Doggo

Buckley to go top 3 in the Rising Star Award, maybe even win it. PJ holding down the #1 ruck spot by seasons end. Robbo kicks 50+ goals and leads our goalkicking again. Rivers and Moloney tie in the B&F award

1. Steve Johnson - very good player, but vastly overrated. Didnt deserve to be All-Australian or Norm Smith Medallist last year. A lot of cats fans i know agree. 2. Des Headland - front-running showboater. 3. Alan Didak - arrogant little [censored] with a face you just want to punch. 4. Ricky Dyson - the softest, most overrated player on the Dons list. Essendon fans LOVE him and think he's gonna be an absolute superstar, but i just dont see it. He's just SOOOO soft. 5. Mark Jamar - doughnuts. Brett Burton real lucky to miss out on that list

Big thanks to everyone involved yesterday! Was an awesome team effort indeed! Special big thanks to WJ and Redleg for taking up the coaching roles, rollo for being the super organised team manager, and wise monkey for his strong leadership. And blessed_hands... what a gun Victory in the red & blue is certainly sweet...

If he is eligible, he'd definitely have to be part of that top 12 list you'd think?! Probably a wish more than anything, but IMO he looks set to make a bigger impact this year, and would be right up in my top 5 for the award.

Hope that Illsy bloke doesnt play CHF... otherwise he could be in for a day out... ! hahaha

Thanks for the report! Any word on any of the younger boys? The new draftees, and also Simon Buckley (who a mate of mine saw last week in St Kilda and said was looking absolutely hugely ripped)? Also, how's Juice Newton looking?

I agree wholeheartedly. I was very impressed with the glimpses I saw from him last season, and have watched him play some junior footy too. He looks a real likely type, good height for a medium defender, ultra-quick and works his butt off. And he's a Melbourne boy... (i must admit i too have a soft spot for the Buckley, Grimes and Moloney's... living their dream playing for our great club). I think he'll be a real surprise packet this year... playing most, if not all, 22 h&a games. Probably playing in the role that Clint Bizzell has left vacant as loose man, or a Wheatley-type running off the back flank. DB seems impressed with him and very keen to see what he's made of. I thought Riley's use last season of Buck's was a bit conservative to say the least. I dont think he played more than 60% game time in any single match he played. Have a feeling that will change this year though, especially considering the amount of bulk he's added to his frame (considering his slight body mass last season was probably seen as his greatest weakness.) He'll no longer be pushed off the ball so easily, and i think with the extra strength, we could see a real solid payer emerge in Simon.

I just found out i'm DJ'ing a friends Birthday party on the 16th. Will still definitely be there on the 17th... might just be sporting a hangover and dark glasses though. heheh.... Well, theres definitely enough players on the bench for me to get a good rotation (i.e. good amount of time on the pine)! haha Seriously though, i think i might take it a bit easy at the party... i'm really really revved up to play this game and bring the Big Carl back home. I havent played in a losing Demonland side yet, and i dont plan on that changing! Bring it on, hungover or not!

Here's a few from left-field... Will be interesting to see how these predictions stack up circa September 2008. Here's hoping anyway.. MFC Best and Fairest: Brent Moloney (if he can get himself right !! ) MFC best team player: Jared Rivers (top 5 b&f placing and All-Australian CHB, but like Moloney, only if he can get himself right!) MFC best clubman: Jace Bode (will make a name for himself in the BP position left vacant by Brown/Ward) MFC most improved: Paul Johnson or Simon Buckley (one of these guys, if not both, should/will have a big year) MFC Most Consistent: Nathan Jones (to go with a runners-up trophy in the B&F) MFC Best First Year player: Jack Grimes (plus a top-3 placing in Rising Star Award) MFC Leading Goalkicker(s): Russell Robertson and Juice Newton (54 goals each to be specific) Most votes in Sandringham's best and fairest by a Melbourne player: Shane Valenti or Aussie Woneamirri In all honesty tho, i dont expect most of these things to happen... Like others have said, its very much a wish list more than anything.

I think he works pretty hard around the ground. I dont think that that has ever been the issue regarding PJ's ability to step up as a 1st ruck or not. His strengths as a player are his 'small man' qualities. i.e good below his knees for size, reads the play well, runs to the right positions to receive the ball and link up thru the midfield. Tidy footskills and has shown in the past to be generally a good finisher around goal (07 was an aberration IMO). The reason he would not be up to standard as an AFL senior #1 ruck lies more in his weaknesses -- his ruck work and contested marking ability - which he has improved, athough probably not yet to the consistent standard required of him. He works much harder than Jamar, who despite his 'big man' strengths (strong contested mark and good ruck tap ability), is hopelessly lost when the ball hits the deck, and doesnt run anywhere near hard enough around the ground to make position. Hopefully we've found the happy medium between Jamar and Johnson in Meeson. The overhead ability and tap skill of Jamar, with the natural agility and football skills of Johnson. Add Meeson's elite endurance, and who knows, we might have a player on our hands... Fingers crossed. It'll be an interesting time in 08 for the ruck division, with the addition of Meeson and to a lesser extent Martin. I very much look forward to seeing who comes out on top and stakes claim at JW's #1 ruck spot. In regard to the subject of the topic, i think it could definitely be something worth trying PJ back for long periods of match time in the NAB cup. As someone mentioned earlier, he did make some ground as a backman in his short time there with a good performance on Cam Mooney after Mooney slaughtered Carroll (i think?). If he could show something at fullback in the preseason comp, like a good performance on a Mooney, Hall, Rocca or Gehrig... who knows, maybe we MIGHT have an answer to our gorilla FB question marks. I'm not saying we will, but who knows? Theres definitely no harm in trying it out. Anyway i'm goin to bed... its 4am

Thats a bit harsh isnt it mate?... hahaha Its been a long time since i played competitive footy. Its actually alot easier (to be less fit, that is) than you'd think....

I'm there! Definitely... Unfortunately though, i'm not as fit as i was last time i played... I'm a lot "bigger" these days... (i.e fatter, lol), so a Key Posi spot is the go. Full-Forward would be ideal. I have experience playing there in the past, pretty good height (188cm), and can take a decent grab overhead. Also, i'll see if i can get a couple of mates down who played in the same match a couple of years ago (Matt and Benn). I'll come back here to confirm they're in when i know. Cheers, Chris

haha... rollo, cant say they're the best mate... but, we've always got the new year to make (and break) new resolutions... cheers

PS. Mods... where has my avatar gone? The picture seems to still show up on my profile screen, but does not show next to my name on posts. Wondering if you'd be able to fix it? Cheers

hey guys... i'll definately be in for the next game. I missed the last one (i havent logged on for a few months), and i'm absolutely spewin we lost the cup (as seen on my avatar pic). :angry: definately count me in for it if it gets the go ahead. would be great to pull on the old guernsey again and bring the cup back home. cheers

PJ would have done just as well given the same amount of game time and opportunity, i'm sure of it. Blake's season is simply the product of being given every opportunity due to Brad Otten's injury in mid-season, and Stephen King getting old. He's not a bad player, pretty handy 2nd ruck, but IMO never going to be a first string ruckman.

How many games in the VFL seniors do AFL-listed players need to have played in order to qualify for finals? Just wondering...

Agree totally Jaded. That's probably the smartest, most common-sense reply to this topic so far. I know i'm having difficulty being rational, because i'm just so [censored] off and mystified at the selections.

Worst 'youth policy' ever IMO... As far as i'm concerned, Riley LIED to us when he said he would be giving our younger blokes a chance, and IMO should not be considered for the top job next year...

I don't think i've ever been more disinterested in a game involving the MFC, as i am about this weekend's game after seeing that team sheet. I've had enough. AHHHH, so [censored] off. Any bet Dunn, Buckley and Garland are the 3 to miss out on final selection. Would not surprise me at all now. F*** this...

Holland and Ferguson straight into the starting 18? You've got to be kidding... Hopefully Ward gets the arse this week at the very least, being on the extended bench. And what did PJ do wrong???!!! His omission REALLY really bugs me... How is the guy supposed to impose himself on a game, or even improve at AFL level, when he only gets less than 50% game time each week, playing #2 to a 30-year-old who is past his best? 8 disposals and 10 hitouts against the roo's from half a match is still a bigger return than what we can expect from Jamar given 75% game time. I'm really [censored] off about this selection Any chance Riley had for the job next year, IMO, is shot. And good riddance i say.

Is this for real?!?! If so... that is DISGRACEFUL

I agree. There should be no way known that we should go for Pagan... I'd even prefer Connolly to Pagan, and thats not saying much!

Still undersized IMO... Did u see him this week against Adelaide? Was tossed around like a rag doll early against Bock. Giving away both height and weight, he ended up conceding 3 or 4 free just because of his lack of size. Too similar in stature to Carroll for my liking. A very good 3rd defensive option, but not #1 backman IMHO

Just read the article in its entirety... Thought Garry was harsh on PJ in saying he had already 'failed' to capitalise on the position left vacant by Jolly, when he had been injured for all of last year, and is ever improving and can only show so much in 60% game time or less. His development this season has actually been one of the real positives so far. Also, in saying we had been passed by Hawthorn, Kanga's, Collingwood and Bulldogs this year, whilst true... he did not once mention injuries to key players having played a huge role in the demise of MFC in 07, and the effect equivalent injuries to key players would have had to the sides 'passing' us. A very narrow article if you ask me. Very much for the mass public, with the view of 'what the average AFL punter might think' in mind... and not addressing the core issues of why this season has been so bad. Typical HUN article, really...