Rhino Richards

Agree. Noted the 80s and 90s music was not from Williamstown. Thanks for the explanation.

The Club neither recruited or drafted him, they rookied him. Rookies are typically players show potential to make the higher grade or have attributes that make them potentially AFL players in the future. There is no certainty either way for the player or the Club that they will play AFL football. Their futures can be a mixture of ability, performance and opportunity. Like other rookies, Valenti has a number of positives to his game but they come with limitations. At this point I dont think those positives overcome the limitations sufficiently to warrant selection to the senior list. The Coaching panel would have more in depth but similar view. He has his rookie contract to establish his capabilities. And his lack of elevation against Wona's ascension is probably more a case that players of Valenti's attributes are already on the MFC list at present. I would expect that the MFC list is in for a huge shake up come year given that Bailey knows fully where the list is at and who he thinks can actually contribute to his plans. Valenti has a big opportunity to get elevated..if he is good enough.

As they are for Clubs... As I recall Valenti was the last player rookied by MFC this year and may have been the case of the best of what was left. And when rookied there is not necessarily the surety or expectation of elevation. He's has got time to prove himself.

I would have thought he was a safer appointment for the ski set than others touted. After much flurry in the Press, I dont recall many challengers for the role. Its not that sort after. I admire the work done by Stynes but I would prefer to see him as Board member than as President at this point.

I think the concern is Valenti's lack of pace at AFL level and that he will be found out by not just the top players. Given the make up of the MFC midfield with its strengths and weaknesses I dont see what Valenti adds at this point. I dont accept the comparison with Mitchell as Mitchell is far superior in the stoppages and is complimented by players with different and better attributes than some of the players in the MFC midfield. With Grimes due back and Neitz not far away we already have a dilemma in having Wona remain on the senior list. I cant see Valenti being elevated and clearly the Coaching panel have not elevated him given the tough season to date.

I always wonder about people who have never played anywhere near AFL have a need to label AFL footballers, particularly a footballer who has played in excess of 100 games as soft. More revealing about the perpetrator than the target.

Like I said sensible footballers learn to judge a situation properly and act accordingly. Did he trust you with any other deep insights?

Your avatar with your nose pushing along the ground is good proxy of the impression you make here. Keep up the good work.

Completely agree. When out on the town, footballers get approached by all sorts of the flotsam of life with their analytical views and football insights. I am sure that when Green heard the comments that label another AFL footballer being "soft", it would have triggered the defensive mechanism to smile, glance at the watch and exit the scene. Even more amusing is that Green's response has been taken as confirmation of the supporter's own analysis. Even after a "few", Green had the good sense to correctly assess the situation.

I dont see the big deal in who a player supported as a child aside from hoodwinking gullible followers to think its creates some mythical obligation/ hold over/ ownership of the player's future and some dastardly piece of bad luck when reality sets in and AFL rules have concocted like they have for over 40 years to have the player playing for another Club.

It would have indeed been a hard call to trade our No 1 ruckman who was AA that year while at the same time we had our green and rough No 2 ruckman wanting to leave to be No 1 ruckman elsewhere. In addition our No 1 midfielder Scott Thompson also sort a transfer home. Given rough and poorly performed Jolly went for pick 15 and the year before Peter Everitt went for #6 and #22, as the then current AA ruckman White would easily commanded a top 3 pick. What does Freddy think Collingwood would have traded with when their first pick was pick 10 in the 2004 and they believed they had a ruckman in Fraser (#1 pick in 1999)? Its easy to make the broad brush statement then but who was honestly in the market to recruit White at his market value. On the other hand short of trading for a replacement ruckman, what were MFC going to do to cover White's loss with Jolly and Jamar?

A defensive half forward??? I would prefer a HF to actually win the ball and make some impact on the scoreboard. Hell thats the best way to make a HB accountable. And the things required to "lock" the ball inside 50 should be the requirement of more preferred forward options. Hell, if Belly cant cope with the peripheral stuff running straight lines in the backline, he is going to really struggle when runs toward the ball and has to turn around to attack the ball. He aint no Steve Johnson.

Up to now, Newton has been front and centre responsible for his own disposition so far this year. When our forward line has been screaming out for a key forward in big letters, Newton takes short steps in the big league gets dropped performs so-so in teams that are dominating and has the stupidity to get reported and suspended. No sympathy here. Just underwhelmed with his contribution to date. I hope he recovers quickly and has the red hot go at AFL that he seems not to have shown thus far.

Any footballer can kick a goal when given enough space but 110 goals 74 points in 260 games does suggest anything special in that area. And ever since the centre ruck rule came in, White has been crucified at the bounce and has little impact when the ball hits the ground. Jamars physical performance on Sandilands highlights what MFC has not gotten out of White. White has been a stirling athlete for some time but if you dont think he can ruck anymore then in the modern game of running football there is no where for him to hide. And at 31 he is older than 95% of the list and we should be looking for more robust solutions through either our list or through draft/trade.

Over the years when played forward he has not got a clue where to move and just does not play body on body. He is not a natural goal kicking ruckman as his 110 career goals in 260 games attest. I just dont see any value in trying to re invent a 31yo to be something he clearly isnt. Up forward we need a tall physical presence that can kick goals, take marks and provide opportunities to other forwards in contested ball situations. Thats not Jeff White.

You mark him unfairly. He has never won a Liston and never gone close. PJ has won it. FWIW, the Liston is only a reminder of the wide gulf between AFL and VFL. Over the past 12 years only S Mitchell has won it and excelled at AFL level.

Agree Nasher. Might be the case. However, its an old tactic that when you giving 12 to 15 cms away in height, you jump early and you jump into your man as you ruck. It took its toll against Sandilands and Jamar should take some credit. Even White started to get the hint too. B2L, White has shown over the years that he cant hold down a position either forward or back. His inability to provide a constant physical contest in the mark and around the ball crucifies him. If he cant ruck he is finished. He is in his twilight and this may be his last year.

Rot, one of the most apt posts on this thread. One of the biggest storms in a teacup I have read in ages.

If he gets them for the any of the first six rounds...you are on.

Regardless of whatever spin you want to put on it, our first 6 and 1/2 rounds of football has been some of the worst football I have seen in more than a decade. At least the equal in standard (although over a shorter period) to Carlton, Hawthorn and Richmond. Possibly worse. If it was not for the 2 final quarters against Freo I doubt whether many of you would feel so aggrieved at the article. A week is a long time in footy. And I think Ash is right. Its says alot more about Freo than MFC. Freo should be shattered from top to bottom with the performance. As much as we rejoice at MFC, I watched the replay..again and outside Pavlich, Sandillands and Solomon, Freo were truly appalling in the 2nd half. The lack of effort and defensive pressure from them was as bad as anything MFC put up. No wonder Pavlich is not saying anything. He must feel cheated by a lot of teammates.

Agree with your sentiments. Its just makes your original swipe silly. Lets move on.

Madness' thread was deleted because while Madness had other posters best interests at heart, his actions would have been in violation of copyright laws. As deestroy 08 advises it is on Fox. Or alternatively you can purchase the game from Name a Game. Please do not post or solicit further offers to copy or distribute videos or DVDs of AFL games. This thread is now locked.

No one. No need unless you were going to select them for the AFL straight away.

If you are trying to imply that Wonas game on Sunday was a similar standard to his past games... dont fool yourself. He stepped up quite a few notches on Sunday. He did some nice things before but he was a far better player out there on Sunday. And I wouldnt dare accuse you of flossing when you re-write a bit of history after the event.

You may not have used the word "hack" but you have used many others to reflect the same thing. Here is one for starters...... Keep sticking the pins in the No 32 doll.