Rhino Richards

I think the issue is that the upside with Watts is going to be far greater than it is with Miller and Hughes. Selection is not soley done on the basis of who plays the best at Casey. Watts is an interesting case. He is 19 in really his first full year of football and is growing into his body. By selecting him No 1 pick, the Club has made a huge investment in him and given the needs of the position he will play for hopefully 10+ years and 200+ stellar games with MFC. He is on a special development program and when he plays is matter of when he is deemed ready. FWIW, I saw more in Watts on Saturday than I did in 2 games from Hughes. Miller at 26 and Hughes at 24 years are plug in play footballers. Hughes is generally honest at the ball but I thought a few of his efforts against WCE were ordinary. In a forward line so young, I think Miller has a bit more experience tha Hughes and better suited to hitting packs in a contest. I also think that the Footy Department have looked closely at Hughes for the past 4 years know his strengths and weaknesses well. I would have thought had Jurrah been fit and firing the Miller/ Hughes views would be academic.

Wrong. Watts had 3. Try again.

To make the 8, we will need to win another nine games out of the next 14. Its a tall order from here. Its one thing to think we can make the 8 and feel all warm and fuzzy. Its another thing to reflect no idea how it will be done. Anyone got nine more wins marked down this year?

Why do new players have an automatic entitlement to a set number of weeks without justified performance? There are no freebies for anyone. I thought some of his efforts were so-so last week. I thought his spot was up for contention. Clearly it was.

The problem we had was in the midfield nad the lack of run. Address the cause not the consequence. Its very easy for supportrs outside the main action to pick wizard moves based on the little they see. Indeed.

My understanding is that Tapscott could play forward or midfield. I dont think he is pidgeon holed yet.

Likewise. In fact, I got that from the horse's mouth some weeks ago. Agree. Wrong. The issue was not forward but midfield. We could not get it forward across the WCE zone. You might also wonder if Bailey has a bigger picture than your currently seeing.

...so we can find a spot for Rivers?? Garland is a capable defender who can play on smalls and talls, has good pace and drive and is part of an effective defence. Given we are grooming Watts and we will have Jurrah back soon why would we weaken a strong area for us?

Boom tish. Jamar is going to have to spelled and cant be expected to be rucking for whole 4 quarters if its wet. Hughes stiff to be dropped???? Unbelievable. Did little in the contests he made and had little impact.

Does a first gamer also choose which position he play in as well? Thanks also Fork. If its raining and cold I am not sure why posters were bemoaning loss of marking strength. If the OP is true then the conditions could be a repeat of the WB game and it will be a slog.

The tom tom drums are beating Ugh! Watson and Warner going cheaply would have done us alot of good too. In 20/20 how much can a pitch impact a game in 3 hours? Unlees they kick the ball back in after every six hit in 20/20 I'm afraid he will be lost. He wont work it out that he has been stitched up a treat on this argument.

*Cough*. And you have been proven right. Your claim of membership impact of the China venture in 5 to 7 years is as realistic as Grimes being undisciplined. So what if 2 Chinese players are brought out for a trial? Talk about jumping the gun big time.

A guy doesn't get dumped after 3 years by a Club who spent pick 6 on him and then gets overlooked by 15 other clubs. Hmmm Meesen was pick 8 in the 2004. Oakley Nicholls was pick 8 in 2005. Picks 6 to 10 in the 2003 have not been AFL successes either.

And you wish injury on other players?? You're a fine one aren't you? FFS

Its not just work rate, it also his immature. And there is no need to yell your point of view. Its does not make a wrong assertion any more accurate. He was highly rated and did not deliver. Your final assessment is an embarrassing stock take on a player who was a No 1 pick. 160 often ordinary games in 10 years. What a waste Wow Johstone vs Hopgood....geez its a toughy. I dont think that the logical choice and its hardly makes TJ look a better prospect when you pit him against a suburban footballer who was not blessed with talent but gave his all in his 113 games. For a No 1 pick I would expect a player to a 10 year 200 game player who is a leader at his club and the winner of multiple awards who was elite or near elite in his position. TJ was underwhelming at best. FWIW, I have more admiration for guys like Junior, Kirk and others who cmoe from down the draft list or the rookie list and work to achieve considerable performance at AFL level off limited talent bases And I hope we are not cursed with any further lazy, undisciplined, immature with a gameboy mentality.

Agree Nasher on your assessments. At this stage I am not sold on if and where Jetta cuts it at AFL level.

With or without the hip injury, Brock was never going to be elite. I wish every player well from injury recovery. Toward the end of last year, McLean was getting more roles outside the centre. When his new contract came out with lower $$$, he would have seen the writing on the wall. Apparently he had been speaking with Ratten and Riley during 2009. TJ had 10 seasons at the Club and aside from 2002 and part of 2005, he remained a lazy, undisciplined, immature but talented enigma. A poor return from a player so gifted. He was more a frustration to watch over the course of his career. His star is fading fast at the Lions.

I thought he brought down Lehmans Bank. To be fair, Newton did take mark of the year in 2007. Bailey should play him in the seniors for next 8 rounds so we can see if he is any good. Only kidding. Had to write that about Newton before someone else does.

At the moment, you have only given NQRs that dont play a marking forward role and have shown neither form nor fitness for a stint in the AFL. Each player on the list has a role to play. And when you have a deep line of injuries need to be called to fulfil that role. I am glad the MFC Footy dept will have more considered and less of a "what the heck" point of view.

I have not noticed it with Scully, Trengove, McKenzie and Grimes. Four young players that seem permanently switched on. The issue is not maturity. Given the coaches reports are normally laced with sugar and treacle, the comment about TMac is indeed interesting.

....where he is now playing with Werribee. From an ex senior employee of the Hawks, the issues with Thorp at AFL level. 1. Poor attitude to training. 2. Injury riddled with questionable attitude to rehab. 3. Significant off field disciplinary and behaviour issues. 4. Lack of character maturity Too much sense there Steamin'.

Ugh. Spare you the NQR players and you toss up Maric and Wonna who is not even match fit. Enjoy the pot plant.

Great. We have Jurrah, Morton, Bate and Petterd injured or recovering from injury. Sylvia is performing poorly And we have declared that Newton, PJ and Miller are duds (Agree on the first two and the third is an honest trier) So who do you play up forward then if you drop PJ??? Think about it.

Wrong on two fronts. The Mitch Thorp option was explored and rejected. It was not whether we promised to take back Newton and Meesen, we were legally obligated. Correct. And a few other clubs found a similar dead end too.

Fact and its the latter.