sylvinator

He is finally showing some desire to will contests... but I think it is still important to keep in mind that he will only get better in this aspect as he gets closer and closer to 100kg. He's currently at 90kg, if he can keep that same running ability and pace, with the added muscle, he could be VERY scary

True, but doesn't change the cold hard truth that this will cut our club very very deep. It will jeapardise our chances of being 'team of the decade'

Why can't we still be based in Casey, but just have a stand alone VFL team? Casey Scorps wouldn't survive without MFC funding, so we would be the only VFL team based in Casey. At the end of the day it probably would make a 5% difference having our own team... but premiership can be won and loss due to that last 1-2%! I don't really think we've been compromised much though by VFL players this season... for much of a the year the senior team has had 14+ MFC players in it. Fevola seems to be helping out the young forwards and the panic that he'd destroy the development of our players has proved unfounded

I thought he showed some excellent form last night- clearly still an elite runner with great pace. We know he can take a mark and took a few really nice ones last night. If he brushes up on his decision-making and starts to go in a bit harder at the footy he will be more than a fringe player- he could be in the top 50 players in the AFL. He is so far away from that right now it's not funny- but some of his attributes are absolutely elite. He was drafted with huge upside potential (much like Watts) and it may still take another couple of years before it all comes together. Some people forget how young he still is

Like Morton and Bennel, I'm glad Petterd was dropped a couple of times bc he really really needed a kick up to back side- his intensity and willingness to win the contested ball was severely lacking. But... must like Morton and Bennel, Petterd has WAY too much talent to be languishing at VFL for too long. He's one of the most talented players in the team. If he learns to play with a bit more DaisyThomas-esk grunt, he could become a great player. He will be back soon

By your amount of posts and your join date, surely you'd be used to it by now Extreme mood swings on demonland is the norm! It's funny and I like it

Prendergast's article on him earlier this season was very enlightening. I think Prendergast is spot on when he compares to Malceski, Gilbee and Shaw (the best attacking half back runners in the AFL over the past few seasons)- he astutely points out that these type of players often 'break out' when their team in a top 8 team winning games regularly. I think it will be the same for Strauss, if we start winning and controlling games, he will be able to shine more, have less pressure defensively and will be able to focus more on using his kicking as an attacking weapon. He's had 2 seasons ruined by injuries, so this season he's mostly been developing at VFL. From what I've gathered from VFL reports, he's developed nicely, particuarly his defensive part of his game His football education will continue for another couple of years, but considering it was his 3rd AFL game, that performance was certainly something build on. Could be a real weapon for us in a few years he shows potential

+1. Trengove especially... god he's just an absolute beauty. Yes Dustin Martin looks a freak, but god you could never trade in Scully or Trengove for anybody

Young ruckman can look a little retarded at times, but can't wait to watch his development over the next few years! Great effort for a first-gamer 19 yr old ruckman against 3 very high quality ruckman

+1 The success story of the year. With every injury there's a silver lining. If Jamar hadn't gotten injured Martin would never have gotten an extended run in the ruck. We can feel comfortable with Jamar as number and Martin as number 2 , can at least break even with any combo in the league

Garland, Rivers and Chip... yeoowwww. Other team would beg for that

To me he looks a bit like a Petterd, but 7cm taller, a more reliable kick and much better tackling/1%ers/agression. Really really like the look of him. I still maintain we've got plenty of talent in the forward line: Jurrah, Howe, Watts, Petterd, Green with Cook to come through... we just desperately need a big bulky tall and a quality small forward to complete the mix

Whatever happens he absolutely shouldn't be sacked mid-season. It would de-stabilise the club a lot and I can't see any positives coming out of it. If we get access to a Malthouse or a Roos we'd be crazy not to pursue them at season's end, but till then Bailey stays. Plus we all know that Bailey will keep a focus on developing the team. He's not a selfish coach and would never sacrifise team development for his own gain (unlike that shmuk who coached us in the latter part of 2006? was it, who kept playing the oldies instead of developing the youngsters when he was caretaker coach for 7-8 rounds)

God I love Jordie. Like Jonesy, he actually loves the hardball and wants to go in a feel the hard hit! LOVE IT! Gysberts, Scully, Trengove, Mckenzie is a great young midfield to work on. Add Morton on a wing (who i really liked tonight) + Bail, Grimes, Nicholson, Evans = a lot of young midfield talent to add to Moloney, Jones and Sylvia.

Plenty of premierships won without tall dominant key forward- Wet Toast and Geelong the most prominant in recent memories. If we want our forwards to kick bags of goals we need to start getting into the forward line more than 30 times a game ffs. Premiership midfields give their forward an easy ride- the same cannot be said in the melbourne forward line. And btw... Watts and Cook will be a better combination with Hawkins and Mooney ever were. Add to that Howe, Jurrah, Petterd and Green as medium forwards, and we have plenty of forward options come our shot at the premiership. It is really up to our midfield to develop into a star-studded midfield. If they do, we'll have a shot at a flag.

Bailey knows we would be more competitive with Petterd, Bate, Dunn... all big bodies and solid campaigners. However they needed to be taught a lesson. they won't get in the team until they start doing the team things and 1%ers, and in the mean team, 18 yr olds, who clearly won't contribute very much, will go ahead of you. I've liked the way Bailey and the match committee all year have dropped players who need to be taught a lesson, especially guys like Petterd, Morton and Bennel who have been rightly dropped through the season

I have a feeling Martin will be playing quite a bit in defence whenever Ryder or Hille push forward. Martin is a solid defender Gawn to have big responsibility as centre bounces, good luck young man!

Match committee continues to make mostly excellent decisions at the selection table.

Blease and Howe? Strauss and Gawn honourable mentions

Because players are able to see where the team is headed. Young group developing and improving together, the players can see upclose every single day the talent of the group- Watts, Grimes, Scully, Trengove, Garland, Frawley, Tapscott, Bennel, Jurrah, Petterd, Howe, Cook etc While some of these players are injured and others are still developing as footballers, a blind man could see that this group is going places. Most of these guys are under 24 years old and are willing to wait a year or two in order to be part of 'the team of the decade'

Footy changes quicker than you think. Things could 'click' very quickly and these times will be instantly forgotten.

There's always a silver lining. - Jamar's injury gives Martin his first real extended chance at taking ownership over the ruck role= success - Bruce quiting the club opened up a spot at half back for Luke Tapscott, who until the hammy, proved he has elite kicking and great attributes to play off half back - McDonald's being pushed into retirement opened up a midfield tagging/inside role for Rohan Bail, who (until injured) showed he could be a long term midfield prospect as well as Gysberts to take on a more important midfield role, and he's been excellent That's 3 simple examples Now for the opportunties that could arise out of our more recent problems: - Our defence (Grimes + Bartram + Garland + Tappy) all being injured could pave the way for Strauss, Blease and Tom McDonald to get a few games under their belt - Our defensive woes have given Watts an opportunity to play a bit off half-back, which is great for his development and has given him a bit of confidence having a break from playing in the hardest position in the entire AFL (the Melbourne forward line) - Davey's injury could see extra games pumped into Nicholson and Evans- let's see what they're made of We're also going to see in the second half of the year if some players will crumble. Guys like Morton and Bennel are 2 guys who could take being dropped and turn it into a position. Still plenty of time to finish the year on a high. Or do they fall by the way-side. At least we'll know. Go dees

It would. Take Murphy, Judd and Gibbs out of Carlton, and they are not a top 4 team. Take Jamar, Scully, Trengove, GRimes, Garland, Tapscott and Bail out of Melbourne and we go from a 7th-10th team, to a bottom 4 team

Him and Morton should still be in VFL but lack of personelle killed us

Maric? I reckon he's shown a heap so far this season, his first year he's had a real crack in the senior team. Still extremely young and in every game he's played I notice that he's involved in several goals every single match (whether kicking them or setting them up). He also is applying good defensive pressure. He has a heap of promise imo. Dunn- is out of form, absolutely no way he's delistable material though. Is capable of putting in really performances at AFL level, as was proven by his 2010 season. Strauss- no way he'll be delisted, first 2 years ruined with injury. This his 3rd season and he's proven to be dominant at VFL level. Got to give him a chance at least to show he can make it at AFL level. Also plays in a position that we really need on our list (HBF) Bate- too good a player to delist, but would love to send him packing to GWS for a 2nd rounder