mo64

You're missing the point. We're more concerned about the game plan and team structure that Bailey's implemented. To say that he's playing kids, blah, blah, blah... is a cop out for the coach. The fact of the matter is, that when we had the senior players in the team early in the year, we were equally as insipid as we were against Pt. Adelaide, a team that were also decimated with injuries, and playing kids. So stop making excuses.....

That's too intelligent for many on this forum, or for that matter, our coaching panel. Our answer to modern football is to have our players gut run to areas of the ground that won't hurt the opposition on the scoreboard. Then we slag off players like Yze who have the nerve to run to positions where we might actually kick a goal, and accuse them of front-running. In the words of Malcolm Blight from a few weeks ago during the Coll. v Ess. game, "Stop stuffing around with it, and just kick the ball long and tell your forwards to play in front". Essendon proceeded to kick 5 goals in 7 minutes by doing just that. The games made complicated by coaches who are trying to justify their jobs.

It's hard to make a good lead inside our forward 50 because usually there's 3 of our forwards against 6 of their backmen. The rest of our team are caught out of position because they're running parallel with the ball carrier.

Finally some voice of reason on this forum. Our attempts to score by moving the ball sideways is laughable. And the buck stops with Bailey, because it's obvious that the players are playing to instructions.

I'm with you on this one Deanox. My criteria for Most Improved is someone who has gone to another level. I don't think that you can say that Garland has gone to another level after only playing 2 games in the previous year. Based on my criteria, I would give CJ or Wheatley most improved.

You only do a trade if you believe that it will improve your list. Midfielders are a dime a dozen, so it made sense to trade an overpaid Woewodin for a 1st rd pick. And I agree that trading Yze or TJ back then, wouldn't have hurt us in the short or long term. But quality ruckmen aren't easy to find. Jolly would have been an adequate replacement if we kept him, but he's no worldbeater.

All this "we should have traded them when they had currency" is hindsight garbage. White was one of the premier ruckmen prior to the centre-circle rule, and we were playing regular finals football. Why would we trade him then? Unfortunately for Jeff, the centre-circle rule has diminished his most useful asset, his leap, and he is a shadow of the player that he was. Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if some club did pick him up as a back-up ruckman, but that all depends on Jeff's ego. I get the impression that he doesn't like playing second fiddle.

So how do you play finals without winning, and what exactly was his doctrine on coaching?

Dalziell is too old to be nominated, but jeez he was impressive.

The whole match was played at the intensity of a VFL 2nds game, so the 80% effeciency was hardly outstanding. I'm hoping like hell that Morton becomes the elite player that we sadly need, but he does things that lack polish, and age can't excuse. I'm not surprised that he hasn't been nominated for the NAB Rising Star prior to this round. Palmer and Morton are on a par with their foot disposal, but the difference is that Palmer is pretty much Freo's no. 1 on-baller, and is targeted by the opposition far more than Morton.

No.

I do. I watched Morton closely today, and again felt underwhelmed by his performance. Sure, he reads the play and makes position well, but I'm coming to the conclusion that he's just a bad kick. Under no pressure, he butchers the ball by foot time and time again. And kicking the ball out-on-the-full to a leading player (Miller I think), when under no pressure, is inexcusable at any level. I never saw them play at junior level, but Morton does things that make me question as to why there was any debate as to whether Cotchin or he would get picked up by the Tiges. Cotchin displays the talent of a potentially elite player, whereas Morton will be a very good 200 gamer.

Explain to me what Bell's upside is? Noone is doubting his courage, but his lack of football smarts has made him a battler at best. We persisted with Godfrey for too long because he had all the traits that you've mentioned above. Talentless try-hards don't win you games.

Without the financial backing of News Ltd, the Storm would be a basket case. David Gallop mentioned on the NRL Footy Show a couple of weeks ago that the Storm were a financial concern. And I don't know where you get your facts from in regards to Brisbane. They are the most financially secure team in the NRL.

I think it's a bit too simplistic to look at age and games played, and make an assessment of a team's future. It's more about quality of your graduates, rather than quantity. It's players that reach the elite level that make a difference to a team's fortunes. I'm not sure if any of our dozen graduates will get to that level.

Mos Def, You are spot on with everything you've said. I've been saying this all year, but get shouted down by most on this forum. I can cop a 100 point belting with the side that we had in last night, but not when we don't have a structured set-up, and players are forced to handball sideways to a teammate under more pressure. I couldn't help but laugh on occasions, it was that bad.

I'll quote you then: "If i was an ordinary player wanting to keep my job at a club that may cease to exist - 1 weeks wage becomes an investment in my eyes."

It was he and 1 or 2 others on Demonlogy that were accusing the players of being "tight". He got shouted down by most, and now has the gall to raise Brock's contribution on Demonland. His comments on Demonology were a disgrace.

My sentiments exactly. Also Graham Gaunt's assertion that the players were being "tightwads" for previously only donating $10k amongst them, was also a disgrace. Fantastic effort by Brock and all the players.

Sandy's focus has always been about winning. And the issue of types of players coming in and out of the side impacts all VFL clubs with alliances, and along with injuries, hasn't been used as an excuse at Sandy in the past.

Barry's reports have been far from complimentary of Sandy's performances this year. I'd rather bow to his opinions than yours or Rhino. With the amount of experienced MFC players regularly playing at Sandy, the results have been poor. Lovell was the only casualty from the Geelong football department after their review, so you tell me what makes him a good coach?

We've had extra development coaches this year in Kelly O'Donnell and Mark Williams. I would have thought that Lovell's focus was on winning games for Sandy. In that regard, he's failed.

You don't rate Jones, Hannabal?

We can call it the MFC Money Laundering Account. I'm sure we'll get a few terrorist groups or drug barons who'd be more than happy with this arrangement. B)

Could a moderator pin the link to the debt demolition website onto the top of the board.