jnrmac

We've shown twice this year that Collingwood aren't far ahead of us. Their average age is only slightly ahead of ours. Half their team was under 23 I think. And 8 players had played under 50 games. They were younger than the Baby Bummers were in 93. We can do it and our guys will take great confidence from our performances against them. We clearly need a couple to make some big steps forward. Morton is probably best placed and is similar to Pendlebury or even Goddard after the same number of games. Dunn took some steps this year and can go further now he realises how influential he can be. Garland playing games was a boost and he will be fitter and stronger for next year.

bottom 6 arguments are a bit spurious IMO. For a man on man comparison they are interesting but teams don't play like that. They play zones and 'roles'. Dawson isn't a great footballer but he plays a role. Same for Dempster and about 8 others. The Pies play a similar game relying on a structure and roles to be filled. Often these roles don't require great players but someone who competes hard and provides a contest so that another player can come and back them up. Nathan Brown is a good example. PLayed his role and O'Brien and Shaw assisted and helped sweep the ball from defence. If you were to stack NBrown up against a lot of players he would be an 'average' sort of footballer. But in their game plan he does a great job. The Swans were similar which is where Lyon learned his coaching trade. It's all about systems and structures.

I don't want Bate Captain co he's a Ranga. I don't want Rivers Captain cos he's a South Australian. I don't want Bartram Captain cos he's short. I don't want Dunn Captain until he shaves off his mo. I dont want Davey Captain because he's got curly hair.

Warnock is good insurance for us. You can't assume we will have all our defenders on the park. And there will be some gorillas that need quelling....

I heard some talk Jnr may be the runner next year. I would like to get someone who has worked under Roos, Bomber, Craig or Ross Lyon...Maybe Milburn, Kirk or Goodwin.

A bit different to that "leader" Judd - wasn't he handcuffed to the 17yo who was blind drunk on the Bay cruise??? And his leadership at the West Coke was an ornament to the game. Well done Junior!

Odds on he will slip over....

Great. They finally get rid of Brad Johnson and try to get another 4'9" forward!

From the H-S today..... MELBOURNE will make minimal changes to its list for next year, but is yet to re-sign Nathan Jones or Cameron Bruce. Hard-running Jones has tested the waters at other clubs, including Essendon, but the Demons are confident he will stay. Bruce, offered only a one-year deal, is still shaken by the manner in which Melbourne dismissed captain James McDonald at season's end. Bruce has two-year offers to play elsewhere and is still considering his position.

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Amazing how short most of the team were!!

In the past we have had trouble attracting players to the club. With our upwards trajectory and stunning new facilities as well as a fantastic administration I can see players wanting to join our club if they are headed back to Melbourne. That hasn't happened in my living memory and its very exciting. Good times ahead.

I wouldn't be banking on every young player developing as quickly as chip. He has been extraordinary. If every young player developed as quickly as chip we'd have the Cup next year!

2010 Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy 1st Brad Green 295 votes 2nd James Frawley 277 3rd Mark Jamar 231 4th Aaron Davey 194 5th Colin Sylvia 170 6th Cameron Bruce 168 7th Brent Moloney 166 8th Tom Scully 154 9th Colin Garland 149 10th James McDonald 149

Deledio was smashed by Lynden Dunn who kicked 5 goals on him. He has payed OK in other games but he hasn't had an AA year IMO.

Didn't we do that with Jolly and Simmonds a few years back?? We develop ruckmen and then let others get the best out of them. Not such a good idea.

Black & Power have been asked to take pay cuts. The Board and coaching staff are unhappy. Fev is a nightmare. Their other trades such as Dalziell, Buchanon, Staker, Xavier Clarke, Lachie Henderson have all been disasters. Brennan and Rischitelli will go - both are unhappy and Rischitelli was almost offloaded to Carlton last year. Brisbane are a basket case and there will be more players to leak out of there in the next two months.....

Reminds me of the old ad: I thought Fu King was a town in CHina until I discovered Schmirnoff.....

I'm sick of hearing that crud about ND. He had his faults but he was battling an inept administration (12 CEO's in 10 years!) poor marketing, poor facilities etc. What he did was nothing short of stunning. We could not afford to 'bottom out', rebuild etc. He realised we wouldn't win a flag with Robbo at CHF and Bizzell at CHB both circa 6ft 2in triers. Our recruiting key position players struck some poor luck with Smith, Molan etc. With limited armoury he did a terrific job spruiking the Dees. Yep, he played White and Yze when they didn't deserve games but aside from that it's about time he was recognised for his great achievements.

You can have your opinions but I'm happy to go with the Footy Dept. They know what instructions CB gets week in week out and how he performs against those instructions. With due respect you wouldn't have the foggiest about that. The B&F is one true way of seeing how the club views its players. Of course there will be some blinkers now and then like Daniher had with respect to certain players but not over a 10 year period.

Peter Walsh?

Return to form?? Have you checked his finish in the B&F over the past 10 years? That says the club ranks him very highly.

TJ would go to the GC17 for sure. He could still surf and play the pinnies. And grow his Rumpelstiltskin beard.

Good ethical decision. Explains why he was always considered a great clubman. Well done Brad.

At least the Club has given Miller and Bell the maximum opportunity to get picked up by another club. Thanks for your contribution guys. Am still waiting to hear about Newton........