Rhino Richards

As its an election year I think you have convinced me to vote for the Party that has the best education policy.....biest???...right...biased..got it! I take it you're the type of fellow that looks up the statistics page in the paper on Monday, looks at the number of disposals and other stats and determines how a bloke plays on the weekend from there. For the all stats he got he did not dominate. A bloke of Yze's class should have burnt the opposition. He humiliated himself against Richmond and had play two poor practice matches following an ordinary five games to finish 2006. From those that went to the game, the reports are mixed of his input. Yze will only be good player that consistently justfies his spot in the team again if his attitude changes. Can you work that out from the stats sheets? BTW, Yze should be congratulated for the 12 tackles laid.....It would have doubled his career aggregate . Bartram and Yze play different roles and I dont think that it will come down to a choice between them. But I support your view that Bartram will give more than Yze....week after week.

Schwartz is entitled to his opinion. But you would not put much weight in it because Schwartz specialises in hyberbole and self promotion. He's a loose cannon in life that would be better suited to mixing with the behaviours of WCE players rather than his lightweight performances on SEN.

Chris Judd was given the captaincy under odious and awkward circumstances and must feel like a puppet captain. No wonder he is hanging out on his contract negotiations. If true the Chick and Embley incident is a further evidence of cracks at the Club. Its not good less than 2 weeks before the season starts. Also, I am not so sure Kerr has learnt anything. A feeble mind could separate Cousin's issues from his own and feel impervious to reality. I would like Michael Gardiner to say in the Press that "WCE really needed to grow up and get their act together."

Crikey. It must be serious!

While we may not know what is going on his head, I merely expressed a pragmatic view that I dont think its changed based on people's summary of his performance at Sandy. B)

Agree with that Fan. And I dont think there has been any significant change there.

DD, I think MFC like other clubs will struggle to cover injury to certain players. FWIW, if MFC are to have a tilt at the flag the following players must be fit Neitz, Rivers,Pickett,White, McLean Carroll, Bruce. If anyone of those seven are out for extend time we re in trouble. Two or more we are taking in water. While we did not lose important players for long stretches, we got injuries at the wrong time of the year. We carried McLean, Moloney, Sylvia and Miller with extended and protracted OP during the year. We are in the mix this year no doubt and need to improve on last year. The ingredients are there. It has to come together.

Slicing it both ways BB. On one hand you suggest his number of disposals means he isnt lacking form then suggest poor form is harder to break than you think. In this modern game I have seen player rack up 20+ possessions and been invisible. One of Yze's shortcuts in his footy career to extract the maximum benefit from the minimum effort. At times you get away with it. Other times you dont. It only worked for Yze consistently when he was at the pinnacle of his game..in 2002. I watched the VFL often. I have watched Yze often. I know what to expect from both. Yze has enough class the skim it in the VFL and look good while playing on his terms. Because if he returns to the MFC team thats the way he will play the same way. Its not good enough and has not been good enough for some time I am more focussed on his attitude to rectifying his game. From the reports given its a mixed bag. I am concerned the Yze will skim it back in the AFL. He wont last long if he does. On the contrary MFC deserves better from a supposed "leader" and someone who apologists believe is a marquee player <_< .

"with Sylvia, Pickett and Dunn out the lack of other fit opportunistic forwards possibly saves Yze" What other talented forward opportunists do we have to select? Davey will take one spot and may play up the ground a bit. If any of Pickett, Dunn or Sylvia were fit and firing I would not play Yze.

Yze has managed to skim through alot of his football career by being able to apply his skill in bursts to create the favourable outcomes from minimal output. He has done it for years now. However, as a footballer he has passed his peak. Over the past couple of years I have noticed that the silky skills and pinpoint passing haved waned and his influence on games are becoming increasing fewer and further between. What has not changed in his attitude. I would have thought the 2005 EF would have been a catalyst to change. How humiliating to be the stand in captain in a final and toss the coin at the start only t6o disappear to the bench. When finally brought on rather than set an example in a contested situation for others, he merely took the shortcut and toepoked the ball indiscriminately along the ground. He has had many such events that other players would see the roadsigns and you know what, Yze just sat back and lazily relied on his skills and the results are waning. That's the thing. Even if he does have a change of attitude, how long will it last? In addition, I think Yze's sublime skills have waned to the extent that he cant live the millionaire and get away with it. He is no longer capable of playing sustained periods in either the midfield or defence. His only option is up forward. As another astute poster has pointed out with Sylvia, Pickett and Dunn out the lack of other fit opportunistic forwards possibly saves Yze. But the Sandy game form worries me for these reasons: 1. Yze can still sail on his skills in the VFL and cut enough possessions to look effective. 2. And according to reports he played in the midfield where he could manufacture possessions with the man on man pressure at AFL level. 3. If he really felt humiliated by his Richmond efforts, he would have really torn up the game at Sandy and dominated. I could name a number of other players who would have done that. Its called pride. But as usual Yze just did enough. I would have thought pride would have got the better out of him in 2006 after the ghastly finish of 2005. It did not. Given the above, Yze will stil play Round 1. But the short warning missile has been fired over his bow. He must be on his last chance. If he does not make the most of it, he can glide along at Sandy in the following rounds. I hope to be proven wrong about Yze. I had hoped that I would be proven wrong when I started airing my concerns about him on the Aimoo site in 2004. Problem is I havent been. Its now that alot more people are talking about the exact issues that were raised in 2004. He has his chance in Round 1, I hoped he makes the most of it. And I dont just mean to kick 5 off easy receives.

I had thought Rohan Smith and Riccardi played for the team. Hang the expensive tag, Yze plays on the quality of his performance not the size of a bloated contract. Thats the rub. And that's impression I got from your report. You are quite wrong. There are a couple of sage posters on this site who were onto Yze in 2003 for the very things he is being hit with now. For the record, I did not believe. But when the chips were against in last 2004, I observed the then vice captain perform the most selfish, lazy and non team orientated antics. Those posters were right. Yze kicks goals against weak opposition who dont match him up correctly and man him up. He's a flat track bully. The problem is that when real pressure is applied by top teams and in late August and September he goes missing big time. For the record, Brad Green is not the same character profile as Yze. Yze has had 13 years in the AFL. What do you think will change? Clearly the required signs were not there at TBO.

Correct Jaded. I dont find the Carr's or Guerra's of this world at all tough. I dont knock having to stick up for a fallen teammate but I dont believe retaliation is the best measure of intimidation. I don't what value any of those players having to dish it out although I am sure Yze could pull pigtails if pushed! I think the lack of physicality in the play of Yze and co has been more critical to us than standing up in a stoush. But you are right standing up for your team si necessary but it is an overvalued metric in measuring intimidation and toughness. Wouldn't that depaend on how many G n Ts you had had prior to staggering to the car park!

Thanks I enjoyed the chuckle. God bless the spiritual acts!

Real intimidation is what you do with the ball and what you will do to get possession when you dont have it. I want the opposition to now the cost and the pain of challenging the contested ball against Melbourne. I want them to think twice about their commitment. That's intimidation. Its in their mind Thats the measure of toughness not the expected remonstration and bumping of chests that should occur when a comrade gets unfairly dealt with.

Thanks for that. I guess the issue with Yze is its hard to tell if fails if you play him on the bench. Unlike a TJ, who can float into a game for 15 minutes and with brilliance change a game, I think Yze needs to be on the pitch to add value I am not confident he give you anything but a flashy receiver if he comes on in the heat of the game. My view is if he is not deemed good enough to play in the main 18, I wouldn't pick him and would play him at Sandy. I could not bear any further half arsed front running performances from him. With his skill and ability he should towel the VFL opposition (much like Newton did today without the AFL experience). However I am concerned that despite the stat sheets showing a number of possessions, Yze just did enough. I'd like to see Yze retained at Sandy until he shows he WANTS to play AFL football. He needs to provide the performance where frankly he spanks the opposition and shows hunger to win the ball. Its cheap and easy on the outside and even more so in the VFL. I dont believe Yze has the hunger or the WANT to play. I trust he looked good in 66 for the Zebras. He might make it his own until he works out what he truly wants to do football wise.

I have heard many old time supporter of MFC and some who were not who have said Jack Mueller was freakish. Joeboy has a fair call on Greg Parke. Very good. Gary Hardeman was outstanding. People forget how good Robbie Flower was marking. Just brilliant. Brian Wilson was consistently very very good for his size. Farmer, Smith and Robbo provide the spectacular. Schwartz was good pre knee and could have been peerless.

Thanks Dappa. Its long trip from Kogorah. B) Good summary. How did you view Yze'z game given he played in the centre? Apart from a couple of cameos did he appear to work hard all day? If you were to play him in Rd 1 was he good enough for the AFL midfield where he has not been for two years or would you let him play up forward? Very good news about Newton. I assume there was no Sautner. Is that correct? Nice call on Nick Smith...were you serious? He got delisted at the end of last year.

We not the best ruck team out there but 10th out of 16. We would be more likely about 6th/7th. We would struggled to hold WCE and Freo on a good out for them. HoweverI dont believe that Geelong, Carlton, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Essendon, Hawks and Kangas have a better ruck outfit than us. We can sometimes be a bit harsh on our own.

Thanks and well done to the eye witness reports and those that provided updated scores and its a pity you were all not treated to a better quality game. Bring on the season proper.

Judd has to go to the PSD and one of those Clubs must finish last and have money to spare. What can any of those sides entice WCE with and Judd to play for them?

We only get a crack at him if he does not re-sign with WCE. Judd would want to establish that MFC can and will be able to offer a suitable deal to WCE before nominating us. He will have back up clubs if it cant be Melb Unless he would want to go to wooden spooner he wont go to the PSD. WCE could not afford to lose so much because of pigheadedness.

Brock would have to be sensational to reach Judd. He's good but I dont think that good. And that's no crticism of Brock. He is very good. Back you on Green. Earned his stripes last year and despite the tripe from others was often hard and selfless at the contested ball.

Agree. Judd has WCE over a barrel. If he walks to the PSD, WCE lose so much in a marquee player and heavy compensation that Judd will attract. I would be gobsmacked if WCE let the matter meander such that Judd went to the PSD. And you can forget some of the offers of any line ball MFC players (eg Yze or Miller) in the deal. They would be not in the running nor of any interest to WCE. They are no trade value.

Agree OMR. Laidley also has a running dispute with a Kangas Board member. Clock ticks, the bell tolls............

But that is true..isnt it!