The Chazz

What I find bizarre is the fact taht you seem to think that we are "satisfied" with where Watts is at. We are not satisfied, we just relise, at this current stage, that he is not the KPF that we hoped for (crash and bash type), but becasue we know of this amazing skill he has, we are hoping that he will play well in the seniors in a position that currently suits his build/team structure/experience/etc. We are all agreeing that he was recruited as a Key Forward, and in my opinion, and a lot of others it seems, he is on track to fulfilling that role. Obviously he isn't coming on quick enough for your liking, but that's just your bad luck. At the risk of speaking on behalf of all those against your thoughts, we're not all juiced up over what he did last night. As someone else said, if he can get 25+ possies, kick 2 goals and have 2+ goal assits each game in the big league, it won't matter a stuff where he plays. We've filled "that" hole you hoped Watts could achieve by picking up Clark. Hird had Lloyd as the main target up forward, which allowed Hird to play whatever role he wanted. Let's not forget, in the past 2 seasons, we have had no key forward. Jurrah is NOT a key forward, nor Green, not Petterd. This kid (Jack) has had unrealistic expectations about the role he has the capacity to play. It will change. By the way, I'm loving these personal insults - these sort of things catch up with folk like you. Considering the week that the footy club has had, and the great man that has left us, your continual putting down of posters, and bring their families in to some of your childish posts, just shows that blokes like Jimmy are a rare breed. It is quite obvious that you are a nothing when it obviously gives you great pleasure in putting others down. I'm glad I am well above you, but let's face it, it wouldn't be hard, because when you are nothing, there's plenty above you. Don't agree? Just becasue people see the game differently to you means that "they" either have a child's mentality, or you feel the need to spoon feed. I think that's a pretty good start to my arguement (<----just for you ).

Little Benny, I have no doubt he will be a KPF, I have not stated otherwise. I just ahave a different definition of the type of Key Forward I want Watts to be, and I'm far from disappointed with how he is progressing. You on the other hand...hmmm...maybe, just maybe you need to realise that a key forward doesn't mean a gorilla forward. Maybe read the posts and actually listen to what people are telling you, instad of thinking you know best ok? Chum. I now one thing, there is only one "Billy" out there, just the same as there being only one Watts. And thank Chirst there's only one of you, becasue even that one is barely tolerable. I'm going to squeeze lemons in my eyes as it would be far more enjoyable than reading to your jibba jabba.

Interesting view Benny, you have rambled on and on, and at the end of it, are basically sitting on the fence. Luckily for the Melbourne Football Club, you are not a recruiter. They don't have the luxury of sitting on the fence. They don't have the ability to wait 3 years and then go back in time to make their selections. They have to make their selections looking 5+ years in to the future. We are all experts when we don't have to make a decision on the spot, but sit back and criticise for decisions made 3 or 4 years in the past. I, like everyone else in 2008, would've selected Watts as my number 1 pick. Any club in our situation would've done the same. Number 1 draft picks are to be used on best available, not specualtion and needs. Watts was the best available, regardless of how much going around in circles you did in your last post. Fast forward to this year, and it is obviously and argument if that's a correct opinion. But, it's a decision we have made, and we should support it. Are we supporting Watts by being disappointed that he's not the crash & bash key forward that we wanted? Absolutely not.

Perhaps I'm not the simple one Benny Boy. I'm clearly asking you if you believe Watts was the best player in the draft in 2008, and if a club has the number 1 draft pick, what do you do - take the best available, or draft for needs? As this is a generic question, I direct you to this post/thread and if you would be so kind to inform me of your responses. 100% correct. Little Benny Boy has his criteria (which he leads us to believe is the same as the great Club itself), while others are seeing it how it is. It's an interesting situation for Neeld - if he can play Watts to his strengths, I have no doubt Jack will be a star. If Neeld has a similar criteria as my chum Benny Boy, he could hinder the development of our number 1 pick.

Are you in politics? Maybe just a simple answer like a "yes" or a "no". You know, just becasue I'm a simple kind of guy. And while you're there, why not answering the other questions in that paragraph, chum...

Obviously you and the club share the same view - so, can you please tell me on behalf on the Melbourne Football Club, what type of Key Position Forward you all wanted Jack Watts to become? The question I asked you, which you tried to avoid, was the fact that we had the number 1 draft pick in 2008 - should we have taken Watts? Was Watts the best player in the draft? When you have the number 1 draft pick, do you pick the best or needs? We probably thought we had both boxes ticked with Jack, but as he hasn't lived up to that standalone, crash/bash KPF, the Club did the right thing and went and got such player. I have as higher expectation on Watts becomming a star KPF as you do. It's just that at the moment, your definition of the type of KPF that you want him to be is unrealistic, and it would appear that the Club doesn't think the same as you do, otherwise they wouldn't have got Clark.

That's not the arguement BH. You are disappointed with him because he hasnt become the KPF that "you" want. Nice try, but failed dismally.

Was Garry Lyon a "skinny Ox"? Did he just bash and crash packs? You can be a dominant KPF without Ox's or Neitz's crash abilities.

dees best and fairest? Jones dees best 1st year player? Tynan goals clark will kick? 52 games jurrah will play? 0 dees surprise of the year? Jeremy Howe making Mike Sheehan's Top 50 at the end of the year premiers? Hawthorn first coach to get sacked? None biggest off field controversy? Video goal umpire decision games won by gws? 0

So BH, you have concerns about how we drafted in 2008. As you said, we needed a key forward, and it's an area that I strongly believe you need 2 of in any given team (just look at the list of premiers and how their forward line is structured). So, as Watts isn't currently that "key forward" that you wanted, so you are disappointed with our 1st selection. Considering you claim to know so much about football, and by the sounds of it your drafting expertise is soooo good, what were our options with the number 1 draft pick of 2008? Watts, like $cully in 2009, was quite simply the best player in the draft. When you have a pick as golden as that number 1 pick is, would you have preferred the Club picked on needs rather than best available? That's exactly how your posts are sounding, and I think it's quite funny that you, of all people, are making such idiotic comments. Let's pretened that Watts wasn't in that draft. It would be almost assured that we take Nik Nat with our number 1 pick. Would he be that "key forward" that we so desperately need for premiership success? Regardless of where he plays, or has played to date, Watts was the best player in that draft, and we had to take him. Obviously the Club knows that even if he were to become a KPF, premiership sides need 2 or more of that type, hence going and getting another one (ie Mitch Clark). The other thing about this KPF role - what is the definition of a Key Position Forward? Perhaps what some want from KPF, ie crashing packs, is perhaps not the only definition of such role. I wouldn't say Riewoldt is a big pack-crasher, sure he goes for contested marks, but his ambition is to mark the bloody thing. Clark will jump, and if he can't take the mark, he's happy to clean up anyone in front of him. Maybe the KPF role you want Watts to play isn't what he is able to play, but that's not to say that he isn't a KPF. The Club got a bloke that can play your definition of that KPF (Clark). However, there are definitely areas that Jack can improve on, and if he can do that, he will be a great. He needs to take big contested marks against quality opposition, not just provide a contest. I want him to go in to a marking contest and believe nothing other than he WILL mark that ball, exactly like Riewoldt has done for many years. When you have that attitude or mindset, crashing packs doesn't form part of his role as KPF.

They do at Collingwood - I think they are also known as Adults and Juniors memberships...

Wow, you think that much of Nahas? I think Nahas would be great for a first year player, especially one with a bit of toughness about him. Poor old Robin isn't a fan of the hardball. I do like the sound of the OP, especially the part about Bartram not being solely judged on his possession count. I don't think those roles for Barty are anything new though are they?

Not wanting to deflate your post, but seriously, we kicked 2 goals in 20 minutes, after kicking nothing in the first half, all while in the middle of a category 4. Nothing out of that first weekend in relevant to me except for Magner's meeting with J Brown, and the 7 hours I spent at Jupiters after the footy.

Put this in a different thread, but most relevant here... Not sure where to put this, covers a lot of players in "The Locker Room", but is there any frigging chance we can get to see all these top draft picks that we've been working hard to get actually play in the same game? I'm talking basically; Jones Frawley Grimes Morton Watts Blease Strauss* Trengove Gysberts Tapscott* Cook (* Very early 2nd round picks) We will struggle to win bulk games until all these blokes are on the field together. Relying on Pick 50's+, mature-age rookie selections, etc to take us to finals is not the answer. Further, I will hold my judgement on our drafting in tis timeframe until I see the above players starting in a game.

Definitely Grinter. Any excuse to get on the turps for that bloke! Great man. Hoppy has but on a fair few kgs. Strawbs - not the most attractive footballer offield, but was a very good ruckman in his day. Has he had the ears pinned back?

So Chook, are you saying we have made the wrong decision putting TV in the role that he is currently in? I hope you're wrong, as I'm sure Todd, you, me, Emma Quayle, and Blind Freddy know that watching the form of any potential AFL draftee happens well before draft day. If we're activated our compo picks for this years "super draft", we'd want to get the bloody thing right.

Not sure where to put this, covers a lot of players in "The Locker Room", but is there any frigging chance we can get to see all these top draft picks that we've been working hard to get actually play in the same game? I'm talking basically; Jones Frawley Grimes Morton Watts Blease Strauss* Trengove Gysberts Tapscott* Cook (* Very early 2nd round picks) We will struggle to win bulk games until all these blokes are on the field together. Relying on Pick 50's+, mature-age rookie selections, etc to take us to finals is not the answer.

What my post is indicating is that I'd rather a "fill-in" like TV, than a qualifed journalist like EQ. What's wrong with that bloke from Collingwood that we are trying to poach? Would you prefer Emma over him? Actually, I wouldn't be against me over Emma, if you know what I mean... B)

If the 2 applicants were Emma and Phat Phil on the other hand, I'd be re-advertising.

I don't think the other Club's would do it any worse, or better. There is a time when you need to show ultimate professionalism, and yesterday was our time. We passed. I would imagine all Clubs would pass under the circumstances, and don't think it would be a reason for businesses to be knocking on our door with big wads of cash.

No offence, but she's a journalist. Put it this way, if 2 people applied for the job, one was Emma and the other was Todd Viney, who would you chire?

Ok, so after reading CS' post on here, especially the part about strategic moves regarding sponsorships, and not selling our brand short, etc, etc, I have a new theory that may make a lot of sense. One would imagine that Reach are getting FoJ for nothing at the moment. If we were getting anything, it would basically mean we are under-selling our brand. I can't see Reach putting in the $ to ensure this isn't happening. So, as we are trying to get "the right deal", and given that we are really trying to crack this Asian market, could we see a goodwill-type deal where our home game jumpers are sponsored, or more precisely, supporting Tourism China. If we are supporting the Reach Foundation by "giving" them the FoJ space at the moment as a good gesture, would a gesture like this to Tourism China be seen as a smart strategic move? We would not be seen as underselling our brand, because we would be doing it for free (which is generating the same income as no sponsor at all), we will be promoting China as a Country, not just a company, so could it be used it negotiations with individual companies down the track? Reach would still have FoJ for away games, as I quite like the Reach logo on the white jumpers. Thoughts?

You should never use death as a motivator. This is from Leigh Matthews' mouth at the start of 1992, the first season following from Darren Millane's passing. In regards to the OP, I'm like Dandeeman, I have NFI. The immedaite number that comes to me is 10th (based on 2011, and just starting to lose confidence in a number of our players), but there is absolutely bugger all between 6th and 16th this year. I wonder if it is mathematically possible that we could finish 16th, but 2 games out of the 8?!!!

Not very often you can say you're a better person for having someone in your lives that we hardly knew. Jim - thank you for allowing us, the supporters of the Melbourne Football Club, to come along on a very special journey. From when you first arrived in Australia, the Brownlow Medal, the guts and determination shown through the consecutive games streak, the endless work with trouble youth, saving our great club, and most recently, your courageous fight, you have invited millions in to your life, and unquestionably we are all grateful for. Deepest sympathies to Sam and the family.

Wasn't it a dealer of Volvo that signed up a couple of weeks back? Check on this thread somewhere, maybe 4 or 5 pages ago. either that or check in the news section of the MFC website. Actually, take a look on the sponsors page - Altitude Volvo is one of our sponsors.