Rhino Richards

What was he talking about again?? Great clip.

A physically mature side??? The bulk of the list is sub 23. Who do you think can come straight in to the side to give us a physically mature team? And why are the "phyisically mature" players necesssarily not "skilled"??

Krejza like Tait have not been successes on this tour. I thought Krejza was predestrian against Pakistan where his only wicket was a poor shot by the Paki batsman. The conditions in this match and for most of the tour were tailor made for spinners and Krejza was lacklustre. He is certainly not the only ordinary performer. However for a guy given an opportunity from the blue, he has done little to impress in my opinion. Although the pitch was poor with inconsistent bounce, the batting was indeed poor with poor shot selection by Watson, Clarke and Hussey. White ran himself out on a suicide run to complete his trail of misery since Christmas. I would drop White for David Hussey who at the very least can provide some offies. While at the end of his career, Lee has been a standout of the bowlers. After that bowling has been D grade or thereabouts with both Canada and Kenya showing up the deficiencies. Tait and Johnson have been poor. Some months ago, I thought we would struggle to get to the semis and after Australia get done by India on Thursday then the ACB should start a careful examination of the side for the future covering both on and off field matters. On form it would be a miracle if we beat India at home. The outcome of this tournament was not unexpected. The spate of injuries before the tournament sapped a struggling Aust side of some glimmer of upside. But the options to replace incumbents or correct issues are not as clear cut or simple to resolve. The hard decisions will need to be made. Ponting should be "retired". White has blown a big chance to have scaled the mountain to the top. Clarke is streaky in form and I am not sure he is the best option in the short term. But who else is there? Brad Haddin??? Hmmmm

I dont think Fev has taken responsibility at all and he certainly has not been given any reprieve. Fev may never change at all despite the outcomes of his actions.

No just a realist that deals in the facts of the matter. Exactly right. Cant believe people cant see this.

Proved nothing beyond a bit of spin to launch another Reach program. Savvy media that all.

Doesnt make any statement in support of the concept. Stynes realises better than many posters that Fev is more out of Reach. B)

Well that's different then. As another poster said how many chances (or how much chance) does he want? He's got deep and dnagerous personal issues, apparently "wants" to play football again, is 12kgs overweight, has done no pre season training and has the "approval" of Casey to p1$$ off to LA for week. He has also undertaken a number of actions and public arrangements in direct conflict with the advise of his managers and close advisers. Fev has as much chance of playing for MFC as you have. Certainly no basis for trumpeting any special judgement on this JCB.

Great post. Too frequently some of these well meaning life changers are in many cases feeding their own egos with their actions. Fev does have deal with his issues and this wont be done overnight or in a couple of weeks. And until he can demonstrate that he is functional person in the community and has the appropriate training (and thats not for a couple of years) I would not have him anywhere near troubled young people. At the moment he's toxic and potentially harmful to himself.

Its a pity that Fev has a much chronicalled inability to listen when he has so much compassion to give.

Really JCB. Firstly Jimmy is hardly going to come and be derogatory about Fev in the press. Its not his style and it does nothing for the MFC or Reach. Its just good spin. Secondly, its also a good media attracting platform for Jimmy to spruik a new Reach program he is unveiling. This is hardly an endorsement of Fevola and the Club are clearly not happy with the Scorpions situation. Fev has as much chance of playing for MFC next year as Chris Judd.

If MFC are to be a serious contender for a flag we need six A grade players out of: Watts, Morton, Scully, Trengove, Frawley, Grimes, Syvlia (still hoping and waiting) Gysberts, Viney, Garland and Jurrah. We need to develop good to very good players out of the rest. If one of those also becomes a star then great. The top category above does not deliver then our hopes are dashed and Prendergast is out of a job.

Then your friends have never been members at all. Its people like that who will always find an excuse not to buy a membership. Its such a crud metric that defies logic and reason the more you think about.

You splitting hairs on this unnecessarily. They will both be KPFs who will be focusses up forward. They will both take time to mature.

Whether the Dees are going to win a flag is dependent on the ability of Watts, Scully, Trengove, Morton, Frawley,Gysberts Viney and Sylvia to become the nucleus of stars MFC crave. Most of these players are first round picks that selectors will stake their reputation. They get it right they are deities. They get it wrong they are chumps. Its as simple as that. If we dont get the nucleus from the squad with perhaps one or two others (eg Jurrah etc) then MFC are stuffed. Its quite easy for selectors to stuff the first round picks. The rewards are great if you get it right. Its awful if you get it wrong. Richmond stuffed in 2001 and 2004. The Hawks have stuffed it 2005 and 2006. But you are right that we wont know of Prendergasts pedigree until 4 to 5 years in the job.

Agree. Its a hole for MFC and we have three fringe players fighting for a spot and their careers.

He is 19 and still growing into his physique and replacing him with a 22yo debutant does nothing to address your hope of winning or that you are taking another path other than future player development. Howe is no more a sure thing than Watts. He has not played AFL football at all and has no pedigree or experience at this level. And if the Footy dept have it right there should be more upside in Watts going forward. You have not supported your earlier statement that I challenged. Daws is 22 and 105 kgs and 3 cm shorter than Watts. Watts is 196cm, 19 and is still growing into his physique at about 5 kgs a year. At 22-23 Watts should be around 100kg. Its a valid comparison

Given he is only 3 cm shorter than Paul Johnson surely that does not necessarily demand that if he does fire by 21 he's an ordinary footballer. A touch hasty

I did not realise future player development came at the cost of winning. If the club is serious about winning they would be focussed the developing the side that allows them to win. Where has it come from that the Club will suddenly after three years abandon the the development of the list to sate the impatience and lack of undetrstanding of supporters. We must and will get AFL game time into our junior players who are talented yet have 4 years or less of AFL experience And also if they do drop Watts, a 19yo will they just replace him with another 18-19 yo given the list is so young?

Terrible terrible news. I loved the original "Irish" even though he wasn't Irish. Loved the way he played and sickened by the news.

The bottom line is Fev needs to take responsibility for his actions and his life. Its not up to football clubs to become quasi rehab centres. There are special organisations around to deal with people with Fev. He needs to take advantage of these services away from football and take control of his own life. If he is indeed unable to do this he may need to considered some form of institutional care and supervision for own good. AFL owns him nothing. He has had more financial benefits and fresh starts than his output has deserved. He needs to find a purpose in life where for the past 13 years football has been an unforgiving platform for some with so much talent but has been so destructive both personally and to people around him.

If he kept a low profile and did not stray with the alcohol and gambling then the media would reflect the general public sympathy and not hound a person who has just come out of rehab and trying to get his life together. Unfortunately Fev has undetaken a number of disturbing actions which has only brought the wrath on himself. I think the football community has done more than enough for Fevola. Its time for Fev and his management and close aides to take responsibility for his issues and deal with them. And why the hell is football a no 1 factor? Unbelievable. You must still be pining for him at MFC.

I prefer the insights of those qualified and informed to make such statements. The pill does not stop his alcoholism. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/fevola-warned-pill-no-cure-20110309-1bo0f.html "Disulfiram will help Fevola deal in the short-term with his alcohol issues but it may not be the long-term solution. ''It's really a matter of you weaning yourself off the reliance of alcohol. You are not actually curing the underlying position,'' Larkins said."

You can actually sit there longer and achieve the same outcome. Its more important what he does after he leaves rehab rather than wht he does inside it.Rehab will not dry him out (and nor will a pill) nor does it stop him gambling. His post rehab efforts are not good so far. Gambling and alcohol etc are symptoms of the cause(s) that Fevola has to deal with in his life. Its up to him what choices he makes in dealing with the causes. I am not sure he will ever make the correct choices. And as Dr WYL has rightly said, I dont think footy has been or will assist him in that journey.

There are a few other activities he finds even easier. I dont think footy life has been good for Fev at all. Its merely provided a financial and unreal platform over 13 years for his public disintegration.