tiers

This is becoming too hard. Whoever I chose will be up against Neitz in the next round and, in any reasonable sense, I would pick all three to be in the best team that I have seen in 60 years. Even worse, the chosen one out of these three would most likely have to go up against Jimmy. That is going too far. I can no longer participate in this process. So whilst I would select David ahead of Sean I will no longer submit a vote. Next time let us be asked to name a top 5, 10 or 20 so that we do not have to tear ourselves apart pitting heros against heros. It's just too hard.

Robbo spent as much effort spoiling Neeta as winning the ball himself. Think of how many times he joined the marking contest and made it harder for Neeta. Neeta would have kicked many more goals if not harassed by Robbo (where were the coaches?). Neeta's record is unsurpassed at our club. Neitz for me.

Toughest choice yet. Brett was simply outstanding and for many years was, in my opinion, the best classic hbf in the league. Rarely beaten in any contest and his disposal was always to advantage. Nathan has been an outstanding warrior for our club whose efforts can not be overstated. But for all this, he was not better than others who played the same role. It breaks my heart to deny a champion and club captain but Brett was too good to overlook. Brett for me. Nathan to repechage.

White was a great ruckman until they changed the rules. Jimmy was Jimmy. No contest. Stynes for me. White to repechage.

Wasted. The week's rest due to the draw cost us both momentum and desire.

Can we stick to footy?

Todd was everything that has been said - a tough, determined leader who made up for his average skills by above average efforts. Aaron was none of the above. He was just the perfect footballer with poise. vision, class and the ability to lift or swing a game and could, with his twinkle toes and smarts, come close to what only Robbie had done before. Aaron for me.

Firsts, seconds and under 19s is a model that worked very well for a long period of time although with drafting under 19 players can no longer be tied to a team beyond their under 19 year. In the meantime they can learn the game under a senior AFL team. Change the system so that each team can have only 35 (or any other number) on their official lists but players can be readily added or removed from their lists using the seconds and under 19s(temporarily) if warranted. Enhance the appeal of the seconds and the under 19s with club loyalty. Who cares about u18 Dragons when you can barrack for Demons u19. In the barren years after '64 watching the seconds and u19s play in finals and even win flags was a lift to our spirits. They were Demon flags.

I was on the hf line on the Punt Rd side of the ground and had a direct side on look at the incident. Barassi and Dean both had a piece of the ball, Dean was on his knees and RDB was standing up trying his hardest to knock the ball out of Dean's hand with a downward motion of his fist. He did not touch the Dean's face and it was a a complete fake. The whole incident was in the open and there were no other players around. Who in their right mind would believe that RDB would deliberately strike an opponent in such a setting. The umpire and the tribunal were demented. Four weeks for this possibly costs us a flag. No wonder we dislike the umps, tribunal and all officialdom.

Powell was part of the pack including Woewodin and A MacDonald - three hard running, front of pack, goal kicking left footers. Together they were a formidable and at times unstoppable force. It was the threesome that was destructive. After losing 2001, by 2002 the coaches had destroyed Woey and the effectiveness of the pack was all over. Sad but at least he never showedd something extra at the sainters than he showed with us.

A pure 24 carat gem of a man and player. The benchmark for all who follow in his footsteps.

Success breeds success. We had a chance in the 90s to start a run at success but blew 1990 and were overwhelmed by weagles in 1994. It was in the period 1995 to 1997 that it ended. Decimating injuries stopped all our momentum in these three years and we could never regain it even through we played finals 5 out of the next 9 years. We lost our home and home ground advantage to the money needs of the AFL and broadcasters. Training at the Junction Oval was tough but we still made a GF and other finals. Poor coaching and even poorer development cost us dearly - I still cringe when I remember that Green and Bruce were not much better after many years than when they started. I had predicted that 2020 was to be our year. Not to be but maybe next year. Go dees.

How good was the game? Not the result but the free flowing contested footy with no umpires interference (the incessant play on if the player takes time to find a target) and the open centre bounce where a ruckman could run and take a leap. White and Simmonds were outstanding and made the game look better (I know there are knee injury issues but there needs to be a better answer than the small circle and the repeated pushing and shoving). Its time to tell the umpires to shut up and let the game flow. The players know best. And what about white jackets and hats for the goal umpires - got to be better than the tee shirts and baseball caps. All these replays have displayed to me that the game was better when there was no "kicking down the line" and constant switching looking for cheap stats. Traditional kick ins from the square were a better means to restart the game and create a contest. What's worse, listening the BRuuuuuuce, Dermie, Landy and others reminded me that they were old hat 20 years ago but they are still with us. No wonder I don't miss footy as much as I should. Gil and the boys have neutered the game and it is less like real footy than it was. After the virus society will have to start again. This is an opportunity for our beloved great game to go back a bit and realise what made it great. It used to be a fast moving and attractive spectacle, now it is a dour struggle. That's all. Off the soap box.

Garry scored more goals, more all aussies, hall of fame and team of the century. He was a dynamic and courageous leader who could be potent in several positions. Brad was a champion, durable and dynamic at times but never rose to the levels of Garry. Lyon for me.

Just watched today the 2000 PF. Can't go past Farmer. He wasn't called the wizard for nothing. Yze to repechage. Farmer for me.

Wheels was magnificent - tough, uncompromising and fearless and played as if his life depended on his form. A star. Sean Wight was all of the above plus he could play back, forward, short, tall and on the ball. Could outplay any short player and then outmark and outmuscle a big opponent. He was the ultimate versatile swingman. Sean for me. Wheels into repechage.

Stretch was a classy wingman who was not quite in theclass of a Robbie or Stinga. David Schwarz would have been the greatest CHF of his era if not for the knee problem. It would have been a case of Wayne who? Even after his return from three knee surgeries, he was forced to play as The Ox, he was exceptional as a creative, strong and skilled key forward and protector. Just couldn't run as fast. No better demon in this era. Schwarz for me.

Robbo was an excitement machine who could win matches but was playing above himself. A top HFF or FP who could play FF. Clarrie is a once in a generation find. When fit, he plays his own game on a different level to the rest. The many complaints about his hand passes instead of kicks are due to a lack of anticipation by his team mates. This will change when the coaches wake up and adjust the team strategy. Clarrie for me. Robbo goes into repechage.

No contest. As good as Grinter was and how important he was to our team he can't compete with Neeta's record and contribution. Neeta for me but Grinter should go into the repechage heats.

+1

Liam Jurrah should be high on the list. Another one who could do what no other player could. Beaten down by the big city.

Getting harder. Junior was a really good player player and leader but did not have that extra bit that would make him great. He was also consisent but as captain he was not able to lift the team. Chunker is a better, more determined player who singlehandedly had to take on the role of midfield drive, hardness and leadership. It was almost too much for any one player but he did it. It is sometimes forgotten that when he started and he had more senior players to share the load he was supreme in close and if he did not gather the ball, then no one else did. He has been expected to carry the team in some dark days without help on the filed or in the coaches box. Jones for me.

Strawbs was a great ruckman and team player but was not better than most ruckman going around. Brett Lovett was an outstanding HBF with skills,, vision, judgement and the ability to consistently win one-on-one contests and deliver to advantage. I rate him as one of the best Melbourne players of his era and one of the best HBF in the league. Serious, serious class. Lovett for me.

They are now talking about recovery times and turn around times for the players. If it is to be a problem (as Zorko says) then change the format/concept. Each team has a squad of, say, 36 players and their respective game times are rationed by quarters. For example, over five games in three weeks no player can play more than, say, 16 quarters, the equivalent of four matches each calculated as 22 x 4 quarters per game x 5 games = 440 available quarters/36 = 12+ average. Does this mean that players will be rested for whole games? Yes it does unless there is another way to manage the loads. Perhaps play some only 3 quarters in a game, rotate by quarters, pick a side as horses for courses (eg. stack with defenders against high scoring opponents). Rationalise positions - who needs a ruckman unless playing against Maxie? Who needs a permanent full forward if dusty or danger play in the goal square? Inside players v outside players - think of the choices for the coaches. Get rid of 666. Think of the excitement in each game as these moves are played out. Mcgoose and dwayne would soil themselves. Bruce would spend the whole game asking silly questions like doesn't he, wouldn't he. For 2020 season only with a self destruct button. But when 2020 is the asterisk year, let it be for the footy not the virus.

Note that the weagles backline comprised local wa players who had been gifted to the weagles when they entered the league. We had recruited so well but still couldn't beat a gifted team.