Lil_red_fire_engine

I took what he was saying is that in his mind there is no clear number one this year (although I disagree) whereas the years they had the number 1 picks Murphy and Gibbs were clearcut top picks and last year was really either Kreuzer or Cotchin. All the better for us I say its just up to us to get it right.

"Meanwhile, Connolly said coach Dean Bailey is currently going through the process of finding a replacement for midfield coach Paul Williams." I am amazed that no one commented on the above. Am I mistaken or did we not announce Mark Williams as new midfield coach?

I know its a highlights package from a while ago but based on that footage and assuming his knee is fine then there is no way he will last to pick 17.

I would have loved us to have landed a big fish during the trade period. In saying this I actually think our lack of action fills me with great confidence that the current management actually know what they are doing. We chose not to overextend or overvalue a unproven ruckman or a B grade mid with a knee reco. Yes we may not have been their first choice (which is disappointing) but I am sure that decision for them may have been more difficult if we had thrown money, extended tenure of contract or enticed their current club with pick 17. We chose not to overvalue a player who until the last half of the year would not have been in 90% of supporters starting 22 and I doubt with the improvement of Grimes, Petterd, Cheney and new draftees was a given to get a game next year. We chose to not promote Valenti although he showed he can get a kick at AFL level. Instead we retained him for the back up player he should be. To me we have learnt from previous mistakes and our lack of action shows that we are standing firm on our plan.

This smells to me of cost cutting pure and simple. We had better development out of our players last year due to having 2 quality development coaches. So lets take one of them away and put him in a completely different role. Maybe I am wrong but I doubt we will hear of the replacement for Williams exited position. No disrespect to Williams but these are specialist coaching roles. It makes sense to me to be a midfield/ruck/defensive/forward coach you should have actually played majority of your football there. He may be an excellent VFL coach and proven development coach but I do not see why he would be good in this new role.

Freak, apologies if this has ben covered elsewhere, what are Watts potential flaws? What makes you so sure of Rich? All three boys have their unknowns but most appear to believe Rich a sure thing? This cannot be from his carnival performance where the only time he looked damaging was when he was not being manned up. As soon as he saw a tag his head dropped. I also would doubt this would be because he has burnt playing against men in the WAFL. Consistent sub 20 possession games culminating with 9 in a grand final (FWIW Phil Read had 24 possessions) dont really get me overly excited. It could not be his draft camp testing as he hardly participated due to injury. I would think if you rated them across leap, speed, agility and decision making Watts would be the best performed player in the history of the draft camp. Then also add his actual proven ability at the highest junior level to player (Larke Medal). And lets not forget the kid was focussing on another sport. I cannot even fathom the comparison on paper let alone consider why Rich would be so clearly ahead in your eyes. No one knows who is will be the better of the three but on paper who we should take could be no clearer.

Williams is no loss. Schwartz gives no impression to me he would be a good coach. West is a good idea. Shame we did not pursue Lappin who is now at the cattery.

So its Luke Molan at 19 then.........Unless there is a KPP that has fallen to us which we rated alot higher we should be taking ball carrying mids with toe at 17/19. Blease, Swift, Robinson, Zaharakis or players of similar vein.

Rich 9 possessions in the granny ??????????? What makes everyone so sure he is readymade for AFL?

Also know nothing on Bentley but would suprised we would target defenders. Tenace and Ray on one hand offer the one thing we dont have (speed) but on the other hand offer the one thing we have plenty of (poor disposal).

Last time I checked Bell and Jones dont play the same position. Each player that has been sent to Sandy has been sent to work on a facet of there game.. Jones form has been mediocre at best and his high disposal games have been clanger city. It will not hurt him to get some relief at a lower level and work on aspects of his game. Each time this has happened this year the player has returned in better form/polish than prior to their departure.

Garland will get Murphy. Martin will get Minson

6 B Green 5 B Miller 4 M Jamar 3 P Wheatley 2 C Sylvia 1 C Johnson

Well said I was amazed that no one else had mentioned this. He squibbed three contests and a fourth was line ball...

I doubt Dunn will be dropped as he has kept Swan and Foley to limited impact the last 2 weeks. Valenti for Bode would be the only change I would make. Would love to see Martin play instead of Frawley but think the big fella will spend the year at Sandy learning his craft unfortunately.

The game may be slower at VFL level but the grounds in most cases are smaller and the general delivery is mediocre. This usually puts more pressure on the type of player he is. Alot of the time today he won the ball and disposed under limited pressure. He was just shanking them pure and simple and I believe from overthinking it in most part. There is no harm whilst he is finding the ball 20+ times playing him and seeing if it corrects itself. The more he finds the ball at this level the more likely it will improve. After watching Sandy on the weekend its not like he is keeping anyone out of the side.

Well said hannabal.He has the confidence to run to the right spots and is getting the ball in dangerous positions. He shanked the ball numerous times today but dropping him to Sandy will not fix that. Just keep getting the games into him is the right way to go.

6 McLean 5 Garland 4 Miller 3 Wheatley 2 Green 1 Bruce

Melbourne Team B: J.McDonald, C.Garland, M.Warnock HB: B.Green, P.Wheatley, C.Bruce C: C.Sylvia, B.McLean, L.Dunn HF: J. Bode, J. Frawley, C. Bartram F: P.Johnson, B.Miller, A.Wonaeamirri Foll: J. White, C. Johnson, N.Jones Interchange from: A Davey, M. Bate, C. Morton, A. Yze Emergencies: N. Carroll, M.Whelan, M. Jamar

6Garland 5Mclean 4Green 3Wheatley 2Aussie 1Warnock

also disagree on Morton. Won the ball in more damaging positions today but his disposal was poor. Kids are always going to be up and down in their first year to say he is going backwards is a tad harsh.

His endeavour is fantastic but his decision making and disposal are well below par. Players like him need to be weeded out of the side and list as soon as possible.

I actually thought Bell was serviceable last week and with three quality smalls find it interesting that he has not been included. Garland will get Medhurst. Would asssume that Buckley has been ommitted due to his defensive efforts or lack thereof.