a resurgent Ricky will restrict Chris' opportunities this year - they are both competing for a similar position.

yeh probably.

But Chris Johnson also restricts himself with his inability to be a good footballer

Chris Johnson is what I call the "Pre-season specialist".

He'll tease the fans with seller NAB Cup performances, only to be back in Zebra colours by round 4. Looks like a good player on paper, but hardly ever delivers.

I'm willing to back CJ for one last season, if only for his old man. He has showed glimpses of the footballer he could be however under ND being a young up and comer was working against you. I hope he can do it and we will wait and see. Hell if has half his old mans talent he will be worth the wait.

I'm willing to back CJ for one last season, if only for his old man. He has showed glimpses of the footballer he could be however under ND being a young up and comer was working against you. I hope he can do it and we will wait and see. Hell if has half his old mans talent he will be worth the wait.

Being allergic to the hard ball was what worked against him.

He's skillful but I tend to think leopards don't change their spots. Anything we get out of him from this point on is a bonus in my eyes, as I've written him in pen in my "won't make it" book.

Being allergic to the hard ball was what worked against him.

He's skillful but I tend to think leopards don't change their spots. Anything we get out of him from this point on is a bonus in my eyes, as I've written him in pen in my "won't make it" book.

CJ is great when running off the half-back flank and delivering a bullet-like pass up forward. So if a Miller type is leading up the centre wing, handballing to a running CJ and CJ spears the pass in to a leading forward then CJ & the MFC looks a million bucks.

The big question is if Dean "Vince Lombardi Incarnate" Bailey can develop CJ's man-on-man and other defensive skills.

The good news is that competition for this wingman / running half back flank type is pretty intense at the MFC this year...so complaceny shouldn't be an issue.

Roll on the season

"Vince Lombardi Incarnate" lmao. CJ now remember what Vince Lombardi said........If you lose your out of the family!

If both players are good enough there is room for both of them. Pettard should be there once fit. CJ...well...Nasher summed it one. He makes it at AFL level its a bonus.

Chris Johnson is what I call the "Pre-season specialist".

He'll tease the fans with seller NAB Cup performances, only to be back in Zebra colours by round 4. Looks like a good player on paper, but hardly ever delivers.

ur obviously unaware of how hard it is to compete at such a high level. give the kid a break

He has showed glimpses of the footballer he could be however under ND being a young up and comer was working against you. I hope he can do it and we will wait and see.

Just like it was for Bate, Pettard, Frawley and Bartram.

a resurgent Ricky will restrict Chris' opportunities this year - they are both competing for a similar position.

Good. I think CJ is one of the worst players, actually the worst player on our senior list (of players we have seen obviously). He is very very ordinary in all football aspects but im glad we kept him for one year. DB might be able to teach him and if he does, it will be incredible

Good. I think CJ is one of the worst players, actually the worst player on our senior list (of players we have seen obviously). He is very very ordinary in all football aspects but im glad we kept him for one year. DB might be able to teach him and if he does, it will be incredible

This statement defies comprehension. If a player has no redeeming features in your opinion, how could a new coach change anything?

FWIW, CJ has the skill set to be an AFL player, but not the mindset. This could be due to lack of consecutive games or faith shown by our previous coach. The likes of Ward and Godfrey were both given extended runs in the seniors, despite their mediocre performances. Its taken Daniel Bell 3 years before he had that inner belief that he belonged at AFL level. I'm willing to give CJ one more year to prove himself.

This statement defies comprehension. If a player has no redeeming features in your opinion, how could a new coach change anything?

FWIW, CJ has the skill set to be an AFL player, but not the mindset. This could be due to lack of consecutive games or faith shown by our previous coach. The likes of Ward and Godfrey were both given extended runs in the seniors, despite their mediocre performances. Its taken Daniel Bell 3 years before he had that inner belief that he belonged at AFL level. I'm willing to give CJ one more year to prove himself.

Amen!

Maybe finally he'll be given equal opportunity to cement a spot in the senior team. If he fails, so be it, but he shouldn't be left wondering, the way he has been the last few years.

I thought the decision to keep him on the list was the right move - we couldn't have delisted too many more. If he performs in '08, good on him. If not, thanks and goodbye.

Personally I don't see that Petterd will restrict CJ too much in '08, considering that there'll be a few holes left from departing [semi]regulars like Ward and Brown - not to mention that Petted played a number of games last season regardless, and also spent time up forward (although I'm not sure that's where he should be).

This statement defies comprehension. If a player has no redeeming features in your opinion, how could a new coach change anything?

Easy, DB sees something that i dont. I dont see anything that will make CJ a good footballer. He has ordinary decision making skills and skills. DB possibly sees something i dont and i accept that otherwise i would be a coach

Maybe finally he'll be given equal opportunity to cement a spot in the senior team. If he fails, so be it, but he shouldn't be left wondering, the way he has been the last few years.

If he is in fact left wondering why he is not playing regular AFL footy, then he will not have a hope in 2008. I cant believe he could be not realising whatever many others can see.

I trust Bailey will drop some not so subtle hints.

Pettard has had a majorly interrupted pre-season by the sounds of things. He is only training 75%. CJ's chance will probably be in the NAB cup and maybe the opening few rounds of the season. He needs to have an early impact.

I did watch CJ play an okay hame last year where he was linking up through the middle and delivering well to the forwards. If he can produce that more often and better his defensive skills he might just be okay, however that is a big if that we have been waiting for now for a few seasons.

I like how it is put "wont make it"

Isnt playing a AFL game mean you made it?

Going on with it is another story.

considering im driving the Brad Miller bandwagon(still plenty of seats available) im for giving everyone a go. but with a list of 44 players hes somehere between our best 26 players and the 8-10? kids we picked up during the drafts.

I like how it is put "wont make it"

Isnt playing a AFL game mean you made it?

Going on with it is another story.

Just a matter of perspective I'd say

Young players or rookies would see playing AFL as "making it" from where they have come from, but then when you have played a few games the perspective changes - the bar raises.

For C.J, he needs to raise the bar.

It's pretty simple I reckon. Daniher wasn't the kind of coach that put fire in the hearts of his troops. He was known as the kind of coach that was able to give one of the best bakes going around, but week-in week-out he wasn't much of a motivator. This was one of the reasons we waxed and waned.

If DB's message gets across to CJ, we could see a COMPLETELY different footballer. They would have looked at players like him at the start of the year and debated whether a change of coach would bring about results. There were more pressing delistings that had to happen, and CJ had upside. Simple really.He's one of a few players that will have to show something. I'm confident he will, it's just a question of how much he'll show. If he doesn't do this, he'll be part of the next 6-8 delistings.

It's pretty simple I reckon. Daniher wasn't the kind of coach that put fire in the hearts of his troops. He was known as the kind of coach that was able to give one of the best bakes going around, but week-in week-out he wasn't much of a motivator. This was one of the reasons we waxed and waned.

If DB's message gets across to CJ, we could see a COMPLETELY different footballer. They would have looked at players like him at the start of the year and debated whether a change of coach would bring about results. There were more pressing delistings that had to happen, and CJ had upside. Simple really.He's one of a few players that will have to show something. I'm confident he will, it's just a question of how much he'll show. If he doesn't do this, he'll be part of the next 6-8 delistings.

CJ's problem was not hearing the message from the Coach. It was actually having the appetite for the hard contested nature of the game. Its all up to CJ. No coach is going to make him do it. Laying the blame at the coach is a cop out.

too true. Nathan Jones had the same coach who complained Jones would not leave him alone to promote him from Sandy in 2006. He almost was promoted on pure will.