The Chazz

Thanks Old Dee - this is EXACTLY my thoughts; perhaps I didn't explain it as well in my opening post (I'm assuming you're not taking the pi$$?!!). I can't wait for the day that RP "bumps" this thread, hopefully around Round 11 or 12, when JT is a mile in front in our B&F count, and has proved my concerns were totally premature. Mods - it is apparent that a number of posters don't believe this topic is worthy of a new thread, so please use your discretion if you believe the topic should be locked.

Love your work Benny boy, keep it up champ.

Thanks for the replies guys. Most responses are as expected. For the record, go back through the old threads of who we all thought should be captain. Not once did I support Trengove getting the job in 2012. But, as a lot of you seem to think I'm basing this thread on last weekends game only, which I'm buggered if I know how you can do that when it's actually my opinion and not yours, and I clearly stated in post 6 that it's not soley as result of Saturday, but go on manipulating someone elses opinion to suit your arguement. I will support Jack, and I would love to have a personal conversation with anyone who thinks I'm not passionate. While some think I have jumped the gun making the OP, I think Neeld may have jumped the gun with this call. Reality is, I know how quick a lot of you change your tune if a player is out of form. Just look at how many wanted Green to captain last year, and of those, how many wanted him sacked before the 2011 season ended. I'd hate to see the same thing happen to Jack should he not have the year a lot of you suggest. Good luck to JT and JG, I will be supporting you like never before. I hope some concerns I have can be laid to rest.

I was there and Judd wasn't rusty, he just didn't win the game off his own boot like he can. We will see how JT goes. I hope I'm totally off the mark, and hopefully the main mark - Neeld that is, knows what he's doing. BTW, yes, I am commenting on this on the back of his first hit out for the year, but it is a concern that I've had since the announcement, and it will continually be there for 2012. I hope that in 2014+ the decision was a right one, for JT's sake.

Mods - can you please correct spelling of thread title. Cheers

Having seen the games at Metricon live, and the other 2 on TV, I have a terrible feeling that Neeld's first mistake as coach was on display last night. If anyone still thinks it was a great idea to appoint Trengove as a co-captain, I think you may be horribly mistaken. Jack is a kid that has been in the system for 2 seasons. He will have days where he stars, he will have a number of days where he just can't get in to the game. To expect this kid to carry the responsibilty of being the captain of the club is just adding extra weight on his shoulders is unfair, and will not assist in his development in the short term. When he is down, and prepare yourself, this will happen on more than one occasion this season, how will he react? I have no doubt he will put extra pressure on himself as he will be worried about how he is performing as captain, rather than just how he is going as a player. Don't get me wrong, I love Jack, and he oozes class and leadership..but he's not there just yet. Grimes in his first game back this year showed on a number of occasions how he has the poise, the skill and the ability to put himself in to the game, as we would expect our captain to. You just know that he will do that every week. I strongly believe that JT would've benefited a lot more from being named vice captain, as given JG's record, he would've ended up captaining us for some games in 2012. I know this is going against the grain of a majority of posters on here, but in your responses, let's try and make valid points rather than turn it in to a sh!t fight. Thoughts?

At this stage, Petterd and others won't have to worry about Jurrah taking their spot. If, as reported, Jurrah has been intoxicated whilst undergoing a strict rehab program, especially one that is away fro, the Club's watchful eye, I can't see how he will be anywhere near lining up for a senior spot until at least Round 4 onwards. By that stage, we will only be a couple of weeks away from his court case, and I'd be surprised if he would be picked until he shows form at Casey, which may be difficult due to what is around the corner for him. Like EVERY single poster on here, I have no evidence, and I do not claim to know what is best. My personal opinion though isn't great for LJ, and am quite disappointed for a number of reasons. My gut feel is that he will never play for the Melbourne Football Club again, and that will hurt. Someone mentioed above how he might have picked up a machete to protect himself. His offsider had an axe. Quite good luck that there was afight break out and it just so happened that an axe and a machete were just lying around the yard for people to use as protection. More silly was the guy that kept head-butting said weapon/s. I'm all for innocent until proven guilty, but something just doesn't seem right with what we've heard so far.

I rate Hurley. I rate what Hurley has done so far in his career higher than what Jack has done. But as I said McQueen, I'm far from hitting the panic button (Jack is one of my favourites). Elton John was married to a girl at some stage wasn't he? See, stranger things can happen.

Because realistically, it's these games that a young, potential star should shine, or at least, show a number of glimpses. Just look at a lot of the Geelong kids, O'Meara and Swallow, etc. When you are playing against sides that are without a number of key players, it is a great opportunity to get some confidence. Don't get me wrong, while the preseason to date hasn't seen some of Jack's best work, I'm far from pressing the panic button.

LS - I guess if the boys have decided to throw their bodies in to contests even though it's only NAB Cup, it's only fair that supporters should turn up even though it's only NAB Cup. I'm interstate, but made the journey to the Gold Coast and sat through Cylcone Magner for 2 hours. Would love to be there Saturday.

Anyone stop and think that it may be from Neeld where these Malthouse comments are coming from? As much as I love Jacky boy, they are bloody spot on. Just look at the way Hurley imposes himself in a game. But could you imagine the backlash through media outlets if Neeld said the truth about where Jack is at? He said one line about him early in the preseason and tha tline keeps getting dragged up. Malthouse has ensured the football world will focus on how Jack reacts out on the field. This could be an absolute masterstroke from Neeld.

Reality is that it has been any day now since last bloody September. Of course it's any day now. The proper season starts any day now, but we just know the exact date, that's the difference. Any day now Melbourne will win a premiership. I hope that it is announced by the end of the week, or by the end of next week. I hope that it's the big deal we hoped we'd get. I hope it's a Chinese company that will show our continued growth in to the Asian market. I hope all my posts about what the next co-major sponsor will pay is incorrect so that the likes of B59 can sit back and say "I told you so", I sincerely do. Slightly off topic, but something we may need to prepare ourselves for (or hopefully may not). I was watching the footy on the weekend, from memory the Carlton v Bulldogs game - the Bulldogs obviously have Mission Foods as one of their major sponsors. Mission get front and back of jumper rights. Could we see Energy Watch getting the same exposure on the red and blue jumper? I hope not. Just thought it was interesting that the Bulldogs only have the one jumper sponsor.

Very good post Roost. I have to ask, where do you rate Scarlett? Without doubt he is one of the best full backs that I've seen in 30+ years - I can't see why Frawls can't get to the same category (not saying he will be better than Scarlett, but he may be the 2nd or 3rd best full back of recent times).

Collingwood wouldn't want to get rid of Nick and replace him with Jared. You only have to see how they treated Rivers last year to see what an opposition club thinks of him...

Our Top 5 HAS to be; 1. Grimes 2. Trengove 3. Watts 4. Frawley 5. Blease/Tapscott/Gysberts/Viney/Howe/McKenzie We don't need Mitch Clark in there, and the only reason I put Watts in there was due to the fact he is a number 1 draft pick, and we can't not have him striving to be one of our best players. Viney will only be in his 2nd year in 2014, so there is every chance I'm a bit premature with him, but Selwood was bloody near in Geelong's Top 5 after his first season, so it is possible. For Melbourne to be even considered as a premiership contender in 2014, we need the top 4 above to be in the top 25 of the league.

AFL; 1. Ablett 2. Judd 3. Swan 4. Selwood 5. Goodes Melbourne; 1. Frawley 2. Jamar 3. Moloney 4. Sylvia 5. I have left number 5 vacant, as I think there are a lot of players that are fighting for that spot, including Trengove, Jones and Garland. I can't put Clark in our top 5 yet. The 2014 MFC Top 5 could be an interesting list, with players like Howe, Watts, Tapscott, possibly Viney (hoping he may have an impact similar to how Selwood did in his first season or 2 at Geelong), as well as the players mentioned above.

2 things that stood out for me; 1. How good could Trapper have been? We didn't get the best out of him. If there has been a player on our list in the past 20 years with silkier skills than him, I'd like to know who they are. Regardless of your personal opinion of him, his best was every bit of a superstar, just a shame we didn't get to witness it enough. 2. Has any Club had to deal with as much crap as we have had to since the merger days? While I take a strong interest in all clubs, I can't remember any of them having such a roller-coaster ride like we have had to deal with. Maybe the Kangaroos have put up with a fair bit, but we've had proposed mergers, finals every 2nd year, flogged in a grand final, 2 wooden spoons in a row, the Broadbridge tragedy, 186, $cully. I was very emotinal watching the youtube clip (bugger you Muzza!!). I support the Demons because of my late father who passed last year, and sadly, we never got to share the ultimate success with each other. Looking at the ride we've been on, especially since 1987 (I, like many on here, was at the Western Oval, and sadly at VFL Park), you have to sometimes ask yourself "why the bloody hell do I barrack for these guys?" Doesn't take long to realise that you only have red and blue blood running through you, and that question of why fast becomes a question of why not. I had a friend's Mum ask me last year "who is your 2nd favourite team", my answer was simple, "Melbourne". I don't have 2 teams, I am Melbourne and only Melbourne. I can't imagine what it feels like to win a premiership, but I have a feeling that it will be the most satisfying and emotional day ever.

So, are the naysayers still strying to convince yourselves that Stef would be better for us playing down back? On Saturday night, he played the 2nd tall forward option very well, he presented, took contested marks, and kicked 2 goals. To think that when we are playing the "real" stuff, he will be 3rd in line as far as opposition defenders go, he will fast become a valuable member of our forward line. I've said it before, but I just hope that Watts, Clark, Stef and LJ spend the next 18 months or so getting to know each others every move. If they can build that trust, expectation and belief in each other individually and as a forward unit, it will be a beautiful thing. Being a big forward line with plenty of marking options (including Howe, Green, Petterd, etc), we can't afford to have players not playing as a unit. It's why our backline have been so good for the past 4 or 5 years, they are a group and have those qulaities I listed above.

Sorry Biff, didn't get your sense of humor until then. But I still stand by my reply.

RP - I am making this comment based on my observations of what I saw off the ball sitting at Metricon in the mosoon the other night. I'm not discouraging toughness whatsoever, I was one of the first to my feet to let Brown know about Cyclone Magner, I just hope that he is smart with his agression. Knowing for a fact that the umpires targeted Moloney in his early days at Melbourne, I don't want the same to happen to Magner (or Trengove for that matter).

Watching Magner this year will be quite interesting. He has probably sat back and watched guys that he's either played with as a junior, played alongside of that were AFL listed players, or played against AFL listed players and outplayed a number of them. He has probably asked himself a number of times why he isn't on an AFL list. He now has his opportunity, and I don't think he will rest now. On the other hand, he will have to be very careful at how agessive he is. I'm not wanting him to take a backward step, but if he starts giving away silly free kicks, he could be umpired out of the game. A lot more gets noticed off the ball in the big league. This is not criticising him, I just hope it's something we don't have to worry about and that he can get away with playing his natural, tough game.

Thanks AW, and this backs up what I have been saying on a different thread. Watts will benefit more as a forward from having Clark there. Just becuase Clark will be our main go-to man, doesn't mean we should send Watts to a different position. What he will learn from Clark playin g(basically next to him) will be far more beneficial to his development than playing as a loose man in defence or across half back.

Would love to see Martin & Fitzpatrick ruck the game, have a forward line of; HF Howe Watts Sylvia F Cook Jamar Lawrence Then at half time see Sheehan replace Cook. Would like to see Blease and Sylvia rotate through the midfield. With the opening bounce seeing Martin, Blease, Magner and Bate in it. Bate to tag Swan. Back half basically picks itself each week.

Ins; Blease, Cook, Davis, Lawrence, Sheehan Outs; Clark, Grimes, Bartram, Moloney, Rivers and joel Mac (although he is listed in the squad?)

Here is the squad; Melbourne squad 2 Nathan Jones 4 Jack Watts 5 Jordan Gysberts 6 Matthew Bate 7 Jamie Bennell 8 James Frawley 12 Colin Sylvia 14 Lynden Dunn 15 Ricky Petterd 17 Sam Blease 18 Brad Green 20 Colin Garland 21 Lucas Cook 25 Tom McDonald 26 Daniel Nicholson 28 Joel Macdonald 30 James Sellar 34 Stefan Martin 36 Aaron Davey 38 Jeremy Howe 40 Mark Jamar 41 Troy Davis 44 Rohan Bail 45 Kelvin Lawrence 46 Josh Tynan 47 Tom Couch 48 Jack Fitzpatrick 49 James Magner 50 Jai Sheahan