Bay Riffin

After the first one, they appear to be getting more and more fluffy.

Yes but he did improve throughout the year I thought and after being dropped. He looked soft early days when not going when it was his turn (Collingwood game sticks out), but became more consistent as the year went on. But it would be good to see the same rate of improvement and truelly entrench himself in the side for 2011 as his pace and agility will be a real weapon. Needs to improve his goal kicking too as he misses too many at this stage.

This is what I was after, at least 3 talls but we got 4 new ones. This is not unlike essendon did with their drafting previously. Recently they got Myers first round which some may say is a failure but went talls the next few picks, with the very next one being Pears who was taken second round. a nice get out of there investment in talls. What we are after is one tall to come good, most likely a forward given the higher picks to compliment our existing talls. if 2 of these become established players then BP will be a genius. it's just very hard to develop tall players at the elite level. There is certainly some talent there. Cook ticks a lot of boxes for the modern day footballer. Personally would have liked Darling but if we went for one tall and then smalls I think our chances of success would be slim. we did the right thing...in theory.

ragardless of talent avaialable, I cannot for the life of me understand why we wouldn't draft a big bloke, especially a forward. even a ruckman early. We will just continue to kick it down to the skinniest forwad line in the league and watch us struggle unless we are clear and putting it onto someones chest.

Inmteresting thoughts people have on Maric. Bailey singled him out this time last year as coming back in outstanding condition and very fit. People think if they aren't playing seniors, there is an issue with mental application and working hard. All I ever hear is he is dedicated. If he improves he can make it.

Good to hear this directly form Todd... "Hopefully he keeps developing, and there can be a relationship - if he’s good enough - to be part of the Melbourne footy club.” Jack Viney decision getting closer

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/bombers-axe-five/story-e6frf9jf-1225939119800 is he worth a look as a back up ruckman? Would people rate him above or below Paul Johnson?

put him at full back for Casey and let him re-develop some confidence. is a back man, not a forward.

definitely would be one the least fittest blokes at the club, early season he was fat by normal bloke off the street standards. given that it was promising he started to show something towards the end. Very much due for a full season. we may be smart with his chronic lower back/hamstring injuries and ease off at times, so he doesn't lose weeks of fitness due to injury. He is not unlike Davey whose first years were littered with soft tissue injuries. he showed in some games he is top quality so we need him.

Get fit Wonna. last year you came back fatter than a pig and it was un-professional. Thing is year before he looked a million dollars in the pre-season and had trimmed right down. he needs to get back VERY fit this time and he will improve on 2010.

interesting article pointing to Jack Viney coming to us... http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/104084/default.aspx Harper said Viney had made the decision to quit the Crows and return to Melbourne based on what was best for his 16-year-old son, Jack. Harper said it was clear the Viney family expected Jack to play for Melbourne. "Todd and Meagan have got a young son Jack, who is a good footy player and they're a fair way down the track of him going father-son to Melbourne," Harper said. "If that happens he ends up in Melbourne doing Year 12 without his family and trying to play AFL footy, which is probably a recipe for disaster.

Realistically I think we underestimate how good his year was considering over a year off and a foot injury as well. We can expect a better year, and my gut feel is he just concentrated more on just doing his job, whereas in 2008 when he got confidence he was sometimes flying for everything and beating blokes like Buddy. I expect he will improve again with more continuity in his game. he could be something special this kid, and is tracking that way.

If bruce is holding back becuase he wants two years, he is doing the wrong thing by the club. He has had a very good run at Melbourne with good contracts and if blokes like Crawford, Tredrea could spend their last few year playing on 1 year contracts, then so can he. We must stick to 1 year. he is 31, who knows how he will be playing in 2 years.

Terrific year considering he had a hiccup pre-season that looked to extend his time off. thought they almost rushed him back early from that but he played well all year. Started a bit slower but you couldn't ask for much more. Would like him to take it to another level and play on some bigger talls, as he plays on a lot of smalls. if he can start being more key position, we will be looking strong. Garland - Frawley - Grimes. a real strength down back.

call me old fashioned if you just signed a contract you might want to honour it. Same goes for bomber Thompson if he leaves. Wellman can get the same send off as Chris Johnson. do you want this club to have any pride ??

We will see if he can do it again. Ratten did well when we had a good midfield and now can't win a final with an unprecedented amount of top draft picks. the Melbourne backline coach would be an attractive job at the minute. Add in an elite kicker and presto !!

Interesting call to leave a time on the rise to a team on the way down and bottoming out. big risk for himself because if they stay down (which they will) under Hird, his reputation will lose some cred. only thing is Essendons backline is probably their one decent area with Pears and Hurley as the pillars. oh well, I think we will be a juicy carrot for a defensive coach, on the way up, you can get the credit from here.

You're kidding. We would want Jacobs but Hampson is an athlete who struggles to take a chest mark. No our mandate is to screw carlton over, not the other way around. of course they would like a good key defender for their 4th ruckman.

absolutely top notch defensive work this year, fast, great tackling, good reader of the play gets involved. However kicking is worst in the side. that is our downfall down back. If only his kicking could improve.

So how is this not front ending contracts? It's the same thing. The $800,000 needs to be actual money brought forward.

good player but that losing mindset is entrenched in his system. could have won them the final in the last quarter on the weekend but missed an open goal from 20 metres, plus missing other gettable shots as well. I reckon he would be a great wingman, but would have to pay too much. coming off a knee reco as well. Let Carlton take our NQR players. it's more fun that way.

Quentin Lynch? could be worth a look for us.

Would be very surprised if he was offered, unless we were extremely aggressive and rolling the dice in trade week. He improved this year I thought, in terms of his kicking which was his weakness. He still gets caught too much but I can't help but think he is the type to 'find a way'. Some of his foot passing this year, and long goals had me re-thinking his skill level and his ability to compete in general play is still improving. plus his tagging roles are adding another dimension. To me you can see he is still a rough diamond but at 22 and almost 100 games, who knows what he will be at 150 or 200 games !! plus he gives 100 percent each week and I can't say that for all of our list at present.

I am a fan of Bate, but this actually sums him up perfectly, well at least his weaknesses in any case. You would think with good coaching he would improve his contested marking, to protect the area of the ball drop. I don't think he is a selfish footballer at all as someone suggested, but perhaps too honest, not having the nouse to get easier frees or out fox his opponent. He does the predictable but that can be good for teammates, if he is on song !!

underwhelming highlights package I must say. Nothing in it gives me anything to get excited about. I hope that was highlights of one game, because there were few highlights in that.