Doggo

hahaha... call

Can't disagree with that.......... Anything in there about Neale's "long-term development plan"??

Any chance Hayes might be pushing for selection at Sandy 1sts yet?

Have a good one ya lucky b*stard!! Europe.... damn!! Stay in touch with the board whenever ya can over there i guess! Big things happening at the MFC in the 2nd half of the season i'm sure... (I'm with the Brad Green train of thought... come on a big big winning streak and finals)... dare to dream ! Peace... Doggo

At this stage you'd have to say it's a race between Sylvia, PJ, Bell, and to a lesser extent Bate and Jones. I say to a lesser extent for the latter 2 because they were pretty much expected to do very well this season and were earmarked by Neale Daniher as players who were going to get a lot of chances to make names for themselves at AFL level. And also, they had immediate impacts from pretty much their first games onwards. Godders has been tagging outta his skin this year, but has been around for a long long time and i highly doubt he would win the Most Improved award come seasons end. Sylvia much in the same boat as Jones and Bate, but has been around for longer and, whilst was always expected to make the next step sooner rather than later, many have been waiting for that 'big improvement' from him for some time. He's doing exceptionally well and has found his niche with Bate as undersized, mobile CHF targets. Daniel Bell's consistent good form would also have to have him right up there for the award too, but i think he was expected to do well after solid form in the second half of last year. PJ is the big one for me, in that he has been given the opportunity that he missed thru injury, and also poor form early last year, and really is starting to look the goods. Has improved immensely with his overhead marking and contesting, and is growing in confidence every week. Finally believes he belongs at the top level, and is playing like he believes it, which would probably have him close to the #1 position at this stage for Most Improved, but really it could go to any of the players mentioned already in this post.

I know... what the hell was goin on there?? I was actually fearing for Fraser's safety! (not)... haha But seriously, u've gotta know when ur fighting above your weight, to back off. Carroll was just laughing at him the whole time, probably saying the same thing we were: "Are you serious mate?... i mean, are you really SERIOUS?!" hahahahaha

Agree 100%... The only reason i can think of for him missing the first shot would have been the pressure of the occassion. Directly in front 50 out, 71,000 fans (majority being filth supporters) yelling and booing at ya... he just shanked it.... The 2nd shot was a lot tougher, and he almost got it too just faded late right, but i'm sure with a bit more time in the forward line and more shots on goal, he will soon be slotting those on a regular basis. There is no problems with his kicking action or technique (he is probably one of the better field kickers in our side), and he is a huge kick. It was all mental i'd suggest, as well as the swirly, slippery conditions not helping. But he's done it many times at VFL level no sweat, and will only get better at AFL level with the opportunity to do so.

Are you serious? Jamar may have kicked 10.3 last season, but thats because the majority of his shots were from inside 30m, due to him playing deep in the square. He doesnt lead when playing forward, and I dont think i've ever seen him connect sweetly on a kick over 50m. Even his goal in the final against St Kilda last year wobbled ugly off the boot thru the middle. He has some serious (fundamental) problems with his kicking technique and action. Both of PJ's kicks were from 50m or more, and the first one he just shanked, the second was a very tough kick from outside 50 on the boundary that sailed thru at goalpost height and only just missed. To say Jamar is a better shot at goal than PJ is either, (a) totally dissing PJ's kicking ability, or ( b ) totally overrating Jamar's.... Jamar = one of the worst kicks in the AFL. Period.

It was actually Ricky P who came over and lifted Medhurst's jumper over his head as he was all over the top of Jonesy... The Medhurst thought, F*** this, and took it off completly to look tough... very funny Good to see the young fella's stickin up for each other

While Dunn was in the side he was generally the 3rd man up in the forwardline... so with Dunn outta the side, it must be a set play ND has, and Sylvia is the man for it. YM is right in saying he does have a huge vertical leap.... Best at club tho? I think Robbo might have something to say about that

Good effort by Millsy to put his hand up for selection, but in my personal opinion, i think it SHOULD take more than one good game at Sandy for him to force himself back into the side. Would like to see him dominate at the lower lever for a few weeks, on a consistent basis to really show he is capable and worthy of a spot in our 22 at AFL level. And i think we have the balance right at the moment with Bate and Sylvia playing as mobile targets. Probably not a good idea to mess with the balance of a side that are playing pretty good footy at the moment. Having said all that, it would not surprise me at all if ND brings him back (wouldn't Newt's be spewin!?). If not, all we can really ask of Brad is to keep doing what he did today.

Was never gonna be any other team really... if it were, my old man would probably have disowned me! hahaha j/k... But yeh, it was dad for me who really drove the Melbourne support home!

Sad to say... but i gotta agree with that. He needs more than one good week at Sandy to be a better player at league level (try, 10 weeks?....... just kidding) But honestly, he really needs to do that on a more consistent basis at Sandy to walk back into the MFC side. Good on him tho... shows how much he really wants to get back in the side and make something of his career at the Dee's IT'S NOW OR NEVER BRAD!

I'm with Brad Green on this one... priority picks wont matter much to us when we sneak into the 8 come finals time after winning 12 in a row! hahah

I've been one of PJ's biggest fans for a while now... Seeing him dominate in the VFL a few times in '05 (and like Pello said, eventually win the Liston that year), i was always thinking why is ND still persisting with Jamar when we have Johnson waiting in the wings? It, for me, was just so clear that he would be better than Jamar given THE SAME amount of game time, the same opportunities. His skill set is so superior to Jamar's it's not even funny. Now that he is getting his chance, he is grabbing it with both hands (and high above his ahead ). And the issue of his overhad marking looks well and truly resolved. IMO, was always probably more of a confidence issue than anything... I remember watching Luke Darcy early in his career and thinking the guy couldnt catch a ball if it were a trout at a farm, but it goes to show that when ur that tall, confidence in marking situations is all above the shoulders (pardon the pun). Would have been nice if he'd slotted one of those 2 shots today in the 1st, but he did look very nice in the forward line on the lead. He's only gonna get better too... really does give us some hope for our 1st ruck posi after White goes. I wrote this last week in the "Poll: Second Ruckman" post, and i think it's a fair bit relevant here. My little cuz would be wrapped with PJ's game today i'm sure....

Must have lost a fair bit of weight and grown quite a bit since high school then... was always a little bit on the short, 'pudgy' side of midfielders back then. Although we are talking 5-6 years ago now, so of course a lot would have changed... Good to hear he's playing good, consistent footy. Best of luck to him. P.S. Have u seen his missus? Not a bad looker at all...

Doggie Brown for sure... Jared Rivers. And Robbo. I've heard Neale speak on many occasions about these 3 players, with nothing but the absolute highest regard.

I thought Bartram showed great technique and determination in his tackling last season. Especially considering the stature of the young man, he was ultra impressive. My top 6 for tacklers at the club, in no particular order, would go: Bell (probably the best tackler at the club. Good combo of fast chasing and inside strength in tackles... strong and determined with great technique, and really makes them count and hurts the opposition), Whelan (rugby background really shows... loves to hurt his man), Bartram (they call him junkyard dog for a reason, great chaser and inside tackler), Pickett (he is Byron, what more can i say?), McDonald (for the sheer amount of tackles he lays moreso than for his technique) & Godders (always there to lay a strong tackle playing inside). Sylvia unlucky to miss out, but i feel sometimes he can be a touch too crude at times, ditto Jones. His technique could prob be a bit better at this stage, but will definately improve with experience. Davey would be the number 1 'chase-down' tackler at the club, no doubt about that, but inside is brushed away too easily.

How did Heath Neville go? Good to see him in the Sandy 1's, lets hope he can do something and show he might actually be a good player. Also, a question about Tom Paterakis. I played a little bit of footy with him at school and also at South Melb Dists. in juniors, and from what i saw of him, he always was the dominant midfielder on the ground. Haven't seen or spoken to him in a couple of years though-- just wondering from anyone in the know how he's going? He'd be, age 20-21 now i guess? Is a pretty solid, nuggety type midfielder with very tidy skills and loves a running goal. Playing on former AFL-listed player Whyman would have been a big task, i'm assuming he is/was played in a defensive negating midfield/half back role? Have seen his name in the ressies bests consistently all season, is he a chance of consolidating his spot in the 1sts? He'd have to be going alright in the 2's b&f at this stage?

I went to visit my 10-year-old cousin today, and being a young Melbourne supporter (no influence from me there.. hehe ), i asked him what he thought of the game on Saturday. He was so wrapped, and it really made me truly happy to see the passion in his young 'Demon' eyes. Reminded me of my younger days following the Dee's. But one thing in particular that he said really stuck out in my mind. He told me his new favorite player was Paul Johnson. I asked him why, and he said "because i'm a ruckman too" (which he is in the Under 11's, and not a bad one either!), and that he "loved the way he marked the ball in defence all those times in the last quarter, and won a lot of taps!" I gotta say, even I was really gobsmacked. I'm probably PJ's biggest supporter on here, and i had absolutely no influence in him making his decision about that (honestly). His former favorite player was David Neitz, whom he said he still loved, but now is "getting too old" (his words, not mine! ), and he reckons PJ will be around for a long time still. PJ must really have gotten a whole lot better overhead and in the ruck, considering even my little cuz is noticing his strong marking and rucking! It's funny how little kids notice these things, but in their own innocent little way. It was great...

I think he's travelling very nicely at the moment. Might be a bit biased as i want the boy to succeed more than anything at the moment (and keep Jamar outta the side... ), but i think he has improved in all the areas the FD have asked of him (overhead marking in particular), and is on the right track to becoming a good AFL ruckman. Is getting better and better every week, and his rucking is starting to look 'not too bad', if that makes any sense. Looks highly unlikely that Jamar will play again in the red&blue IMHO.

I think the problem(s) with Jamar are that he doesnt work hard enough to present, or is anywhere quick enough on the lead when in the forward line. Is very much confined to the goalsquare when up forward, for the long bomb. This leads to him being extremely predictable when inside 50. Secondly, if he were to improve his timing and skill on the lead, this would take him outside 30+ metres. From this distance, his kicking can be a real liability. Therefore, his worth as a forward really only extends to him being played very deep in the square for the "bomb it long" option. Has not the pace or footy smarts to get the ball on the lead, and when he does, kicking distance and accuracy are a major problem. He is a SHOCKING kick! Not to mention being absolutely useless when the ball hits the ground. Yes he can mark and is a big body, but i think all he would do in our forwardline is take up space. When he returns from his hamstring, i think he should be given an extended run at Sandy as a tall forward (though highly unlikely considering Sauntner, Newton, Miller and Dunn will all be part of their forward 50 setup) to see if he actually is capable of playing as a constructive forward, capable of touching the ball more than 5 times a game, kicking a few goals and taking some strong marks over 4 qtrs. Could be worth a crack, but at this stage i dont see him eventuating into anything more than a pinch-hitter up forward for Sandy, and certainly not a good (or even average) forward at AFL level.

I thought his game was very very good today. Maybe not 'fantastic', but very good nonetheless. His long accurate kicking has been something we've really been lacking this year. Definately an asset worthy of exploiting for the teams sake. Here's to hoping he can get some fitness, stay injury-free and cement his spot in the side - as a player of his type is something we need. He is certainly more capable than Ward and Brown in the foot-skill department, as well as being younger, more versatile and stronger overhead, and his forward movements today, especially in the 1st qtr were great. Looked comfortable back in at the top level.

HAHAHAHA.... nice!!!

I'm with Jaded on this one... I love Daniel Bell too! (And i'm NOT a 'she') Seriously, how can u not love the way he goes about his footy? Just so hard-at-it and determined. Big future ahead of him indeed...