MikeyJ

It's interesting to hear that so many rated Bail's game yesterday. I presume those applauding him were at the game live - I wasn't. Stuck in Sydney, I watched it on telly. I'd have him as first out of the side, if any changes were to be made. Not only did he fail to curb his crude tackling style, his opponent (Chris Newman) was just about Richmond's best. Nor did Bail have a huge influence when the game was hot in the first three quarters. I'll agree he was good in the last, but he had a lot of ground to make up. I like his running ability and his penchant for moving the ball quickly and accurately by foot, but he needs to learn a few things about accountability if he's going to play half-back.

FWIW, I don't want Davey anywhere near kick-in duties. He might be good at it, but the opposition would love seeing him with the ball in his hands at that point because it means he's not going to have the ball in the centre square, delivering to our forwards.

I'm less concerned by how we start a game with our kick-ins than how we end it. There will be some weeks (Essendon, Sydney) where our preferred strategy of going long to Jamar/Johnson and a numerical advantage of runners will work all day. And there will be others when it doesn't and we have to think our way through it as the game progresses. I was a little worried by our struggles in the first quarter and a half, but as others have said, it was a function of Richmond's outstanding man-on-man pressure. The fact that we improved dramatically throughout the game, to the point where we absolutely dominated them from our kick-ins for much of the second half, is worthy of praise. Those who are overly concerned by our kick-in strategy tend to lose the forest for the trees. We often forget that even though it's a set play that theoretically gives us an advantage, it's also a set play for the defending team. I worry much more about our ability to win clearances (which was average in the first half and outstanding in the last quarter) and our clean hands in traffic and contested situations (which were verging on dire for much of the game). Now that's worthy of a thread - why did we fumble so much yesterday? Cost ourselves so many opportunities on the fast break - opportunities which were often generated from an effective kick-in strategy.

When you're referring to past players in the footy media, don't call them journalists, because they're not. They're generally commentators, columnists or presenters. Not journalists. Former Melbourne skipper Percy Beames was a journalist; so too is former Bulldog and Swan Neil Cordy. But there are precious few others I can think of. As for Sam Lane, no doubt her dad's influence helped somewhat but she's managed to acquit herself pretty well in the actual journalist caper, regardless.

Yeah, nah. You might not agree with what those blokes write or how they write it, but I'd be wary of dismissing it as "one of the easiest jobs there is". Believe it or not, there's some craft involved in professional journalism and it's a lot more involved than just sitting in front of a computer and spewing out the first thing you think of. That privilege (!) is reserved for those who have done the hard yards.

Pyke may be terrible at a lot of things but rucking isn't one of them. He's actually a more than serviceable tap ruckman and as I wrote earlier, he can take an excellent contested mark. PJ's main advantage against Pyke will be around the ground - if he can go forward and cause some damage, or become a useful link man around the middle, then we might be able to get a win there. But I wouldn't be chalking up any easy hitouts against the big Canadian.

So Waite did, you're right! Regardless, the point remains largely the same as Carlton haven't relied on a big forward structure all year. You're spot on about Bruce. I can't recall too many one-on-one contests for a disputed ball that he's lost this year and he has by and large been pretty good defensively. He had a shocker against Freo but his previous month was better than reasonable.

I'm not sure that enough posters are considering the opposition when suggesting their changes for next week. The Swans have one of the biggest, hardest midfields in the comp - think Jude Bolton, Brett Kirk, Ryan O'Keefe and Josh Kennedy. We'll need big bodies in there to mix it with them. With Moloney unlikely to play, there's no way we'll drop another of our big bodies in Jones. If Trengove and and McDonald are both fit, they should both come in at the expense of Moloney and Morton. Cam Bruce can run with Goodes when he starts the midfield and Jared Rivers can go with him up forward. James Frawley will be needed to play on Jesse White and Col Garland will go to Rhyce Shaw or whichever makeshift mid-sized marking forward Roos puts down there this week. Clint Bartram is a perfect match for Ben McGlynn, who is actually their most dangerous forward. We'll also need two rucks to cope with Mumford and Pyke. Don't be fooled by Pyke's inexperience - he's actually a reasonable tap ruckman and can take a mark. I also suspect we'll go tall up forward and try to exploit the Swans' defence in the absence of LRT and Craig Bolton. That leaves Ted Richards and Heath Grundy as their two key defenders. The Swans got away with that setup against a Jarrad Waite-free Carlton but they'll find it harder to cover Watts, PJ, Jurrah, Bate and a strong-marking Sylvia. Their plethora of half-backs are good at ground level but not great in the air. In: Trengove, McDonald Out: Moloney (thigh), Morton

Just noticed we had a player called Algernon Millhouse don the No.2 in 1913. Best name ever?

From the bench, I think Bail, Johnson, Morton and Macdonald will play. We need Johnson to support Jamar against Sandilands, while Bail and Morton add run on Subiaco's expanses. We don't need as many mid-sized defenders against Freo and Macdonald can play taller than Cheney, so he gets a gig. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if Warnock gets a run instead of Macdonald or Morton, depending on the FD's thinking. Freo is a much taller side than Essendon and I have my doubts on Garland and Rivers' ability to play on Michael Johnson if he plays deep forward.

Sure, if you go by results, but I'm of the opinion that coaches of Williams' undoubted ability lose their effectiveness a lot slower than an exceptional group of players gets too old. I think he's still got plenty to offer as an AFL coach - just not at Port Adelaide. I believe he'll enjoy considerable success again. I'm not agitating for the club to hire Williams and I'm not saying that anything is wrong with our current development team - hence my use of the phrase "If he was deemed suitable for a role at Melbourne...". Every indication is that Kelly O'Donnell and co are doing a good job. I was primarily responding to others who said they simply didn't want him because of his recent record. If it was identified in an end of season review that the club could use his expertise, I'd have no problem in the club employing him. Especially in light of Hird's ringing endorsement of his work as a development coach. Hird was particularly strong in praising Williams' ability to teach him how to hit targets by foot. I reckon some posters on this site who constantly wring their hands about certain players' inability to do that might appreciate it!

Can't say I see any problem with it. Given the team comes from the Sunshine State and the Gold Coast is inextricably linked with sun, surf and sand, I reckon it's a good fit. What would you rather see?

You don't coach a side to a string of minor premierships and a flag unless you're a gifted coach. No matter what you think of Port's recent record, Mark Williams is one of the best football coaches in this country. If he was deemed suitable for a role at Melbourne to develop our young players - and James Hird said on On The Couch on Monday that Choco was perhaps the best teaching coach he'd had - then I'd welcome him in a heartbeat.

FWIW, I stopped Martin's goal on the Foxtel iQ on Saturday night and rewatched it about 10 times. I'll not get sick of seeing it if it was replayed another 100.

But Swan, Griffen and Martin all had games the equal of Green or better if you ignore the stats and actually watch the games.

Also showed in the 2004 GF Sandy v Port Melbourne. Dominated that day, thought we had a real star on our hands. Maybe he'll deliver in the second half of his career. Agree with others re: the speed he showed against Essendon. It was also in evidence against Port Adelaide in Darwin.

No, both teams are wearing their home jumpers, and Essendon has undertaken to work with the AFL to develop a clash jumper suitable to wear in away games against Melbourne. It was accepted that Melbourne had the right to wear their home jumper in this game, and the AFL deemed that Essendon's 'clash' jumper actually caused more of a clash than their home jumper.

First things first, Steve. I reckon you need to get some therapy for your anger issues, or you need to get away from internet forums for a while. Your reaction is unhealthy. Now, to Morton. I like his aerobic capacity, his ability to read the play and his vision. He has found it more difficult to execute his kicks at AFL level with the greater pressure applied, no doubt, but I have still seen some exquisite foot passes over 55m that few players could (firstly) envisage and (secondly) pull off. No doubt his slight frame is still an issue and I believe it has contributed to his lack of confidence at the elite level. However, as others and club staff have noted, he hasn't stopped growing until this year and with some luck, he'll add some bulk. He'll never be the incredible hulk but similarly, I don't think he'll remain a stick insect. Those referencing his perceived timidity are still living in 2008, to my mind. He'll never be a Nick Riewoldt or Jonathan Brown - few are - but he's displayed sufficient courage on enough occasions since that early blemish for me to believe it won't be a long-term issue. I do, however, have concerns about his best position at AFL level. Given he's not super quick and he's not a big build, he can't really play a key position and he'll struggle to reach his potential as a genuine winger without real pace. I suspect his best position will end up being as a high half-forward roving towards the wing, where he can use his footskills going into attack. As for your ill-founded assertion that the people who believe Morton will be a good player are the same who reckon Rich has peaked and Naitanui won't be any good, the less said the better. Do yourself a favour and don't generalise.

Geez Steve, bit angry there aren't you? FWIW, I agree Morton deserved to be dropped after last week's effort against Adelaide. He's no longer a first or second year player and I expected better, particularly after what looked to be a breakthrough game against Collingwood. Perhaps the Collingwood game was the exception rather than the rule, though. On a day where we struggled to have any winners, Cale was one of our very worst because he didn't involve himself in the game either defensively or offensively. Not acceptable for a player of his ability. However, I don't agree with Steve's scathing assessment of Morton's ability and like others, I have no doubt that his injury-hampered preparation for the season has affected his form. If his knee isn't too rough, he'll go back to Casey and play some good footy by doing the team things. I have no doubt he will be a very good player for this club.

Yeah, it's all a bit weird with GC and the way they're putting together their list. It will be interesting to see if the hype about this draft rises as we get closer to November, or whether GC's monopoly on the draft has effectively killed all interest. Will also be interesting to see how a team filled with high-end draft picks plays together.

GC hasn't committed to Harley Bennell yet, but there's no doubt they'll take him - perhaps as one of their first three picks. FWIW, Bennell is the cousin of Jamie and the younger brother of Johnny, who was rookie listed at Collingwood for a year. And I don't understand what are you getting at with Swallow and Matera. Although he was bottom-aged, Swallow had finished school at the end of '09 so he was just going to be kicking around Perth working and playing club footy this year. Why not get him up to the Gold Coast and play VFL footy for a year to prepare for AFL life? I'm unsure whether Matera is in the same boat with regard to his schooling but I presume that would be the case.

Jack Viney is playing in the national U16 titles which start up here in Sydney next week. I'm hoping to get along to one of his games to see how he's travelling at the moment. Without having read the article, I'd hazard a guess that BP was referring to the U16 championships, rather than the U18s.

I know, Don - I'm a misplaced Melburnian myself who's spent the past three years in Sydney! Probably not a bad time to be away from the 'G, all things considered. That's why it gave me such a thrill to see someone else's car donning the red and blue.

I was driving up Salisbury Road in Newtown this morning and sat behind a white Corolla sedan with the familiar red and blue bumper sticker under the badge. If by some chance that person is a member of Demonland, you made my day! The first one I've seen in almost three years of living in Sydney (other than those on the back of my car, of course).

For goodness sake, don't make things up. Bail's AFLQ profile Born in Victoria in 1988, lived in Qld since 1995. Played all his junior footy there. He has never been on an AFL list of any sort before he was drafted by Melbourne, although he trained with both Essendon and St Kilda at the end of 2007. His father was an under-19s footballer with St Kilda, so I can almost understand your confusion.