MadAsHell

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/93134/default.aspx Here's the link to Brad Gotch's player report before he got injured and he had a really good game. I saw him play with Casey in their practice match against Frankston before the Melbourne-v-West Coast practice match at Casey Fields. He looked good, really athletic, and as I've said a few times, I think he's a really good prospect, very happy to see him off the injury list. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/93132/default.aspx Edit: Attaching the match report also.

On simple win/loss ratio yes you're right we're the worst performed team in the AFL, but at the same time we've had more success then the likes of teams such as Fremantle and Richmond. We've played finals football 6 times in that period compared to 2 times for each of Fremantle and Richmond, we've also played in a grand final where as Fremantle and Richmond haven't. Neither has Western Bulldogs for that matter. As mentioned by a few people earlier stats can be misleading, I still don't think we've been as low as Carlton have been from the period of 2002 - 2008. Yes we haven't achieved what we all want to see (a premiership), and haven't been as consistent as we would all like but we've still had forms of success at the same time. Now lets hope we can start to excell and show some Geelong like dominance over the coming years to put stats like this to bed.

Exactly!

Source?

Fitzpatrick was only 1 week away last week so he should be back with Casey Reserves this week fingers crossed. I'm excited about this kids development.

Not skewed as it's based off percentage of wins v vic clubs in finals, doesn't matter if you've played 2 games or 20. Also the article that initially started this thread is based from 95 before Power were in the comp, but because it's based off % and not simply amount of wins it still holds relevance just like mine does. Also with it being based from 1991 Collingwood are right down towards the bottom.

I wouldn't worry about it to much, people can use stats to prove anything. Take a look at this stat I came up with this morning. Please note I'm home sick with the flu, only reason I have time to do this. FINALS WINNING % V VICTORIAN CLUBS SINCE 1991 Years in comp/ Finals v Vic Clubs/ Wins v Vic Clubs/ Losses v Vic Clubs/ Winning % 1. Geelong 19/ 23/ 17/ 6/ 73.91 2. Brisbane Lions 13/ 15/ 10/ 5/ 66.67 3. Melbourne 19/ 12/ 8/ 4/ 66.67 4. North Melbourne 19/ 16/ 9/ 7/ 56.25 5. Hawthorn 19/ 9/ 5/ 4/ 55.56 6. West Coast 19/ 22/ 12/ 10/ 54.55 7. Port Adelaide 13/ 11/ 6/ 5/ 54.55 8. Sydney 19/ 11/ 6/ 5/ 54.55 9. Essendon 19/ 13/ 7/ 6/ 53.85 10. Adelaide 19/ 16/ 8/ 8/ 50.00 11. Brisbane Bears 6/ 4/ 2/ 2/ 50.00 12. Fremantle 15/ 2/ 1/ 1/ 50.00 13. Carlton 19/ 12/ 5/ 7/ 41.67 14. Richmond 19/ 5/ 2/ 3/ 40.00 15. St. Kilda 19/ 13/ 5/ 8/ 38.46 16. Western Bulldogs 19/ 11/ 2/ 9/ 18.18 17. Collingwood 19/ 6/ 0/ 6/ 00.00 18. Fitzroy 6/ 0/ 0/ 0/ N/A

I do see your point about the marketing and promotional aspect of having big NRL signings like Hunt and Folau, however will the interest still be as big when Hunt and Folau can't get a kick and spend the majority of their season playing in the reserves?

Being good athleets doesn't transfer into being good AFL players and neither does playing under 14's in Queensland where the standard is not going to be anywhere near as good as it is in Victoria, SA or WA. If people cast their minds back about 10 years the NBL player from Melbourne Tigers Daniel Smith was leaving basketball to play footy with the view of being drafted in a year or so and we all know how that turned out, anyone hear of a succesful AFL career for him that I didn't know of? Also he was talented junior playing in Victoria, Karmichael will have a bit of work to do if he's going to legitimatly make it, and don't even get me started on Israel. As for the argument about Irishmen making it so why can't NRL players, Gaelic football is far more similar to our game then NRL is. Even then the list of Irishmen who have become top players isn't overly long. Jim Stynes, Sean Wight, Tagh Kennelly, Setanta O'Halphin is starting to play some good football after about 7 years on Carlton's list, will Hunt and Folau stay this long or will they take the money and run after their 3 year deals? If the Gold Coast and GWS want to waste their money on these side shows and play them instead of a kid who deserves it then that's their business, howvere I don't agree that the AFL should be paying half their slary for it. The only good thing I guess will be if the clubs are forced to play them then the sooner they'll be shown up for the mediocore players they will be. Folau's stated he wants to play FF for GWS, I can't wait till Chip Frawley stitches him up and can then claim he's taken the scalp of a player earning 3 times his wage.

As mentioned already we picked up Powell at the end of 99 in a three way trade with Fremantle and the Bulldogs, we traded Simmonds to Fremantle, they taded Bandy to the Bulldogs, possibly with a pick and we got Powell from the Dogs. We also traded for PJ with West Coast, think it was the draft pick that was refered to though.

What's that based on? I've seen him twice now and think he lokks very, very promising. Also last match he played for Casey reserves he was named BOG by Gotch. So I'm interested as to why you believe this 18 year old is terrible???

I'd be more then happy with Ana Ivanovic, she's already a member, think Neitz gave her a gurnsey start of 2007 and she can do some PR work for us and will be nice to look at. Obviously wouldn't have her as a player of course. lol.

Bottom line is Folau has never played this game before and wont just be able to pick it up willy nilly! At best Folau and Hunt will become bit players who will struggle to get a game come their 3rd season once their plethera of top draft picks start to develop. It will be very intersting to see what happens come their 2nd or 3rd season when McKenna or Sheedy don't want to play them cause they know they have better kids on their list who have grown up playing the game but the FD and the AFL will no doubt be pressuring them to play Hunt and Folau so the public can watch the investment in all it's mediocrity!

Bruce has to be the one to demand a spot ahead of Rivers and MacDonald IMO. As Bruce is the only one with the versatility to go into the midfield or forward if required aswell as playing down back. MacDonald I'd play ahead of Rivers also as he provides more running ability and can be more damaging then Rivers. Rivers I feel for as I'm a big fan of his and he's become a victim of our emerging defensive talent, Frawley/Garland in particular. Hate to say it but at seasons end I feel Rivers may become trade bait, in particular for one of Hawthorn, St. Kilda or Adelaide.

IN: Bate, Martin, McKenzie, Scully, Strauss, Trengove OUT: Garland (inj), Bartram, Bennell, Jetta, Miller, Rivers FB: Frawley, Warnock, Strauss HB: MacDonald, Martin, Grimes C: Morton, McKenzie, Scully HF: Sylvia, Bate, Davey FF: Watts, Green, Wonna FOLL: Jamar, Moloney, McDonald INT: Bruce, Gysberts, Jones, Trengove EMERG: Bennell, Jetta, Spencer

6. Green 5. Davey 4. Gysberts 3. Frawley 2. Moloney 1. McDonald

I still reckon the answer is Martin to play at CHB and relieve Jamar in the ruck when he needs a spell, this of course would mean not playing Rivers which I think is the best thing for the team structure. With already having Warnock, Frawley and Garland in defence, and Morton and Bruce who can go back there when Martin is needed in the ruck, this would be the best way for Melbourne to afford Jamar some relief without taking to much away from their running as the change is only Martin in for Rivers. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Gawn is our long term prospect for the no 1 ruck and Fitzpatrick will be our long term no 2 ruckman who will mainly play forward but with the ability to go back also if needed.

I've heard from someone close to the St. Kilda football club who the two players are and I'll say that it isn't either of the two who were involved in a previous rape allegations that never got off the ground. I'm also informed that the player from another club who was befriended isn't one of our boys. Will be interesting to see how all of this unfolds.

If our 2nd pick isn't till about pick 40 odd in an already weakend draft it probably wouldn't be a bad idea you're probably right. depends what else is out there I guess, I just hope we get him assuming he's young enough, not sure if you know how old he is KC?

Watched a fair bit of the match and I must say from the game on saturday and the Casey-v-Coburg match I watched a few weeks back I am really impressed with Stockdale, the guy is a gun! In the Jarrod Harbrow fashion IMO. Can play midfield or as a small defender and provides a heap of run for the team, whether it's Casey or the Vic's! Really damaging when he uses it also. Looks to be a very good player, I'm not sure how old he is but I hope Melbourne look at rookie listing him at the end of the season, was shatetred when we didn't do this with Silvagni end of 09', would hate to see it happen twice in 2 years and have Stockdale go somewhere else and make a good impact.

Strauss is an interesting one. I thought he was stiff to get dropped initially as I though his game against Collingwood in round 2 was quite good and Davis (who he was playing on) didn't have much of an influence (apart from the last goal of course). True Strauss didn't get a lot of the ball and hasn't at Casey since but I don't think he's the type of player who will be likely to get a lot of the ball. I see him as a shut down defender with a beautiful kick, nicely suited to kick ins, but that's just my take on him. I see Strauss as a direct replacment for Bartram, not MacDonald or anyone else, but Bartram as I see that as Strauss's best role to play in the team. Cheney will be battling for this spot also, Cheney's plus side is he gets more of the ball but doesn't use it as well.

Fingers crossed for Col, would be absolutely shattering if it has flared up again but the fact he came back on the ground you'd think suggests it must be something different considering how cautious they've been with his re-hab.

Cheers Maurie, I was under the impression he was spending some extra time up there, glad to hear he's back and in that case up for selection for the coming week.

With the suspension of Moloney and Wonna spending some extra time up the top end I now see our changes looking more like. IN: Bate (if fit), Bruce (if fit), Strauss, Warnock (if fit) OUT: Moloney (susp), Wonna (rest), Bartram, MacDonald FB: Frawley, Warnock, Strauss HB: Garland, Rivers, Grimes C:Morton, McKenzie, Davey HF:Trengove, Bate, Bennell FF: Watts, Miller, Jetta FOLL: Jamar, Sylvia, McDonald INT: Bruce, Green, Jones, Scully Pending fitness, if Warnock doesn't get up I'd have MacDoanld hold his spot, if either Bate or Bruce don't get up I'd have Gysberts make his debut, and if they both miss then I'd have Cheney play also.

The big test will come in 6 - 8 weeks time when Jurrah returns. With Bate back also, if Miller and Watts continue in the vain of form they're in at the moment, who will make way? Hopefully the FD would do the right thing for the future and keep playing Watts and Miller would be the one to make way...