Brad Green, last season?

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Stupidest thread title this year...

If Green did a knee and missed most of the season, he would still be playing in the AFL next year. He may not be a star, but he's a proven performer with good strengths that could fit well into a more developed side.

Green isn't playing for his career at all...

[Guest MFC4Life]

In one post you say Green is soft, the next you say Robbo tries his heart out. You really need to watch the game a bit closer. Green is not soft, and as for Robbo, if he was trying his heart out he would chase, he doesn't.

I never said he was soft. I said he needs to get in there more. Bottom of the packs and more importanly ACCOUNTABLE DEFEENSIVELY when not in possession of the footy which is more important for a midfielder than a forward.

[monoccular 17,349]

Brad has been disappointing over the last season or so - his disposal was a hallmark but seems to have deserted him ?due to injury.

I also feel he would be a better forward than midfielder - he doesn't make the play enough there, though I do take issue with those who call him soft. Sure he does not have a bash and crash type of body and never will, but he does show courage backing into packs when he drifts into defence.

He is palying for his career - hope his body gives him an opportunity to show his skills.

[TonyMelb 7]

I never said he was soft. I said he needs to get in there more. Bottom of the packs and more importanly ACCOUNTABLE DEFEENSIVELY when not in possession of the footy which is more important for a midfielder than a forward.

Robbo was affacted by a bad knee in 2007 and a number of others were carrying injuries. As several were "rested" early to have ops prior to end of the year they should all be expected to be able to put in full effort this year. Rivers, Yze, Flash, Wheatley, Robbo, Wheels plus Bartram and Pettard and Moloney & Sylvia (& Brock?) with OP. Should all be able to have much better year and most will need to.

The "soft" aspect of Brad and Cam's games are when its their turn to go in they sometimes dont and often take the short course when chasing ball carrier. Cam is much more of an outside player and is softer than Brad especially since his bad shoulder against the Bullies in 2006. Both do however tackle well when want to and Brad does lot of heavy work in midfield when there. They were not alone in falling away in thats aspect in 2007. Demons were No 1 in tackles in 2006 but fitness gurus for 2007 trimmed the whole side down and the effectiveness and skills shown in that asapect in 2007 were well below tthe previous year as a result. Both Brad & Cam would be at top of trade bait list at end of this year if dont perform well as will be too old after that and will still be attractive to a top side wanting a quality to top up.

[Jarka 767]

Gee, I find that pretty harsh

Considering Robo's age, recent performances and history of injuries I'd definitely keep Green before him.

[Deeoldfart 7,999]

Gee, I find that pretty harsh

As for Green and Bruce, I think they have long been the scapegoat whenever we are having a bad stretch. They have both been great servants of the club.

Totally agree ..... great servants, but they probably havn't lived up to the very high expectations we put on them in their early years. Unfortunately, we have lacked true champions for far too long, and we havn't had enough 'great servants' to adequately fill the breach.

[maximum bob 462]

2009.

Gone should be White, Yze, Robbo, Wheatley, Green, Neitz and the players still under an 'injury cloud' after 2/3 years of 'getting it right'.

If you want the same old same old, keep them on the list.

Time to be dispassionate and get real about success.

[Keepin up with the Joneses 48]

No-one can question Green's courage; what I do question is his football brain, and his application when things get hard.

Green always goes missing when we're getting smashed. TJ was the same; that's why he's gone!

Having said that, the poor bastard is constantly played out of position! Keep him with 40m of goal and let him kick 50 or 60.

Cam Bruce however; I don't know how anyone can question him. How many players in the league can match up on a James Hird / Brad Johnson player, as well as get his own ball. He's definetely not soft, always high in hard ball gets, and never plays in the same position 2 weeks in a row.

Bruce is perceived as an outside player because his endurance means he can run twice as far as most opponents he plays on.

FWIW I think one of Green or Sylvia will be traded for a first round draft pick; much like TJ so DB can build a dynasty based around McLean, Dunn, Bate, Newton, Morton, Grimes, Petterd, Jones, Bartram, Rivers, Frawley, Maric, Davey, Meeson etc.

Just my opinion

Also, anyone who suggests that Morton, Grimes and Maric won't all be superstars isn't in the tradition of being a Melbourne supporter in February!

GET EXCITED!

[Paul Gardner 6]

WHAT??

We don't even know if Grimes and Maric are quality kids yet. Their just kids and Petterd has only played a handfull of games.

I really hope not but all 3 could still end up duds. Just cause Maric and Grimes were drafted high it doesn't mean they will amount to anything better than Green or Bruce.

They are quality kids allready, thats why we drafted them top 21. What is unknown is how far they'll grow their talent.

But out of every years top 20 draftees comes a good percentage of at least 100 game min' players.

Plus a very good chance at snagging a champion.

Bruce or Green are not good enough to play in a Premiership team.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I think that a few on here should be reminded that Green has been used as a tagger over the last few years and has had to scacrifice his game for the side. That said I believe he would be a better option up forward and could kick 40+ goals if left there.

[Freak 100]

Oh please, cool down all of you.

Brad Green performs consistently at a good standard, and works through bad form by doing the hard work anyway.

Cameron Bruce is our most vesatile player, is ALWAYS near the top of our hard-ball gets(!), posessions, tackles, clearances you name it, EVERY SEASON. There have been some footskill issues recently, but seriously, he's a long way from being a liability.

Versatile is an over-rated attribute. It purely means that they haven't mastered the one position ala Voss, Buckley, Riccuito.

[The Emblem 1]

I think that a few on here should be reminded that Green has been used as a tagger over the last few years and has had to scacrifice his game for the side. That said I believe he would be a better option up forward and could kick 40+ goals if left there.

I agree with you Robbie F...Green leading out of the forward pocket causes far more headaches for the Opposition. I'd rather see him used their with the odd short burst in midfield to help freshen up our midfield rotations.

[Gouga 562]

Bruce or Green are not good enough to play in a Premiership team.

That is such a stupid comment.

Do we need to list all of the players who are not as good as Bruce or Green that have won a premiership?

I have been frustrated with both Bruce and Green's application at times but they both have the talent to play very important roles in our side. The challenge for DB is to get them settled and playing well whether it means permanent positions up forward etc.

Bruce and Green at their best are easily good enough.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Versatile is an over-rated attribute. It purely means that they haven't mastered the one position ala Voss, Buckley, Riccuito.

Agree with that. I don't care that Frawley can play FB AND the wing... It's a lovely thing for the coach, but if no-one can OWN one of those positions regularly (15-20 rounds a year, plus good finals) then it's useless, as you need to find someone who can... If versatility won flags, then Geelong would be full of Cameron Bruces...

[bjgc 0]

If they leave Green in the midfield then they must trade him he is no midfielder, it is forward pocket or bust for him. Anyone that thinks his career at Melbourne is safe are kidding themselves. Everyone thought Johnstone was safe but if you continue to perform under expectations you will be traded. If we could only get pick 14 for Johnstone then we will struggle to get pick 30 for him. If Prismall continues to struggle to get a game for Geelong I would be going for him.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

You see Dappa Dan. You say that this is a stupid thread name, but in my eyes and many others, Green SHOULD be playing like it is his last season.

It's people like yourself who settle for mediocre players like him, and just because he is now a senior player and has played regularly for the last seven seasons you think he should be safe.

Why not run another young player through the midfield this season?

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Green will never be a great or even a good midfielder. He is average, and if he considers himself one, he should play as if he is playing for his career.

[The Emblem 1]

Agree with that. I don't care that Frawley can play FB AND the wing... It's a lovely thing for the coach, but if no-one can OWN one of those positions regularly (15-20 rounds a year, plus good finals) then it's useless, as you need to find someone who can... If versatility won flags, then Geelong would be full of Cameron Bruces...

Well said Dappa Dan...we need players that can OWN the position.

Trying to pick our best side by R22...its tough, because we have a lot of players who can "sort of" play here and there...so we shuffle them around and end up with no cohesion.

You used a fine example - the Cats - clinical side based on a good ruck division and great spine: Scarlett, Harley, Bartel, Mooney...and could even afford to play some other bloke who may or may not have wanted to be FF anyway!.

A great spine, thats why the development of our younger KP brigade is so important - KP backman Frawley, Martin, McNamara, KP midfielders, Grimes, and Valenti, and KP forwards Newton and Zomer.

Get this right and and with McLean, Jones, Bartram, Rivers, Pettard Dunn, Bate, Bell, Buckley, and yes Bruce & Green our future starts looking a lot brighter!

So come mid 2009

Bell Frawley McNamara

Rivers Martin Pettard

Bruce McLean Bartram

Bate Newton Davey

Green Zomer Maric

R: White, Jones, Grimes

I/C Meeson, Moloney, Dunn, Morton.C

Apologies to Sylvia, Buckley, Valenti etc

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

You see Dappa Dan. You say that this is a stupid thread name, but in my eyes and many others, Green SHOULD be playing like it is his last season.

So write that then!!! Anyone reading the title would read it as you saying Green is in his last season.... Which is a plainly stupid prediction. Like I said, if we delisted him, he'd get picked up within the first 3 picks in the PS draft. Maybe if you said "Play well or trade him" we could take you a bit more seriously.

It's people like yourself who settle for mediocre players like him, and just because he is now a senior player and has played regularly for the last seven seasons you think he should be safe.

Don't presume to comment on "people like me." What have I written that shows you I've SETTLED for Green? Why would I be calling for him to be traded if I liked him as a player? I don't believe he's reached his full potential, but I'm not going to string him up for it... While we're at it, I'm going to generalise about people like you... We all know the kind... The ones that come on and take pot-shots at players they believe aren't trying hard enough with little or no understanding of what it takes to be an AFL player... Let alone a good one like Green... You would do well to remember that what we do on 'Land is at best, guesswork. You'll find most people understand this and don't make daft, sweeping predictions like yours.

"People like you" were sucked in by his dazzling left boot and that final he played about a hundred years ago. Green is a good, level-headed, athletic-type player. He was probably never going to be a star. Deal with it. He could improve in a few areas, but our list, as it is, would struggle that much more if we dropped him. We've got about 5 players in their footballing prime, which is a TERRIBLE position to be in coming in to a season. Brad's going to be knocked from pillar to post this season, as he's going to be targeted and he's going to be pretty much on his own as a mature-bodied midfielder... And "People like you" will come on here and slam him, calling for his head, as if the 20-30 possessions he gets aren't worked for hard enough... Jesus.

Why not run another young player through the midfield this season?

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Garbage. If we run yet another teenager through the middle, he'll get smashed and probably injured. We need our 100+ gamers to play good solid football to show the kids how it's done. The maturity of our midfield is almost non-existent, and the idea that running a team of 21 year olds is a sound strategy is bollocks. They need to be LED. To be shown how it's done, and build on their footy education... DB can only do so much. Now I would say Green is just about the last player I'd want leading them (the players agree with me here, evidently) but he's better than putting in a 19 year old Weetra, or an 18 year old Morton... As Mick Malthouse said, playing a player too early can hinder their development by up to 2 years... Besides guys like JMac, Bruce and a cuople of others, Green is as good as we had to call upon at the end of last season. What were we supposed to do. Promote Godfrey or WHeatley to the leadership group? The list sucks. This is not Green's fault.

Green will never be a great or even a good midfielder. He is average, and if he considers himself one, he should play as if he is playing for his career.

Watch some footy, for God's sake. The only point I agree with is that he should play for his career... but this is true of every player ALL the time. How do you know he isn't though? And take a look at him properly. He's a good player. Will never be great, but he's not average... Actually he's anything but... I think we could both agree that he would struggle a lot more in, say, Geelong's GF side last year. I think he'd probably be in their LAST 11 picked, not their first... But I reckon he would have played. Probably would have played well without the extra attention.

A great spine, thats why the development of our younger KP brigade is so important - KP backman Frawley, Martin, McNamara, KP midfielders, Grimes, and Valenti, and KP forwards Newton and Zomer.

I'm going to comment on this in another thread... I think you're absolutely right. But I am curious about our recruiting strategy. If KP players take so long to develop, it would make sense to recruit your spine FIRST then recruit your midfielders around them AFTERWARDS. As it is, McLean and his 23 and under brigade will play their best footy, inb their mid-twenties, while the spine is still in development. WHen they come good, McLean will be in his late 20s...

[The Emblem 1]

I'm going to comment on this in another thread... I think you're absolutely right. But I am curious about our recruiting strategy. If KP players take so long to develop, it would make sense to recruit your spine FIRST then recruit your midfielders around them AFTERWARDS. As it is, McLean and his 23 and under brigade will play their best footy, inb their mid-twenties, while the spine is still in development. WHen they come good, McLean will be in his late 20s...

Oui DD...I think going for the "best available player" should be "best available to suit club's future requirements" [and yes I do remember the Luke Molan disaster but who knew he was going to break?].

Our biggest hole is CHF [Rivers is a natural HBF doing a great job as a makeshift CHB and can only manage to do so because he reads the game so magnificantly]. With a great young developing CHF we could have left Newton to develop as a specialist FF [and we still might].

Thats why I was so keen on Lachie Henderson. He is a genuine power CHF prospect and as I've said before they are as rare as rocking horse poo. Plug Hendo into the equation and our future spine starts looking like: Frawley, Martin, McLean, Henderson, Newton.

Looks a bit promising that...throw in a young gun ruckman and we're starting to cook with gas.

P.S. Morton will probably now go on to play 250 AFL games and win the Bluey Truscott 3 times

[Rogue 585]

Green softt? Umm, no. Did you see the marks he took running with the flight of the ball last year?

I agree.

His got a fantastic set shot but IMO he puts a bit too much air when he kicks the football in general play.

I think this is a fair call, yeah.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

P.S. Morton will probably now go on to play 250 AFL games and win the Bluey Truscott 3 times

Oh yeah... yeah.... I know

[Damo 3,282]

Wheatley and Green do play for their career all the time.

Just like the Ooze plays for his.

They want to play 250+ games in their career.

So they manage themselves through games. They rarely give more than necessary. Green goes sometimes and it sticks out when he does.

None of them go like Neitz, Carroll, Jones or McLean.

They dont put their careers on the line. They put their bodies.

[Keepin up with the Joneses 48]

Well said Dappa Dan...we need players that can OWN the position.

Trying to pick our best side by R22...its tough, because we have a lot of players who can "sort of" play here and there...so we shuffle them around and end up with no cohesion.

You used a fine example - the Cats - clinical side based on a good ruck division and great spine: Scarlett, Harley, Bartel, Mooney...and could even afford to play some other bloke who may or may not have wanted to be FF anyway!.

A great spine, thats why the development of our younger KP brigade is so important - KP backman Frawley, Martin, McNamara, KP midfielders, Grimes, and Valenti, and KP forwards Newton and Zomer.

Get this right and and with McLean, Jones, Bartram, Rivers, Pettard Dunn, Bate, Bell, Buckley, and yes Bruce & Green our future starts looking a lot brighter!

So come mid 2009

Bell Frawley McNamara

Rivers Martin Pettard

Bruce McLean Bartram

Bate Newton Davey

Green Zomer Maric

R: White, Jones, Grimes

I/C Meeson, Moloney, Dunn, Morton.C

Apologies to Sylvia, Buckley, Valenti etc

Maybe we can stretch Morton to 196cm?

Asking a lot of Zomer, Martin and McNamara?

Are we really going rebuild our spine through the 2007 Pre-season and rookie drafts. Probably not.

Lets stretch Bate and Dunn Also!

[Paul Gardner 6]

That is such a stupid comment.

Do we need to list all of the players who are not as good as Bruce or Green that have won a premiership?

I have been frustrated with both Bruce and Green's application at times but they both have the talent to play very important roles in our side. The challenge for DB is to get them settled and playing well whether it means permanent positions up forward etc.

Bruce and Green at their best are easily good enough.

Just seen your response, go for it, name these players since 2001.