I have been around this site for a while now but this is my first post.
To be honest, I'm fed up with demonlanders around here continuously bagging fantastic servants of the MFC such as Green, Bruce and White. Firstly, Green and Bruce are blokes that give 100% in every game that they're involved in...to suggest otherwise is ridiculous. They are not and have not ever been superstars, but all our supporters seem to blame them for everything that goes wrong around this club! Brad Green is a good kick, someone who puts his body on the line for the team, but he is not an exceptional athlete and he does not know how to find the ball like a Scotty West. He does NOT have exceptional talent and he gets the most out of himself as a footballer. What more can we ask of him than that?
As for Bruce he is clearly playing injured and has done for the last few years. Bruce is a midfielder and he needs to be played in the midfield! Makes sense doesnt it? Bruce would be in the top echelon of distance runners at our club... when he's fit we need to put him on the ball and let him run opposition players off their feet. Everyone here has got to understand that Bruce is recognised by the playing group as a leader of this club, someone who gives his all every week and is one of our best players.
Everyone around here is saying its curtains for Jeff White. Am I the only one to think he wasnt that bad yesterday? He got 28 hitouts! and we drew level in clearances..not a bad effort for a ruckman considering we got flogged. Sure his input around the ground was below par...no denying that...but one of the reasons for this was that we never got our game going! A ruckman's job is not to get his own ball but to provide a target and in his case be a link man. He had a bad game but in the context of his career and his last few years for the dees it was an aberration. Jeff White has been a great servant for us...he has played over 100 games in a row (an outstanding effort for a ruckman), and just recently i read on this site that he was considered by another afl player to be the 2nd best ruckman in the comp behind cox. And we are saying its time for him to retire? Are we serious? Good idea guys lets give Jamar another go because he has clearly shown to be of afl standard. Jeff White could easily play 5 more years as a second ruckman!!!!
As for the game yesterday, which I was at before you ask, it was a disgrace, no doubt about it. But putting all the blame on these players is ridiculous. We were shocking yesterday and i could only find a few positives: jones and mclean finding the footy, moloney getting through a full game seemingly unscathed and showing us what he can do when fit and cale morton. Cale Morton will be a superstar: quick, courageous, very skilful and awesome endurance. How can you justify dropping the kid? As for Weetra however he tried hard but is just not AFL standard yet and he needs to build some confidence down at Sandy. The same can be said for Garland. He is a long way away from where we need him to be unfortunately.
On to Buckley..he showed some promise at stages but i don't think he will ever make it. He has the pace but i don't think he has the necessary skill level and he seems to think hes still at vfl level at times where he'll take that step too many.
What can be said about Miller? Not good enough. He is not a defender - has played one good game in defence on Barry Hall a few years back. Bailey has to play him forward or get rid of him.
Newton was a massive disappointment yesterday, every time the ball is kicked long he tries to "do a Robbo" and invariably drops the mark. Newton pace was proven to be awful yesterday, on numerous occasions he should have won the ball. I dont think we can fit both him and Neita in the same side.
Robbo just didn't get a kick yesterday but at least he gives his all on the field and converts his chances which can't be said about most of our forwards today.
Can someone give Davey the ball? On a day when we desperately needed players to link up and run the ball out of defence where was he? The Hawks zoned off well but the way to beat this is through 'run and carry'!!!! Ironic isnt it? Maybe ND was on to something. After all the Hawks ran the ball out of defence and utilised handball well. Sure this was partly due to our non existant pressure at the ball but maybe this is something we need to try and replicate.
Changes for next week?
Well if I were the coach I would:
OUT:
Weetra - simply not ready, very raw and could become a player in time.
Garland - see Weetra
Petterd - was not good enough today..needs to build some confidence at Sandy
Yze - how can this guy be in the leadership group? prove me wrong ooze
Newton - show some committment
IN:
Rivers - replacing Garland
Dunn - why wasnt he in the side to begin with?
Bate - if fit
Sylvia - provide a contest which Yze can't do
Bartram - if hes right to go
There you go...plenty there for everyone to shoot me down on but thats my opinion and it sure felt good to let it out!
