Nasher

Why is that such a surprise? Surely having a tall, skinny bloke fail to put on weight should be a surprise to nobody who supports this club. Remember Ryan Ferguson or Cam Hunter? Some blokes just struggle to put on much muscle. I agree that he's never going to be a KPP though. 86kg is a featherweight for a key position. That said, I doubt it's ever been expected that he'll be a KPP. I certainly have never expected that.

I don't particularly care what day the games are on. I just hate it when the games aren't on free-to-air TV -- which seems to be nearly all the time. It means I often am not able to watch, like this weekend. Blergh.

Anyone remember Jared Brennan going in to the ruck for Brisbane a few years ago? Can't remember who he was up against at the time, but in his very first contest he copped a knee in the guts and went down like a sack of spuds. IMO people who don't know how to ruck shouldn't become ruckmen. PJ wasn't a ruckman before his time at the MFC either, and I think it shows. Agree with this. I think it's particularly important in Martin's case since he's only been playing the game for a few years.

80+ a year, easy. Now if only we can convince Geelong of that, and maybe they'll pay a hefty price. Three first round draft picks and Gary Ablett Jr should just about cover it. Real answer to the hypothetical: If we ignore all reality altogether and pretend he plays 22 games, I wouldn't expect a return of any more than 30 goals, probably less. I just don't think the guy can play football.

I'd probably look at Bail for Bennell. I don't think Dunn adds anything to the side at all. Unless he is allowed to re-re-engineer himself as a forward again at Casey, then I believe we already know everything there is to know about him, and that is that he is an F grade midfielder. As fair as Bail for Bennell goes, I'd be equally happy for the change to be made, or not to be made, as both have their pros and cons. That said, I agree that Bennell could use a stint of full game time at Casey. The other changes are a must though IMO.

Exactly the changes I had in mind when I opened the thread. Having Meesen perform two weeks in a row and PJ showing that as a ruckman he is completely impotent means we must now finally see what Meesen's got. IMO Spencer has now passed PJ for the second ruck position after Jamar, and PJ and the Meese can battle it out for the third "backup" position on our list for next year (or the second spot, which is still far from set in stone). You never know. Meesen's last few weeks at Casey have shown that maybe miracles can happen, and perhaps there is some vague possibility of him being a footballer after all. I'm not getting my hopes up though. You know your ruck situation is dire when Mark Jamar is far and away, by the length of the Nullabor, the best ruckman on your list.

^ ^ That.

8 years or so too late for me. I might've been persuaded as a kid and into my late teens, but my allegience runs way too deep now. It might mean I can take my family to a few more AFL games now, though if they're all in Launceston I probably won't bother (but obviously will for MFC games).

Thanks for making an effort to actually know something about our side. That puts you ahead of 95% of footy journos (and 99.99% of opposition supporters) out there. It was a good read.

Personally each time I've been to the 'G I've found it pretty easy to ignore all the flogs I was surrounded by and just concentrate on shouting myself hoarse at what's going on on the field anyway, so where I sit doesn't really matter, so long as the view's alright. Is that just me?

I do have to kind of agree with Thundercloud here. I hadn't seen this article until this thread (and the twin thread on Demonology, which has the same theme as this one). It's a howler of a mistake no doubt, but the article as a whole is one worth reading. After this thread, I almost didn't read it based on that one error.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I'm of the opinion that anyone who wants Frawley dropped is on drugs. In all serious, I believe that the only genuine candidates for being dropped are Jetta and Bennell in order to get more game time against lesser opposition at Casey, and Bate and Buckley who I believe were the only 'seniors' who were poor enough to be dropped proper. Miller wasn't much good either, but I don't think at the moment he's the most damaging forward we have (and that's not saying a great deal), and we can't drop them all unless we want a forwardline made exclusively of midgets.

Exactly. "He only knows how to attack" doesn't mean he should only be used to 'attack', it means he should either learn to 'defend' or face the chop. His pace is his absolutely his weapon, but at this stage of his career he does just as much damage to our own cause with his lack of defensive nous and turnovers as he does to the opposition. Unless this improves, he'll never be anything more than a player on the periphery. At the moment, he doesn't belong in our best 22, whether he he's being played out of position or not. I also think that if any of Whelan, Wheatley, Bell or Grimes had been available, he'd have played for Casey this week anyway.

Agree with all of that, including the changes.

Compare Richo to Robbo. If it's a technique problem it should be correctable, which I believe is the case for Martin. Richo's problem is 99% above the shoulders. He doesn't miss when his confidence is high.

If that's how it turns out I'll be absolutely stoked.

Without having read it, it's hardly a surprise that Bomber fans don't know anything about our side. How much do you guys know about theirs? Hint: take what you think you know about their list and compare it to their opinions.

Boo-farking-hoo. Just like as a Tasmanian, those jokes get thin. HUR HUR, I HAVE TWO HEADS AND AM A JUMBERJACK. Except I know people only mean it in jest. It might be lame, but getting offended by it is hypersensitive in the extreme. Toughen up a bit people. It's just a joke.

It's something I did in my few seasons of footy too because it was the only way I could kick it straight. The low drop gave my unco body more opportunity to drop it straight and therefore kick it straight. It's harder to kick it any great distance like that but it gives better control. I wonder if it's something Jake has learned on purpose to curb an erratic kick. Maybe Cam Bruce could try that kicking technique.

Paranoid when drunk? You sure you weren't talking to Mr. Bong before you went Jaded?

Meesen was Craig Cameron's parting gift.

Boneheaded person commits bonehead act. Stop press! It's his own career he damages with crap like this, and so far he's in the 10-20 position on the list. It just opens up the door for someone whose professionalism doesn't stink. I agree with Y_M's classic pic.

Robbo is a good example of a rubbish kick coming good.

Not dying would be a good bonus I reckon.

I've had more burst ear drums than I'd care to remember, they hurt like buggery and I have permanent hearing loss because of them. Feel for Clint there.