Rhino Richards

And the bottom of the ladder at the end of Rd 16...... North Melbourne 16 4 11 1 1191 1508 79.0 18 BL, Carl, Melb, WC, StK, PA West Coast 16 4 12 0 1347 1554 86.7 16 Freo, Ess, WB, NM, Adel, Rich Richmond 16 3 12 1 1322 1675 78.9 14 Ess, Melb, Syd, Coll, Haw, WC Melbourne 16 3 13 0 1223 1677 72.9 12 Syd, Rich, NM, Freo, Carl, StK Fremantle 16 3 13 0 1221 1700 71.8 12 WC, WB, PA, Melb, Ess, Geel

I thought so too. But I am thinking a little differently now. If Richmond won then it might put their young guys on a role with some belief for the MFC games. I believe after beating us in Rd 1 or 2 this year, NM feel they have the wood on us and would believe they could win anyway. At 18 points, NM have lost the 2nd PP and Crocker would love a win to press for the coaching FT. He is probably realistic to realise that he is a long shot. At 14 points, Richmond might be reluctant at this point to push for another win. Interesting times

Like the paper says no more than four games or 16 points.

For all that is written on this site on the topic, you still cant get it right. Teams that have won premierships in the past decade have done so when having at least 2 stars or more. If MFC is going to be successful and challenge for a flag it needs to develop stars. It does not have any. We have the opportunity to access the best young talent in the country for the first time in 12 years and who is highly rated and decorated and has evey opportunity ot not only be a star but also to be probably the bext thing to hit our midfield in at least 20 years. MFC needs to take every opportunity to add further talent to the list of young players we have. Drafting in the future with GC and WS coming means there is not going to be another opportunity to readily accessthe best young talent in the country. And rpfc is right. MFC has had the rack in the cue since end of 2007. We should not deviate from the further development of our talent pool. I would have thought Hawthorn, Geelong and St Kilda this year might have provided a worthy test case. FWIW, I think Carlton are not there with Judd and Kruezer. Outside their top 6 they have too many on their list that are about as good CJ.

Why make it any harder to win a flag then it will be? If we win a flag then it will not matter diddly squat what happened 4 to 7 years before. I have not read that point of view except from those people opposed to MFC taking such measures as to maximise draft pick opportunities. There is no guarantees that an extra PP will win us a flag. Its been correctly argued that stars win Clubs premierships. We dont have any and need them badly. Scully is the highest ranking junior in the country with a skill set that marks him a potentially top player, a potential star. We need to develop stars and need to do so through every means we can.

Agree with most of that. However, like others we really have not had a dominating midfielder for some time. I do think that Woey's B'low was won on the back of a blue collar midfield that include Powell, Leoncelli, Rigoni and Junior. I thought Powell in 2000 was outstanding notwithstanding his disposal sometimes. His ability to win the contested ball in that year was fantastic. However, whether OP or otherwise he never got close to that form again. The same could be said for Woey whose game withered from then on.

Why do I have to backpedal. My comment having not seen him not taking the next step is for the fact he has been injured. Its not to say he wont take that step. And I have already said he will be recontracted. I would like to see how he goes with more pressure applied by the opposition. Your effort in trying to misconstrue my argument that because I dont think Wonna has made the next step that he is in consideration for the cut is even dim by your standards Jaded. Add Maric and Martin to the list if you like. It was an oversight. Happy Misssy now. At least you have got Jack the Ripper fooled.

Here is what I said kiddies: Let me add to the end to that ..."until he is back playing senior football". I had not said he hasn't taken the next step and am fully aware of his injury status. I would like to make a judgement on him when he is given a bit more defensive pressure by the opposition and can handle positions up the ground. If he can great. But its good to see Jaded is sold on him doing when she hasn't seen him and accepts third hand reports of a "great" pre season. Wonderful. Suggest you save our melodramatic indignation for an important issue.. if possible.

Sorry loges, his contract is expiring. He will be considered as a consequence but is unlikely to be cut. Keep up the good work.

Disagree. The paying out of contracts should only be done in extreme situation particularly given MFC's parlous financial state. Nathan Carroll was one such case. Daniel Bell is not one. Paying out contracts early has the following impacts..... 1. Loss of $$ in advance and without commensurate services provided by the player. 2. Potential complications with the salary cap. 3. Strains limited financial resources in the Club. 4. Undermine the confidence of the playing group in their futures at the Club. 5. [censored] off the MCC and AFL that is making significant additional contributions to the Club. 6. Disenfranchise MFC with player managers who will see MFC as an unreliable future for their players. 7. Raise perceptions about list management that do not necessarily reflect all the facts at hand. While it might create an additional spot on the list, there are more cohesive and less disruptive means to achieve the same end. MFC wont be paying any contracts early this year and Bell will be on the list next year.

Correct Nasher. I agree with your assessments in the first paragraph. However I think Dunn is out of contract but will survive the cut at year end and get offer a 2 year appropriately priced contract. PJ is contracted in 2010. What he did last year was good but he flew under the radar a bit with oppositions providing both MFC and Wona with no respect or defensive pressure. However, I have yet to see him take the next step and reserve judgement on him. Its going to be interesting to see if he can scratch out a living in the FP. For mine he lacks a dominant skill (eg pace, kicking, marking) that may limit him either in the FP or playing further up the ground Time will tell. He is out of contract this year and his name will be consider for delist but I doubt they will do it.

We got him as PSD#1. There a number of players picked from the PSD that never even cut a game in AFL. He deserves his opportunity at AFL and whatever his life will take him. I love what he brings to the side and the celebration this he is of himself and the wonderful people he represents. LJ was on 3AW the other night and he advised that he already is a tribal leader in his community. He advised that his achievements to date have had a very strong impact back home including creating aspirations and pride in the younger people many of whom now walk around calling themselves "Liam Jurrah". Like any player who is close to his family who are situated some distance from Melbourne there are often go home issues. Thats life. Lets just enjoy a fantastic athlete on the main stage.

Brilliant. There only six months behind this forum which has been highlighting for some time.

These questions have been answered ad nauseam on this forum. Check the threads. It surely beggars belief. Its a naive "higher moral" stance built on nothing more than fundamental ignorance

Not really. Freo were always seen as two key players Pavlich and Sandilands, a couple of good younger players (Hill and Palmer) and alot of dyfunctional aging crud ( Solomon, Tarrant, Headland). Pavlich and Sandilands are out so what happens? And any Club that sacks a coach without a duly appointed caretaker and viable transition plan to find a replacement actually loses all respect. This process must be managed very carefully otherwise you look as stoopid as the Tigers.

This year will be somewhat difficult 2009 - any of Whelan, Wheatley, Robbo and Junior for retirement. Buckley, McNamara, Miller, Bartram, Cheney Wona,Dunn are names for consideration. Sylvia and Jamar to be recontracted Next year, there are names definitely in the gun. 2010 - any of the the 2009 retirements that didnt, Newton, Bell, PJ/Meesen, Bail for starters.

So far you have been the only one doing it. But you are right...it is a moot point.

It should be in the umpires training video and the umpire concerned should be counselled on all the areas that he got wrong. Then he should be dropped.

Rich has had a promising first year but he is not an elite midfielder...yet. This issue has been done to death on this site and you still cant work it out. Brilliant.

The issue has already been front page on the online Age and Hun in regard to MFC. Bailey got grilled on Fox about it. 45HG is right.

I think Harvey is a dead man walking regardless and the forces are mobilising behind his back now.

It will be when it starts to lose. The whiff has started already. Freo are about to lose their coach and their two best players are injured and may not be back for the season. WCE are on a rebuild and have their two best players out for the season. Richmond have axed their coach and if they were smart will omit their two best players for the rest of the season. Pity is they dont have them.

It is not even almost then...we agree. And we need Geelong to rebound hard on us and punish our % position. There are too many options for the final ladder to count out Freo blithely and assume they will finish below us.

A draw would be a better outcome. It screws WCE by putting them at 4.5 wins and then also penalises Freo with 2 premiership points. And if Freo could win one more...... Beautiful!! They would be off the bottom (for MFC) and no 2nd round PP. MFC get picks 1 and 2 and WCE and Freo get no PPs and have to wait in line. Perfect

No it is not. It means potentially pick 2 and pick 5 as opposed to pick 5. Big difference there. And if you are worried about % against WCE, we need Geelong to rebound hard from the first bounce. % may also be important with Freo as well. Dont discount the options.