Gator

This is the 100 metre 2011 GF sprint. Joel Wilkinson is in the race. Wilkinson has the record for the fastest 20 metre sprint ever at the AFL Draft Combine in 2010. Not only does Dangerfield win the race, but he's clearly quicker than Wilkinson over the first 20 metres. Dangerfield went on to also win this race in 2012. Now I know that not every player that runs in the GF sprint is their club's quickest player, but if you can blow away the fastest player ever at DC over 20 metres then I doubt many can hold a candle to you. Btw, Wilkinson ran a blistering 2.75 seconds over 20 metres at DC 2010.

Quicker. Easily.

We had 34 more disposals, 15 more contested possessions, 24 more uncontested possessions and were basically even in clearances. They were cleaner with ball delivery into the forward-line, but I don't think the margin flattered us. In many respects, I reckon we should have won that game.

Thanks

Bugg is rubbish.

Clearly (perhaps not) I'm referring to them developing into the players we know they'll become. I'm not referring to next week or the rest of the year.

Oscar McDonald drops a crucial chest mark, Tyson drops a crucial chest mark, Vince makes critical mistakes, Frost makes critical mistakes, Matt Jones fumbles at a critical time, Nathan Jones can't hit Hogan on the chest from 20 metres ( very late in the third quarter), Tom McDonald has perfected the art of kicking into the man on the mark, Bugg lacks class, and the list goes on. We should have won that game. I look forward to Oliver, Brayshaw, Weideman and Hulett being staples in this side.

Another player who will never make us better. Never. He's fine if you're happy treading water.

Neal-Bullen is just a player. The sooner Brayshaw and Oliver replace Jones and Bugg the better.

Well said. I have no interest in the AFL being my moral compass.

I knew that would be the immediate response. And no, he was an ordinary player at Melbourne.

Moore was a disappointment at Melbourne. Not A-grade for mine.

If there isn't a spate of injuries and Grimes doesn't make it to 100 games we'll know that the club has taken the attitude of some on this thread. If he does make it to 100 without a spate of injuries we'll know that the club values Grimes' contribution and the fabric of rewarding relationships, because if he hasn't been chosen by now there's no real reason to pick him. He's been as good or better than Newton, Neal-Bullen or Michie (playing back, but so could Grimes), who have been given games without getting the nod himself. It will be interesting to see how the club rolls...

I don't believe we compromise the playing side of things by including Grimes. I like Stretch as a player and want to see him developed, but right now Grimes would offer as much or so close to it that it wouldn't be noticeable. The same could be said for others, such as Harmes (who I also like). Supporters get far more annoyed by the odd turnover than coaches, who expect occasional skill errors. We've hindered Grimes career. He could and should have been developed better. We owe him the two games in my opinion, especially when his form warrants inclusion. There's still room in football for sentiment and building better relationships.

That's because there's less pressure and more time to execute. I don't think he has a future at the club, but I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't get to 100 games and take his rightful place on the no.31 locker. I wouldn't have had this view 10 years ago, but the older I get the more I realise that life is all about relationships and not many have had to endure the circumstances unwittingly thrust upon Jack. When he should have had a relaxed mindset and been working on his own game his head would have been in a spin as he was dealing with issues surrounding the club while also trying to be a role model for teammates. None of this was conducive to good football and making him a better player. I agree that the team and club are the big picture, but I also don't believe that either are compromised by getting Grimes to 100 games. If anything, it's the opposite. And it won't be a "hollow" milestone. His teammates will make sure of that. When history looks over its shoulder it won't remember how he got there, it will just read Jack Grimes 100 games for the Melbourne Football Club. In my view the club needs to ensure it happens.

Only got to see a bit of the second half.

I always liked him, but this year his kicking has been off and he seems to have lost that spark from the years you mention, but it could be that he needs another preseason post his knee injury. I always liked him as a player and I remember the years you're referring to well as he was prolific (and a Melbourne supporting player as a kid, so took notice). I like my outside players to have a bit of height and be a good mark, but I dare say he'd play both an outside and inside role well. With Brayshaw, Oliver, Viney, Tyson, Salem, Stretch, Petracca and Jones as a developing midfield I'd like more of a speedster to complement the group. But we may already have him in Hunt, who could be developed into that role. I'm not against any player, who makes us better, so I'd happily have Prestia, but I think the need for him is less than it was.

Too small and his kicking is unreliable. I don't see Prestia in a gun outside role. Time will tell.

Good article, but his second goal against the Suns is chronically underrated and didn't get a mention in this piece.

Amusing that people are "resting" some players after they've just had a rest. As for Matt Jones ? He'll unfortunately get the odd game, but is the least competitive player in the team. There's a place for outside players, but Jones' lack of physicality is too great for this little black duck. I think Harmes and Garlett will come in for perhaps Stretch and Kennedy.

The one thing you're not factoring in is the quality of the competition, which is very ordinary. There are not many great sides and there's not one we couldn't beat on a given day. Outside of GWS I have zero doubt our youth is the best in the competition.

Heard the interview and was amazed that Mark Robinson was utterly clueless that Howe had played defence at Melbourne. Howe told him he'd played about 30 games there. What do these journalists watch ?

Happy to have anyone who improves us, although Prestia is probably too similar to Jones and Viney for my liking, but he's not presently A-grade.

I believe we can beat Adelaide and win 4 of our next 5.

"Realistic" is such a tenuous thing in footy. A year ago it wouldn't have seemed realistic that we'd beat Collingwood 3 times over the next 18 rounds considering we hadn't beaten them for years. Early in the season it wouldn't have seemed realistic that Geelong would lose to Collingwood or Carlton, but they did. Footy is never realistic. Rightly, or wrongly there's not a team I now fear in the AFL. Playing Sydney in the wet wasn't ideal, but in the dry I reckon we would have been a genuine chance. There are a number of games coming up that I think we can win and it starts with Adelaide at the 'G next week. I reckon most teams are ordinary. Adelaide is ordinary, but they're talked up. They'll be coming off a six day break against a combative side in pouring rain. No excuses if we don't beat them on our home deck. Freo are rubbish despite their 3 wins in a row. Carlton and the Saints are crap, irrespective of their recent record against us. Gold Coast... Our talent is getting more mature every week and hopefully we continue to nail down our ball movement and team defence, which can let us down. I see us winning at least 4 out of our last 9 games. It's an easy draw. Naturally, I can see the alternative viewpoint that thinks we'll hardly win another game. I'm a Melbourne supporter, after-all. We'll know soon enough.