Dappa Dan

Ok. Fair enough. Robbo is safe, an incoming coach isn't going able to relieve the club of one of it's leading goal-kickers who's only 29. And yes, Davey is safe... what I meant was that Daniher goes to another club there is every chance Davey may feel some Reiwoldt-like loyalty to him. Daniher LOVES him and would hunt him. It's a very, VERY minor thing, but before today I thought Davey was one of a handful that were 100% safe. Now I think he's 99.9% safe, put it that way.

We have 10 rounds left. If we have even HALF as bad a performance as the toigs match, Neale will probably be under pressure from fans to get out straight away. Personally, unless we have the ACTUAL replacement in the coaches box there is no point in doing this. But then, I don't see how the list could possibly take any message from Neale knowing he won't be there in 10 weeks, so what do I know. But how about this? Everyone says Voss should be an assistant before he's a coach. Would it do ANYTHING at all to sign him now and have him sit in the box?

Newton, Buckley.... Sorry. Couldn't help myself. Point taken. Back on topic, there is one ENORMOUS positive to come out of this. Knowing, as we do now, that Daniher is gone, we have first crack at any coach that's up for grabs. If any other club does a St. Kilda and ditches their guy after a final.... by then we already have had a few months to get our foot in the door first. The biggest evidence of this would be the Voss/Melbourne talk that's SURE to dominate the papers over the next few months.

You'd hope so. Well done Neale. Even through the down moments I've enjoyed having you at my club. You were always red & blue and we will be worse off without your influence. I'll remember MANY games you coached very fondly, and you have been running the list at my club for my entire adult life. I wholeheartedly wish you all the best at your next club, and if you read this, you whould know that through your efforts at MFC you've earned another go at coaching at another club, and if it's someone like Essendon who have a budget, you're highly likely to see some chances at the premiership you so richly deserve. Thankyou and all the best. On a personal note I have two things I'm worried about now. 1 - When he goes to another club, maybe Essendon, he'll be a 10 year coach having done it tough raising a basket-case back to premiership contender. If he goes to an established club, he's going to be a BIG threat to us. 2 - Our list. Will Neitz keep going? Will he be captain? Will Trav, Green, Bruce etc etc keep their spots? Will Byron and Ooze stay on? Even guys who were montys to be kept are under threat, like Robbo and Davey. Suddenly nothing is certain.

Dear god. They just keep coming.

Thanks Rhino... the "16.5" points was the thing I was looking for. You definitely can trade priority picks. First of all, let me say I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with the position your post takes. Deciding to tank a whole year, or deliberately giving yourself less chance is NOT the way to go. Average players are made good players by being around the best. Likewise good players are made great by being around the best. This is how West COast keep training the guns. If I had Judd, Kerr, Cousins and Priddis as competition for my spot, I'd lift my game too. And they'd help me, since I was on their team. BUT! I can't agree with you for season 2007. There will be no tanking. The year is done and dusted already. Let there be no mistake, we are done and dusted, and by getting back our so-called "pride" we will miss out on selections that could make a difference. Now I hope they try to win every game, but if we select a mature side that may have a chance at breaking even with the rest of the comp, we are effectively stunting our growth. We can play young guys and get their forst 10 games out of the way, helping them mould into AFL footballers, and at the same time we may win less, and get higher picks... and best of all, everyone excpet Daniher is happy. Most importantly though, if we DON'T take the youth path, the other clubs who are more ruthless will do better than us, and recover from bad years quicker than us. We need a bit of mongrel. Collingwood ended up with Thomas by doing this, I wonder if they look at it now and think... gee... I wish we won one or two more games.

Juice NOT in the bests?

This is already a long thread, so I'll just ask. Has anyone else made the comparison between Geelong and us yet? It may not hold much weight as the cats of last year are better then we are this year. But the theory is sound...

Ok. The time has come where it's not too early for us to discuss priority picks. My understanding is that Carlton, on 4 wins, are still eligible to get their priority pick BEFORE round 1. Should they draw, or win another game they then miss out on a priority altogether. In the case of the Toigs and us, if we or they win 4 games or less for the entire year, we get a pick before the SECOND round. So.... Let's just say the toigs and demons win less that 4 the picks will be... Tigers: 1, 17 and 19. Demons: 2, 18 and 20. Blues: 3, 21. BUT... if the blues don't win any more points, the picks will be... Blues: 1, 4 then their second rounder at 22. Tigers: 2, 18 and 20. Demons: 3, 19 and 21. What a jib if that's correct... Can someone tell me if I've made a mistake, particularly in terms of how many premiership points disqualifies you for a priority pick. Is it 18 or 20?

Yet another classic post where BB adds weight to his ever increasing credibility on this site... What's funny is, you're actually doing Bruce's reputation on here MORE harm by arguing in the infantile way you are. First he's bagged, then you come in and highlight how correct the original poster was by posting drivel, then they post a rebuttal FURTHER highlighting your ridiculousness, and Bruce's weaknesses. Bruce is a good player. His kicking HAS been bad. He's been seeing a lot of the footy this year, and I'm certain that whatever is wrong with his ankle/calf/foot, once rectified, he'll return to being damaging. But for now, he's not doing much except get a LOT of the ball. Take your heart out of the equation BB, and maybe you'll see people give Bruce a rest.

Garbage. He's been moved full time into a position where he roams around the ground, spending much of his time in the guts. His body was not built for that sort of work. He has not been figured out, he's being coached badly, depending on your point of view. Davey is one of only a few that have MFC at heart.

YEAH! For crying out loud will SOMEONE please tell us who it was?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I first read this a few hours ago, I got fired up for Ricky.... but I'm not so sure now... Firstly, let me make it clear that I think Petterd should be played more if he's playing well, which he was. BUT... In the last couple of games his form had dropped off a touch. Perhaps the coaching panel had decided he was just slowing up because he was young and didn't have the bounce in his step he needed to be dangerous. Maybe they identified that the game was shot and he's one of our better guys, better to save him for later instead of run him into the ground now and be forced to drop him in 6 weeks. In other words, there may have been perfectly legitimate reasons for his benching. Though I would have assumed this had been explained to him. Now with all the chest thumping going on here about a young kid having a fiery attitude, I'm going to offer a different point of view. I think his antics will endear him to fans, and we see that at least he has fire in his belly. But if you look at the bigger picture, his actions show: - a clear sign that we have no on-field leadership. - our discipline is failing. - a player that has been there only a few months has no faith in ND. - to opposition clubs that the wheels are falling off. I'd be thrilled if I saw that and knew my team was playing the dees next week. I think in terms of Ricky, he may have gained some ground in terms of reputation, but as a club that event was a loss of sorts. We're getting pantsed, we know, but if this is allowed to perpetuate, we will embarrass ourselves as a club. I don't know what to think. My head says it was silly, counter-productive and unprofessional. My heart says this club is run worse than Telstra and CBA combined, and that if a player has passion, THAT'S something that should be encouraged. I have an awful feeling than genuine guns, with big futures, who play with heart, like Ricky, Brock, Bate and Jones are going to be ruined by this club. Maybe if we do the smart, passionless thing and reprimand him for his outburst, he will believe that he has to eliminate passion from his game. Where does that leave us? With another heartless front-runner. I sometimes wonder, our young guys work very hard, is it the generation above them that are weak? Or was it the generation before THEM that made them weak? Or is it the simple fact that even gutsy players come to MFC and because of the club's culture and attitude, they are changed from hard-at-it players into soft "thinkers." I don't know what to think any more.

For crying out loud.... THE SEASON WAS SHOT AFTER ROUND 3!!!!!!!!! Can we agree that this is the last "is our season over" thread?! It's been all about the small pleasures for months now... e.g. Jones, Bate, Petterd, Brock etc etc

Although harsh on Bate, it certainly seems that Daniher is starting to lose the players. And you were doing so well.... Bruce is not the most over-rated footballer in the land. But he is among the top few... Brock McLean is not over-rated. He's a demon. No-one knows who he is. Only among MFCsupporters is he considered a future star. And they've been given every right to do so. When he plays well, we win. We have seen Bruce kick 7 in a match. He's played whole seasons before where he's been among our most damaging players, regardless of the touches he got. This year he's been picking up more possessions than ever, yet his damage has almost vanished. Blame his kick if you want, blame his leadership, blame his hardness... do whatever you like... but his effectiveness as a player is nowhere near what it has been in the past. Some points to consider, BB: - You questioned another player because a darling of yours (going by your screen name) has been fairly and justifiably criticised. - You've done it to a player that is among the LEAST to blame for our current crisis. He's played less than half the games he could have this year, and he was one of the biggest reasons we're not 16th, if not the biggest. - What little credibility you create by making a sensible post evapourates when you resort to schoolyard [censored]-for-tat like this. - No-one on their right mind could possibly take your last post seriously. - Bruce has been ok in patches this year, and is marked firmly but fairly by all but you. Deal with it.

Yeah... I reckon we should wait until Y_M gets on to have a dip. there's a chance he may see the funny side. They are acquantences after all. If this is a long-running in-joke between the two, where's the harm?

Likewise.... But what fun!!! I love a topic that polarises us. At least it's something to get passionate about...

Like Juice, apparently... On the contrary though, I've always WANTED Juice to play... but I don't back my own judgement as well as that of the footy department. That's pretty sound. But I will say this BRFE... In the end, if he's a confidence player like you say, there is never going to be a perfect time to play him. He's always going to be under some threat that he's not going to have a good game first up. That said, I would have been very worried for him if he came in on a day Bate, Neitz, Robbo, Sylvia etc etc were all out. Imagine if he had to share the square with Jamar! So yes, in short... I follow your point, and I like it. I've loved how Bate, Dunn, Jones and Bartram have been introduced... I feel the same way. If they had made blunder after blunder with the timing of their debuts, I'd be more nervous and probably much more scathing. But they've got the runs on the board in this regard, so I'm willing to put aside my challenge to the board... for now.

I ABSOLUTELY think he will NOT debut this season. Every conceivable combination of outs and ins has happened... we even have 2 midfielders as 2 of our better KP forwards now. And he still isn't even getting a gig as an emergency. If they were going to play him, they would have. Although I should point out that since he's contracted until the end of 2008, I'm grudgingly ok with him not playing this season.

You mean like Ricky Petterd. As James Brayshaw said the other day.... He looks like he belongs in a Harry Potter movie. Oh, and Jaded... Brock McLean is the same as a Diaper.... It sucks when either hits you in the face. When the Boogeyman goes to sleep, he checks the closet for Brock McLean. Brock McLean doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants. Outer Space exists because it's afraid to be on the same planet as Brock McLean. Brock McLean counted to infinity... twice. Brock McLean once ate three 72 oz. steaks in one hour. He spent the first 45 minutes having sex with his waitress. And one more for the road... Brock McLean isn't hung like a horse..... horses are hung like Brock McLean.

Just a little brotherly love. Forum stitch-ups, the equivalent of sitting on your face and farting...

You buffoon. Mum's got it taped on the Foxtel IQ at her house, B2L. Along with the Pies game, and I'll get her to tape the Toigs one tomorrow night. Should make for good viewing. And for all ye nay sayers.... I'd have put Bruce at number 1 but for his kicking. But who else has claims? Except maybe Brock being the only player to actually win games himself.

I just don't get it. Not you RR, more big red. If this is indeed the way we're supposed to go, then why play every other player, who's younger, when a KP forward was what was needed? If BRFE's model was the preferable option, then howcome Garland was played WELL before his time? 3 years is a long time NOT to get a game... especially when people around him are playing for MFC with less age, development, fitness, hardness, skill, form and achievements... We're going over old ground here again. There are those that believe there's a specific 3-4 year plan with him that should not be broken. Then there are those that want him played. I think there's a threshold here whereby if his form and work warrant a callup, you still hold him back, but only to a point. If he's doing all the right things and showing his capability, then the reasons NOT to play him pale to insignificance. The last of those, in my mind, evapourated this week. He's ALWAYS going to be under some threat to have a confidence-denting debut. Who's to say softly softly with this kid is the right way? The FD I guess... In the end, I see your point of view and I don't really care one way or the other since our season is shot. Oh, and BRFE, you are entitled to your opinion about his form, and I respect you for it. However I disagree wholeheartedly. Asking the guy to kick 6+ goals in the VFL before he gets his debut. How long will that take? We dn't want him to debut as the complete pllayer, he would STILL be a work in progress. What he brings to a game of footy would be useful in the senior ranks. I'm not asking him to REPLACE Neita. Just get in there and have a dip. It has to happen sometime. Not trying to pick fault or anything RR (I know better than that ), but I think there's some legitimacy to CB's question there. I recall you were "off" Juice, so to speak. I had gone down about 4 weeks in a row to watch him play, had decided he was up to it, and you insisted his attitude, early in the year was deplorable. I was pleased to note some weeks later you made the trip, and upon returning to 'land you wrote words to the effect of Juice is ready, and should get his first crack as the next available opportunity. I remember it only because we had disagreed only days before, and I'd said that you were the final piece of the demonland puzzle to fall into place. You had been a firm critic, and had been won over... at the time it was pleasing to see. I have a feeling it was around the game he had his first big haul. But honestly, sifting through threads would take most of my day. And I wouldn't expect you'd admit a contradiction anyway Happy to be proven wrong by someone more tech-savvy though. Nasher to the rescue.

:D :D :D :D

I applaud ND's timing when giving his players their debuts... but in other cases they were often coming off 1 maybe 2 good games at Sandy FOR THE YEAR. Eg, Garland, Petterd, Bate, Jones.... who all started quietly and gained pace... Jones starred in a few games before he had his debut, Bate starred in 2 from memory, Garland didn't star in ANY, and Petterd was very solid without being spectacular.... Newton has played 5 good ones and is a year older (roughly) that Bate at his debut... Oh, and the talk of Juice not being developed enough in the body are greatly exaggerated. He's a big boy... just all arms and legs. When he goes in for the hard ball, flies for a mark or puts on a shepherd or bump he's not being pushed off the ball. He may not be Brock in this regard, but he's strong. VERY strong.