The Backyard Charizard

MELBOURNEfc Squad

Backs: C.Bruce, N.Carroll, A.Yze

Half backs: N.Brown, J.Rivers, D.Bell

Centreline: C.Sylvia, J.McDonald, A.Davey

Half forwards: R.Petterd, B.Miller, B.Pickett

Forwards: L.Dunn, D.Neitz, B.Moloney

Followers: J.White, S.Godfrey, T.Johnstone

I/C From: P.Johnson, N.Jones, M.Bate, C.Johnson, S.Buckley, B.Holland, M.Warnock

Hmmm.... Interesting.....

I see there is no Newton

What the hell is Holland doing there???

Good luck to Buckley and Warnock!! Hope you boys get a gig

Just give Newton a game against Port and I will be happy....

Bring in whoever has proved their fitness, but give the kid a run now while he is in good form!!

We will hit september full of running and it will be a beautiful thing (as long as we are in the finals that is)

perhaps sautner

Yeah, perhaps John Worsfold will be his assistant

I thought Petterd was terrific. But honestly, at the end of the day, taking away that he's 18, first game, etc... I didn't think he had more influence than the ones above him.

Fair call That will happen next year :D

sylvia will come good if the injuries go away

Agree 100%

Guaranteed if we were to trade the boy, then whoever picked him up would have a star in their side! A player with so much skill and aggression doesn't just turn into a hack.... Injuries have robbed him of his junior days, but that is not to say he won't be a great player over the next 4-5 years!!

funny how people always defend godfrey for his willingness to run and chase and try hard, sylvia does the same but gets bagged for it

Funny how people always defend Sylvia for his exceptional skill and his "X-factor" but Godfrey attempts the same and gets bagged for it :D

Congratulations me! 100 posts after that last one....

:D

Fantastic post Toad33....

I too have looked at our assistant coaches with a few thoughts coming to mind, such as "What the hell are you doing with this list?"

I am not sure if ND is totally to blame for our lack of competitive football..... The man is the leader of many at the MFC and surely he must be wondering if he has made the right decision with his deciples?!?!

But at the end of the day, do we risk sacking only the shepard?? Or do we sack him and a few of his sheep??

These questions must be asked by the MFC heirachy! No doubt!

i seriously think ND

I seriously hope you are wrong If people are calling for Jamar, PJ, Ward, Wheatley, Yze, Holland, Bizz, Bate etc to be dropped due to poor form, then there is not much poorer form among coaches than our ND!

I'm not a ND basher, but fair suck of the ol' sav!!

6. Davey

5. Rivers

4. Moloney

3. Godfrey

2. Petterd

1. White

Unlucky Bruce.

Nice to see Bruce not getting votes purely on statistics! For a leader of the club he didn't seem to have too much of an impact?!?! Davey had a ripper, as did River and Moloney.... Not sure what more Petterd had to do to get into the top 3?!?! An outstanding game and worth more than 2 votes IMO

Expect Newton to be on this list this time next week

Crowds are low because Melbourne are playing crap football.

Melbourne aren't playing crap football because the crowds are low.

This is so sad, yet so true

In hindsight I'm glad we picked Brock and not Tenace - as many supporters wanted.

In hindsight, I'm glad Brock's parents met and produced such gift for us!!

I think the biggest compliment that was paid to Pettard was the fact that Michael Voss, commentating on CH 10, seemed to almost be in awe of how well he was playing in his first game.

Voss had questioned Melbournes effort and commitment so far this season at the start of the game.

So, to have one of the most courageous and "hard at it" footballers of the modern era commenting on how good Petterd looked. That probably tells me Pettard has the makings of an outstanding footballer.

That tells me that Voss has the makings of an outstanding coach!!!

Let's do it!!

I think ND, due to pressure, has maybe followed trends more recently at a cost to the team.

IF this is so, then the writing is on the wall as far as I'm concerned!!

ND = Now Done as the coach of MFC

Virtually all the guys who come out of contract in 2007 (and it's about 1/4 of our list) should be at least a little concerned about their situation.

My concern is that the players who have played under our current coach for a few years and are coming out of contract may start looking elsewhere for premiership glory!!

We have a decent list of young/middle aged players and if the club offers ND another contract this may spell the end of a few of our up 'n comers in the red 'n blue!!

I so hope I'm wrong!!

Tipsters Ladder after Rnd 5

1. (1) 24 Demonland

1. (2) 24 great_gatsby

1. (5) 24 KrazyJay

1. (2) 24 Whispering_Jack

5. (2) 23 bl3281

5. (5) 23 canberrademon(herb)

5. (5) 23 deanox

5. (5) 23 demon_fanatic

5. (11) 23 slamevil

5. (5) 23 TimDees

11. (23) 22 demon_davey

11. (11) 22 DeMoNiC

11. (11) 22 Go_Ds

11. (11) 22 Kieranbj

11. (11) 22 petejh2000

11. (11) 22 snarler_0

17. (5) 21 Clyde_Cabbie

17. (23) 21 dee'viator

17. (11) 21 Dees_Fan16

17. (23) 21 Fingers Power

17. (11) 21 paliosiana

17. (11) 21 Pinball_Wizard

17. (11) 21 Scoop Junior

24. (28) 20 Alpha_33

24. (28) 20 Rivers Run Red

26. (27) 19 BigKev Demon

26. (28) 19 Goodvibes

28. (11) 18 achirnside

28. (11) 18 Dappadan

28. (28) 18 frangas

28. (23) 18 Jackieboy_0

32. (28) 17 deesthisyear

33. (33) 16 rusty_corner

34. (36) 14 jaded24

35. (35) 13 No Cigar

36. (33) 12 melon22

37. (37) 7 CarnTheDees

37. (37) 7 rusty_kingswood

(x) = LW position

in the same way we disect what players are capable of ..so can we with Danners... 10 years is a pretty fair sample to work on.

He's not taking us to a premiership anytime soon. So why would you perservere with this tact ?

Well, there goes half our list and our coach!

i agree the skill level is poor, and injuries and poor form have hurt us in this area also. example; travis johnstone couldn't hit the side of a barn with a handfull of wheat at the moment, but we all know he is a highly skilled player. is it possible the continued changing of a game plan is affecting us in this area? for example, a player trying to run and carry, then finding himself under pressure and forced to dispose quickly, rather than what has been asked of him in previous years; spot up a target by foot, kick long to position etc. i think it takes a long time to adjust to a new game plan, possibly half a season. thats no good if your making game plan changes at the end of each year.

I agree with you about TJ's skill.... His ability to control a footy is unquestionable.... His attitude towards his footy is deplorable!

I do also agree with you on the topic of our game plan (I read your other post about this) and it is high time we find a game plan and stick to it! The spot up a target, kick long to position etc. has worked for us in the past, but it seems ND doesn't like to do what has worked for us in the past?!?!?!

I see nothing wrong with exciting football that produced more wins than losses.... Yes, our ability to play out a season to the end was questionable and we had to work on our fitness... But why change what was a good gameplan as well??

I would like us to at least have a look at what is on offer!!!

I don't want us to give ND another contract unless he can prove to the board, the members and the players that he has a plan to improve our on-field performances in 2008.... I understand we have had a horror run with injuries, but I am not convinced that he is the man that can lead us to success even with our top players on the park!

If Melbourne does not at least interview a few candidates before next year then I will be [censored]!! One bloke who should be spoken to is Michael Voss.... Yes he is untried as a coach and I understand this, but the bloke is a born leader with a football brain that is top rate! Talk to him and see if he is interested in coaching....

If he says yes, then so should we!!

Our players have no skill and no pace and no footy smarts and they are poorly coached.

Don't get me wrong.... We have players with skill..... Just not enough of them and not enough emphasis on improving the others lacking in the "silky smooth" department....

I don't expect to have a team full of skillfull players, just a team would be nice!

A nice mix of skill, awareness, aggression, passion and heart! (with a bit of silky smooth thrown in)

That is my only wish! And if this coaching group cannot get me one, then find me one who can!!

fair enough my mistake. well im sure there were some very handy players taken after him. That was my point.

Let's see..... Hmmm..... 2003 Draft......

Players taken after Sylvia.....

Farren Ray (WB)

Keppler Bradley (Ess)

Kane Tenace (Geel)

Raph Clarke (StK)

Beau Waters (WC)

Brent Stanton (Ess)

Amon Buchanan (Syd)

Michael Pettigrew (Port)

Sam Fisher (StK)

Ben Hudson (Adel)

Michael Rischitelli (Bris)

Shane Tuck (Rich)

Andrew Raines (Rich)

All of these have gone on to be good, but not exeptional footballers.....

Sylvia had that X factor.... Just the OP has ruined him early....

Don't lose hope! - He hasn't!!

Frawley will play as soon as he is fit, I have no doubt....

Newton deserves a game this week against the Power.... Whether he is given the opportunity is not up to us of course But if it is a choice between a semi-fit Neitz and Newton, then I know which one I would prefer! The season is looking bleak, so we may as well give the youngsters a go and not risk more injuries to our leaders!

Plus, Newton is in good form, which is more than I can say for the majority of our list....

Congrats to No. 15..... Awesome debut young fella

PJ's short stint in the ruck against Everitt/Jolly was more effective than both White and Jamar's time in there... Give the boy a chance. I thought he showed a bit against quality 'tap' opposition. He surely can't be worse than Jamar, who really needs a spell at Sandy...

Could not agree more! PJ has not been given enough consistent game-time to be crucified.... Jamar is so out of form it's beyond a joke! Not even sure if he has form for that matter....

PJ deserves a run on a week to week basis.... God knows they've given Jamar a fair crack at the big time!!! Give PJ the same opportunity! I guarantee he will show more promise than Jamar ever has!!

What annoys me is the fact that we don't seem to have any skill, let alone gameplan?!?!?!

While watching the Bulldogs V Hawthorn game it made me realise how far below AFL standard the majority of our players are! The precision ball movement of the Bulldogs and the way they run the ball out of defensive 50, through the middle and make quick and smart split second decisions leaves our list looking like a VFL side....

I realise that a lot of our more skilled players are injured and/or out of form, but you only have to then look at Adelaide... They are as skilled as any other top 4 team at moving the ball from one end of the ground to the other, without fumbles and short-chip kicks that don't hit targets! They too are massively injured and missing their skipper!

A gameplan is desperately needed! There is no doubt! But to implement any kind of plan you must have the skill to be able to :

1. Be aware of what is happening around you

2. Be able to make split-second decisions

3. Hit a target which is preferably wearing the same colours!

4. Run, chase and put defensive pressure on opponents

5. Support and talk to your team mates!

Until we can do these things week in/week out then we are going nowhere in a hurry!

Most of us would like to think that when the chips are down, the team looks to it's supporters for inspiration.

I personally would like to think that when the chips are down the team looks deep within themselves and drags out whatever passion they have for the colours they wear and plays like a bunch of blokes willing to give 110% everytime they step onto the ground (that goes for training as well as games)

If the Melbourne players are looking to their supporters for inspiration, then it is no wonder we haven't won a flag for over 40 years!!

I will be there, and i hope there'll be much more than 16,000 as well.

Great to see you will be there supporting the boys through a tough time, but there will be no more than 19,000 there and 25% of them will be Port supporters.... So make sure you and the other Red 'n Blue Army folk make plenty of noise!

I am not being negative, just realistic