Rhino Richards

Valid point and a separate issue to the Schwab matter.

You would think he should. He has been central at Freo for many years and has achieved little. He has overseen 2 salary cap debacles (one at MFC and one at Freo). He left MFC in tatters. I note Eddie passed over him when he wanted a good CEO some years ago. If it is true, its a concern that we are using the "current" Freo CEO with a dubious track record to mentor a supposed experienced and highly capable CEO at MFC that was recently appointed.

The muscle groups that propel sprinters to sprint are similar to those that make footballers fast. Age should not be a deterrent to maintaining speed. AFL is a demanding sport and the impact of injury can curtail capacities. When he started, Davey sensational speed and ball skills redefine alot of forward defensive pressure today in all good teams. Oppositions know Davey. They have done the homework. Davey's much loved skills come with a couple of aspects which challenge his ability to overcome opposition sides tactics. His light willowy body frame prevents Davey from applying full physical pressure in a contested situation. He does not seem to have a good endurance tank. He is easily niggled and upset in a game. i think that limits the roles that he could possibly succeed with in AFL I think Davey has a future with us which is not fully evident in a bottom side getting pumped week in week out. His creativity, speed and finishing skills would be useful for us if we could become a more competitive unit.

Its says it all when Freo have been doing that arrangement for years now. Freo have Chris Tarrant and thus dont have a full forward either. With 6 rounds to go why would you play twilight player who has played 1 game in the past 4 weeks against a sub par under manned opposition. Absolutely no value whatsoever. This is the time you want to see what works for 2009 and beyond and not disappear in the past. As frustrating as he is we should persevere with Newton rather than Dutchy.

Absolutely correct.

Davey is as much like TJ as Meesen is the new Dean Cox. When we are so devoid of playmakers and pace, some seem so ready to trade for the sake of it. At 25, most sprinters have not even reached their peak.

Its truly amazing how a self proclaimed "expert" can miss the bleeding obvious like that. Very good reason indeed.

Garbage. You dont know how any of these players will turn out. From your own admission you've hardly seen them play. Deep down you really dont have a clue. MFC will chose the best available player with its first pick. Whether its Watts or Rich, if the player does not reach the lofty levels expected Predergast will be pillaged. FFS, also even if the player chosen is a very good footballer, if NikNat is a once in a lifetime star then every club will look stupid for not choosing him No 1. One of the more flimsy cases for choosing a certain player I have read.

I will always defend players who try their hardest but I will also recognise their lack or abundance of skill in their exertions. If they lack skills or the calibre then its up to the Footy department to move on them on quicksmart and replace with more capable players. I will always call it as I see it. I will not play favourites. However, I will not defend any player that is undisciplined, lazy, unaccountable, lacks commitment, selfish or is a waste of talent. Players that represents drains on team spiirt or culture also not defended. FWIW,as an observation Sylvia suffers from the expectations that have hung around his neck since his drafting. He is not as good as hoped but could still be a fair player for us. Given his medical problems and progress to date, I doubt he will get us anything better at the trade table at this point then what we could possibly develop with him at MFC.

This has been bashed around enough and its a tired topic. Do a search on this site under Woewodin's name. If you want to see the cut and thrust its all there.

1. Many of Millers leads were within the forward line. It was measure of the work rate and urgency by which Miller plays and Newton does not. If Miller had more of Newton's talent then that would be something. 2. Newton is a different player to Neitz and clearly does not play the power forward role. Too many of our inside 50s were to non event opportunities where was Newton? He could have played out to the F50 arc within his role and has done so often in the past.

Fair enough. Begs the question why the coaching staff did not think Junior best 22 in the first place?

MFC were on top of the ladder in Rd 18 2004 and then White (AA) and Thompson got injured and we went......! Go figure. Thompson was already A and was know to be A+ potential. Moloney was our best outcome out of a regrettable but unavoidable situation. I would have preferred if Thompson had wanted to say with MFC No shame on Moloney but he is not even in Thompson orbit...even when fit.

After 4 riddled seasons with it in 5 years, can you be sure he is over it? The other week he was having his upper thigh/groin area worked on the sidelines during a match. I trust it was routine.

After 10 year career at MFC where he perennially underachieved as a wasted talent and a culture sore, I think we are already line ball. TJ offered us nothing for the future. He is done nothing at Brisbane. Its no wonder that there was no one protesting amongst the playing group when they were advised that TJ was going.

Goose, Do a site search on Jolly or Simmonds. The reasons and the context for treating with players at the time have been well covered and facts set straight. This topic comes up form time to time and the same misconceptions and falsehoods get aired. The biggest point you have made is that hindsight is a wonderful thing. However it is a poor teacher if the issues that were present at the time of decision making are not understood and appreciated? With regard to Thompson and Jolly, do you suggest we should have kept them disgruntled for 12 months with the prospect that they would have left for nothing through the PSD?? Regrettably, Thompson left for family reasons. Jolly wanted opportunity. When he left he was sulking daisy against the 2004 AA ruckman. MFC sought to get the best out of the situation and sought the most lucrative trade. The issue that bugs me is the fact that we have retained senior players like White, Bizzell and Yze too long. We have not been able to address the holes in the list caused by draft penalties in 1999 and 2000 and the drafting debacle that was 2001. We lost 3 years of potential quality and were not prepared to show the same bravery and sense in treating with senior players like we did with Woey. We also retained deadwood on our list like Ferguson, Read, Godfrey who were never going to provide any upside as opposed to actively turning our list particularly in stronger drafts. As for your delistings this year, Carroll and Meeson are contracted and have no trade value. You are critical of the list management but did you overlook White? And as for trades, you are not going to get much for an OP plagued player like Sylvia and an NQR defender in Bell.

He did. You dont take an unfit emergency half way across Australia where you have no back up if one of your 22 is not fit to front for the game. Petterd and Holland were easily covered by others. Conversely none of your arguments are strong why Junior should necessary continue. David Neitz was Captain for the start of the year and was past it ...sadly. Yze, Robbo were voted leaders by the players at the start of the year. You'd wonder why! Neither are a leader's bootlace. As much I love Junior, he has struggled this year and I dont think he is the type to milk the Club for a final pension contract.

The issue is his work rate. Miller kept working hard in trying conditions. Newton????? Delivery to him has little to do with it. Once a ball is a 50/50 situation, it just seemed to easy for his opponent to continually run off him. He was not accountable and it hurt the side. Given his poor work rate in other areas he needs to make his strengths stick. He did not. You missed the point. Some of Newton's weaknesses are aspects of the player that are core and fundamental and relate to how he approaches his game. If I look at hard workers like Jones, Miller and Valenti they express alot of the characteristics to win the ball that Newton does not. Its cruels his game that he does not do it.

I think his decision making particularly under pressure is one of his weaknesses. Given where he is at and what we have coming through, I think he would be a 3rd up tall at Sandy. But he has struggled to hold down that role so far at TBO.

They did this week. Why would they have taken him to Perth as emergency if he was not fit?

Fact is you have been asked ad nauseam to put a game plan that suits a slow, under skilled side with poor leadership and you have not heen able to put up anything. And you still havent So you have been all about bomb it long to a contested situation. Brilliant. No Neitz, no Robbo and you have got a plan. You might have noticed what Freo did in the first quarter when they bombed it long to Pavlich in a contested situation. Turnover every time and the ball came out of the F50 every time. And we dont have a Pavlich that give a contest. The irony of your comments would be lost on a game plan strategist like yourself. I'm not. But at least I take the time to understand where the list is at, what the Coach is trying to do with such a young team out of overall ordinary list and where its taking us. You've big noted yourself often like before on how critical you are about the coaching and structure. And when challenged to put up. You cant or dont. Fatuous at best.

Carroll is contracted for 2009. If they took Junior to Perth and did not play him, I would suggest the Coaching panel dont share your view and that he may close to finishing this year. And your second point does not necessarily validate his selection.

I have. Up to 3 weeks ago he had been loose up back and pretty ordinary two weeks ago after creating a clanger up back that resulted in a 50mtr and goal went forward and did better. Not overly impressive summaries particularly when the Sandy reports on the MFC are overtly positive. He played well on the weekend against sub VFL opposition. Thats fine. Let him back that up over a couple of weeks and do it in the one position. Carroll does not play the same role as Bell and his decision making is terrible. White is finished in the AFL. He got towelled last week against a sub AFL player. He did not even get near the best against a sub VFL opposition who do not have a name ruckman in their list. Its over. PJ is not a CHF but I share your inference that PJ may not be a ruckman. We need to address the rucks at year end.

Still waiting on the game plan champ that suits our team list. Any closer? Given our team list available what structural changes would you have made?

We drop a small backman and a KPF and replace them with an NQR defender and a past it ruckman. Does not make sense. Carroll has had one good game at Sandy against a very ordinary opposition. He has not pinned down form in any role that would demand selection. White gives us nothing now ahead of PJ and Jamar and I dont see the point in playing him. MFC took Jmac as emerg to Perth. He should come in if they are going to lose any midfielder. As frustrating as he is, I would keep playing Newton to see what we can get out of him this year. He's got talent and he will able to look good again at Sandy without putting in a solid committed effort. No benefit there.