CHF

Always difficult to gain a meaningful understanding from the outside with just rumors and media reports to go by. Watts has had a tough 9 year career at Melbourne from his selection at No.1 right through a trundle of coaching changes and a very disjointed development. To my mind he shows he has plenty of talent but has lacked the direction, development and application required to reach his full potential and to play consistently. On what has been reported over this season, it is hard to defend him. It was reported that he did not present well on his return to the pre-season and did not do the work as required. He was reasonable when he did make it back into the team with a few highlights but still lacked that edge required to really push himself. after his injury he did not come back at all well and did not seem to do the work required. If the player leadership and coaches have again sat him down and told him of their problems with him, I hope that he realises that he is on his last legs at the club. If he survives the trade period and is still at Melbourne come the pre-season I hope he has the character to work hard and do what is necessary to win the confidence of his team mates and the coaches. Trade Watts if we get a deal that delivers value for money. Keep him otherwise. I am sure that the football department is putting in the work to understand Watts and what he thinks of the situation and that may be the key to understanding his value at the trade table and his value to the team next season and the subsequent seasons. Whichever way it goes I will back the club even if jack flourishes elsewhere. If I was Watts, and I am not, I would want to stay with the team that I have been with for 9 seasons and see the ride through to the end.

I found the article very interesting on a couple of fronts. Firstly I think that Bugg came across as a thoughtful person who deeply regrets what has happened and has taken full responsibility for his actions and is learning from it. He has learnt from the impact it has had on the team, the impact it has had on him personally and he has learnt of the possible impact it could have had on Mills. Secondly, I found it interesting the reaction of Goodwin as the coach. from this article it looks as if it has been a correctly balanced response. I hope that Bugg comes back a better player from this and that the playing group as a whole learn from the whole episode.

As a follow up to my original post I am happy that Frost has signed up for a couple more years and is off the trade table. I do think, however that it may mean that Hulett is a little less certain to stay on the list. I think it also means that we need to look a ,littlwe deeper into our list for trade possibilities if we are going to go seriously after Lever and/or Gaff. I could see the likes of Stretch, Neal-Bullen, Wagner, Harmes and Tyson being asked if they would be interested in looking elsewhere? I do not see the likes of Salem, Watts and Garlett as untouchable but I feel we would need to get an excellent outcome in the trade to contemplate moving them on. The rest of the list, to me either has no trade value or are untouchable. As with all trades and delistings the Footy Department has to take into account the impact of the moves on the medium to long term attitude of the rest of the list. This is an important aspect of list management.

My understanding is that the following are out of contract in October and unsigned at the moment. · Frost · Vince · Hulett · Kennedy · M. King · Trengove · Spencer · Vandenberg Rookies · Filipovic · White · Maynard Frost – Has trade value and seems to be on the outer after spending the last few matches at Casey. As a lot have speculated, may end up as part of the play for Lever. If we cannot get lever or there is no value for money to trade him, I would keep. Vince – Would sign up for another season. Play him as required but give him a mentor role with a few of the young players on the list. Hulett – is a tough one for me. Not seen him play but I do like his size. Borderline delist. If they can see an upside then persist but he has been on the list long enough for the coaching team to know what they have got. Kennedy – Delist. If we cannot play him in any game this season after the injuries we had and the numbers he racked up at Casey then there is a problem. M.King – Sign him up for 2 more Trengove – Delist Spencer – See what happens with his RFA status. We managed without him after his injury and do not see value in keeping him. We know exactly what he might bring to the team and we worked around it. Vandenberg – another year to see how he comes back from his injury. ROOKIES Filipovic – sign on for another year for development White – Delist. Has not seemed to develop this season. Maynard – Elevate to main list. Of the players whose contracts end at the end of next season, Kennedy-Harris and Kent might have some trade value. Johnstone and McKenna will have to develop and show something. The rookies contracted till the end of next year Keilty to develop further and seems to be tracking well. Tim Smith had an unlucky year with injuries and will need a good run at it next season. Garland? No idea what they may do with him. If it was up to me I would look at buying out his contract and delisting him. Summary; Delist – Kennedy, Trengove, White (R), Hulett (possible), Vandenberg (possible), Garland (Possible) Elevate – Maynard, J Smith Trade value – Frost, Kent, Kennedy-Harris (?) Bugg(?)

Not a lot else to do for the next 6 months.....

B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Nathan Jones, Tom McDonald, Jayden Hunt C: Jordan Lewis, Christian Petracca, Christian Salem HF: Clayton Oliver, Jesse Hogan Jake Melksham F: Jeff Garlett, Cameron Pedersen, James Harmes FOLL: Max Gawn, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Mitch Hannan, Alex Neal-Bullen, Jack Watts I think that this is the best side we have named this season. Considering that we have Viney to come back from injury and the likes of Frost, Stretch, Bugg, Wiederman, Kennedy, Trengove, Maynard, Spencer, Wagner and Kennedy-Harris all lining up for Casey this weekend, Harmes, Hannan and ANB will all need to have a good game as I think that if Viney is to come in it will be out of those three to see who is watching from the stands. I think that if we get the 4 points against the Pies tomorrow we will have a good strong in form list to give the finals a good shake. If we play anywhere near our best we will win going away. if we allow our intensity to drop a fraction we will be in a close fight. My prediction is that we will win by 24 pts tomorrow.

Good to see Hogan back. Given the conservative nature of the treatment of injuries that MFC have displayed throughout the season I have confidence that they will know what to do. If he gets up for Sunday then Weid will not play. With Hogan in the team I would have Brayshaw, Hannan, Wagner and Maynard

I think that we may rest Viney for this game. If so, them we will add four to the squad tomorrow and I think they will be Frost, Maynard, Stretch and Kennedy. B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB:Bernie Vince, Cameron Pedersen, Jayden Hunt C: Billy Stretch, Clayton Oliver, Jordan Lewis HF: Christian Petracca, Tom McDonald, Jake Melksham F: Jeff Garlett, Mitch Hannan, Alex Neal-Bullen FOLL: Max Gawn, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones I/C:Angus Brayshaw, Mitch Hannan, Josh Wagner, Sam Weideman Corey Maynard, Billy Stretch, Jack Watts IN: Angus Brayshaw, Mitch Hannan, Josh Wagner, Sam Weideman, Corey Maynard, Ben Kennedy, Sam Frost

Maybe Gil can get the Fat Lady to perform as the half time entertainment

Twice divorced. Have the bed to myself.

So another game day in an exciting season. I am sure we all do different things on game day and I am wondering what others do. This is my game day. A game in Canberra, so a lot of supporters will be in the same boat as I am every week, unable to get to the game and watching live on a screen. I am based in Europe so I am 8 hours behind. Game starts at 5.45am for me. I wake 15 mins before the first bounce. Do what I have to do. Watch the first half on an iPad in bed. Come half time I have a shower, get the coffee ready and breakfast. Second half is had over breakfast. The cereal ends up all,over the table. The hangover (Italian wine this evening) is either pounding (we're losing.... ) or receding (we're winning...) it is a fine balancing act. it really is a knife edge existence, not attending games live. It is, in some ways, a lonely existence. I can hear the crowd reaction on the visual and know why they are yelling, but I am apart from it. so, I yell,at the images, tell,Goodwin what to do... abuse the maggots.... tell,players in no uncertain terms how useless they are...... all ok milk and cereal... .... and then, when the game is over, I have to go,about my day... win or lose..... go about my day.... In the evening, in a calmer frame of mind I watch the replay with a drink or seven.... the boys will,win it today...or tomorrow.... for themselves and for supporters like us.... the ones that, no matter what the circumstances, are there, week after week watching, cheering, cursing.... wanting the rewards a win will bring. what sort of day are others looking forward to?

Good, strong, aggressive team that has been named this week. One of the first things I look at when a team is named is the list of emergencies. I think this gives a good indication of how deep the list runs and this week I do not believe we would be losing much if the three emergencies were playing rather than the team we have named. Stretch for ANB, Weid for Cam and Wagner for Harmes? Added to that the players we also have injured or running around at Casey and I think the list has good depth.

is there a chance Buddy will get a week for clipping Hodge?

I am confident the team named will give a good account of its self against Carlton. I say Dees by 3 goals. Besides the 25 named in the extended team for Sunday it is great to note that missing from that lot are Jones, Viney, Tyson and Salem from possible mid-field rotations and Watts from the forward half. Throw in Brayshaw and VDB as long term injuries and I can see it will be interesting to see how our best 22 develops in the near future. going to be some tough calls made. Next 1 or 2 rounds we should have back Tyson and Watts followed a couple of rounds later by Jones and Salem and then Viney in 4 to 6 rounds if all goes well. If we can bank that I will be happy. Possible team for the last couple of rounds leading into the finals. B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jordan Lewis, Sam Frost, Nathan Jones C: Jayden Hunt, Christian Petracca, Dom Tyson HF: Christian Salem, Jack Watts, Mitch Hannan F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Tom McDonald Foll: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney I/C Harmes, ANB, Pedersen/Melksham, Smith

I agree 100% with this. we will need the rotations through the midfield to keep the pressure on the Carlton midfield. One of Smith or Wagner may be included to slot into the back 6 to release Lewis or Vince for a rotation into the midfield. B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jordan Lewis, Sam Frost, Bernie Vince C: Jayden Hunt, Christian Petracca, Mitch Hannan HF: James Harmes, Cam Pedersen, Alex Neal-Bullen F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Tom McDonald Foll: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jake Melksham I/C (from): Billy Stretch, Jack Trengove, Dean Kent, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Josh Wagner, Sam Weideman, Joel Smith Looking at this team we have a good settled defence that has performed well over the season except last week when the midfield went missing and, with the addition of Hogan and Garlett, the forwards look well balanced and potent. good flexibility in the forward group with TMac and Pedo both able to relieve in the ruck or go back to bolster the defence. Midfield, with the IC above, will have the option of 14 players that could get a run in the midfield during the game. this does not include throwing a big body in there every now and then such as Tmac or Hogan. Personally I love it when I see Hogan lining up at a center bounce.

Played like baked spuds tonight... Baked 4 times in 18 days. And the commentary in this games was dreadful...do these guys ever listen to their broadcasts and get embarrassed?

Now we will see how good Goodwin is as a coach.

Testament to the quality of the game we had is that the AFL stats show Jetta as our lower ranked player.

Watched live in Washington. 1.20am start so I had been for a good dinner and a couple of wines. Loved the way we played from the first bounce. Pressure all over the ground at both the ball and the man. Throughout the games we must have pulled off 6 or 7 run down tackles. Loved that. tough to get to sleep after that have now had a sleep and have watched my first replay of the game. Even better second time around.

I like the way this kid plays. I also like the way that within the team we have so much variety in the way that individuals play. it really does give the whole team an 'X'factor.

I think that we will bring in Spencer and Gawn may get a half at Casey to blow out the cobwebs. With Spencer in the team we can use Pedo as a forward/relief ruck and that frees up TMac to go back. OMac to miss with a rest for his injured hip. The only other change we will look at will be a possible swap of Wagner and Melksham. In: Spencer, Wagner Out: OMac Melksham

Agree 100%. The coaching has been good in the way that they have made the necessary changes to turn games. The thing that worries me is the seeming lack of work that we are putting into the opposition prior to the games. we have not been able to play games on our terms from the first bounce.

Great win for the club but just as big game next week against the Bulldogs at Etihad. we are both 6-5 and we are ahead of them on percentage. Go Boys!

At this stage I would have Harmes, Wagner, Bugg on the bench with one of either OMac or Spencer. let the rest play Saturday for Casey and select one during that game to rest up as emergency for Monday. After all, the Casey game would be instead of a training run with the rest of the team on Saturday morning.

If Spencer comes in I would look at a couple of different game plans for the ruck/forward play. First up with him rucking the center against Grundy with Pedo up forward. Pedo rucks in the forward fifty with Spencer patrolling a kick out. Plan B might have Spencer rucking the center bounces with Pedo as a big body at his feet with 2 or 3 running forward in a couple of waves from half back. Spencer immediately the ball is cleared moves forward and Pedo runs with Grundy. Stoppages in forward 50 Spencer takes and Pedo reverts to his forward role. around the ground Pedo rucks. Our stoppage clearances with Pedo rucking have been at least a break even in the past 5 or so games. I would like to see Spencer in if he is up for it and with Pedo I believe we get a greater flexibility.