donny williams no 25

Bloooody hell!!!! You now say we have read all this rubbish for nothing?That will be a relief to young Nathan, the fact that a great judge has changed his mind! Where we were KILLED last match was in tactics in the centre at ball-ups. No-one seemed to have the faintest idea as to how to stop the ball being tapped out the back by Hawthorn rucks, directly into the path of a runner such as Mitchell. And the same happened the previous week.Hopefully that can be addressed by Jamar's inclusion, although I don't think it was P.J's fault

I could only make it to the 2nd half on Saturday. My friends told me about the great game Paul Johnson was playing. Aned even after half time he played wwell around the ground. But we were absolutely smashed in the centre. On the radio after the match I think I heard 19 centre clearances to 8 after half time. And many of them were clear-cut leading to an immediate Doggies score.Much discussion on 693 about this and its decisive effect upon the result The previous week Johnson put in a herculean effort against Cox. He'd obviously studied the video intently. I was amazed how well he matched him. But then we got slaughtered by Lynch when he went onto the ball. It's not Johnson's fault. He's done wonderfully well and we've learned something I believe. But unless you have key forwards who can take on the ruck work in the forward line--as David Schwarz did very well, you'll get caught out playing a single ruckman. On Sunday Maertin was required in defence--he couldnt help out.I saw Dunn and Sylvia contesting boundary throw ins and in the last quarter at a vital moment, Miller had to contest against Hudson right alongside our point post and the ball was whisked away to the other end. What do you think?

Two entirely different players are they not. Bell doesn't have the dogged persistence which Bartram displays week after week.Just can't picture Bell as an effective tagger. I agree with another poster, that Bartram should NEVER be entrusted with the kickouts

well he'd be very stiff! He was great in round one--one of our best and everyone raved about him. To be honest I'd say that his game that day was better than any of the games played by, eg, Jetta or Bennell since--does anyone disagree?

Bloody Hell! What did he play--3 games?And wasn't he in our best 4 or 5 in round 1. In fact wasn't everyone, coach included, raving about his game? He'd be mighty stiff to be delisted in my view. Anyone who's on the list this year and doesn't get a few games, assuming he's been available for a reasonable percentage of them, must have been judged by the coach etc, to be no good. Therefore I'd look at Bail and McNamara, unless they get a few games and do alright. We seem to have had no difficulties delisting Weetra last year, though I understood he had a contract for this year. Having said this, there's also the small matter of the Mc Namee contract--perhaps costly?

'one or two good goes at it"? I don't think so. At the 150th celebration dinner, the senior player at our table commented that the team was pleased that at last they had a tagger of a size big enough to run with the tall mobile players who have killed Melbourne in the past--I recall Embley being mentioned. The sight of Godfrey or McDonald running around with Goodes was ridiculous

Short Memories? Last year he played a heap of games as a go-with negating player and received much praise from the club for that role. It [censored] me off because I thought it was a waste of forward line talent. However I also recall that the first thing Norm Smith did with Stuart Spencer in 1952 was to place him in the back pocket, which similarly irritated my old man! Spencer in 1955/6 was the best rover in the league and I think, won at least 1 best and fairest. A few games on the backline might help Dunn, just as it helped Neitz. He has talent--stick with him!

This form of attack on Dunn [and it occurs in relation to Newton also] irritates me. I've watched him closely this year and have seen 1 occasion on which , on one view, he appeared to show not enough g and d. It was an incident in the ist quarter v Geelong, on the outer wing when a ball came over his head and he didn't mark it. Otherwise I've seen nothing and share the generally expressed irritation that he's not played regularly in attack, because he has good kicking skills--better than most of ours. He kicked half the team's goals v Adelaide and also a critical one v Richmond when they had put on a spurt in the 3rd quarter. It's interesting that this perception of cowardliness is often raised against talented forwards. Pardon me for showing my age but I vividly remember Jack Dyer--then a respected radio commentator--absolutely bagging Hassa Mann once when Hassa was about 20. I can recall exactly Jack's comment--'the least said about Hassa the better in my opinion--he doesn't go in" Well he ended up as captain, kicked a hell of a lot of goals and featured in Melbourn'es team of the century. You've got to cut these young forward types a bit of slack in my view

No--I remember Bate's first games, on a HFF, and he played well, including kicking a vital couple of goals in a Finals match v St K in his first season.His form' has dropped after he was tried as a full forward, which he aint! At a social function a few months later [Dec 2006] Neale Daniher commented that he thought that the club had recruited well that year. He named Bate, Dunn,Warnock and Bartram as likely to play 200 games for the club. A year or so later we would have thought he was mad as to Warnock--not now! Both Bate and Dunn have talent and I would stick with them, and Newton also. And as the Club rated Bartram as amongst our best last week, I can't understand how someone can suggest he should be dropped

go away and watch the tape and you' ll see why Bartram won't be at Casey any time soon and how much better was Johnson, than you have rated him

well said! And talk of watching the replay let's mention 2 others. I thought Bartram was ordinary[whilst at the game] But watching the replay showed how important he was in the 2nd half. 8 hard-ball gets--he and Miller were equal highest--sure he coughed it up a couple of times but i'm not surprised both the MFC and The Hun rated him amongst Melbourne's best. Ditto Paul Johnson-a close watch of the telly showed just how much work he did--worth a vote?I didn't think so but a much better game than I'd thought whilst at the game

I gues we have a problem that you and many others have not seen the replay.How on earth could anyone say "he was given plenty of opportunities today and he created none of them? Do yourself a favour and get a tape of the match. His first mark [ist quarter] was heavily contested, on the chest in the end. [sure, he missed the shot for goal]His first mark in the 3rd was the result of a good lead and a sliding, low contested mark.[He kicked the goal from well out] He then missed an easy goal after a good mark with the ball coming over his shoulder, but atoned in part with a decent snap a minute later. He also during this period was totally responsible for Davey's goal which resulted from a near-mark after which he followed up, got the ball against hot opposition and handpassed to Davey. At times he marked deep in defence. It was a damned good game and as Stuey Spencer has pointed out with Newton in the side the forward line had structure--something it has lacked up until now

heavens--spare us please! If I hear any more of this 'let's try to be competitive' nonsense I'll be sick! I point out again that in a 2 horse race, the loser finishes last.Prior to the seasdon this is a defeatist position and must be murder for the club trying to sell memberships. People must be queuing up to buy tickets in the club aiming for "close 2nd"

Well none of Watt or Butcher [or Baker or Candlestick maker for that matter] seem likely to don the guernsey against the shin-boners in Round 1.I'm simply saying that Newton deserves some sort of a run in a reasonable team--forget last year--none of our forwards got any easy goals from our mid-fielders ever. For a KPF to appear successful, he will have to earn a number of his kicks/goals, but it's also true that if he can move quickly and take a grab, it's likely he will receive some gifts. Neitz did--who will forget some of the passes delivered to him by Brad Green or Travis in the years when MFC was a decent team. You don't write off a player such as Newton until he's had a chance to show what he can do in a reasonable team. Our midfielders and small forwards should be able to give him decent service this year--at least better than in 2008

Hey hold on! Melb beat Brisbane at Cairns, with Newton named as our best-kicked 3 goals out of 11? Bate is not a KPF--Might be a darned good player in due course but is not big enough for CHF or FF.He's in but on a flank. I think they must play Newton for a few games. And Dunn MUST play--he's ideal for a number of tags even against Petrie around the ground. Surely Sylvia doesn't just slide back in--if so it's the hallmark of a weak adminstration

Well, on a different note--what about Meesen? How on earth did we trade for him? I read that he was to be an answer to the problems caused by huge ruckman and at 201cm that seemed right. Imagine my surprise when I saw him with White, Jamar and Paul Johnson at the dreadful TAC Cup match at Geelong last year--he's no taller than Jamar and quite a lot smaller than P.Johnson.And is there any reason to believe he can play? Andy Lovell was a bit cool on him in his post-season Sandy wrap-up. Adelaide originally picked him up as a high first-round draft I beleve--what's happened to him?Any chance?

ok--I can accept that. But don't you think they gave him a miss because of sponsorship issues? And, curiously, if I supported a club that might win a flag next year, I wouldn't pick him. I say this because such a club can't afford to be de-railed by a huge media fuss if Cousins falls off the rails.It would be too disruptive, not worth the risk.Not so disruptive at Melbourne in the next year or 2. . And I'm not seeking him because he might help win a few matches in 2009.It's the teaching of fitness, on-ball leadership, footy smarts that I'd like to see--things that might help the 19yos for 10 years to come. And the relationship with Stynes is something for the Club to work with--a real plus for Melbourne is that we have an outstanding Chairman whose whole life has been with troubled youth. It could be turned into very positive, rather than negative,publicity--which we could well use!

So you're happy to keep on the list a player who was so drunk at a night club during the season that he missed a ride home with a murderer. A talented player who's never been fit in his life. No 3 draft pick wasn't he?. You don't think that someone such as Cousins could teach C.S a thing or two about fitness, about trying so hard you're sick, even about getting the ball more than the few times he does. I repeat--you don't draft him if he's not clean. If the club is not absolutely satisfied about that and about his physical condition, hamstring etc,, forget him. If he is clean, and fit, he's the greatest bargain imaginable.

I agree with this and I'm surprised no-one appears to have mentioned another point. In my opinion the possibility of joining Cousins to a Jim Stynes lead club is realistic and very worthwhile. If any leader can help this talented but disgraced player it's Jim S. Since this issue first surfaced many matters have changed. He's no longer an expensive buy. We could have had him at no74 in the draft, and it seems, for very little money. What impresses me about this possibility is the on-field leadership he could give in the middle of the ground. We haven't had it for years. Neitz was a great leader but full forwards are in a hopeless position as captains if the game turns nasty. Cousins , in a season, could teach our on-ballers so many football 'smarts" they're not otherwise going to learn. And I agree--he's the hardest trainer in the competition. What would we give to see Colin Sylvia [as an example] bust a gut the way Cousins does. All of this is predicated on the club being satisfied that he is clean. If he's going to undertake the regime required by the AFL, then in my view he's likely to be ok. Finally, he deserves a chance. He hasn't murdered anyone or even assaulted someone has he?I'm amazed that some are so sanctimonious about cocaine when as Dr Alex Wodak from Sydney repeatedly points out, alcohol is by far the most damaging drug for Australians. We're content that players can get blind drunk, and smash people up--he deserves a go and with Jimmy at the helm we're the best club to offer it

This surprises me. I think he's arguably the greatest talent on the list, and the present "run-with" role is designed to give him more football smarts.No way he'll be dropped and in a couple of years will be a star!

the trouble is, he's not a good size! I went down to the NAB Cup match v Geelong [one of about 4 demon supporters!] largely in order to look at the recruits. I knew this bloke is said to be 201 cm. Someone has pulled the wool over our eyes. He's no taller than White/Jamar, for whom the new ruck rule has been a killer. In fact, that great day at Geelong Meesen didn't attempt to contest a single ball-up. Seemed to be playing on the wing! I agree, we've been dudded here--I heard he was the great white hope for our rucks.

Johnson[senior] took no time to become an excellent wingman! Mind you, he was a seriously respected player in W.A before coming east. As to C.J I'm delighted with his current form. One of his first games, 3 years ago? was against the Eagles in W.A. A first v second clash as I recall it. And Johnson was outstanding in the toughest environment imaginable. He can play!

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned that in the 2nd half we were killed in the rucks in the centre of the ground. Hence the quick movement by Sewell etc out of the middle.I was disappointed in Jamar's 2nd half. If White had played I believe we would have won

Bell! Must be joking.No football brain whatever. A great pity-looks a good chap

Give us a break! This bloke has played what--70 games? Of course he hasn't and he gets the ball more than most. Stick with him--the other stuff will improve