Damo

Ahh that old chestnut! I like your side A31, but there has to be more to getting a game than hanging your hat on two goals from outside 50 in 5 years. And it is just the NAB cup where he has put them through nine points or not... I think we should be trying a few newer bloods than Paul W.

It would seem to me that it would depend on matchups. If you think you are a good chance to win most positions, you would play godfrey. Meat and potatoes. Will generally be worth his spot not withstanding some goofs. Wont win the game. On the other hand, If you knew White was on for example, Sandilands and Carroll was on say Lloyd, you would have to try to find an exploitive move. A risk would be required. A tactic to unbalance the other coach. You dont win a flag without taking chances but you do try to minimise them. Col may win you the game, but its risky. Coaches see things differently as well. So if John Kennedy was coaching, I think he'd play Godfrey. I reckon Sheedy would play Sylvia.

I was there that day. It was the greatest display of football Ive seen. He played on the HFF and got his own ball most of the time. It looked to me like geelong were given the team instruction to kick it to FF where Excel was. Ablett interrupted that ploy, and I dont remember him being fed at all, by Couch, Hocking etc.. Ablett was the best Ive seen with Matthews second, and and I was pretty young then. Then daylight. Just My Opinion. I used to think Alan Johnson was the pretty near the best in his time, but after watching his great game for WA with Buckenara in the late eighties beating the Vics, I realised that Bucky was everything Johhno was.... plus bigger, stronger. Bucky was probably in the top ten of his club at the time. This made me reflect where we were. Although we won games we couldn't beat Hawks and Blues when it counted.

If I Remember Correctly.

Yes Yes No...

I hope CJ realises his potential and has a good year. I dont particularly think it may happen. He needs to fire and hasnt as yet. For his faults, Ward has many more pluses. People forget how good he became last year because when he stuffs up it stands out like a sprinkler on an oval. :D But he does have pace. He does have skills that are equal to CJ and Wheatley. He is much more determined to win the footy than either of these two, IMO. So he gets in my 22. Although hope spings eternal, If Im going to carry someone whom Im only hoping to fire this year it is Sylvia. Then 1) CJ, 2)Wheatley, 3)Yze and lastly Bell.

I really dont know what is more irritating... Someone who cant spell red and blue (see above) and adds crap at every opportunity, OR Some one who is no light weight carrying on about JUDD. Good players hardly ever, ever change clubs anymore. Ottens, Aker, Nathan and Scott Thompson are the only ones in the last few years, and they all arguably had problems. The meat market has changed since Buckley went through. When has some-one who is currently in Sheahan's top 50 been available? maybe 4 times in the last 10 years. If you take the top 10, I dont know when there has been a change. Im sure some-one will extract a fact. B) But to wish for the top player, at any cost to the club, is in my view, a total [censored].

There was no other option except Schwartz. He wasn't as suitable as some of us thought. I was all for him, and I was wrong. Now there are (at least) three. Brock, Bruce and Green. My thoughts are that Brocks biggest issue is not his age, it is the fact he cant play 22 games. He may only play 15 this year. Hope not, but the (lack of) runs are on the board. Bruce has a similar problem in that he is either frail, or perceived to be. Cant play injured very well. Green on the other hand played all year injured and played well, although his injuries prevented him from displaying his normally highly applauded foot skills. He developed into a hard nut, IMO. I reckon he feels the captaincy is his destiny and he has pushed for it. If not Neiter, Id hope Brad Green gets the captaincy.

Supporters, yes. Readers of the play. I think so. Yep. But thats me, Not Bell. Cant read it. Cant write it. Its not me giving him pressure. Its those that expect him to be better than just good at Sandy. Dont know why he has his urgers, but for my money Godders just hangs in there. You may say different types. Different positions... I say different tent, same desert! I admire Belly's tenacity and application. Yours as well....

My Five Things. 1. Green to get his kicking Mojo back. Please. 2. Robbo to get his jumping Mojo back. Please. 3. Sylvia to get through it. Agree. Dont rush it, although this baby may be going out with the bathwater. 4. Moloney to have a full pre-season. Agree. But I doubt he will get back to top 22. 5. Bell to have a full pre-season. Just so it can be proved to me and others that he is not a footballer.

Cranky, You gather more flies with honey than Vinegar. Sometimes CAC comes onto Demonland and explains draft picks. With not having a Members Information Night this year, it is hoped Craig or another Football Dept. member may let us know. I think the points you make are valid, but so are Finks's's's'..... Leadership and personality are pretty big factors with clubs these days and Carlton should know that better than us. But happily Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood seem to only be interested in whats going on downstairs, if you get my drift. :D Not that it has anything to do with Joe A. but it could. I realise you probably couldnt give a rats how you compose a thread heading, but you do yourself a disservice, as your points have merit. Theres just more to it these days. cheers.

Whats your call Rhino?

I will be absolutely rapt if I get 8 games live. On free to air. giddy up! I will only get foxtel next year if they get more than 2 games. I was about to dip into it but will now wait. My belief is that Foxtel will sign and would wager that way. So I will still have to pony up. But... Without any of the repeats or extraneous shows repeated, it is the best of times if NO shows go to Foxtel, for me and most of the Melbourne footy public. Seven and Nine are having Monday night shows. This means not having to swallow the Footy show antics just to get a fix. I cant wait.

Yes pants. Or perhaps Norman with his knife in the shower...

Colin Sylvia. I think he is going to be an absolute gun. Once he does a full pre-season, I think he can gain his own and the playing groups confidence. I see it as a make or break year for Col. He has to get over his "little boy lost" look and not think about his game. I mean"Break" in as much as his asperations will be dashed if he doesnt break on through to top ten. My next would be Bate as he has a lot more left to deliver even though I rate him not much behind Brock. I see only gradual improvement from the rest. I believe Jones is already going on all cylinders. I hope he keeps it up. Newton and Warnock will be lucky to get 6-8 games between them unless things go awry. PJ may have something to show. I wouldnt back it at evens. Maybe 3-1. Theres a couple not in the hunt. I dont think CJ has got it, I think he and Bell are over rated. Bell's endevour with CJ's prowess would be good. Hope Im wrong.

reminds me of the great crab plague of '79. Get yourself a can of tropical Mortien (or Rid). Get a lice comb. Go in the bathroom. take a good look at yourself, lock the door, get in the shower,(very important, you may infect a sibling, Im figuring that you are under 20) get to work. When finished give yourself a number one, and hope that is enough. you may need a crack,back and sack job.

Every time I met someone who played a game in the firsts Ive been rapt. Always buy them a drink, guys! I continually hope this type of post doesnt put off the old boys. It seems to come up three times a year. because even if you DO rate an old player, your dissing their mates. Just keep it in mind. cheers.

Armchair experts! How many of you have hung around after training your ass off to see the team pinned up on the board. Just happy to be in the firsts. How many of you have played out of position with injuries just to keep your spot. I wish I had had the toughness to be considered by the Melbourne Football Club to be asked to training. Warren Dean(for example) was a star who played at CHF when he was a wingman. Its a sad state of affairs when posts like this ask supporters to eat their own.

My recollection is that you are right, Running Russell. I was disappointed with Rons' statement which is one reason I remember it so clearly. I believe it was on the occasion of Schimma's 300th but may have been another illustious celebration. Having been in the IT industry for a while, I followed Schimma's career and was well aware what he was giving up to become a full-time coach. Neale Daniher and he had shining Computer Programming/ management backgrounds. As history shows two of todays coaches colluded to shaft him(not btw ND). Whether he deserved it or not, he wasnt paid out for that current year. Nowadays this would not happen. He was shamed into resigning by a man he loved and admired. Thus started cleaning floors to support his large family. Dont know why he didnt at least resume programming. maybe he hated it. I did.

Actually Barrassi used to state that Schimma was the better player of the two as wingmen. I fully respect Schimma especially as his business life was decimated by North and its then President. He never complained to the press. Maybe because of this and his closer association with RDB and his fantastic career Ron made such a sweeping statement. I saw Schimma as a great captain and he certainly won many games off his own boot. Super courageous as well. Not as good as Robert Flower.

Gidday MarK I would be very grateful to you and Ash for a copy. Cheers

To quote Jack Dyer, circa early '80's, on World of Sport, "Ive seen em come and go but the best footballer Ive seen, Week Week out, is Ron Barassi". He whacked the table of the panel with the back of his wrist, to emphasive his opinion. Others were talking Whitten(who was there) and Lethal. RDB wasnt on the panel. I dont believe Dyer would mouth platitudes about such an important issue anyway. Flower is not ever talked about in terms of best ever. But Ron didnt have the skill of Daicos and the poise of Hird. But, from when I got my MCC membership in 1976, if I wasnt playing and I was in town, I would go see Robbie play. He made Rhyse-Jones look a fool and slow, so Rhyse clocked him on the wing, Rob got up and got on with it. Flower was so good he looked best when it was raining. Ash I would love a video, if possible.