The Chazz

I spoke to Watts after the Gold Coast game, and he said to me that he is absolutely stuffed, and that is why his form has dropped off over the last month of this season. I didn't see any of the game yesterday, but this is probably a major factor for his performance. This is not giving him an "out", or any of the other young players for that matter, but the workload these kids have to deal with, especially for such young bodies, has to have an effect. It's happened to the Gold Coast kids for the past 8 weeks, and will happen to GWS, and any other team with a lot of kids playing. We're just in a position where our top line players aren't able to stand up when the kids drop off.

Love it WWS - "leave him at Full Forward all day" and you start him on the bench!!!

If he is going, Viney should've played him. With Brogan retiring, and a few other Port blokes under pressure, I'm sure we could've set up a lovely little hospital handpass to you Tom! Today is the first day through this saga where I am starting to question him, but Robbie57, your post has brought me back to hoping he will stay!

And it's this sentence that will provide more 25+ page threads over the preseason! All the "experts" that "know" he's going will say that he signed up last year. For us that are "keeping our head in the sand", we will never know the truth (even at the great attepmts of most on here trying to shove it down our throats).

So WJ, if it was poor form that was the reason he didn't get picked, which let's face it, is a high possibility, what would you want the Club to say?

Why do they need to explain their selections, or in this case, non-selection? There are 2 scenarios, either; * He is being rested (I don't know why he would be with 1 game to go, after a poor year and letting his team down in his last game) because of his knee issues for the last half of this season. Or... * Because of his poor form leading up to his suspension and the FD determined that he didn't deserve a call up. I strongly believe that it is scenario 2, and because of that, am glad the Club haven't come out and said anything. As I said in my initial post, imagine the media frenzy if we came out and said that about our vice captain. I'm still trying to find Geelong's response for not selecting Mooney this week...

How would we go throwing Lake a lifeline and playing him as Full Forward? Just putting it out there for discussion...!!! Can't really see him leaving the Dogs however. I would love to know the Club's thoughts on Fev. Surely picking him up as a rookie would be an absolute steal (and realistic), it's just the fear of "what if". I honestly don't think the negatives outweigh the positives as much as some think. We picked up Robbie Campbell to help with the development of our rucks. While Robbie didn't come with a long list of priors, he has still been quite a handy rookie pick-up hasn't he? FWIW, I hoped the Club seriosuly looked at Cousins (before he went to Richmond) and the Ball (before he went to Collingwood). If only we had a crystal ball to look at the next 2 years with Fev!

C'mon Pink, you're disappointed with the Club for not giving reasons why they didn't pick a player? Perhaps the Club didn't want to come out and say "that due to poor form and because of his carelessness during the Richmond game, we deiceded that Aaron will not be picked this week as we beleive players who do the right thing should be rewarded". Oh how the media would love Viney and Co to come out and say that. And why should they come out and say that he is being rested? He's just had a week off, he doesn't need a rest. If we were playing the following week, perhaps the Club would then say we are resting him.

Hey Dee-luded, just out of curiosity, how many games do you need to play for Casey to be eligible to play finals? And further to that, how many has Fitzpatrick played this year for them? I know he missed a big chunk through injury, just want to know if he has actually qualified. Cheers.

Old Dee, I've been around for 30+ years and haven't seen a flag. If you've seen one, good for you, you're a long way ahead of most on here. I was getting impatient at times, because the only thing I wanted to do was share premiership glory with my father (who is the reason I support this side). Unfortunately that opportunity isn't possible now, so I've got all the patience in the world - providing I see at least one in my time. There is one certainty above it all - while there is a Melbourne Demons Football Club, I will never, ever change.

Green is our captain, and unless there is a milestone game, the captain should lead his team on to the field. Sorry, I think it's a stupid idea and would be disappointed if it happened.

In: Fitzpatrick Out: Jurrah Dee-luded, I can appreciate some of your points re. players growing together, having to start this process somewhere, and that they will be playing finals, but how can we not pick Fitzy? Was almost called up last week, then comes out this week and kicks 4. I'm quite sure if you asked the kid himself, he would want to play at the highest level possible, not the 2nd best. And, as Casey gets the 2nd chance, he should expect to play "a" final for Casey (hopefully they win this week and have the week off!). If we were talking about picking someone like Warnock or even Bate, I think then you have a very good case to argue, but not a young player sorry.

Frawley will be remembered as one of the all time great defenders. He will only get better, especially as he matures (mentally). I have seen nothing of Gysberts to suggest to me that he will be the next big thing. There, I've put mine on the line! Zac Smith should win the Rising Start this year. I made the call half way through their first game against Carlton tha the will be a superstar of the comp - wont be out of place being mentioned in the same breath as Sandilands.

I believe it will Gareth, by the sounds of it you do too, but unfortunately, most supporters don't have the patience. Cue ranting about waiting 47 years, blah blah!!!

And that would mean he would have to nominate for the ND, and we have to hope that he makes it down to us. ***shivers*** very Luke Ball-like.

I think the OP means in ability - not height!

And that's the million dollar question. I have no doubts that someone will come up with a game plan to defeat the zone/forward press, I mean, if it (the zone) is the be all and end all, why hasn't it been played since day dot? I have absolutely no doubt the Bailey had the confidence in his ability to be the man that developed the next "thing", but sadly for him, he fell on his sword. I find it amazing that there are 2 different theories with people's opinions about the huddle. I was always taught to use the huddle when my team were kicking out (which in todays terms would mean we were trying to beat the zone/forward press). It gave you numbers at the ball, and you had to have confidence in your crumbers to make sure they cleared it out of defence. But then, I can see why people think it is done by the opposite team.

So, RPFC, as you and I are in the minority that actually believe Scully's word, and are accused of having our head in the sand, do we really think the footy club would go through a season keeping their head in the sand too? I'm of the understanding that the Club believe that Scully will sign. We could be in a lot of trouble if our Admin & FD bury their heads over issues like this...

In all seriousness though, and I'm calling for the Casey observers, where does Butcher rate compared to the progress of Cook and Fitzpatrick? Obviously the latter 2 haven't done it on the big stage like Butcher seems to be doing, but in terms of pack marking, size (both height and potential bulk). I saw Fitzpatrick on the weekend, he had a jacket on and pants, but his height blew me away - I didn't realise how tall he is. If he can fill out, can he be our "Butcher"?

All Vic clubs are wasting their time. His manager has come out and said he wont sign until the end of the season - this automatically means he is signing with GWS.

More than comfortable to put my hand up and say I'm amazed that Viney acknowledged Royal's part in this "set play". I scratch my head wondering why he has only introduced this concept now, and not for the entire season. Was it because Bailey wouldn't allow it? Does it mean he didn't have the greatest confidence in his assistant? Or does it mean that Royal kept his mouth shut knowing that the chances of Bailey getting sacked during the season were high so he held back this plan? I still question Royal's ability as a backline coach, due to the fact that Wellman had them playing a great style of footy last year, and Bailey was still coach back then (meaning that he perhaps does/did listen to his assistants when he has confidence in them). If we can get one of the big 3 (Malthouse, Roos or Lyon), I'll be very surprised if Royal is there next year, unless they give him one season under a new, "respected" coach to prove differently.

Interesting to hear that HT, thanks for the info. My only question is how would Josh Mahoney know? With a new coach coming in, Mahoney's future isn't 100% assured. It will be an interesting place to be for the next couple of months, that's for sure.

Voted the bottom option. I think we have big-bodied KPFs on our list. I still call for Martin to play as our FF, and this can be justified by the improvement to his game in the ruck this year when he was forced to play the one position. Watts will be a big unit next year - let's not forget his form for about 2 months mid-season where players just kicked it in his direction because they had confidence in his ability. Words directly from the JWs mouth after the game Sunday was that for the past week or two he has been totally cooked - a long year, but a great development year. Only KPF I would look at is Fev as a rookie, but that's a controversial call. A tough, quality, inside mid will come at a heavy price, and I just don't know who we have on our list that I would want to get rid of that would be worth the value we need to offer. Maybe Morton and our first-rounder to get someone quite handy, but I'm not sure if it will get us what we are asking for. Small quick-crumbing forward is an interesting one. IF, and it's a bloody big IF, Aussie can keep it together, he is easily the man for the job. You just have to look at the games he's played to realise it, but for many circumstances, we just haven't seen the best of him consistently. I know he is big in body shape, perhaps Tapscott can fill this role? I'm looking at Blair and Fasalo as comparisons. Laser-booted quick running defenders, well, I think this is probably one area that we are fine with. Blease can do it, Strauss was showing he can do it, Nicholson can do it, Bennell can do it. I'm happy to keep waiting for these players to develop - will probably be another 2 years until I would look at the trade table with any great interest, and by that stage Free Agency will come in to play and hopefully we will have players tha tfill the right spots wanting to play for us for a change!

While it is disappointing tha the is one we can cross off the list, I also see it as a positive. IF we made that big play, it is good to know that for once, our footy club pushed another club in to a corner and made them react. It has been said all year that they wont re-sign Clarkson until the end of the season, but all of a sudden, we come in with a top offer and the Hawks crapped themselves and up-ed their offer and as I would expect with that list, he signed. If we keep that type of attack up, we will land one of the good ones. As soon as a club stuffs their coach around, it will potentially put some doubt in their mind and they will start looking more seriously at our offer. Good to be on this end of it for a change.

It was against the comment about Scully and you know it. I know I wouldn't be bumping in to you in the membership lines.