Leaderboard

He's been pretty lively and shown a lot of encouraging signs but.... His game 2 weeks ago was one of the most selfish games of footy I've ever seen. He pretty much flat out refused to handball or spot up targets. If Neeld is seriously about putting in standards and building a culture then Blease needed to go back to the VFL and prove he's a team player.

I'm annoyed that Sam Blease was dropped. His form has been reasonable in recent weeks. I feel he needs more encouragement. He has a number of important attributes that our side does not have in abundance. He is quick, he tries to break the opposition lines, his kicking is OK and has the potential to improve as Sam develops more confidence. And this is my point. How can we expect Sam to really develop if we keep dropping him back to Casey after a couple of games? We bring in MacDonald who we all know is just an ordinary player with very little future.

I was disappointed in this as well however at the minute Sammy is a bit Hollywood or bust. I have a feeling this is about displaying non-negotiables which I suspect Blease is not high in and is having this ingrained into him.

No.1 P_ick!

Actually, I think he owes his brother a belt in the head or two. How many times did his brother sell him into trouble and get him flattened? One thing about big Jake Spencer today. His tapwork was at times superb. He was getting the ball right to his clearance players. I was actually surprised at how good he was.

I hope ya'all have got your Monopoly money ready for tomorrow. Toss it and wave it about at the GW$ interchange dugout, player's race and in the crowd. Huge bonus points if you can shower $cully himself in it.

"We the collective jilted wife coming face to face with her husband for the first time since he ran off into an emotionless [censored]-in-a-cash-register style relationship with a young, well built tart." Brilliant stuff.

I enjoyed the report from the Spanish paper following their final group win - "we suffered more than usual, but we won just like always."

I think I can speak for all at Demonland in wishing James Strauss all the best on his return to senior footy tomorrow at TBBO. Melbourne youngster James Strauss to play for Casey in VFL Preview here

The last 'gun' mid we had was Travis Johnstone. Regardless of his fading in and out of games he was amazing, and was one who I used to come to the footy to watch as a 7/8/9/10 year old. He was a true gun but was lazy, if he had the work ethic he cudda become one of the greats of the club.....but we all know what happened here. Woey wasn't really a gun. Even though he won a Brownlow he is much like Adam Cooney...HOW??? Viney has all of the attributes and with the potential talent in this draft pool looks like, if we get it right (TOUCH WOOD), we will have multiple 'gun' mids!

So who has the balls to seriously bring one of these banners to the match tomorrow?????? I'm thinking of making one tomorrow morning the "No.1 P_ick!" banners. Never know..........

Anyone would think some of you guys were awesome footballers the way you critique some players. Conditions were not great. I've played at that ground a few times and it can be very windy, not like playing at the G or most of the other pristine AFL grounds. I agree most of the game, especially the first 1/4, was not pretty but the effort was good. I loved tynan's game. Yes he made some mistakes but he has a real crack and I'm sure neeld would love that. He at least is playing some games in his first year, which is a real luxury for us compared to our recent past. I thought Strauss was terrific in his first real game for a while. His kicking in those conditions was awesome and he tackled and competed well when he had too. I'm sure he would have had close to 20 possessions, which would have been at a high efficiency. Martin was everywhere, but I agree you never knew what was going to happen when he got it. Sometimes I'm not sure he knows. Gysberts got better and better as the game went on. He has missed a lot of footy in the last couple of years and his lack of fitness showed late in the game. I hope he gets to play the rest of the year and build some confidence. Hopefully at AFL level as well because in my opinion our midfield is our biggest weakness. I didn't mind cook's game today. Was it great, no, but he worked hard all over the ground, even helping out with possessions across half back. The kicking into the forward line was not great and didn't really help his cause but as I said earlier conditions weren't great. He did alot of really good things to build on his previous 2 games. I have enjoyed watching Casey play this year and I think the coach has a lot to do with it. Players that come back are normally put in a place that helps improve them and increase their confidence. There will be quite a few changes at the end of the season I believe but I think it's heading in the right direction. I do hate losing and have found the last 6 seasons the hardest in the last 30 odd years. Remember casey won another close game and i know its not melbourne but Please try not to be so completely negative.

I thought Gysberts got a lot of "Dane Swan" type quick kicks forward that easily go unnoticed. His core strength is fine, it's just that he has spaghetti arms, which makes supporters think he's too light. He has developed legs. Btw, he was on 19 disposals at 3/4 time and I saw him have at least 5 in the last, but they had him finished on 20. I reckon Strauss has the class to be better at AFL level. I reckon he'd fit in perfectly in our back-line. I love Josh Tynan's desperation and reckon he'll be a very good AFL player. Jai Sheehan was terrible today. I've seen him live a few times and like him, but his ground work got shown up when he lost his feet and reacted really slowly. It may be why he was surprisingly overlooked in the ND. Williams is a mile off. Couch was quiet, but he had 10 more disposals than he was credited for. If Beau Wilkes was on Melbourne's list he'd be playing in the forward-line every week. Mitch Clark would love him there.

Wouldn't hurt my enjoyment of the footy if the players just ran out and started playing without the banner being involved.

Good to see Strauss get through a full game... he does something well that a lot of melbourne players don't, provides a shepherd.

... and Ray's shot misses. A 4 point win is just another day at the office for Casey. Casey Scorpions 1.4.10 6.10.46 9.11.65 11.15.81 Sandringham 2.6.18 5.8.38 7.12.54 10.17.77 Goals Casey Scorpions Gysberts Martin Petterd 2 Bennell Couch McGough Smith Williams Sandringham Wilkes 4 Shenton 2 Cockie Ledger Markworth Polo Best Casey Scorpions Panozza Gysberts Strauss Martin Plummer Smith Sandringham Peake Cockie Markworth Curren Marigliani Ferguson Main possession winners: Panozza 30, Gysberts 23, Martin 21, Strauss, L Tynan 18.

Biffen And you expected???

Hello Ricky Petterd. Where have you been? Nice goal!

Part Three: Macdonald to Magner Joel Macdonald - a jobber. Joel Mac is a pretty good negator but struggles with the ball in his hand. He has played reasonably well in his 5 games so far this season but at this stage of his career he's probably a depth player only. Scrapes into the top 10 for most average disposals in the team (pun intended). He'll probably bow out at the end of this year as a good ordinary player. Not too many players play 100 games at the highest level, he has made the most of his ability. Rating 4/10 - has played pretty well, when in the side. James Sellar - was a bit of a surprise selection in the 2011 draft. Sellar was quite underwhelming in his first few outings for the Dees. As a CHF he couldn't lead or mark & as a ruck he couldn't win hitouts. However, he appears to have found his niche as a gorilla taming backman. At 24 & boasting a 196cm, 100kg frame he is significantly bigger than other KPDs on Melbourne's list & has the potential to be a Presti/Al Nicho/Merrett 'see ball, spoil ball' type of KPD. Initially he may be a horses for courses type of player but he's shown he is good enough to play a strictly negating role. Rating 4/10 - recent outings against Collingwood & Essendon have increased his stocks. Stefan Martin - has suffered an injury cruelled year. It is bitterly disappointing as he showed great improvement in 2011. With Mitch Clark doing well as a number 2 ruck as well as Garland & Rivers seemingly having first dibs on forward line try outs, Martin will not walk back into the team. He is a player with plenty to offer so hopefully he can find his way back into the line up before the season is out. Rating: 1/10 - hard to judge on 1.5 games but his form wasn't great. Luke Tapscott - love his aggression. But he really needs to get his hands on the ball more to utilize his raking boot. Averaging 10 disposals a game just won't cut it & he needs a clearly defined role in the team. The backline is over crowded (although Bartram's role is a possibility), he lacks the pace to play midfield & seemingly the endurance to play forward. He does play with a lot of spirit, which is what the side needs. Hopefully he can find some form upon his return from suspension. Rating: 3/10 - has a crack but just isn't quite there at the moment. Aaron Davey - see Green. Davey's pace has faded in recent years which has really limited him as a player. When he has played he is trying but his body just won't follow. The lack of pace means he can't repeatedly chase down opposition defenders when he was a young whippet, nor be the line busting quarterback he was in 2009 nor swoop on spilled crumbs in the forwardline as he can't accelerate to the fall of a contest. The lack of pace has further exacerbated omnipresent problems in his game such as commitment to ground and aerial one-on-one contests, he used to be able to use his pace to stack the odds in his favor but now he shirks the genuine 50/50's. Like Green, Davey has been a wonderful servant of the club & should be acknowledged as such despite recent form. His leadership with the club's other Aboriginal players has been invaluable & he should be congratulated for it. Again like Green, he will probably be in & out of the side for the remainder of 2012 & whatever else is left of his career. Rating: 3/10 - better than 2011 but his body looks shot. Jeremy Howe - has added another string to his bow in 2012 playing through the midfield. Howe's aerial theatrics have been as impressive as ever in 2012 following his promising debut season. His work through the middle as a link player has also been good. However, his set shot kicking has left a lot to be desired which has been a blot on an otherwise good season. With increased experience & endurance Howe could develop into the player Colin Sylvia should've been, maybe even better. Hopefully Neeld continues to give Howe & others a chance through the midfield because the old Melbourne midfield setup was B grade at best, D4 Ammos at worst. Rating: 6/10 - a good season but some of his set shot misses have been laughable. Mark Jamar - a bit of a worry. Jamar hasn't had the greatest year & his weaknesses are being further exposed as his body wearies. He has no real competition for the number 1 ruck spot, which is a greater problem for the club than Jamar with the ink fresh on his new 3 year deal. He wins a lot of hitouts but so few go to advantage which is chicken or the egg? Is it Jamar's fault for not hitting it to the midfielders? Or - is it the midfielders fault for not capitalizing on the Russian's good work? Jamar has never been a high disposal getter but his ability to get to contests, provide an out, be a link, clunk marks & kick goals are almost non-existent in 2012. It is good that he showed faith by sticking with the club but he still owes more than his current output. Rating: 3/10 - a pretty poor year from the Russian. You tend to expect more from an AA ruckman. Rohan Bail - at the crossroads. Bail has been cursed with injury since arriving with the club. Every time he seems to be getting some momentum into his game he gets injured. 2012 has been no exception. Bail has good pace, is strong over the ball & at the contest but his kicking often lets him down. He does have an opportunity, with an injury free run, to claim Clint Batram's spot in the backline. He will need to lift his disposal but it isn't an insurmountable task. If the injuries & errant kicks persist though, he's not long for this world. Rating: 3/10 - some really poor games early & then not getting any continuity of form through injury has cost Bail. Josh Tynan - was a bit stiff to be dropped after round 1. Injury in the VFL also halted his season & he has been unable to add to his solitary game for the club. If he can overcome injury woes & find form at Casey, Tynan is another who could vie for Bartram's spot. Rating: NA - I can't assess player based on one game in a collectively [censored] effort. FWIW I give the whole team zero for round 1. Jack Fitzpatrick - another who has only played one game. Fitzy had a stinker against the Hawks (he wasn't on his Pat Malone there) & still looks a gangly beanpole. He needs a few more pre seasons under his belt & kgs added to his frame if he is to become a player. His recent diagnosis of diabetes could help him & the club in better understanding what his body needs. Rating: NA - again it's hard to judge off one game in a horror team effort. James Magner - Mitsubishi started like a house on fire. Hard over the ball, Magner has impressed with his strong frame & clearance work. More recently his role in the team has changed with Howe & Grimes getting more centre square action. Magner has been used as a tagger/defensive forward, his overhead marking is good for a guy his height. His disposal & general class may mean that he isn't a very long term prospect beyond 2012 but for now he is very low on the list of worries for the Melbourne Football Club. Rating: 6/10 - started well but has tailed off in recent weeks. Would probably be top 6 in the B&F at this stage.

Thanks for that I reckon Il close up shop at 2 and take my weary body home for some R&R Weary coz team won our local (Milawa) squash premiership last night we wear the red and blue colours but our emblem is the rampant wine bottles.

FWIW I think Robinson is the worst person in media, just blabbers on and can never spit his words out. I hate listening to him on AFL360. He drives me! Tries to get passionate and really doesn't have a clue.

This is clearly a ploy to keep him away from his mate Scully..

Odd that it's an 'exclusive' interview when the big paper has one too. But good to have him out there laying to rest some of those mistruths of earlier in the year.

I don't know enough about the kids available. If I'm guessing who would be left there, it'd be out of Stringer, Vlastuin and Toumpas, with Toumpas the favourite.

On the contrary, if you're sucked in by Blease giving the odd cameo performance, but not necessarily following instructions and doing the nuts and bolts stuff, then I'd say that it's you who are easily pleased. Hopefully, Sam is going to be a great player for us, but the last thing we need is Col Sylvia mark 2, where 5 years down the track you ask yourself what happened. Toughen up people. One of the reasons we're in this mess is because too often in the past we failed to make the hard choices.

Id cut Dunn and Bate, I think Dunn will get a chance elsewhere. Jetta is gone. Jamar is lucky he signed! He is playing like a spud.

Let's have a look at the list. Bail has shown some glimpses, and also some glaring deficiencies. One thing he does though is try all day, which Neeld loves. Bartram may be a surprise loss if his knee is as bad as they are making out. This could be the salvation of one of our mid-tier players. Bate at this stage hasn't done enough, so would have to be on the block. Bennell I think has had his chance and failed to take it. For all his pace and the occasional glimpse of silky skill he simply doesn't touch the ball often enough. Blease is just beginning to show what he can do. Still needs to work on his defence, but will be kept. Clark obviously will stay. Sets the standard in so many areas it's not funny. Cook is starting to show signs that he will be able to play once he fills out a bit. Davey might do better to retire, but I don't think he will. May be pushed, although his off-field role with the younger indigenous boys could save him. Davis is a harsh one. He's nearing the end of his first two year contract and hasn't played a game. Could be that the coach isn't a big fan. Dunn is our best defensive forward, but he is finding it hard to get games in that role for some reason. Again, it could be a case of not being on the coaches radar enough to be kept. Fitzpatrick should be safe. Given the general rule that talls take longer and his impressive array of disorders, he should be given more time to find his way. Frawley is a no-brainer. AA defender. Safe. Garland is also safe. Even with his bad kicking, he is a regular starter and now has the extra string of playing forward. Gawn will be back next year. Neeld won't throw away a 207cm ruck who he's never seen play. I think Green is going to pull the plug and retire. Probably angle for a final home game later this year. Grimes is safe. Named Captain and is playing better each week. Gysberts needs to work on his endurance, but has the size and agility to be our Pendleberry. Should be fine even with his injury worries. Howe is in no danger. Coach loves him. Jamar just signed for three more years. Jetta is another one who could be hard done by. I think he suits Neeld down to the ground, but if he can't get on the park and prove it he could be in trouble. Jones is thriving under Neeld and will carry the banner for the new way of doing things for years to come. Jurrah kind of depends on the outcome of his court case. If he winds up in Jail, could be the end. MacDonald should be moved on at the end of the year. While he was a good player for us at the time, he is now being exposed with poor pace, decision making and skills. Still a good 1-1 competitor, but has been leapfrogged by younger, better players. McDonald has had a great year and is certain to be kept on. McKenzie I'm not 100% sure of. While he is loved by the fans, we have to admit that he is very limited. He fights and tackles, but his disposal and speed are issues. Might be a shock. Martin has value in the second ruck/forward role, but has struggled with form and injury and his skills still aren't great. Might be floated as trade bait. Moloney should be safe. Even though he has had a poor year, we need to keep some senior players around the place, and he could be it. Slim chance for trading, but my money is on his staying. Morton is 50/50 to my mind. He has improved under Neeld, but he needs more discipline to go with the better output. Petterd is iffy. He has had some injuries, but even so is clearly no tin Neelds best 22. Struggling to get game time. Trade Bait for mine. Rivers has really stepped up this year. He's found his mojo again and is leading the way in the backline. Safe. Sellar isn't the greatest player, but Neeld clearly likes what he brings to the table. In many ways he is a bigger, more athletic version of Warnock, and may well stay in that role. Spencer needs to start showing something. He's about to hit 23, so even as a ruck he's just about to run out of time. Has to break into the seniors or he's gone. Strauss was just starting to look like a player when his leg went. Should be ok, but I think we need to se him string some games together Sylvia continues to frustrate us all. I think he will be on the trade table. Taggert is fine. Write off this year, get his body right and we'll see what he's got next season. Tapscott has consistently failed to show the level of talent he is supposed to have. We need to see some better efforts from him. Probably safe, but you never know. Trengove is fine. While his disposals are down he is doing a lot of uncredited work on the field, and the coaches and teammates are well aware of it. Tynan - see Taggert Watts seems to have found his feet to some extent in the backline. It's good to see him gaining confidence. He'll be fine. Looking at this, we could be seeing Bartram, Bate, Bennell, Davey, Davis, Dunn, Green, Jetta, Jurrah, MacDonald, Petterd Spencer and Sylvia in the firing line. That's 13 guys who either are on shakey ground or could be retiring due to age or injury (or prison time). Obviously some are more likely to go than others, but it gives us some idea of who needs to step up and show something. It's probably worth looking into their contract status as well.

Oh really? Never knew that thanks for that info. I thought it was implied that he'd a very good season up to that point. He was averaging 2 goals & 5 marks per game playing effectively as an undersized key forward & was in career best form.

I don't understand all the love for Bail. He's quick. That's about it. When is the last time he did anything of note, besides a Daniel Ward dash/out on the full combo. Bate and Joel Mac? It's GWS ffs. Why not email and tell them we're petrified of losing to them, it'd be just as obvious. Instead of giving a couple of young KPP's taste, against other young KPP's, we bring in the garbo's to collect some rubbish disposal and bully some kids around. Spew. Team rules broken? If taking the game on is a team rule then Blease is definitely guilty. You telling me Moloney, Sylvia or even Howe haven't broken team rules? Underwhelming selections. If you're happy with them you must be having a jolly old time this season because you're easily pleased. Garbage.

I have a simila level of knowledge regarding Boak RF, from what i gather he is pretty all round, Good endurance, hard work, leadership ect, i dont know if he is any better than Jones (this season), but in saying that i would think Jones is worth a top 10 pick on what he is showing, i would not offer pick 4 off what i know of Boak. The other selling point is his age and that he can make an instant impact compared to many high draft picks. I dont see how a draft of Viney, Vlastuin and Boak wouldnt offer pretty instant improvement to our midfield. Then hope for some Gysberts improvement between now and next season and it will be like bringing in 4 high qaulity Mids in one off season.... I dont think pick 12 will be enough to get him though.......

About Morton: either I'm the only sane man in a world of footy morons, or (more likely) Cale's performance against the Pies sucked more than I thought it did. Still, I'm sorry to see him out. I'm even more sorry to see Blease dropped.

Blease out? WTF?!

We have to win and win well simply for our credibility as an AFL club. BTW Melbourne for the halftime / fulltime double is not a bad bet at aroung $1.50.

Cheers od, appreciate it. In a season where we are 1-10, have been beaten twice by over a hundred points (which is worse than GC & GWS) & are wallowing down near the expansion clubs. Jones & Clark have been good. Bartram, McKenzie, Grimes, Garland, McDonald, Rivers, Howe & Magner have been ok in patches & the rest pretty much fail - it's been a very disappointing season to date.

Really liked your rating Jimmi I might disagree with a couple in a minor way but that would be nit picking. You have rated most below 5 and with our results that is very much on the money. I hate reviews that paint most players as ok when the results are poor. Good effort .

I reckon Todd's kicking improved a lot as his career went on

Not me. Completetly different.

I kinda hope that after we get this game out of the way we play the kids for the rest of the year so we can have a look at how they go in the real stuff, just a learning program, even if its 4 games each staggered around. I'd love to see Couch, Cook, Davis, Gysberts, Sheahan, Taggert, Fitzpatrick, Strauss, Josh Tynan, I believe that we have some real talent in these players, just hope they get a go.

i reckon he'll stay

When lamenting our woes my Brother recently asked me, "When was the last gun midfielder we had ?". I said, "It would have to be Todd Viney, who made our Team of the Century". He replied, "FFS, we're just about to draft his Son". "Yes, it's been a while". I note that some are saying that we call the other minnows bluff. How about we just accept that we're going to draft a very highly rated progeny that may just be the best mid we've had in a while ? Lord knows he won't go astray.

GWS are not to be under rated. They are a far better team than Gold Coast were in their first year (in fact they are a far better side than the Gold Coast are this year). The facts that the game is at the MCG and possibly the weather make us slight favourites, but we have no right to be cocky, that's for sure.

"Just down for a look, Tom?" ED: Apologies to rpfc.... This is a question.

Scully did us a huge favour Two first round draft picks for a weak as [censored] skinny unbalanced outside skirter And we got Mitch Clark as well God bless Tom Scullduggery

Today's HS article: Jim Stynes sought Tom Scully honesty Extract: "...Stynes sought assurances and wanted Scully to be upfront and honest, yet was stunned at the revelation that Scully's father Phil had signed with Greater Western Sydney as a recruiter in October 2010. Though publisher Penguin remains guarded, Stynes' view of how Scully and his advisers handled the saga is set to be less than complimentary. There is still some residual angst at Melbourne, more about the perceived falseness of the final year than the decision to go itself..." This is what really burns deep! Ok take the money...many have before...but where was the integrity and respect $cully. Lets honour Jim Stynes' sentiments and boo the hell out of $cully!

You totally missed my point. I never said Watts has no deficiencies he has to work on, of course it does, but nobody ever talks about NicNat's deficiencies. Nobody ever discusses just how poor his skills are, or how he lacks a footy brain. We just gush and pee our pants in excitement because he knocks a ball into space, but we don't afford the same platitudes to Watts when deserved. I really don't understand where this stupid disparity has come from. One is unnecessarily praised, the other unnecessarily bagged. I still maintain that Watts at West Coast would be talked up, but NicNat would barely get a touch in Melbourne and would be labelled a 'drafting mistake'.

Fertile ground over at Subi compared to where Jack has been learning his trade. Don't ever discount this fact. If Nik had have come to Melbourne he would be struggling more than Watts IMO.

Not to mention we would've had pick 2 (Cotchin) instead of pick 4 (Morton)

Kyle Reimers? No thanks - a spud with attitude

His talents are unquestionable and his game last night was awesome. But in 64 games playing as an on-baller this was only the THIRD TIME IN HIS CAREER he's hit 20 touches. And his kicking is iffy. He could become anything but the hype exceeds his output to date IMO.

Yeah no-one would've asked us what we're going to do and no-one would've noticed him training with the club.