Dappa Dan

Ooooh. Nearly. .12? So if we lost by 5 goals or so our percentage would improve JUST enough to pip them. First half of the season we were easily the worst side in the comp. Now we're almost out of the bottom 4 on current form. Wouldn't it be nice to rebuild and have a crack at a flag WITHOUT winning a wooden spoon?

And that's not including the 6 we'll take in the draft this year, the one or two in the PSD... and maybe the tradables... Exciting times.

And then Bruce the year after that? It's a sobering moment when next year, if the retirements go as you say, the only players older than me on the list are Wrecker, Robbo and Bruce... *sigh*

Not a terrible idea EB... but with Bartram and Dunn already playing as specialist taggers.... Having said that it would be good to have guys with some flexibility. I'd hate to see Dunn ONLY played as a tagger for his career. He needs one or two more strings to his bow. Jones is similar. When he first played he got a go in defence, and it was revealed he wasn't up to it. He's a guts-only player so far... if DB can change that, he'll retain his spot... but he might get dropped eventually, if only to find form. And fair enough too. He's 21.

How many games does it take for a player to be considered a veteran? Or is it years of service? If JMac continues next year, or even White they'd be eligible wouldn't they? Otherwise, will picked DD...

You big girl's blouse. This is the first Nate Jones criticism thread. Not the fifteenth from a single poster. And it offers sensible, constructive criticism. Not blind abuse. As for Jones... McLean had the same problem not so long ago, and he's found ways to work though it. I agree he may never be a superstar, but that doesn't mean he won't be a good ballwinner. He'll bounce back I reckon... and we should certainly be giving him the opportunity. This tough time could be the making of him. He's still very much in development...

Green miles ahead in the votes here, but the injury has thrown it wide open. It all depends on how the voting works... For example, if it's out of ten for each match, and Brad plays 3 great games, scoring 7 in each... And then misses two games, he'll be on 21... Lets say Wheatley plays all five, and plays just ok, gets 5 points in each game... then he's way out ahead of Brad on 25.... I have NO idea the structure of B&F voting, but with Brock's injury he'll probably only just scrape into the top 5, and with Green's hamstring, and the fact it might effect him after he gets back, Maybe some of the lesser lights might pop up? Bruce, Wheatley, Miller....Bate's had a few really good games, Jones started strongly and doesn't miss games. Garland has been superb in game after game... It's gonna be interesting...

[censored], moan, whinge...

Did you go to school with him? I went to Beauie primary with him MANY years ago. Maybe we know one-another? Shin splints are such a pain in the arse. Every step you take gives you discomfort, and when you run it's just constant pain ... And the worst part is that you sound like a little girl if you complain about it. I'm stunned he can pick up the amount of possies he does with that condition.

Jesus. I hate Richmond more than any club, but I can't seem to find a cloud within this particular silver lining. If you see him in round 22, walk up to him, and shake his hand.

I'd consider it for a 3rd rounder or equivalent. The pace thing is the only reason though. Oh, and youth.

Didn't you say you were going to make yourself scarce until the end of the season? Stop being a dick, Y_M.

Nothing. PLEASE.

93.75 points to future record... Did any see what he did to Morris that warranted this?

Stef Martin may not play too many games this year as he's still a work in progress, but that one game has been invaluable in terms of teaching him the pace of the game, and what is required. Best of all he didn't look overwhelmed. The same thing was done last year with Garland when he was brought in only for a couple of games, just to show him what was needed. And look how THAT turned out. Maric is VERY young, but I would have thought he's done the most at VFL level to suggest he's right to come in... Having said that it's all about type. If Davey comes back in, we may not have room. Grimes if he's fit is a big part of our future. But he should be played only if he's right. Petterd is a quality player. We know this, the footy department know this. He doesn't need to be rushed in. Though it would be nice to have him knock his injury on the head. We DO have to get games into these guys. Also I reckon Cheney might have done enough. McNamara has by all accounts looked ok, but is hurt at the moment I think... As for Meesen, I don't reckon he'll play this year. PJ, Jamar and White all in the way. So for me it's: Maric Grimes Petterd Cheney In that order.

Pffft. Garbage. Watch him more closely. I'll say it again, our defence kept the Dogs to under 100 points. Only one other side has done that, and it's NO coincidence that we've been playing better as a side since he got back. Not every player in the list has to have Buckley's pace. And the game is a LONG way from going past him. Since he returned he hasn't cost the team anything. And he is ANYTHING but mediocre.

Absolutely. He underachieved... FOR BRUCE. He's played better games, sure... but we mark him way too harshly. He's one of only a few mature players out there. I'm not saying he played well, just that he wasn't WOG. See above. Like I said, not his best work, I think even he would agree. But not WOG. And about his accountability, that's a dice that DB rolls. If you want a player to rack up 30+ touches generally his opponent will be free. When CJ ran riot against the Lions, his opponent got free a lot too. On that day, Corrie wasn't as damaging as he could have been, but it was a calculated gamble. Cam's kicking wasn't damaging enough, so we lose out in that trade-off... I don't know why people would be so ropable about it though. 1) If we are to believe what has been written, maybe Cam himself. And as far as offending, any young impressionable demonlanders may actually get sucked into your senseless and illogical ranting. Usually it's SO far into fantasy-land that we needn't worry, but what you write about Cameron masquerades as being sensible... which, I fear, may have a detrimental effect on the reputation of one of MFC finest players of the last ten years, especially among the young uninitiated demonlanders... So who are you offending? Me. 2) Ummm. Yeah, fair enough. I don't have ANY badges. There was a fair amount of jest in that comment.

You think everyone else is being predicable Y_M? Pot? Kettle? Black? MMM use it as sensationalism... and you've only proven, YET AGAIN, Bruce's quality: Had Jones, or Garland, or CJ, or Dunn played Bruce's game they wouldn't have been mentioned at all. Bruce was marked harshly because he's such a good player. You expect better from him. He's a victim of his own success. Fair dinkum Y_M, let it go. You're making a tool out of yourself, offending people, and only doing damage to MFC. If I ever met you, I reckon I'd take out my Bruce badge, and stab you in the eye with the pin.

Mmm. I'm a bit the same, I do like them both for varying reasons, but I have a feeling that once Moloney, Grimes et al come back into the side next year, we may find this debate carries more oomph... They are going to be in DIRECT competition with one-another as both are career midfielders only. Neither has great defending abilities, and I wouldn't put either forward... And that's a good point with Martin, that he has the size... Not to mention vision, work ethic, courage... But I reckon Garland's results speak for themselves. Would you have put Martin on Franklin, Murphy or any of these other fast athletic KP forwards? Martin has a little more height and size to him, but I reckon that'll only come in handy for opposition resting ruckmen. I wouldn't want to risk him on a Barry Hall or Johnathan Brown. Also his kick is a source of problems for him. If for no other reason that it's obvious he doesn't trust it... I'm happy for him to be played on appropriate types, and for that reason, be dropped next week... and have him go back to Sandy. I've seen enough to allow him to be snuck into the team here and there over the next year or so. It was a fantastic first step. He knows he can play and be useful against one of the fastest combinations in the history of football. He knows the pace of the game. Now just let him go away and add some tricks...

He smashed him!!!!!! Murphy is an out-and-out star, who I rate higher than almost every media pundit... And Garland won hands down! Other than that, not too bad an effort.

Gee he ran hard, Valenti... And you think Martin offers more promise than Garland? How so? It's vindicated nothing. Jones was closer checked than Valenti, and while he was smashed a lot in tackles he was getting the hard ball more often... Saying Valenti will be a better player is absurd. How could you POSSIBLY know that. McLean had an awesome breakout year, then was tagged every week. Exactly the same thing happened with him as with Jones. He tried to take on tacklers and create by holding onto it too long. He figured out they were pinging him with the "smartarse" rule, worked on it, and before his injury, was on his way back to his best... Jones will come back and start getting 25+ touches and get back to being damaging again. Valenti has played exactly one ok game. Though I will say this. If ever there was a side that would expose Valenti's lack of pace, the bulldogs are that side. And his creativity and leading, particularly in the second half showed why he really is a good FOOTBALLER. I'm backing Jones to be the more decorated player... I have a feeling you and I might be trading posts in the future on this!! Game on!!!

Come their retirements, Morton will be a far better player than Palmer. Please do us a favour and remember this statement even if you don't agree. Just to highlight in a few years...

The tales of his demise have been GREATLY exaggerated. The guy is a champion of MFC and could play another 3 years. We missed him enormously while he was out, and it's no coincidence that suddenly our defence has done the second best job this year of ANY defence on a contender like the Dogs. Wheels. We salute you. Or at least we bloodywell should.

Only the second defence in the league to keep the Dogs to under 100 points... with all our injuries... AND on their home turf no less.... Finding one KP defender is one thing (Garland).... finding two is another (Warnock) and finding 3 is unbelieveable (Martin)...

Jeez you guys carry on... In a day when NO-ONE took a contested mark inside forward 50, Juice looked like the most effective forward inside of 30 metres of the goal line. 10 disposals, 7 marks... could of had a few if he was confident. He only got back from injury a couple of weeks ago, and was stretching out his calves in the second half. He EASILY did enough to get a game next week... You're all expecting him to play like Buddy inside of his first 10 games?!!!