praha

I stopped reading at "Andrew Jarman".

That 1997 team essentially became our 2000 GF team, with a few handy additions. We also beat North Melbourne, the year's reigning premiers, in round one. Also, 1998 was arguably one of the club's best years since 1964. That 1997 is grossly underrated. A few handy additions would not save the team of 2012. It's about 3-4 years off the mark in terms of playing consistent footy for the whole year, let along individual games. 1997 team had spark at least. 2012 team was bad even when it was healthy.

I smell a 100-point belting. I hope North don't pile on another 6-7 goals in the last...

I'm not sure why people thing left-footers are better kicks than right-footers. Reality is that there are fewer people that kick on their left. As most kick with their right, the placement of the ball is relative to who kicks it and to where, and so therefore left-footers are developed to evolve and adapt to kicking on both sides; they're in a position to need to kick it on their opposite foot, more often than right-footers are required to kick on their left. That's how I always looked at it. I made it as far as the Northern Knights under-16s squad and they used to take all the left-footers aside to practice kicking on our opposite foot. I ended up being better on my right than most right-footers on the team. I guess it's because I was trained to really concentrate and hold the ball a certain way, which also helped my kicking on my prefered side.

Between AFL, Facebook, and just the internet in general, it's any wonder how I get homework done in the first place. Seriously, wtf is this [censored]?

I think we did OK in that half. Roos are OK, nothing special, but certainly a top-8 team. To be honest I am relieved we have a score on the board. We're playing OK.

If you build any part of your team around the reliance on one player, you've got problems. Every team that has a single awesome player in any one area of the field has someone to back them up. Why there is this belief that adding another superstar to an area already with one would disadvantage the team is beyond me. Fact is we don't have someone that kick be as reliant to kick goals as Clark is. Having two options...wow!

Cloke please. Every time we go forward we look clueless. I understand that our midfield is a rabble, but surely we can develop what we have? Average of 50 games last round is indicative of simple inexperience.

Yes, a link would be grand.

Not going today. Have a 2,000 word essay on Media Law due on Thursday. Haven't even started. Too many times this season I've compromised my studies to spend a rare free day watching Melbourne lose. I'll have the tele on though

He's OK at best in a very average side. Big marks make him seem more relevant than he is. Required player though!

If you can trade the picks for midfielders, make sure they're experienced players. Why add another Trengove or Grimes when you could potentially trade for a star? I don't think trading for any of the above GC players is particularly desirable, at least not a priority. The club probably should have gotten Boak, we should hold the club accountable for losing Scully and constantly missing out on much-needed midfield help. Hopefully some players are holding off in hope of a sign and trade. But anyway, Melbourne probably won't play a big role. As Neeld said, they'll acquire who they feel is needed. If they can't get who is needed, they won't make moves for the sake of making moves. That to me says not to expect anything big.

We have plenty of midfielders to develop. If we get Cloke our forward line is set for a decade. We will have two targets up forward. We have no strong bodies like Cloke to develop into that type of player, although Martin is looking the goods. Would benefit from having someone like Cloke in the team.

The headline made me LOL I bet the OP had it all prepared even before Saturday night's game. We are truly a rabble atm.

Merge with Casey, keep nothing from Casey except for history and players/admin: ditch the name and any branding associated with it. Completely eat Casey up. The club should not and better not pass up the opportunity to do this. Casey would be willing imo. Do it.

Cloke is gone. Whether he's coming to Melbourne or not remains to be seen, but he might just.

I feel like punching a wall when I think of that 2010 game against the Swans. When we drew in round 1 last season, I knew something was off with the team. You could tell from that first game! It's been downhill since imo.

It's funny how bad this team truly is. One of two things has happened: 1. Bailey picked good players, but the club just can't develop them 2. Bailey just picked a [censored] team that is even shitter in a tough system There's no Neeld option, because you're not allowed to criticise the coach.

I always thought it was them have a crack at a team's kicking.

I'll drink to that But it's pretty bad right now

Is 2012 one of the club's worst years ever? I don't personally know the answer to that question. At first I would think, "Hell yes!", mainly out of frustration, but I would probably like to see it compared to other bad years, with all issues factoring in (including things like the passing of a prominent club figure and the implications that death might have on the club). I thought this would be an interesting discussion, one that can hopefully remain open but at the same time diverse in constructive debate! But seriously, this is the worst year I have ever witnessed, although I admittedly only started supporting in 1990, probably passionately in 1994. Compared to the best, this is smack bag down there in the muddy dirty unknown at the bottom of the barrel in years I've supported.

Amazing, isn't it? Wasn't a massive fan of Bailey, but boy, some of our young players produced some fine displays of brilliance under him, even in his first year. Neeld has turn promising stars and powerful leaders into..well...a whole bunch of Nothings.

Well said. That sort of gameplan was officially broken after that Hawthorn game at the start of last year. The team hasn't recovered since that match. It's the same problems.

Accountability. Player and coach apologists, don't even set foot in here.