Gator

He definitely needs to be retained. Good coaching/development will improve him. Hate the ball in his hands.

Who's debating whether he deserves his spot in the team ? Edit: I realise this thread started last year, but no-one questions his place at round 13.

You know, I'm allowed to shudder every time the ball is in his hands. I'll never warm to him as a player. Equally, it doesn't mean I don't recognise his value.

Yeah, but who actually wants them in the team ? It's good to have pressure from below though.

So entering his prime years and with 8 seasons under his belt you're satisfied if he's holding his spot in the best 22 ? Here's a spade, so you can start digging and set the bar even lower. Why you think it's disingenuous to use this season as a benchmark as we move forward is beyond me.

C- post

If we're on the wrong page I sit very comfortably.

You're right to point out Sloane, as I don't consider him elite/A-grade. He's a far better mark and just as dogged in the application and contested ball stakes, but like Jones he's blue collar. He's been better younger (than Jones), but unlike Priddis and Swan he too is probably not elite in any one skill in the game. This is the last comment I'll make on Jones, as I'd rather rearrange my sock drawer.

Don't get your knickers in a knot. I don't rate Todd Viney A-grade and he made the team of the century.

Settle down ? I have zero clue what you're talking about. I simply disagree with your opinion. And nor do "lace out passes" have a significant bearing on my view. The players you've named have very different traits to Jones and they all have one trait that is elite (and better than Jones). Jones doesn't have an elite trait (other than heart). As I said, though, I'm not after a discussion on Jones.

Thanks. Having another look I think you're right. And I agree that no sides have 8-10 elite mids. It's a silly assertion.

They wouldn't be as good. It's bad luck to be at Melbourne during the last 10 years. As you say, your point can't ever be proven (one way or another) so is invalid. That said I'm very comfortable in saying that the majority of the players you named are better players anywhere in any team. And no, we're watching the same bloke, we just have a different opinion. Jones has been a wonderful toiler for the MFC, but it wasn't that long ago I was wanting him to reach the heights of the now retired Brad Sewell. Thankfully he elevated his game to a quality B+ level. But for me he doesn't have the class or consistent hurt factor with his disposals to ever be considered elite. I also said I wouldn't bother arguing the point about it.

I reckon a club would do well to rookie him. He's worth a punt imo (assuming he's delisted subject to contract status).

How is his opinion disrespectful ? I consider elite to be A-grade and Jones is borderline. I don't have him A-grade, but he's close enough that I wouldn't bother arguing the point. But it's certainly not "disrespectful" to consider him a rung below.

Knock yourself out, Kid. If you ever get the time do some research and you'll find I'm nearly always responding to the comments off others. You're happy to overlook Bub's comment to me, you know, he initiated the interaction, but don't like my defence ? Bully for you. Bye.

Not really sure what you're on about. All I'll say is that Roos was asked a question that emanated from Brett Anderson (a Melbourne supporter) and Roos confirmed he'd (Hibberd) "been discussed", but didn't go into anything of greater substance. Roos is a very transparent guy, who isn't prone to the cloak and dagger stuff. He simply answered a direct question. FMD. Who shot JR ?

No, no, no, no, smart guy. You're not getting off that easily. I said that there are "silly comments on this page". I then referenced a post that you had already liked. You saw a profundity that escaped me. In fact, I saw the opposite. The post you liked and the one I had issue with stated "you people on the east coast forget that Worsfold was the pharmacist behind the 92 and 94 premierships" (paraphrasing). Clearly it was an absurd comment which I hosed down in the post you replied to. You then lambasted me for getting the wrong decade. Embarrassing for you.

He was just answering a question. It wasn't that he wanted anything to be "known".

Yeah. He was just answering a question he knew Roos had already answered. People read so much into nothing.

Really ? Look at post #229 on this page, which is the post I was referencing smart guy. Thick. Edit: you even "liked" their post (229) that referenced "the wrong decade" in your view. Haha

I don't care what "many believe" or what peanuts like Akermanis have asserted (against Braun). There is zero evidence of steroid use and the link to Worsfold being a chemist makes those leading the assertions appear as conspiracy theory nongs. I do believe their 06 flag is tainted due to illegal drug use, but that's a different issue and not the one being asserted here.

He would have known that Roos had already confirmed the interest in a radio interview. But no, I don't think Jackson ran it by Hibberd first. The suggestion is laughable.

So many silly comments on this page. PJ speaking out with Hibberd's permission ? Please. He simply confirmed that he's a player of interest and that we'd spoken with his manager. Worsfold is the master mind pharmacist, who was behind the 92 and 94 West Coast premierships ? FMD. He was a player and there's no indication those sides did anything untoward, other than being virtual state teams. Some must walk around with tin foil on their heads.

You always say that, but it's not true. You have as much eye for talent as most of us (although you held on to Daniel Bell and a few others for too long). Then again, when some of us said Grimes, McKenzie, Garland etc won't be best 22 in 2016 you did like to argue the point. I agree re Oliver and think he's become chronically underrated in the media and general public. I have to go back to Gerard Healy to have seen an 18 year old as good. Oliver is now 12th favourite for the RS and $51. Parish is third at $7. It's beyond a joke. Oliver's inside work clearly goes under the radar.

I posted before he was even tried down back that I thought Jetta would be good there. I nicknamed Jamar Donuts and nothing really changed. Yeah, he had a couple of good years and his tap-work with Moloney was great for a while, but he never became much more than a battler (cue the AA references). Frawley improved from the days when he was outmuscled by the likes of North's Corey Jones, who used to towel us up, but we always thought he'd develop didn't we ? Was he written off by many as a 19 or 20 year old ? Oscar is way off the pace at the moment, but I don't see many saying he won't develop into a good player. I agree about Morton, but I doubt it took people more than a couple of seasons to start realising his limitations. You're right to insinuate that you need a body of work before casting firm judgments, but do many players really leave you scratching your head ? No doubt there will be surprises, but not many "Wow, I never thought this guy would become a gun". I haven't had many of those.