Damo

Cameron Bruce must be dropped after Saturday's performance. I know he probably won't be and in the past I have backed him. His game on Saturday, along with Bate, Dunn and Miller was so bad that no excuse could see them playing this week. If they play, which I suspect 2 of them will, 1 more bad game, which I susoect will also happen should see them banished for a month whilst the likes of Gysberts, Watts, Jetta and Maric get some game time.

I totally agree. Ive never said it before BTW.

I have been reading this site for a long time now, probably from its inception, but have never taken the time to register or post.

Firstly, the site is fantastic and a great read always.

I felt like I needed to post to respond to this topic. I was at the game today, like I am at most games and happened to take my 3 year old daughter along with me.

Halfway through the first quarter, she turned to me and asked, "Why do the Melbourne players not run fast like the other team?".

Can you believe that this came from a 3 year old and she has summed up our deficiencies in the first 15 minutes of watching the first game that she has ever seen.

great first post. Theres room for your daughter on the MFC coaching panel.

Adam Cooney also at $34 without another teammate higher than Boyd at $51 is better odds than Goddard. Sure like Goddard though.

Not everyone thinks Jamar had a beauty. He got a few hitouts, he took a few marks.

But his ability to dispose of the football is as bad as it ever was. He either handballed to someone who was in no position to receive or he kicked to a contest, seemingly every time.

His direct opponent was rated as one the best on the ground by both papers.

I hadnt commented as many on here believed he played OK, but now that his game is being extolled as a beauty, I must stick my hand up and say i expected better.

Compared to Steph Martin, though he is gold...

+1 on McKenzie for me but no one was faster getting back into the pack on their knees than Bulldog Murray

With the other practise match results going the way they have been, and with watching yesterday and last Sunday..anything above bottom two would be a happy surprise. But Its possible Ive followed Melbourne for so long Im comfortable with a bleak outlook.

Trengove for me.

We blue sky mined the year before with Watts who will be great in 4 years time, elite hopefully soon after.

JT will be great from day IMO.

If we look at their progress over 5 years, I would have them equal at the age of 23. Obviously I dont know, but am intrigued because I have been asking myself this question lately. Then hopefully it is Ablett jr and Buckley.

Think of Jack Grimes as the new Brett Lovett.

More Graham Yeats IMO

You say at the start "I see a much larger upside in keeping Bailey" and then finish with ".........his bell lap starts now".

So which is it?

My position is coloured by the fact I believe the best player before each match should be picked in the 1sts.

I have been squeezed out of sides before "for the greater good". Minor footy but so unkind.

I am still a bit Derek Kickett about that particular match committee 20 years on.

If Brad Miller will win us a match against West Coast I want him to be picked at Full Forward to kick 2-3 goals as opposed to 1-2 goals from Jack Watts. Children really annoy me.

So while I want both Watts and Bailey to succeed, I would rather the acid be kept on.

I believe Dean Bailey will be good enough to get further extensions and by early/mid 2011 we will know.

If the club has 100% faith in his abilty, then they should stand behind that and give him two.

Anything else is "contingency planning".

What do you think?

I see a larger upside in keeping Bailey.

He has not had much to work with and I think he may now have a decent list.

I watched a Hawks/Dons game from last year and the coaches both had a win or die attitude that ended up in a great football match.

There were many injuries but both Clarkson and Knights are terrific coaches in my view.

I would like Bailey to have a little of Northey or Hafey's fire and brimstone. If Garry Lyon was talking himself up he would say how much better a match day coach he is than Bailey. he could be right but that is only part of it.

Having been approached by Bailey a couple of times at training to have my views aired, I really like him.

I think he should play at all costs for wins this year to the detriment of getting games into youngsters. They have to earn their spots.

In my opinion his bell lap starts now. One year.

This is a critical point.

From our stockpiling of early draft picks we have the following:

regular players: Morton, Grimes

fringe: Maric, Watts

yet to debut: Blease, Strauss, Scully, Trengove, Gysberts, Tapscott

There seems to be an expectation that all of the above players are going to be ready to win matches for us in 2010.

There's absolutely no guarantees that any player in the bottom two categories will make it in AFL.

I think its going to be a horrible year on this board and Bailey is going to cop it even more so if his contract is extended and regardless of whether he can coach or not.

What do you think fatty? Would you give him 2 years?one?

I think the Saints may stumble a little as a result of a bad trade, otherwise I would have them in the GF.

Geelong to be not quite as desperate as the Bulldogs. Tigers to surprise a few.

Hawthorn

Western Bulldogs

Geelong

StKilda

Collingwood

Adelaide

Richmond

Carlton

Sydney

Essendon

West Coast

Brisbane

Melbourne

Freo

Port

North

I'am interested to know why Melb....decided against taking Bradshaw.

Good point.

There are some wondering if too much onus is being put on young players to muscle up and take on a challenge in the forward line that should be at least a year or two away. They worry about both direction and their young mates.

Its arguable there has been NO history with 31 for over 40 years.

I think JT would fill it out in all its original "Death or Glory" persona from those ancient times, in better fashion.

He seems to have that little bit of [censored] in big games that go hand in glove.

There is no other number I embrace at Melbourne. Just an age thing i guess.

The fear of a jinx with that particular number is my personal superstition.

Ball wants to play on the MCG I believe.

Both for the softer surface and for the fact some games are wet(easy on his groin) and he will not be any slower in the mud.

I cant see him wanting to play at Docklands for Essendon.

He will end up too sore.

I reckon thats why he has avoided their Physical Examination, if as reported, he has.

He wants Collingwood as no one plays on the G more than them and he may have been promised to be rested one out of three games.(Im guessing).

His dismissal of playing with the Demons is puzzling to me, as we have nearly as many games both on the 'G and outside. Which I suppose exposes my theory...

I wouldn't be upset if we got him on the cheap at PSD pick 1.

It's not as if we're sacrifising a valuable draft pick and he's more proven than Thorpe and to a lesser extent MacDonald.

However you'd imagine the Dees will take the common sense approach and let him head to Freo.

McPhee just will not go in to a pack to get the ball. He is Ok on his own but most Bomber supporters are very happy to see him go.

Why then he wants to play under Mark Harvey is a bit baffling.

Ball can hit targets but not anything over 40 metres. He is slow as well.

If Tony Shaw had polish and a few might think so, Luke Ball has a tonne of it.

His career was shortened similarly to Woewodin's when he was fashioned into more of an inside mid-fielder as opposed to a running mid.

Thats just my opinion but Im more cheesed off about what is on offer, than about Luke Ball.

Im hoping there will be more chalk than cheese as we get closer to the PSD.

Or should I be hoping for Cheese? Must write to Can We help about that one.

As long as he comes to the Club with a new page.

Regardless of our ladder Position we are a Proud Club, If Luke Ball wants to be a leader he must earn it.

I don't want the club Dangling Big Carrots at him.

I agree.

I believe Cam Bruce or Brad Green will play more games next year than Luke Ball.

I also think that Cam Bruce would be more valuable any way you want to look at it. Leadership included.

I cant believe so many are dishing crap out to these two by wanting a has-been to come in and take over.

Many Saints fans I know think he will struggle to play 10 games next year even if Grant Thomas was coach.

I hope we dont get him.

Fev is 100% at fault for anything he has done, no questioning that.

Channel 9, the footy show, the AFL, no person affiliated with the Carlton Football Club should be blamed for what occurred, save for Fevola himself.

BUT

Simultaneously, the people in high places at Carlton and Channel 9, at the very least, should be heavily condemned for not stepping in and preventing some of what occurred.

Don't wanna put words in his mouth, but I think this is what WYL is trying to get at. Its what I think at least.

I agree. It used to be called urging.

Unfortunately I can remember times in the old Bullring when I have been an urger and I have been stupid enough to respond to others urging me on. Funnily enough, the older I get, the fewer times I become vulnerable to this insidious and weak trait.

Nevertheless, there for the grace of God, etc.. Vale the old Bull ring.

Where was I?

Channel 9 producers have been involved in the last 4 weeks with:

• Sam Newman and his remarks about the "monkey"
• Hey Hey and their blackface
• Reinforcing Fev's idea he would be hilarious if he had a couple too many.

Channel Nine are skating on thin ice, IMO.

So was Darren Cuthbertson.

Point being?

I understand it was not lack of ability that cruelly cut short a promising career but tragic circumstances that he couldnt put behind him.

Stewie Lowe had a late resurgence learning how to kick goals when Peter Hudson became a specialist coach. It added years to his career.

Robbo also learned relatively late in his football life how to "not miss" a set shot. In the end they both became reliable set shots.

I also dont think looking to hand the ball off helps as he looks disappointed when this option is covered. Wouldnt help confidence much.

I knew it.... I knew he would come to us.... Thank you God!!!

I believe in Jordie McMahon.

Go Milney,

Go Sainters,

What a lot of [censored] and wind.

I feel pick 18 plus pick 1 in the PSD plus Rivers or Warnock nothing more.

Otherwise forget it and hope he falls through to the pre-season draft.

I now feel Hawthorn will offer pick 9 plus a decent player though so I now feel we will not get him.

You cant trade PSD picks.

I agree, pathetic.

He did however succinctly express the views of 90% of the football world.