Bender

Here is my team Kane Munro, Michael J. Clark, Marcus Pickett Steven Greene, Blake Campbell, Allen Murray Jeremy Humm, Rod Crowe, Tom Davidson Ben Finnin, Simon Cox, Josh Houlihan Darren Walsh, Brad Murphy, Scott Bassett Tim Fleming, Bill Nicholls, Greg Edgcumbe, Josh Thewlis See what they have in common...they are all crap and went after 25. The reality is that after 20 or so its really about the quality of the recruiters. Collingwood have been able to capitalise over the last few years as has geelong. Sure there are some good players after 25 but they are harder to find. We can't tell yet how good Bailey and the recruitment boys are at spotting hidden talent. So until then lets just be happy with our top 3 picks and hope they don't stuff them up!

Why thank you Magic. In all the madness of Trade week and good old TJ leaving it was time we had some fun! If I took the cake then I'll wear that with pride.

Well in all the talk this week of some West Coast player...I think its Morton, or Judd or something. Look who ever he is people seem to think he is an ok player. But somehow everyone seems to have missed what is no doubt the biggest acquisition in football history. His name is John Meesen! In his three years at the crows his stats are amazing. Let’s all take a look back... In round 21 he set Football Park alight with what was touted as the best first game of the century. With an unprecedented 4 kicks 2 handballs and 2 of the best marks you will see, Meesen was a firm favourite for the Brownlow. Many say they heard Leigh Mathews scream "Jesus that the best kid I've ever seen...makes Vossy look like a 6 year old girl." The question was...would this goliath be able to do it again? Well the simple answer is yes! In his next week with a 1 kick 1 handball 3 hitout match against the Bulldogs he became the premier ruckman of the comp. He set up the victory with what some people called, "Magic like abilities." Many say they saw shades of Polly Farmer…most say they saw so much better. It was then found out that this man could not only play but could draw as well. People around the Facebook community simply couldn’t believe their eyes at Meesen’s stunning drawings of Penis’s with arms. Worthy of Da Vinci praise this boy has many talents And now my good Demon friends...THE CROW HAS LANDED! Does this mean a premiership this year...Yes! Does it mean another 5 after that...Yes! So lets all sing the song. It’s a grand old flag....

With the draft almost over a few things seem to be clear. 1) Bailey is a man who is not scared to make the changes he feels are necessary. Getting rid of plenty or older talent with brown, godfrey, ward, trav, biz. I thought brown had another year left but hey maybe it was time. So we seem to be starting fresh...which is most likely the right move. 2) Jamar and PJ are not going to be Melbourne no. 1 rucks when white leaves. With the pick up of Meesen it seems that Jamar is dead weight as he can't play forward or back. Not to mention PJ has a very long way to go. 3) Bailey seems to not be worried about our crappy backline. We have rivers coming back but Bailey was ready to get rid of Carrol. This seems odd as we really have very little doing down back. Carrol, Wheatly, Wealen, Rivers, Bell wouldn't really scare any strong forward line. Does this mean he will pick up another backman with pick 14? 4) Brad Miller is a survivor. How that man can keep on staying around the club is amazing. I will put it down to him having passion and being a good clubman behind the scenes. I have no idea why they wanted him so bad and I would have taken schneider from sydney in a heartbeat. So what do we expect...is melbourne being groomed for the finals next year or are we doing a rebuild from the ground up. Personally I just want to see a huge change in culture and if we are lucky a real star to emerge. Nietz is going soon and brock likes to hit people in other countries so who will step up this year. We know little about Bailey’s big picture so the choices made over some players are a few clues. I seems hard to really know what his major plan is but if he beat out every other coach for the job I hope it's a really good one. I guess we can wait and see but some moves are a bit odd. I just hope we aren't settling for an average 'Lets just give the kids a go' year. Lets aim for allot more in our 150th year with our only 300 gamer as captain! This really needs to be a big year for the Dees...might have to buy a membership. Nah stuff it, Brad Miller can buy one for me. It’s the least he can do!

I simply can't believe that the paper and the TV are going with this Judd story. Everyone seems to forget that Melbourne just secured Meesen. Yes that’s right the Crow has landed should be front page news!! Stuff JUDD we have MEESEN lets all sing the tune now! I know I am! It's times like these you need to cheer for something...right?

Melbourne need members. For that you often need a bit of flash like a Franklin, brown, abllet to get supporters to turn up each week. We have Davey as that role but unfortunately he pales in comparison to many of those other names. Simply I am saying that we need a face, someone who is special. Other then Davey that was Johnstone. A few years ago against Adelaide he kicked 4 in one of the great finals. And when he is on there is no better sight in the Dees jumper. So that is a big lose regardless of if he is terrible around the club. So it’s looking like a more lifeless, mediocre Melbourne next year unless Sylvia and Davey can have good years. Problem is we need membership now more then ever so lets hope they trade someone exciting in the club. Or use that pick 14 and get the next selwood. One can dream…

Sherman is supposedly out of favour, that’s why there is a trade option there. As for Wood going high in the draft two years ago that doesn't really matter. Messen went at pick 8 a few years ago but we will be getting him for a 3rd round pick. There are heaps of ruckmen flying around this year, with Moran, King, Jamar (I would hope) and a few others. So to give up so much for Wood who is a second ruckman and a very thin one would seem a bit much. Not to mention a player as well! If 14 is the best we can get for Trav then that will be the deal, but we are also paying 400,000 of his contract. It seems they are so desperate to get rid of him they will do it at any cost. I find it hard to believe he is that bad around the club.

Is it not amazing that Cameron Wood is worth pick 14 and Shaw?! That’s a hefty price that if I were Collingwood I would not be giving. They can have Jamar for a quarter of that price! Not to mention that we should be pushing for pick 14 and either a very late pick or a very young average player such as a Sherman from Brisbane. This whole think feels like Melbourne are just desperate to get rid of Johnstone, but only Brisbane are making the smart moves. 14 is not bad...but lets get some more for our slickest player!

It is very possible that TJ is like a child. I remember brownlow night when he was licking everyone’s face...I don't think they will be inviting him back. He is however very important depending on who gets injured next year. With a tougher midfield of jones, brock and Jmac then our receivers Tj, Green, Bruce, Yze can hopefully get allot more of the ball out of congestion and kicking to our forward line. Look at any successful clubs they keep their disposal kings and ensure they roam the packs. Kind of like malcescki or P burgoyne. The real problem here is getting rid or Jamar while he still has a bit of value. He was injured so clubs will hope he can improve and jump on him. Big players are too hard to find. If we get meesen then Jamar needs to go for a second round pick. This year looks to be a good draft. And in other news I was sad to hear that B miller may be off the table. I don't know what he does behind the scenes to keep his place every year but It’s time we drop him like a lead balloon. He plays 1 good game every year. 1! that’s it. He needs to go! But unless TJ is a complete [censored] he should stay.

Fair point Bob. Although a few things...as far as I know and I may be wrong, statistically Jolly and Everitt were the strongest for a ruck duo. As far as marks or goals I'm sure Port or Geelong had them. But this whole thing about Jolly being crap is very odd. I wouldn't call him a crap player, not when it is so hard to find mobile ruckmen. Also PJ was very new when we got him and had done little in the ruck. I don’t see him ever taking over from White or whoever we get. And we never really groomed him as a ruck. The simmonds trade seems terrible to me and always has. Just my opinion. And yes white is a warrior but football has changed. When he used to play full games it was not uncommon for ruckmen to play on the field from start to finish. But not anymore, he has been struggling with the workload, and just like friaser did it for a year and stuffed his body I think that whites time will be up quicker then it should.

Jolly wants to come back to Melbourne...as far as I know we didn't try too hard to keep him.

Stynes was pushed aside. It put White in a tough 1 man show which may have taken miles of his long term career. Although that was no. 5 so its not the worst thing they have done. Matt Rosa may not be a champ yet, but PJ is a bit of a joke. poor tap ability, slow, bad below the knees, can't play full forward, can’t take a strong overhead mark and too slow for the backline. Now I agree he could come along with a bit more time but a slick midfielder like Rosa who averaged more then 22 possies, kicks goals and had an amazing final series would be my pick. And yes we may not have picked him. The jolly one is simple. Look at the premiers of the last few years. They have big body, heavy duty ruck duos. Coz/Seaby - Ottens/king - Lade/brogan - Charman/keating. Jolly may have wanted to go, but letting a big ruckman like that walk out for a mid sized defender has caused allot of crap coming from out midfield. Although I do like Belly…how can you not! And yes we did trade Simmo to freo but he ended up at richmond. I'm sure if he stayed at Freo he would have still been good. Where he went doesn’t matter it’s the consistent trading of big body ruckman that are invaluable. That’s why I think we have been so badly hurt in that area and need to fix it up for future success.

What is with the Dees history of stuffing around our ruck division? We really need to fix it! Here are the top 5 ruck stuff ups in the last 10 years. 5 - Getting rid of Stynes so white could be no. 1 forgetting the fact that a backup champion ruckman is quite handy. 4 - picking up paul johnson for a pick the ended up being Matt Rosa! 3 - Letting Jolly go to Sydney and become the half of the best ruck duo in the afl. 2 - Watching Simmo go to tigers and almost have an all Australian year. (For Craig ellis no less, who missed the first few games of the season for belting Nieta the year before!) 1 - Well there is no 1 yet, but with jamar trades looming and a very old and tired jeff white I feel like the no. 1 spot is about to be filled out. Can't wait to see what they do to keep the ruck curse going!

I think the real reason would have to be the issues that westcoast were going to have with the pies. They dont like trading with each other and the Pies refused to give away anything special like didak, thomas or pendy. So I can assume that Judd saw that the pies (his real choice) was going to be impossible and bit the bullet with a choice of Carlton, who can give him what ever he wants.

Well we need to be proud and stop sucking up! It easy to see here that Judd is like the school jock, and we are like that weird girl who sits in the back of class tasting misery items that have been left under the desk. Then Judd comes along and says that we are a possible option to be taken to the ‘enchanted under the sea dance’. Of course Judd is just making us feel better about being a loser. He really wants to take some sexy blond with bad hamstrings. And thus our heart is broken. Well no more! Let’s stand up for our proud club! We may not be a cheerleader but let’s just say hey “Your loss” And as if we are impressive to be in the running. Judd did name us...If the Kangaroos nearly got Judd from this point THAT’S IMPRESSIVE! Its allot less impressive when you have a 1/4 chance and come last! Its just statistics guys.