Little Goffy

I remember we went with a very young team full of speedy rookies a while ago, to play the Doggies in Darwin. Worked a treat, gave some seniors a rest and got us a win. I think there are enough credible players on our list, plus the eight or nine new players (counting rookies) who will be coming in, to put a serious team in for Preseason Round 1 without damaging season-long fitness. Top of the list of Pre-season inclusions would be Miller, Newton, CJ, Frawley, Holland, Buckley, Bode, Garland, Dunn, Yze, Sylvia and all three of Jamar, Meeson and PJ. All of these players are in a position where they need to demonstrate their performance, and you wouldn't automatically book them in for all 22 home-away games at the moment. We'd probably also want to get some game time into Rivers, Whelan, Bartram, Petterd and fingers crossed Moloney. And We'll be wanting to try out the new guys, so theres a few more. F: PJ Newton Yze HF: Dunn Miller Bode M: Buckley CJ Petterd HB: Whelan Rivers Bartram B: Frawley Holland Garland On: Jamar Moloney Sylvia Int: pick 4, 14, Warnock, Meeson Basically, we're looking at a reserves side plus returns from injury. Interesting that it is very tall. All of Neitz, Robertson, White, Bruce, Green, Carroll, Davey, Bell, Bate, Jones, Mclean, McDonald and Wheatley have missed out. Obviously, based on warm-up matches, training performance and so on you drop a bunch of players from that line up and bring in a few more experienced/obvious performers, with Bruce being a recommendation (needs confidence) and probably Wheatley to replace on of the less mobile talls. It'd be an interesting experiment to see how our rucks go without White, too.

Melbourne has announced a systematic leadership strucutre review, hiring the same firm which reviewed Geelong's on-field leadership structure last year (with some success, I s'pose we can say). I for one thing it's well due, and I don't think I'm alone in holding just a little bit of anger that Neitz has had to carry so much of the leadership burden almost single-handedly, taking the field when he should have been given more time to recover. It particularly bugged me when I was having a look over his player stats today. Putting aside for a moment the two injury blasted years of 05 & 07, he has been an incredibly consistent performer - Year Goals Disposals Brownlow Votes 02 82 228 11 03 65 185 8 04 69 187 10 06 68 204 10 05 and 07 were both characterised by Neitz taking the field despite having injuries (including multiple injurues each of which would have sidelined a mere mortal) in order to provide a leadership presence . With a better leadership team in place, Neitz will be able to take the time necessary to recover from injuries and will be a 50+ goalkicker for some years to come. Anyone at Demonland have ideas on the best plan to deal with the leadership problem?

It's very true that the preseason cup has been soiled a little by Carltons two wins, particularly the second. Still, a little bit of it's credibility has been restored by Geelong's clean sweep this year. I think the Demons have a responsiblity to win the Nab cup and then finish top four, just to help it's reputation. More seriously, a win over the reigning premiers, at their home ground, would be a very positive way to come out for our first competitive hit. It's also a possibility when you consider that Geelong will be exhausted from all their partying and we'll all be fresh as daisies given our exceptionally short injury list. Short injury list? When the hell did that happen? I'm also keen for a first up win because we'd be playing up here in merry Canberra in round two. I get emotional about Demon pre-season games up here because it was the first time Aaron Davey ran out in Melbourne colours; and at such a small stadium where you can practially touch the players from the stands, the evidence was pretty clear that the hype had reality behind it. I'd love to see another first game like that.

Wow, three coaches in one. I'm impressed. Thanks for clearing that up. I like his resume, he might cringe at 'Player Welfare and Development at West Coast' but it would seem to be before the present 'era'. Still a valuable aspect for a Sandy coach.

Careful, we may yet see Woey on the fitness team THAT would be a an interesting turn-up. I believe he's got a coaching appointment in the WAFL for a year or two, but it could be fun having him around. I wouldn't know personally, but his reputation is that he was first-class in his commitment and professionalism to training. Now, just clearing something up, is it Anthony Lovell or Andy Lovell? I've found an Anthony Lovell who played just over 100 games for us from 88 to 95, then moved to WC for three years. Jumper number 16 at Melbourne. Is that the guy? (interesting side note, statistically his two best games out of about 40 for WC were both against Melbourne)

A compelling argument. There's no-one in the draft with the surname 'underpants', so Captain Dangerfield will have to do.

Don't go thinking I'm declaring PJ a superhero - I did say he was being groomed to replace Ben Holland, who plays in about 50% of our games. You're also right about people not wanting to let go of Miller. He's not starting 22 right now in my book, and younger players are passing him by. But I do believe most of his problem is mental, a confidence issue and an issue of being unsure exactly what he's supposed to be doing out there. That can turn around with a new coach. He's a possible turn up, or a 2008 delisting. I agree that Sylvia, Bartram and Mclean are all likely to have much improved years in 08, for various reasons. I chose Green because I think he's the one most likely to be greatly affected by the new coach. The coaching change could really help Green shake off the disappointing aspects of his game, the way he so often seems to have less impact than he could have. Similar deal with Bruce, Robertson, and even White. Great players but somehow they just aren't consistently taking control of games the way their ability should allow them.

Why does some part of me suspect there's a reason to hate Eddie Acquire here? I'd lay a small bet that he 'strenuously objected' to the creation of this 'welfare' fund for 'financially underperforming' clubs. Branding the dispersment so negatively was probably a lollipop to make Eddie sit down for a few minutes while they got it done. Based on what I've read, the special assistance payment is in effect a payment to smaller clubs so that the AFL (and the big clubs) can extract maximum possible revenue from the draw. One friday night game. More than a dozen sunday afternoons. It's like selling home games interstate, except it affects our financial ladder position instead of our footy results. But I suppose the AFL couldn't really call it the 'commerce is more important than football' fund, now, could they?

Yep, Bailey has been explicit in saying that Miller is a required player and that he expects a big turnaround from him. Has been spruiking him quite a bit. It's been so full-on it's brought some incredulous laughs around here, where Miller isn't exactly everyone's hero. Apparently, "2008 is Miller Time"! I think Chris Johnson will make a big move up the order in 08. He's already a lot stronger now than he was just half a year ago. Possibly to become a Bruce-style utility with a bit of extra strength and a bit less fitness. Dunn looks a likely step up big time, any minute now. A number of other players I think will continue their improvement on a 'normal' schedule, ie Frawley, Bartram, Buckley, Garland, Newton. Sylvia is doing a full preseason - that'll help his cause. I'll be very interested to see what happens to Paul Johnson - I reckon he'll be groomed as the next Ben Holland! But if I have to name one player who I think will really turn on something we weren't expecting and become a genuine A-Class footballer - Brad Green.

You're right, should've been veteran and depth players, or something. But the sentiment is right - young players competing for newly opened opportunities. Mention of Johnstone has me thinking the round 14 game against Brisbane at the 'G. I'm reckoning Bartram is the obvious match-up for TJ, similar build that's for sure. I'm slightly bitter about TJ letting us down for so many years, but not in a nasty kind of way. I'd love to see him tackled fairly but effectively again and again and again until he cries. That's all. So Maybe Junior on to him.

Hmm.... I'll say 350, no... people will check early in the day to try and get immediate reactions/info, and then come back later (once they've voted) for a more through look. 555.

I'm dreaming that all the right players will slide - There are plenty of theories suggesting Cotchin could drop to 4, slim as the chance is. Many have predicted Rance as a slider... I've seen Pears touted around the early second round a number of times... It might seem a bit much to go with two KP Defenders, but lets face it we're still looking for a True CHB and a true FB. Holland will chugg along but isn't going to be no1 FB on a regular basis, I think Carroll would love to be released to be a rebounding tall (and lets not forget that Carroll isn't actually all that young, 27 now?), and Rivers we all know plays best given as independent a role as possible, rather than directly holding an opponent. Rance seems to be destined for fullback, Rivers, Pears and Frawley are all quite flexible, and all four are noted for reading the play and playing smart football. They could become a stunning set of tall, mobile defenders, with the prospect of being the best Melbourne has ever had.

It's a common theme for Australian tourists in Thailand - Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer STUPID. But 'left arm, right arm' is just gold.

I'm just going over the '08 fixture thinking about which games I'm best off making the effort to travel to get to. Queen's Birthday has been fun for the last few years, mark that in. But which games have the highest interest for people around here? I'll start by adding - Carlton in Round five. We should be a bit more settled under the new coach by then, some of the under-50 gamers will have a grip on their increased role in the absence of the veteran depth players Ward/Brown/Johnstone/Pickett/Bizzell. I'd love this to be the breakout game for a new Melbourne. Not our first win, of course, but the first game we really, really show there's something powerful coming through. I don't quite hate Carlton, it's more like disgust.

Bizarre side story of the draft - there's a real chance West Coast will end up with as many as four Victorian players, based on the various phantom drafts I've seen, but at the same time there's a whole host of quality players who'll be coming out of the west to play in Victoria. Quirky.

Hang on a minute... I need to get something straight - Liberatore was aiming for the Senior Coach position, not assistant?

I'm sure we would have add the occassional Irish flag appear in the crowd once upon a time. I think kept flags away from the cheersquad but in stadium can't be an issue.

That sounds very, very good all up. Obviously it's still a big question mark on Sampi but if he looks like the real thing, hoo haa it's fun times at Melbourne FC Junior Squad! Ahhh... there's that sneaking feeling that things could go very right for Melbourne pretty soon. MEMBERSHIPS, GEEEEEEETTTAAA YA MEMBERSHIPS! Buy now before you look like a bandwagoner, make sure you get in before the premierships. MEMBERSHIPS!

Geebus, Franklin one-on-one is a big ask. If we're going to beat Franklin/the Dorks it'll be because our cumulative defensive effort gave Rivers the latitude to read the play and cut off Hawthorn kicks going into 50m. That said, I think Frawley could be part of that defensive effort - certainly enough to help close out options and prevent the Hawthorn midfield kicking to clear leads. But it'll be Rivers or someone in Rivers' usual role who will win the defensive battle for us. It's the old Infantry/Cavalry routine - Infantry (Frawley, in this case) does most of the fighting, but their main job is to force the opposition into positions where the Cavalry (Rivers) can hit them hard where they aren't prepared, and decisively turn the battle. Those Macedonians were on to something!

And if the next award is for 'pointless sniping with little or no basis' you'll be up on stage next.

Jaded, sometimes you say it all so well. You'd expect to get more games in the first year from seven new draft picks than we got last season from the seven players delisted. Only Johnstone was a straight-up best 22 in 2007. And looking at it position by position no real gaps have been created, even with losing Johnstone. It makes it two years in a row where our delistings/retirements have not really been an issue for team quality (2006 - Read, Nicholson, Smith, Motlop). I take that as meaning that there are 11 young players on the list now, each one of which is either a break-even with the delisted player (playing minimal games) or a step up. It's been an odd calm before the storm in a way - the really damaging retirements are coming in the next few years (Neitz, McDonald, White).

The AFL 'leadership' has, once again, being completely clueless in it's handling of the issue in general, the specific events which have gained attention, and the interests and welfare of everyone involved. They have not had a clear idea from the start - at each step they have had to decide their responses on the run because the AFL itself lacks substantial knowledge and keeps responding only to the latest stimulus. The worst possible executive style, and it reaches into every aspect of the code. How is it that these people have so much job security that they can repeatedly underperform and not face any performance reviews, or simply be sacked? If I was that bad at a job, I'd quit from the shame of it.

As far as I can see, with the number of mature-age retirements and delistings, we'd have trouble not picking a young team next year. I don't think any particular extra emphasis needs to go on kids - just play whoever gives us the best option on the day, plenty of young players will get their chance whatever happens. I would like to see a lot less of the 'playing injured' pattern - particularly noticable in our forward line, where a restricted Neitz and a restricted Robertson simply couldn't provide enough leads and create enough danger to demand extra defensive attention. I rate Frawley highly, but we'll see how the preseason and the pre-season cup play out; who knows, Garland might turn it up! If I had to make a predicition, I be pretty certain that Frawley would play a majority of next season's games.

Absolutely agree with the topic title. Come off it, a tall defender in his first year, in a losing team which routinely failed to apply midfield defensive pressure, and had a mess of a structure from both injuries and lack of system? There were games where he was being beaten and was simply left to hang. I'm actually a little angry about it, because I also think he's shown enough to be confident he'll step up and be a quality tall defender for us. But seriously. Tall defender, first year out, most difficult possible environment, and beause he only did ok we hang s$ on him? I don't think so. And in keeping with what seems like an odd tradition at the Demons, he's player just under ten games in his debut season, keeping him eligible for next year's rising star award.

I hadn't heard much of Myers except that he was good and a definate first round pick, but you make him sound credible. Like Freak, I worry about Pears' height, we have a lot of 190-193cm players running around. Still, he's a teenager - if your starting point arriving at AFL is to be the exactly same size and weight as Jared Rivers, you'd hope a few seasons of growing and training will add a little. Veszpremi is touted as a first round, but if he's available at 21 then I'd be happy with that. Other than that, I'd be thinking of taking yet another potential KP defender. Perhaps the genuine tall that Freak is looking for. We have an interesting height structure, actually, big jump from Meeson, Holland, Jamar and PJ, then straight down to White at 195 and it's all 192-3 and a whole host of 190cm utilities. I'd be keen to bring in a genuine tall player with good general skills and attitude as a future gorilla-keeper fullback. Maybe pick 21 can be the next step in the 'Alistair Nicholson best pick 22 ever' story. All up, I like your choices. Definately adjusts to the new position of not really looking to use a high draft pick on a ruck. That's obviously not the plan when we have four ruckmen all over 21 already. Speculatives and rookies might see another.