Rhino Richards

FCS, Davey is only 25 not 35. He should not be losing any pace because of age. So why drop Davey when the on ballers are all one paced?

While I will leave it for the fitness experts (or egos) to work out the technicalities I would have thought that if Sylvia has the all clear and done the full pre season expected that aerobically/ cardio wise he would be able to run out a game (certainly at least at Rd 3). Or was he still pinged with OP and the full pre season was OP restricted? Either way he has a limited engine and given today's game will struggle to cut it in the midfield and will be restricted in a HFF mobile role. I agree that his lack of real solid football time will cost him immeasurably for football experience and possibly confidence. However this all adds to bloke who in his fifth is unlikely to become the player we expected/ hoped from a valuable PP. When he was drafted the Club knew he had a stress injury. The knowledge amongst AFL medicos on OP has increased significantly and I doubt whether they would punt the same way again today. And before anyone says they did with Grimes, I dont think they have the same injury. If the MFC were aware how much down time Sylvia injury would have had then I am sure they would not have recruited him in the first place. The only consolation is that the 2003 draft is such so ordinary I am doubt they would have been brave enough to scoop up Adcock and gone for Tenace, Dunn or R Clarke

Schwartz had promise from the start but was too wayward and erratic in performance to get any sense of his reliability of application in his first 2 years. Knowing more about his life probably explains. IMO, both Healy and Lyon were consistently good from the start. OK Lyon started in 1986. Thanks. Correct about Healy. He did start off the wing and blossomed after that. He was good from his first year onward. I hope there's more than a touch of Hird and Flower there.

I was thinking Lyon was good in first year in 1987. I remember Healy being class throughout his time at MFC but cant specifically remember his year 1. How do think they compare?

I understand that he has completed a full pre season (bar one training sesssion <_< ). The fact that his energy levels given the rotational policies that most teams adopt on the interchange bench cannot last a full game does make him an extremely limited footballer. If he cant have an impact while he has something in his limited tank, then he is a middle of the road footballer. Not a big return for a 2003 PP. I think there has been good reason for concern over his performance. I will be interested to see what DB does with him for the rest of the year to maxmise his value to the team.

Agree. Daniher gave Miller every chance to succeed. He had him in the leadership group early recognising the attributes that DB clearly values.

There is no doubt our facilities are an issue. However the only GF we got close too was in 2000. We were as close to winning that as Trav is to getting a Ph D. Even honorary.

Thank God. Given the situation the last thing I want is any further injuries. As for the game, what a forgettable, complete waste of time. Who we playing?? The All Stars.....As trivial as the Irish series.

I think Trav's lack of facilities cost us plenty over the years. He only needs his gameboy, battery recharger and a power point.

They are not far off. It was a fast good standard game where both teams had a red hot dip. Carlton were punished by too many selfish non team orientated acts by some of their players who will not take the team or first option. Nick Stevens who burnt in the first qtr ran out off legs in the last. This possibly was not helped by two injuries on the bench reducing rotation.

Well done. Thats about 21 draft picks. Its a record!

DB has a soft style of coaching??? Really? I don't think so

Wrecker, I do. When many people were calling for Newton's lift to the seniors very early last year there were a couple of posters that commented upon the need for Newton to develop his confidence and belief to put in the application to back his ability. I don't think he has worked out what is required to succeed in the AFL or has not committed to doing what is required He has run hot and cold at Sandy. When hot it inspires the belief that he is the next thing. When cold he does not look like he has got the ticker for the hard game. While there have been a few highlights, the same issues that were concerns last year clearly have not been resolved this year. I think Graz makes a fair reference about him.

He played well last night. But do change your spots after one game by a player? I have seen McLean (some years) ago play a great but I am still not convinced. I have never doubted Cooney's ability just his attitude to produce consistently. It will take more than one game. If he produces like that for the rest of the season, he will definitely rise up the rankings. But its his fifth year and like McLean Cooney should be starring. Cooney might be able to take the next step. McLean...dunno To get down to their three forwards the ball has to be won by the St K midfield in the first place. They did in the first qtr they did not in the final 3 qtrs. FWIW, I think Gehrig is a decoy and is struggling in his final year. If you are playing Kosi and Riewoldt up forward you need to have pacy forwards to cover for Gehrig. Saints hoped to win the midfield on the night and stretch the Dogs up forward. Work for a quarter then the Saints got shown up. After 1/4 time, Bulldogs applied more midfield pressure and the Saints were slow and got cut down in the middle. They are one paced and there supposed pace man Xavier Clarke is brittle. At the end of a great career, Robert Harvey is slow now and will struggle if others arent win their roles Some of the Saints players were lax in the second half and Bulldogs ran hard to make opportunities. After Hawthorn, I doubt we will see Newton, Neitz and Robbo in the same foreward line. One is 33yo and the other two have little or no defensive pressure. I dont think DB goes for the 3 tall Fwd line week in week out.

I went to the game and after being wiped in the first quarter, the Bullies made the Saints look sloooowwww. Fantastic effort by them.

I think that point escapes many people. There team is up at the moment and I know from people in North that they are chuffed at the figure but know that many of that 30,000 will not re sign. And there is only very few times you play the "fighting for survival" card before the message goes flat. I understand that there are 3,000 of previous year Kangas members that have not resigned. So what's there best outcome and how will that stop the wolves at their door? Its a fragile sunrise that seems to have alot of people bluffed.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200804...2008T130000.htm Willy vs Pies

Agree. If they had not done that then they would be bitching like they have they we dont advertise.

Good luck and take a baseball bat for safety!

Sadly no they wont as what he said was reasoned and measurable unlike your reaction But he was honest in say that he wants them to be competitive for 4 quarters. And if they are competitive we have a chance (whatever that chance is and it is likely to be small). Do you enjoy going to the football with such a negative defeatist attitude? Talk about throwing in the towel. When you cheer to the last second at a game why do use a public website to unreasonably ridicule the Coach and to make dishonest insinuations on what was said by Bailey as a platform for attack? BTW what game plan would you go with? Is there an effective game plan for a side that has a number of lazy front runners?

I forgot about the top cricket ability. A true all rounder.

Its not about W/L ratios against one Club. Save that for the statisticians. Its about having the discipline and commitment to play tight accountable football that provides a greater opportunity to control possession of the ball and provide effective defensive pressure on the opponent when you dont have it.

1. I dont have a picture of Russell Richards. 2. As it is MFC's 150th year, I thought I wonder honor a top player from the past who was also a very good journalist.

When pre season started there were only 20 players who were fit to start and not subject to an injury or any rehab program. Thats a terrible number to start with. When we played Geelong in the NAB Cup we have barely enough fit to play the game. We were behind the 8 ball from the start of the pre season year

Exactly Bob Exactly! Got it in one!