Rhino Richards

Agreed.

I dont think it is an age thing. If a player is good enough to justify his spot and is the best choice for that position then he should play.. period. How have you based this theory of "over emphasising depth? Do you mean we have recruited just for depth? Or are you against retaining players you think are no good and what were the available alternatives for MFC to recruit to those you wish to discard? Bizz justified having his contract renewed for 2 years in 2004. Unfortunately he had the Club over a barrel. Sign me for 3 or walk to the PSD. I am on the record of letting him walk then. However, lets get the facts right..... Troy died on December 26 2004. MFC renewed Bizz's contract in early 2005. By end of 2004, I thought Troy had taken Bizz's role in the 2004 EF. But that's all history as Bizz is with MFC for 2007 and I trust he remains fit and firing. I am just not that confident he will.

The example was to take a player at the end of their career and comparing to those at the start. Either way Bell, CJ and Bizz all have to justify themselves for selection. Bizz gains more kuedos on this site and the other site than Bell and CJ and has not performed consistently since 2003. Has he got it still? I doubt it. But like you we will see this year what he produces.

Its like saying Brock McLean has achieved nothing compared to Nathan Buckley. Both are at different points in their career cycle. I guess we will see about Bizzell this year. Graz makes a valid point though.

Yes sure. But we have indeed been unlucky facing two of the best GF sides in the last 25 years. Hawks in 1988 and the Bombers in 2000 were as good as they get and we were always the rank underdogs going in to those games.

So do I Fan but I would not overstate the performance given the ordinary opposition that day. It was the sort of match that you would hope Bizzell would do well. No pressure, shoddy opposition who regularly turn the ball over. How many games do you get in AFL like that these days and arent there other players who will serve you just as well and wont disappear like Bizzell (and others) did often when the pressure was on in 2005.

They also said that about Jarred Brennan. Good grief what a gumby man he turn out to be!

What rejuvenated the Club was the identification of talented players whether they be Irish of otherwise. Wight was good but Stynes was a gem though! As a front leader in this field we reaped early benefits which I dont think are there today. The rules governing the Irish experiment have changed and the risks/costs of punting on an Irish lad are tougher relative to a locally grown player. An Irish player represents a draft choice....I think. In addition, as shown in the recent Hybrid rules debacle (I mean competition), the professional / physical gap between the two sports has widened and thus the development required is significantly more. Anyway for the all the recruits that have come from Ireland only Tadgh Kenneally with the Swans is any good. There are been a lot of ordinary ones in between.

He would have to win the Brownlow to do that! Bizzell's poor form is also a result of the manner by which he plays and the way oppositions from 2004 onwards have worked him out and exploited his weaknesses.

Agreed about Buckley. Will play forward and wont be as mobile as past years ... Like Riccuito. Holland does it impress his girlfriend, get a small part of TV and to protect himself at his pretentious nightclubs. Licuria is doing it to stop Collingwood thinking he is too old and to sign him again. Jack you must remember that the Hun is the Collingwood newsletter

Good work Tigger. Very informative

Holland plays a different role to Bizzell and is suited to different opponents. Holland showed in last years finals that he is an honest trier and a contributor but not in the top shelf and may struggle this year. Bizzell's last good year was 2003 and he has alot of currency and brownie points with posters for that. But much has changed since that time with Bizz and the AFL game and Old's comments.... "when it comes to the crunch I know what we'll get - too short, too slow, too loose. Teams are a wake up to the Bizzell caper and he will be exploited." ring true. I hope he makes his final year a good one and is a contributor as required to assist our success in 2007.

Agreed Old. Its amazing Bizzell has a prominent role to play in our defence given the Club issued a press release just prior to an injury that he would play on the wing. He would not cut it there. He will a role to play in his final year but it will be limited and he's depth.

Which gates are open?

Good post Jaded. I thought your history of broken toes would be intimidating enough!

The appropriate statistics can assist but not taken purely in isolation. For example in the current style of football being played, a players number of possession is a nebulous factor that can miststate a players contribution. FWIW, I think Old and Bob have got it spot on......once again.

Cam Bruce does need to stand up to the pressure of finals football. However he is not and will never will be in the same class as Hird or Voss. . IMO the following people are crucial to MFC's success this year. We need them fit, in form and available every week. They are Neitz, McLean, White, Rivers, Whelan and Carroll. Robbo was next to useless last year and was a liability when the ball hit the ground. I love Robbo but his days are numbered if he does not lift his game. Toad I share your expectations of Bate. A fit Beamer should be a plus. An extra year of experience and development should do wonders for our younger players (eg Jones, Bartram, Dunn etc.) I hope you are right on Miller.

Agree. If we are to be serious this year about Top 4 then it is true

1. Dunn is unlikey to play a "tall" role as he more than likely to challenge Robbo or Yze if those senior players do not lift their game. 2. Miller needs to improve below his knees and improve his awareness to be anything like an Aaron Hamill . Fact is he is not and never will be. 3. Bizkit is right..I'd rather he learnt how to kick rather learning Spanish but I support player broadening their minds besides just AFL. 4. Aside from Freak's rubbish, the issues raised by more balanced posters have been issues that have existed prior to 2006. I hope he does have a good 2007 but I am realistic what to expect of him and I do not expect him to be what he has been talked up by some as being but is undoubtedly not.

Now Jaded, he has had wonderful experience running the Footy show and that ridiculous Gaelic hybrid rules [censored] up.

One would hope so Redleg. I agree with your position. I dont hold a soft spot for Chisholm. He was reckless and careless with the ball and provided MFC with little upside

The drivers (ncluding Board stability) behind that success are well gone and the problems that they have today were lurking in the background for decades before.

The fairly average playing lists are a function of poor recruiting, inability to attract key players and the capacity of the coaching panel to extract the best from their men. All the people directly charged with this responsibility are appointed by the Board. If you want a prime example of the benefit of strong, united and professional Boards then look no further than WCE. 12 months ago their captain and marquee player currently holding the B'low effectively destroys his reputation, his character and drags the club through the mud in the media by running from a booze bus. In addition, they have a bonehead ex- 1st ruckman caught drunk driving after smashing his car eight weeks out from the finals. Both incidents had the capacity to derail the on field performance dramatically and create instability in the ranks. Neither incident did that. WCE management successfully handled both difficuly issues in a seamless manner that minimised the impact on the playing group who went onto win the flag. They are very good team on the ground.....They are sensational off field in te way they manager and operate their club. Other Clubs could learn heaps from them.

Its contract time now not at the end of the season. Both parties need to fulfil their parts of the contract whether or not we are in "laissez- faire" times

Injuries are a good point. I think you underestimate the esteem and respect ND has in AFL. His fortunes will not necessarily be sunk on one bad year. If ND wanted to, he will be coaching AFL in 2008, whether at MFC or elsewhere.