Whispering_Jack

Durdin a draft diamond

Vic Metro coach praises TAC Cup coaches for producing another talented group of AFL hopefuls

Round 18 MFC Injury List Shannon Byrnes (foot) – season Daniel Cross (leg) – 2-3 weeks Michael Evans (AC joint/shoulder) – 2-3 weeks Jesse Hogan (back) – 3-4 weeks Jayden Hunt (back) – 3-4 weeks Max King (knee) – 2-3 weeks Jake Spencer (ankle) – season Jimmy Toumpas (appendicitis) – 4-5 weeks Jack Trengove (foot) – season

Statistics * Dom Barry 3 goals 1 point 9 disposals 6 kicks 3 handballs 3 marks 52 Dream Team Points * Sam Blease 2 goals 2 behinds 24 disposals 15 kicks 9 handballs 2 marks 6 tackles 107 Dream Team Points * Mitch Clisby 1 point 28 disposals 13 kicks 15 handballs 6 marks 6 tackles 103 Dream Team Points * Jack Fitzpatrick 2 goals 3 points 16 disposals 13 kicks 3 handballs 11 marks 3 tackles 34 hit outs 133 Dream Team Points * Max Gawn 1 goal 1 point 26 disposals 12 kicks 14 handballs 4 marks 5 tackles 80 hitouts 187 Dream Team Points * Alexis Georgiou 13 disposals 7 kicks 6 handballs 3 marks 5 tackles 57 Dream Team Points * James Harmes 31 disposals 12 kicks 19 handballs 7 marks 4 tackles 106 Dream Team Points * Jay Kennedy-Harris disposals 13 kicks 12 handballs 2 marks 1 tackle 74 Dream Team Points * Viv Michie 1 goal 29 disposals 18 kicks 11 handballs 4 marks 6 tackles 109 Dream Team Points * Dan Nicholson 25 disposals 18 kicks 7 handballs 8 marks 4 tackles 100 Dream Team Points * James Strauss 1 goal 25 disposals 16 kicks 9 handballs 4 marks 6 tackles 106 Dream Team Points * Maia Westrupp 7 disposals 4 kicks 3 handballs 4 marks 4 tackles 46 Dream Team Points

I don't think you have it quite right there. The facilities were built and the ground was first used when the Casey Scorpions were in an an alignment with St. Kilda. Melbourne came along a few years later.

Actually Bob. I don't think Jack Trengove's testing serves your argument very well here at all because if Petracca and Brayshaw test as well for their endurance, they would be definite shoe ins in terms of their ability as footballers to run in games.Also, one of the last players I recall whose style was criticised for relying on power at under age level was Ollie Wines. I believe there are some around Demonland who may have regrets that we overlooked him. Of course, it works both ways because others knocked Jackson McRae because he was a virtual unknown in junior circles and people had no idea about his stamina. Although physical testing remains important, there are other tests you need to apply and that is whether a kid can actually play football. I think we finally now have recruiters who can discern that a lot better than the mug who had the job a few years ago.

As far as Petracca is concerned, my information is that he ticks all the boxes except endurance running which he's tested at about average in the past. I'm told he's been making a very determined effort to improve his tank and I suppose the testing at the Draft Camp or whatever it's called these days will give us a good indication. What I like though is that he obviously has a desire to improve himself and to work very hard to get there. As for Brayshaw, one of my contacts at the Sandringham Dragons has compared him favourably with Ollie Wines saying he's similar on a number of levels but has silkier skills. Interestingly, Brayshaw was among the best for the Dragons today while Billy Stretch did likewise yesterday at Glenelg in the SANFL.

Thanks Bob, there's more than a hint of how our recruiting staff completely failed the club during the period of time in which these players were recruited ... and it confirms the view that Bailey, Neeld and now Roos were all not fully responsible for the disasters that we've witnessed in recent years right up to the present day.

It's interesting to see that McCartin kicked 7 goals and Petracca 5 for their respective TAC Cup sides yesterday. Both made their teams' best player list in their first games back after the Under 18 championships. Goddard was among the best for the Geelong Falcons too. Yes, we did well with the Tyson/Pick 9 deal but I'm wondering why so many people are quick to shun the potential top five picks when we're crying out for star quality players? Despite the examples of the odd failure here and there, the stats show that you're more likely to pick up an elite player with a top 10 pick than with picks 11 to 20. If we trade out of a top 3 or 4 pick this time it's going to have to be a super deal as far as I'm concerned.

That I get but my question was directed more at why so many of our players who come into the game with excellent credentials to play that role at junior level don't produce after they come to the club? Gysberts, Tapscott, Blease, Strauss ... and if you like you can add Jurrah. All played there in their junior days but, after a number of years under various coaches, have never come close (other than Blease on one occasion when he kicked 5 goals v St. Kilda but now can't get a game in a team that averages less goals than Germany in the World Cup). What does that suggest?

CATS AND DOGS by George on The Outer Usually the phrase "cats and dogs" is reserved for heavy downpours of rain and bad weather. And with the weather at the MCG showing a temperature that barely got into double figures, it was a similar scoreboard outcome for the Demons when they turned up to play the Cats. And Cats and Dogs it was. The Cats rained goals and the Demons played like Dogs. Not a solitary goal in the first quarter again, and trailing by 10 goals at half time, the supporters were hoping that the heavens truly opened to slow down the Geelong scoring. Whether they took the foot off the accelerator or just stopped trying too hard in the second half, the final score showed a similar margin at the final bell. Paul Roos said before the game, "We've still got seven dress-rehearsal games for pre-season, that's the way I look at it,".and "For some of them you can shape your career in a pretty short space of time." Well today some had their careers truly shaped and it wont be the way they would like. Luke Tapscott marked his cards with a 4 kick and zero mark performance. Jack Watts has probably got trade at all costs on his ticket, after yet another lacklustre performance. Yet Aidan Riley with a 17 disposal and 7 tackle game, not to mention the G & D that he shows all the time has his card marked as a keeper for 2015. When we see Lynden Dunn playing forward, James Frawley down back again and Cam Pedersen making his mark around the ground, then we know that Roos is true to his word. He now knows a thing or two about those sorts of players and what he can do with them in the future its the fringe players who are either choosing not to or are incapable of performing at the standard required by Roos who are writing their tickets right now. In contrast Geelong showed little which would suggest a Grand Final appearance this year. Yes they are methodical and their players are willing to run to space and provide options, but there are an awful lot of ordinary players in that side now, who are being held in good stead by the likes of Johnson, Bartel, Selwood and Kelly. Would that the Demons had players of that quality to rely upon! Unfortunately, we depend on second year players like Jack Viney to show how the game should be played, or Mark Jamar who showed resilience and fortitude all day long in the ruck. We all know these couple of games are a real test for the club, as they have to play 5 of the top 6 sides in an 8 week period. We could not expect to win against such quality at this end of the season, but the team is being let down again by those who capitulate all that easily when the game gets a little tough. Roos job is being made really, really easy. There wont be players who are marginal, there wont be an argument about whether they can or cant. The proof is being made all too obvious through actual performance. There will be no room for Dogs in a Demons side in 2015. Melbourne 0.2.2 2.5.17 4.6.30 5.6.36 Geelong 3.7.25 11.10.76 12.13.85 14.18.102 Goals Melbourne Howe 2 Keny Pedersen Vince Geelong Hawkins 3 Johnson Kersten 2 Bartel Christensen Duncan Guthrie Hartman McIntosh Motlop Best Melbourne Riley Viney Garland Howe N Jones Frawley Geelong Selwood Motlop Johnson McIntosh Mackie Kelly Guthrie Injuries Melbourne Nil Geelong (knee) Changes Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Stevic, Hay, Armstrong Crowd 36,385 at the MCG

Usually the phrase "cats and dogs" is reserved for heavy downpours of rain and bad weather. And with the weather at the MCG showing a temperature that barely got into double figures, it was a similar scoreboard outcome for the Demons when they turned up to play the Cats. And Cats and Dogs it was. The Cats rained goals and the Demons played like Dogs. Not a solitary goal in the first quarter again, and trailing by 10 goals at half time, the supporters were hoping that the heavens truly opened to slow down the Geelong scoring. Whether they took the foot off the accelerator or just stopped trying too hard in the second half, the final score showed a similar margin at the final bell. Paul Roos said before the game, "We've still got seven dress-rehearsal games for pre-season, that's the way I look at it,".and "For some of them you can shape your career in a pretty short space of time." Well today some had their careers truly shaped and it wont be the way they would like. Luke Tapscott marked his cards with a 4 kick and zero mark performance. Jack Watts has probably got trade at all costs on his ticket, after yet another lacklustre performance. Yet Aidan Riley with a 17 disposal and 7 tackle game, not to mention the G & D that he shows all the time has his card marked as a keeper for 2015. When we see Lynden Dunn playing forward, James Frawley down back again and Cam Pedersen making his mark around the ground, then we know that Roos is true to his word. He now knows a thing or two about those sorts of players and what he can do with them in the future its the fringe players who are either choosing not to or are incapable of performing at the standard required by Roos who are writing their tickets right now. In contrast Geelong showed little which would suggest a Grand Final appearance this year. Yes they are methodical and their players are willing to run to space and provide options, but there are an awful lot of ordinary players in that side now, who are being held in good stead by the likes of Johnson, Bartel, Selwood and Kelly. Would that the Demons had players of that quality to rely upon! Unfortunately, we depend on second year players like Jack Viney to show how the game should be played, or Mark Jamar who showed resilience and fortitude all day long in the ruck. We all know these couple of games are a real test for the club, as they have to play 5 of the top 6 sides in an 8 week period. We could not expect to win against such quality at this end of the season, but the team is being let down again by those who capitulate all that easily when the game gets a little tough. Roos job is being made really, really easy. There wont be players who are marginal, there wont be an argument about whether they can or cant. The proof is being made all too obvious through actual performance. There will be no room for Dogs in a Demons side in 2015. Melbourne 0.2.2 2.5.17 4.6.30 5.6.36 Geelong 3.7.25 11.10.76 12.13.85 14.18.102 Goals Melbourne Howe 2 Keny Pedersen Vince Geelong Hawkins 3 Johnson Kersten 2 Bartel Christensen Duncan Guthrie Hartman McIntosh Motlop Best Melbourne Riley Viney Garland Howe N Jones Frawley Geelong Selwood Motlop Johnson McIntosh Mackie Kelly Guthrie Injuries Melbourne Nil Geelong (knee) Changes Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Geelong Nil Umpires Stevic, Hay, Armstrong Crowd 36,385 at the MCG

Melbourne doesn't have a reserves team.

Big Bird - should have played

Of course, let's keep blaming people who haven't been around for almost two years and longer. Time for the people in charge to do something positive about our current situation.

Hard to be humble when your opposition puts up such paltry resistance.

This is not much of an audition for Frawley's future prospects at Geelong.

Melbourne has gone goalless in the first quarter in four of their last eight games against Geelong.

Pretty sure we kicked the first goal against Collingwood.

Could already be a matchwinning lead.

As I've said before, I don't think the Essendon case has merit and the Bombers simply don't have enough to enable a ruling to set aside the evidence collected by ASADA.

Sam Durdin

The case so far:- Essendon & Anor. v ASADA

The weather report says "showers easing, chance of hail" but I just looked outside the window and the sun was shining. Sounds like a wonderful day coming up today.

The last thing we need is to help Judd with his pension plan. Despite his skill and ability, he would only clog the list for a year and keep a younger, developing player out of the team. No thanks.