Gator

I'll be there and look forward to seeing Hogan, Brayshaw and Stretch. There wasn't a lot to drag you through the gate last year, but quality first year players will always inspire hope for the future.

If he showed the prerequisite effort and AFL intensity levels he'd already be enjoying his footy. This has nothing to do with anyone other than the player himself.

I'd like to see Howe go forward again and Grimes can adequately play his back-line 'intercept' role. Neither have been great, but it's worth a try. Lord knows I'm no fan of some of these 'ins', but I fail to see how Bail, Jones and Mitchie for Pedersen, Watts, Newton and Kennedy-Harris overly weakens us. I like Newton, but the other 3 have been borderline hopeless. The 'ins' will at least double the possession tally of the 'outs'. And it's not as though the 'outs' don't give it back too. I can't quite understand the angst.

He's not on the outer. They just let their kids develop.

I'm reasonably well connected when it comes to Hannebery... My mail is that he will probably end up in Melbourne, but will sign one more contract with Sydney. He didn't have much to do with Roos when Roos was Sydney coach. Roos delegated and didn't really have a lot to do with the young players at Sydney, which Hannebery was when Roos was coach. So the "connection" angle is thin, although he no doubt respects him. And I can tell you for a fact, Hannebery doesn't rate Melbourne - at all. He may end up in the city, but it won't be at the club. That said, he really rates Hogan.

Some of us were desperate to get Hogan in the 2012 Mini Draft and have been entirely unsurprised by his showing at Casey in 2013 and AFL performances to date. Others, perhaps like yourself, are still coming to grips with the talent before you. I just smile.

He's a handy intercept mark (I see what you see), but he's hardly winning us games down there. I don't reckon his impact is overly influential. He should be able to kick 40 goals as a third or 4th tall. I know which I'd rather.

You won't get people to games when you kick 1 goal in a half of footy.

Then why do you want him continuing as a defender ? I'd rather give him a chance at hitting the scoreboard.

I don't follow you. Please explain. EDIT: clearly Bailey's sides were nowhere near defensive enough. Just as clearly I'm not advocating sacrificing defence for attack. Perhaps you didn't fully comprehend what you were reading.

Supporters are spooked by a random calling in on talkback radio ? Interesting.

I love what Roos has done for this club and there's no doubt we needed to learn a defensive brand of footy, but we lack any semblance of flair or ability to take the game on. I'm not suggesting we should emulate Beveridge, who plays with no tag, but perhaps we could find a better balance. I feel that we're too concerned by the opposition. We 'man hunt', while they 'ball hunt'. This always puts us on the back foot. It's as though we spend the bulk of our time trying to get the ball back from the opposition, which is at odds with quarters and some halves in the preseason. Sometimes you have to give players their head. Not at the expense of quality team defence, but we don't seem to be able to find that happy medium. It's either a lack of talent, or lack of direction. Or a bit of both.

It wouldn't surprise if that bandaged knee is effecting his power in contests. It's the logical solution as to why he's dropped away after a seemingly good preseason.

Grimes was 'involved', but his lack of awareness is up there with the worst I've seen.

Chasing is nothing more than a mindset / directive. It's one of the easiest things in football to correct.

I'm hard because I have a vision of how I want our team to play. There'd only be maybe one or two other teams in the competition in which Cross would get a regular game. I wouldn't keep him at year's end.

Cross rarely gets his hands on the footy first. He's not "first dibs" and nor is he overly "inside". He's slow and doesn't have elite disposal. I like him and he's added to our hardness around the contest, but I suspect it will be time to move him on at year's end. The Dogs packed his bags 2 years ago and they'd hardly be regretting their decision. We'll have youth that needs to be exposed to best 22 football at the expense of a 33 year old, which he'll be next year,

I thought Watts could kick 40 goals this year as a permanent forward. Needless to say, his "efforts" have been a tremendous disappointment thus far.

It's a great cause. Thankfully, we're one of the lucky ones. My wife is well 10 years after chemo and radiotherapy for breast cancer. She was just 34 at the time. She graced the MCG in the first year of the pink ladies.

I've read a couple of posters question Howe's value as a "high half-forward". I advocated Howe going back, but am in favour of him returning forward - at least more often. He's now got 80 games under his belt, but, more importantly, he has the luxury of playing as a third or fourth tall. When did he have that in year's past ? He's hardly played with Clark, Dawes has missed large junks and Hogan wasn't there. Unlike Watts, Howe is brave in the air and while shorter than Gunston can fill that type of role with his aerial ability. Gunston has better smarts, but I reckon Howe can return to the forward-line and be a real danger and awkward matchup.

Neitz is underrated and left a great legacy at the MFC. Hogan is a smarter and more natural footballer than Neitz. This doesn't mean he'll emulate Neitz' stellar career, but I expect by the end of his career Hogan will be recognised as the superior player. Hogan has a far better footy brain and the strut of a champion.

Wirrpanda, because Kowal didn't want to go.

I don't understand this perception that past players or media commentators should withhold their true views due to past allegiances. Mike Sheahan used to needlessly cop it too. I want unfiltered views. I may not agree with them, but I want committed commentary. I don't want to hear Jonathan Brown going soft on the Lions, because he was their star player. I want him saying it like it is. I'll think he's full of it if he waters things down. It's called "credibility". Moronic thread.

I've posted in two threads on the first page. There's much I could say, but I generally can't be bothered and don't have the time. Watts has been a hobby horse for years, so I can't help myself. And yes, I've been "convinced" for years. Some see things quicker than others. As for Roos' realism ? I agree with you to an extent. There's that fine line between understanding and enunciating what's going on and rationalising your way to failure. Afterall, we become our thoughts and the players pick up on his public pronouncements. I reckon Roos sees himself as an educator and likes teaching the media as much as his own players. He'd do well to hold back a bit. That said, as BRFE has already stated, for the last 3 years Harwicke embarrassingly carries on how they can beat anybody, and they're nothing but a disappointment.