Dee*ceiving

Would it be safe to say you would find this to be the case with most clubs. Melbournes stats look a bit inflated by Pikeys unbelievably lucky run but most clubs would have at least 2-3 players from other clubs in their team most weeks i would have thought.

Correct!

What would you rather him say, we get Wheatley back this week. He is ordinary but we wish him well....Gimme a break. Having said that Jaded your tick points are valid. I think the most frustrating thing about Wheats performances over the years has been poor decision making and a tendency to flinch/become reckless when under pressure which has cost us goals in tight games many times

Like it Belz. The team M concept if done right can be a massive boost for all involved. the word melbourne is the most marketable brand available to all those teams and should become the envy of every other team in all the codes involved in the partnership.

45, uggh man that stat is hard to accept but no doubt true. When does the cricket start again? the sooner the better.

I've been saying the AFL is turning into the EPL for years. In fact we are probably there already. Major work needs to be done to ensure that all 16 clubs have a realistic chance of winning a flag once every 16 years. Currently you could argue that only 4 to 8 clubs have this chance afforded to them and that is very EPL.

Very dissappointed Jamar hasn't taken his oppurtunities afforded to him early in the year. He has a big imposing body and can take a grab and is a decent shot at goal but he just doesn't get to enough contests or impose his might and will on games the way a man of his stature should. He has also struggled in the ruck itself on most occassions.

I picked Scotty very early in his time at Melbourne as a player to look out for. I was very dissappointed that he waited until he found his feet and proved he was a top 12 player at the demons before becoming homesick. I know there was more than meets the eye and he wanted to join a sick family member etc etc. But I just wonder if he would have gotten over that homesickness 2 years earlier when he had proved nothing more that he was an injury prone mid-fielder that was unlikely to generate much interest from the SA clubs. We invested 4 or 5 years in him and got 20 or so good games and another 10 lousy ones. Very dissappointing.

Bucks left the Bears to play in Premierships with Collingwood. Admire him as a player but no sympathy from me. The only player I can remember to manage to manipulate the club that drafted him to the extent that forced them to trade him to the club he wanted to go to before he was drafted Richo gets bagged for his shitty attitude not for his lack of ability. The bloke has kicked over 700 goals for [censored]'s sake. If he could kick properly it probably would have been over 900. But that doesn't excuse him from carrying on like a pork chop on the field and pointing the finger at his team mates when they fire a pass over his head or at his toe nails for the 1000th time, as frustrating as that may be.

Sad indeed but you can add those names to a long list of champions and leaders. Just off the top of my head: Gary Ablett Tony Lockett Paul Kelly Bob Skilton The list goes on.

Agreed, Nath looks to be a natural leader. And that bald head is teriffic.

Jobs for the boys no doubt. That's not unusual in any industry. A new manager or coach in this instance comes in and often so do 3 or 4 of his mates from a previous workplace. Happens where I work constantly.

I agree Jaded its unlikely to ever happen but even if it did and we lost Bruce, Green and a first rounder to get him wouldn't we just be robbing peter to pay paul. In effect we would probably not improve.

Unfortunately for Millsy, particularly this year he has played well when not many others have. Has been in our best at least twice this year already. Unfortunately the difference between his best and his worst this year, and for most of his career, has been streets apart. I wouldn't be against sending him to sandy for 2 -3 weeks to relearn the caper but I think he deserves a few more cracks at it in the AFL. Particularly with Dunn being tried through the middle as he is at present.

In fairness though yesterdays game was exciting and free flowing. Credit to both coaches. Unfortunately it is the exception rather than the norm.

I feel the same way as most of you. However I think you have failed to mention the most concerning thing about modern football. Once again it looks likley no less that 5 non-victorian clubs will contest this years finals, maybe even 6. IMO people who believe this is cyclical and the Vic teams will get their chance at the top are kiddng themselves. This scenario is here to stay and as the years and decades pass don't be suprised if we end up with a competition similar to the EPL where only 4-6 teams have a realistic chance of winning a premiership every year. We are nearly there now as 4 teams haven't won a flag for over 40 years. Melbourne, Bulldogs, Cats & Saints, this unforutunately is unlikley to change. In fact expect the list to inlcude the Kangaroos, (if they can survive) Richmond and Hawthorn in another 20 years. The game is pharked

Green would have been travelling well up until his injury

Correct. He is just trying to have people sympathise with our situation. I doubt he was running player names through his head while he was making the comment to make sure he wasn't forgetting anyone.

If they are smart they will be considering their options now until the end of the season. IMO change should only come if you are confident the change will make things better. If a better candidate exists to take the club in another direction, then he should be found and signed up. If not then ND should be extended for another year. The difficulty is that judgment is subjective and only those in the industry and with the necessary knowledge can make that decision. Unfortunately even for the educated change is a gamble, sometimes it comes off, sometimes not. All you can do is hope the research and thought process you have used to derive the best option is sound. its essential in business and no different in the business of footy.

You are spot on Ash, those voting methods are flawed for that exact reason. BTW, i like your new avatar, priceless. Is that from the most recent Anzac day game?

18,500

A good article, i agree. However I believe what needs to be pondered and considered unforgiveable are the losses we sustained in rounds 1 and 2. We had a good enough team in to beat St Kilda and failed miserably. ND was out-coached completely. And we should have been capable of beating Hawthorn in round 2 even with Neitz going off early and Robbo finishing the game off the ground injured. If we had won both those games we would be 2 and 3 facing Port at the G with Neitz returning. A good chance to even the ledger and dare i say it be knocking on the door to the 8. Those early losses have cost us plenty and in my opinoun add to the 'its time for a new coach' argument.

I agree with dees rule. He was thrown back in desperation against the Cats and has now acquitted himself well for 6 qtrs. Good efforts should be applauded especially when the team is struggling. Continue to throw the challenge at him to play good football and until he fails he should be given that oppurtunity.

Love it Nasher, I nearly choked on my pepsi trying to laugh and swallow at the same time

Choco does seem to have a knack in motivating players recruited from other clubs in their first year under him. Consider Lonie, Walsh, Pickett and now Rodan among others.