RalphiusMaximus

I supported Melbourne as a kid. I'd be happy to come and play for the team. Pretty sure my kicking is better than most of the list.

NicNat was drafted to one of the best sides in the league who tanked for a couple of seasons to refresh their list before stepping straight back into the top eight. As for Jack's being dropped negating my points, I fail to see how that conclusion can be reached. Our selections for most of the year have been nonsensical. Players have been dropped for no rational reason, and others promoted who shouldn't have been. It's been an ongoing theme with the team all year, and one that has both puzzled and frustrated many of us. I have repeatedly pointed out that Roos has failed to stick to his word that he would drop players who don't perform and promote those who earn a chance.

Have to wonder what they offered him. The cats are on the way down right now. Maybe they told him they had Dangermouse over the line already and a few other imports as well. What they have at the club right now isn't good enough.

In our team asking for any one of our players to be AA or influence the way the game is played is farcical. What we need is players who use the ball well and don't kick up-and-under all the time. It's very easy to pick on Watts, but the fact is last week he was our third best tackler behind Viney and Vince, he was fourth for 1%s and our third best scoring option. Two of those categories are the areas we are constantly after him to improve. Watts isn't an A grade star, but he's a solid contributor and we certainly need more who can kick like he can.

He's just getting an early end to his season. Nothing more to see here.

I can't agree on this. It takes work, yes, but it can be done. Like anything it's a matter of constant drilling until it becomes a natural action. We should have a professional kicking coach to work with each player and totally eliminate the up-and-under kick that is such a blight on our play.

I'm thrilled at this. The kid has earned a game with his form at Casey. He's also exactly the sort of player we need. Roos was lamenting the lack of a quick skillful HB flank to generate rebounding attack, and here we have one who looks like he might make the grade. He has all the tools, we just have to hope that he develops them to the level needed to do the job in a side that's pushing fro finals.

Very interesting looking at the Phantom Draft Boards over on Big Footy. General consensus is that Parish will be gone by the time we get a pick. Knightmare has us taking Harley Balic, although he doesn't have much info on him in his post. The write-up from the YTT thread reads as follows: The Young Talent Time thread has us taking Curnow, with the following write-up: Personally I think I'd like Curnow of the two. I haven't seen a huge amount of either but Curnow looks like he could develop into a more damaging player and he certainly has the work ethic down.

I'll take Kelly. He looks a genuine gun.

If you go back to right after Sylvia and McLean were drafted, McLean made a few comments about going out with Col and his mates and being sick for days afterwards because they partied so hard. Not a great example of a professional player.

I was actually annoyed at Roos at the end there. Yes we want the team to stand up, but I don't think that was the time to throw in a little preaching (or begging?) for the team to show their respect to Cross by winning his last game.

Who for?

Funny. Redden would like to go to WC. Would he get a game with them? I think a player coming from a bottom side has to be realistic with their goals. He can move to a better club in a location he prefers, but West Coast have one of the best midfields in the competition. I can't see him being a walk-up start with them.

Watts had that competitiveness when he arrived at the club. I don't know how but we managed to remove it from him somewhere long the way. Watching him that first year at Casey, he was madly competitive, wanted to win, wanted the ball and was really hard on himself when he stuffed up. He was also taking contested marks when outnumbered against AFL-listed players. Whatever went wrong with him, it happened AFTER he was drafted. Nope. It's the right move. He's just not quick enough. You can't have someone who gets shown up that badly defensively. It compromises your whole structure, and we don't have great defensive structures to start with.

Stokes and Kelly from Geelong. Neither would be of any real benefit to our team.

I agree Cross has been great for us, but this is the right move. As I've been told by a number of Doggies folk, if he were still in our starting side next year the club would be in real trouble. The fact is that for all his hardness, marking and leadership, he can't go with his man defensively and that leads to us being broken down. It's for exactly that reason that the doggies decided they couldn't keep playing him. I really hope that he does take up the development role with the club, because he can still have an enormous impact on the side by mentoring the kids and showing them how they need to prepare themselves.

If that's his off foot, that's a positive. How often have we been upset by our players being too one-sided? What are the odds of us doing a Tyson/Salem style deal and downgrading our first pick a little? We'd probably be right around the range to grab Curnow.

Always wanted Hall. I was gutted when GC took him. If we could pry him loose then I'd be all for it.

I have to say, I too am a little worried about JKH. At his size he really needs more pace. His kicking, vision and sidestep are all very good, but I don't know if they'll be enough without that burst pace that so many others have.

I'm happy enough to save the money for someone better. He's doing good things at Adelaide with a clearly defined role as the link between midfield and forwards. He wouldn't have that clarity or supply with us and his true ability would quickly be exposed.

I'd take him. He'd be an improvement on what we have right now. That's all we really need to know. Obviously don't pay a first round pick for him, but if he'd be a walk-up start in our first 18 then take him.

So we offer to swap first round picks with them?

You don't need big arms, you need power through the core. He has that in spades.

Not really. The highlight of Newton's season was a 50m goal in the pre-season comp. He's done nothing since.

I just love the thought of two sides running out to an entirely empty stadium. Possibly even devoid of a banner to run through.