grazman

Can anyone that was pumping up this guy’s tyres and advocating a trade for him last year explain why? Admittedly I haven’t seen him play much, but what I have seen leaves me seriously underwhelmed. He doesn’t mark above his head, doesn’t get to a contest and can’t find the goals… I’m not sure why he’s a forward, but I can completely understand why his opportunities have been so limited. I’d prefer Newton.

I’m not getting carried away with one win (no matter how good that last half was), but this bloke is unfairly maligned by too many of our supporters. Every week he does the job the coach asks of him. He isn’t a superstar, but he is a very honest player. Yesterday he was simply superb for four quarters. He put’s his body over the ball and ran extremely hard. The stats don't genuinely reflect his contribution. I know either Miller or McLean will probably get the three votes from yesterday, but at least for me Wheaters was right there with them.

Congratulations to all those that turned up today... I'll be taping the second half. In what has been a truly crappy season so far, this is worth remembering.

Statistically speaking. The greatest ever comeback by the Melbourne Footy Club. Well Done boys. Well Done Dean Bailey. Miller, Bruce, Davey and Wona were all instrumental today. Bate eased back in, McLean knocked up getting touches and Nat Jones now knows what a hard tag is.

Good Post Jaded and exactly right, Too many people are here waiting for the magic switch to be thrown and for it all to start coming together. We're a long way from that. Our handball skills have been poor for a long while - not surprising given the focus of the previous game plan was to kick it long on every occasion. Our tackling skills are sub-standard and the change to a new game plan has also revealed significant weaknesses in player's decision making abilities. The review should focus on who stays and who goes... and when they go. It should also look at what direction the club needs to go in targeting players via the draft and and how we structure our list and contracts to avoid being ambushed by Gold Coast's entry into the competition. The day to day running of the team and it's selection will still be very much up to Dean Bailey and not really a matter for Chris Connolly or anyone else outside the coaching department.

Sorry forgot to mention Kennedy, who more than a few thought was rubbish when he was traded. He looked alright last night.

Judd played well last night, he lifted the Blues when they needed it in the third quarter. He wasn't the most dominant, but was one of the most effective. He took the heat off a lot of his Carlton team mates. (most of Carazzo's possessions were rubbish BTW, no wonder no one runs with him - he's a turn over merchant). What was interesting is that apart from a brief rally - there was very little leadership or strength of unity about the West Coast cause. Stenglein and Cox were really the only two leaders out there (apologies to glass who like Cox was obviously injured) Fletcher was his usual junk delivery self, Waters & Nicoski were dreadful as were a lot of their younger players that looked good when introduced to a successful Eagles side last year or the year before - now they're struggling. They still have a few to come back in, but even so. I thought Buckley's comments about Embley's "junk" possessions were about right.

Adelaide were keen to get him last year, but we knocked them back. Not arguing either for or against just pointing out he does have some trade value.

I still have my old one from 1987. It's got number 2 on the back (of course) and was the only jumper that featured the old VFL emblem with our current colours. I'm not sure I could bear to part with it. (not that I would actually squeeze into it anymore) I assume people will still be able to buy the new guernsey at full price and still get it signed?

Yep - ankle.

I don't doubt that he had a corky, but I can't see the point in Bailey lying about why he wasn't in the team. The big question is if he wasn't injured would he have played rd 2? If the answer is no he was dropped for disciplinary reasons then he needs to front up with Sandy this weekend.

Bate hasn't played for four weeks, I think he'll come back through Sandy. If Moloney was dropped for disciplinary issues (and Bailey said he was omitted, not injured) then you would think he'd have to honour a commitment to Sandy before a recall.

Not really with both PJ and Meesen now injured it actually creates two vacancies for Sandy. Sautner may have to play in the ruck if Martin and Jamar get a call up. :D

He turns the ball over every second time he touches it, he's only kicked two goals and he's dropping sitters... he's in pretty bad form.

I'm at sixes and sevens Tim, yes it was our best performance for the year, and as DB said we were competitive for 'most' of the match - though not all of it - but our skill level at the moment isn't good enough to beat more than two or three sides. Geelong could easily have been 7 or 8 goals up at half time and that would really have rocked our confidence again - that they weren't is a massive bonus for us. Even five points down into the third quarter you always knew the cats had something left in the tank. I think Bailey is on the right track in terms of his game plan and making us more accountable, but it will take longer to fix the skills. I think we're a show against the Kangas, but only if our pressure brings their skill level back to ours... We won't really start to be dangerous side until we can be competitive for 100% of game time and improve our skills.

I think you'd be out of place in that particular establishment.

Franky was it his left or right hand? If he broke it in the second quarter, he would have trouble guiding the ball onto his boot and this might explain why he missed so many targets.

Nor do I, but that was the rumour posted on Ology. We'll know soon enough.

That was the other rumour Franky. If true it'd be the biggest selection decision I can ever remember at the Dees.

What the hell is a plastic cast? Is it for sprain/ligament damage or for a fracture? Anyone?

Or Newton, if you believe the rumours, maybe even Robbo.

If only we'd traded him for Sewell. The Hawks would have had to have played Fergs until he reached 150 games just to shut up their supporters.

I think Dunn will be continued to play as a run with player pushing forward when the opportunities arise. Unfortunately he didn't really stop Bartel (but that's easier said than done) but was able to exploit the Cats by pushing forward for a couple of easyish goals. I think this is a good ploy, he's a natural goal kicker and the tendency for the tagged player is to try to get as far from the tagger as possible leaving Dunn more space running forward.

I agree about Martin. If he were to play on the weekend, the first thing most people would comment on was how diabolical his kicking is and they'd miss the point altogether that he reads the ball in flight exceptionally well and as someone from a basketball background uses his body to good effect. I think he's a real plus for us this year. It'll be interesting to see if they choose either him or Jamar to replace PJ this week. Leo Barry is another interesting candidate - again he has that magnificent Defenders ability to read the ball in flight and know where his opponent is at the same time. He's only six foot, but is an excellent defender. - I think sometimes people get a little hung up about who can or can't be a KPP player.

I'm probably one of the few that would get a kick out of someone with a user name of Don Cordner saying "awsum" and "lol". welcome to the text generation Don. :D