Bay Riffin

Enforcer is on the money. This bloke is one shoulder bump away from ending his career. has had multiple operations on his shoulder before last year where he did it again. Carlton may be trying to be clever with their trading like we seem to do with Travis and Brock. Walker will not gain interest.

Hmmmm...would rather we sign him for two. You just never know what will happen in a few years time. He is at the peak of his powers right now, but would have thought 2 years was fair for a bloke who has had a lot of injuries and known to go missing, his manager has played this beautifully in the press.

really in 2 minds about Brock. I think he is our best reader of the play of the on-ballers and a natural old fashioned footballer with a huge ticker. Yet at stages this season he just has not been up to AFL standard. I am positive he must have been jabbed in a few games as his kicking went from very good to woeful at times. I think up until this year, he has been a valuable link man and would look good with some pace around him. almost a Scott Burns type for his career. I hope he improves on this year as the game looked to pass him by at times. I can only assume the lack of fitness and injuries taking their toll as he has never been this bad. Here is hoping.

my god does every kid who plays at the Dees have to get injured and go off for surgery in their first season. I will vomit if we have another year in 2010 watching key players miss huge chucks of the season next year.

From an insiders perspective, he actually has had all the attributes of great footballers mentally with a greater will to win than most and very competitive when the ball is in dispute. He never did however have the other attributes of many midfielders at AFL level i.e disposal and athletic ability. Yet he still competed well. He is an ideal coach 'on the job' to our youngsters and I believe if you watch him one on one, has as good a technique as anyone at winning a contested ball. I was leaning to letting him go, but with fewer older types, he may be necessary for one more year.

Interesting one isn't it. I remember Hawks supporters losing patience quickly with Roughhead as he looked only VFL standard, top heavy and a one trick pony at that. Onr thing with these blokes is, if you invest in them and see they CAN be quality, then the rewards can be huge. Our recruiting staff in recent times I think have proven above average with Bennell, Jetta, Maric, Grimes actually showing something tangible and Watts looking the goods at least. We have to have faith they will choose the best players. Look, if we get picks 1 and 2, lets not forget what a massive advantage that is. Clubs would die for our position at present and no other club is not even eligible for a 2nd round pick, and you could argue the tiges at least deserve that.

thanks for the feedback guys. Would like to know more about Marics injury but sounds like both are having significant operations. Maric especially will have been with us 2 years by seasons end, but feels like he has been around for just a few games.

I take it you mean Maric? Anyone know about Strauss?

Hearing reports on land and ology that both are in for shoulder reconstructions? anyone know the full story there ?

Didn't get a kick today. Happy with our choice. Watts gets 2 goals and a few kicks and the media blast him. Not even worth worrying about.

good news. He will make a difference for us and good timing so he can at least get a full pre-season in for next year. We will still have pace we have not seen this year in Blease, Strauss, Aussie and don't forget Buckley.

give him some time, he looks a natural footballer. everyone gets too excited by athletes. I don't think he is slow but he isn't express. Certainly worth playing out the year as his rate of improvement is great at the moment. He looks a cool head and is tough as nails. Something we sadly lack at the Dees at present.

Disagree. His kicking is the worst in the side and below AFL standard. He competes well and was brought in as McDonald and Jones were out, effectively leaving us with few back up midfielders. I would much rather blood Maric than hang onto a bloke who gives 100% but is not quite up to it. Stanton beat Bartram in my book.

Don't even dream it. If West Coast are on 4 or less wins, they will happily take Butcher. They have the best ruck in the comp but went Naitanui. You would be silly to not take the very best player available.

Watched the game last night and thought Weagles are a f#cking disgrace !! They were not even approaching trying properly for this match, and that team should have beaten Richmond easily. Even Cox and Kerr early were lack lustre. How can you have half the side with premiership players and do so badly? also convenient injuries prior to this game in Embley and Hunter. Tell me they are not tanking !!! p.s they play Richmond last game at Subi, so can't afford to lose one more game till then. Guys, they have got Natanui and want to get more priorities before us, AFTER WINNING THE PREMIERSHIP 3 YEARS AGO !! My goodness.

I really think that it's a shame we are moving Martin around so much. He was definitely making a name for himself as a defensive big man, able to compete with the bigger blokes at AFL level so well. I don't like him being swapped for rucking duties one week, then forward duties the next. Too many like Waite at Carlton have fallen victim to being swapped around too many times. Keep the bloke at full back. Silvagni is very good at Casey but we must have the best key back in his rightful position. I really think our club needs to be consistent with him, as he is still learning the game. Imagine if we put Frawley, Rivers up forward all of a sudden and demanded they start a new role. Who knows what we would lose ?? Don't risk losing a potential fantastic full back for our club. With a bit more grunt he would be excellent at AFL level.

listed at 182 cm.

Bell and Dunn would be in the gun before Buckley. Both are serviceable but seem to have major flaws. Bell no awareness and Dunn jack of all trade master of none. I would put Bell on the list before Buckley. Wheatley is a no brainer to get rid of.

I just watched a replay of footy classifieds and was not happy with Garrys comment. I get the feeling with his lack of knowledge and throw away lines, he isn't passionate about the club. I just wonder if he is anything near Jimmys passion for the club. I wonder sometimes.

Yes he was but a long way off being a very fit on-baller. We need one of our skillful players to lead the way by example - maybe a Maric, a Strauss, Blease and show them how to do it. I have no doubt we have the talent coming through but we need that player to show the way. Aussie is one who has all the tricks in his bag actually and was becoming very fit until he got injured. Thats what we want to see.

people are bagging Morton as well on another thread. probably the same who bagged Frawley last year. most really don't understand how young player usually progress, even star players. Ablett was a young forward with talent 3 years ago. nothing more.

Don't underestimate Jones. He is playing better than his first year and everyone was rapped in him. He racks up hard ball gets and when we get some more classy runners alongside him, he will make them look good. Remember we haven't even got Buckley back in who is still young and can still go to that next level. Add in your classy Maric, Grimes and then Strauss and Blease to add to Morton, we could have the nucleus of a very good side. we would like to force out Bruce with better player coming through, but they are not at that level yet.

Frawley had a good pre-season and has been very good in this years 5 games. Somthing to get excited about. Lets hope Martin starts to 'break through' with a bit more attacking play and we will build an extremely good backline.

Up on the Dees Website http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsart...22/default.aspx Frankston v Casey Scorpions at Frankston Park, Sunday April 26 Seniors Casey Scorpions 5.3 5.3 11.9 14.12 (96) Frankston 0.0 5.6 6.6 8.9 (57) Frankston Goals: T.Dickson 2, J.Berry 2, M.Lourey 2, J.Magner, S.Pollard Best: M.Ablett, L.Casboult, M.Baguley, K.Lombardozzi, T.Dickson, C.Ongarello Casey Scorpions Goals: R.Robertson 5, A.Silvagni 3, D.Hughes 2, T.McNamara, B.Vernon, J.Wall, A.Wonaeamirri Best: K.Matthews, J.Wall, R.Robertson, S.Valenti, A.Silvagni, M.Stockdale Reserves Casey Scorpions 2.5 4.5 8.11 8.12 (60) Frankston 0.2 2.5 3.5 4.7 (31) Frankston Goals: L.Potts 2, R.Morris 2 Best: M.Hibberd, L.Potts, M.Bosward, P.Rogasch, R.Hobbs, S.Sienkiewicz Casey Scorpions Goals: T.Zomer 2, A.Oldmeadow 2, J.Bolton, N.Scanlon, J.Blaser, G.Snow Best: R.Bail, J.Blaser, L.Williams, T.Zomer, J.Watts, A.Oldmeadows What the coach said … with Peter German Click here for German's wrap

It helps teams like Carlton share the focus of being number one. If we get another one, Watts will all of a sudden be yesterdays news.