The Chazz

I'm as one-eyed as the rest of us on here, but to blame the umpires for today's game is stupidity. I thought they were fair, and in that 3rd quarter, we got our fair share of gifts. The first half was a disgrace, probably the worst we've played all year? Bruce was woeful, but so was Sylvia, Green, Davey. The problem is the lack of leadership. I'm also not sure about the Dunn bashing - he and Frawley worked Pav over didn't they? When Pav was forward, Chip killed him, then when Pav went in the middle, I thought Dunn tagged him well. I will stand corrected if Dunn wasn't on Pav. 3 guys that cost us the game... 1. Bruce 2. Bate 3. Davey (2 ordinary 50m penalties that hurt us, they REALLY HURT US). Green for next MFC captain. FWIW - I think we really missed Trengove today. Big call for a bloke playing his first season.

Nah Eth, he will most likely get the GOTY (and at this stage deserves it). But sometimes the "experts" forget that one better could be just around the corner but they are too blind to see sometimes. For the first 8 rounds no-one was going to beat Nic Nat, look what happened!

Very harsh site toward Cheney this one. Saw his first game back against the Saints, did very well on Goddard, didn't have a lot of it but was a close-checker against the Dons. Not the flashiest footballer going around, doesn't have the skills as some of the other blokes, but I tell you what, I'd have him on the frontline any day.

I thought they canceled the remaining rounds after the Franklin goal(s). Every commentator in the country creamed over his goal. Bit like Nik Nat having his name engraved on the Rising Star trophy before the season actually started!

I'll be there too (Qld'er here!), and love seeing Tom running around, but we play Richmond the week after and I think he will miss the Lions match to give him a week off, making him firing for the last 4 games. Don't tell you're son though, cos I could be totally wrong!

Probably right, but the boy is in with a bloody big chance of winning this thing. As someone else mentioned, the Rising Star award is starting to lose its shine a bit hey. Buckley (93) Brownlow, Cousins (96) Brownlow, Pickett (98) Norm Smith, Goodes (99) 2 Brownlows, Riewoldt (02) Champion, Mitchell (03) Premiership Captain, then we have had Rivers, Delidio, Pearce, Selwood and Rich. Selwood is the best out the past 5 years, but shows the quality of it's first 10 years compared to the last 5. Hopefully in 5 years time I can say Trengove (2010) Brownlow and Premiership player, Tapscott (2011) Premiership player, Viney (2012) Premiership player! FWIW 1. Trengove 2. Hannebery 3. Scully (stats are equal to if not better than JT)

The Trengove "out" will be a one week injury. Don't be surprised if we see a Scully "general soreness" injury within the next 2 weeks (most likely the Brisbane game).

If I recall, I posted in another thread that there will be a couple of interesting outs this week. Trengove has a "hip" injury, no Jnr (although as advertised on MFC website he would go close), while it isn't enough to solve the case, it is further evidence that I am gathering to prove we have certain games on our fixture that we are throwing everything at to win, and there are games that wont matter as much. We WILL NOT beat Freo this week, we WILL beat Sydney next week. Building a winning culture has nothing to do with it. You ask every player on our list, they know what it feels like to win, they know we will win a lot more games next year, and they know that in 2012-2018 there will be a great winning culture at the Club. What culture we build from the remaining results of the 2010 season mean jack shite to this playing group. Even Brad Green has come out and said we want to gain respect. Losing to the Dockers by 3-5 goals this week will earn us respect, winning another 2 or 3 by the end of the year will earn us more respect. I must be the only MFC supporter that sees it this way!!!

We recruited Watts as a KPF, not a half forward flanker! You have the names correct, but wrong places; HF Sylvia Watts Green F Jurrah Fitzy Petterd Good to see you not putting Garland up forward though - kudos for that!

T Abbott number 1 ticket holder.

Totally agree B59, I think what we have in our own paddock just grazing and fattening up will show some good cattle. If we wanted to add to that herd, we would look ONLY at a big bull, one with a good pedigree. Anything else would be a pointless exercise. I think our forward line this year is where our backline was 3 years ago, now look at the beast it has grown in to!

I clearly said I was a doubter of Fitzy, so will take the brunt of your comments RR. To clarify myself; every year when a new player enters the MFC list, I have a first impression of them, and generally that impression is what I have of them until I see them playing. This impression is generally backed up by quality youtube viewing, watching the under 18 champs, or just what I think of their name/height/weight etc. I do i tevery year, and for every player, and I'm pretty sure WE ALL do the same to some degree. Sadly for Jack (and no disrespect to him), he didn't make a good first impression on me (based on nothing at all). What he did however, was make a good impression on Barry P, and good on him for that. My opinion about a player means no more or no less than anyone else on this site! Not saying this to you RR, but some people are a bit precious about what other people think.

Thanks for clearing it up (?)!!! Here's one to ponder (inappropriate thread I know), but you would assume Meesen is delisted as a rookie, what's the chances of us delisting Bell and signing him up as a mature-age rookie? This will free up a space on the list, and still have Bell on our list. He is playing pretty good footy at Casey, and hasn't had much of a chance to get some consistency in the seniors. Just a thought.

Only problem with that would one of the members looking at all the numbers on the field and yelling out "BINGO" halfway through the 2nd quarter.

Yawn is correct. You can't even answer a simple question? I disagree with you in the fact that the umpire should get a holiday. As I implied in my post, if the umpires in my situation were to give the ball back after I conned my opponent in to handballing it to me I would be outraged. Ok, fair enough, bush footy is totally different to the AFL, but the principles are the same. I disagree when you say that Bateman's antics were unsportsmanlike. The umpires make it clear who the free kick is awarded to, so if the Essendon player listened to Chance before the umpire, well, he's only got himself to blame. The players know the rules about giving it directly to the player who is awarded the free kick. I do agree with you when you say Bateman was clever. Again, it's a competition, a sport, where you do whatever you can to obtain the upperhand. So, to reverse your question - did you read my post? Quite clearly I read yours and answered appropriately, I feel sorry for you that you don't have the ability to do the same.

I'm confused with the whole rookie thing. Can someone explain our current situation please? Jordie is a rookie who was made "the" player mid season who can play without the need of a LTI. Spencer has been elevated due to the LTI of Meesen. Newton elevated due to Petterd's LTI. That's how I thought it was at the moment, but didn't see the article about Newton being put back on it. Cheers in advance for clearing this up for me.

Will be interesting to see what unfolds between now and Round 21. IF we can win enough games to secure 10th or 11th spot, and the last game is kind of a dead-rubber, I'd love to see our team for round 22. Might be a great marketing/membership push for people to come to the MCG, despite the crappy timeslot, and watch our future running around with Watts, Jurrah, Scully, Trengove, Gysberts, Tapscott, Fitzpatrick, McKenzie, Strauss, and Morton all running around. Sadly I don't think Blease will get a jumper this year, look out next year though.

Junior to miss again this week, Gysberts to miss one more match (I think he will be straight in or the week after), etc. Here 'tis http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/98153/default.aspx

Thanks for buggering up my dream there Dan! Oh well, back to the drawing board! Astbury is coming along nicely, we have more chance of getting Roughy! I think if we really want a KPF, we are better off biting the bullet and chasing a ready-made big body, rather than picking up a kid from an opposition list. In a lot of ways, they would be just as much a project player as Watts and Fitzy are.

Great news I think. To be honest, I am a doubter - it's funny how we all get a gut-feeling from these kids without any reason whatsoever to back it up with. It gives greater delight when they come out and prove us (or in this case, Me) wrong! Loved reading Gotch's comments about Tapscott too. (Here's this gut-feeling again!) I think this kid will be in our top 10 by the end of next season. Loved the bit about how he likes to tackle hard...I like that in a boy.

Sorry E25 - I'm reading your post as if you are agreeing that the tactics used by Bateman weren't in the "spirit of the game" and that the umpire who awarded the 50m penalty deserves a run in the bush because of such a decision. Please, by all means, correct me if I have misread your post. More than happy to edit my post if I have misunderstood. And also, I'm a DAMN FOOL? I've been warned for using less personal attacks on people, so I'm assuming in time you will receive that lovely email from the Mods. Keep up the good work!

Are you serious??? This is a competition, you do whatever you can (generally within the rules) to get the upperhand. What Bateman did was gold. I don't know how many times I've got a handball receive from my opponents after they take a mark, and I run behind them and call for it! Would I want the umpire to give it back in that case? Absolutely not! Smart football Chance.

Freo to kick a goal within the 1st minute of play in at least 2 quarters.

Don't think this is 100% accurate. I'm under the impression that GC17 can obtain 1 uncontracted player from each club, providing they don't exceed the salary cap. The theory a while back was that if/when Ablett signs, the amount they will be paying him will significantly reduce the amount of uncontracted players that they will be able to afford. While Cam Bruce may be an option for them, it doesn't mean we are guaranteed to lose a player. Best thing we can do is hope Ablett DOES sign, as this will reduce the amount of current AFL players they will be able to take.

No issue from me - we haven't deserved a decent time slot for 3 years, and neither has North. This time next year we will be playing the last round on the Saturday as we will be in the Top 8 (hopefully!), so until we start winning more games, we are at the tail end of the AFL's most favourite teams. A few of us need to pull heads out of arses and face reality!