The Chazz

Well said JCash. It amazes me how many people have criticised you over your english use, ie. Sylvinator - we have PettErd playing for us, not PettArd. In regards to your opening post, I think the biggest issue is the consistency of players in certain positions. I would love to see stability in our forward line, and I can imagine that Josh Mahoney would love to see it too! Look at our backline - they have had a couple of seasons playing alongside each other now, and are a tight unit. Bailey was in a position to be able to sacrifice wins and opponents kicking big scores against us, with the benefit of these guys understanding each other and developing as a "department". Unfortunately, our forward line didn't ave that luxury over the past 2 years due to lack of personnel (ie Jack Watts, playing with Liam Jurrah, playing with Brad Green, playing with Aussie, etc). This year, and next year for that matter, is the time where we should be developing our forward line "department" (just as we did over the past 2-3 years with our defence), sadly, we need to kick goals to win, therefore if we aren;t in the first quarter or two, we have to make changes. For Bailey, if he doesn't make these changes it looks as though he hasn't got a plan B = people calling for his departure. For the argument though, has our forward line really been that bad? We were never going to match Geelong, it pi$$ed down with rain against Carlton making scoring hard (ok, they kicked a reasonable score, but they are the Melbourne Demons of 2012), Port Adelaide in Darwin saw us kick a reasonable score, the game against West Coast was a disaster, the Bulldogs game was flood-like conditions, and so on. While I have been frustrated with the past couple of weeks (ie. no forward line structure), perhaps it isn't as bad as we think it is.

Dappa, if you are one of those that jumped to the conclusion that Petterd was going because he wasn't mentioned in the Tweet that CS wrote, then I feel really sorry for you. If you didn't read his Tweet that way, which I'm pretty sure you didn't, then you have nothing to worry about in regards to my comments about some posters. You are 100% correct, there are a lot of good threads on this site. I just find it sad sometimes that our CEO has to jump in and explain himself for something he shared on Twitter. This guy is ding us a favour by giving us some insight to the inner sanctum of the Club. I for one look forward to all his Twitter posts, especially those with photos. As a Qld resident, I don't get to see that stuff like a lot of others do, so I rely on info like that. I would hate for him to stop doing it over a stupid issue like this.

Some very good advice Dee. I don't think I'm the one that needs to do that, maybe those that rip apart any comment about the MFC, even if it is posted on Twitter by our CEO.

I picked Chip. He has a lot of improvement left in him in regards to hitting close targets (up to 40m), but has the ability to boot it 55m+. From all reports Strauss is the man, but I want to see him secure his spot in the 1's before giving him that responsibility.

I think the C Schwab reply to some of the idiotic comments in this thread (and many other threads for that matter) just confirms my thoughts of some of the posters in this forum. Time and time again some posters try to come across as though they are more knowledgeable than the faithful that are actually run this great Club. In the end, their knowledge is minimal, and yet they still decide to speak. Coincidence I chose this post to reply to/add to this thread?

As much as I love him as a player - first thing we need to do is NOT LET GRIMES KICK IN!!! He turns the ball over more than anyone in our team when kicking if from full back. As Ox5 hinted, we always struggle to get it out of D50, yet let it out of A50 far too easily. It's a good idea to watch what Carlton do, but then again, don't just stop with them! A majority of the sides in the AFL are better than us in this area. So, when I criticise our team in an area, I really should have an idea of how to fix it! I believe we need to move it out of the goal square a lot faster than what we do. This will put the opposition on the back foot and give them less time to set their zone. If we can get it to 80-90m away from goal quicker, it will release pressure on our backline. We need to have more than one option as our kick-in person, but whoever it is and however many we have, they must be able to kick a solid 50-60m. There will be times that the zone is set up, so the easiest way to beat it is to kick over it, and the easiest way to do that is for the kick-in person to play on and gain an extra 10 metres, so that will allow us to kick to a target that is around that 70-80m distance away from goal. I also think we shouldn't just kick it to Jamar or Rivers. There needs to be more targets, especially from or wings and half back flanks. Blokes like Morton, Gysberts, Trengove, they should be getting a lot more of the ball from a kick in. For this to happen, they have to work their ass off and present strong hard leads. Even if they aren't honoured, it will take another player out of the next zone, freeing up more space for our half forwards to lead in to. At that stage, those wings etc (ie Trengove, Morton, Gysberts, etc) should be running through getting the ball off the half forwards, then hitting our forwards. Sounds easy, looks easy when I play it over in my head, just need to do it! The biggest positive is that most of the names I mentioned are part of the next generation. It will happen - I have great faith in the players at the club now, and those yet to debut or who have had a taste. Plus, we cant really knock our development of the backline as it isn't far from being in the top tier of defences in the league.

F-that, I would hate to have Hawkins on our team. If Jack is to watch any video footage of any player, it should be Riewoldt. One of the leagues best, started out with similar expectations and weight-for-age figures, I want to see that commitment and development over the coming years. Funny game, it was as though both teams agreed on the result before the game. Melbourne accepted a 7 goal loss (as it turned out it was 9), Geelong were happy to take it. If either team went outside the boundaries of the agreement, it would have hurt both teams (ie. intensity would have increased). They didn't, and as it turned out, it was as boring as bat $hit watching it.

6. Green 5. Gysberts 4. Davey 3. Moloney 2. Grimes 1. Miller, yes, Miller!!! Thought he presented well for most of the day. He isn't an A-grade Forward, but is required to play that role.

Agree, but he is far from the reason why we aren't in this game. Our backline needs to stop reading the paper.

Who was the genius that said we were too top heavy in the back line? Someone mentioned it in another thread. Show yourself, as you obviously know zero about football and the Geelong forward line.

Any Bennell bashers going to mention our skippers weak marking effort in the second quarter?

Doesn't get my juices flowing sorry.

6-7 goal defeat is where these 2 sides are at. When the umpires make f**king idiotic decisions against us that are costly, we are doing a fantastic job staying at that margain. Nb. I'm not saying they are costing us the game, we aren't at the quality that Geelong are...yet.

There's not much difference between the "last year" team, and the "this year" team as far as personnel goes. Main difference is competitiveness. There's not much wrong with the "Ins". Any other time we had 3 come in like that we'd be stoked! Starting to get some great depth guys, enjoy the fact we can rest YOUNG Scully, Trengove and McKenzie, and bring in experienced Bruce and Warnock, as well as another high draft pick.

Great decision to rest those kids. Stoked to see Gysberts in for his first crack at the big time. For those doubting the resting of the 3 - take a look at Nic Nat. He is still a young player and look at his form over the past couple of weeks, especially now he is the "number 1" ruck. I would hate to see JT or Scull drop off form because of too much work so early in their career. This keeps both boys on track to win Rising Star!

Sorry - 100% correct - will change. Thanks for that Hannabal!

I'm so happy that CS has posted on here - it will make a lot of people think about what they are posting before they go ahead and publish some of the rot that they do! FWIW - I think this whole "attitude" thing of Watts' is more aimed at his attitude toward footy and in particular, training. Now, I'm in no way a relation of David Parkin, but it wouldn't be hard for a well (football) educated man like Parkin to be able to go to training and watch Watts, and how he goes about things. I have never been to a training session as I am in Qld, but I remember reading in posts on here in the pre-season that an assistant coach stopped a drill one day and ripped Watts a new one for the way he approached a drill. If this is the angle that Parkin is coming from, I can fully understand. You just need to compare the last 2 Number 1 picks. Scully, the true training professional, amazing attitude toward everything, has made an immediate impact. On the other hand, it's never been published about Watts' training ethic, which I would have liked to see increase with the addition of Scully. To add to that, Watts is trying to break in to a very weak forward line, Scully has broken in to a competitive midfield. Regardless of Watts' size, it should be an expectation of his to hold a spot is this team now. While Scully is a unique freak, and the 2 players are totally different in development, I do have some slight concerns about JW. However, I'm still probably 2 years away from questioning the decision of drafting him. If I were Watts, and had the potential that he has, I'd be working my ass off now, as he would be sure to benefit from it in the years to come. Train hard, bloody hard, get the media reporting on the positive side of his attitude, then his ability will bloom. Fast forward 5 years, will Watts be the next Riewoldt? NR has an amazing attitude toward footy - doesn't he run some 10 laps before anyone gets to the oval on match day? That sort of thing doesn't happen overnight, and I hope that Watts realises that - he may, which is terrific, if he doesn't, he may be in trouble. Well done on the recall Jack, give them hell. I did dream last night that you kicked 6 today, no pressure!

Hey, Deeoldfart, I did not suggest that he should probably be dropped. If you are going to paraphrase, please be accurate about it. If you need confirmation of something I said, ask me privately before publishing it please. If you read one of my replies, I did state that if he works the house down this week then he ought to be given a chance to redeem himself. I have been impressed with both Bartram and Dunn this year, 2 fringe players taht have needed to step up, and have. We have 3 or 4 players waiting for someone to do something wrong so they gett heir opportunity, it's little things like this that may hurt these fringe players. For the record, the 3 or 4 I am talking about would be Cheney, Strauss, Gysberts and Joel Mac. All can pretty much cover the role that Dunn and Bartram play. This is a massive positive for the Club though. If players realise that mistakes could POSSIBLY (not PROBABLY) cost them their spot, it will only make us a better team.

I totally agree. I am not blaming him for losing - the 2 possible goals that were given as points cost us the game, there were also 2 out-on-the-full calls against Melbourne that were incorrect, both those could have cost us the game. But, sadly for Bartram, the passage of play that he was involved in, and made errors in, was THE passage of play that did actually cost us the game as it put the Dogs in front. We could crticise Griffen's opponent for not manning up, or that fact that Bartram had no help, but again, the harsh reality is that we can honestly say that that passage of play cost us the game as there is proof that if he did better, Griffen would not have got the ball. Bugger, that pretty much reads that I'm blaming him for losing the game for us - I'm trying not to! Gee, I see a can of worms opening here!

I want to see the papers headlines on Sunday after T Scully cracks 20 posessions in the last quarter (giving hime a total of 45 for the match); "Thomas' Tank Engine". We all know he's got one, great line for the Hun I reckon! Other 2 things; 2. Watts to play HFF rotating to FF 3. Jamar continually jumping in to Nic Nat like he did last year. Stopped his jump, and made him $hit scared to go near the ball.

May have happened, but sadly for Bartram his errors cost us a goal that put the dogs in front. I fully understand what the conditions were like, hence me highlighting point number 1 (about kicking along the ground).

Amen!

I have no doubt that Bartram contributed in Melbourne's loss on Friday night. Ok, he made the error of handballing it to the Melbourne player impersonator, but in the last minutes when the ball was about 25m from the Dogs goal, he had a chance to clear it out. What he did was paddle the ball forward-ish, sadly Griffen got the ball and kicked the winning goal. The 2 match-losing errors Bartram made were 1) on a wet night, he should have kicked the guts out of it along the ground toward the boundary about 50m out, thus give us a chance to reset our zone, and 2) Because he didn't do number 1, he needed to get his body right behind the ball and keep paddling. He didn't do this, and becasue of a dodgy bounce, it meant the ball was out of his reach. As soon as I saw that happen, and before the goal was kicked, I said to the group that I was watching the game with, that he has just cost us the game. Sure enough, it happened. Doing point number 2 would have resulted in him getting smashed bu the opposition, but sadly, we need to do that sometimes to win a game of footy. he didn't, and we didn't. So, should he be dropped for it? Not sure, he's been playing really well this year - I think a lot would depend on his attitude this week. If he burns the training track down, he plays, if he doesn't, he gets dropped. We didn't drop Bennell for his shirking at the contest, but I'm sure he was on notice during the week to see how his attitude was, and look what's happened since - I think he has become a very valuable contributor in this team.

Kezza, I think Victoria is a great place. I moved from there to Queensland about 4 1/2 years ago. Doesn't mean I moving back in a hurry! Actually, one day I might, but not until I have achieved what I want to up here first. Ricky should be the same - if he wants to win a flag in his AFL career, he has more chance at Melbourne than at GC17; I can't see GC winning one in their first 6 years, by then we may have won 2 or 3, then I'm happy for him to go if he still wants.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/93227/default.aspx Another positive for the Club...Hoo-freakin-ray!!!