H_T

Great article by lethal. If Bails really loves - as he says he does - the development and teaching side of things and drilling each player on his tasks as in tackling techniques, etc. I think we're on the right path. As Lethal says, the basics are very important. All we need is the players talent..

Opportunity. Correct. With 'home games' coming up against Adelaide and Geelong following the Richmond game. It's also a great opportunity to stimulate those who haven't yet purchased a membership, to buy one.

I look at that side and I shake my head. How on earth did we lose by 80 points. To Richmond.

Well then next time stipulate 'premiership teams' in your post torpedo. Ottens not powerful enough for you?

RR....I should by shares in your exclamation marks...if I had a dollar for everytime you used one I would be a fair dinkum millionnaire. It was an example of how the likes of Ling and Lewis can hurt the opposition or direct opponent the other way. Fwiw Ling is one of the most accurate kicks (and at goal) in the Geelong team. Lewis' kicks are great too (almost L.Hodge-esk like - but not quite). PS. There was no need for the stats of their respective games/goals tally, but thanks for the research. Mind you, all I was stating - was I would 'back them' to kick me the 3 or 4 goals, whereas the others (Crouch & co.) would not. Of course their value to the side is elsewhere. I'm not hanging my hat on goals alone. I'm talking general kicks around the ground too. These guys can hurt opposition with their kicking and hand-eye co-ordination alot more than the 'other' brigade (Crouch, Baker, Rawlings). Although Cross is pretty good with his hands, granted. Look RR, I agree with your last sentence... The way all these players hurt oppositions is that they beat there direct opponent, win the contested ball often hard contested ball and use the ball by hand or foot to the best benefit of the team whereever they are on the ground. - R.R ...so my point probably is in the end the likes of Lewis and Ling are more valuable IMO in that they can win the hardball, negate the opposition and hurt the opposition at the same time, more-so than their counterparts in Baker, Rawlings, Crouch & Cross. Fwiw I would take any of them for our current team. But if there was a choice, I'd take Lewis or Ling if you had them lined up in the school yard.

If you weren't referring to 'hope', I apologise. May I elaborate further on my post. I hold high hopes for 'quality' in the form of a Maric, a Grimes, a Frawley. In other words, I think whilst they are yet to prove it, I think they're all a chance to be a part of the nucleus of the side (ie Premiership core group of players), but it's a while away, I'm no Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost). I agree with your thoughts on the three in your last post. Frawley is still young and green and I think he's being earmarked for our team's future, could be wrong, but I think he will be a much better all round player with 40-50 games under his belt. We'll see him mature into a fine defender IMO.

Ok maybe Carr could join the list. Point taken. But I'd hang my hat on Ling or Lewis to kick me goals or set shots. Or even 3 or 4 goals a game. Certainly not Rawlings, Baker, Crouch. Definitely not Cross who is one of the worst kicks in the Bulldogs line up.

They are good contributors for they're respective teams, solid contributors. They are good players in they're own right, yes, some of them former B&F's. Although I wouldn't say they have the cleanest of skills. My response was with respect to titan's post regarding 'decent skills'. My point? Players who have shut down roles and that have 'decent skills' are sometimes hard to come by. That's all. PS. I know someone on d'land who would argue with your suggestion of Cam Bruce with respect to 'decent skills' and shut down roles. But I won't go there...hang on...oops! How many games did James Manson play for Collingwood I wonder?

I hold high hopes for Maric, Grimes and Frawley in that regard.

Decent skills - Neither does: - Brady Rawlings Steven Baker Daniel Cross Jarred Crouch Flipside: - Cameron Ling Jordan Lewis Josh Carr

Observation......St.Kilda's window is still open. Comment: I think we all know the situation or the position the club could find themselves in (ie. with less than 5 wins , etc).....but do we have to bring up a thread every so often (almost every day)....which alludes to another wooden spoon and the number 1 and 2 draft picks for the 2009 draft, etc, etc. I know its all speculation and that you all are entitled to have an opinion - I've even mentioned it too (ie. commenting on Scully, etc) , so I'm in the same boat - it just seems all too soon and in a way unfair (indirectly) on those taking the field competing. To be honest, I find watching the game now, almost in two minds. I want them to win, but when they're in a position where the game or scoreboard pressure is too much...I'll think, oh well, we've firmed as favourites for a priority pick a little more. Is it just me, or do others think a little like this?? It shouldn't be like that. I know the rules are in place - and we can blame the rules I suppose, but it just.....I don't know,... sucks! At the end of the day........we all want a Premiership.....that's what I keep telling myself. There, I had to let that out.....feel much better.

Good post demoniac. I had the same euphoric feeling in '87 leaving the Western Oval that day too. PS. Mo64? - A query. You say 27 years of supporting Melbourne, yet you also said you endured the dark ages of the 70's when you went to the football....can you clarify this?? Or is it my maths??

Ha. Classic. Good call. He needs one of those mints to shut him up.

Ahh, to be sure to be sure.. He's a class act our Jimma!

Jonathon Brown and Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane) Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn) David Hale / Drew Petrie (Nth Melb) Will Minson / Mitch Hahn (Footscray*) Cam Mooney / Brad Ottens (Geelong) Matthew Lloyd / Scott Lucas / David Hille (Essendon) Nick Riewoldt / Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda) ....... Shall I continue?............Hardly outdated.

He has been tried there before and as Nasher quite rightly pointed out he has an engine for the midfield but at this point he only seems suited to tagging midfielders. He could be tried again but when you have the likes of miller sylvia petterd and bate being more effective than Dunn himself well ..

You would make a fortune reading hands. Fortune cookies would become obsolete.

My 31,484 prediction is still looking good. There should be a big jump this weekend.

Dean Bailey has the difficult task of virtually turning over the entire list as well developing youngsters as well as implementing his game plan which the previous list were not capable of carrying out. Clearly the club has taken the re development route and asked for patience. Despite results we have started games well and the gameplan is evident in its infancy. Already injuries have taken its toll. New draftees have yet to step into history. Still much work to be done and yet Bailey has only coached 25 games.

Lleyton Hewitt breaks his title hoodoo....finally albeit against lesser ranked players than the likes of Nadal and Federer...still, it's a win.

Draft pick no's 3 and 5 from the 2003 draft better get a wriggle on...

Including yourself Y_M. Still, good post even if you wanted Garland delisted last year.

And Bate & Cheney are down back sorting out who's in line to secure the contract for the pin-up boy of RED HEAD matches.

Who is Dwayne Russell??

Whilst they will 'aim' to give the top 4 a show this season. I don't think they can do it. The Hawks, Cats, Saints and Dogs for me. They have a vulnerable backline, as Essendon showed. They're midfield is the strength. They will however make the eight.