The Chazz

Source? If you're going to use that as your arguement, you probably should back it up. My source (an ex-Dee who also had the shoulder tap in recent years) told me that Junior was disappointed initially, but it didn't take him long to realise it was the right decision. The only thing that is an issue is the way it was done. Fair enough, Junior should've been the one that made the decision, but not if he was going to wait until the end of 2011. The decision had to be made at the end of 2010.

Stef Martin (when Jamar comes back). Or maybe Jamar (when Jamar comes back) and leave Martin as our ruckman (can someone provide me with Martin's hit outs to advantage please?).

West Coast do have a good mix, but their senior players are a lot better than ours, and that wouldn't have changed if Junior was playing. While he was a very good leader, his ability was limited. We are looking for a quick fix if we think Junior would've saved us in "those" games this year, but it would've been like trying to fix a broken let with a band-aid.

Who would you have out of the team for Junior to be playing? Keeping Junior would have provided some leadership this year, but I'm doubtful if the results would have been any different, maybe the margin, but only slightly. I don't think the situation was handled well, but the desired result was the correct one (ie Junior not playing this year). He was slowing down, and it was getting harder and harder for his body to handle the demands of todays football. I strongly believe that he would've been a liability this year rather than an asset, and C Bruce was in the same boat.

Don't speak like that on this thread please, we are ackowledging the efforts of Brad Dick. Not sure what you were thinking?

Funny isn;t it - I see nothing of Bartel in the way that JT plays. The player I compare him most to is Luke Hodge. He has the solid build, the controlled agression (although Hodge was a bit uncontrolled at times), and can really have an impact forward, middle, or back. I appreciate Bartel can do that too, but I lean toward Hodge. Either way I'm happy!

I know it'll bring a tear to the eye if he splits the centre at some stage.

Reality is, Dick wont be playing...period.

Is Brown playing?

Do you seriously think that I meant it Dee? I don't give a cr@p what the go is, I'm totally over it. It did give me a chance to reflect on that particluar scene though, obviously you haven't seen that movie?

Cheers - thought you were reading too much in to the OP! Can see where you're coming from now.

Brilliant.

I have to ask, what's the point behind this comment? Just curious, sorry DD.

Calm down Kento, I'm on your side in this arguement, and I too take him on his word. But, I don't think it is down to just 2 reasonable explanations. There could be a number of different thoughts going through his head; * Wants/intends to leave * Wants to produce on field to push his value up * Just wants to wait until the end of the season, as he clearly explained, with no hidden agenda * Is not sure if he wants to stay at Melbourne for off-field reasons, but is giving them this season to get our sh!t sorted behind the scenes There could be otehr reasons that we don't know about. My money is on the 3rd point, but like everyone else in here, that's based on nothing. The other question I'll raise for general discussion, what contract/deal should the MFC offer as a maximum? I think something along the lines of a 2 year deal worth $800k, plus, I'd throw in a draft of his next cotnract after this 2 year deal, showing that if he can get to a certain level over the next 2 seasons, then his next contract will look something like 4 years and $2.5m-$3m.

They never get old though Nasher! Let us have our fun. FWIW, the last time Dick played in the wet, he was the first to come off, but he rushed back on late in the peice to seal the victory. Most times I find him as very unselfish, but do know he has an unjustified aire of confidence about him after he's been drinking all night.

Do you think we'd need him to prove himself this year to raise his value of his next contract? We knew last year that he was going to be a star, any games this year were just going to confirm it. The reason for my post was that people are saying how he is waiting to sign is to see what the CBA brings, but I'm just saying that most player manager's would do what Liam Pickering said. Therefore, ending that side of the arguement. He said last year he was going to wait until the end of this season. But, for the sake of forums, we'll continue to doubt him!

Would love to know what made you think I was implying that Deez, considering I put him in the category of certain extensions.

Always stands up.

Liam Pickering made an interesting comment on League Teams on Fox last night about this whole CBA thing. In terms of holding off contract negotiations, it should not be an issue, as the contract now can have a clear cause in there that if players payments are to increas by X%, then the agreed salary would be increased by that same figure. Pretty straight forward way of taking the CBA part out of the picture. Sorry for all those sceptics, this will send you in to an absolute frenzy...feast away!

If Bartram is 100%, he plays, and Evans will be the likely omission. A 90% Bartram should not be selected, and if this is the case, no change. The clowns that said Jetta should come out for Petterd; I'm convinced you don't watch the game sometimes! He was very, very good last week. Look at it this way, what will Petterd bring to the team that Jetta wouldn't?

I don't like Dick at all. So would prefer he didn't play against us.

Well, there's a couple of certain contract extension based on that list; Green, Gawn, Fitzpatrick, Martin, and most likely Sylvia. Assuming Scully signs, that leaves Maric, Morton, Aussie and possibly Warnock in a tough position. One would assume Morton would be given an extension, so I think the future for Warnock and Maric are looking bleak. That leaves us with 1 other decision to make, which may happen at the trade table. I'm also assuming Aussie will get an extension providing he comes back in good (mental) spirits.

Non Essendon/Collingwood supporters would attend ANZAC Day jsut because the whole day is a memorable event. Start by going to a Dawn Service, have a few frothies with the Diggers over bacon & eggs, then straight to the MCG to be among 80k+. Great atmosphere. What does a Melbourne/Collingwood clash do to generate the interest of outside supporters? Bugger all. Maybe if we were a premiership team playing exciting footy on a regular basis, that might see a few more external supporters come along, but other than that, the Queens Birthday Holiday is just a long weekend for most people, and a good chance to get away with the family before the dreaded Winter run of no public holidays hits (the next public holiday and/or long weekend isn't until November). While we appreciate the fact that Collingwood give us this game as a home game, we are not a Club that attract opposition supporters, and we should be grategul for every person over 60k that we get. This isn't a final, and putting it up next to the ANZAC clash is not doing any justice to the April game.

And if we kept Junior, which player wouldn't we have seen debut? I'm thinking Evans or Nicholson.

I'd punt the backline to defeat the forward line in an intra-club match!