timD

I'm entirely with Hannabal about getting NikNat now. I went off to see sandy yesterday. We need a player who will be dymanic. Zomer looked lost. Meesen is a lost cause (he waits for things to happen and played dumb). Jamar we all know his strengths and weaknesses. We need a tall with brains. We all know they are extremely rare. Getting a key forward outside the top 10 in the draft has historically proven fairly hit and miss (my thanks to Axis of Bob for previous research). If Niknat looks as if he could play forward, then it would be unspeakably good to get him.

More indominable spirirt - I hope we can emulate that in future.

AND the site you found does not describe Grimes as one-paced. Find an argument - buy one if you have to, but please offer more than the spin and sniping rubbish you've got so far - Hell read sylvinators reply about pace - theres a start.

Jarka, Neitz is our greatest game hold, greatest captain and greatest goalkicker - the best in 150 years - and you want one recruiter to get a replacement now - no development, just now. THe quality of your argument is the proof to mine. OWNED.

You forget Jarka that I own you. I've done you before on this topic and you don't even know that your argument is dead. At least you're not sniping at players this time - just former employees of the club. Where should I begin...Newton or Zomer are replacements for Neitz...and Miller, Bate or Dunn may have developed into replacements. Of crouse, you expect that recruiters must understand the definitive destiny of every player - heck other clubs clearly do - and so do you with hindsight. Miller, Dunn, Bate and Newton may all still develop into CHF...but you do not understand the modern chf anyway. WE've recruited a bunch of ruckmen. There are four replacements for White. They are better around the ground or better tap. None have his leap or experience. But we have replacements, not clones. Our leadership is improving all the time. How have you rated Mclean, Jones, Bate, Miller, Rivers this year...or do you not watch the games? Our midfield is one paced. Except for Bate. And Davey. And Morton. And Bartrum. And Grimes and Maric ( who are developing). ARE YOU GETTING THE MESSAGE? I guess you also forget that we lost thompson (who is quicker than the other current mids) and broadbridge as a running rebounder...but hey, let's not let facts stand in the way of mindless ridicule. And Garland is clearly quick, bell is bloody quick, aussie is fast at reading play and reasonably pacy...Wheels when he is playing had good pace, frawley is quick... no marquee player...well [censored] you've got one! Of course that is entirely the fault of CAC. Oh wait... Blaming CAC for having defenders with little experience is about as clever as blaming the players' mothers for having them born late. He does not determine when they'll play...that is coaching (god, its horrible. Look away children). No depth...well of everything you've said, this is the winner for stupid. Who are you comparing it to? Over what positions? Given how much experience? At what point of development is our list vis a vis a premiership? Would you prefer that we hang on to Fergs and wardy - clearly you would. Now, if you'd argued that list management had been a problem rather than just take pot-shots at one aspect of it (recuiting), whell then that is an interesting arguement. But don't post about recruiting again, for your sake.

Good point demondave, thank christ he left when he did. Just imagine the outrage...aussie shaping up, tall defense appearing to become effective - hell all we need is morton to shape up as a midfielder and newton to look like a forward and there'd be hell to pay!

H is right - shinboner spirit is a myth. The easiest example I can think of is that their greatest captain was on the shag with his best mates wife. Now Hards, what kind of spirit is that? Really, what does that say about the spirit of north melbounre? Remember when they were [censored] in the 70's and bought players in to win a flag...what does that say about their spirit - that for the right price they'll win? If anyone wants to prove a theory then rigorously look for evidence against it. If you cannot find any, then you're o.k. The evidence against the notion of a fundamental permeating spirit is anywhere you want to look. Do you want to look?

Jarka, I've only just had the opportunity to reply to your post. The 'importance' thing is a red herring. You're feeling guilty and defensive - and so you should. What a gutless and inherently nasty act you're responsible for. Don't you try to wriggle out of it by saying that I project importance - that is irrelevant. Some honesty from you would show some character...I doubt I'll see much frankly. And I'm gald you feel that i'm important and you resent it. I have you well and truely covered.

That's good Jarka. I'm glad you were not betraying a confidence for the cheap thrill of creating controversy. Now you're just a rumour monger creating controversy for a cheap thrill - much better. "Have people go easy"...you're dreaming if you think anone believes that is an accurate read of your motivation. If it was, then you would have said nothing of your 'understandings' about a melbourne player and just posed a series of hypotheticals. Oh well. And surfa, what are you talking about? I am suggesting that Jarka would be low releasing personal and otherwise confidential info on the internet...and you say that it is the way of the world...which is entirely unrelated to the ethics of the action. Try again. And the nice thing about this new internet revolution is that you get unlimited attempts.

Jarka, I hope you are being careless and flippant rather than vindictive. Vindictive would be bad, and you would gain so much more of my attention...and that of moderators, more importantly. If you were being a smartalec about a psychological condition afflicting a player than you actually had accurate knowledge about...gee, that would be as big a dog act as ever perpetrated on this site. Let's hope that you are not setting a new standard.

God, but 'thank-you' is all I have and it feels so inadequate at times like these. Neita was our skipper - he won games and saved games and was who I looked too in all sorts of occasions when supporting Melbourne. Thanks Skipper. I'm going to miss seeing you out there for the red and the blue.

They'd ahve to play him, don't you think. It would be cruel and unusual to elevate him and then not bother. So that makes selection interesting. I wonder if we have an injury...or if we are just going to try to overwhelm them with players at the stoppages and that is where valenti has real value?

I got there just before half time - the wife not too pleased I'd done a runner. Best feeling in a long time. WE there as if going to an exection, still buzzing now. BTW, Garland made the right decision to pnch, but failed on execution. If you watch the replay, Pav was coming in behind him. Now, if he'd tried to mark and pav had outmarked him, what would we be saying...When in doubt, punch.

Thanks for contributing Zeb, that's great. Please stay around and throw some more cheap junk for your own amusement.

AFter all the mates you made here a few meeks ago you'd have thought you'd open with something funny...

WE are developing Stefan Martin (198 cm) as a KPB. Frawley (and Garland if he makes it) are looking as if they might be tall running backs, which you need in modern footy. Riv and Carroll are more traditional 2nd talls who can rotate between falling off their man to proive extra support and running off to provide that much need linkage through to the forward line. Wheels, barts, macnamara (and cheney) are all running smalls I think.

I think I left my life somewhere else too Joe. If you find yours, can you give me a call 'cause mine might be nearbye. I was there, 1st level, centre wing, members stand with my brothers and father. My 11 months old son is still at home - it is lucky that his sleeping hours are still when the footy is own, or my own weirdo version of child abuse would have well and truly started: watching the MFC.

Good on you, fork! Everyone who wants out - get out. Get lost. I do not want my kids gowing u with this legacy of thin-blooded, backstabbing, gutless morons bleating about the MFC. I want my kids to grow up with Supporters who stand tall no matter what, who demand greatness but provide wholeheated support, and who do not give a stuff about any other club. We are melbourne, and no-one else means spit.

And what happens H if the 'crap culture' that we had and have is perpetuated and worsened by cousins? Are we inviting another TJ who is more likely to bend impressionable minds but also plays better? I see an enormous risk with very few upsides. We are not a premiership side, we do not have the cattle, and by the time we do Ben will have retired. What does he get us but disaster and a false inflation of the list? Or are we ready for a flag and just need a champion player?

I'd be keeping Newton at Sandy until he (a) kicks bag, (B) starts a fight and © gets reported.

I feel sick. I love Neita, and he has given heaps to the club and has lead when things have been poor, has been constantly double and triple teamed...ignoted by umps and poorly supported by fellow players. Its not right I tell ya.

I know what you mean Graz about the game. But I think geelong only scored goals in the first quarter due to errors - cut them out and they may have arrived at quarter time goalless in front of a dissatisfied crowd. Pressure is a funny thing. I like the accountability in Bailey's plan. I wonder how he will institute accountability in the leadership group - as leaders. Is neitz accopuntable to the coach for his leadership - which includes onground performance?

Russell Robertson: kick it to me! Jeff White: past it but loyal servant. Was a top fligh player for few years like few others on the list. Paul Johnson:steady improvement but does need his luck to change. Chris Johnson: a really good player if he could only get the ball and use it and be a bit harder. After 4-5 years with us. Jace Bode: no idea. Lynden Dunn: not hard enough. If he does not show that now, trade. Daniel Bell: wonderful player if given a (cognitively) simple job.

IF IF IF...then it would fit with Bailey's approach pretty neatly. Bizarre as it was, we really had chances against the cats (not many and we couldn't sustain it). They were not gunning us down, but rather making the most of our errors. And we failed to capitalise on theirs. Change that just a little (a few contest wins to us and a few less to them at key moments) and we could have at least been within striking distance with just minutes to go. Neitz was ineffective, as was robbo. He is not leading by example, nd if he cannt, needs to be made responsible for it - and clearly. If establishing a 'culture' is the important goal of the year, then Neita may cop it.

I love the notion that we're just gunna witlessly trade good players. Priceless! As if players who cannot get a pretty simple plan are 'good'!