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I hate Deeland sometimes. The OP is posing the question on where Tapscott is at heading into this season based on past output, a legitimate question, and certain posters have this compulsive need to belittle and sound clever. Pull your heads in. Or out, as the case may be.

Any coverage of lawn bowls would have to include a lot of bias.

Tough players put their head over the ball and body on the line, they don't niggle their opponents.

Better late than never. I think Dunn is one of about 3 Melbourne players that can actually kick a football.

Evans is the bloke I think can step up and find a regular game. His run and carry is excellent and his over head marking is good for his size. Don't let jetta's body type fool you. He loves a contest and doesn't mind going body on body with someone. I think he is a defender not a small forward.

Remember when Dunn kept giving cheap punches to Paul Chapman's back and Chappy reacted. Dunn's a poser. He ain't tough.

Season 1 - injured entire year Season 2 - made a nice fist of playing half back flank, disposal and toughness impressive but lacked the fitnessed to do it for the whole year Season 3 - Up and down year again not having a full season, flashes of quality play but not enough, used as a forward and sometimes as a sub and with the lack of ball coming in to Melbourne forwards line it was hardly a surprise Season 4 ??? Looked to have a better preseason and fitter but still some injuries So end of story we have a guy who can play footy and kick the ball and is tough and aggressive. Injuries have prevented him developing fitness and consistentsy. We now need to see him play another season to work out if he'll be a talented half forward with midfield ability like Paul Chapman or a battler.

If you really want to see people's thoughts, you could start by not putting your own point of view in the thread title. Then the thread can at least start objectively and balanced.

The jury is still out imo ......... 2013 will be crucial year for Tappy. Ask again in October.

What an infuriating thread. Start this in October, or at least during the season. No let's cut him - no wait there's footy on soon. DERP.

Brace yourself for the "we should've picked up Nate Fyfe or Ryan Bastinac" posters. I love Tappy. I would love for him to have a period of time where he has no injuries, and is given a specific role in the forward half, and given 6-8 weeks to show he can do it.

I admire Magner tremendously, but I have little love for him as a player. Even at training he's constantly missing targets and turning it over. He just lacks polish. It's a no from me.

Interesting that Sylvia is the odd inclusion. Could it be that he has been told he has to show something to justify his status.

I love Tappy, but my gut feel is that he won't make it. I expect his small tank and lack of natural instinct will be too limiting. Can't see which position has his name on it either. Happy to see him hurt a few blokes in the meantime.

Dunn is one of the chief contributors to the stigma. He acts tough in lieu of actual toughness, and wets himself when we really need someone to stand up. He's been an exponent of some of the weakest contest efforts I've seen. He has you fooled, and that is why I am sad

Agreed. I asked the exact same question of Tappy about a week ago and got similar treatment.. isn't this a football discussion site? Bewildering Anyway, It is abundantly clear that the kid has shown very little to date and the clock is ticking - he is only 3 months younger than Watts, who has faced 10x the scrutiny but contributed 10x as much

Is Tapscott a good kick or a long kick? Where is his role? Is he capable of playing midfield as is required of most non key positions these days. Aside from body size is he above average in endurance or speed or agility. Needs a clear run at it but I struggle to work out where he fits or if he has a tool that will get him above others.

Just reckon the combination of saying he's "another one of BP's specials" and "Trenners may be at risk of losing his mate" is making it clear what the OP thinks in regards to cutting him.

The club loves him, but it's diabolical when he has the ball in his hands. A mature body that is presently needed and our best tagger. The sooner we outgrow him the better. But it won't be in 2013.

Ok....... so if I said "are you an complete idiot?", then I guess that's balanced as well.

You dont give young fellas much of a chance do you? Tappy and Trenners just need to string a couple of injury free seasons together. Is he 20 yet? Geez your a hard marker, i suppose he is too skinny too?

Slightly twisted, but just about on the money.

Sorry couldn't agree with you on Schwarz, I know he is a good demon man but he really is suited to a more lightweight role like the one he has now at SEN. Wilson creates some conflict which is good for the show but they really need Thomas back for this to work or at least someone like him who is not in the pocket of the AFL. Lloyd just can't string 2 words together and his effort at judging Carlton after the round robin was laughable and shows he is trying to make an impression by making the big statement. This show won't last out the year if it keeps putting up performances like last night. Hutchy knows it, he can be a bit of a d.... but he is a smart media operator and it's why he is pushing to get more of Jeff and setting the stage for more conflict with Wilson.

Needed, but must improve kicking....i totally agree there. Hard work means zero with a turnover.

Disagree with the negative slant about Tappy in the title of this thread. We waited until late last year to see an injury free Blease and he is a mouth watering prospect for this year - even if he has another minor injury. I want Tappy to be given (earn) 8 - 10 games, in the forward line playing a Chappy-type role. We have bemoaned our kicking skills for 4-5 years or more, and this bloke is a seriously good kick. With him, Strauss, Dunn, Watts, Clark and now also Toumpas we have kicking ability. Don't just look at Tappy's muscles and expect him to be Rod Grinter. Watch his football when he is injury free, hoping that he can be some time soon. At this stage he is probably not in our best 22 but I would like him to be.

Good topic this one. I was a big Tapscott fan from when we first drafted him up until about mid-last year. I have cooled quite a bit on him though, because he has done nothing of worth on the football field. I am still waiting............. He doesn't get it enough to have much of an impact. He showed some good signs against Adelaide in round 21? last year during the first quarter, but then did nothing afterwards (similar to the rest of the team though). He needs to find consistency as well as consistent ball, but then again so does the rest of our team (i guess that's why we are where we are). I love his size and he can be quite physical at times (which we all love) and would like to see more of it, all be it controlled. His hit on Reece Shaw was a thing of beauty, but other than that, he hasn't done too much else. Time for him to step-up or just be another could've-been.

i believe he is being played out of position and should be moved to play the Paul Chapman role. As a juniour he played his footy in the forward pocket and was a deadly kick for goal. Obviously he does not have the pace of other small forwards but has a good set of hands and goal sense

Looks like i missed very little. How sad that such a great show from the week before now "no longer exists" Winning games is the only answer for this club. Obvious i know. But any other issue is superfluous for survival right now. The fact we were shafted is not newsworthy.

Given we play Port in Rd 1, I would have thought both teams wouldn't be keen to give too much away.

At the moment I have picked Strauss Evans and Kent respectively, Jetta is my sub. But as others have said we need to see more. I want to see more of Terlich, Tapscott.

That was the worst Footy Classified I have seen, and Im normally easily pleased. If that is the standard now that Grant Thomas has left, it is very disappointing.

Look, I know you have no idea about junior footy and hate to hear anyone who posts with even the remotest sense of reality, but some of us were very keen on Atley at the time and were surprised when we overlooked him.

Nice little interview with him has gone up. Looks and sounds very settled and confident in his new role and the trajectory of the club. Always liked Dunny and the mongrel he brings, but I think now he is in a position down back where his skills can be best utilised and the debates about whether he starts should hopefully be put to rest. In both he and Watts, and the largely unknown potential of Strauss, we are amassing some damaging rebounding defenders who can go forward and kick goals if required. At 25 years old, I think we're about to witness the best years of this bloke and they are coming at a good time.

45's Best XI Player Nation Age Tests Keiran Powell (WI) (22) 13 3 centuries and 2 50s at 32.66 including an average of 83 this summer. A very classy young player who has an obviously promising future (as was underscored by his performances in the one dayers for W.I. Also has 8 catches. Highest score 134. 51 in the world. Ed Cowan (Aus) (30) 14 1 century and 5 50s at 32.65, averaged 45.6 against the world's best S.A. lineup (including a century). Values his wicket and is tough to remove, often seeing off the new ball. Also a handy close-in fielder. (Plays for Tassie!) Highest sore 136. 44 in the world. Kumar Sangakarra (SL) (35) 115 All class. 30 centuries and 41 50s and a batting average of 55.8. 11 times he's reached over 190, second only to the Don. 8 double centuries! Wicket-keeping, captaining legend of the game. Highest score 287. 5th in world rankings. Kevin Pietersen (Eng) (32) 92 22 centuries at 49.42. Dislike him immensely, but his batting talents cannot be denied. Shame to say he's the Colin Sylvia of my team! Has an average over 44.5 against all test-playing nations except Pakistan. Highest score 227. 8th in world rankings. Azhar Ali (Pak) (28) 27 4 centuries and 14 50s at 42.26. Another up and coming player, solid technique and suffered a few dodgy dismissals against SA recently (including his teammate running him out!) Highest score of 157 and another who really values his wicket. 11th in world rankings. Kane Williamson (NZ) (22) 20 3 centuries and 5 50s at 30.27. Very young, raw but extremely talented bat. Already has some match-winning knocks to his name. Highest score 135. Also a handy spinner, taking 8 wickets at 53 (averaging 38.5 last year). 38 in the world. Tim Southee (NZ) (24) 21 Has 65 wickets, 3 5 wicket hauls, at 35.04 with a best bowling of 7/64 (in India!). His bowling average last year was 22.64! Also very handy with the bat. Has 2 50s, highest score of 77*. Along with Williamson, Southee is a young-gun who is helping to form a bright future for the Kiwis.18.74/35.04 (22.64 last year). 22 in the world. Vernon Philander (SA) (27) 16 Gun. 89 wickets in 16 matches (Very close to a record). His bowling average is a world-beating 17.13!!! 9 5 wicket hauls, 2 10 wicket matches, best bowling of 6/44, strike rate of 36.8! Another very handy bat, 2 50s at 22.75 with a high score of 74. 4th best all-rounder in the world. Number 2 bowler in the world. Pragyan Ojha (Ind) (26) 20 Staggered he wasn't selected for the first test. Has 95 wickets at 31.62 (very good for a spinner). 5 5 wickets innings and a best bowling of 6/47. Has averaged 14.5 over the past two years. 8th in the world. Tino Best (WI) (31) 18 Fiery W.I. quick coming back into the fold. Bowling average of 26 but averaged 16.27 last year. Best bowling of 6/40. 39 in the world. Ben Hilfenhaus (Aus) (29) 27 Very handy Tasmanian quick. Great bowling average of 28.5 and over the past two seasons he has averaged 22.06. Best bowling 5/75 and could be vital in the Ashes. Number 10 in the world. Between selecting my team on the fly whilst travelling abroad, beginning my prep-teaching career and now enduring some kind of indoor-soccer et. 4 year olds plague I can't be bothered defending the team (as if it needs it). It's been a haphazard arrangement on my behalf. I think the bats have a good mix of experience and I really rate my young guys. Cowan is iffy and my drunken selection of Tino Best has hurt the balance of my side I think. Mind you, Southee, Philander with Hilfenhaus and Best to back them up with Ojha and Williamson with the spin is a pretty threatening attack and I'd back Kumar, Pietersen and an improved Powell, Williamson and Ali to chase down any target that bowling lineup restricts opposition to.

I think Evans will find a spot if he holds the form he demonstrated last week. Couldn't Neville Jetta play small forward?

Then again, if you take out Hartlett and a couple of others, that Port side is a whose who of "who?".

Max Gawn has joined in full training now.

If anyone has not noticed both Leighoak and Bentleigh Club have a fantastic deal for this game. It is includes lunch, bus trip out to Casey, entry to the game and a "roast dinner" on your return - all yours for $50 adults. Parking and getting out of the ground will be horrendous and seating probably non-existing so get on board the bus and support the Club. There are more details on the Club's website.

Have done 5AA before. Rates with my vasectomy as something I will only do once.

massive contribution jr. You should be proud.

Coming from the Brisbane program I would imagine Clark would've had a better fitness base than many of our team pre David Misson's arrival. I'm sure there would be some lingering effects from the ethic he had previously which was demonstrated in him showing up half our team five minutes after arriving.

What's with all this 90%, 100%, 85% malarkey? The guy's not going to play till the coach/s want him to. Simple. Too much maths for my liking here.

Great thread. Would read again.

ive long thought that caro has no idea how a team environment works. she certainly hasnt ever been part of one. she writes articles saying "so and so would be upset by this" - eg how our developing players by playing them out of position has "wrecked their careers" - but this is the nature of any team sport. you play where youre told to and where you have to do to do your job for your team, even if it isnt where you think your best position is. kids in the under 10s know this, but she has no clue.

beat me by 1 min.

Park on the other side of the river in Alexandra ave. Cost $2 and walk across the bridge. Takes 5 minutes if you walk slowly.

Alexandra Ave, outside or near the tan (only a shortish walk)