Dappa Dan

I was always dark on the club for missing out on Swift. Given the footage I'd seen he was just born an elite footballer. I understand the inkjury concerns, and the fact the club and its supporters have had a gutful of them, but I thought given the obvious upside he was a gem of a pick. As it turns out I'm happy with Strauss, whow as the picm before. More than happy actually. Blease I'm still on the fence with until I see a bit more... So this is not to dig the boot into either. But if Swift goes on to become the player I thought he would be, it'll just sting a little.

They won't give a rats (how could they)... this would mean more to a bunch of kids, some who are brand new and keen to impress, some who are a year or two in and starved of success. That said, I'm predicting a 5 goal loss. They're just too skinny. We won't get out to a 10 goal lead, so at best it'll be a close match, and when push comes to shove, the Hawks' bodies will stand up to the punishment.

This old chestnut again? Half those players haven't even come near to coming to fruition. You're being way too harsh.

Your post is garbage. The quote thats offended people is "would anyone really miss Melbourne if they were gone?" Would anyone miss any of the 10 Melbourne based clubs? Or the interstate ones for that matter? Or more specifically, would anyone outside of the fans of that specific club, it's members and supporters really be all that upset? This is all just another way of saying that because Collingwood have a bigger supporter base, people would miss them more if they were gone. Like saying just because we're headed for 30,000 instead of 40,000 somehow we're less significant. His comment, were it made by someone that was in some way relevant to football, would be considered incendiary because EVERY club's supporters would prefer to see a smaller club vanish than their own... THAT much is true of most one-eyed supporters. If I HAD to choose between us and the Roos disappearing, I'd choose the Roos. And I LOVE the Roos as a club. Matter of fact I think it would be a crying shame if the Pies were to leave. All that spectacular history and tradition with us. The '58 flag. If I can say that about Collingwood, I can say it about any club. If you take the sum total of peoples' so-called "opinions" about MFC as a club, anyone who has a clue knows that when the current crop of young players, and the incoming youngsters mature, we'll become as exciting as the Dogs. Maybe even more exciting. Our lack of exposure is temporary, and it's something every club that bottoms out goes through. No. I said people don't listen or retort. If you understood the spirit of the post you'd have seen that I meant if anyone in the media, his panel members, anyone in the print media had cared what he said, we would have seen a lot more written and spoken about it. As it is, I only see net posters getting up in arms... = insignificant. Had it been Vlad, or Walls, or Sheahan, or Caro... then we would have seen some more argy bargy. No insult to all of us, but in the grand scheme of things our opinions count for little.

Dwayne... Please go away from footy. You're hurting it. I can scarcely think of anyone who has LESS respect in the football world. People have roundly abused Hutchy, Caro, Walls and Sheahan at various times... and the abuse tends to follow those who have some sort of impact in the media related part of footy... When Dwayne talks... no-one listens or retorts. Says it all...

I would prefer others if there were others screaming out to be let into the group. Miller is, in my mind, just as NQR as Davey. Moloney has had his problems, not all of them injury related. Brock has even struggled to really get 22 games into a season (though I would suggest leaving him out of the leadership group would be a major oversight at this stage) Green, Bruce and JMac are in the correct spots given their histories, and their respective 2008s. Having said that, in a stronger list, I would agree with you. I think we'll find him back in sooner rather than later, but it's just as valuable having him EARN it again. Letting him concentrate on his game is the right move... As you said. Well there you go. Another vote of confidence, albeit an unofficial one from a fan website. But it all helps. Good on him. He's a hard player not to like, is Beamer.

Agreed. But not instead of... as well as. This has me surprised. To see him grow up like this. When he came to the club he had a reputation of being a bit of a peanut. If his hardships on and off the field have refined him, then that's something I'd be thrilled to see. As a side note I spoke to a guy who lives and breathes Geelong, and he said he thought when Prismall was lost that it was nothing next to losing Beamer.

Now Jack.... I don't mean to be nasty... But you're 17. Go to bed. :D

Nice work DD. Though I'd like to know more specifically, is it the infighting between posters on here that you're objecting to? Or is it the supporters' dissatisfaction with decisions made by the club? If it's the former, then I tend to agree... in my few wanderings into Saintsational and the Pies and Dons board, people seem more friendly than we do here. I'm afraid that it's probably a case of just a small handful of posters being a bit keen to disagree, without there being call for disagreement. They're called keyboard heroes, or words to that effect, and I would suggest you just hit the "ignore" button if they irritate you. If it's the latter, I think perhaps you should have a think about the situation. We are in a dire state, and have been for a while now, after having come from being the most powerful club in the country fifty years ago. As supporters we have a right to be disappointed, and to take it out on those in power at MFC... Moreover I would hope that the criticisms would continue. After all where would we be if those people weren't able to see where they're going wrong? But in general, I'm like you, I think there's a place for positivity. Over at demonology (another dees site) they are VERY quick to create a clique and to decry ANYTHING, just for the sake of being heard. Which is a shame I reckon as there's some VERY wise heads over there. They often get stuck in to 'land for being childish and for not seeing the state of the club or team as it really is... I reckon now particularly is a time when we DESPERATELY need that blind enthusiasm, and I'm glad it takes place mostly on 'land.

I was 7... I didn't even know where my [censored] was, let alone what footy was all about. Now of course, I'm very familiar with both...

Mmm. If only there was more footage. I'm too young to have seen him with my own eyes. This is one of the BIG gripes I have with MFC and the AFL. So many young RFC fans know about their heyday... likewise The Saints fans with Baldock... Players from other eras are still talked about by young fans as their "oldies" pass on the knowledge... and yet with us, hardly any kids know as much about Robbie as they should. Myself included. The closest we have is when a 70 yr old former player tries to belt the snot out of some punk, and even then it has nothing to do with Melbourne. Which is why I was so surprised to see you get behind young Naitanui so fervently. Unless you considered him more of a KP prospect? IMO he could be quite good at either role, but dominate in neither... e.g. if he's a gun ruckman who drifts forward then how much effect will he really make on the game? Likewise if he turns out to be more of a KP forward, do you REALLY think he'll end up being up there with the best KP players going around? With that kick? Not trying to dig up old bones...

Don't blame EFC. I would hope MFC would have done the same thing. Hate the AFL. It's them that gave us the crappy draw.

Agreed.

JMac was the best selection in a year where there was no absolutely obvious choice... The next captain will come from whoever, out of Brock, Rivers, Miller etc has the best 2009.

RE: Scotty Thompson His best football was at the crows... but you used the word "produced." I've believed that all along we produced this player. He was traded for a first rounder because he came of age while still at the demons. His best footy was played at the crows, yes, but he was "produced" at MFC. Would he be the same player if he was still in red and blue? The media would certainly say no... However I think had he stayed he'd be pretty much the same player. Having said all that, your argument is that Flower is the only star we've produced for a long time. And as far as Scotty Thompson goes, I think it's fair to say ST is not going to scale RF's heights. But then, RR, have you considered that Robbie is pretty tough competition for ANY footballer to be compared to? You have to go back nearly a lifetime to find a better MFC player, but then is that the fault of the players themselves? Or is it because Robbie was just that good? Your overall point is well made, and I agree.

I'd like to add that, in Neitz's last couple of years he wasn't all that dissimilar from JMac. Certainly in '08 he was in much the same position. The only difference was David could have gone out on one leg and still have inspired the team to win. And that's not just words, as he actually did that late in his career. JMac is the same, only without the history and decorations as a club champion. Neitz and JMac are both the "good" kind of pension plans you see with older players in the AFL. They deserve to push their careers to the very last minute their bodies allow them to play. As above though, the playing list and leadership group should be prepared for James to bow out the way Neitz did. Through injury in the first half-a-dozen games. This is not to say that he WILL get injured, but the list should be prepared for the fact he will, just in case this eventuates. On the plus side, having had that happen last year, the younger guys will be all the more prepared to get on with the job.

With a keen eye on the future, I'd say Frawley, Martin and Rivers, with Warnock on the bench or in for injuries would be my starting set-up. Why these 3 or 4? Their kicks deny them ay scope for serious damage further up the ground. Frawley is probably the only one who could damage on the rebound with his pace and courage, and since his kick looks worse than it actually is I'd like to see him playing on the HB line, as opposed to deep in the pockets or square. Garland can always play there, and certainly will if needed as he's pretty much already our second-most credentialled KP defender, but with a kick like his, he needs to be damaging sides, and I'm certain that sooner or later he'll be called upon to hurt the opposition on the scoreboard. As for Wheatley the deepest he's EVER played is as a rebounding flanker. I consider him an out-and-out wingman... and that's where my analysis stops. I have always had problems getting excited about Wheatley, even with his years of service. He's not part of our long-term future, so I'm not really fussed if he makes way for youngsters.

I reckon that the "deflating" factor here is the supporters' moaning, and that's about it. We don't have a captain at the club. It's that simple. Once you realise this fact fully, you can see that the JMac announcement is as exciting as we could get. Consider this: - Assume for a moment that WHOEVER took the reigns was always going to be a caretaker captain in a time of enormous upheaval for the club and list. The only senior names are not serious captaincy material... - Had Bruce been appointed, he'd play another 3 years, likely at least 2 as captain. Had it been Green you could add another year to both those equations. While JMac, Bruce and Green IMO are not captains, JMac at least has the respect of the football world, his opposition, and his team-mates. And unlike Green he's had that respect for years now. He is an ideal caretaker captain as he's only expected to captain for a year, and two if necessary. - Everyone says how our list is so exciting and young, but they forget a VERY important aspect. Youth and potential is just the first step. There's SO much water to go under the bridge, and almost as important as the youth and talent, is the leadership and education of these players. I'm more worried about Jack Watts being just another demon player who was good, but didn't reach his full potential, than I am about the appointment of a 22-round captain. In terms of setting an example, Green would have been good, but JMac is the best. - As much as many have fallen in love with Brock as captain (myself included), he is just not ready yet. - The mid-age guys, including Rivers, Miller, Sylvia, McLean, Davey... All these guys should be put on notice as of now. JMac would probably admit himself that he's not likely to play the full 22 rounds, and even if he did, the likelihood is that he'll control very few games... after all... he never was that type of player. This year should be considered an audition for the leadership role for every player from Brock (2010) to Watts (further into the future). I can totally see Brock playing at least 18 rounds, as he'll probably miss a few due to injury. We'll see his face pop up in the media a lot where we'll see how serious he is about growing up. Knowing Brock's history, given the fact he has a chance, he'll convert it, and we'll see a chorus of demons supporters, media commentators and "experts" calling for him to get the job.

Love the Kangas... But to be honest, I'd be more than a bit concerned if I was supporting them. I reckon they're doing what we did from 2004-06... Making the finals, and for a few rounds every year looking like the real thing... the only difference is they made it into the top 4 and THEN got bundled out. But as far as their picks go, while they haven't done a TERRIBLE job with recruiting, they're a long way off having the best youth in the country. They can't rely on Harvey for all their success, and he's shouldering a lot of the load for them. Past him it's a list of players that are a fair way off "champion" level... Petrie's a good example. He had a great year, but how many more will he have? As for the GC thing... One of the things that pleases me is that we had the Morton year, then the Watts year... then we have the coming bottoming-out year which, if we go badly enough, could get us Butcher and Scully... which would pretty much complete the forward line and midfield, to go with a deep if unspectacular defence. What pleases me is not the above, which is the obvious... What I like is that in the years following '09, we will (hopefully) go up the ladder, but not go up in a huge leap. We could go from 16th this year, to 11th, then 9th... and from there launch our premiership campaign. In those other years where our spine is maturing and learning the ropes, we would STILL get to recruit (hypthetically) a pick #6, followed by a #8... In years gone by players taken around there include guys like Vickery, Leuenberger... I reckon we could even snaffle a Hurley in there somewhere. These are the players talked about JUST AFTER the big 3, or big 4 that you get every year. And they tend to be only rated after the leaders because of some tiny perceived inadequecy. Or perhaps because they're pigeon-holed. And when it all comes to fruition years later, you have a Pavlich-type on your hands. It's these pick 5-10 players, of which you always sneak one or two, that I think would round out a list that we all think looks pretty darn good at this stage, if a bit young. I for one am [censored] that what would be pick #6 will turn into pick #20 or something, with the upcoming concessions. One way or another we lose out... And there's no-one who seems to care enough to do anything about it. It's like the AFL say "It's only the smaller clubs who miss out on the picks, so no-one will kick up that much of a fuss." I doubt, if Collingwood were the ones bottoming out like us, that this would go ahead the way it has. And we all know why.

Scotty Thompson would come close. Even if we got lucky and one of these guys scaled the heights of the Buckleys and Voss', they'd just get stolen by VISY.

Yeah, I'll echo Hillie's comments. And besides, comparing the 3 most recent drafts defies logic. You can't compare the 3 most recent drafts as some of those players are yet to debut (the ones that WILL debut of course, not the no-hopers). Will you be saying the same for Jacky boy when he takes a couple of years to come on? Are you a Dons fan? Just wondering, after the Gumbleton thing coupled with your name...

Well no, but we've had players with more, what's the word, oomph than him. Farmer's a good example. I know Jurrah's a taller guy, but as far as I'm concerned a couple of seconds of youtube footage, and some x-factor is not enough to get me excited in the least. Also, just recruiting Schwartz, Lyon, Neitz and Jakovich means next to nothing. Look how many premierships they brought us? See my point? There's just SO much more water to come under the bridge. But I will give you this: At least the FIRST steps (i.e. recruiting) we are taking seem to be strong ones, in the right direction. It's not that I DON'T rate Micky O... but if he played at MFC without a Hall to take the biggest and best defender, he'd have been a VERY small name. I'm not saying he's [censored], I'd say he's a good player, but to use the word champion with that guy is a bit rich. Champion at the Swans, perhaps, but not a champion of the AFL. Nowhere near it.

Some of the best times as a fan, a rebuild. I reckon a Hawks' fan's heart would swell a bit when they talk about Franklin, Sewell, Birchall and others that at different times were maligned, but that came out to do what they did. It's great getting on at the ground floor... ANd it doesn't get much more "ground floor" than where we are now. And when it does, no-one writes about it the way they do other clubs' players. We need this to happen about 5 times over. So what was your point? That we have recruited ONE KP forward (who we don't even know will become a key forward), and suddenly were on the right track? Oh and you forgot Neitz and Lyon... Neitz was recruited in the same drive Ox was, and was always going to play both ends.

I can meet you there... Interesting to note though that Scotty Thompson was one of CAC's. Some would say he's a star. Also, there were some interesting side notes... particularly that CAC never got his hands on a #1 pick after Trapper who was a good player, and was as good as any of the top 3 of his year. In fact, due to MFC's success, or mediocre success, we really only had the McLean (pretty good pick) and Sylvia picks... plus Morton who could be a ripper. Don't forget that Sylvia and Rivers' careers were cut short of stardom (possibly a long way short) by injury. Having said all that, it doesn't dismiss the fact we have no stars... And for that, yes, CAC has to accept some of the responsibility. Perhaps the lion's share... but certainly not ALL of it. As another side note, I can't wait to see how BP goes with all this. He came into the job with little fanfare (rather like CAC actually), and so far has had a pick #1 that must have had him tearing his hair out. I can't wait to see how it pans out with Watts, but I'm also going to enjoy the comparison between he and CAC with the late picks. Jurrah (an out-and-out smoky) Bail and the two boys from up north in Bennell and Jetta will be the really interesting ones.

You keep telling yourself that. CAC was running the show for ten years, and in that ten he had a list that made finals more than all but a couple of teams. He was a decent recruiter, without being anything special... And as for blaming the list on him, I'd say ND and his "direction" were FAR more to blame than CAC. "Youth Policy." Please. You only go with a youth policy when you bottom out, and the dees didn't bottom out for ten years. Fair dinkum... scapegoating the guy just cos he's not at the club anymore. Turn it up. The list was apparently good enough for us to threaten in ND's last year. Everyone thought this, and even our biggest detractors were pretty positive. ND gets the arse, a new coach comes in and the list is now made up of ND-style footballers. Of COURSE DB is going to tear the list to pieces, and rightly so.... But don't blame CAC for recruiting players that suited Neale. Anyway, taking pot-shots at players he's ONLY JUST recruited at Richmond is a bit rich, as well as criticising the Cousins decision, which would have had nothing at all to do with him anyway.