beelzebub

Actually in many ways the article is flawed logic or at worst hypocritical. Strange he suggests that the AFL is expanding , for its own self interest and "survival'. Survival ? ..thats hilarious as where and upon what would one hang an argument that the premier sporting code is facing extinction ? Also, has not the expansion into villages up north and the poaching of another country's city folkby the NRL been but the act of desperation ? I would have thought the pesty attempts to garner a GF to Sydney would be a smack in the face to such arguments that there is nothing more than ripples beyond the Murray. I suppose someone up there has to tilt at the windmill and Samuelson is that lucky clown. I suppose he'l need to sharpen his crayons as AD & Co havent even really started yet. Sheeds is hardly out of bed and into first gear either. Poor Sam...he'll be having an anuerism soon !!

Probably more than a handful of others you could ad to that list. THe SMH ..what a rag. Interesting line of argument as Rojic summises. Wonder what they would make of the continuing interest overseas n AFL. Yes it wont be as popular world wide as soccer..nor could it be but who really cares. Many a domestic sport continues in many countries without a suggestion it will die because its supposedly a dead end code. The NRL..permanently suffering from "Little Man Syndrome" just cant stomach the idea of its teritory ( and players ) being raided. Im sure we can expect many more articles and ranting as League haemorages. nice av there RR

mate..youre doing well without the needless commentary. Take the tickets off ya self

In a nutshell...i simply expect an effort... a whole and complete effort... no shirking of the ball....no watching of others doing when you ought to be getting etc. I simply expect a team to play and from the get go..no catch up footy etc. Win-lose ?? ...just want an effort and we'll go from there.

not for a moment sugesting YOU are... I am.. I agree that next year is a make or break of sorts. I agree wholeheartedly that true ability wil have shone through by end of next season and if he is indeed demonstrating improvement then all well and good. If he's languishing and not moving ahead then 2012 might be his last in red and blue. Hnece my question of how long ? we have made many an eror as a team over the jorney by holding on to some players who oozed promise and delivered 50c on the dollar. Im quite happy to suggest if he isnt delivering on the clubs investment then we need to trade him whilst some other outfit may see some avenues that we havent. Now before some jump to the conclusion Im advocating moving him on willy nilly thats not the case at all and will show you havent read it all . I still think he ( Watts ) wil come good . Hes a raw-ish and still not quite at home (mentally ) at this level. Hopefully as he grows and fills , together with stringing patches into games his confidence will rise and output allign with expectations. Im not suggesting he needs to have "made" it by next seasons end..I would suggest he would need to be getting much better..and again follow up with more improvement in 2012 . As Hannabal suggests and I agree again some greats of the game had already stamped their presence by now. We will have to wait a bit longer.

as of today 30/6/2010 its 33,333 lol not too shabby an effort everyone

there are some very good points made so far.. ie.. relevent effectiveness at the various points of development etc... but I think this is the clincher. He's now learning the craft of being an AFL player. I do agree with Hannabal...2011 is crunch time... either hes got up and got going or quite simply trade him. How long exactly do we persevere.. 3,4,5 6 years without dividends ?? Theres a reality to be observed isnt there. I like this kid..I think he has the goods...its whether he can gestate and create a formidable offensive game out of it all is stil the $64 question. I'll wait

very interesting example in Goddard..heres a guy who always had ability but seems to never quite produce to it. Many on here wouldnt have rated him as much a few years back. Can remember watchig him playing for the Scorps and he wasnt setting the world on fire. fast forward ..and hes now hitting his straps. And so will some of our guys...with time , development and experience.

imagine Scully with a Beamer/Jones type carraige !!!! Hope Tom has a good memory !! lol

lol only a few more years...comon... you can do it !!! only hit this land in dec 64 so didnt even get to enjoy the last one you lucky man !!!lol some of these kids will take strides..but it takes a bit of time..and solid , uninterupted pre-seasons etc

follow it through then.. If he can somehow predict and sustain 6 in 010 9 in 011 then 13/14 in 012 ought to follow... and with that improvement hed be stiff to now keep the gig surely ?

so in the main...what were the crows wearing ??

Funny ...if you were asking this after the Pies game wed all feel confident on 8 or so wins by seasons end...now after this week nothing is at all certain. There's no consistency other than pathetic starts to games to hang a hat or anything on. Definitely something annoyingly wrong with Melbourne. Theres a few who ought to be dropped but never will be..much to chagrin.

Im not sure if stops are the answer at the Dome as its supposedly 'hard' under foot..its just that the whole thing moves. Stops ( real ones i.e screw ins ) must surely be 'required' not optional on a soggy pitch...cant be that hard to figure out surely

In many respects Watts is a very( very ,very ) good basketballer who could also just happen to play a very decent game of footy. As others mention he hasnt the harder pedigree of someand his exposure to the many differing qualities of the game therefore lacks. If messrs Ox, Lyon and Neeta want to do something quite invaluable then take this kid and SHOW him how to play that part of the ground. i fear much of the forward coaching is about the structure and play not the individual. We have these club champions who could surely teach Watts a thing or 12 about how you go about the forward line...Please..lol

just as an indicator of how few games some of our lads really have had : Bail, Rohan - 4 Bartram, Clint - 71 Bate Matthew - 79 Bennell, Jamie - 27 Blease, Sam - 0 Cheney, Kyle - 12 Fitzpatrick, Jack - 0 Frawley, James - 52 Garland, Colin -31 Gawn, Max - 0 Grimes, Jack - 25 Gysberts, Jordan - 3 Jetta, Neville - 20 Jurrah, Liam - 9 Maric, Addam - 11 Martin, Stefan - 29 McNamara, Tom - 3 Morton, Cale - 45 Petterd, Ricky - 35 Scully, Tom - 12 Strauss, James - 0 Tapscott, Luke - 0 Trengove, Jack - 12 Watts, Jack - 9 Wonaeamirri, Austin - 20 with a few exceptions theres not a lot of miles in those legs ( collectively ) as the OP suggests..add 30 to all of that and a very different team will be presenting but id modify it a bit and suggest... make it about 32 games and two pre-seasons...and watch what comes out in 2012 54 games and 3 pre-seasons and we ought to be nigh on dangerous

changes for next week as a team GROW SOME !!! get into it...dont watch... shepherd/hit...dont watch.... run with /provide backup...dont watch.. make them earn it...dont watch !!! we have enough spectators at a game... we need 22 PLAYERS~!!! the changes for next week are between the ears....its attitude and application

Im definitely of the opinion that Jack Watts hasnt arrived...now by this I mean his head. Whilst his body needs to and wil continue to fill and solidify its where his head is at that wil determine his ultimate success in ensuing years. The chat to his aubt some weeks back was very enlightening and it just highlighted that he isnt quite 'here' yet. He doesnt feel yet that 100% deservedness to be at the highest echelon of the sport. He's still somewhat overawed by it all.. A bit like six weeks ago I coulndt spell Enjuneer and now I am one sort of thing. Give hime the rest of teh year in both the 1's and magoos and get him through a complete and unfaltered preseason. Get him 'better' mentored and he'll come out next year a different bloke...and thats it..he'll be a bloke not a boy. He'll start to feel he belongs not only in the team ...but playing footy at its highest. In a nutshell he hasnt clicked yet.

Im going to suggest that the next half isnt so much about simplistic win /lose but more about efforts and quarters. It will be more about individuals and their tasks, and keeping to them. it wont be purely about the scoreboard. bailey isnt too worried about the myopic ideal of simply winning games at present. it wil be about the mehtods and applications. Itll be about game time into as many legs as possible, building depth and belief. Sometimes you can win ..but tread over the role assigned. its a short term buzz but nothing learnt. I sense Bailey is more about longer term goals. were not trying to impact the finals this year. we're trying to learn consistency. Trying to learn application to tasks for 4 qtrs. Stop thinking its all about the umpires..if you think they are the difference your way off. A good team will win regardless

whilst obviously GC and indeed GWS will go shopping theres no reason to suggest they will pillage every team equally. They will seek as per their requirements. Does Petterd fit these ? possibly. ..but not wishing to seem vague so might any number of players. Petterd has voiced a desire to stay a Dee and we'd all wish tat is the case but until papers are signed he like a lot of others might just decide the attractions and remumerations of Brisvegas are just too good to deny. Our fortunes going forward are not centred on any one player...that is OUR good fortune. MFC are going to receive silverware a lot sooner than GC or GWS..well actually GWS have eons to wait so it will be interesting to see what transpires. if he goes someone else will come along

I'll play....assuming... Pick at end of round 1 as per 3rd category..Hes good not elite.simple as that.. Could end up as gold but youd have to evaluate as to where he is at end of THIS season.

5/10 seems pretty fair. And in all honesty who would know better?? we're off and running but a long ways to go . Its about the slimmest of passes acknowledging we are on the way up and deserve the accolade asociated with this but its really saying..any less and we'd be failing and thats just about where we are. Succint and accurate Bails.. 5/10 it is

Congrats KC for this being posted to the MFC site !!

That may well be the situation in the end. He may well be offered a "cheapie" year but would think there is definitely a changing of the guard occurring. I could see Junior staying on strangely ( esp on current form ) but Bruce might see the writing on the wall.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/96716/default.aspx MFC has nominated Jordie as teh Rookie of choice to be available for senior selection for rest of the year. Congrats Jordie...rip it up mate !!