stevethemanjordan

Freo's development program and club environment has been a huge influence for Walters. I remember reading that he was finding difficulty in applying himself during pre-season early days. When Ross came along and the leaders called him out, thing's changed. He's become one of the hardest workers at the Dockers now and has been labelled 'captain' material. When you have leaders like Pavlich, Mundy, Sandilands etc driving a club, it's monumental for the development of younger guys. Like, it's seriously underestimated in the realm of supporters. I know that if I was drafted to a club like Freo vs MFC, my development would soar exponentially simply because of the behaviour and habits I'd witness from serious hard working leaders who are not interested in celebrity status. Compare that to being drafted to the MFC with a core group of long serving 'leaders' in Frawley, Garland, Jamar, Dunn etc. You're understanding of what it takes to push yourself to become the best would be worlds apart if you compared the two. Jones is one out of the box for us. Imagine having 5-6 senior leaders like Jones. One of the reasons why we've had so much trouble with the development of our younger players is because of this.

Jamar had 4 possies on the weekend. We are not some charity club that gifts games to players because they're retiring. As unfortunate as it is for Jamar, the fact that he will most likely be playing his last game of AFL football for Casey is something that is his own issue. The ball was in his court as to whether or not he'd receive a recall this year and it's clear as day that he is past it.

Some of that was just bad recruiting in general. Strauss I know for a fact pre-draft wasn't expected to go inside the top 25. He isn't a natural footballer. He was a really strong runner at Scotch College and happened to have a great kick. As far as other footballing attributes go, he didn't possess many. A mate of mine who finished a year above him was very surprised he went as high as he did. Again a combination of bad recruiting and bad development.

He'd increase our depth. As for overall, game-day improvement as part of a best 22, I don't think a player like him would do much to help our cause. We don't actually struggle at winning the ball. We struggle at maintaining possession. And that means foot-skills and speed. If the intention to get him is to free up a more versatile and skilled player like Vince to play him either behind the ball or on a wing, I can understand it more. I still wouldn't be chasing him hard. Would much rather spend the dosh and picks/players to trade for someone like Bennell or Motlop.

I wouldn't give two shits if we offered him a Franklin-esque deal. He would utterly and completely change the face of the club. But the reality is, he would just have zero interest in coming to us and he certainly doesn't strike me as someone who 'loves the cash-money'.

No big deal. Shows that it's going to be hard to bring performing players to our club though. Tomlinson next?

I think we're both getting pedantic now and losing perspective on the overall point which for me is improving our playing list in general. There are of course many things we need to address in order to improve the playing list and many seem to think keeping Garland will have no effect as to whether or not we will improve or slide. I beg to differ and stand by my belief that his position both as a senior figure and a back pocket can easily be filled and I see value in many ways including what we could receive back for him via FA, the value in him leaving for further rejuvenation and growth to the team 'feel' and 'culture' in general, value in the fact that him leaving will create an opportunity for us to make our backline more dynamic which is what we're crying out for, etc. I'm going to leave it now. There's one game to go and we'll find out soon enough, but I'm certainly sensing that Roos now knows there are certain players who simply must be moved on for the betterment of the club itself. Not just dead-wood. But problematic players.

I agree that adding quality talent with the right attributes is important for us building a strong core which includes that of Viney, Hogan, Brayshaw, Petracca, Tyson etc. However, in highlighting those statements in bold, I must say I disagree. I can only assume you haven't noticed the complete void in quality and professional senior figures and leaders at this club for the best part of 8 years which has undeniably contributed to the under-development of young players, contributed to the poor culture and sense of being 'lost' and absolutely contributed to some of the poorest team performances the AFL has witnessed. If you were to ask anyone at the club, the inclusion of Cross as someone who exemplifies leadership in the way that he plays the game each week, prepares himself and acquits himself at training wouldn't be underestimated. The fact that he's slow and is a poor disposer is something we have to cop because we simply need someone like him to help lead the way. As for Lamumba, as unfortunate as his form has been this year in the way of providing the same flair and dash off half-back as he did at Collingwood, he was also brought to the club as another highly driven and professional footballer to add to our list. If you haven't noticed, it's likely that serial under-performers and general floaters in Garland, Jamar and Howe will all possibly be moved on over the off-season. Two of those players should be part of the senior group driving this club forward but are not for various reasons. As important as nailing the youth is, it's equally important that we nail some more senior figures with leadership qualities who will genuinely inspire change and help develop this young core group of highly talented kids we've got coming through. In fact, I'd argue that it's of more importance. Having to bring in these types of older and experienced players is an unfortunate reality for the MFC. We just need to make sure they're the right ones. You've written Lamumba off fairly early in my view even though he's got money in the bank and Cross has been monumental for both the club on game-day as well as for role-modelling for the younger crew. I'd be enquiring about a Kelly or even Boris (Enright) as another senior figure who could fill a leadership role for the group in the absence of Jamar or Garland.

Looks like his non-preferred to be honest... Please tell me he's a right-footer? Looks horrible if not! (Edit - Meant right-footer).

Thanks for the insight, you certainly paint him in a different light.

I can't comment cause I haven't seen him play. However from all the comments I've read, nobody has spoken about his footballing smarts, or any fundamental footballing skill. Just that he's raw, athletic and a 'big-bodied' player with the potential to move to the midfield. Fyfe was at least deemed to be someone with fantastic football smarts, ability to read the play and great hands and on top of that, I'm not sure Fyfe would be the player he is today had he come to us... Fyfe was still a natural footballer. Even though kicking is not a strong point. Can anyone answer whether or not Curnow has good natural footballing ability? What are his football specific attributes like?

Yes. The beauty of Salem however is that he has a great combination of being really competitive as well as having elite kicking skills. Obviously there's not always going to be an opportunity to draft a player with who possesses both of those attributes to such a high quality. But I'd still much rather hit the draft again with a good balance of both of those attributes. Players who are footballers first and foremost and who also have a fierce desire to compete. Specialised players like 'elite running' players or 'athletic freaks with X-factor' are just not in the picture for where our list is at right now. We need to keep adding to this young group so that they stay together and play together unlike our last. Viney, Petracca, Brayshaw, Hogan and Salem. All of them are fierce competitors. Whilst Viney, Brayshaw and Petracca are not elite users, they're all smart decision makers. They're footballers. We need to follow this drafting trend and add to this core group with our first and second-round picks. Stretch, ANB, AVB, JKH, Kent need to be good supporting players as part of that second-tier group of youngsters. We've got a whole host of NQR's that will be moved on over the next couple of years. I believe we also need to keep adding a couple of players like Vince and Cross over the next couple of years as some of these senior NQR are moved on. Much work to be done until we see that first group form the nucleus of our side and who become the leaders of the club. We'll begin to see some sustained success when that happens.

This obsession posters seem to have with height and size as a midfielder is becoming pretty ridiculous. Curnow might be a big-bodied player who can potentially become an AFL midfielder, but not once have I read anything about how his football related skills match up. Like his kicking. Which for the MFC, must be our number one pre-requisite when going to the draft. They seem to be all the rage since Roosy jumped on board, but given our lack of skill level in general in all areas of the ground, I'm certainly not enticed by the sound of a big-bodied athletic type of player when there is no mention of the fundemental skills you need to become a good player at the highest level. Kennedy and Mundy are natural footballers. Both of them kick well and are really good decision makers. They understand the game. I think it's imperative for us to draft players who will compete hard at all times and be able to use the ball well. Big-bodied or not. 'His disposal needs work' is not something I want to hear when it comes to a potential top 10 selection at the draft. That's just [censored] ludicrous. Why do so many underestimate the importance of being able to kick well?

And yes, I'm aware the midfield group needs addressing also... .......... ...... .... .....and we need a CHF...... .... ............... ...... and second Forward/Ruckman who actually has some ability in playing... (ie not Spencer).... ..

Again, I think it's fair to say we have a major weakness in our backline which is a lack of good decision makers and elite kicks. Not only do we have a 'lack of'. We also probably have the worst group in the league. Garland, Dunn, McDonald, Cross, Grimes. Jetta I'd rate as decent. He hits more than he misses. Salem is a great user and we need another two like him. Honestly I would be doing anything to get Plowman or McKenzie as a pocket. And one of Yarran or Kade Kolodjashnij as a HBF. That's two player who will completely change the dynamic of that group. As a very basic example, it would at least mean that our KPB in Dunn and McDonald would know that there are 'give-to' players around them and it would mean we wouldn't see McDonald going for kicks that he is most of the time incapable of hitting. He is not a good user of the ball and some of his kicks just murdered us yesterday. It's so unbelievably energy-sapping for our other players who run hard to create space only to be continuously killed by these type of turn-overs. McDonald has some fine attributes as a backman. But this [censored] needs to stop. I'd do anything for a selection of two of those names for our back-line. We must do something about it.

Not sure there's a need for exaggeration. Are you saying I think everyone on the list is a good kick? I've seen enough of Toumpas to know that he is a good kick. He's smart with the ball in hand and has good technique. The times this year that he's butchered the ball, made the wrong decision etc have all been because he isn't comfortable on the field yet. When you're worried and you rush, it will have an effect on your decision making skills. It's the same with his kicking. It falls apart because he is not confident yet. He just needs to find the confidence to know that he can play at the level and if he finds that, you'll see how valuable he's footy smarts and skills are.

I genuinely believe this was the smartest and most logical thing for us to do with a player like the Toump. Firstly, we'll be getting rid of 5-6 genuine battlers. Players who literally do not possess the required fundemental skills to play the game. Toumpas actually possesses the fundemental skills of the game. He is a great kick with great vision and decision making skills. What he's not great at yet is having a sense of confidence in himself or in the way that he plays which effects things like his decision making etc. If we were to put him on the trade table, we'd be getting not much back obviously because he hasn't shown what he's capable of. Another second/third-round draft pick is not what we need. We need to cull the genuine dirt and crap. We need to bring in some ready made talent as well as some experience through trades and we need to nail the drafts again. Both national and rookie. Toumpas is still a [censored] kid. Getting rid of him now actually doesn't make any sense from an MFC list standpoint. I'm not saying that he will definitely make it. But I believe he has more hope of making it than a host of others who are just down-right below the grade. Let's see what another pre-season with Macca does for him. He has the skills. He needs the mind for it. That's all.

But to Jonesy: You typify what it means to have a 'back-bone' in the way that you play the game. You're willingness to never-say-die from the moment you step on the field is something that brings me to games. You're unrelenting desire to improve all of the areas of your game and to become the best player you can be is something that too many turn a blind eye to. Born from this desire and willingness to succeed, you've become a champion of our club. You're the shining light that we've followed through this veil of darkness. Happy 200th Nathan, I love you. STMJ

It is nice and people mightn't like me saying this but I wish Garland could take it upon himself to perhaps realise that he is someone who could have done the same thing? Why is it that he has admired from a far? I mean, it sounds as if it's a non-footballing person writing about a player. Not a player writing about his team-mate. Garland strikes me as somebody who has much more interest in 'knowing' about football and the history of it rather than 'playing' it. It's actually quite bizarre to read.

And is why, (correct me if I'm wrong) we are in the top three or so teams with the highest contested mark tally this season. Could even be first. Cool stat. Yay.

These articles are the biggest waste of time.

Richmond-like? You sure you don't mean Melbourne-like? (*quickly ducks for cover*)

I refuse to believe the idea that Yarran has this ingrained laziness/bad attitude thing. Do you know why? Because I've seen him play a lot over the years and this is the only year and time in his career in which he's lost the plot.When on song, in the right environment and is confident, he has shown an ability to turn matches. Go through some tapes of Garlett this year and tell me his pressure around the ball carrier isn't infectious. Have a look at how many of his pressure acts/chase downs etc have contributed to scoring opportunities for us this year. He wasn't doing anywhere near that kind of work off the ball last year. You have a very short memory if you're willing to box Yarran in as that 'lazy' player. But please yourself. The fact is, anybody in the football world would agree that Yarran at his best would be an extremely valuable asset. Especially for a team like us who are very one-paced and have a pretty poor skill-level all over the ground. Roos, Macca and Goodwin all have enormous ability in being able to get the best out of young players. Yarran is coming into his prime. As for rucks, I think Kreuzer has easily shown an ability to hit the scoreboard when forward as long as he can stay on the park. Leuenberger less so. But still. A lot of it is also to do with quality of inside 50 entries. If you can get the ball in there quickly and with advantage to the forwards, the only trouble resting ruckmen will have from that point on is conversion rate. Part of the reason I hope we go for speed and skill across the board next year. As for Stevie J. No he's no Joel Selwood in terms of 'follow me' type of leader. But coming from a successful club, being a champion player and someone who can still play, I'd say he'd be considered a leader for our young group. Especially in his communication skills and understanding of football. Would be mpre influential for our young players than Jamar/garland/Dunn etc etc.

Tyson's year last year blew everyone's expectations away, including GWS' I'm sure and that was off the back of a limited pre-season.I know for a fact that this particular knee injury he's been carrying has made things like covering the ground, ability to two-way run etc really difficult. He's been able to manage it though and it's clear Roos and the coaches think his ability to win the ball in close is too important to play someone who provides less. I think we've seen from Tyson last year that when fit and firing, he can be a really good ball winning mid. The only concern I have with him is his selfishness as a player. He is someone who has a natural habit of wanting to kick it rather than giving off to someone who is in a better position. Time is on our side so as long as a he matures and develops in the right way and uses his hands in close much more, he'll be a really important player for us going forward. Did his form last year not give you any confidence that he has serious ability?

Ideal offseason: Yarran and Plowman for the backline. One of: Bennell, Danger, Motlop Kruezer or Leuenberger as a resting Forward/Ruckman Tomlinson or Lynch for the forwardline. One senior player with leadership qualities: Kelly/Steve Johnson 2016 Round 1 team: (Let me dream) HB Jetta Dunn Plowman B Yarran McDonald Salem C Bennell Brayshaw Vince HF Petracca Tomlinson Kent FF Garlett Hogan Kreuzer Foll Gawn Jones Viney Int Tyson Vandenberg JKH Stevie J/Kelly