Lil_red_fire_engine

How do you know this? Considering Garland's peformance for Melbourne I disagree. He wasn't ready at all, either mentally or physically.

I dont think either of them were ready to play but we had to play someone. I think it was determined that putting Garland into that environment too early may be better than putting Newton in there. This isn't about how he performed but more about what damage it may do to the players confidence and how would they handle it.

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Good to see some intelligent debate on this topic..it has become few and far between on this site. From what I understand and have witnessed from watching him play Newton is exactly what is meant by a confidence player. The only thing that will stop him being a quality AFL player is his mind and application as he has all the attributes you require to be a quality key forward in todays game. We need to consider that he was drafted the second youngest in his draft, missed a whole year with injury and this time last year had only just commenced playing decent footy at Sandy 2's. By years end he was bagging hauls in the 2's and getting limited senior time. Now he is consistently kicking goals week in week out with some smaller bags. To me this is pretty good development.

If he is a confidence player it is key that he is brought up at the right time. There would be nothing worse than him getting elevated and not getting a touch. Would that be enough to put him back into his shell at Sandy? Possibly. I agree he needs to learn from Neitz and hence bringing him up this week does not serve that purpose, if anything it puts greater focus. I do not think him playing at the VFL is hindering his development as he has grown as a player in the first 11 rounds already and continues to each time I see him play. I think it was seen that the Sydney game we were very short for options and Garland was more mentally ready to be put in that situation. The best way for him to be promoted is with Neitz in the side and told that he will be played for 2-3 weeks regardless of performance. This should be with solid game time and not with limited ground time. This is probably the best way for him to be introduced. I however can not see who will make way in the current forward set up to fill that void at this point in time.

Didn't you think that Newton should have played after about Round 4 or 5?

Not at that stage nor do I think he must be played now. He is kicking goals consistently at VFL level which would make him believe he is good enough to play there. I would like to see him bag a couple more big hauls (6+ goal games) or truly dominate a couple of games. The most dominant I have seen him was about 4 weeks ago when he played across half forward and kicked 2.6. Once he is dominating at that level then bring him up. There is no rush...he will debut and if he lives up to his potential it will be well worth the wait.

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I am a massive Newton fan have seen him play 4 times this year including last weekend as well as numerous times last year. The kid is all talent but still looks immature of mind. He missed a goal from 20 metres out on a reasonable angle with a wet ball and you could see his mind was off the game for the next 10-15 minutes whilst he kept cajoling himself over the miss. I want to see the kid play for Melbourne more than I have looked forward to any debutant that I can recall in recent years but the timing is very important. The last thing you want is to bring him up too early, not get a kick and then dent his confidence at Sandy. The kid will play but lets make sure he also believes he is ready.

For those that were at Sandy where there any Demons that spent a considerable amount of time on the bench?

Playing in the rain yesterday and backing it up on Friday night could be a tough ask.

It seems both the injuries to Neitz and TJ were known before Sandy went out and played.

Knowing that two changes would have to be made would surely mean two players in line for selection would be eased through this weekend to be ready for friday night.

with this in mind it seems logical that perhaps the footy dept is confident of Yze being fit and that Brown was rested from Sandy to play on Friday. good chance these two will be the ones to come in.

still we can all hope for Newton.......

Newton started on the bench but didn't leave the ground once he came on (about the 25 minute mark of the first qtr). The rest spent no less time than they would under standard rotations.

I expect him to miss 2, setting him on his way to play his 300th in Melbourne.

Can't wait for team selection on Thursday. We might just see the name Newton in the mix, and then this board will go into meltdown.

It would make perfect sense to see Newton play. Afterall Richmonds backline is very inexperienced and he has been in good form (3 goals in the wet yesterday has been vastly underrated by those who saw it). In saying this though after playing in the wet yesterday to play on a 5 day turn is a lot to ask of a kid. I will be hellahappy if he plays but will not be screaming the house down if we went for a small forward line or the bigger bodied Miller. Will be interesting to see what is done...

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Can anyone confirm a Sandy Reserves Side? Will likely head down early if Hayes and Weetra are named?

can we afford to go with someone with no experience....

aren't we currently in our window - our list has been built up to the stage where we are a top 4 team and a challenger....

i am very undecided re the coaching position because of the above...

the issue that i do have is our skill level?? we still turn the ball over too many times and they cost us goals....

BIG RED SIGNING:

I am amazed that people see a guy who has captained a 3 time premiership side (which includes being on match committee) and spent extended injury periods sitting in the coaches box with Leigh Matthews as less experience than someone who has an official title as an "assistant coach" and is responsible potentially for nothing more than laying out witches hats and moving names on a magnetic board (note partial tongue in cheek). Saying there is a gulf between Voss and Longmire for example in experience is relatively small if existent at all.

Good job today Joeboy, except in regards to Moloney.

Maybe you didn't catch the look on his face when he was running off the ground. It was one of intense pain. He is clearly playing injured and it is an absolute credit to him that up until today, he has been in our best players every single week. He is a great player, and he has so much passion for the jumper.

Hopefully when McLean and Green are back, he gets a week or two off, just to have a bit of a rest.

I can't imagine what pain he must be feeling after seeing him on the boundary line today. I felt incredibly sorry for him actually.

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Jaded Moloney is definitely not a great player and closer to an average player than a good one. Yes I agree he is playing restricted due to injury but would love to know how many of his long bombs actually go to someone and when he will learn to chase an opponent?

Well its early days of course but Isaac is having injury after injury after injury while Joe Anderson lines up for his third game tomorrow.

Time will tell.

BIG RED SIGNING:

Joe Anderson has not set the world on fire. he will be a good, ordinary player. Frawley's season has been culled by injury as well so I guess drafting him was a mistake as well......

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Poor Isaac cant take a trick. Back from a hammy. then does another hammy then he now does a wrist... Hopefully we get to see him at sandy some time soon.

....anyone here know how many full games Michael Voss has sat in the coaches box as an observer?

BIG RED SIGNING IN:

Finks you have touched on what to me is most important. You cannot say Michael Voss needs to do an assistant coaching apprenticeship. In alot of ways he has already done one and more.All long injury lay offs he has he has been in the box listneing to Matthews. As captain he has had to player manage, develop youngsters, motivate a team, been on the team selection committee, hold press conferences. In summary he has more qualification in my eyes than an assistant coach such as Longmire or Harvey do (hey but they hold a good white board).

I dont see how its rubbish

I am sure the vast majoity of posters will agree that Cj has been woeful and we cant afford to carrry him for another week

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CJ starred in the preseason when played on a wing and left on a wing. He has been played there for about 15 minutes in the first 2 rounds and thrown between forward and back for the remaining 5 minute stints ND has left him on the ground to settle. If he was worse than Bate last week I was watching a different game yet no mention of Bate getting dropped.

Davey - ankle

Bartram - knee

Neitz - knee

Robertson - knee

Frawley - stress fracture

Hughes - Groin

Weetra - Hamstring

Pickett - hamstring soreness

DISCUSS

BIG RED SIGNING IN:

Completely unrelated. Don't see a huge amount of soft tissue injuries as you would expect if it were BB related.

I have accepted the first three nominations i.e. dees_rule_4eva, Clint Bizkit and CarnTheDees.

The current standings therefore are:-

15. Brent Moloney

13. Ben Holland

12. David Neitz

11. Russell Robertson

5. Nathan Jones

3. Daniel Ward, Jeff White

1. James McDonald

The first people to volunteer to give votes for next week's game will be accepted as next week's voters. Votes must be in by midday Tuesday AEST.

BIG RED SIGNING IN:

Am I the only one to notice that Moloney refuses to chase........He is the most defensively inept player in our side (and he has alot of competition).

The most exciting part of the evening was hearing the final siren and not having any injured players on the ground.

It was obvious that we were not playing to win. The emphasis was on the 'run and carry', and Neale obviously wanted the players to implement a game-plan that involved a lot of handballs.

BIG RED SIGNING IN:

Finally someone who understands the most important part of last night....no injuries...Anyone who thought we were going to win from halfway through the third qtr obviously was not aware of our lack of match fitness...Hawthorn has played 3 serious intra-club matches we have played 60 minutes last week of kick and giggle to help Channel 7. Run as many laps as you want it is nothing compared to match fitness...Sitting near the bench last night you could see in the last qtr the guys coming on still looked like they were blowing hard...Just couple of observations, most already said:

-Green and CJ easily our best 2 players...Jones first half was excellent (although must learn to chase), Bruce needs to learn to hunt the ball again and not get easy pill that he then turns over.

-Buckley was super impressive and gives us speed and carry through the midfield. Would prefer to see him played rather than Yze, Ward or Brown.

- Both Jamar and PJ were rubbish...we should be doing all we can to fast track Neaves to see if he is up to it otherwise a ruckman needs to be drafted/traded for next year.

- A team with Godfrey Ward and Brown will not make the eight...You can have one but not all three....Browny for mine.

- Was impressed with the couple of things Frawley did but did not think Hughes was up to it. Did nothing but get some wide ball.

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I am assuming a "match simulation session" is now the new fandangled term for praccy match. If that is the case we are playing at Moorabin today at 3pm. Shame about the lack of notice:(