Choko

Exactly. 2 coaches give him votes. Who here wants to put their hand up and say they know more than both Bailey and Eade? And even if you disagree with the votes, it's abundantly clear Bruce wasn't the worst on ground.

I think his work rate was as it always is. Far below what is expected. Wasted talent. Trade.

Colin Sylvia - The Pretender

Yeh, I'm still waiting for a response to an email I sent 4 weeks ago (and another from 3 months ago), and I know members of the administration!

That's exactly the problem with Colin. He has all the skills and assets to be a top grade league footballer, but a combination of injury and attitude has left him as a massively underperforming 63 gamer. Potential yes. Execution, not yet. And Bailey own't turn anyone into anything. It is up to Sylvia to become the footballer he wants to become. Attitude first, learning second.

Thanks for the link! It's Miller.

I think there is a place for "I told you so" threads. It's pretty easy to come on here and make comments that are professionally damaging to a footballer. CJ has a way to go, but it is terrific seeing him get an opportunity and even better that he is making the most of it. Go CJ!

Sydney (pretty close to 100% physical application)

Ben has been a great servant and he was retained on the list for 2008 for depth purposes. He will retire at season's end or be delisted by us at the very least. He would be playing each week if we had last years' injuries again. But you have to ask - would you rather lose with a young player that is learning, or with Benny. I would rather focus on the future.

It's actually quite brilliant thinking by the club. Ordinarily, Heritage status is given to items. Becoming heritage listed gives protections to the subject of the listing, which anyone who has ever tried to deal with heritage listed property would know all too well! What that all means is that if we get such listing, we would be somewhat protected as an item of broad significance to Victoria/Australia.

Well, I have always been a bit of an unashamed fan of Chris Johnson. Firstly, I have always thought he was under-utilised, and he is a confidence player who was never given a chance to gain confidence under Danners. He is a prolific left foot kick, and given the cxhance to back himself, I think he could become a very good half back flanker/wingman. I spoke to Dean Bailey about CJ at the 150, and he said there is no doubt he is the stiffest player on our list. He also said he would get his opportunity in or soon after the Collingwood game. I think it is fantastic to see that CJ is takng his opportunity, and I hope he continues to improve and grow in confidence to justify the faith his supporters have in him.

32. And he was dropped last year for ducking his head in a contested situation.

I manage people and I beg to differ. What others here have said is correct. He is repeat offender. In addition, it is a mental (and honesty) issue. So the fact Ablett did it doesn't mean you write him off, but it does mean that an attitude must change. Some players pull out once, feel so guilty for dudding their team-mates, and never do it again (Junior did one at TD early in his career, and was so embarrassed by it, it made him tough). But to focus on the reason I think it is appropriate yo take action... If hardness is a mental issue, then he has to make a choice whether or not to dud his teammates. In a corporate culture, few things decay an organisation more than someone who is dudding their mates, and management turns a blind eye because that person is performing/bringing in the money. It is much better to have a culture and stick to it. The better example in my opinion is Geelong dropping Steve J for mental/attitudinal issues. They said "we don't care what sort of job you did, we won't accept that element of you". Same should apply for Dunn, espcially in a learning year like this.

Exactly. And in the absence of such leadership, it has to be the coach. Which is why he should make a statement.

Not only do I think we should drop him, I think we have to drop him. It's one thing not to be the toughest player going around, and not every player is as good at the physical stuff. But it's another thing altogether not taking your turn. He did it twice, and he has done it before. Compare that to Slattery. I think it is a terrible look, and I don't really care how well he played on Dog Goodes. He should be dropped. He won't be though.

Like most, I don't like having to sell games interstate..... BUT Of all places, I am really happy to be going to Canberra. Firstly, IMO, we made a huge mistake selling home games to Brisbane. The only model we should pursue is one where we sell home games to a neutral venue. Then, we can turn that venue into a home ground advantage. Canberra gives us that opportunity. We should also get an opportunity to train on the ground, which is better than the chance we get at the 'G! Plus, Manuka is really picturesque and a nice place to watch footy, and it's not hard to get to. In addition, because Canberra isn't a football zone, you don't have to deal with the parochialism of a state wanting its own team (although Hawthorn has done OK in Tas). We talk about donating $200 each to the club, and that is a great initiative, but the 620K we get from Canberra is equivalent to 3100 people donating $200. If going to Canberra allows us to set up a hub, pay our full salary cap, and get temporary financial relief so that we can start rebuilding our club into the powerhouse we want it to become, then I say sell 6 games there next year.

We had a guy who did that. His name was Joseph. I think you know his surname. You can give someone a fish or teach them how to fish.

If Valenti (or anyone) doesn't come in for Bode, I would be shocked.

Haha - that too

And I think it is a travesty that Bev O'Connor wasn't asked to stay on. She has been an honest, optimistic spruiker for our club since day one and I would have liked to see her remain. Notwithstanding, thanks to her and the entire Board for their voluntary work and best efforts to help the club.

I am wondering, do the Frawley baggers in this thread work? If you do, were you as good at your job in your first few years as you are now? How do you think you would have gone competing against senior and more experienced managers in your first couple of years of work? I know I would hate my whole career to be judged by the work I did in my first year or two. There is absolutely no justification for selling a young player who is learning the game down the river. It is just rubbish grandstanding. If he lairised, was slack on the training track, or didn't take his turn, fair enough to have a go at that. But all these people writing him off should remember that their Mums could have done the same to them before they could walk, talk and write stupid blog posts.

I'm interested in what particularly excites you? Big call to say he is the only one to do so - what is it about him?

I think on the one hand he makes a point that the MFC is too volatile, in that it will fire up for the QB clash and not provide the same passion the week after or from week to week. And that is perhaps the biggest indictment on our club. On the other hand, he should mind his own bloody business and let the MFC speak for the MFC. He is almost suggesting that he is bitter because we didn't play like a 16th placed team - and in that sense, he can get stuffed. Would he be happier if we didn't fire up on the weekend we celebrate our history?

I think Bate just had a really bad game on a pretty good rebounding defender. Nothing more, nothing less. He is one paced, but when he gets confidence going, I think he is quite agile and good below his knees for a bloke of his height. Just not yesterday.

You agree that he is the biggest liability playing for Melbourne? biggest liability? You are genuinely scary. You honestly telling me he didn't contribute more to the game than anyone else out there at all? Joker.