dimmy

We all laude Sparrow's tap to whoever, but TMac does the team thing too : Strong body at stoppages /packs, leads to other side to BBB/SW) Tmac has taken a gorilla to the other side of the paddock . If he gets it he will score (high %) but could do this 10 times a game and is ignored (but we say how well Ftitts & BBB have played and then we criticise his lack of stats. Spargo, Kossie, TMac & last years whipping boys Gus & Sparrow are all examples of our Team !!

I am confused because : At what stage is showing extreme " demonstracy" . Lie dropiing arms and shaking head (whilst being silent) is going to be capital offence soon At the same time someone going off their nut is not helping the game. Kick them off for 5 minutes with no interchange .The issue would be solved immediately !!

Probably sounded like Ahhhhh &8^%90k Why not get the designers of the Goal Review system and have an Ump Respect Review system. Average out 2 minutes per review (based on Goal Review)Then we could reduce games to 5 minutes and be like Grid iron and take 4 hours to play.

What about Gus !!!

He was the reason to go to the footy !! Sensational player and person.

With all the "value judgements"made of players and the subsequent criticism floating through the posts in many places , it is good to get a merit based system to evaluate players. BUT......even then statistics still fail to eliminate the "value judgement" methods. Some of us still have our "Whipping Boys" e.g. Gus (ala Joe Boy 0 , TMac , and a "newy" in Tomlinson. Good to see Smith is moving into acceptability.

Somebody once said that Rioli was the best "10 Possession Player he had seen " I think defenders were always worried when he was in the area. Kozzie is moving in that vein.

Kevin Bartlett played 400 games with a similar build (probably smaller)

I keep saying ( to my fellow golfers who have reminded me about 186 for years )that we had 2 Practice Matches against Geelong : 1 To see how much of a start we could give them and still win. 2 : To show them how much we could win by when we play fair dinkum. I wonder why nobody wants to play golf with me !!!

We knew the top blokes were going to be fantastic, but what about Sparrow proving finals is not a barrier and young Bowey who also proved he was up to it ! Spargo , ANB as well Viney & Gus .........the list goes on . Actually you are not going to believe this, because I thought the finals was best of five (just like NBA) and we won the first three by exactly the same score...........resounding !!! ( How come Foxtel was the only broadcaster for the final 2 games.

Lat's bring back Doug Heyward, ( plus there was one other that escapes me) Thorald Merrett with special comments by Percy Beames. OR : Really a return to Jack Dyer, Tim Lane They all had the advantage of No TV so could make a few mistakes (of names etc ) without us knowing. Harry Beitzel was the 70 & 80's version of BT

Thanks for the info and the discussion. The more we get into the Stats argument, the more we agree that the Premiership that we won (about 3 times last week) was because of a committed group of young people. When you think that Kossie, Trent Rivers, Tom Sparrow and young Jake Bowey are being introduced into this sort of environment that has proved so successful by people like Harmesy, ANB (most improved footballer),Gus etc etc. Just think how seamlessly Bowey and Petty (no frills) and Sparrow (especially in the finals) have fitted into their roles and been so effective.

Agrre with nearly all of these, except for Danger (not exciting to see a bloke trying to kick it to himself) & Greene ( I want to watch footy not a sideshow, however I will admit he can play. What about Touk Miller ?

That is the problem with judging purely by stats. I can remember Paul Roos saying that Jeremy Howe played the best "no kick" half one game, just by the impact on the areas he was involved. Kossie is becoming a young Cyril in that he "creates expectation"because he is so quick in to the area. (However once he perfects his tackling, he will be extremely dangerous) . This created expectation leads to increased pressure insofar as disposal which occured in the first Q.( but no stat !) LIkewise TMacs strength for Sparrows goal. (Channel 7 commentators ignored his effort). The more I have seen the Finals (We actually beat the Bulldogs again last Saturday (according to Fox) even after beating Brisbane & Geelong. No wonder they were tired.), the more I have begun to appreciate Viney's efforts over the Finals. He created the space for Clarrie & Trac to show their stuff. The same can be said for Harmesy & Gus. A fantastic team approach. Question: How do you get the stats with "Pressure Acts" as distinct from 1% ? To be fair I feel that a lot of stats centre around disposals irrelevant to Effective disposal ( Can someone explain the actual criteria ) But thanks, Rusty Nails for the posts .,

Was there a prouder uncle in the land as James Brayshaw ??? He will be renowned for Bang, ....bang, bang ......bang !!!

I think a lot of people are having problems reconciling their prejudices towards some players (i.e. only think of any mistakes ) and accepting these blokes are now Premiership players, who have played probably the purest football you could imagine AGAINST the next best side in the competition ( not the 18th best) . Just think of Angus' efforts in the 3rd Q ( in fact over the whole final series) TMac's team effort and providing the big option when the first were covers ( plus his assistance for Sparrow's goal) ANB's imitation of a buzzing Bee throughout the finals Sparrows final series Spargo's ""football brain" Fritta's marking & kicking The improvement of Jacko, Rivers , Petty , Kozzie ( starting to play like Cyril in that If he is in the area ,watch out, which creates pressure) & Bowey. There is a lot of upside IF they keep the same attitude !!! ( which I am confident they will )

For some reason we tend to over rate players from other teams. In Sparrow we have : a Premiership player who has shown us all the way through the finals just how improved he was PLUS how well he handles playing against the top notch sides. We do not know how Cerra handles the pressure of finals. It is a bit like a test batsman who values making runs against the est Indies (1980's) vs DImboola B Grade.

and Tmac ....signed contract in last two weeks

I would never ever doubt JV's committment to MFC or his efforts . He has grown up with this Club and his capacity to change his instinctive style has led to his enormous value in the finals. I will bet the coaches will use video of his 1% (which by the way do not register on stats sheets) for a long time. Not every players can be a Trac or a Clarrie in their ability to handle the ball at such pace and stiill retain their balance. But part of it is the work that goes into creating the initial spce for them to accellerate out of. But that late surge in the 3rd Q has to rank as one of the great finals moments universally & ever. !!!

I have been a little critical of JV in that he had a very strong "see Ball Get Ball ............and keep ball" which restricted the flow of our game. This year , particularly latterly he has been the in & under getting the ball out (ala Liberatore) whic has added enormously to us. Plus CLarrie has changed in 12 months and is now " Elite"with his disposal & Super Elite with his general play.

An absolute gem of a player & clubman. Got himself back after delisting and was definitely the best small defender &team man for years. Has left nothing behind.

Congratulations to Ollie Wines. He would admit that he would swap it for a gig at the big dance. What is in the water @ Echuca. I always thought Clarrie came from Shepparton. Imagine going to play Echuca in the Junior Footy knowing Viney & Wines are waiting for you.

THey are not going to War . This a football match.

Well done Nathan Jones. You were a genuine FOOTBALLER. No 2 is a label of respect in MFC with Robbie Flower & Nathan. This purely about loyalty (and class) because bothe these blokes did the hard yards . Maybe the Club could honour the Number. Nathan struggled when he firt became Captain, but you could see that it was another challenge he accepted anddeveloped to being the heart & soul of the Club. Thank you.

Oh well we were Premiershi[p favourites for 24 hours. Both sides palyed thehir A+ Game over the weekend . It wiill be interesting qwho keeps their standard up will win.