Rhino Richards

What aload of hogwash about the Kangas. They got a soft 50 metre penalty that put them 15 metres out and they could not kick the goal. Shannon Grant. What an embarrassment. Hang your head in shame. The distance of the penalty should have been made redundant by kicking the most obvious of goals. What a joke.

We did not get enough possession of the ball and we did not move it quck enough. After the first 15 minutes of the game we were flogged in the clearances. Our inept and slow movement of the ball just killed us. It would not matter if you have 20 blokes up there. If you are slow and sloppy in the delivery of the ball into the forward line you will allow the opposition to flood back, zone off and man up.

Our biggest issue was the manner which our midfield and half backline could not generate the run to create efficient and effective movement of the ball coupled with our lousy ball disposal. We were slow and inept and allowed St Kilda to flood back up easy possession From the limited opportunities Neitz and Robbo had they did well. If we have been more slick in the movement and delivery of the ball we would have had Neitz and Robbo on 1 on 1s. It also might have help if Davey and Yze actually did something on the ground as well. There is no rule as to how many or how you structure the forward line so long as it allows you to convert to goals from effective possession and disposal up the ground. We did not have effective possession or disposal through the midfield Dappa Dan was spot on. Our midfield was atrocious with few exceptions. We poor elsewhere as well. My biggest concern was the failure of the players to implement the game plan with any confidence or skill. The coaching panel have a lot to do over the next 9 days.

DD, He did that in 2003 when we had no one else to play there. He was the only not the best option.Robbo's selection in the paper on the HFF is a misnomer. Robbo for years has played as a FF/FP within the F50. At his best he is mercurial and a hard match up. At his worst he is a lazy liability up forward that does not work hard enough for the ball. The difference between the two is a marginal level of effort from Robbo. Its a short drop off in effort between RObbo's hot and cold. Ands that the rub with him. He cannot rely on taking screamers all the time or just kicking goals flat on his back. The game is changing and Robbo has to work hard., very hard to on both offensive and defensive sides of his game. If he was to play HFF/CHF he has to be capable of running hard for long periods of the game. I think it challenges him. At the end of last year he was struggled to hold his spot. He lost the leadership role in recognition of that. I would only play Dunn in the FP if he is fit and in form. PJ cant mark. White has not got a clue up forward and cant play body on body. A sin for a forward. Newton is too young and needs to develop. I find the use of the X-factor an easy to justify a punt. The X factor we missed on Friday was the attitude and commitment of the players. Newton could do diddly squat about that.

I'd like to bring back Hardeman who played his best footy in 1976/77........... Geez, 4 to 5 years is a long time in footy to rely on form. Especially when in 2004/2005 Bizz failed miserablyconsistently and then had last year out of the side. I'd only pick Bizzell if there was a ready match up for him in the Hawks. He is too short for a KPP and too slow and unaccountable for a shorter quaicker player.

No. I have no problem with Davey playing up the ground where his pace and skills can be used in burst to break oppositions open. If we are losing leaving him in the FP is akin to benching him. A waste. However, I thought Davey's performance last night was horrible and his attitude no better than the last time we played them. Kid needs to grow up.

No kidding. Gehrig must have $#@% himself.

Agree. Ferg has courage and is tall and is a borderline backman. Jaded, isn't that the crux of Miller's problem..."If they kicked the ball onto his chest, he might get more than 1 or 2 marks a game." If he does not get uncontested chest marks in no mans land he just cant win the pill. What use is that of a CHF? Frankly I would prefer to move Neitz to CHF and play Robbo FF.

Fair sense in that.

I think that's close but I would not blink if Yze got dropped for Brown. At least you would know Brown would give his all and not shirk a contest. Yze's time is up.

Do you think its case of his teammates realising what you are not? They know if they kick to Miller he will lose a contested situation. He just fails to win the pill in a contest. He shouldnt have to wait until he takes easy uncontested marks on the wing 80 metres from goal. Oppositions must love giving Miller those no man's land possession because they know he will vacillate over his disposal options and take an age to pick the wrong option. Furthermore he shows as much on field presence as spirit at a seance. He is proven failure at CHF. I'd even consider Holland or God forbid Ferg there. PJ's out. Still has proved that he can mark.

Forecast for Friday Cloudy periods with showers. Fresh, gusty southwest winds. Precis: Showers. Windy. City: Min 12 Max 18 Wet day and greasy conditions mean you dont want to go too tall. Leg speed and strength in these conditions. Very happy with the midfield but would especially like to have Pickett in there. His kind of conditions to make the Saints think twice. Robbo will play deep and they will bring Neitz out on the 50. Ward will give us more run than Bizz.

Neither Bizz nor PJ are KPPs.

I would agree with Old's comments. Davey needs to fire in September to be special. I think he can. I dont think Yze can. BTW, I think we got beaten by Sydney and Cartlon by the performance of those who played not because of the missing Davey. However he might have given us something against Carlton. Sydney's game style is very September like and would be exactly the type of game Davey needs to perform in but has not.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Riewol...4761621806.html

Check Old's post. The only thing looking silly is.... Well put Nasher.

I am glad the Club are moving quickly to ensure team rules are obeyed by all and that they are doing all they can proactively to assist a young 17-18 year old adjust and deal with the pressures of AFL.

I dont normally do this but I agree with Yze Magic on two fronts. 1. The issues between Miller and McLean in leadership are at least worlds apart. 2. Brock McLean will become the next captain of Melbourne. Cam Bruce needs to focus on delivering consistently on that potential he has shown for so long. He needs to stamp himself in big games. He has not done that enough. FCS I would not place any weight on Robbo's interview in the Sun. He even cited Yze, Bizzell and White as fine leaders and all three have been dumped from leadership roles in the past couple of years. What would he know? I would have Brad Green before I would have Bruce. Leadership is combination of an number of factors with age being a consideration not a prerequisite. There have been a number of examples of successful youg captains who have had the right attributes for role (Carey, Kernahan, Cam White and Steven Fleming in cricket). I look forward to Brock's ascension to captain when Neitz steps down.

The fact is we dont know. But the severity of incidents are disturbing and reflecting a destructive manner and perpetual lack of judgment. There is sufficient room for concern that he may well be. Worsfold said the problems have been evident with Cousins since July last year on the track. Cousins has had a number of problems dating pre the booze bus incident in early 2005. His girlfriend issue appears the outcome of these behaviours not the cause. Having emotional issues and taking drugs because of them goes along way to gettting to a form of addiction.

DD, That's the reason why I cant get overwhelmed with a VFL game statitstical count that appears questionable and does not establish clearly based on your's and other eyewitness reports that Yze has the smarts to know that he can skim it at this level and look good. He cant at AFL but I dont think he fully appreciates this. Time will tell. I hope he does turn it around. I am just not confident he will more than what he believes is necessary to justify his next game. A tragic short sell of the talent.

No critic of Yze has ever questioned the extent of his skills. They are not and never in doubt. Its his attitude and application of those skills. Yze looks lazy because he is lazy when he shirks the contested ball, runs off for the easy hand off rather than assist a pressured teammate, does not chase his direct opponent pointing and shouting at other teammates to do so, repeatedly arguing with umpires, lethargically going for marks one handed and lately squibbing the contest fearing footsteps. Yep he is lazy. Travis has addressed his earlier issues and matured. His performances are not in question. His skills sets are better than Yzes and his ability to cut a side to ribbons is evident. Yze is a downhill skier and flat track bully. Your comparison is unfair to TJ and does little to redeem Yze. Yze performs on his own terms. Its ironic you raise how many times he will hit Neita on the chest. Thats one of his issues. Up forward he has often blazed at the sticks and ignored players in better position. Its fine when he get it but too often (and more so now) he does not. So much for playing for the team. Selfish highly talented but lazy players do grow on trees. The talented players who apply and work hard on their skills for the betterment of the team do not grow on trees. Yze is becoming more of the former category. I doubt whether delivery to the forward line issues would be affected by Yze's absence given Yze's is an opportunist forward and has been part of the midfield rotation since 2004. Given his application over the past 2 years, he would struggle in the midfield and certainly does not appear in the planning. Its funny how many times MFC have been criticised for lacking avenues to goal. Your right. But one problem in most of those occassions, Yze has been in the forward line and typically been one of the players who has failed. Surely your own statement condemns the player who has habitually failed in these aspects for over 250 games and for many years a recognised leader, a former VC of the Club and he has to wait for other to show the way!!!! Well he has ignore the inspiring an courageous leadership efforts of Neitz,Stynes, Lyon and Brown over the past 13 years. Even Godfrey's efforts who has a heart the size of Phar Lap. Any impression on the Ooooze?? Nup. Rather damning isnt? Yze does not and has never risked his neck in a practice or AFL game. His embarrassing squib against Richmond is a measure of how far he has fallen. He is not a star of the AFL. He never has been a true star of the AFL and the opportunity for hom to do so is rapidly passing him by. The gulf between his best and his worst has been too great and too frequent over the past five years to be so. Had the talent and skills but squandered it in its selfish application. The axe is on his neck for round 1 (if selected). Another typical poor Yze effort will allow him to build on the 12 mysterious tackles he has had to date. I admire your support for the player I just believe the basis of your justification is misguided.

Its bad luck on the injury list to have all those out that would be potentially competing with Yze for the role. I share your skepticism about the 12 tackles which another wit suggested that was double his career aggregate. I wonder how many were effective and how many were typical of his half arsed efforts when physical contact is likely. TBO- To be Offloaded.....nah...Trevor Barker Oval..Sandy's home ground.

Alot of posters are going just on the numbers in the paper and drawing inferences that may or may not be true. Whether Yze does or does not deserve a game may be overtaken by the injury list. If he plays he will play up forward and given that Pickett, Sylvia and Dunn wont be there he is looking good for selection. But the axe is not far away. Another mute performance and No 66 of Sandy may grace TBO once more.

Gouga, that would indeed be difficult. Ox has taken it upon himself to be a vitriolic critic of MFC and its public officers for years since his retirement. Some of those aired comments and points of view have reflected poorly on a player who has actually played the game. Plenty. He has had a difficult upbringing and that has brought many challenges upon Schwartz especially in his adult life. Some which he has handled manfully some he has not. By his own confession he is still dealing with many of those issues. I am the first to recognise Schwartz's achievements on the ground. In his first two years at MFC I saw a raw talented footballer who could have been anything. There has been only three other footballers who excited me more with their potential in their first year Lyon, Farmer and Jako. His 1994 year was astonishing and a great promise of things to come. His fightback from 3 knee injuries took incredible courage and focus. He remodelled his game after the injury and develop more smarts. But his career was cut short by the impact of the injuries. Unfortunately while often bleeding red and blue on the ground, Schwartz could also be a most belligerent player, a trucculent and undisciplined lair who could abusive to teammates on the ground and thus detrimental to the team's effort. It was that cost him a shot at senior leadership roles at MFC years ago. I am not sure if that was part of the cocktail for him to make slipshod and frequent criticisms of the Club He has also been a negative influence on a couple of current MFC players and the less involvement he has at the Club on those terms the better. Its the recurring incidence of lack of judgement which clouds and undermines Schwartz's value at publicly analysing AFL football.

How do you think the other players feel when they are working hard and another player who has had a series of misdemeanours turns up to training when he feels like it? Team bonding stuff. Just ask Chick and Embley.