Lil_red_fire_engine

The Morton handball should have been better however Moloney cannot handle any ball that does not hit him completely on target. Any good midfielder would have been able to manage that ball.

Just to contradict yourself when you stick the boots into him with your last comment. You dont even know how to support your own argument. There were numerous reasons for our loss missed early set shots by Clark, Watts and Howe, errors by Watts, T-Mac, Joel Mc, Frawley and Morton, our inability to shut down Murphy in the first half. The complete lack of impact on the game by Trengove or Jamar even when he has 46 touches. The refusal of some of our midfielders but most notably Moloney to not run or offer any defensive game. These could all have been mentioned yet you chose one. To me that says it in itself. People have been asking for Morton to get more involved and he did. They have asked our midfield to offer us spread and he did it in bucketloads. They have said that he is too outside and he responded with 8 contested possessions, 6 clearances and 6 tackles. I will focus on that improved output over 2 short kicks and a poor handball.

Dunn was good in negating in the second half but he also played a first half. For the whole 4 quarters he was appalling with his inability to play in front of a man, not chase until the contest was out of his direct area and have a total of 4 touches.

6 tackles. 6 clearances, 8 contested possessions.

You summarise the game and you name one player for criticism. Morton was far and away the least of our problems today.

This is F#cking ridiculous. A game of errors and you call him out on that. Did you actually watch how hard Morton ran to space today? If the rest of our midfield (Bate and Jones aside) attempted to do that we would be playing 2012 football and might win some games. 21 touches, 8 contested, 6 clearances, 6 tackles and he gets singled out for criticism. What a f#cking joke. How about we mention Dunns refusal to play in front, Joel McDonald complete inability to hit stationary 20 m targets with no pressure. Lets talk about Brent "bleeds red and blue" Moloney inability to get to any ball that doesn't fall in his lap or how an inside mid plays in the centre square all day and doesn't lay a tackle. Mark Jamars 46 hit outs with 3 at best to advantage. Nope Cale Mortons fault today. Our intensity was better. Our attempts to spread were much improved. We missed the opportunity to put pressure on them in the first quarter with easy missed shots. We negated their ability around the stoppage but we still aren't clean enough through there ourselves. Not happy with the loss but there were some improved signs and hopefully today was the last we see of Dunn and Joel McDonald again.

Out Forever: McDonald, Dunn In: Grimes, Couch

Ticket stamped today #2. Absolute liability. If you cant hit a target on their own with no pressure 20 metres away I dont care how hard you try you dont get a game.

Ticket stamped today for mine. He is a liability, refuses to play in front and plays dumb football. If he is seen much for the rest of the year will be very surprised.

21 touches (8 contested), 6 tackles, 6 clearances. Ran harder to space all day than anyone else. Couple of clangers but he was clearly in our best 6.

He made some skill errors but much improved game from Cale today. Ran harder to create space than anyone out there. 21 touches (8 contested) but most importantly 6 clearances and 6 tackles.

6. Bate 5. Rivers 4. Morton (anyone that does not have him in their best 6 is showing serious bias) 3. Frawley 2. Jones 1. Magner (great job on Boyd)

McDonald in is a disappointment particularly when Tappy and Morton can go back.Would have preferred they tried to fast track Davis (aware he wasnt named) than play Joel. Couch must wonder what the hell he has to do to get a game.

Remove players who are the reason for the previous culture. Change your leaders. Set and communicate new standards, NB: Actually changing it takes time but we have set the wheels in motion already.

Based on comments from Casey with Couch sounding like only standout I would not be making wholesale changes. In Couch Out Martin NB: Davis for Grimes if doesn't come up.

List is attached http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=130821 People have been sour on our club for some time. Now is not the time to make rash judgements. You stick to the plan that you think is right and if you see an opportunity to accelerate your position then you take it ie: Clark in the previous off season. I trust we will look at all options but I hope we do it with a level head and dont just push change for changes sake. If there is no good mature mid options at the right price in the offseason then you stick the course and keep developing from within.

We are in agreement then. Based on who is available under free agency who would you target? I dont think there is anyone on the list restricted or unrestricted that fills our need that is a realistic get ie: I dont see Mitchell or Goddard as realistic gets.

Maybe I will understand this more if you explain to me who you think we should be trying to recruit. I expect that you will struggle to come up with some realistic options. I am not saying dont bring in mature bodies but not the expense of using our top picks to overpay for players.

I am not saying our 3rd qtr efforts are not disgraceful. Just as you cannot disregard the third you cannot ignore how we play in the other 3.

Unless you can tell me who this star is that's available that will help us deliver a premiership I disagree. I have no interest in a stop gap I am interested in what is best to give us the best chance of ultimate success.

Moloney, Sylvia and Jurrah is 64 possessions and 8 goals of the last time we played Richmond in 2011. Arguably 3 of our 5 best players. I think its more than "may" improve things. Our backline and forwardline are fine, our mids lack clean hands and the courage to run both with and without the ball. Moving Watts and Howe to the midfield is a great idea that will have a excellent long term benefits . Getting Grimes in there also would not hurt. I do not understand this obsession with playing him deep back. Take the 3rd qtr out we played much improved football with some costly errors.

We do not need to pay overs for mature B Graders. We need to load up on the best pure mids with our early draft picks and have them grow with the wave of kids we already have. Then look to see if we can pull another Magner from a second tier competition next year. Our players under 23 are quality but lack the bodies and confidence at this time. We have been waiting long enough already so now is not the time to become short sighted.

Open season on Cale today. His performance today has been deplorable.

I agree that he needs another 3-5 kilos. However there is a difference between stating he has put no weight on and saying you would like him to play at a higher weight. I will take the official AFL stats for his weight over "you standing next to him". Maybe you should have asked if you could try and lift him up just to be sure. I assume you mean he was gifted games in his first 2 years when he averaged 18 and 22 possessions? Morton then hurt his knee in the last practice match of 2010 and missed the first 8 games, then injured his finger and missed the last 3 practice matches last year and the first rounds of the season. Going to the backline to get a kick does not equate to playing in the back 6. I assume most football followers understand this. Comparing the Larke medal for the best U18 player with players winning the Liston for the best player in a second tier competition speaks for itself. I am not saying he does not have faults but the amount of bile that is spewed on this sight about him is ridiculous. I hope you and others watch him today with an unbiased view but I find that doubtful.

Lets ensure we get the facts right people. Morton has put on 12 kilos since drafted. Morton served a strong apprenticeship of games in his first two years and then after strong pre-seasons in the last 2 got injured right at the commencement of preseason games ruining any momentum. Morton won the Larke medal at the under 18 championships playing off a half back flank yet this will be the first year he has trained to play in our defence. Morton does not need to become a dogged inside player but he does need to go when its his turn. I would not be surprised if he improves markedly under the new regime but will need time to find his feet. Best of luck today Cale and for the rest of the year I hope this season has you having alot of people eating humble pie.