Chook

If you want to be really fit, it seems you have to walk that line between chronic injury and super endurance.

I wonder if Rohan Bail was fit enough to do this time trial. Either way, with his tweaked groin I would have been surprised to see him finish in the top three.

But every player DOES have a flaw . . .

Ironically, that's a pretty black-and-white statement (not that I'm saying it's wrong). It reminds me of the old Jedi saying "Only Sith deal in absolutes." Derp.

Colin Sylvia is also bashed for not being consistent or defensive enough. Ricky Petterd copped his share too, before turning his defensive efforts around. So generally everyone takes criticism for this kind of thing if they deserve it. Brad Green would know that better than anyone. I do, however, agree with your observation that stereotypes exist around indigenous players. I can't think of many who haven't been labelled 'exciting' or 'fast' during their careers, simply because of their skin colour. For example, Austin Wonaeamirri and Neville Jetta both regularly get described as having lots of pace, when neither of those guys are very quick at all.

All right then. Maybe I'm just complaining about the manner in which you and others are discussing the issue. I do feel like it's worth talking about, but that the time has passed for feeling cheated, hard done-by or swindelled (if there even is ever a time for that at all). You (and others) were talking about how we have to "unearth" the depths of the lies and double-dealing which has supposedly gone on over the past few months, and I'm just saying that there's nothing we can really do about that, other than pay attention to what those close to the issue (journalists, administrators, players and their families) have to say about it. We're not vigilantes or crime-fighters, merely individuals with an unusually strong interest in a game. Don't take it too seriously is all.

SCULLY (About this thread): That's ridiculous, Mulder! There is nothing to support that. I'll buy that Scully wanted to leave, but to say that he planned it years in advance - it's, it's crazy!

You're not discussing anything. You're complaining. I read Caro's article too, but I didn't start whingeing about the implications of what she described, nor did I bury my head in the sand about it. As far as I'm concerned, people like Caroline Wilson - who actually do discuss the issue - are more than welcome to continue doing so, since it is important. What I'm against is the idea that everyone with a mouth and ten fingers should feel compelled to spout conspiracy theories and generally over-blow the facts, which really only clouds the issue further. TLDR: Caroline Wilson is discussing the issue, but you're not.

What a sad post. Not worrying about strangers is not the same as allowing corruption. You can pay attention to the news (the guys who actually 'drip feed' us the information) and even care about it intensely, but you don't have to continually complain about how ripped off you were and how screwed we all are because of it.

I'm sorry, but this thread screams 'MOON LANDING WAS FAKED!!!' to me. Let's all just get on with our lives and leave Tom Scully to his comfortable, likely chaste - and certainly sober - life.

People put way too much emphasis on hands crossed in front of you, IMO. I do it all the time, and half the reason I do it is I've got to put my arms somewhere. Dangling at my side just doesn't really do it for me, so I cross 'em. Of course, I don't do it in front of my boss, for fear of what kind of message it brings.

I agree. Even if it were a stroke of genius, I don't think it's his place to comment on stuff like this. EDIT: Was/were. Yes, I am a grammar Nazi - even to my own posts.

Hopefully you never get accused of something you didn't do.

Personally, I prefer the "I couldn't care less" version done by The Flying Lizards. It's great!

That's quite a wrap you've given him. I'm up there with his biggest supporters and could certainly understand the reasoning behind making him captain, but I don't have quite as much faith in him as all that.

I'm sure there are stain removers that can get rid of that unsightly ink mark on your otherwise fine jumper . .

Yes, you're right - I wish I didn't feel that way about Brad Green, and it was certainly unnecessary. All said, perhaps I should have kept that particular thought to myself, but there it is.

Is it? I don't know. I've heard the same thing over and over from Greeny for at least a year. To be honest, I'm not particularly annoyed at his performance, because he's got company in that department; however, I am fed up with the kind of answers he gives. That's why I have no interest in anything he has to say . . . at the moment. And to Rhino Richards, I do have an interest in who is Melbourne's next captain. That's why I posted in this thread, which is not just about Brad Green. Brent Moloney might be a better choice for 2012 than Brad Green, and I'm hoping to receive some news about the role, if not now then later in the year.

I currently have no interest in anything Brad Green has to say.

I reckon the Joke Watts videos are hilarious. Of course I love Jack Watts, and I always knew he'd grab the star and become invincible one day (to use a Super Mario analogy), which is why I could laugh at all those comical videos of him stuffing up. In reality, his errors were just as much because of our horrendous forward structure as anything. The other one was against the Bulldogs this year. Cale Morton made one of the most obvious look away handballs you will ever see, which was eagerly intercepted by some Bulldogs player and sent right over Cale's head for a goal. Sickening yet hilarious all at the same time.

I remember reading an article written by Grant Thomas about Jack Watts and Nick Riewoldt spending some time together at a party, which sort of backs up the St Kilda theory.

I don't think that's true. In my opinion, a ruckman is one of the only players that can play pretty much just as well in a weak side as in a strong one. His major job is almost always a one-on-one battle against the opposing team's ruckman, and any round-the-ground possessions or marks he takes are just as dependent upon everyone else in the team as your average player is. Don't get me wrong - I think that Mark Jamar IS one of the best ruckman in the AFL. I just don't think his performance is all that dependent upon his team-mates. Cox and Sandilands, who are two of the best ruckmen in the game, recently made the all-Australian top 40 (or better) even though their sides performed poorly. I think that shows that their roles are not as dependent upon their team-mates as you might think

Try playing a game of footy without running. It's pretty difficult - not to mention the fact that anyone who plays one of the so 'real' sports knows that if you want to get fit, you run. Running takes balls, footballers just play with them.

He must be referring to Leroy Brown, our new forward-line coach.

Perhaps it's because we're relatively good at the 'quick movement through the corridor' side of the game and relatively poor at its 'methodical movement around the boundary' counterpart. As you've alluded to, Mark Neeld also has some direct knowledge of how to operate effectively using the second method, and is likely to be sticking to what he knows best.