Rhino Richards

Godfrey had a large tank but no pace and it is no wonder he did not run players down or run off them. Having seen Valenti at Sandy a couple of times, thats my big concern with him. You get punished in the AFL for those shortcomings

There is no doubting that Godfrey worked hard and his efforts and training ethics were admirable. And your right you wish some other more talented players would have had the same application. However the end of the day Godfrey was a player who was at best a fringe player who was let down in some critical aspects of his game. I hope Valenti if he get his chance is better than Godfrey otherwise I find little to get excited about. However, I admire Valenti for grabbing his opportuinity with both hands. Its far more inspiring than a talented bludger who just blows the opporunity and wastes precious talent.

I am neither for or against Williams but I cant see how you can draw much from media interviews where you are required and trained to roll out a number of standard cliches. Some footy coaches are good at the media game. Some footy coaches are not. I would prefer to assess a Footy coach on football issues that I can validly assess. FWIW I would rather a footy coach teach the midfield unit than just inspire them.

Unless you were involved in the inner workings of the Footy department you would not be able to make an informed judgement of what he brought. Especially with the depletion of the team through injury.

I hope he is faster than Godfrey.

Tim, I hankered over that one and hope Frawley will develop to take over either Carroll or Wheatley's role. Maybe Garland coming through would be good. I know its early but Meesen has not actually grab the ruck role with both hands given IMO that PJ and Jamar are lame ducks in that area. This is one of the areas we are suspect particularly if White goes down.

Inside Football cant be too in depth.....They have not picked up that Whelan has a LT injury and I would query whether Whelan has been on the decline over the past two years. If fit Bartram would have his position if Barts had not graduated to the midfield My changes would be: In: Dunn, Buckley Out: Yze, Whelan I would hope Frawley, Garland, Morton and Maric start pressing for senior selection this year and lay claims to fitting in to the standard. There are a number of spots up for grabs. The side: Melbourne's Best 22: FB: Bartram Carroll Wheatley HB: Bell Rivers Petterd C: Green Jones Moloney HF: Sylvia Bate Bruce FF: Robertson Neitz Davey Ruck/Rov: White McLean McDonald Interchange: Meesen Newton Buckley Dunn I just hope we dont have a bad run of injuries this year as I dont have confidence in much of the depth this year.

About the first comment that gets close to asking how effective some of the other Clubs marketing efforts are. For WB they may have more benefit from advertising in the Footscray local. However I dont think MFC are likely to benefit as much from advertising in the City Weekly. Its disappointing some posters are ready to stick the boot in without having alot of facts. Has anyone called the Club to seek explanation before launching into a rant on a public website? Probably not. It would be preferable to have memberships out as soon as possible to cater for the whims of some members. However, so long as they are receive prior to the start of the season it should not be an issue. FWIW, no kid at my son's school is brandishing club stickers at present. Given a new CEO is to be appointed, I think the whole membership and membership service issue needs some focus.

Here is a listing of MFC draftees since 1998. http://www.thedrafter.net/all_drafts/all_d...?club=Melbourne Its a hard call to make given some of the recent draftees post 2003 have not had time to establish themselves as players yet. But here is mine: 1. Scott Thompson 2. Cameron Bruce 3. Brad Green 4. Brock McLean 5. Jared Rivers/ Nathan Jones 6. Matthew Whelan I would hope McLean, Jones and others rise up the ladder as their careers develop.

Couldn't agree more Mikey.

Again back to my question what makes a champion team a champion team? What sets them apart from the others? Hannibal is right about developing A graders. We dont have them we need to develop them if we are going to be a champion team. Its not about a star inspiring the team (though that helps!).....its the fact that they win more ball from contests than the average player and they use the ball better than the average player. They make other more players look productive because they win more contests (less turnovers) and they give other players maximum advantage in going for the ball. And they do it with a higher level of consistency than other players. Richmond and Carlton are consistent across the Board. Terrible but consistent. I agree that it is not a lone rider who is a star that will lift a team. Its a few supported by the A graders that have been developed through the ranks. I tell you what though producing another Flower wont be sole answer but it would certainly help.... a great deal.

Why is a champion team a champion team? What makes a team better than other teams? Why do some teams rise to the occassion of September and others dont? If you look at the Premiership team over the last 15 years, each team has had one or two or more players who are stars. They are the players who will lift at critical times to allow a side to overcome others. By their performance, star players make other players around them better. Their individual performances within a side make their teammates better. They win more ball more often they make better use of the ball more often and they do it when the pressure is really on and the game is there to be won. MFC needs them badly. Until we have one or more players that are prepared and capable of taking the steps to be that star we will languish. And IMO we have not had a true star since Robert Flower. We have had a number of talented players through our ranks but none have progressed to the higher level. The Club has appointed an additional development coach to harness the ability of the younger talent we have to maximise the opportunity. I hope it pays dividends.

2001 might have been a disaster for selections, but 2000 selections were marred by salary cap penalties and the one legitimate selection we had in that year was Scott Thompson. A gem of choice at 16. Our next selection was 62 and its a lottery that far down the draft. Its a pity that subsequent issues forced him home. We really need him. FWIW, we did not have chance to select Bartel at 7 and if at the time I had to choose between Johnson and Thompson. It would be Thompson every time. Its only in the last year Johnson has played good footballer. Before that he was selfish, lazy and undisciplined. God knows we have that type of players in spades at MFC. I would also add that the impact of the 1999 and 2000 salary cap penalties have indeed robbed the list for the past 8 years of capable mature players.

Collingwood Collingwood Carlton Essendon Richmond Over a long period of time, I have developed a loathing for those sides that a few Johnny come lately interstaters cannot yet transcend. P.S. I have never been to Football Park and am not planning to go either.

To allow clubs to pursue the often futile practice of maintain secrecy. But back to my original point...I dont see why seeking to go interstate with a bunch of rookies is providing anything to Club beyond frequent flyer points.

If our opponent round 1 Hawthorn or any opponent wanted to know how we play, who we will play they will get to a training session or back o bourke scratch match. I think we are more trying to get our cards in order for round 1 rather than hiding trumps.

Vic based clubs still train in Victoria and spies still attend. Ask David Dunbar. Playing low key fits with fact that we have a new coach, new game plan, 25% of the list is new and many likely best 22 players are still to return from injury. The preference to travel to Cairns is indeed a strange one that does not fit. I dont know what you have to hide when you have a bunch of rookies, first years, fringe dwellers and underdone senior players who seemingly cant at this point put together any constructive football. I think Bailey clearly knows he has the wheelbarrow in front of him at MFC and would realise that it was highly unlikely there would be any outperformance risk from the "under 16s". If an opposition club (clubs) wanted to, they would have spies in penguin suits on Antarctica if you were playing there.

What do you think would be the motive given its would seem counterproductive for existing members/ supporters, no media coverage and little upside of attracting interstate supporters on the basis of one scratch practice game fielding rookies, possibles and few senior players?

I think the first two wishes are more easily achievable than the third wish

Ian Ridley will alwayd draw a great cross section of opinion about his contribution to the Club. Jack has correctly acknowledged Ridley as a great player and his failure as a Coach should be taken in consideration that aside from 4 or 5 class players he had a crap list assembled by an Administration that thought nothing of blowing big bucks on Tilbrook and Ditterich and screwing quality loyal players Hardeman, Wells, Alves and Flower. In the mid 90s, Ridley did have the foresight and guts to face and address square on the diabolical future of MFC. At that time, he brought to the surface a fact that past administration had failed to address. Based on what was known then, MFC could not survive financially. It could not pay its way and would have extinguished itself on the course it was going. I give him credit for the guts to face it. His plan for the merger was flawed. He got it wrong but acted in what he thought was the best interests of the Club. Its a pity such a wonderful servant of the Club that has been a key member of its golden success could be subject to some of the vitriol and condemnation by supporters.

Agree with that. And agree with that also.

While in general you are right. But he has missed alot of footy through injury recently and when he has played he has not played with the judgement and sharpness that he once displayed. Its a pity as he had been underrated for his game at his best

Thanks. I stand corrected on Bizzell. I do recall when they did drop him at that time, I thought that was the end for him. But you are right I would not have played Davey, Robbo and Wheatley.

Agree. When he did play in the past two years his defensive work was not as good as it has been. An achilles injury at his age and given his role is a real problem. This could be his last season if he is significantly limited by injury.

A W. Sydney and Gold Coast Club will have to seek to be competitive to attract sponsors, members and supporters. They will want a high degree of their list to be ready to go AFL footballers. They may not have the window or patience of established clubs to have a high degree of young talent that may take up to 3 to 4 years to blossom.