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I hope the club has learnt the obvious lessons from not offering Junior another contract. Some players are important to a club in more ways than simply racking up possessions each week. Moloney won the B&F last year. He can play well, even though he's not had a great season thus far. He has also been a committed Demon. He should be re-signed.

Who takes second ruck then? I believe the need for Sellar having continuity in defence trumps any weaknesses Martin may have as a forward.

Agree, he has his detractors but I love the way he plays and if he makes the odd mistake so what, they all do from time to time. Unfortunately, on here, if someone cops a reputation for poor delivery or decision making it sticks, no matter how he plays.

A podiatrist just rang up SEN and said the injury Clark suffered is the same as Matthew Richardson had in his career, and Richardson had a full recovery and almost came back to win the Brownlow! So perhaps that news might put some minds at ease...

Everyone else gets extensions and credit due to new game plans etc, but some of you 'Landers just can't be happy unless you're bagging out your favourite punching bag Beamer. Should be locked in for a further two years asap, is important to our development despite what you loungeroom experts think (Neeld hasn't dropped him, what does that tell you?!). Just ridiculous panic seeking and typical quick bashing.

This is [censored]. I want Mitch Clark

don't know why you need to kick Brock Mclean around, he tried hard for Melbourne just didn't work out and we benefited from the trade.

From the MFC Twitter:

There's been big changes at MFC and Moloney deserves the opportunity to adapt - at least the entire season. None of us know what the FD is asking him to do and whether he's delivering on that. I'll take his continuing selection as an indicator that they think he's making progress.

If he knew which posters to ignore I think he would be fine with the criticism - I am sure he has some of the same opinions on his game. With that said - I am much happier of late with Moloney; he isn't getting the ball in space much at all but I think he may be playing a particular role as an 'offensive minder' and sacrificing his own game. Much the same way that Magner plays since the early rounds. They are also helpful at locking the ball in at stoppages in our half. I don't know what his future role will be because the future of our midfield is will be based around Grimes, Jones, Trengove, Viney, McKenzie, and Howe. But you need a number of players to run through there and if Neeld can help Moloney develop a peripheral role that allows him to be apart of the support group then that is going to give him another contract at this club. It's counterintuitive - but the longer Moloney stays out of the guts this year, the better for his future.

He could be the New Holland

Tom McD is one the genuine highlights of the year thus far. I can see this bloke marshalling the defence in 20 years from now. He looks like an 800 gamer - already.

You don't drop players who are playing against their old club. Watch the replay again. 25 mins in the last quarter Joel put in four great efforts on the members wing. Was running his guts out. Deserves to stay in.

I would like to see Martin get given the first opportunity and later in the year introduce Cook against younger teams like GWS and Gold Coast.

As we are all gutted I decided to take a breath relax and post my logical thoughts that are full of common sense so here goes. THIS IS ALL BLOODY SCULLY'S FAULT! If he could have gotten a bloody kick the ball wouldn't have been near mitch and he would have kicked at least 10 on the weekend and would be lining up for us next week but NO Scully is an over priced Hack! Secondly does anyone know Mitch's blood type? I am willing to cut my foot off and donate it to Mitch and the MFC. We are boosting our footy department so if I can't send him my foot I'm sure the MFC has made some spare ones out of Pig DNA a bit like the scientist off south park did. If he can't come back with my foot or a new one i'm sure we can find other avenues at goal for the rest of the year. We will Cook something up.

There is only one thing wrong with him, he is not on our list. Sensational mark, beautiful kick, can play.

It's amazing what transpires after a win against GWS.

ahah i love how we have all had to reassess our ascension to the top! R.I.P "past 2013 premiership goals".

Pressure Bahhh!!! Wait till you try and tee off on the first tee on the golf weekend away with all your mates watching...now thats pressure !

Should've kept Juice

No good -- I think one needs a small target

The whole point of practice is to build a memory of an action thereby negating the necessity to invent something at the occasion of needing it. I.e you DO it... You dont overthink it. I wouldn't dare put myself in anyones class but i spent hours at parks ... Throwing balls along the ground practising picking it up and kicking from the dead pocket....or drpping itonto the square from a flank etc. It does pay off. You just KNOW you can do it. So even under pressure you can back yourself in. This is especially true in home surroundings but it pays off overall for anywhere. You get comfortable with your own actions. Id be far from the only one to have done this. Im sure many of you reading will have also . As to kicking aids we had good ol garbage bins and sometimes a cpl holding a hoola hoop on the goal line ( kid you not ) It all works

I posted this in another thread yesterday, but this is probably a better place for it. Martin needs to wise up quick smart and sort things out. I've heard that despite his intelligence, he's a dumb footballer. Can't or won't take instructions and takes criticism poorly. He doesn't get Neeld's game plan - runs into the wrong positions and brings his opponent into play too often. This results in a tendency to go into his shell. If the season ended now he'd be on the trade table.

Practice doesn't help ? Ya having a lend of me surely. Anything is worth practising if you want to make it second nature . Bradman...Woods... Charlton....Beckam....and the list goes on !!!

I was a kid growing up in Tgon and had freinds who lived overlooking the local general store servo at tyers where we used to watch the kid ther kicking the footy at the upstanding brick Chimney. When he hit it he would sour for the mark on the rebound and if he missed he had to run round the house to pick up the ball. He did this for hours and we insignificant sportspeople would be bemused and incredulous at his persistence. I even offered to take him to the tennis courts (my sport)to relieve the boredom. He thrashed me at Tennis after a bit of practice and became a pretty good footballer Name Kelvin Templeton. Maybe practice does help?

Just to bore you all & a bit of fun.... One of my favourites - Jack Watts, beautiful kick of the footy. Watts averages 19.7 disposals a game this year, only playing 74% gametime, down 10% on last year. Disposal efficiency in 2012 - 79%, career 75.1%. Can kick a footy the boy. However his goal kicking accuracy is interestingly 67% and from memory a lot of these shots have been fairly easy set shots over the last 4 years. Stef Martins disposal efficiency this year is well down on previous years at 60%. With a career goal kicking accuracy of 58%. Jeremy Howe disposal efficiency is 67%, goal kicking 58% over his career. Tom Hawkins disposal efficience 69.1%, goal kicking 61.5%.The goalkicking aid sounds like it would help, but I am of the opinion that sport is a lot to do with between the ears.

On Sunday, Jamar played a lot better. Competed, took marks, had some non-ruck impact. Given how Neeld has been willing to experiment perhaps move Jamar to FF (he knows how to kick!) and bring in and play Martin as first ruck. For mine, Jamar is a better option to replace Mitch and Martin demonstrated last year that he could do OK on the ball.

funny in a way..... way back when a kid and we had VFL players come round to give clinics I was giving some coaching by a real hack of a hawk...some wally from Tassie.....didnt have a clue this bloke His very sage advice was never really to consider the sticks.. You picked out someone...or something...and aim at it. The mind plays trciks...give it ANY largesse of ...'between this post and that one" and it will use up ALL the target..and more.. Give it a specific..and the foot often guides to it.,..amazing really. Wonder what ever happend to that bloke ...lol

Most posters seem to be overlooking the fact that Stef Martin can't hit the side of a barn door with his kicking for goal. It's all well and good being a big body but if you can't convert in the forward line, you shouldn't be there. Green back in as a medium marking forward for mine.

Martin for Clark should be the only change. You build confidence through continuity. Excited to see Gysberts and Strauss in the seniors later in the year but it shouldn't be this week. Tapscott hasn't been in great form all year and should be made to re-earn his spot through Casey. Same with Morton.

I wont go as far as some and suggest I have a man-crush ...but this Bloke is really pretty bloody good. I have every expectation he will move heaven and earth to be ready for Round 1. Footy is like catnip to him... He'll be there

Might be sent up forward to replace Mitch, and Davis take his backline spot.

Anyone here remember a guy called Green? He reckoned on the weekend that he'll be right to go this week. So, I reckon he should come in for Mitch. Green, Rivers, Garland, Sylvia & Davey oughta be able to get the job done between them...

^^^ Heard the same, but Clark is no Richo, that guy came back from some hellish injuries and was still in the form of his life into his 30's. This is a very serious injury, the club and Mitch have got to treat this very carefully.

All the drooling that goes on around here over opposition players that most likely we'll never see in Red & Blue is a joke. Then there are those who state they would be willing to trade our best players or "pay way overs" to get them . Thank @#$% your no-where near the recruiting dept. We've gotta get better at identifying the talent before the draft. We've got the perfect opportunity this year to pick up 1 , maybe 2 guns of our own if we get it right. Lets concentrate on that eh.

I have noticed a lot of negativity about this player on this forum from time to time and it's often had me puzzled. It's interesting that since Nicho has returned to the side that we have become a much more competitive outfit. Yes some times his disposal isn't A grade and sometimes he makes the wrong decisions but having watched this kid train a couple a times during pre season you just know those deficiencies will be addressed. He is one of the most professional and through trainers at the club and his work ethic can't be questioned. I love his run and spread and his willingness to take on the opposition. I have great hope for this kid and believe that with serious game time he will become a gem.

Actually dropping him to the VFL might be a good start.

Not too good in the forward line is Sells!

As sad as I am for big Mitch the fact is we will cope with his loss. The reality is we just have too.Time for Martin to stand up and perhaps for Cook to show us what he can do. It should also be noted that two of our best quarters this year were the 2nd and 3rd quarters, both minus Mitch. Get well big fella and come back bigger and better.

Why the hate for Moloney? has given good service, I think a two year contract is still totally acceptable, this is way premature, and unreasonable.

Bugger Bugger BUGGER This year is a test of everything and we WILL be better for it. But its just stuffed luck for Mitch...and us. Mitch I sure is stoic about this whilst inwardly very disappointed. Suck it in Dees... when the going gets tough ..... You can choose a victimmentality....or get over it and see it as a chance to blood others and we grow and get better. Recover well and speedily Mitch.....thanks very much for everything so far. Youre a gem.

JR did you see him on saturday? Cook is still a skinny kid who looks average at Casey. He would get killed by the Lions back line as well as be pushed out of the road by an average size backman. He would be as imposing as the sea gulls that wander around during the breaks. If cook is to make it at AFL level he has to do a lot more yet at Casey. First step would be to put on 20KG. IMO it is Martin In, there is no one else at present, all the other possibilities are injured or not fit enough for a full game at AFL level. So it is your Labrador I am afraid

I think Cook will Endeavor.....

Cook, please. There's finally some structure and some discipline to this footy team. Having Stef Martin in the team is like having a big labrador run through your freshly laid concrete.

Really-that would kind of send us back to rock-bottom. I wouldn't do that even if I had a crack habit and needed the money .

We would need to delist more than probably 7-8 players before not at least offering Beamer a contract becomes sensible. We desperately need players of his age and experience. It's unlikely that a Couch or even a Viney will come in and be consistently better than Beamer straight away (Couch probably never, he is a good honest C grader like Magner). There should be plenty ahead of him in the queue for the scrap heap.

Fair enough, I understand where you're coming from then, but I would be saving that until next year if possible, just think he has a lot of upside for where we're at if he can turn it around, and given what we're going through with game plan and structural changes we should afford him a bit more time given his performance history.

So Rivers is now our key forward. Who would have thunk it?

I think he'll be invigorated as a bustling, stay put HFF. There aren't many out there that can match his strength. This is Neeld's new look unfolding.

This is just so unfair! Going to need a few days to process this!