rpfc

I am tracking some stats for the team against what we did last year and how we are going against our opponents. I might do an update next week or the week after. The signs are promising but we are still being beaten quite easily in most categories. Clearances are a worry but our mids are new, young, NQR, or 1 person so that will have to be something we get to see improvement in later.

Liking the look of those uncontested ball winners and the numbers... I will have to bump my uncontested possession thread if it keeps up.

I never tell people to stop discussing a topic. What is the point? This is an Internet forum - people can write what they like, if I pushed people to back up their arguments then that is what you are misinterpreting. I have made the point that 'moving on' is healthy but no skin off my nose if you want to Moloko.

There is nothing wrong with judging that trade. It may be a little premature, but discussing its merits doesn't stop just because it can't be reversed. Imagine if you didn't discuss things just because they happened in the past. What would happen to the History Channel?

I wonder if people have a different opinion of Frawley now. His value is going up. The thing about losing him is not just losing a very good player (that's bad remember - you always complain about that), you are also hamstrung in Free Agency once again. We won't want to go after players as it will dilute our probable Pick 3-5 compensation for Frawley. I hope we keep him and he will be well paid - we don't have much talent to pay, so the talent we do have is overpaid. Deal with it.

There is no fuss, that's why I like him. And a chance under Roos. Again, 'everyone has a clean slate, except for players I don't like/rate.'

I can see where everyone is coming from but I just don't see enough to justify the plaudits that he gets. He is a matchwinner, but doesn't do it often. Players that are asking to be paid what he is asking, do more than he does, more consistently. He really should not have been AA last year but that has been a bit of running parody of itself for a while now.

Would love to see Jetta make it... Hope he gets a chance soon.

And the latest 'no effort, doesn't care' whip applied to Frawley was shown up...

Nothing of any substance? It depends on how much people read into my 'word' - as an anonymous poster - that a relative of mine is the consultant to the Tasmanian Govt on, amongst other things, the relationship with the AFL and any push for an AFL team. People can, and will, judge my posts for themselves. I will try to get an update in the next few days for those concerned.

Cometti-ism - "Simpson with delusions of adequacy." Apologies if it has been posted.

Poor fella - maybe this explains a bit but even if it doesn't - I hope he uses this to come back stronger (and quicker)... Good luck to him.

At a club where, even when we were good, we were worried about application 'on the day' - Jordie is a coach's godsend. Every single day and twice on Sundays. At some point I will move past 186 but who was the beacon in the night during that game?

The latter is more visible...I think it's more important. The notion of 'learn by not having to do' - we asked kids to do far too much, too soon and if they had a cross or a Vince to take the burden then the steps to achievement are smaller and more manageable.

'A million monkeys at a million typewriters' comes to mind...

When he says he is a role player, he isn't talking himself down - he is just pointing out that he has a very defined role (like we saw on the weekend) and that unless you are an expansive player capable of some special things you should stick to the basic tasks that define your role. For him it is spaces to lead into, avoid, where to create space for others, where to direct te ball at contests et al. Simple stuff that I haven't seen a great deal of over the years at Melbourne - everyone has seemed to 'wing it' when they get the footy. And they haven't been good enough to do that well.

He's a natural footy player with confidence and skills. Who knew that that was the type of player to draft?

Today was nothing? If we lose next week, next week will be close to nothing. This week will be last week - and evidence to the players that they are capable. Today was not nothing no matter what happens next week.

lol at those saying Grimes lifted. He does what he did every week, some of you just get 'taken' by his occasional clanger. It's hard to look good when you are in the middle of everything down at the Dees.

Welcome back fellas (and shielas). Don't forget. You're here forever.

We did the trade for a 'ready to go body' to help Jones. Kelly wouldn't be that and unless you are going to get a star you may as well draft down and get some value. I don't think you are being genuine when you compare Tyson and Kelly. One is three years older and has some weight to throw around. Just what we need - a big body, not more bodies...

You cannot judge that trade 3 games in and not sound foolish. It looks a good trade at this stage but don't kid yourself that you know how it turns out.

It's unprovable isn't it? Development or Recruiting? I am still yet to see a kid hampered by our development flourish in another environment. Maybe Bennell will be that proof... 2001 to 2004 saw us draft Molan, Smith, Bell, Sylvia, McLean, Bate and Dunn with top 15 picks. A couple wasted picks, a couple of teasers, a couple of solid players and one tardy professional. 2005 saw us draft a battling mid with an early pick with a low ceiling but a readiness to play right away - enter the unfashionable Nathan Jones. 2006 had Frawley and Garland chosen. Both players struggled early but have become highly sought after professionals. 2007 had Morton and Maric chosen early and both were not good enough to cut it at other clubs when they were moved on. 2009 had Gysberts chosen early and moved on with, again, the determination made that he wasn't good enough at a second club. 2010 Cook was chosen early - spurned after two years and no other club saw fit to rookie him. 2011 saw us trade away our early pick but there are zero players from any draft (Nat, PS, Rookie) that year that is still on our list. I will leave it there but I look at the facts and largely see poor drafting and talent evaluation, and wasted talent and poor development at the fringes.

No excuses now on that score. If we have players that have been the victim of poor development then they will shine through now. I don't think that will be many players - I don't see a great deal of talent amongst a lot of our list and Roos is not going to be able to get blood from a stone. Loved to be proved wrong.

I picked a hell of a day to stop sniffing glue.