titan_uranus

Yes, I agree, Bruce and Green (and White, and Whelan, and McDonald) are most likely not to be playing great footy when we're next ready to contest for the flag. However, with Neitz gone, Robbo out for 12 months, Yze and Holland going, culling all those players makes our list devoid of any experience or leadership. To win 16 games in a year doesn't just rely on that year's performances. There's the build-up to a premiership: the years before winning a flag are just as important. We can't just expect to draft a bunch of quality youth over the next couple of years, scrap the older players, and then be a genuine premiership contender. Players like Bruce and Green need to hang around if only to guide the younger players over the next 3 years.

The article in The Age says that we must still wear the strip against Freo in round 16 and Essendon in round 18. That means we will have worn it agains Fremantle, Essendon, St. Kilda and Brisbane, with Carlton wearing their white jumper when we played them. Of these teams, which, if any, does a mainly red jumper like the ones proposed here clash with? For me, Essendon comes the closest, but they're predominantly black. I can think of no team in the AFL where either our regular jumper or a mainly red jumper clashes.

I think Bartram is being too heavily criticised, plus I think he's the perfect player for Heath Shaw: other teams have shown that Shaw's influence on the game is massively reduced when you tag him, so I think Bartram should stay. You make a good point about Jeff White. The main problem is neither Jamar nor PJ have shown consistently that they can take on full ruck responsibilities: White has, even if his best form is behind him. An average game from White still beats a good game from Jamar.

I don't think Frawley should go just yet. What's he played, 10 games or so? He showed some promise vs Carlton earlier this year, and he should be learning each week.

Yeah I know, I was just saying look how long its taken Cooney to develop, maybe Brock and Sylvia will have vast improvements over the next couple of years. I agree: gotta be in the top 10 to let Rivers go. Even then, I would still feel bad doing it. He could well be the most experienced defender on our list considering what people think may happen to Carroll, Whelan etc.

That's a great alternative strip Demon4Life. It should be that or the inverted colours strip for sure.

When (and I know it's not often) Rivers plays, we almost invariably play better. He is a crucial part of our defence going forward. I know this draft is very important, but I don't think Rivers should go. You're right about the 2003 draft, but wasn't Cooney pick 1?

There are plenty of other clubs out there who have plenty of money without having to have sold sponsorship rights to their jumper. We should be looking at long-term ways of securing finances so that we don't need to wear bright green. Don't know that I'd want our club to sacrifice its identity for money, if only for one or two matches.

I see where you're coming from, but the examples you've provided are also examples of failed designs. Members of each of those clubs hated those jumpers. I for one would detest seeing the Melbourne football club run out in bright green. We need to remain true to our colours, especially in a year that recognises our history more than any other. Red and blue: that's it.

Hopefully this is a case of short term pain for long term gain. Maybe Newton or Miller or Bate will thrive with the added responsibility. Then again maybe not...

He shouldn't be played if his back is still troubling him, but by the end of the year I'd like to see him have played a couple of games, just so that we know what's in store before we begin changing the list.

That's a good point re: experience. There are no ageing leaders/stars in our team like those you've mentioned who can guide our youth. I guess that's why Neitz stayed on this year.

Now I just wish he would actually live up to some of those lofty expectations so that we can continue to heap praise on him.

You forgot Rivers - surely he's in the don't touch list.

Is that the membership one where concession members only get 3 questions but full members do the full survey? Or a different one?

I agree that Melbourne is in a better situation than St. Kilda. It's a pity that 2008 is our 150th year, and not our 146th or 147th year because this is a much 'better' year to have a shocker than the following few. In terms of our most important player, for me it's a tie between Rivers (for holding the defence together and reading the play so well) and Davey (for providing a spark and being able to kick goals). But over the next few years Bate will probably increase in importance.

Well he said he learned six weeks ago that current players weren't invited. That means Neitz wouldn't have been invited, right? Surely not.

Well that all sounds good, but will mean nothing if we don't show something on Monday. On the upside, Bate's only 21! There's years of him remaining!

I agree, I always enjoy watching Sandy when they're on ABC with Donegan calling. Huddo = 'screeching cat'... lovely analogy Nasher

Quite a good analysis of our midfield woes there Jaded. McLean and Jones would do much better (and not cop this kind of criticism) if they had some classier midfielders around them. What's Grimes like in terms of pace? Is he just more of the same or will he be different to what we've already got?

Great point Jerry, he's in the team because fans and the coaching staff are striving to see him deliver on the potential we all want him to have, rather than because he's delivering and deserves a spot. His high selection in the draft means people like Yze Magic believe he's going to be a star without him actually showing anything to suggest that.

Green. Somehow

Interesting, but I wouldn't worry too much about a 'random sampling' survey such as this one. Could easily be laden with errors. Nonetheless, very surprised about Sydney having so many supporters.

Dean Bailey has had 10 matches to work with this team. Let's wait until the end of the year before we turn on him. He doesn't need it, and the club doesn't need it. I did say 'yet': in other words, wait until we've played some of the other teams languishing down the bottom with us (i.e. West Coast and Essendon), and let the season play out in its entirety before we criticise a first-year coach.

Heh, it'd be quite stupid to say 'play for the jumper': there's nothing to play for there.