Mel Bourne

Admittedly I haven’t paid a heap of attention to him as a player, so I’ve braved Big Footy on and off recently, specifically to gauge how Crows fans (and neutrals) feel about it. Have also watched what vision I can find easily enough. My takeaway is that he’s generally regarded as an 18-22 player, but this view is a little clouded by his suspension. Not saying that he’s a thug or anything. Just that he was really starting to find some form and had entered “locked-in” status, but after three weeks out the team was relatively-humming, and he struggled to work his way back in. I generally see him as the best replacement for Melksham on offer. He might not be perfect, but Jake also had his fair share of walks through the desert. But McAdam is certainly capable of those high-agility, leading-forward bursts that Melksham provided. Especially with a new start and attitude.

Rivers at pick 32 goes to show you how much is yet to be revealed about all the draftees. And there are enough high-pick disappointments out there to show the whole thing is a bit of a lottery.

I’d be happy to somehow get McAdam AND keep Petty. And McAdam could fill Petty in about what’s been happening in Adelaide to help stave off the homesickness.

Peter Moore and his Brownlow would beg to differ.

Well I guess the big difference is that you’re NOT actually walking around the streets of Adelaide asking random people their opinions on Shane McAdam, and the other thing is a collated list of actual opinions from a large amount of random Crows fans.

Paul Stanley mimed all the vocals. His mic was left on so that his comical-rock-interjections between lines came through, helping create the illusion of a live vocal performance. Music was all backing track. So the AFL spent $2m on four dudes to turn up, put on some make-up and slightly-wiggle about for a few minutes It’s a [censored] joke, and not one with a terribly-good punchline.

Oh is that what you do, is it? Go walking the streets of Adelaide asking random people what they think of Shane McAdam?

I seldom go there either, but I went there specifically to gauge the reaction of Crows supporters. They are not all “happy to see the back of him”. A few are. Many are not.

Go read the Big Footy thread and find out how wrong you are for yourself.

Rubbish. I’ve literally just finished reading plenty of Crows supporters on Big Footy who are disappointed to see him leave, and frustrated they couldn’t get the best out of him.

Why would you not think this has all been thoroughly discussed and evaluated by the MFC staff? Burgess and the MFC parted on very good terms. If there was a serious problem with McAdam’s attitude, it would have been well and truly flagged by Burgess. Obviously the media will beat-up any actual information around something like this. As for “thinks he is better” what are you basing that on?

This. He’s a dreadful set shot for somebody who is so otherwise skilled. Mind you, he’s only 23, so perhaps capable of some de-programming.

It’s not the country, culture or it’s people that put me off. It’s ours. But anyway, back to the footy….

Well, if I’ve learned anything from this thread, it’s that my long-standing resolution to never go to Bali remains unshaken.

Love Trac, but if you think he’s Brownlow-worthy you haven’t been watching a lot of neutral games.

Dude can play. Is a genuine target and good finisher. The best possible replacement for Melksham I can think of. And someone who can find marks like this at the end of our long bombs is always going to be handy.

There are basically no obvious decent choices of either forwards or rucks in the free market this year. Makes it a difficult task!

I can imagine you reading glossy magazines in a doctor’s waiting room, and yelling “This is preposterous!”

Yes. In reality, Grundy is just a really tall midfielder.

Well of course he does. I just hope his opinion doesn’t matter.

There’s being entitled, and then there’s being honest with yourself and doing what’s best for the club.

Yes, or “conjecture” as I said Anyway, the story will either be told in time, or most likely, remain the stuff of further quiet conjecture among supporters for some time to come. I will never understand the Hibberd decision though. He was named as an emergency, so not injured. No doubt carrying a niggle (as many would have been) but would have played out if his skin in his final match, and in turn given us a permanent forward in Smith, rather than MacDonald, who’s inclusion was nothing but a “Hail Mary” in a synagogue.

Contracted till 2028, so no effin’ way.

God help us.

The fact they haven’t announced their retirements is frustrating. It is certainly what they should be doing.