mo64

He didn't bring us Goody. Roos wanted Stewie Dew as his successor, but the Swans wouldn't release him from his contract.

I suggest you listen to Dylan Buckley's podcasts. He's interviewed quite a few Dees players, and I'm yet to hear one praise Roos. All have expressed their love for Goody. His interview with Max goes for over an hour. Max goes through how the club was under each coach he's had. When it got to Roos, Max laughed. He said that the player loved Roos because under Neeld they were training 9-5. He goes on to say that Roos was a family man, so by one o'clock he'd leave and the players would be left standing around. Max then goes on to say that Goody changed the culture of the club. Harmes said in his interview that when he arrived at the club (same year as Roos), the young players weren't given any direction as to where they fitted in the team. They just played for Casey and hoped to get picked. This was contrary to what the club is like now. And if you think that Roos had an influence on our current team, have a look at the players we recruited from other clubs during his time. The list is embarrassing. The only current player is Melksham, and he came due to Goody. The best recruit was Vince, and he came because of Goody. The biggest fish Roos was able to attract was Lumumba. We traded Howe for Ben Kennedy. Goody attracted big names like Lever and May. Roos attracted zilch.

Great job once again Deespic. No controversial selections. But we did fork out some considerable draft capital and utilise salary cap space to acquire Lever and May. Without them, I doubt we finish as minor premiers let alone win a flag. However I can't agree with your initial Paul Roos narrative, in particular his supposed progressive training structures. If you listen to podcasts with current players and Goody, they're not so generous in their praise of Roos. To say that Goody followed Roos' methods is selling him short. Watts and Hogan were poster boys under Roos, but Goody was quick to move them on. And the team was better for it.

Love your work Tim. Would never have got the 2 above. Bring on the cricket version!!!!

11. Dean Kent. Lament (keen) Blemish (dent)

OK, my brain has recovered, and I'm going again. 2. Brad Campbell. Heel (Cad) P#@*k (Bramble)

Is 10. Clay Sampson. Get another gaoler. Say Clamps On.

No. 6 is Brayden Preuss. Batman's hit on creep. Preyed On Bruce.

Just beat me to it Stone.

Oh, Len Glove It. Glenn Lovett.

Jeremy Howe? How is he? I've missed the Spoonerism.

13. Tony Martyn

17 and 19 are killing me. All I can think of is Lobby Loyde and Len Maddocks, but can't get the connection.

3. Wayne Lamb

8. Darryl Cox ?

18. Darren Kowal

Damn. And I thought that was a gimme. This is heaps tougher than todays Age cryptic xword.

3. Nick Carter

Hmm. Dawid Malan would make sense if the clue was "I took from his second name to create an animal. Edit. You're correct. The "i" comes from his first name.

1. is Mike Brearley. Be (B) right (R) before time (early).

12. is Phil Tuffnell

Is 4 Liam Plunkett? Took i away from first name becomes Lam. 🤷‍♂️

Strongly disagree. Only May, Lever, Gawn, Petracca and Oliver would be certainties for our best 22 since 1976. The 8 players from the 2021 Premiership team that were 21 and under, are still unproven in real terms. Aside from the players you mentioned, surely Jeff Farmer gets in ahead of either Spargo or Pickett. Brett Lovett ahead of either Rivers or Salem. Laurie Fowler or Alan Johnson ahead of Bowey. Alan Jakovich ahead of Fritsch. Greg Wells ahead of Viney. Todd Viney ahead of Harmes. I could go on because Hibberd, Petty, Langdon, ANB, Sparrow and Jackson are not close to making best 22. The 2021 team is easily the best Melbourne team we've seen, but it's not made up of 22 stars.

Great work Deespic. No real surprises in the rankings. My only comment is that too much is made of the timing of Jack Watts' debut, and how it ruined his career. Not sure how many weeks it was prior to his debut, but he had an outstanding game for Casey against the Coburg Tigers (aligned with Richmond at the time). He deserved to be selected. At the end of the day, I just saw Jack Watts as a player with talents who didn't have the desire or natural competitiveness to get the best out of himself. The QB narrative is overplayed.

43/57. Rushed it a bit. Had 9 minutes left.