Rhino Richards

I would be disappointed if at least 3 or 4 of 2009 draft were not part of the starting 18 and some lesser current players are battling for the interchange. Some of the current players mentioned will not be around if we are serious about improving. I would expect and hope that the 2012 side is different from the side proposed by the author.

Are you being threatened by them? <_<

Brock's endeavour, club spirit and on field atttude is not in question. He would not use injuries as an excuse for his performance. Many of his supporters have used it as a catch all excuse for his performance. Brock would be smart enough to realise the foolishness of that. Firstly Brock is not quick or put another way he motors at the best of time. The injuries may be restricting him somewhat. However you should not blind yourself to the fact that the game has quicken up considerably over the past 3 to 4 years as a consequence of rule changes, umpiring interpretations, coaches use of the interchange and players being drafted. It means that players who were not quick before these evolutions are slower now. Brock has received a couple of lessons about that being pinged a number of times in recent years where his awareness was shown up. It is harsh and I dont agree with that at all and have never proposed that. However, his plateau performances over the past three years are indeed concerning. And Jaded he has not suddenly become too slow or suddenly lost the ability to kick. Its been evidenced over the past 3 years. You choose not to see it. Either he not golden wonder in the midfield you think he will be (Shock horror) or if he is then he cant get his body right to play gruelling AFL footballer (that is a concern). This might be the case but you dont know and love to jump on excuses to defend your protected species. His kicking issues also reflect decision making choices he makes and some of those under pressure are questionable I am judging him on the past three years since he did so well in that final. You just look for excuses. So much for the start of your post!

Agree H. Sorry Rogue. B)

Wells and Wallker have both chronically underdelivered on their promise through injury in one case and performance in another. I think they are eminently tradeable by both Clubs. But I am not interested in either player at that price. Walker is too injry prone and Wells too flaky. Agree with your assessment of the others. We need a gun Midfielder and a gun KPF. None of those mentioned suit that description.

You're not the last remaining Moran sibling that no one knows about? I hope Jurrah lives up to everyone's excitement if that is possible.

I have always thought the Robbo despite best intentions and his love of a microphone comes across as naive and inept in handling issues regarding selection and team issues. I have heard him interviewed a number of times and his answers and views have sometimes left interviewers short of words and quizzical on his responses. I am sure he speaks what he believes is true. However its a concerning view at times and evidences why he is not more a leader at the Club.

I did say either a Martin type [b]or a fallout from another Club. I would think that a good youngish player would realise what the opportunity is at MFC going forward with its list. We would certainly be a better bet than Richmond, North Melbourne,Port Adel Freo or WCE.

So you should Japa.Its a great story. I hope he goes well and you enjoy the experience.

Do you go to the games at all Iva? I have been to all the Victorian games and watch any interstate games on TV and the workrate and contested balls efforts have definitely improved. However disposal and decision making are still issues. Aside from QBW, we have been a far more competitive outfit. Where as last year too often we were just blown away from the 1st bounce and completely overwhelmed. If you cant see that it raises questions. But not necessarily about the side.

You have not got a clue period Mo and your posts are your worst advertisement. You dont like the game plan and you have shut your little mind down and the dribble is mindless, thoughtless and without any incite whatsoever. "I'm just sick of reading all the b#llshit on this site about what a great coach he is because he's turned over our list. And how no other coach could do any better because our list is so bad. " Once again no one has ever argued those points at all. You do that alot. Its just one of your turgid efforts to give your baseless comments an air of substance.

Oh dear Mo and facts = fiction. The team that picked the leadership group had more than half the group that had 2 years or less experience. Less than even you. The extent of their inexperience is they chose Yze and Robbo both of whom subsequently dumped six months later. Quite prophetic when a supposed leader sacrifices the team for a selfish act flat on his back. A(nother) lesson for you. REAL FACTS; White, Neitz and Yze were finished as footballers in 2007. Yze had been deteriorating since 2005 when he "captained" the side off the bench. Robbo has struggled with injury and the changing game since 2006. His only notable efforts in 2007 were soft opposition in Carlton (x2) and Collingwood who played a raw recruit on him. He also struggled with the game like he has now because he cant adapt to the demands of it and spends too much time flat on the ground pondering a second effort or planning the next goal of the day. Junior is a valiant servant of the club but he too as player has deteriorated with his best years behind him. The pace of the game and lack of support have taken their toll. REAL FACT Bruce has battledly gainfully without support through the midfield. I dont think he has been that good but that tells you where the list is at. Not that you could ever work out. REAL FACT - Green has worked hard and valiantly against the odds. Green rarely influenced games under ND. Wheatley rarely did. He has been chronically injured over the past two years and he is another one who will be gone at year end. REAL FACTS Miller has played some of his best football under Bailey but he is fighting a lone hand and is a limited footballer. He will always be a battling honest footballer. McLean is either unfit (carrying injury according to some) or he is being found for lack of pace and ordinary disposal. No questioning his endeavour or his team spirit. But he aint a No midfielder. Jones is playing better football now under Bailey because he is fitter and more experienced. He will never be a star and has battled particularly in the midfield when McLean was out. He aint a No 1 midfielder but he will be part of the longer term midfield rotation. Bate playing with Miller a lone hand without class up forward. He is actually improving up there and despite his Pies effort. Whelan is injury prone and playing on heart alone. He is another one who is finished at year end. REAL FACTS Garland, Warnock, Frawley, Jones, Moloney (certainly improved over last year but he is battler). I will also add Sylvia, if his last month is something to go by and he keeps it up then he could be an A grader we are looking for. He has played the best football of his career.

You are probably right. However if Valenti is not selected in the next 11 games or if he is selected and does not fire at AFL then he is gone. Given we have got Martin and Jurrah with PSD #1 then Valenti would not be a successful use of that token. I was hoping if we had PSD #1 we might have pick up a bargain somehow through Prendergast's wisdom or a quality fallout from another Club.

To be safe we want to be no more than 2 and 9 to ensure PP1 = Scully.

Why shouldn't we be selfish about getting our hands on the best talent available in the draft? We are a poor club with no faciilities, no finances, few supporters, no substantial media exposure with few sponsor. FFS we have to make ever post a winner. We are on the bottom of ladder, 2 games and % clear. We are in the box seats to choose the best two talents around. From all reports Scully is an absolute stand out player in the draft. A gun midfielder that we desperately need. We also need to ensure that the next pick is available to us to make the access the next best talent. We need to control proceedings. The last time we had two picks in the top 5 was 2003. Sylvia is only starting to show something in his sixth year and McLean is just treading water. How I would love to have had an Adam Cooney and back that with a Sylvia as the next pick. That alone should be enough to highlight the importance. Getting picks two and four implies that WCE finish below us and also sets us further back on later picks. When we play WCE we should be ensuring that WCE win and hopefully end up with more than 5 wins to lose the PP. The strategy required to be implemented for the rest of the season by MFC is critical and clearly the importance of it is beyond you. And for someone who highlights that Newton has "no flaws" and that you are ambivalent to get the best shot at getting a midfield star we so desperate highlights the dunce cap is firmly fixed to your head.

I understand your sentiment and absolutely agree about Bailey. I would sack the Footy Department as well. That would be an unmitigated disaster to have 5 wins.

Agree. We would not get a cracker for 200cm rover? FWIW, PJ has been as injury prone as Jamar. It happens to ruckman all too frequent. PJ's future depends on whether Meesen is likely to recover from his serious injury. If Meesen is back then I would delist PJ. What about PSD #1? Assuming we finish last If Valenti does not get a run at AFL level and does reflect a higher standard of play than he has shown then he is gone at year end. There is no compulsion to elevate Valenti on what we have seen to date or because his RL contract has expired. They could re-rookie him but I doubt they would.

Good point Jarka. But apparently one of borderline forwards has "no flaws" according to one self pronounced expert. Anyway lets get back on the topic about Morabito and other draftees. Whatever happens and MFC get picks 1 and 2 or 1 and 3, then I hope we take Scully and the best available player after that (whether it will be a KPF or a midfielder). Its hard to choose as we need one of each.

He shouldn't. His contract would not be based on those terms and he is not the main blame for where the team is at. He has already put $10,000 into the Club of his own volition.

If you read Caro's article in the Age, Laidley's cards were marked after the Swans loss last year. It was a slow execution. And Nathan Buckley will be keen to take a role at a Club with no money, no facilties, no supporters, questionable future in Melbourne. B). Unless Malthouse get a GF berth for the Pies this year, he will not get another contract. Buckley will be at Collingwood next year.

Ever thought of watching a game or is it easier just to read the paper or the net. Those stats are marvellous. Why doesn't he impact games and hurt the opposition at VFL level? He should be. I have been watching this guy at Sandy since 2006. Got talent but not the mindset to make it work at either VFL or AFL level. Its interesting that Miller has the same stats at VFL level and clearly drives the game. And the so called junk time stats resulted in 7 goals in the last quarter.

Exactly. So why doesn't he perform at VFL level and earn the chance? Its absolute carp to think Robbo is blocking anyone's path to the AFL. Talk about having the opportunity to grab. And Newton's too immature to address it

Can Hardwick play "first dibs" midfield?

FMD. You are going pretty poorly if a clowning footballer in his twilight and barely cutting the standard is holding an even lesser player back like Newton. Robbo was missing for 12 months with injury and Newton achieved what?? Robbo's contract expires this year. Jurrah might just pass Newton by. However there is room in the forward line for both if they perform.