bizzell will play a much greater role for us this year than many think.

I definatly want Bizzell in the team, hes a great mark, and a corageous one. I really would rather him in the team than bell and cj. Bell has had a few chances to make it in the bigtime and I know he has had a few injuries, but the jurys out for me.

Why?

I want them to play the best player, not the youngest.

Of course, but as I said this is most likely going to be Bizzell's last year.

He still plays loose, I doubt he can run any faster now, and while his disposal is good, he is no Travis.

In short, I'd like to see the next generation of 'run and carry' players take the field, especially early on.

I know that we're banking on going for the big one this year, but that doesn't mean we should be slowing down with our development. The odds say that we are far less likely to win than lose, and it would be a real shame if we stuck with Bizzell hoping to see if he'll give us more.

If by some miracle he's become as accountable as Bell, or as keen to tackle as Bartram is, than great, play him. But I have my doubt.

This applies equally to Ward and Brown.

Oh and Freak, on what planet is Bizzell on par with Whelan?

I know that we're banking on going for the big one this year, but that doesn't mean we should be slowing down with our development. The odds say that we are far less likely to win than lose

Name one year this hasn't been the case?

I'm getting right on the Bizzell bandwagon this year. He is too classy and talented to write-off IMO.

Hmmmm.....Bizzel V Chris Johnson. Thats a tough one.......not!!!! (as Borat would say)

Would you prefer a player who was pretty much deemed our top 3 player in 2003-2004. Was and will be a general in our defence. A guy that can be transferred into the foward line (under-experimented I believe) and kick his 4 or 5 goals a game like he did at Geelong. A guy thats courageous. A guy that can take the spectacular mark. A guy that you had faith in every time he lined up for the Red & Blue.

Or would you prefer a kid thats played 13 un-proven games.

They didn't ask the Biz to retire for no reason (like they did with Nicho who was also still contracted)

Why?

I want them to play the best player, not the youngest.

I think Bizzell will play a much greater role for us this year than many think.

Agree Fan.

From what I have seen this year coupled with what we know his contribution to the team can be when he is fit & confident, his relevance/ importance cannot be understated.

To suggest otherwise is idiocy...from the usual suspects.

Why?

I want them to play the best player, not the youngest.

Many here rate youth over experience. If the ball was being swept forward in the final quarter of a GF who would you rather one out against their opponent.

Bell, Bizzell or CJ?

I think Bizzell will play a much greater role for us this year than many think.

It depends who the opponent is - if it's Jeff Farmer then I'd prefer Bell. How about you?

Bizzell will make a contribution this year but when it comes to the crunch I know what we'll get - too short, too slow, too loose. Teams are a wake up to the Bizzell caper and he will be exploited. I don't think Bizzell is directly competing with Bell because Bell can take a small like Farmer but Bizzell can't. Bizzell is a 3rd tall option only competing with Rivers if Holland plays CHB or someone like Bruce if Rivers plays CHB like he should, and Bizzell loses against both those hands down. CJ offers much more than just half back - he can play wing and go forward, something Bizzell just cannot do.

Agreed Old.

Its amazing Bizzell has a prominent role to play in our defence given the Club issued a press release just prior to an injury that he would play on the wing. He would not cut it there.

He will a role to play in his final year but it will be limited and he's depth.

My only concern is having both Rivers and Bizzell playing a similar zoning off role in the backline. If Rivers can handle the big dudes to some extent, Bizz would be freed up to be 3rd man up whilst keeping a small forward in check. If he has lost pace he is in real trouble.

Bizzell was outstanding in his last full season but that was a while ago, I would say he has the credits in the bank over CJ who may look like a great thing but as yet has not really set the afl world on fire, let alone the MFC.

dont anyone try to actually say they would prefer Holland over a fit Bizzel.... sure Holland was great last year but Bizzel gives much more drive and can still play tallish... not on the giants like Holland but you'd pick Bizzel basically every time

I think he can return to our 22 no doubt.... lets give him a chance before you write him off!

good luck Biz

Holland plays a different role to Bizzell and is suited to different opponents. Holland showed in last years finals that he is an honest trier and a contributor but not in the top shelf and may struggle this year.

Bizzell's last good year was 2003 and he has alot of currency and brownie points with posters for that. But much has changed since that time with Bizz and the AFL game and Old's comments....

"when it comes to the crunch I know what we'll get - too short, too slow, too loose. Teams are a wake up to the Bizzell caper and he will be exploited." ring true.

I hope he makes his final year a good one and is a contributor as required to assist our success in 2007.

Its relevant to note that Bizzell was out of the line-up for most of '04 with an achilles and a smashed cheekbone. Despite this he still played 14 or so games.

Prior to this he has been a very reliable ( & at the time invaluable) player given what we had to work with. He has been cruelled by injury and subsequent poor form. The 2 tend to go together.

Old, plaudits for another classic case of pure speculation and cliche spin, with a hint of bulldust for good measure.

This will be his final year, and with a bit of luck on his side hope he can justify the 3 year deal the Mfc signed with him after '04.

This will be his final year, and with a bit of luck on his side hope he can justify the 3 year deal the Mfc signed with him after '04.

He would have to win the Brownlow to do that!

Bizzell's poor form is also a result of the manner by which he plays and the way oppositions from 2004 onwards have worked him out and exploited his weaknesses.

Old, plaudits for another classic case of pure speculation and cliche spin, with a hint of bulldust for good measure.

Thanks Seekers - I enjoy your posting too.

The issue is not whether Bizz can play. He can. Rather, it's where he fits into the side.

I like Bizzell. Composed, clever, good kick, tough, gives his all and reads the play well. But we appear to be building a team with plenty of run from behind the ball. Bizz lacks pace and there appear to be better options for this type of a role. As Old says, he then must play on a tall/medium sized forward and given he is only 6"2, he may struggle if the opposition load talls in their forward line.

Against a side with three big forwards, you'd look at Holland possibly to play and take one of the big guys. Against a side with a smaller forward line, you'd look at Bell who has the pace to match it with the smaller forwards.

Bizzell at this stage is a better player than Bell and Holland, but it does come down to balance and because of his lack of height and pace, he may find it hard to squeeze into the back six.

Good player? Yep. But does he fit into the balance of the back six?

Granted 2 years would have been preferable.

Old..who are you comparing him with & what are the alternatives.

Of the almost talls the embarrasment of riches are Wheatley, CJ, Bell,Ward.Warnock doesn't rate.

Bell simply struggles,Ward is Ward as is Wheatley is.....Chris J is the only true potential here. Furthermore, Bruce will more than likely rotate mid & forward..

Depth yes, but with the alternatives on offer, he's far from gone.

From what I have seen this year coupled with what we know his contribution to the team can be when he is fit & confident, his relevance/ importance cannot be understated.

To suggest otherwise is idiocy...from the usual suspects.

Depth yes, but with the alternatives on offer, he's far from gone.

" ... importance cannot be understated ..." to "Depth yes ..."

Pity they haven't got a Tour de France for backpedalling - you'd be a shoo-in.

He's not first choice in the back six, he has to play tall, my 3 talls are Rivers, Carroll and Bruce, but Holland is also ahead of him and Ferguson and Warnock are behind him.

He's depth and will play in 2007.

I reckon Bell's strong pre-season will pay off, I hope he continues his form that he did late last year and have an even better one.

Bell simply struggles,Ward is Ward as is Wheatley is.....Chris J is the only true potential here.

Rubbish.

Bell had a very good end to 2006, when he was finally injury free. You can't give Bizzell credit for his work 3 season ago, but not to Bell for his recent development (especially the way he played in the finals).

Ward is just as unaccountable as Bizzell, and he is a lot faster.

Wheatley is more accountable, probably on par for speed.

CJ is quicker and also gives us options, because he can just as easily play on the wing or up forward. He also happens to have 10 years of football ahead of him.

Bizzell is finishing up, this is his last hoorah. I rather not spent time watching him trying to catch up to speed in 2007, when we could be developing a 10 year player instead. And no matter which way you look at it, he hasn't paid off that 3 year contract.

Rubbish.

Bell had a very good end to 2006, when he was finally injury free. You can't give Bizzell credit for his work 3 season ago, but not to Bell for his recent development (especially the way he played in the finals).

Point well made. I was a Bell sceptic till i saw his commitment and performance in the toughest arena, the final last year against the saints when the game was there to lose.

He converted me on his guts and endeavour alone, and should be rewarded with opportunities now.

Sorry clint - your were wonderful but timeand luck passes us all by

" ... importance cannot be understated ..." to "Depth yes ..."

Pity they haven't got a Tour de France for backpedalling - you'd be a shoo-in.

He's not first choice in the back six, he has to play tall, my 3 talls are Rivers, Carroll and Bruce, but Holland is also ahead of him and Ferguson and Warnock are behind him.

He's depth and will play in 2007.

So, play a quality midfielder cum forward who continues to be a genuine goalkicker for us, down in the backline?

You say a maximum of 2 of either Robertson, Davey or Yze with Neitz pushing up hard to the tip of the arc as the formula for a successful permiership side?

Pardon, but without as yet an established CHF and the accepted theory that 4 + goalkickers are need to consistently kick goals every game, why in earth (for starters) would you shut Bruce out of our attacking game plan? Explain!

Seems you have misunderstood Danihers reasons for doing it. It's not ingenuity. Its purely defensive and IMO negative. The Neil Balme award beckons!

You're other misinterpretation is with the words depth & importance. Bizzell adds valuable depth to an otherwise shallow bowl of backline talent! Schools out!