Rhino Richards

Neitz was a highly capable athlete that had claims up forward as a junior. He was played a CHB because we had someone called *cough* David Schwarz (pre knee) at CHF. Should we have moved Schwarz?? I dont think so. The situation is different here. So we take a strength in the backline and move it forward with unknown outcomes and then we bring in a player that cant command the defence position in his own right. And you call that team balance?? Sheesh

About as close as Grimes being undisciplined. The best that can be said about Meesen was that when he played AFL he was not as bad as everyone expected. He was still ordinary. The only place he could become a No 1 ruckman was the VFL. And after seeing him play there a number of times, I could not work out when the planets would line up for that to happen. He is probably a nice bloke but as a footballer, I dont rate him at all on what I saw when he was fit. Injuries dont hide a "punt" by MFC that went sour. Underperformer.

In the modern game of football, it is pure folly to pidgeon hole a footballer into a spot because he was recruited there. Its such a nothing validation when there are sooo many examples of footballers developing their AFL careers in roles different to the roles they had played in junior football. FWIW, the line difference between midfield and half back is so small its does not help. And from his performances to date Grimes is anything but being played out of position. At times Grimes work in defence is of the highest standard so I cant see the need to rejig it. And if you push Grimes into the midfield than who comes out given who has to come in again? Too often people use the midfield as a "dumping ground" for a player in order to squeeze another player in. And atm, love him or hate him, Bruce is fulfilling his role and says. Lets try and put the team's interest first.

A player playing well in the VFL should only be promoted with respect to team balance and the opposition you are playing. Team balance also includes injuries etc. Fortunately we dont have them so I dont see the problem. Its quite the reverse. I dont see the point of rejigging the whole team to suit a single player who I struggle to see where their natural match up will be with an opposition side. If Cheney does come in, who goes out? And then who does he play on? I dont see him as a superior or even equal proposition to the players we currently have in. Lets remember we have Junior and Sylvia to come back into the AFL team so before you go clogging up the midfield you might want to work out who take out of their and drop from the team.

His output of 0.3 one shot falling short and one kick straight up in the air (it was on his right foot, he has no right foot) undermines the points you make. He was there to do a job and only did half of it IMO. I think that was the problem with the kick that fell short. A guy of Green's experience should be smarter than that. Indeed. Exactly. However in AFL unless you are pummelling the opposition then they are all pressure goals and Green did not meet the mark. Pressure goals - Not on yesterday's effort. I seem to recall he missed a gettable one in the R2 match in the last quarter too. Dont give it to Bruce though.

Inexplicable suggestion. Agree Nasher.

I thought the poster was there too. The players who sought to dish off were like Jamar (cant kick over 45metres). Like I said I saw players like O'Brien, Dick, Bate and Moloney kick 50+ metres on the day without any trouble or weather impact so I did not witness the conditions having any adverse impact. Malthouse would be no doubt scrambling for excuses (once again) for their appalling kicking. Given Rd 2 and 12, I cant believe we have let Collingwood off the hook not once but twice in a season.

I dont normally participate in the weekly bleat about umpires but I gotta say that the interpretation of prior opportunity and dropping the ball is absolutely farcical. The aim of the laws should be rewarding the playmaker and not the person that comes to a contest 2nd. This was not happening at the MCG yesterday.

He did. And what did he do with it when he got it? Correct. He is often overrated as at set chot for goals eminating from his terrific effort against Carlton in the 2000QF. Not unreasonably he has not been able to sustain it over his career. But he is not above the pack when shooting for goal. Has missed a number of gettable shots over the journey. Neitz was not a good example. If ever there was a hot and cold goal kicker it was Neitz. Try again Demon 16 on the weather . It was picture perfect conditions at the MCG. No breeze with the weather still. You dont get it any easier at the MCG and Green must have played nearly 100 games there!!! Both O'Brien and Dick scored 50+ metre goals and the ball did not deviate in flight. Green missed one from 55 metres because he pushed for extra distance. But all the others were bread and butter nailable. He didn't. His effort to leave a ball 10 metres short and wide from 50 metres at the Punt Road end was surprising given the other efforts. Green knows better than anyone that you have to make those shots count particularly in the context of the match.

No it isn't. Meesen's injuries barely hide his ordinary output. Fraser does not have the injuries.

After a challenging firt quarter, I thought Morton was very good today. Miller is an ordinary footballer, a battler at times. But I thought he paid his meal ticket this week. Did you notice how he actually didn't fumble and got the ball to Jones. In a game where goals were at premium, Miller kicked two and had a goal assist. If it was Dunn, other would be saying Dunn has arrived in the AFL! (Dunn was serviceable yesterday). At no time did that pillow puss Fraser have any influence at the centre bounce. So Miller gets a tick there. And PJ!!..... turn it up. The ultimate tweener. Wins a Liston in the VFL but cant ruck, cant play forward and Jamie Bennell provides a bigger physical contest. We forget 12 months ago with PJ as our *cough* No 1 ruckman that Josh Fraser was close to BOG.

*BUMP* Oh dear. Still want him?? What an ineffectual puss is Fraser! Firstly in Round 2 it was Newton, today it was Miller.Nullified by pinch hitting mid sized players. The forner No 1 pick has his 200th game in 2 weeks. Do you think Malthouse believes in charity? I wouldn't.

You've got to be kidding. His kicking for goal was poor. Lets not forget the shot from 50 metres than ended 10 metres out. His kicking crucified our day. We needed someone to cap off the good work further up the ground. He failed his end of the deal. And I am sure no one more than Brad Green would recognise that. While today was a bad day, Green does have tendency to miss the set shots. People often confuse his silky kicking skills for what can be a ordinary end result.

Agreed...eighth game and still only raw. Exactly. Stacks of positives from a young side.

3. Jamar 2.5. Bartram 2. Morton 1.5. Moloney 1. Garland 0.5. Davey Apologies to Chips!

So are you my friend. I am was not a big Bartram fan at the end of last year and thought he was lucky to get another contract. However, his performance have been good this year and the statistic that no forward he has picked up has kicked a goal on him is indeed a telling one. Clearly the footy dept see things on the ground you cant fathom. The best you can do is a blame game "lost us the match" error. No wonder you are pining for Cheney. Cheney is an honest hard at footballer without a defining skill at this point in time that makes him a must have at AFL. Cheney is not quick by AFL standards and he must have a big tank if he has more endurance than Bartram. I dont see him taking the smalls and while capable overhead for his size I cant see him displacing our other options we have for taller forwards. I am trying to work out who Cheney ideally matches up on. Bartram might not have made the small defender spot sewn up but he has done pretty well in the process this year. At this point in time, the Footy dept rightly select him.

Correct Round 21 1993. He kicked 8. But he was memorable against the Dogs in 1994. He was taken off early in the last quarter with a niggle. Correct. He kicked 11.8. He brought up his 50 goal in his AFL career and it was only his 9th game. Unreal. He should have kicked 15 or 16. I am have never seen a one man show like it. Ox and Farmer have gone close but not that at that calibre.

Paul Johnson like Mark Jackson..... Good synopsis on PJ Stuie. But I am not sure we will chase another ruckman unless they can play another role. In our best team, Jamar would hold the No 1 ruck role and the days of playing a 2nd ruck to cameo off the bench for 5 minutes a quarter are long gone. I am not an advocate of trading for depth players either.

According to KC from Casey, PJ played for Casey today so he wont be an emergency on Monday.

Need you have brought up such dark days. Geez. B) O'Sullivan (son of)- Are you referring to Chris Sullivan (4) son of Tony(4). We also had a Michael O'Sullivan. Both players aptly make your list. I am not going to get into a most ordinary MFC player that I have seen but Woodman would be there with John Dellamarta (ex Collingwood). Terrible

Absolutely Clint. The reaction from the precious nellies is actually the big joke. The actual Barry Humphries skit they played is a very funny spoof from the early 60s that could easily resonate today. I had not heard it for a while but it was another wicked Humphries take on the Melbourne he lived in. Agree with that. I think Simon Whelan who is now a county court (?) judge used to do Ivan on the calls. Simon's wit is sadly missed on the C'Beens. I also miss Timmy from Thomastown. The perennial 11 yo lad with a boy crush on Craig Starcevich with the criminal low grade father. Timmy would be in his 30s by now. Well you have a choice turn off the radio or change the channel dial.

Its all speculation Stevey whatever twist you make on it. I could rattle up a whole raft of "facts" that would make a compelling case for Rich or any other interstate player. I dont bother with it. I do apologise I did not highlight the sarcasm brackets on the Rich commment. I will be more obvious with you. But its people like you that whip up a storm in a teacup on it. Thats why its overused and misused and you have given a good example of it. Well done. I bid you a whatever as well.

.....for a player with a really poor work ethic and poor attitude? No thanks. He would love a 2nd home. He has burnt his bridges at Essendon. Ash35 any thoughts on him?

Yes he was holidayed in Queensland some years ago on a schoolies week and likes pineapples and bananas so there is a definite connection. GC should be snaring him for that.

Wrong. its a practice that undermines the game itself. If one club could do it then all would play ducks and drakes with their sides to create unfair advantage that I am sure the football public would hate. If there werent stiff rules barring this practice why would you bother with team selection on Thursdays at all. While MFC did nothing untoward, the practice is one that should be penalised. I am sure the Club were well aware of the situation when they did it. Frawley had a late back spasm and they made an unauthorised replacement. You cant have team putting players in and out of the 22 that are not named emergencies. The AFL are right to fine for this midemeanour and MFC gots its fair whack under the AFL rules. Move on.