Bang Bang Bang

This is so crap. For all his mean cliches, Neeld has actually taken this team backwards. At least under DB we occasionally played footy that was worth watching. God we suck.

Forgetting the $$$ and mercenary stuff for a moment, it's hard to believe that he's entering his 4th year and only a good foot soldier at best. This could certainly change down the track but the clock is ticking. Who honestly didn't think we had a future great of the game with his junior rep and first 10 games? Has not come on at all. Just not strong and skilled enough at this stage and at 22 he should be starting to hit his straps as a mid. Still, it's not our problem anymore. I'm just grateful we got the compensation we did because if he was still at Melbourne and playing mediocre football... the vultures would be circling. And as much as I love Trengove as a clubman, he finds himself in a similar position. Can make excuses for him (some valid) but he needs to start making strides in the not too distant future.

Sellar is no world beater, never has been never will be. But given he is capable of holding his own in multiple positions, I think his net worth is a little underrated. Essentially he was brought in as depth to replace Matthew Warnock. That's a definite tick for for the brains trust.

I was at the game and one thing you probably don't pick up on the TV is the presence this kid already has out on the field. He already has a swagger, cockiness like a J. Brown or Brereton that simply cannot be taught. Now, it's far too early to be making proper comparisons with those players, as this is Melbourne, we've had countless "great white hope" types that don't come on and he hasn't even played a game. But it was very hard to walk away from Etihad upset last night after witnessing this kid's form.

Good article. And normally I wouldn't take any notice of the usual player pre season cliches , but it sounds like Byrnes is genuine and honest with his comments. Good to see that kind of positivity from a premiership player.

I wouldn't say that Petterd and Bennell in the 30s were bad picks. Petterd gave us 6 years of service and Bennell 4 years. Not every single player you select in the draft is going to be a 10-year great of the game, I think that's what we need to realise.

Yep, Tom Scully (at the time) hurt. #1 draft pick who completely won me over as a player in 2010 and in the blink of an eye he was out the door. As it turns out we're going to end up with Wines, Dawes and Barry as compensation and he hasn't really come on as a player at all so good result. But 12 months ago it was shattering to see him in that GWS polo. Farmer hurt, TJ was a favourite but the trade I was in favour of (and we have ended up big winners)..

I would hazard a guess that Neeld and Todd Viney are all over Wines. Big bodied, ball magnet, competitive, mates with JV, hard as a cat's head, good skills. I want a Dustin Martin, Patrick Dangerfield type bull-at-a-gate with our pick that is ready to go from Day 1. Wines for me.

Viney is a competitive beast in the Selwood, J.Lewis, Hodge mode. In fact I've heard some describe him as the most ferocious young player to ever come through the system. The kind of player that is first picked in September, a "culture changer", and decent skills to boot. I don't give a rats' tossbag if we have to take him at 3, he's exactly the kind of young player we need to bring into the club. No brainer IMO. Who cares if O'Rourke runs a better beep test or Grundy tested better in the clean hands test, the guy is clearly worth an early pick and not to mention the lack of integrity of overlooking him after putting 2 years of work in.. If you want any more convincing, we took a guy at pick 1 four years ago who blitzed the Championships, broke records at draft camp and had all the potential in the world. Jack Watts of course. Fast forward and the one thing stopping him from becoming the player he should be is a lack of intensity and competitive instinct. He will never get it (IMO). You can't teach what Viney has. We're lucky. Obviously it's better if we get him at 26, because we'd be making out like bandits. But that's out of our control. The only reason you'd see me in meltdown tomorrow would be if we overlooked him altogether. Luckily that won't happen.

I think he should be tried on the wing. Let's be honest I won't call Jack soft because I don't think anyone running around at the top level is, but he doesn't attack the footy with tenacity when the ball is in the air, the way Mitch Clark, Darling, Cloke and all the best key forwards do.. so I don't think he can become elite there (unless he improves in this aspect). Down back he lacks strength to play on opposition key forwards, but does a good job reading the play. An option. Let him play on the wing with 'free reign' to drift forward and back. His best attribute is the lateral movement and decision making, similar to Pendlebury in a way, and of course his foot skills. Don't see why he can't become a very handy wingman and rack up 25 touches a game once he gets his fitness in check. He's always going to be a rake (doesn't have the frame to get much bigger) so it's wingman/utility for mine. I still hold out some hope of him becoming an elite player because there aren't many players at 197cm who possess the skill set and athleticism Jack is blessed with.

Yep but the game is played differently now to what it was say 10 years ago. All the very best midfielders average 25+, more like 30 a game, and even the young players entering the game can easily come in and average 20+. Look I don't want to appear anti-Trengove because he is a good egg but he is not getting enough of the footy and if he wants to reach that A-grade level then he needs to start getting involved and not go missing for extended periods in matches. At the moment Dustin Martin the guy taken after him is streets ahead of him and that's the kind of level I expect a #2 draft pick entering his 4th season to be reaching. I think he should step down from the captaincy so we can let him focus on becoming the best player he can be.

I think you're missing my point, I'm not saying Trengove should be averaging the same numbers as these guys, just that his ball-winning ability is nowhere near where it should be. Will it improve in the coming years? Maybe, probably, I bloody hope so, but a guy playing in the mids should be seeing more of the pill. I realise he is young and will get better but for arguments sake how do Dustin Martin's figures compare? He poops on Trengove from a great height at present. Harley Bennell? Toby Greene? Lewis Jetta? I am a Trengove fan but 2012 has been a stinker and he's not going to be elite unless he finds ways of getting to more contests.

His leg speed is a worry, as is his ball-winning ability. I read last week that he had a season-high 23 disposals. An average of 18. That is very very low for a midfielder. Now numbers aren't everything but all of the very best mids running around at present (Ablett, Swan, Beams, Thompson, Kennedy etc etc etc) are up around the 30 mark on a day out, and still get low 20s on a bad day. Jonesy is averaging 25. I find it very concerning that Trenners is not even close to the mark.. in fact I have a feeling he has never registered 30 disposals in a game in 3 seasons. I know he's a lot younger than these blokes but I'm sure Dustin Martin and other rivals around the same age have him covered comfortably. Way too early to be writing him off and I saw enough in 2010 and 2011 to be excited, but 2013 is a big test for him.

Gysberts over Talia I'm not that uncomfortable with. I have not seen a single Crows game this year but even if Talia is verging on AA (really?), we still have T-Mac and Frawley who are going to be around for a long time together, as well as Garland (having a bad year granted), Rivers still has a few years left, etc. We are fine for talls down back. I still think Gysberts will be a player too. I agree that Cook over Darling is looking like an absolute howler. One thing that is often overlooked is the Scully, Trengove 1+2 combo. Now, Scully is now irrelevant, but I've monitored him at GWS and he is hardly setting the world on fire. Trengove likewise. Now I'm sure our boy will end up a gun (heck he's captain at 20) but there have been several players taken after them that look like bona fide stars. The guy taken at 3 being one. BP famously didn't bother interviewing him.

From what I've been told, comes from a decent source... Was told to retire last week by MN, declined. Played against the Gold Coast and played very well at that, hence the slightly OTT goal celebrations for a meaningless game. Will retire this week. Was always going to retire at end of year anyway, but I get the feeling he is not too happy at being pushed (this is my speculation based on what I've heard). Too be honest I'm not too happy about it either. Has been a great clubman for over a decade and Neeld who has proven jack all is telling him to pack his bags.

Yeah but bringing more "talented kids" doesn't excite me as much as it used to. I mean, Toumpas Stringer and Wines etc sound great, but so did Trengove in 09, Morton in 07, Sylvia in 03 and so on. I just want to see us get good again.

I reckon Nicholson is playing well.

I know he's nearly finished as an AFL player but Davey's left foot is much, much better than "above average". It's a bullet. Just doesn't get it enough nowadays. I also think you are selling Green, Trengove, Gysberts, Tapscott and Strauss short. Agree with the sentiment (and most of the other ratings) though.. Morton is the most disappointing for mine. Was drafted as a skinny "outside" utility but his kicking skills were meant to be elite.. they are not. They are below average. When you're an outside player with limited kicking skills, well, you're f***ed!!

Surprised he isn't copping more scrutiny. Combine being a #1 draft pick with being the highest paid player in the league and then look at his performances. Amazed he isn't copping more heat. Watts is miles ahead as a #1 pick, and as a person!! We don't have to pay him 50k a kick too (and unlike Scully, Jack's kicks actually go where he intends them to)

Frustrating loss but unfortunately it was inevitable, wasn't it? I don't particularly like Mick Malthouse as a commentator but I value his opinions very highly (how couldn't you) and he had as written off as soon as Jamar had the red vest, canning the sub rule as unfair in situations like today. Bennell is no star but his injury put as down to 2 on the bench, curtains. Some good things to come from today. Not sure what to make of Blease as a player but he kicked two great goals today. The second was probably the best goal of the season by a Melbourne player. So good. I don't get how he can have 30 odd touches against the Swans (and a couple of times last year) yet only gets 8 other weeks. Worth persisting with. Also Nathan Jones is almost an elite kick nowadays. Amazing given it was a weakness not long ago.. lowers the eyes and delivers bullets. Missing Mitch Clark in an enormous way.

6 - Watts: just looks a class above those around him. Have seen him play better games but today he looked totally at ease. 5 - Jones: Again, I actually think he has played better. But his consistency is amazing. Kudos to a player who was once maligned. 4 - Rivers: 4 goals, looks happy and comfortable as a forward... great game today. 3 - Clark: Would have been much much higher if not for injury. Star. 2 - Sylvia: Excellent game but he really needs to do it against better opposition from now on. 1 - McDonald: Don't like his kicking and decision making at times, but defensively he will be A-grade. Apologies to Sellar Grimes Dunn

Had no idea why we drafted him and his early games did little to inspire. But he looks at home down back and I like how he is a good kick and cool head with ball in hand. You could not say that about Warnock or any of our current defenders. Anyway I doubt the children will be rushing to get the #30 on their back, but good sides have room for a J. Sellar. For a pick in the 50s I reckon we have done well.

Great job by the crowd today, didn't let up, now we move on. $cully is a thing of the past, and IMO he isn't even that good. Good hands and engine and that's it.

Back to the Bailey days of beating up on interstate sides at the 'G. This win didn't have a patch on the Essendon game in terms of satisfaction, but it was still very pleasing to see us pummel a side for a change (especially quarters 2 and 3). Let's be honest, first quarter the alarm bells were ringing. Individually I reckon it was a good team performance.. No real standout players but no real passengers other than Moloney who will surely be dropped after another ineffective performance. One thing I really like about Neeld's coaching is that he is innovative. Rivers up forward never ever would have happened under Bailey and probably ND as well, but Neeld has the balls to try something new and look what happens. One last thing, FU Scully!!! I think the crowd did a good job today but what's done is done and now we move on. He isn't even that good anyway.

Another good game today. I can now see why we drafted him. Pretty much he can contain the gorillas but unlike Warnock (who I assume he indirectly replaced on the list) he can actually kick and make good decisions. And as a side note I'm glad we didn't get Chris Dawes. Clark is infinitely better.