Gator

You're usually pretty circumspect when it comes to the Dees, Tony. This prediction surprises me.

When have I questioned our last 8 years ?

Choosing the beginning of the AFL era is about as nonanomalous as it gets.

Which year suits you best ?

Their recruiting since Taylor joined has been very good, not perfect, but pretty exceptional. As CEO Peter Jackson got the club back on track. But in the AFL era we'd have to be close to the AFL's biggest basket case. We really have been a joke. The following win/loss percentage sums up how deplorable we've been. Thank goodness for Gold Coast. Since the beginning of the AFL era in 1990. Geelong 63.51% Collingwood 54.80% Hawthorn 54.48% Port Adelaide 54.34% West Coast 54.33% Sydney 53.55% Essendon 51.75% Adelaide 51.22% Western Bulldogs 50.06% North Melbourne 48.69% St Kilda 48.05% Brisbane 47.33% Greater Western Sydney 46.51% Richmond 46.00% Fremantle 45.33% Carlton 44.96% Melbourne 44.14% Gold Coast 29.51%

How on earth is the paper at fault when Pickett is continually ''liking'' posts that link him to another club ? Are there more delusional supporters on the planet than Melbourne's ? Some blame everyone but the club or players when things go awry. It's a really strange dynamic. I get supporting the club, but I don't get completely being blind to common sense. Then there are others who don't think the club can do anything right. Are there any normal Melbourne supporters out there ???

Because I corrected a post that asserted he averaged 25 disposals and was poor for ''his standards''. Both assertions were wrong. It's not hard to work out if you read the post.

Firstly, you're stating the bleeding obvious as to why he performed the way he did. Secondly, I didn't criticise Oliver. I simply stated facts. He was fat and horrible and he'd agree. Yes, I didn't provide any explanation, because one wasn't required. We all know why he was bordering on awful. The fractured thumb was the biggest reason of all.

I suppose I should expand, because a couple of posters don't appear to understand my reply. My comment was sans excuses. Firstly, I corrected the notion that Oliver averaged 25 disposals, he didn't, he averaged 23. Maybe facts don't count. And secondly, it wasn't a year that required lauding in any way. Oliver was fat, couldn't tackle, and just threw the ball on his boot at every opportunity. All round, it was a horrible year by his, or any gun's standards. Now, if you want me to come up with excuses for such a year I'm sure could oblige equally as well as you. But that wasn't the purpose of my post. Excuses for Oliver have been done to death and I didn't see the need to add to the pile.

Non sequitur.

It's totally irrational for Melbourne supporters being concerned by Hird giving advice with regards to the search for a CEO. People seem to lose their mind when it comes to football clubs.

He averaged 23. And it was a poor year by any gun mids standards, not just his.

Strange, but true.

I think it's more that no-one calls him ''Ollie". Although it wasn't hard to know who you meant.

No, just running. Mainly with Reece Conca.

Yes. I didn't notice him much. That said, it seemed to be defensive-centric. Not many forwards stood out.

I was there, but if there's a worse place to watch footy than Casey I haven't found it. There were 5 in the main rehab group, namely Gawn, Petracca, Fullarton, Woewodin and Lever. Laurie was running laps by himself, as was Jefferson. Chandler, as has been reported, had his arm in a sling. Lindsay did a bit of lap running later on. Some of the ''rehab 5'' participated in non contact drills and ball movement at the beginning of training, but when the more intense contest work started they retreated to the boundary and did short kicking to a player being hindered and bumped before they broke away for the short hitup. This was interspersed with lap running. The match sims mainly comprised of getting the ball out of D50 through either the wings, or a 45 kick through the middle. Generally the skills were pretty good, but no team would be training without the odd turnover. Once there was a turnover the forwards were spotted with passes or there were long kicks to advantage. Players swapped from white tops to red and back again. On multiple occasions. And with many wearing caps it's not easy to pick up every player all the time. The players I noticed the most were Viney, who stands out. But he was also very involved. Windsor is used a lot, moves fast and looks confident. He missed the odd target, but looks great and generally uses it well. I like Kynan Brown, but he did make a few poor decisions. But he does enough good stuff to not sweat a few errors. He's a second year player, after-all. And these errors were split seconds kicks in congestion, which was part of the drill. Billings got leather poisoning. He's good when he's dancing with his sister. Mentha surprised me. He looked better than I expected, but did cough it up under pressure. With small forwards it's AFL pressure that makes or breaks them. Too early to tell. Tom McDonald looks very good and dependable down back. Bowey got stacks of it and played in defence. May was the general and intercepted well. Rivers played midfield and looks assured. Oliver is definitely leaner and fitter. He still has his big physique, but it's much closer to normal. Was involved without being dominant. I love the look of Langford. He moves really nicely, marks well and just has that class most left footers possess. He and Rivers spent time on each other. He'll be fine competing against men from day one such is his strength and build. The only other player I wanted to mention was Salem. He was moving really nicely and looked like the 2021 version. He just looks fit and unhampered. Even when he played last year he didn't look right. May used him a lot as that first 20 metre outlet kick from deep defence along with Bowey. I didn't see Pickett and I didn't notice McVee, but he may have been there.

I'll be shocked if he doesn't play 50% plus games. There may be a lot of his type, but he'll be better than most.

These latest media posts smell of the Pickett camp conditioning the club and fans to do a deal at the end of this year.

I too think he'll end up in the West, but he'll do so on our terms. 2027 gives Melbourne the right sort of leverage to demand good compensation. If that's not possible at the end of 2025 then he stays and it can be revisited at the end of 2026. It's pretty simple.

Don't stress. Jellyfish get by. This comment might be too cryptic for some.

Might help.

A pretty common injury that won't effect round one. No biggie.

They say it's a mistake to meet your heroes. On this occasion it wasn't. I met Robbie the year he died (2014). It was during an MCC club function promoting the new coach (Roos). My Brother and I chatted with Rob for a good 10-15 minutes. I was taken aback by how friendly he was. Nearing the end of the night we mentioned we had to go and he also decided to leave and took the lift down to the car park with us, where we chatted further. It was a wonderful meeting for long suffering supporters who cherished the memories of watching him play. He was just so nice. He is also without question the greatest wingman to grace a footy field. There are many videos of Rob, but I like this short one.

Weddle was basically the next pick and looks like being a star. But who knows where we had him. I'm aware it's a [censored] draft after Jefferson and pretty weak all-round, save for a few at the top end. If every pick after Jefferson fails it's cold comfort. It's disappointing to have a national draft where the list isn't improved. Linament sniffers can talk up Jefferson all they like, but there's a reason plenty have doubts. Why do they think the coaches didn't debut him last year ? I don't see anywhere near the competitiveness required to succeed at AFL level. People talk about his body and how he's bigger. People constantly like to make excuses. He was big enough last year to put his body on the line. I know he has talent. I've seen it. Talent isn't his problem. AFL level is a different beast.