Goodvibes

I can't remember the last time I saw a player dominate in the true CHF position. Brown, Hall and Pavlich are all playing in that in-between distance about 30 - 50 out from goal. Fevola, Lynch, Neitz and Lloyd are leading full forwards, Lucas goes close, Mooney and Franklin in patches but the reality is that the current style of footy tends to encourage one of two broad approaches: 1. run and carry, own the corridor and bomb beyond true CHF and into the 50 metre zone OR 2. allow the opposition to chip it around, maintain possession and then flood the defensive 50 and give up cheap kicks all the way to the 60 - 70 metre region from goal and then see if the opposition can construct a goal with a kick into the forward 50. When was the last time you saw one big lug lead out to 50 - 60 metres, take a mark, swing around and bomb to the Full forward sitting in the goal square? It's now an era of lead up forwards (2 or 3) who often mark up towards the wing and then pause and wait for the cavalry (team mates returning from a flood) to assist in the next forward thrust. What comes first the tactic or the player? If Brereton or Carey or even a Tredrea were in the prime of their career or Jonathan Brown hadn't suffered collision injury after collision injury, would we still see coaches constructing gameplans based around the use of a traditional CHF? Or was the game always destined to progress in the manner that it has given the possession first mantra of most modern day coaches. Bate, with a little help from Sylvia and Dunn and maybe Garland in the future give us some good options for the modern approach to using CHF's. I haven't seen one person here advocate Miller as a possibility - again what comes first, tactic or player? Miller when enjoying his best football played true CHF but the majority (including me) around here don't think he's up for it and that's why Bate may well be our best bet. From the little our new coach has said about Bate, I get the feeling he pefers him in the middle. Another reason to look forward to round 1.

Fair call. I'll give him until round 5!

Beep tests and match practice are clearly two different things. It doesn't matter how big your engine is, first game of the year and you're going to feel the pinch. You make a good point about the heavier hits. He could be an interesting quarter back style backman playing on the mobile third talls during his first few years. Be great to utilize his reputed kicking skills from point kick ins.

Wow I agree with Yze Magic. 100%

Thanks Deeman - I felt like I was there.

As I said Jarka correct me if I'm wrong - I can only remember the one big indiscretion. Please don't misunderstand me - I'm a big fan of Brock McLean and certainly believe in giving people a chance to redeem themselves but he has a long career ahead of him and a year out of the leadership group may have sent the appropriate message. Having to sit in judgement on another player for a similar indiscretion is clearly problematic. I'm a teacher (cue H to shoot me down in flames) and I guess fairness, consistency and transparency are things that serve me well when it comes to providing leadership and discipline. The next time one our first year draftees are out on the [censored] and find themselves confronted with a drunken protagonist I wonder how they'll react. If I was a youngster at our club, the first person I would look up to would be Brock McLean. Maybe that's not fair but he has an enormous responsibility to set the right example. We know he does on the track and when it comes to the cut and thrust of a game but that responsibility extends (perhaps unreasonably) to his off-season holidays.

Jarka I've never been in a fight in my life. Plenty of times there's been the potential for it, but I've avoided it. That doesn't mean I've run away from anything, but instead bought someone a beer, or made the right joke or laughed rather than swung. It takes two to get in a fight. I'm a great believer in once being bad luck, twice and a trend is developing and three times there's a problem. I'm hoping with Brock we end at two. In regards to Neitz, I don't deny the seriousness of his drunken error in judgement, I'm just prepared to excuse the one indescretion given the longevity and the quality of his service to this club.

I think comparing Neitz and McLean in regards to off-field incidents is a little unfair. Neita slipped up once, fronted up to that fact, learnt from it and moved on and has proven himself a great leader. Correct me if I'm wrong but you're referring to one incident in a long and decorated career. Brock has two big strikes against his name and in my opinion is yet to establish himself. I'm a massive fan of Brock McLean and think he should be our next captain but was bitterly disappointed with the crap that went on overseas. It's interesting that he's seen by many as being beyond reproach. He's got a big year ahead of him young Brock. Getting onto the park regularly, shaking off opposition attention and handling the responsibilities of leadership (off the field more than on) will be the criteria I judge him on.

Brock McLean helping make decisions about players involved in alcohol fuelled incidents . . . . interesteing.

Mate, I think you'll find that H very rarely asks a question he doesn't already know the answer to.

I liked it the first time H and it's lost none of its relevance. This line of thinking also helps explain why the on-going injury clouds over Sylvia, Batram and McLean concern us greatly.

Ease up turbo. You were trying to make a point about finals being the ultimate test of a teams ability. And I was supporting what you were saying by suggesting we've been in the 6 - 8 range over the past 4 years (with last year an inury-plagued exception) and as such most of the finals we've played have been against better teams. The better team normally wins. I don't think Fan was presenting his analysis to suggest we're going to win the premiership in 2008 but merely pointing out that things aren't quite as bad as many around here are making out.

You may well be right Graz - you usually are. But in regards to Brisbane's u/23's I think they're in reasonable shape. Adcock stepped into the midfield nicely in the second half of 2007 and Rischitelli is developing nicely. Sherman (4th I think in their B&F in 2006) should rebound, Hooper showed a bit late (has a massive engine) and the youngest and possibly most promising of all their midfielders, yet to be given a real chance is Albert Proud. I really expect him to step up in 2008. That's a reasonable batch of youngsters to add to Black, Power, Lappin and Johstone. Throw in Copeland, Selwood and Stiller for depth and they're looking pretty good. The best power forward in the comp, plenty of developing key defenders, an 'X' factor in Brennan and Charman and Leuenberger in the ruck, make Brisbane a genuine chance in 2008. But back to the Dees. I firmly believe a top 4 run with injuries will see us finish in the bottom half of the eight - maybe higher. Does that make sense? The keys for me include, Sylvia getting fit, our second ruckman (whoever it may be) providing genuine competition for White and Rivers and Bartram successfully returning from injury. I'm confident that enough of our regularly identified u/23 talent will step up - particularly under Bailey, it's just a question of how many and how quickly. The ruck and our defence are regularly identified as weaknesses - and for good reason. A fit Rivers will go a long way to improving that department and will provide Frawley with the third up support he was missing when given a chance last season. Meesen could be anything but we certainly need him to be something. Sylvia for me is the most frustrating player on our list. I don't know how people can be critical of him - he's clearly been operating well below his optimum in terms of health and fitness. What we have seen are glimpses - the brutal tackling, bursts of speed (when fit), booming kicks, an eye for goal and sound decision making. If (and I know it's a big if) he gets some confidence in his body he could well be the champion midfielder we've all been waiting for. If we never see Colin Sylvia 100% fit and firing it could be up there with David Schwarz doing his knee after his deeds of 1994 in terms of footballing tragedies.

Or it could be a symptom of being the 7th or 8th best team in the competition Jarka. Fan, thanks for the analysis. It's been a bit slow around here lately and I hope this thread can generate some discussion. In a desperate bid to encourage my wife to take a little more interest in the Dees I took Sportsbet up on their generous 4 - 1 odds on Melbourne making the finals and gave the ticket to her. Your post above should be sent to the betting agencies. I've always thought myself overly optimistic when it comes to all things Melbourne and can always find reasons for us to have a good year and 2008 is no exception. The new coach factor shouldn't be underestimated. 1998 amyone? Comparisons to Geelong also offer hope but I feel our list is in a slightly different position to their 2007 line-up. The excitement, as highlighted by many comes from the u/23 contingent on our list. Despite the ignorance of opposition supporters, Craig Cameron has done a particularly good job over the past 4-5 national drafts. Whilst many of them are still speculative, I've never been more excited by our youth. The Newton, Dunn, Bate trio give every indication of making it. Jones is a given. Petterd and Frawley looked destined for long careers and Bartram will hopefully put his injury plagued 2007 behind him. I certainly haven't given up on Sylvia and McLean will no doubt be working hard to regain his lustre. Combine the above youth with the rejuvenation of Bruce, Green, Whelan, Wheatley and Davey under a new coach and the return of Rivers and Moloney and we're surely looking better than wooden spoon contenders. And surely the 150 year celebration is worth a win or two. Fans post didn't consider the premiership claims of the other 15 teams. Again in my opinion, this is an area of hope. Reasons can be given for all of our opposition to struggles. It's widely accepted that Sydney and Adelaide are on the slide. Surely the Kangas can't replicate 2007. Essendon's midfield is weak. Richmond is Richmond. Port may take some time to recover mentally from a GF hiding (think Melbourne 2001). Judd or not Carlton are still building. West Coast will still be strong but a team simply can't replace two of the best midfielders of the past decade departing simultaneously. Collingwood have their own departures to deal with and are one of two midfield injuries away from really struggling. Footscray still don't have a September spine and Freo remain mentally questionable. St Kilda don't seem to have the midfield depth necessary given the injury prone nature of many of their key palyers. Even the three teams I really rate as big chances in 2008 (Geelong, Hawthorn and Brisbane) have question marks. The reigning champs are basically the same line-up that showed their mental inadequacies in 2006. If ever a team could suffer a premiership hangover its the boys from sleepy hollow. Hawthorn are progressing nicely but yet to prove their September worth and Brisbane rely heavily on 5 or 6 stars, lacking their previous depth.

Craig, just wanted to add to the long list of thanks. You're a top 4 recruiter and you've left us with a top 4 list in the making. You're a true gentleman and I wish you all the best at the Tigers. A Melbourne flag in 2010 followed by a Richmond flag to end the Melbourne attempt at four-peat in 2012 would be just reward. Goodbye and goodluck!

Some thoughts on Austin Wonaeamirri from bigfooty: http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.p...ght=wonaeamirri

Yeah I saw that too this arvo. Interesting and may confirm our interest in Dangerfield. Apparently one of the few in the draft pool with genuine pace. Bailey likes pace!

Particularly when Bailey has suggested he expects picks 4, 14 and 21 to play senior footy in 2008.

Weeping Song - Nick Cave

Yep that was the thinking behind the decision. The two scenarios are completely different. If we traded TJ to WC for Sampi then you might have a point but hey don't let the facts get in the way of a misguided spray.

Now that's a pretty solid comeback. Like it.

I'd take Tenace. PSD contains either damaged goods or imperfect goods. Tenace falls into the preferable latter category and his deficiencies can be addressed. He fits the prescribed age bracket and Bailey's need for speed. Certainly worth a punt.

I think I've still got a Kelly O'Donnell chewing gum swap card.

Cheers Finks - I wonder if these photos were shown to Judd during our presentation.

I hope the Eagles cop a 'shafting' from the AFL.