Rodney (Balls) Grinter

3 hours ago, SaberFang said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but am I seeing Collingwood playing their manditory home game at Etihad Stadium against Gold Coast? 

Really...?

They get theirs against Gold Coast and we get assigned St Kilda at Etihad twice.

I really shouldn't be surprised by the transparency of AFL HQ these days, it's just amazing how they don't even hide it.

About the only thing that I can think of which shiits me more about the way the AFL treats Melbourne than having to continously play 'our' home games against either St Kilda or the Bullies at Docklands is having to wear poxy white away jumpers that look nothing like a Melbourne jumper.

6 minutes ago, SaberFang said:

It's pretty well documented that Neeld was poisonous to the players and created a toxic environment.

And where is Neeld now?  

Let's hope he can work his magic there!

4 minutes ago, SaberFang said:

Tiring hearing this trotted out regularly; if we'd drafted Wines over Toumpas, who's to say we'd have become the basketcase we did? Who's to say we would end up with a new recruitment team led by Jason Taylor? Or Peter Jackson as CEO? Or Roos as coach? Or the 4 wins in 2014 that allowed us to draft Petracca and Brayshaw?

 

 

 

 

We'll just have to get Wines in 2 years via trade to make it a reality.  

Settle petal - just saying.  But otherwise agree, you can't win them all.

6 minutes ago, johndemons said:

 

Ben Kennedy might turn into our little Puopoulo when he gets back into the side RE the Toumpas trade. Maybe Wines will languish over at Port, he's hardly set the world on fire all year. 

Yep, that's been my impression as well, along with most of the Port midfield bar Robbie Grey.  How much easier is it for players to look good in sides that are playing well.

9 minutes ago, A F said:

I heard Viney wanted to recruit Wines and Neeld overruled him, wanting outside pace and ball use...

How good a midfield could it have been - Jones, Viney, Brayshaw, Tyson, Oliver, Patracca, and Wines!!

13 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I just don't think he was ever good to begin with.

I disagree.  I actually thought he seemed to use the ball really well when he got it and was particularly good at spotting someone up with an inside 50 entry.  Unfortunatly, he never got enough of the pill, fumbled it way too much when he did and never really seemed to get his confidence going.

Or I found this:

http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/wendy_stapleton/cmon_demons_/

27 minutes ago, johndemons said:

Any chance we can get this in MP3 or dare I say it, FLAC ? The youtube video, despite it's cheesiness is actually an awesome kind of retro with those synths but the qual is obviously low. Would be great to play it in my imaginary Delorian on the way to the ground with the scarves out the window. 

We should get them to play this on AFL 360 next week if we beat Carlton by the way! Let's all email it and tweet it.

 

 [email protected], not sure of any other email addresses.

You'd hope the club or someone sympathetic to it like Chris Connolly still owns the rights to it.  Should put it up on iTunes and see if the club can raise a bit of cash out of it - if it were to go viral, who knows?

I think I remember being at the G when they launched the song.  Loved it then and still do now.

Some great highlights from Billy's dad in the video.  Does make me a bit sad seeing big Jimmy and Sean though.

1 minute ago, sue said:

While that might be true, the evidence is that they aren't focussed on finals. Especially when you consider that it is likely Roos would kill to get us into the finals to cement his place as a footy miracle worker. Whereas getting a bit more knowledge for 2017 does little for his reputation (public reputation at least).

Not quite sure where you are going with this, as I don't see Roos as "killing" for the sake of his reputation - I think he has now done enough to establish that regardless, although finals would be nice icing on the cake for that.

Along similar lines though, one thing this year will do though is raise expectations put a lot of pressure on Goodwin and the players to continue the rise next year.  I am hoping that transition is as smooth as the club has been aiming for.

12 minutes ago, Ted Fidge said:

Only thing I can recall is where was running into an open goal and missed it. Maybe that was selfish coz he could have offloaded it? But if he'd kicked it, all would be forgiven.

I reckon it's got nothing to do with selfish acts, etc, and more to do with Pedo not being the future.

The coaches want to find out more about what is our best lineup and they're not going to be distracted by the sudden possibility of making the 8. They've done it all year and it's working. Weed's first game against the reigned champs on top of the ladder! Why change now and retreat into our shells?

If they'd stuck to a rigid idea of our "best 22" all year we'd still be playing Dunn and Garland and wouldn't have uncovered Hunt OMac or Frost.

I do recall that missed goal and agree it was more a clanger than selfish - most players should have gobbled that one up every day of the week.  I hardly think it is worth dropping a player over.

I get that there is a long term agenda at play too, but I wouldn't call the opportunity to play finals (whatever the slim chances) a distraction.  I'd call it what the team should be playing for.  With only two games remaining, I think the long term benefits of developing a few players is overshadowed by the developments available to the whole team of gaining finals experience and we should be picking our best/in form side to win both remaining games.

18 minutes ago, Tractor said:

Cannot wait to see Hogan, Weideman and Watts all in the same forward line. 

Will be a glimpse of hopefully an imposing, scary forward line that will be a powerhouse in the years to come.

Agreed, but whilst I was pretty impressed with what he did against Hawthorn, I'd rather see Weid put on a bit of meat after another good preseason before we throw him in the deep end.

I'm beginning to agree with some others on this forum that the Roos talk of making early draft picks earn their spot and bringing them in when they are ready has been almost just talk at times.

Anyway, enough bemoaning selection decisions that are now done and dusted, I'm looking forward to how our troops perform on the paddock tomorrow.

One of thethings I've noticed in recent weeks are the good long goals being kicked on the run by the likes of Hunt and particularly Gus Brayshaw.  I think this has been really important to our forward line set-up, because it has made our avenue to goal less predictable, where as in my view, there had been too much either bombing it up to a contest at the top of the square or trying to chip around and pin point a target inside 50, both of which too seldom resulted in goals.  Because we are now taking on the game a bit more again and have these players kicking goals from on or outside 50, it has made our forward line far less predictable and harder to set-up against.

Also looking forward to seeing more good form from Frost - gee moving him to the back line was a genius move.

2 hours ago, Mach5 said:

Pedersen was dropped for selfish acts and pulling out of contests.

My personal view only, after tearing my hair out multiple times over his efforts last week.

He adds value to the side, but I don't think he'll be around a lot longer because he doesn't play the "right way."

Perhaps if I watched the game again with a more critical eye, I might see the incidents you are refering to, but I don't recall any pulling out of contests and or anything particularly selfish in Pedo's play in the last couple of games he has played.

Sure it's easy to be critical in hindsight when a player misses a goal, when perhaps they could have tried to pass it off to a team mate in a higher percentage position, but there is a point where if a player is in a position to kick a goal, they should just back them selves in to kick it ...and Pedo is a good goal kicker.  I often think we over use the ball in our forward line and turn it over - just look at our usual forward 50 entries compared to our scoring.

As for backing out of contests, I'm sure that one of Port's players (can't remember their name) was wishing that big Cam backed out of that ground ball in the middle last week.

4 hours ago, DemonOX said:

Not having a go at u Rod but I really hate that term "spud". 

Any player on an AFL list has done more than us keyboard warriors. 

Please show some respect. 

Fair call OX.

Fot the record, you are right, I wasn't even a spud of an AFL player.

On 14/8/2016 at 4:10 PM, demon_fanatic said:

What's the percentage equation about 4 behind yes??  Will two north losses by about 20 and say we win by 30 b Carlton and 10 v cats be enough to reverse this?  North have a few coming back next 2 weeks apparently. Hopefully they are underdone, they do play well in Hobart though but SYDNEY are hot and want to sew up top 2 next week!  Then gws will have top 4 to play for last round let's hope'! Don't want a situation where gws are locked into a position and can't move so their motivation be less 

It would be good if West Coast can win tonight, as I think that is the best chance of GWS needing something to play for, as they would be either playing for a top 4 or just to stay top 6 and secure a home final.

1 hour ago, binman said:

I completely disagree. And clearly the coaching panel does (and Plapp for that matter). I am constantly amazed that a small minority of posters on DL seem to think their judgments on the relative skill of players is more accurate that that of the coaching panel, I mean come on.

A good user of the ball and works hard up and down the ground. With his stellar VFL form deserves his call up and will give all the grunt of Harmes and less damaging turnovers

Happy to be proven wrong.

However every time Mitchie comes into the senior side, it is on the back of great disposal numbers at Casey, but I can hardly recall a game at AFL level where he has shown any promise.

Mitchie has nothing of the competitiveness and combativeness to win contested possessions and physical battles that Harmes has.  Nearly every match report I read from Casey states: Mitchie 30 possessions, 2 contested possessions, 1 tackle.

Harmes is also quite a good user of the ball, although I think this applies more so to when he plays forward of centre.

1 hour ago, sue said:

Perhaps the club is looking more to the long term and figuring a small change won't make much difference to the 6% chance we have of making the finals.

I'll take the 6% chance over the 0% chance we have had at this point in the season any day of the week.

1 hour ago, poita said:

Really dumb changes. Why mess with a winning side? The forward line works better with Pedersen there. Good luck to Sam, but I don't think he offers as much as Pedo presently.

I can't believe that Michie and Neal-Bullen are the next in line given their senior efforts so far this year. Play one maybe, but two is asking for trouble. Would much prefer Salem.

Could not agree more.

35 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Reckon Pedo is stiff.

It's possible that its because I haven't seen anything other than the highlights though.

Did he do something wrong, or are we just keen to see more of Weeds?

Pedo had added a big phyical presence around the ground that few if any of our other players this year have been able to produce.  Dawes certainly hasn't, whilst he has dramatically improved in this area, I don't think Watts has the size of Pedo to produce the same effect (similar for Weid) and I'm not sure that Hogan has provided it in past months either.  Over the past few games, Pederson had been our most effective big forward, so why mess with that?

22 hours ago, bing181 said:

I'd go Mitchie for Harmes. But then I'm probably not seeing what the coaches are seeing.

Disappointed Salem isn't included, feel that we need that kicking accuracy, but perhaps it's a step too far for him at this stage of coming back.

Also, was wondering whether Trengove mightn't get another look in, he seems do be doing increasingly well at Casey. But probably needs a solid pre-season before that'll happen.

I don't generally like to bag our players, but Mitchie is a spud at AFL level and a waste of a supplementry list spot.  In the numerous chances he has been given to play at AFL level, I haven't seen him play a half decent game yet.

Whilst I don't think champion data points always tell the full story, they do give a fair indication.  Mitchie's highest AFL score this year is only just above what Harmes achieved last round on an off game.  Mitchie's best score is lower than Jack Grimes lowest for the year.  I don't ever recall seeing Mitchie do anything impactful at AFL level, yet players like Harmes and Grimes regularly put their bodies on the line and create pivotal moments in matches.  Harmes games against Gold Coast and Hawthorn were excellent IMHO.

I would have named a slightly underdone Salem as an emergency over Mitchie any day and it bemuses me that the match committee didn't go that way.

What will it say about the credibility of the Rising Star award if Hunt wins MFC's best first year award and or finishes higher in our B&F than all our other nominations and has still not been nominated for the Rising Star?

Although, that said, there are still two rounds left. The totally presumptuous dreamer in me hopes that he plays an absolute blinder last game of the year against Geelong that helps the team across the line and simply can't be ignored.  Not that I really care about the award anyway.

8 hours ago, P-man said:

It will be strange if Hunt doesn't get a nomination as he's probably been the best of Melbourne's eligible players this season.

I'm finding it hard to separate Hunt and Patracca.  Different style of players, but I think both have significantly impacted games and improved as the season has gone on.  Loving watching both these guys go about their business.

36 minutes ago, McQueen said:

If this comes to pass, I will take back every ill-spoken word I have made about the Giants and get on board.

 

 

 

For 120 minutes.

I would be very conflicted if we required a goal on the siren from that scumbag Scully to get us across the line.

For anyone wondering as I did, the 3.7% between us and North is equivalent to around 60 points winning/loosing margin.

So one answer to the original question could be "hope that we flog_ Carlton or Sydney flog_ North" ... actually I just hope we flog_ Carlton regardless.

At least we are not the only team to have lost to Essendon now.

12 hours ago, Kwala said:

I know I'm only new here but some of you people properly need psychological help. We beat port in Adelaide by 40 points. And you still find s**t to complain about? Just enjoy it!? I'd let it annoy me but I know there's nothing I can do to fix those people. They'd probably complain about having to drink warm water if they were stuck in the desert. 

But seriously... how about us!!?? Ive suffered through supporting this team for much of my life because I knew how much sweeter it would make it when we started winning. It's like doing fifty star jumps in a ski jacket on a 45 degree day just to make jumping in the ocean feel even better. And jeeeeeez does that water feel nice. 

 

I hear you brother - up to a point.

Was a good win and whilst I certainly savored the moment for what it was, I was also left feeling a little let down, because it could have been so much more.

With some of the mistakes we made, we wouldn't have beaten a good team last night and in our current circumstances I would have really loved a 60 to 80 point win to help bridge the % gap North have on us.  On the other hand, I was glad to come away with a win that even earlier this year we could have thrown away.  I guess like others have stated, progress not perfection.

But otherwise looking forward to jumping in the ocean!!