joeboy

I actually appreciated the efforts you took to present a regular training report for people who weren't as lucky as you,and were employed , so I'd just be interested to know ( in 3 words per player only ) how YOU viewed each player's performance on the day ,and yes I was at the game.

Bail - was rarely sighted Dawes - was almost unsighted Dunn - reliable and steady Frost - 2 great tackles Garland - just a game Garlett - exciting and talented Gawn - way too erratic Grimes - way too flakey Hogan - tried but disappointing Kennedy- Harris - effective and creative Jamar - dominated tap outs Jetta - great defensive drive M.Jones - provided effective link N.Jones - missing when needed Lumumba - classy and effective McDonald - was always reliable McKenzie - had little impact Michie - little game time Newton - classy but quiet Salem - outstanding 3 quarters Tyson - prolific but wasteful VandenBerg - injured very early Viney - often careless disposal Watts - some useful plays

Bail - was scarcely noticed Cross - professional as always Dawes - played his part Dunn - lacked normal ferociousness Frost - athleticism and aggression Garland - worryingly careless occasionally Garlett - encouraging second half Gawn - had little influence Grimes - tight but wasteful Hogan - gradually displayed potential Jamar - had little influence Jones M. - never inspired confidence Jones N. - always inspired confidence Kennedy- Harris - disappointing first game Jetta - useful before injury Kent - some useful involvement Lumumba - loved his carry McDonald - was generally sound Newton - looked at home Tyson - prolific but wasteful McKenzie - struggled for relevance Pedersen - didn't enjoy conditions Salem - a little disappointing Toumpas - had little impact Van den Berg - size and talent

My 3 word team summary of expectation this year , with ladder position . Hawthorn - team to beat ( 1 ) Sydney - powerful and threatening ( 2 ) Geelong - recruits add potency ( 6 ) North - will not slide ( 4 ) Footscray - will not prosper ( 17 ) GWS - readying to pounce ( 9 ) Gold Coast - Ablett the key ( 8 ) West Coast - don't seem convincing ( 10 ) Carlton - poor recruiting repercussions ( 16 ) Melbourne - expectations bely reality (15 ) Collingwood - key position weaknesses (12 ) StKilda - 3 years away ( 18 ) Richmond - around the mark ( 7 ) Brisbane - remarkably a contender ( 11 ) Adelaide - hard to gauge (14 ) Pt Adelaide - continued upward trend ( 3 ) Fremantle - massive home advantage ( 5 ) Essendon - disruptions will hurt ( 13 )

My first venture out to see the boys this pre season, and the following are my highlights of the events: N.Jones, was dominant, classy, prolific, and everything you expect of a leader. Salem will be a revelation off the half back line.. his silky skills and reading of the play were clearly obvious today. He made difficult passes look simple, and he was creative and impressive. Garlett will quickly become a fan favourite.. he makes something out of nothing , and his skills are sublime. As Baghdad Bob said earlier, he'll make Malthouse look foolish, which is not a bad thing. Newton, looked to be coasting but got a lot of the ball and regularly used it well. Toumpas was neat and efficient, but his gait looks weird, and it's hard to tell if he'll ever be quick enough when the pressure is exerted. Hogan had little to beat, being matched up against an undersized, top up player, but he has obviously been given the liberty to travel far and wide for his kicks, often marking the ball around the wing area. He is strong, fit and aggressive, though I noticed him pull up from a possible collision with a much smaller opponent for fear of having to attend a funeral the next day. I have no doubt he'd be happy to attend once the season is in progress though. Gawn looks very fit and actually looks like an athlete rather than a woodcutter. I liked the way he moved around the ground and actually did more impressive stuff below his knees than above his head. Dunn is a general and is taking his vice captaincy role very seriously.. he was very vocal and extremely instructive Disappointments from today: Ball movement was still not as slick as hoped for. It WAS very hot but the day was still and conducive to effective transfer of the ball. No dominant ruckman who could regularly impose on a game. Brayshaw appearing to sustain a jaw injury, albeit seemingly not serious. Senior players, who will remain nameless at this early stage of the season , making the same clangers we've grown to detest. The umpires, who continued to make game changing decisions against us.

If we throw all of our top draft picks into the deal to land Kennedy then I'll...I'll ...I'll .. stop submitting my weekly 3 word player analysis. Seriously, risking everything on 1 player would be a total catastrophe, and reeks of desperation. Surely Roos cannot expect our current list plus Garlett , ( possibly Lumumba and Frost ) to make any significant inroads just by adding Kennedy!!

Head of StKilda's recruiting gave the impression on SEN this afternoon that Petracca was their man

He's also very unattractive

I was privileged to have met Robbie a number of times both when he was still playing and afterwards when he was a businessman. At all times he was the most humble, unassuming, and polite gentleman. His statue must be the next to be erected outside the MCG , ideally somewhere adjacent to the wing that he invariably 'owned'.

Anyone with the name Cockatoo must cause anguish amongst those Dees' supporters who are old enough to remember

Played 23 games this year for a team that finished 3rd on the ladder .. he can play

Yes, and he played 23 games in a team that finished 3rd on the ladder !!DO THE DEAL!!!!!

Brett Anderson reporting on SEN that Varcoe for Clark deal will be done first thing on Monday

He has a son

Yes, sadly I think I am responsible

Oh sorry, Alistair

Lol.. so because I didn't play top level AFL football I'm not entitled to have my opinion about crappy footballers? Give me a break!!! And just so you know, I WAS once considered a good enough junior footballer to be asked to do a pre season with Stkilda

I'm NEVER one to exaggerate or overstep the mark! Ok, ok , maybe I did treat him too harshly in my grading ( or is that degrading) of him , but he was a useless footballer and only Bode, Weetra, Mahoney, and Grgic have been worse, in my memory. And before anyone gets stuck into me for my callous criticism of him , let me point out that I've been a Demons' fan and member for 49 years, and seen more crappy Melbourne players than I care to remember. Furthermore, up until a few years ago I'd even argue that I've seen more Melbourne games than virtually anyone here, so I'm entitled to make ludicrous judgement calls as I see fit!

Was probably one of the worst footballers ever to represent the club , so it's pleasing to see that he found his place in life

Recruit him without hesitation !!!

1- N.Jones 2 - Tyson 3 - Vince 4 - McDonald 5 - Dunn 6 - Cross 7 -Pedersen 8 - Jamar 9 - Jetta 10 Watts / Howe

Personally I agree about Jetta.. much overrated here

N.Jones - the supreme performer Grimes - never got going Hogan - weight of expectation Salem - adulation was unwarranted Watts - year's greatest disappointment Toumpas - couldn't gain momentum Dawes - stagnated after brilliance Viney - failed to inspire Frawley - dependable and versatile Trengove - cruelled by injury Byrnes - failed to deliver Clark - no comment necessary Tyson - performances belied inexperience McKenzie - tagger without skills Dunn - found his niche Clisby - couldn't find mojo Kent - teased and faltered Blease - disappointed us all Cross - made his mark Strauss - couldn't impress selectors Garland - seen better years Pedersen - rejuvenated and reinvented Michie - injuries curtailed advancement Vince - professional and skilled Kennedy - Harris - early exciting form McDonald - was rarely beaten Nicholson - papers are marked Riley - rough and ready Hunt - the jury's out Evans - little to show Barry - improver , but raw Tapscott - little to impress Gawn - never gathered momentum Howe - talented but lazy Jamar - worthy but slowing Spencer - work in progress Bail - just filling in M.Jones - showed average skills Terlich - the turnover specialist Fitzpatrick - rarely utilised height Jetta - feel good story Georgio - surprisingly sparingly used Harmes - impressed Casey regulars King - jury is out

N.Jones - workhorse, as expected Watts -better , still frustrating Dawes -passion, little purpose Viney -passion ,poor decisions Frawley - passionless , serviceable game Tyson - prolific, slow thinking McKenzie - dedicated, skill deprived Dunn - was soundly destroyed Kent - revealed undoubted talent Cross - limited but professional Michie - has some talent Vince - loved his attitude McDonald - passionate and willing Riley - ferocious but rough Barry - eat some food Gawn - unsighted before injury Howe - failed to inspire Jamar - tried but failed Bail - only occasion involvements M.Jones - what's his purpose? Fitzpatrick - waste of height Jetta - loose but dedicated

6 - Vince ( a class ahead of anyone else in our team this game) 5 - Tyson ( intelligent footballer who amassed heaps of possessions , but infuriatingly seems to encounter mental blocks) 4 - McDonald ( hates to lose , has passion, but needs to master his foot skills) 3 - Kent ( a break out game too late to build momentum on ) 2 - N.Jones ( workhorse, who was prolific but not a standout ) 1 - Cross ( sad we have to play him, but age hasn't wearied)