Little Goffy

Too late! We'll have to settle for all the other unsubstantiated rubbish around here. It's not like we'll starve!

I really don't think he stuffed up his chances. Of course, I'm accepting the official version, so call me naive but it didn't seem to be that big a deal. As soon as he is awarded the capataincy it would be washed away - a vote of confidence in him - unless he gets himself into more problems in the future.

Might be something in that - having an award for the player who fell short of expectations the most - particularly compared to their share of the salary cap. Nominees to come to mind lately include Pickett, Woey, Johnstone and (please don't let this turn into another thread about) Yze.

That's very gracious of you. Now we can once again be united by our common bond - Hating Matthew Lloyd. The dirty cheat.

Exactly. That he got some publicity in the off-season despite his '07 performance has riled some people, and was always going to mean he copped a spray given his poor recent record. Yze will cop it fair at the end of '08, based on the contribution he makes. If he steps up. GOOD. If he doesn't, GOODBYE. What we're all arguing about here is just how much his well-known weaknesses give us the ^#$%.

The single concern with Miller is whether he can bring himself back up to be a regular shot at the best 22. There is competition for his spot. Across HF we have Bate, Newton, Dunn, and now Morton who could all fill his usual role. At FF we obviously would only need him as a replacement for an injured Neitz. As a tall defender he would be competing with Holland most directly, but also Frawley and Carroll. Put simply, we are in a situation where it's no great problem if he misses a couple of games - there are kids who can get a game and do ok. But if he doesn't step up then it gets even simpler; there are kids who are probably ahead of him on the pecking order already. So bring on Miller the Hammer. A side note, I'm of the opinion that Miller has been at his best when close to goal, which has only been a few games so far but he has stood up ok. I don't think he's been an effective backman consistently enough to warrant the shift, and I don't think he's creative enough to hold down CHF. I like the prospect of Miller being an ultra-fit run-defenders-ragged tall forward who makes defenders feel it when they try to be too cute getting it back out.

I shouldn't have named anyone, because the flare-off after a garbage game is a habit of all, and it's particularly wrong to suggest any one person indulges more than others. With apologies, I'll delete the post. For the record, the appropriately deleted post I made earleir today truly was both unsubstantiated and rubbish. Anyway, while occassionally brutal, I actually don't think I've heard you write a player off outright - just make some harsh calls about sub-par performances.

Wouldn't talking down a player actually increase their chances of being drafted by Richmond? They still have two months to go before they get CAC.

Mark Williams & Kelly O'Donell seem like a handy base, as development coaches, for contributing to the recruiting process. I don't think either should be made the List Manager, though, and I don't know the details of who was in our recruiting team under CAC. It'll be an interesting search, lets see who responds to the ad in the paper! Meanwhile, on the subject of poaching, I can't help myself - I have to put in another plug for getting Viney back from the Hawks and into our midfield coaching position.

I still think Mclean has greater capacity to break games open. I also think he has an intensity on the field which can shift the mental state of other players, friend and foe. A fierce presence which could be priceless in a grand final, or in a tight game any time. For me the defining feature of Jones is relentless effort. Not every game has been great, not every clearance has been effective, but he is always in there - you can see so clearly that he never thinks 'that can be someone elses job'. I'd speculate that he will become a magnificently consistent performer hovering among the 'bests' list in almost every game. Looking into the rose-coloured crystal ball, I see a Norm Smith Medal for Mclean, and five podium finishes in the Brownlow for Jones (Scott West style - though the shiny head might get him the extra 5%). If I had to pick one to have the flu for a single must-win game, Jones would go out. But I'd be miserable about it.

It's practiacally a Melbourne tradition, having one long-serving Captain followed by a two-year stint, followed by another long serving captain. Been that way for thirty years! Alves 5 years Ditterich 2 years Flower 7 years Healy 2 years Lyon 7 years Viney 2 years Neitz ongoing ... ... ... ... ... Green/Bruce? 2 years Mclean 11 years

Excuse me? I'm pretty comfortable thinking 'outside the square'. It's 'inside the toilet' that I don't want to go. And "settle down newbie"? Next time you post, do a quick proof read and remove anything that is totally pointless %^%-measuring, ok?

Seems like an unneccesarily negative and pessimistic original post there. And I'm completely unconvinced that something as insubstantial as a name change, particularly when the new name has no particular significance to, well, anyone, is going to change things around. It's the hard work day in day out, the thousands of small decisions which grow the club. That has to be where all the emphasis is and any grand solutions will only waste time and money, and create confusion.

QUOTE(Chelly @ Nov 25 2007, 07:06 AM) We're not over with Phantom Drafts yet. Here's mine for the PSD (based on teams passing and the fact that WCE will delist Cousins by November 30): 1. Richmond - David Gourdis 2. Carlton - Ryley Dunn 3. Melbourne - Tom Bellchambers 4. Bulldogs - Scott Welsh 5. Essendon - Andrew Renton 6. Fremantle - Clayton Collard 7. West Coast - Patrick McGinnity Looks perfect. I'd be very happy to pick up Bellchambers, the two above are credible, the remainder seem to fit club needs too. And even if Sampi looks ok (he's not going to reach 'impressive' in two weeks from his current performance) I'd rather select for a particular need at this stage, and get the young ruckman. Ballsy. Tipping the top five players AND the bottom four of the ladder in one go, a year out. I don't know about the players, but the ladder bottom actually looks good, except for West Coast, they still have 'Subiaco Oval' playing for them so would really have to bum out to hit bottom four.

Yeah, and taking Petterd at 12 would have been a disaster. Come on, the kid is gold!

Frankly, I don't think he had the impact that a player given that much on-field protection (players shepherding, feeding it to him etc..) should have. Believe it or not, according to the AFL 2007 prospectus he was also the worst player in the comp when it comes to turning the ball over from a kick-in. Yet was still routinely handed the kick-ins despite others having a much better record over extended periods. Similarly, despite his much-vaunted kicking skills, he actually recorded a below-average kicking efficiency (delivery to teammates) His risky decisions we're sometimes exciting, but just as often disasterous - he would produce turnovers in the corridor, the sort of thing which just kills morale and maddens defenders. The gains from when his decisions came off were never as great as the problems caused by his, in effect, clangers. This is symbolic of his role on field - doesn't necessarily deliver the best results over 100 instances, but does still hold the place as the 'go-to' guy as soon as the ball is won. I don't think his arrogant attitude and infantile behaviour exactly encouraged a professional attitude around the club, either. Particularly when you're supposed to be a star. Throw in the salary cap relief, the extra place on the list, and the extra space in the best 22, and I really think we came out ahead even before we picked up the number 14 draft pick, who will, of course, be an absolute gun

It makes no sense at all, but for some reason it feels right to nickname Maric 'Squid'. Beats me why. One of those moment like when Brown started calling Brock Mclean 'Chooka'.

It's a shame you can't say that around here without having monkeys throw their $%^$ at you. To restate my point in the simplest way possible - 1. Yze was an effective player for many years. 2. Yze has had a downturn in form characterised by frayed nerves on field, and a lack of intensity. 3. Yze would once again be a valuable contributor if he could control that key problem. 4. If he doesn't deal with it, he'll be delisted at the end of the year without much second thought. Now, Hannabal, feel free to tell me what the frickin problem is there, and why it means you get to say that 99% of the people here think soft players win premierships.

I just looked back on our pre-CAC draft record. ... ... I will never look again. But I won't forget what I saw, either. Craig Cameron

Well duh. Guess that's something to do with why I highlighted it as the key problem with Yze. Which, if controlled, could transform his game. Obviously I don't think it's a big deal, hey? Who the hell are these 'most people' you're trying to patronise, anyway?

Heh heh. Three years ago Carlton supporters were talking about how they had this great spine and it would set them up for years. Even then they had Whitnall as a full-time CHF and CHB. And their midfield was a wreck with zero depth. Now they'll tell you they have the greatest midfield ever assembled... it's just a shame they have zero depth in their key positions. They haven't even come full circle - they've just stood on one spot and faced the other way.

I really think we need to get over the Yze bashing. First up, the last time he was headed for a contract negotiation was exactly when his form fell away seriously, and he's been struggling to bring it back up since then. So these 'he plays when it's contract time' accusations are outright rubbish. Secondly, he's been a consistently good player for most of the last ten years, and an occassional matchwinner as well. (eg. his 250th, despite his form being in decline at the time) Finally, the key problem with his game has been a habit of getting 'spooked' and 'hearing footsteps', as people have pointed out many times. Everything else (particularly his clangers) has flowed from that and if he controls it then he could be back in good form in a real hurry - so the time spent not playing really could do him a lot of good. If he does step back up, then we're looking at a second 300 gamer and one we can be truly proud of. If he doesn't, then this will be his last year and after 250+ games can we just accept that players don't usually run at top performance right to the last day of their career. But seriously, there is absolutely no need or point slagging him off now. This year's performance will decide it all, it's clear he's not going to be handed any further favouritism from the coach, and for those who choose to pass judgement in early december, please stay well away from the coaching panel!

There was, and there were quite explicit comments that he had decided to stay with us despite financially more appealing offers from other clubs. It's part of why there's so much love for him, I think. I'll cling to hope as long as I can, because these last few years of CAC has seen the best draft performances, pick for pick, of any club if you ak me. But this article is pretty overwhelmingly clear that Cameron is going to Richmond. I haven't seen such a confident article written since it was confirmed Judd was coming to Melbourne. I'm more than happy to take a grain of salt with this rumour.

Lets see if this explodes in controversy - I think trading Johnstone was a double win for us. Not having him is good. Having Pick 14 is good. Also, I really expect the medical staff and coaches to do what is right by the players, and over the long run the club, and ensure that injuries are given the best reasonable time to be corrected. If Neitz has his career shortened by a year because, unfit, he played three too many games in 07 and aggravated his leg problems, who does that help? It's hard to stand up to the pressure to get them onto the park, but I think medical staff who can firmly draw the line should be applauded for doing such a thankless task - So long as they actually do it.

Holland has done a job. He was recruited to fill a positional need as a big fullback gorilla keeper, and extra tall in the forward line. He's done so with full commitment and has produced a satisfactory perfomance. Bulldogs with their height crisis would have accepted him, for the same reasons. Hawthorn (Mark Williams at one end, Zac Dawson at the other) might have found him useful, too. So there's two possible lists he could be on, and I've spent as much time thinking about it as I have typing it. He is now 5 years older than when we got him, of course his options would be very limited if we delisted him. But remember that when we picked him up we really were just a little excited about him being able to fill a role. I think it was a fair decision to grab him at the time, and a fair decision to keep him on the list for 08. If Carroll hadn't turned it right up when Nicho faded out into retirement, Holland would have been our only fullback for two years now - Far from ideal but we would be glad we had him!