Rhino Richards

Take a Bex and stop hitting the panic button. Buckley is already Collingwood bound.

Whether its overrated is debateable does not mean it is not important. Its only one aspect of the game. Geelong aren't a slow side either. But gee they are skillful and they move the ball quickly that way. They dont turn it over either. The issue with both McLean and Jones is their decision making and execution by hand or foot. It always has been with Jones from day 1. Part of McLeans problem is his lack of pace creates pressure on him and nullifies his disposal time. McLean, Jones and Moloney will have to lift their standard wont they. 1858 has nailed it regard to McLean and the pace of the game.

Given we have a shortage of talent in the rucks, why would we seek to trade away a supposed fringe line player in a bottom dwelling club? What would we realisticallyget and who would we fall back onto ruck?? Meesen is a question mark and injured, Spencer is 19 and raw and PJ..... in your own words he isnt a ruckman. After his QBW effort (and not an isolated one), I am stuffed what he brings to the side. No doubt you were pleased with performance. And the same sword you apply to Jamar about tapping to a winning midfield should apply to PJ as well. At least, Jamar gets his hand on the ball unlike.... And did you consider that the problem might not be whos tapping but the midfield it goes to. The stats this year are very very underwheming on the MFC midfield as Sheahan in the HS points out. And to make it clear, I am not much of a fan of Jamar or PJ but at least the former can do something in the centre. The decision at year end whether Jamar or PJ will be kept on will be line ball. Your condemnation of Jamar and your satisfaction with PJ is bizarre.

Slow news week and the Sheahan turns the blowtorch on MFC. Wow. He has probably only seen us play on QBW this year and was trolling through Champion Data to fill his 400 word thesis. Its not a matter of toleration of losses but the realisation and understanding that it will take time to blood and develop the younger players to step up in an environment where there is a lack of on field leadership and support.

Well put and I agree. Leadership is more than just on field antics. ATM he has a way me to go in the area of leadership. However he should be encouraged in every way to continue and build upon what he has shown recently.

Is he as good as that other gun Valenti?

I dont think the decision on either players future is necessarily dependent on the other. Neither are best 22. Since returning from injury, Wheatley's performances at VFL level had been so so. I dont expect him to be going around next year or seriously pushing for an AFL spot this year. Bucks opportunity could be cruelled by footy department assessment and if he has lingering OP at year end. Forget it. He's gone.

Once again it is not a choice with the older players. None of Wheels, Junior, Robbo or Wheatley plays Bucks role. And it wont be a choice because most if not all of those players will be going. And its not a choice with the others you put forward as Bartram (possibly contracted?), Newton (contracted and a FF) and PJ (a 200cm small man in a big mans body). PJ should go as well. If the footy department dont believe his decision making and disposal are sub par and not easily corrected then he should go. But there all cheap and borderline players. I dont think his performances to date are overly noteworthy. The experience with Sylvia, Moloney and Rivers would suggest otherwise. He could easily be out for years with the infliction. His ability to break lines is useless if he cannot use the ball properly. Its the football departments decision on that.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/demon...4664795167.html "At one stage during the Demons' cash flow problems the AFL suggested the Demons draw on their reduced debt facility, a suggestion that prompted the club's board to reply that it would resign as a group rather than plunge Melbourne into more debt." If it is true about the AFL's suggestion it is indeed disturbing and I agree with the Board's stance. If they did pull on the debt it would have been an about face to supporters and the AFL would hang them in the future for it.

Correct. Regardless of whether it was one or two bones, it was a bad break.

Bucks is not competing against any of the older players. His inability to hit targets and make good decisions under pressure negate any desire to take the game in. If he doesnt cost much why didnt we keep Jace Bode and Isaac Weetra? Have you done a medical examination of Bucks? Does he have OP? Your comments on his injury are at best wishful thinking and uninformed. I dont think your criteria for giving a player another contract is valid. He has been on the list for 3 years. The Footy dept have seen him at close quarter. If there is a concern about his kicking and decision making then they would be best looking at other options even pick 50.

The difference is that Thompson was a credentialled premiership coach with a team that was top of the ladder. Its easy to sit back at that point. However I think the issue of resigning was a matter of both sides undertaking not just the Cats. Bailey does not have that luxury or record. With every loss, the media will swarm and the uncertainty within and outside the Club will become a drain and and an unnecessary distraction from a Club trying to move forward after a number of difficult years. While you are right they dont have to sign him at year end, they would want to be clear on their approach and manage that carefully into 2010. If they are gong to back Bailey then they would be wise to consider his contract if not at the start of next year then early into the year.

Regardless of whether he would have played AFL footy or not, I think the injury is a huge blow for someone who needs significant development and a year with some time at Casey 1sts/2nds would have been invaluable. I hope there are no legacy mental or physical scars from the injury. Its a sad loss in my opinion.

If the MFC Board actually back Bailey then they will do this prior to the start of next year. Doing it at the end of three years is just dysfunctional and plays into the hands of the media. I hope MFC are more professional in their handling of their coaching matters than some clubs recently.

Its not his pace thats the issue. Sylvia and Rivers have strengths in other areas but at times there futures were in a cloud due to OP. Its not a matter of who goes first off the list. The decision on Bucks will be mutually exclusive to the future of the senior players (Robbo Wheels Junior and Wheats). They will all go by my reckoning. And offering a 1 year contract is akin to saying good bye to a player. Most players will probably get better money interstate for a couple of years in the lesser leagues.

I had thought Bucks was out of contract this year. If thats the case then I think his future is limited. He may have pace but his disposal and decision making just cruel him at AFL level. With Blease, Strauss, Grimes plus PP1 and pick 2 in the midfield coming through his opportunities are looking slim. And if his groin injury is OP then that does not help his chances.

If MFC win less 4 games or less then it has no 1 pick as a PP and there is not a thing Richmond can do about it. And if Richmond do get pick 2 before us (which I doubt) and if history is correct they will p1$$ it up against the wall and pick a light frame outside ball carrier with cute skills and little future in the AFL.

Very good summation of matters. And Graz's perspective on time frame and list planning is spot on as well.

The issues with pace and being caught in play started three years and were quite frequent and at times obvious. His supporters will say he is just injured (when hasnt he been ). I think the faster pace of the game has caught him a half step slow with and without the ball. Hopefully with Scully in the draft and the further development of Morton, Strauss, Blease and one or two others than the No 1 midfielder tag goes from McLean and he can be a hard working effective midfielder rather than a dominating centreman. Now with the development of the midfield quality, Sylvia on the other hand......Hmmmm.

After beating Carlton easily in R13 (?) in 2007 without much real effort, we were always a shoo in to win R22. The big issue for me was beating the Bulldogs in R19(?). Given we had R22 in the bag it was the costly win for us. What is done is done now. I will be really [censored] off if we earn more than 16 points this year.

Now go to sleep junior and dont get nightmares now.

Good point and thanks . I will take him out and replace with Josh Carr. Geez you would think they were changing countries.

Interesting George. I am excited about what Niknat can bring to football. I hope he does well. I have no regrets about MFC's decision. If Cox isnt in, it would be interesting seeing two raw ruckman in Vickery and Niknat go head to head. You never know Niknat might even get them to 5 wins this year. B)

Good post Einstein. And wonderful recount on your Dad. I had heard stories about Syd Jackson playing VFL football and he did suffer a number of racial and culture challenges to make it. I am glad indegenous players are an important part of the game

Firstly the go home factor is also factor in non indigenous people (eg Chris Judd, Scott Thompson and Josh Carr). Its a risk with all players taken out of their home state. Its a matter that needs to be assessed individually for all players. The fact that the recruiters are prepared to recruit such a high proportion of indigenous players is a testimony to their talent and the fact that they are not wary and they do their research on each player and are prepared to recruit them. Hardly wary based on the strike rate I think the fact that Jurrah has not come through traditional football channels make it hard to assess his talent relative to other players so there is unknown factor . This furthermore suggest that Jurrah has had limited coaching exposure and access to ex AFL experience and exposure suggest he would require additional development to understand modern football thinking. Physically he also need signficant development on his aerobic fitness and body mass for AFL. His potential is balanced by number of areas that he is potentially underdone in. And if you had taken the time to read and absorb Rude Boy's informative comments on Jurrah you would realise that Jurrah's background from a geographically remote Aborginal community with little or no exposure to Western lifestyles and no previous traditions of local footballers making it in the AFL is truly unique and indeed not representative at all of the backgrounds of most indigenous players. Its does little to back your argument but does highlight your passion for generalisations. Well done.