Viney Vidi Vici

I nearly shut my browser out of annoyance at MFC.... I know, intense.

Only if Martin takes a full-time KP. Before Martin had to take 1st Ruck position this year he did play a lot of different positions, but mainly was tried up forward. Which overall, I didn't see as a natural position for him. He seemed much more at home defensively, but obviously with our backline the way it is, thats not really needed at the moment, so not surprisingly he was used forward. But yes, I totally agree with you that you can't make a KPP from a couple of games, so maybe he needs to be in these positions full-time a bit more. I don't know how that would work, but we'll see.

Then I hope he can do that. And I hope a small forward pops up to take it off his feet too....

I think everyone has accepted Spencer isn't close to the best 21 anytime soon. I wasn't specifying that list, including Clark, as ruckmen, but just as big men on the field. A forward line with Clark, Watts, Jurrah and a resting ruckman is pretty ridiculously tall (and yes, I know Jurrah isn't a 'tall' persay, but he does bring the ball to ground). Look at Essendon's attempts to make it work. Thats my concerns regarding this year. my concern for the future is that we will have multiple talls pushing for a place in the side, and I would much rather see Jamar go in the twilight of his career, rather than Gawn leave at the beginning of a great career.

My question is whether Martin is as a capable forward as any of those players. He hasnt exactly set the world on fire down there, even after Baileys persistent effort to make him into a KPF. Geelong only played the last few games with West in the side as well. Really only as their game plan changed to increased long-kicking and contested possession marking. LOTS of reliance on midfielders in that case to win the contested possession regularly. Not sure we have that capability yet....

Billy, How can Melbourne possibly support Fitzpatrick, Gawn, Martin, Jamar and Clark? Ottens did such a great job at Geelong out of necessity. Who else did they have of quality? West wasn't ready, and Blake was not suitable. Mumford could have pushed him for his place, but left. I see Gawn not far behind where Vardy is for Geelong, in that he is very capable, going to be a great player, but needs the opportunities. In a couple of years he will be 23, and a 2m monster with AFL experience under his belt, and ready and raring to go. To escape a Mumford situation as happened with Geelong, there will be some serious juggling going on, and lots of loyalty to be relied on, as there is no practical way to have Jamar and Gawn in the same team. Neither are overly strong forward options.

I think the underlying thought I'm feeling through a lot of threads is that with Clark in the side, is the lineup too tall with Martin in too, even if they are playing different roles. I am excited to see how this eventuates...

Fitzpatrick- will struggle for a game this season I believe, unless there are injuries. unfortunate. Clark- will definately stay forward Martin- his place in the side I see to be linked directly with how the midfielders are playing. if they are strong, we can play him, if they are struggling, Martin may miss out for another runner. Spencer- Won't get a game, probably tradebait next year. Gawn- Hopefully get him a few games, get more used to AFL, as I definately think he will be number 1 ruck in the future. Jamar- no#1 ruck, but possibly see being put up for trade next year if theres any currency in him, if Gawn has an outstanding season. By end of 2013, may be too alte, or he may be retiring, for all we know. Gawn is the ruck future, and unfortunately we may have to move Jamar on a year earlier than we want to keep Gawn with us past 2013. Four years by that stage, and if he still has limited opportunities, he would definately look elsewhere.

I'd go for Ray, Gram or Dempster if they came up. People will say they're average, but their still better than their counterparts in our team at the moment.

It never clicked till now about the fact we will have Viney, 10 and 12 (roughly), if we use our picks next year that is... Thats an amazing positon. Hope we use it effectively. I'm wondering though about PSD this year, whether we'll keep room for it. I'm only really interested to see St Kilda's delistings... otherwise no. For next year though, I'm thinking those fringe players (Bate, Dunn, Bartram, Maric, Spencer, Macdonald) will all probably be on the out. Same as the coaching team, in that those who've done a mediocre job for a while and just kind of held up the ship will be moved on, for fresh faces chosen by the coach himself. Suggesting that Fitzpatrick will go, especially this year is one of the more rubbish comments i've heard, besides comments Cook should have been traded. Demonblood, go read the thread about developing talls.

Adelaide has a ridiculous number of young talls though...

My name's Stefan, and I've never understood how people still spell it Stephan even after seeing it in writing a thousand times...

I appreciate this...

I have a feeling that we are all going to get a bit of a surprise about team structure, especially the forward structure, next season. Im thinking Superneeld might have a couple players in different positions. Its definately a woory how many mid-forwards we have, so a couple are probably in our best 22 but will need to find another position if they are to remain in the side. Also I'm thinking players such as Gysberts, Tapscott and Mckenzie are suddenly going to find other people competing for the same spot, that weren't previously. Really our mid-forwards are ok, but either their full potential hasn't been shown with the lack of a big forward, or their just not quite good enough and have been getting games because theres no other option. All I can say for sure is Clark has added a fantastic new dimension to the team, and Superneeld will be desperately wanting to make or find an A-grade small forward.

i really like him. Have all year. hoping we pick him up, but obviously Superneeld knows best on this one.

Have you ever gone? its actually pretty entertaining. And really, I got no qualms with footy players trying something a bit different and having some fun. Please remember its not in their contract period, they are adults, and consider that they may actually enjoy it.

well that'll be interesting...

no contract yet? My bets is on him holding out for more money/years. I'd put money on him being gone by the end of trade week

Geez, a few people here give some youngsters a hard time. Probably the same youngsters that were touted when they were drafted as 'future stars'. I think we saw Tapscott could do at the start of the season, and if a 20 year old comes into an AFL team and his toughness is seen head and shoulders above everyone else's, thats saying something. Yes, he dropped off, but that was after injury, in a cruddy environment for the whole time in general, and a guy that age, of course its going to be hard to keep that work ethic and commitment up for a whole season. and getting upset about Tapscott being 1-2 cm shorter than Chapman? Seriously, go find a ruler and see what that's actually worth.

anyone else agree that he actually looks amazingly like Neeld?

cheap shot haha

Mark Neeld and Superman once fought each other on a bet. The loser had to start wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants.

I don't think he's been as horrible as everyone says. Yes, he hasn't developed nearly enough as we would like, but with a coach with a penscient for hardness, I've got high hopes. Don't think Dean Bailey gave him the rocket he needed.

I don't mind these... especially your midfield choices. But you gotta think, which ones in that list would push one of our midfielders out of a position? I'd only be confident in Mccarthy and Ellis doing that at this stage.

Maxy Gawn puts a smile on my face. "someone you don't want to do something bad in front of" hahaha