rpfc

How does 'to be fair' apply to that sentence? And, rpfc will make a great coach. Let's not kid around with that. How was I settling on that? I gave rhetorical questions about the fact that Watts needs to improve on his physicality, and ten good games last year. Of course, he needs to improve in 2012, but 2012 hasn't happened yet, all that has happened is 2011 - when he, from a slow start, powered through the middle of the year and finished 9th in the best and fairest. Who saw that coming? Hell, C&B likened him to a woman in the early rounds of 2011 and now he is forever taking a speccie in his signature... On exposed form, we have reason to be pleased with how Watts is progressing and not alluding to a disappointing 2011 - he didn't have one. Well, rpfc isn't a nuff-nuff, and nor is he unwilling to criticise players who deserve it. I don't think many on this forum would forget the rants concerning the Leadership Group of 2011... So I think you have to put away that chestnut about 'rose coloured glasses'... Considering you have labelled him to become either a 'good number one pick' of an 'elite number one pick' he isn't another 'player who has played 50 games' is he? Your expectations of him are probably so high because of that fact and that is entirely understandable - we see Gibbs and Murphy and Nik Nat and we won't him to hurry up but shifting the goalposts is unfair. He is expected to do more in 2012 than he did in 2011 but he gave every indication in 2011 that his game will continue to progress in the areas of consistency and physicality.

I am happy with what's said in that article. It affirms Jack's training habits, his future as the tall forward few people thought he could be only 12 months ago, his position as a foil for Clark, and mentions, for a third of the article, the 'leaders' from last year and the expectations on them. We all want to read alot into a short article in The Age but it mentions Sellar and the 'leaders' from last year as much as Jack, so I don't think this is Neeld 'holding Watts' feet to the fire.'

Oh, Watts needs to improve on the ten good games he played last year?! He needs to improve his physicality?! You get frustrated by the MFC's 'soft' supporters? I get frustrated with those supporters who shift the goalposts for this team and its players. Watts had a good 2011, a number of supporters didn't think it would be as good as it was. But here we are and they can't see the forest for the trees. Why don't we keep the fire on the feet of those who actually didn't live up to expectations last year: Green, Davey, Petterd, the midfield as a whole, Moloney against decent teams, etc. This desire to keep Watts 'dancing' (that is a reference to shooting bullets at his feet) is getting tiresome for all concerned. Let's see how he reacts to the new FD and the preseason and actually wait until April to cast judgement.

And so it is written - his attack on the ball will now be beyond reproach! The mighty anti-oracle has spoken!

Does anyone else hate the term "break out game" or "break out year"? Can't one be consistent? Does one have to kick 4 in a final to beat Carlton in an amazing come-from-behind win to cap a stellar rookie season? Because what happens once a player does that? Do they go on to deliver on that promise? Do they become the star that the fans have been literally crying out for? Evidence says no.

Four stars is generous. Cliched nonsense for the most part. Some good politics and then they said "f*** it, let's just churn out the 'sex with intern [censored]' that we always do" halfway through. 2 stars from rpfc.

I doubt there would be berries... I think it would be fruitless...

I doubt there would be anything close to a banana in there...

It's funny how the 'forever thus' has morphed into, after the decades of failure, into a writ of perpetual failure, a promise of eventual doom. First step would be to grow out of that.

This is the killer for me. It's a difficult situation, but to land yourself a job in which you are getting paid ten times more than you should be on the back of your sons talent illustrates pathetic character. It tells me all I need to know about that family.

'Family code'? When someone reaches a certain level of importance and self-importance and arrogance they start to revel in their own hubris, and to be so unreflective as to say this is quite startling. I think he has only a short time left before the commission has to move past him. What an effing ridiculous thing to say in the name of PR in the northern states. Just ridiculous.

7 days to go!!

Well you do know how to make unfortunate allusions to the Holocaust... That's...something.

I don't think Neeld was saying his role was to beat a tag. I think he will be given a specific role; as a forward pocket at the feet of Clark with responsibility for the forward press, a HBF role with an emphasis on both defence and attack, or as a high flanking role similar to what Sylvia does but without the marking ie. get to contests and move out the back or get the hands off. He seems to have lost all confidence when given an undefined role to 'get the footy' in the middle and he needs to get back to what he did in 2010 and then move into what he did in 2009. Looking forward to the effect the new coaching group will have on all the players but especially our senior players like Davey.

Of course he would have done this, RB. This honesty will make or break some players. But I would prefer we settle who is ready to put the work in now so we can stop wasting our time with those are wasting theirs. And to personalise it - t'll with either make Jurrah a great player or it will not... But talent like his deserves the chance at greatness.

9 days to go.

9 days to go!

Words feel inadequate but we are lucky to have touched the life of a young man and he ours. The eternity of the internet and the power of this site allow his intellect and passion to be seen past his time and that is a great thing. Condolences to his family and friends.

Anything he says will be juxtaposed against Bailey but that does not mean he is casting judgement. Why bother. Geelong and about 8 other sides judged us in 2011...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mark-neelds-hardline-approach-to-lift-dees-out-of-the-doldrums/story-e6frf9jf-1226193168855 He is going to annoy some people at the club...

14 days to go.

Just caught up with this. Nelson Cruz just lost a World Series. Unbelievable.

Was really good for about 3 months. I think he will be special. He has always had the footy IQ, and the workrate has been there since 2009, now he has the hunger for the contest and confidence in his size and ability. I'm going to enjoy his career.

You have family and friends who love you. Maybe Demonland should have a 'Beyond Blue' sticky thread...

I know your pain... My name is rpfc, and I post at Demonland. Hello rpfc...