Deeoldfart

I agree. Lawrence sounds like he could become the type of player that Grandson is talking about, and Davey in his early days fits the bill exactly.

I think that's very true Rhino. On a slightly different tack, I have been wondering given the positive role Robbie has apparently played with our young ruckmen in 2011, and his impressive character, whether there might be a part-time ruck coaching spot available for him at Melbourne. As far as I can recall we don't have anyone assigned to that specialist job in the new set-up.

Thanks for those insights RudeBoy. 'Let him off the leash' ... I love that notion.

I agree, and it's a mouthwatering prospect for us ...... but obviously not so for opposition defenders and coaches.

You nailed it WJ. I'm so proud and happy to be a Dees supporter today, and with the present Administration and coaches, I can't help feeling that there's more to come!

I was stoked to wake up to this news this morning. Mitch Clark is exactly what our forward line needs. Well done to all involved at MFC.

Obviously not a Lady's Finger

Around this time last year, I was starting to wonder how long Riv. could hold down a regular spot in our best 22. Pleasingly, he erased some of my doubts with a very solid year, borne out by his second placing in the Bluey (although I was a bit surprised by that ranking). Most of his games were typified by his trademark reading of the play while playing a floating / chop-out role in defence, allowing his courage, strong marking and spoiling came into their own. He was less effective on the few occasions he was asked to play a lock-down role on a key forward, especially on bigger bodied opponents such as Cloke, but that's never really been his go. Keep up the good work Riv. ........ you've got more to offer than I thought!

I'm not suggesting you do this WJ, but an alternate title for this thread might simply be 'Bananas'. There seems to be as much discussion of that particular fruit as any other topic, and without wanting to mention names, I'm starting to think that some of the contributors (myself included) have gone a bit 'bananas'. Edit: Proof that I'm more than a bit 'bananas'!

Beamer had an outstanding start to the season and finished it off well, with a quiet spot in the middle. IIRC his quiet patch roughly coincided with the big Russian's absence through injury. They certainly have a great understanding those two, and I'd love Beamer to develop a similarly effective working relationship with Steph and/or Big Max. Beamer is our number one grunt man in the middle, and our midfield is certainly better when he is up and going. If only we had more genuine class around him, he could be a real weapon. He again showed that he is one of our better on-field leaders, and even when he was a bit down on form, he was working his arse off. It's a pity that mid-season blemish put a bit of a dent in his leadership credemtials. He capped off a very good season with his first Bluey and 19 well deserved Brownlow votes. Well done Beamer. Edit: Correct number of Chas. votes.

Agree. An absolute certainty.

I agree. Addam has had his opportunities at Melbourne, and his time's now up. If we can't arrange a trade, he'll get another gig via the PSD. Good luck to him

Overall LJ was good in 2011, but he didn't blow us away with the regular feats of brilliance that filled his highlight reels in 2009 and 2010. I'm pretty certain that RudeBoy said during the year that LJ was being asked to play a different (more disciplined ?) role within the team structure, and it certainly seemed to me that he didn't have the 'freedom' to play with the natural flair that thrilled us in his first two seasons. I suspect he might have struggled a bit with the changed role, and maybe he was even down a bit on confidence at times (which would not be at all surprising given his background). If my suspicions are correct, setting the right parameters for LJ's game in 2012 will be important. He has so much to offer and I would hate to see his natural talents stifled. IMO 2011 was a 'consolidation' year for LJ. If all involved (our new coaches, fitness staff and LJ himself) get it right, and with an ounce of luck, he will scale new heights in 2012 and beyond. PS Rudeboy: Please correct me if I've misrepresented you. Thanks.

I saw Cooky play a couple of games for Casey. He showed some encouraging signs whenever he got near the ball (clean hands and a beautiful kick) but he didn't get near it nearly often enough. In the few glimpses he showed, I could see why he was u18s CHF, but he has a long way to go to be AFL ready (which we knew from day one). Building an AFL body and engine over the next 2 or 3 years will be a good start. From the very little I've seen, I'd say he is a sound prospect, with lots and lots of work ahead of him. Edit: can't spell

........... or just teach him one or the other for starters. At the moment he can only run in straight lines or big circles, which is why I havn't been 'sucked in' by his touch of late season form in the middle.

Garlo has become a key member of our backline. His reading of the play, sure hands, spoiling to advantage, desperation and run and carry all went up a notch in 2011, and I fully expect there is still a way to go. However, the real quality for me is his versatility ...... he is equally effective on smalls and talls, and the coaches must love that. If anything, I'd like him to add some well placed mongrel to his game (Mark Neeld might like that too!) and to eliminate the odd brain fade ..... but I'm not complaining!

The way we played it was exactly the way we should have played it. It's the ONLY way of getting what you regard as value for money and / or not getting burned

I agree Red. It just means that GWS need to work a bit harder at making their intentions a tiny bit less transparent. Truely unbelievable!

Very good outcome for the Dees if this comes to fruition. I'd prefer to take a punt on a second rounder, than persist with Addam who's shown very little imo.

There were arguments to say that Addam had been afforded only limited opportunities in his first few seasons, but I don't think that was the case in 2011. He was given good opportunities to cement a place in our best 22, but failed to make anything of them. After reports of an outstanding pre-season, I had high hopes 2011 would be his 'breakout' year, but he didn't make it happen. On reflection, I just don't think he has enough tricks in his kit-bag to be the high quality crumbing small forward that we need. The best small forwards play 'instinctive' football, and I certainly don't see that in Addam. Aside from that, he's not particularly quick, his marking is only average, and his work-rate (endurance?) could be a lot better. Even his kicking, which was touted as outstanding in his junior days, has been nothing special. Too much 'vanilla' for me! I've run out of patience and hope he gets an opportunity elsewhere.

I think the only Dees players who have been mentioned as possible trades are those who have put their hands up. Given that there's been nothing in the media about Dunny, it might be something as simple as he hasn't asked to be traded. Surely his name will be foated before the trade period is over.

Firstly, I think H_T sums it up perfectly in post #5. It was a season I'm sure Greeny would like to forget, from both playing and leadership perspectives. Now please forgive me a bit of rambling: I supported Greeny's appointment as captain in 2011 ... after all, he had a stellar 2010 on the field, and had shown sound 'lead from the front' credentials without actually shouldering the responsibilities of the top job. For me he was the obvious choice!. However, I do recall pondering (briefly), how quickly he had gone from being voted off the Leadership Group by his peers in 2008, only to be reinstated 12 months later, to being appointed captain in 2011. Clearly, it seemed at the time, he had addressed his perceived weaknesses as a leader, and in the eyes of his team-mates and coaches, he was ready to step up to the top job. That's really quite a turn-around in a short space of time. I recall some revealing interviews with Greeny at the time he was demoted from the Leadership Group (or maybe it was when he was appointed as skipper). He talked about his introverted personality, and how he needed to work hard to be more assertive, on and off the field. Now, reflecting back on his first year as captain, it seems obvious to me that Greeny was trying so hard to be a good captain, that he lost sight of the fundamentals of playing good football. This weighed so heavily on him that the harder he tried, the worse things became. Simple things, like kicking routine goals, became very difficult as the pressure mounted. Whilst leadership can be learned (I think Neita and Junior started from a fair way back and learned as they went along), it's doubly difficult for someone with Greeny's personality type. .......... end of inconclusive and probably incoherent ramble!

2011 was another year ruined by injury for Jack. No sooner had he seemed fully recovered from his back / hamstring related problems and he suffered the foot stress fracture. From what rpfc is saying, he already seems destined to miss at least a slice of his next pre-season campaign. Hopefully the new fitness staff can work with Jack to get permanently on top of his injury woes. Like many others, I can see an exciting future and a potential move to the midfield, if he can get fit and stay fit. ps. What a great achievement for Jack to win the Club Leadership award after missing most of the season.

Ricky's best was very good in 2011, but his worst was poor. Unfortunately the poor out-numbered the good. I thought some of his efforts were bordering on lazy this year, and I have little doubt that this is why he earned some 'holidays' at Casey. He has the potential to be a very hard-to-match-up-on, goal-kicking forward, with defensive skills that are well suited to the modern game. Like other posters, I hope the new coaching staff can get the best out of him on a consistent basis, assuming that is, that Ricky wants to get the best out of himself.

When Dunny had a very good second half to the 2010 season, I thought he had (belatedly) turned his career around. How wrong I was! In 2011 he reverted to his old self, with his form fluctuating between moderate and poor before he was dropped to the VFL around mid-season. After that he was unable to regain senior selection in a team that was itself, travelling poorly. Very frustrating, very disappointing, and quite possibly career ending for Dunny.