BennytheJet

Here's my formula:

Of last weeks 22, the following are in the "dropped if they play an ordinary game or because of match ups" category:

Bennell

Bartram

Dunn

Martin

Garland

Bruce

Macdonald (possibly, but another good performance would elevate him out of this category)

And these guys are in the "dropped if they need a rest" category:

Scully

Trengove

Garland (because of long layoff)

Mckenzie (young player, his hard style of play will take its toll)

The rest are safe. If we keep winning and playing decent footy, no changes. Otherwise the above applies

But for the avoidance of doubt, if we keep winning and the droppable players keep performing and dont need rests, then nobody should come in - including a fit Morton and Jurrah (other than Bail, who deserves to come back in based on this years performances)

I agree - there's a long way to go for both.

Just had a look at some stats for this year and interestingly Dunn is in the top 15 of the AFL for marks - with 30 (leader is on 44).

I know stats can be misleading but he's averaging over 7 marks a game, which at least means that:

1. he's been providing an option;

2. he has some sort of awareness; and

3. he's been getting on his bike a bit.

Compared to what he's dished up in the past, I think Dunn's been excellent so far this year. Completely exceeded any expectations I had for him (which were admittedly very, very low)

Sorry - ridiculous negative nonsense. Gysbert's only been with the club five minutes. Give him a go

............. and Gawn is recovering from a knee reconstruction .He's 206 cm and he's still growing.Would you be more impressed if he started shrinking?

To quote comic book guy from the simpsons, "Clearly you are unfamiliar with the word sarcasm". I think the original poster was having a laugh..

Benny the jury is still out and will be for at least 4-5 years as to who will be the better pick. Very harsh to say that we DEFINITELY got it wrong. If we had to take the choice today between Watts and NicNat, I'd be very confident the MFC would still take Watts over NicNat.

Why? Because of the obvious, we're in desperate need of a KPF who can tear a game apart and someone that we can build our forward structure around. In this era of modern football where the ball movement and speed of the game is ever increasing, we need a mobile tall target with the athletic abilities to back up his football abilities. Watts has these in spades. He is ridiculously mobile and quick for a KPF, and I feel that part of his development playing across the wing and HFF in the VFL is designed to adapt to the style in a similar manner to Riewolt, Brown and Hall (when he was at the Swans) as a mobile target who can push up to play on the wings.

In the event that we had of drafted NicNat we would not have seen Jamar display the form we currently are, who is thriving on the opportunity to ruck it ALONE. Further we would have failed to take arguably the best KPF during the last 2 years, when it's clear to blind freddy that's what we so desperately need.

On a side note, was at the Adelaide game with a good mate of mine (who is a Melb based recruiter for the Crows) who said the Crows rated Watts as the best young KPF they had seen in the past 4 years, and that despite NicNat's form they would still take Watts over NicNat without any hesitation/

Nice post. I disagree that the MFC would still take watts over nicnat, but you make a lot of valid points about our needs and not seeing the best of jamar.

And for all you sooks who whinge about making comparisons and judgment calls too early ie recent poster who says "STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS CRAP" - comparing players and making judgment calls is the right of any supporter and I must admit I have personally enjoyed some vigorous watts/naitinui debates over a few beers with mates in the past few months. Its good fun to speculate, and even more fun to make sweeping unqualified statements. Half the fun is getting proven wrong, so calm down and either join in or keep quiet.

"Definitely got it wrong"......a sweeping statement, of course NicNat has now had the benefit of nearly two full preseasons didn't have to reloacte over 3000km from home environment to continue to play footy, has a really good ruckman (nearly no 1) to learn his craft from and is away from the daily intrusive over analytical media we have here.....of course Jack Watts has had it really easy.......in comparison.....double sigh.....the reason Jack hasn't played a senior game yet is that he hasn't quite mastered the walking on water bit yet.

"Premature call. You need the AMI.

How on earth would you know that ? "

On that logic no one really knows anything - for all we know daniel bell COULD come back form his injury and win a brownlow..

As I said, its no big deal because he should become a very good player - he might even become elite, but you dont need to have a half a footy brain to realise NicNat is going to be one the most revolutionary athletes australian sport has ever seen. Have any of you guys seen the kid play even for 5 minutes?? Ive never seen anything like it - its awe inspiring.

Watts would have to end up being the most dominant key position player ever to play the game for us to say that we made the right decision in picking him first, because NicNat is almost assured of being the best big man ever to play, injuries permitting. Could you imagine him palming it down to scully, trengove etc for the next 10 years???? Good god..

Hope he proves me wrong, but I dont think its possible. The odds are too high - he'd have to be amazing in every sense of the word to end the debate over whether we got it right. Ah well

It's time to leave Jack alone and let him get on with his football, he'll be a good player for Melbourne at worst. And he has more potential than NicNat, who can be freaky when the ball is around him, but he cant find it himself - no ability to read the play at all and just follows it around the ground, which is why he does not get many possessions.

I seem to remember this debate a few years ago about Hodge and Judd; you'd be happy with either now.

"And he has more potential than NicNat"

Now Im all for patience and reserving judgment on jack for at least a couple years or 30 games, but to say he has more potential than NicNat is ridiculous. NicNat is revolutionising the sport and he hasnt even played 15 games yet! Its no slight on watts whatsoever but we got the first pick wrong. No big deal, because Watts should be a very good player, but we definitely got it wrong.

I agree with you rogue, while his energy and run do bring us something I didn't think his diposal and decision making has been as good as everyone is making out in this thread. It is only his third game and he is still getting the pace of the games but if Sylvia is coming back I think he is the player that goes out. Bail hasn't dominated a VFL game that I have seen and if he does get dropped I would like to see him use the confience gained in the AFL to dominate a few VFL games.

Possibly the most ridiculous post Ive ever read on this site, and thats saying something..

Would almost be one of our first picked based on his last two games. Embodies EVERYTHING our playing style is based upon.

A lot, I'd say. I like the look of him too, but he wont get within cooee of a rising star gong

I dont pretend to have any unique insight.

I am positive many at the club have thought about it.

I am positive the players have been told this stuff.

The difference is that you have to believe it and act on it.

Think of all the great stories of overachievers.

The underlying aim they have is often obvious.

What is inspiring is they put their belief into action and most people are surprised because we actually dont do that ourselves.

If everyone supporters,coaches act consistently with that belief it is bound to have an effect.

What is I hoped to bring to the table is that everyone has to have the faith and focus in themselves and the next touch.

So I am happy to be foolish or even niave but I do believe we all act consistently with belief in what our players can achieve we might (even after many disappointments) be surprised.

Ive gotta say, the original post was absolute dribble. Uninspired, boring, and sanctimonious.

very well said, NAB cup or not, we were very very ordinary

Same old for dees..

My observations:

Joel Macdonald is our best player (says a lot given he is a delistee from another side)

Scully and trengove are already well and truly in our best 18.

Our forward line is completely dysfunctional.

Bennell and Jetta will show glimpses here and there, but wont make it as AFL footballers.

No need for personal attacks.

Watts wont ever reach Riewoldts level. You can bookmark that.

I was the guy who supported Sylvia all the way through while every other MFC fan had given up on him.

And look how that turned out.

I will also be right with Naitanui/Watts.

YM, whilst I dont always, in this case I agree with you 100%.

Make no mistake, passing on naitinui will go down as one of the biggest draft blunders in the history of the game. He's like nothing the AFL has ever seen, and he hasn't even gotten started. Watts may end up being a good key forward, he may even end up being a great one - but naitinui will be a bona fide, sport changing legend. And we could have had him..

And by the way, I resent the statement about every other MFC fan going off sylvia! I was always behind him and proclaimed he would be a superstar, even through the 'bad' years - as older posts of mine will show

Whilst I preface this post with the comment that I believe the TER scores of Scully et al are entirely none of our business, I will say that I think Scully's score, whilst not dreadful by any stretch of the imagination, came as a bit of a surprise to me. This is because he is clearly so focused, driven and competitive in his sporting life, and that same competitiveness etc generally crosses over to the academic side.

The days of kids who are "only" footballers are long gone considering the awareness, mentoring and education that the top footballers receive from a young age.

And dont kid yourselves, 59 is not a "good score" - and Im certain Tom would think the same.

Mate, it's not that. The recruiting staff are pumped on this one. Heard it from one of our recruiters at the MoM night. I love Dunny, and hope he makes it, but this kid might be a step above. Time will tell. I can't give more detail than that... I could [censored] it, but that's not very useful. Just talking to the staff about him, I got the strong sense that they were very happy with themselves over this pick. Melshim was the other choice, but the staff didn't elaborate either before or after pick 11 was read out who they preferred.

So kick back mate, the future is rosy. The only real sport in this from now on is to see just how long it takes for us to dominate, rather than if!

Might be a step above Dunn????!!!! ID F**KIN HOPE SO!

My jaw dropped when I saw the back page today. He is HUGE already. Imagine another 7-10kg's on his 195cm frame. He's going to be a mountain of a man.

He's far from huge - when you're holding a dumbbell and have your tricep pushed up against your body its not hard to look muscular.

I saw him the other day - still very spindly. No way known he is 89 kegs, but he'll keep putting on size in the next few years so nothing to worry about

thanks, ben...

hope you will still turn up and support the team and share in the post-match celebrations...

I was looking forward to talking to you face-to-face about your new job/venture...

Will still do my very best to be there and support the team - I too am looking forward to swapping stories about our new ventures!

Hey rollo,

Seeing as I still play competitive footy and this is a chance for most of the guys who don't play to get out there and have a kick, I think I'll step aside and let someone who would otherwise miss out have a run.

Cheers,

Benny

I still dont get ho any consider green to be a FF or such ...hes easily out sized by a decent backman ( and was when trialed in this manner ) .. Hes a good 6 inch too short for a KPP. he could have played second fiddle but with the likes of Jurrah to back up Watts then you need another stonger bodied type in there. Brad could play as a HFF but what a waste of talent. Rotating him through there a a resting forward of sorts might warrant a go. As a KPP you need the likes of Bate, Martin ( still raw yes ) and dare I say it Miller. Frosty can only play as a lead up CHF and this might well work with decent talent closer to goal

something thing like

Wonna Watts Maric

Jurrah Miller Petterd

if not Miller then Bate or Martin

If not Miller then Bate or Martin?? Bate is just about the only one of those mentioned that will DEFINITELY be one of the 6 forwards in round 1. And jurrah of course :D

What has this guy done?

If he does have 1 year to go on his contract the Hawks will have to pay him out, or he has breached a clause in his contract.

He can play, either he has stuffed up and broken some club/AFL Rule, has an injury that has ended his AFL Future, rocked up to preseason as big as Stewart Dew or his team mates can't stand him, you don't just delist 195cmyoung KPP that are still in contract.

Its been said before, but a good mate of mine lives with roughead and apparently Thorp is the biggest tool going around. Teammates cant stand him

Throw the injuries in and their twin towers in rough and frank and its bye bye.

Hes a natural CHF, the dorks tried to turn him into a backman or a relief ruck but didnt work

lmao il leave that to you big fella! rover will do me with that people of demonland will get to see their very own gary abblet jnr and chris judd

Haha could just about be the most damaging on ball duo forum footy has ever seen!

Deemitch, Frawley is enormous and seems to have developed muscle on muscle. His definition is superb and this will allow him to compete with all the power forwards much more readily. Could be an ace up our sleeve.

Here here - he looks MASSIVE in that photo. Although note players are always bigger and more defined in preseason..

dont be silly rollo of course im in!! its that one in a year i ever get to pull on the great red and blue jumper! stick straight to ruck rover and il show sum magic like last time

GO DEES!

Ohhh Dazzle whilst Im as wrapped as anyone that you're playing, you're absolutely kidding yourself if you think you're going to take ruck rover from me! Rover maybe

It would be brilliant if we had all 3 of our number one picks Watts, Scully and Trengove play in the first game of next year. How big would the crowd be?

May I ask how scully and trengove will be both number 1 picks??

As silly as it sounds I think it's actually quite significant whose name gets read out first.

Im pretty sure someone else said it here, but riewoldt at pick 1 has certainly had more expectation on him than kositzche at pick 2.

Will be interesting. As scully has been touted as a number 1 pick for quite some time now, i think it would be more detrimental to him to be picked at 2 than trengove.

Im in rollo, and I just might play more than the first half this year!

Any chance we can avoid having to play the carlton side?? Would be nice to have a bit of competition - all they could come up with last year were blokes who'd seen too many summers and a few kids who'd seen too few..

Benny

You sure on this Benny?

Love you if you are.

Ooo to avoid being caught up on a technicality, I got mail direct from a source at the club that he "agreed" to sign a 3 year deal this morning. Whether he's actually signed, cant confirm. I'd be surprised if it wasnt announced today or early next week by the club