Nasher

Thanks for pointing out that this was a forum - I hadn't noticed after 7 years of running it. One great thing about forums is that you're able to air your opinions, as you've kindly pointed out to me. The other great thing is that others are able to challenge your views, discuss the data and hopefully both parties can learn something. The alternative is to get narky and defensive, and we can both take sarcastic shots at each other and we'll both just walk away grumpy and none the wiser.

He might have dropped a lot of marks, but he's also held a bloody lot of them, especially in the last few weeks: 8 marks against Geelong and 9 against Hawthorn in sides where the delivery was poor and infrequent. In the same time Cloke took 8 and 8 against shite sides where his team won comfortably and the most he's taken all year is 9, so I'd say it's hard to argue that he's a materially better mark than Clark. (Unfortunately there's no stat for dropped marks) I'd like to see stats (or something other than "I think you'll find"s) to back your assertions that 1) "lots of his goals come from ground work" and that 2) "[Cloke's accuracy] is much better than Clark's from a set shot" because both sound false to me without looking too closely.

He's not going to impact our winning or not, but I think he'll be a good player and pressure on the players in the side is a good thing. I'm seething about Gysberts because I think he'll be an important player in our side so I'm impatient about his development, and he got injured in his first game back so it's yet another setback. I know these things happen and so forth, but that one just annoyed me.

Keen for Strauss to get back on the park and firing. He's one - probably the only one - on that list that should really be pushing for a spot in the seniors. Other than Sellar who is difficult to get too enthused about. Even though it has no impact at all on our footy fortunes, I'm really glad to see Williams is back on the radar after his virus of the brain. Can only imagine how horrifically scary that must have been. Still seething about Gysberts' injury.

I can't speak for MikeyJ, but I haven't missed the point, I just think it's invalid. I think imposing a requirement that players who are not playing in the match mould their mood around what's happening in the game is completely ridiculous. I don't care how much they're paid or if they're wearing an MFC tie at the time; if they're not playing they're off the clock and they can act and do as they see fit. You're saying "you're not allowed to tell jokes or play pranks or laugh at anything while we're losing" - come on, can't you see how silly that is? Do you require that they jump around and high five and hug each other if we're going well? What about if someone in the coaches box said something funny and got a chuckle from one of the assistant coaches? Dismissible offence?

Which lot is that?

Yeah, sounds like homework to me.

The what?

Indeed - and he has one of the highest fitness bases at the club. Not a reason to keep him around indefinitely, but a reason to keep him around while everyone else plays catchup.

Came on a 1 year contract I believe.

If he could mark he'd be a good player. As it is he's a less athletic Stefan Martin that wins less of the ball.

I laughed at my Dad's funeral - multiple times, and occasionally quite hard. Why? Cos funny stories were told and funny things happened. I also happened to be more sad than I've ever been in my life. I know, I know, what a dreadful, awful, horrible person I am. I should've sat in stony faced silence the whole time.

I guess we'll find out if it's worked or not when the ball starts getting down there occasionally.

Tom, you did what any of us would do in the face of that much money - you took it. Anyone who says they wouldn't have is either stupid or dishonest. You'd have been utterly stupid if you hadn't. You're still a [your expletive here] for lying to us though and making those of us who took you at your word look stupid. Phil Davis didn't feel the need for the smoke and mirrors; so that says plenty about your sense of integrity. Anyway, everyone knows why you're there so there's no need to sell us more bull. I reckon you should now just be quiet and make hay while the sun is shining - you're a good player but you don't look like a multi-million dollar player yet.

That seems far fetched to me. Definitely had another pants game no doubt and should struggle to hold his spot, but we've seen enough in the past to know there's something to work with. If we delisted every player who hasn't been up to standard this year we'd end up with 8 players on the list at years end. You seem to have your grumpy pants on this year Rhino!

He may be eligible to play for the Casey reserves, assuming they play. Not sure how that works though.

I've been saying for weeks that I'd preferred Petterd over Dunn. My apologies everyone. Then again, it's somewhat akin to choosing between a turd sandwich and a turd salad at the moment.

I think you need to adjust your tongueincheekometer there old dee.

No kidding. Sheedy's job is to spend breakfast time devising the latest ways of stirring the pot through the media, then spends the rest of the day sitting back while Chocko coaches the side.

Agreed. By the time we're a developed side and are playing finals footy, it'll be the Melbourne game plan. I don't think we know what the game plan looks like yet. Neeld is trying to instil a philosophy that works for any game plan - one about hard bodies applying pressure and winning hard ball. Those elements are common to every side that has won a flag in the whole time I've been watching football.

Who will take the second ruck? I don't want it to be Clark. I think it's sad reality that one of Fitz, Sellar or Martin needs to be in. It'd be nice if one of those guys could actually do something in the side. And I wouldn't make Jurrah the sub. If he's not fit enough to play 4/4 then make him the designated sub-off, rather than the sub-on. Of course then there's the risk that someone gets injured and needs to be subbed off instead (which is still a risk if he's the sub and someone does a knee in the first minute) - but that's a risk I'd take to have Jurrah on for most of the match.

I only saw the first quarter, but the main thing that made an impression on me was when Jurrah touched the ball three times in the same passage of play. I don't think I've seen one of our players do that once in the "big" side this year. He's class - surely he must come straight in if he's got the miles in the legs. I bet Green and Bruce never talked about playing against each other in the VFL when they carpooled to training in the 00s. Glad to see Brucey's finally come to terms with his balding and has an appropriate "do" for a man of his hairline.

Amazed at all the fuss about this. Nothing's changed since last night; it's not as if being temporarily 18th on the ladder has made things any worse. We're no more crud now than we were by siren's end last night, so I'm not sure what all the additional wailing is about.

Sack the coach after 7 matches! Sounds like a definite fool proof plan for success. What could possibly go wrong?

Another battler in the reading comprehension stakes.