Redleg

We have been smashed in the midfield our last couple of practice games. Obviously Jordie is getting match fitness as is JT. Our bright light is the bloke many wanted to get rid of a year ago, Nathan Jones. I also don't think getting smashed in the midfield has anything to do with the game plan. It certainly makes it harder to work to any game plan when the other side has first use of the ball and they are heading to goal and more so when they have a good attack.

I think it is now nearly certain that we will activate both of our compensation picks. First this years draft is strong, second we may have a poor year making them high picks and third we need quality midfielders.

Late in 3rd quarter against Port and we are well down. Then I hear 3 Melbourne players called and all disposals called as poor and inaccurate and we lose possession. How long will we have to suffer this abysmal disposal?

Sounds like someone in the membership idea is running out of ideas.

Had a great night last night listening to former Demon Max Walker at a dinner for 24 guys. Sat next to Max and he was just fantatstic. Spoke for an hour and answered questions for another hour on topics like his football days, cricket days and his media days. He is a top bloke and very unassuming. If you get the chance to attend a function where he is a speaker grab it. Held at Lamaros pub in South Melbourne in Cecil Street and the food was great as well.

Agree. Except that we also have some good players. I was more of the view that we don't have a Buddy or Rioli who are great, whereas the others you named are good or very good but not in the Buddy class.

This is a post I put on another thread in answer to Malthouse saying we are not that bad but that we need a good game plan. "If you get down to the basics, that first line says a lot. If you leave aside Buddy and Rioli we probably have players as good as many of the Hawks. Why then do they thrash us? Because they play ultra disciplined football to a strong game plan. Every one knows the plan and knows what is needed. Is Bruce a superstar or Cheney? No but they were contributors and played well because they played to the game plan. Do you have to be a champion to know to run and make position for the next kick when your team has the ball? Do you have to be a champion to know to make each possession of the other side a hard won contest? Break down the game and see where we lost. They contested hard at the stoppages, which either gave them possession or caused us to fumble. Once they had possession they ran to create position and short kicks to a clear man enabled the set up for a goal. What did we do? When we got the ball we either fumbled from the pressure or just bombed it forward to Clark etc who was usually up against 2 or 3 Hawks. Why is that? Because their game plan dictates when they don't have the ball some drop back and others attack the ball carrier. All the while Birchall is left all on his own to sweep up. The first thing I would do when playing them is man up Birchall. They are not unbeatable, but to beat them you must be disciplined and play to a strong plan. Hopefully Neeld will instill such a plan and discipline in our side. Those not willing to adhere and give their all can play at Casey. " What I was trying to get across is that except for a few players, we are not too different to Hawthorn. I don't believe that they are an 80 point better side than us, but that they play an 80 point better game than us. There is a difference. I believe they are very well coached and that all players are totally disciplined to play to the game plan at all times. If I was out there and ran to position and we had the ball I would probably get a kick. I am 60 and hopeless. The point is they can deliver the ball to exactly where there man is. We have had trouble with this for years. There are two aspects to this, first a a strong game plan and disclplined work ethic and second, decent disposal. I have harped on about our poor disposal for years and I recall hearing we would be drafting skilled players. I don't see the good disposal yet. Maybe it will come in time.How many times do we see a Demon make position and the ball is kicked at his ankles or over his head or 20 metres away from him. That sort of disposal will never allow you to be a good side. The other aspect is the plan and players discipline. When we tackle hard and put pressure on we look better.Unfortunately we only do it for periods in a game. That is not good enough. Did the Hawks let up on us. No and it was only a bloody NAB cup game. I hope that when we come to grips with Neeld's plan and work out who is prepared to play to it and give their all to it we will see better results.

Worse.

I like the look of Tynan as well so far, Sellar has been handy and Taggart and Lawrence are yet to appear. Fitzpatrick is starting to show a bit. Cook is building up and my boy Evans is out with a back injury. We really are getting some depth to our list.

I can see a real future for Troy Davis. Big, strong, quick, tough, determined and reasonable disposal. I am sure he would get some ball in the forward line as well.

To change the tone a bit, off to the footy this afternoon for a twilight game and hopefully see more improvement in our game.

No it is not just you. I refuse to post on the other thread because a lot of what I read was BS and this of course is a no BS thread. I think they need to let things take their course. As for your other point about possible champions, I actually thought the same, as well as having compassionate thoughts for LJ of course. Players like Jakovich, Schwartz, Prymke, Charles, Lyon, Dean, Bamblett and a host of others failed to fulfill their absolute potential due to injury or other factors.

Unfortunately not. Unless it was cut from the show. PS. A very funny comment was made by K FED who said the guy kicking the ball to him couldn't get it anywhere near him, from 40 metres away. Guess who he was referring to?

He was on excess baggage last night with a few GWS mates in their orange gear and he was referred to as a "star melbourne fc player". I thought that was funny as he stood there in his GWS gear.

Guess which highly paid young player David King had a go at tonight on AFL 360? It has started.

Sorry, I forgot.

Carazzo hits two blokes, one behind play and the other in the jaw and gets one week. Unbelievable.

It really was unbelievable.

There have been some strange selections in the NAB cup so far with some guys getting very little ground time, who I would have thought need it and others a lot. Howe was subbed off in 2nd quarter after palying well. Tom Mc got hardly any time at all. Gysberts got 1 quarter. Tynan got hardly any time. It might be something to do with loads but I can't work it out.

I sometimes get scared when I am in a paddock with a few yearlings that get a bit playful. Imagine riding a racehorse in a tight field at full gallop, just frightening.

They are tough.

Went to Etihad and enjoyed our first win there in years. Liked the look of Davis. Big strong boy who goes hard and can play. Think Joel Mac has been terrible and his turnovers unbelievable. Watts struggling a bit, but will come good. Loved the aggression from our players. We are a new side.

Good to see he was ok, it looked a terrible fall.

Better than the jockey. Damien Oliver got off and told the trainer it was one of his poorer rides and the horse was never given a chance. Finally got him out when last with 100m to go and he flew home for 6th. Hope he can win next time. Shows how dangerous it is when Oliver had a bad fall last night. Hopefully he is ok. Noble Game at 3.58 at Bendigo sunday and Man of Awe monday 1.35 Warnambool.

I hesitate to advise but Briefed at Sandown today at 3.58, should run well as track is softer for him.