The Chazz

My line of thinking was if we were to play Geelong, who would line up on him? I couldn't see their number 1 - Scarlett, and I couldn't really see their number 2 - Taylor, I thought possibly a Milburn, Mackie type would be the best match up, hence me saying that he will attract the 3rd defender. You would think if we draft Thorp, he will be our main KPF, and therefore, will probably attract the number 1 defender. For a majority of the game, our 2nd or 3rd ruck will play in the forward 50m (thinking mainly Stef Martin, with Jamar there at times). A big body like that will need the 2nd best defender, then Jurrah can claim that 3rd defender. If the oppositin give Jurrah the respect he deserves and plays the number 1 or 2 defenders on him, it will allow Thorp or the Stef Martin/resting ruck a weaker defender and that will result in a bag of goals (similar to Jamar's 5 goal haul).

Thanks Dee. Non-sexual man crush. Unblemished record too. Some key points (in no particular order), and let's face it, these are only a few; 1. As mentioned, his awareness with Petterd - NEVER delist Petterd while the Wizard is listed! 2. The other "brothers" non-verbal communication with him. They know where to kick it - he knows where they are kicking it! 3. He is quick, but not lightning fast. Wont hurt to bulk up a bit as it wont hinder his pace too much. 4. Defenders, quality defenders can't match up on him. 5, The respect opponents have for him already (you can tell by the looks on their face when he marks, it's like "oh sh!t, he's got it again - how did he do that???!!!" The number 4 point is vital. Please, everyone on Demonland, do not have LJ as a KPF in your starting 18. At best, he is our 3rd tall. We need him starting in the pocket where he will get 3rd best defender and will absolutely kill them. Regardless of if he comes back as good or better, or if he gets injured, or goes "walkabout", at worst, we have experienced a truly memorable 9 games of AFL football. We are honored to have witnessed what he has achieved, and it is a special feeling to be a part of it. Thanks Liam.

Well said.

Sorry Curry, you just shot yourself in the foot. This year, the draft (top10) is read out in reverse order. So, unless you are in the inner sanctum, you will hear pick 2...Melb, followed by pick 1 Melb... Gee, and you talk about amateur twats!!! (jokes )

post of the year!!!

Ahh, Keyser, for some reason you and I always seem to disagree. Perhaps you are one of "those" that wanted/wants Bailey sacked. If you are, are you one of "those" that are orgasmic at the thought of seeing Scully and Trengove playing for us next year? How much work can you expect a coach to do in 1 or 2 seasons? I can assure you, what Kevin Sheedy is doing now for GWS is exactly what Bailey did when he won the job/privilege of coaching our team. Difference is that Sheedy has 2 or 3 years to do it without the stress of ladder positions. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but are you saying that Bailey hasn't delivered enough return for what has been invested? I would like to know YOUR answer to this before I respond to that. Would hate to get personal without knowing all the facts.

Top post Crystal. What I would reeeeeeally like to see the Club do is get every listed player to visit Liam's community and spend a few days there (similar to Jimmy and co's recent trip). They would have even more respect for Liam, and our other "brothers", and the joy that it would bring to that community would be unimaginable. I also think it would be a special bond between all our players, a strong bond that hopefully sees our players want to stay and play as a team rather than chase the big bucks. While players have to look after themselves (financially), experiences like that can change they way a person thinks. This trip could be done during the pre-season, as well as around the same weekend as our Darwin match. I know the players have tight routines/schedules each week, but if the Club can work something out, it would be great. The other bonus of the above would be that every one of those kids would want to play for the MFC. If our team (players) goes out of its way to visit these places, all of these kids will be wearing red and blue for their entire life. It will also show Liam that we are serious about making his AFL life as easy as possible, and hopefully see him play for us for a decade.

Do you call a tadpole a frog? It's a potential frog. I keep telling my fiancee that I have a six-pack. Well, we all have abdominal muscles don't we? Isn't that what a six-pack is? (Not sure where this thread headed, got halfway down the first page so thought I'd contribute my rubbish! Apologies if this has nothing to do with where the thread is now at!)

The things that the Club have put in place, and are continuing to do, makes me so proud to be a MFC supporter. I think the work that Jim Stynes and Cameron Schwab have done has been amazing. I'm in my late 20's, and like most here, have never seen a flag, and have experienced an up-and-down life wearing the red and blue. I find it ironic that the most pride I have had from the club is on the back of 2 wooden spoons! Thank god I'm not still at school, would be a nightmare!!! One thing I read in to that article is the Club's faith in Dan Bailey. You can put your house on a contract extension for Bails this year; I think we will see a 2 year extension straight up. He has had one of the worst jobs in football - inherited a crap list, had to be ruthless on some players that we love (ie Robbo), and had to ensure we did what was needed to receive picks 1 & 2 in this years without damaging his reputation. He had to play Watts before he was truly ready for AFL (although the kid will benefit from the experience), and continually defend his player experiments. While all that has been happening, he has also had to deal with a lot of people questioning if he is the right man for the job - and some articles and comments from readers/supporters(?) calling for him to be sacked - WHERE ARE THESE MELBOURNE SUPPORTERS NOW? TOO BUSY TOUCHING THEMSELVES WATCHING FOOTAGE OF SCULLY AND TRENGOVE!!!! I have always been a big fan of Bailey, and have had many arguments with fellow demon fans who are also close friends about this subject. The experience he will gain from this Europe tour will be another massive step forward for not only him as a coach, but for the club in general. After this years draft, Bailey has a list of players that can potentially win that flag in years to come. I think his 3 year contract should actually start in 2010 as this is going to be the first opportunity that Bails has to actually coach to the best of his ability and playing group. We have personnel behind the scenes that are on the brink of setting this club up as a powerhouse. Hopefully we shouldn't have to "bottom out" for quite some time (15 years+). If we manage this list correctly, and draft smart in the compromised drafts (eg. start looking at solid defenders to develop over the next 3 years - by the time they are hungry for AFL, players like Warnock will be at the end on their career), we will be able to have continual change without the need to hit rock bottom. Geelong will show if this is possible or not in the next 3-5 years. I know I haven't contributed too much in the above, just wearing my heart on my sleeve. This website is great, while we are divided on every issue brought up, we all have the one priority, and that's to do the best for the Club.

When has he chosen not to go? He nominated for the ND, knowing very well that his chances of becoming a Demon were more likely than not. If he didn't want to become one, he wouldn't have nominated.

Wrong, wrong, WRONG!!! Jack Watts can not be classed as a KPF in 2010, he is still a kid and far from the level we need him at, he will get there, but not 2010. If Watts plays 12+ games I will be stoked. Martin has more chance of playing KPF than Watts this year. And with Martin, I don't believe he is needed elsewhere, he was experimented with this year, and will continue to be in 2010 but not to the same extent. He is going to be a valuable forward for Melbourne, and will do his bit as third ruck. I love the idea of Vardy at 18, perfect pick. Will he be there? I think so. Will Ball be there at 18? Not sure, so if Melbourne really want him, I think 11 is there best option. If Vardy is gone by 18 and we get Ball at 11, there will be another tall of some potential still around, and if not, there will be a great midfielder. There have been probably 20-25 names that continually get mentioned as potential to 15 players, they will not all be picked up by pick 18, so we are still going to get something that some people call reasonable should our preferred option be gone.

IF your granny didn't have them, she wouldn't be one...If St Kilda didn't have 3 umpires against them in this years GF, they would have won. It's poor evidence in this argument Roost. Watts is very low risk for sure, but still some risk. The main reason why Butcher is sliding so much, and why I consider him a big risk, is due to his performance during the U18 National Champs. I can assure you, if he played better than what he did, I'd be on the Butcher wagon too. These are the big games he needs to prove himself in as a kid, but he didn't quite do it. You tell me what is wrong with Watts/Thorp/Stef Martin as our big forwards and Jurrah causing havoc. That stinks of success if you ask me. You need KPF's to win Grand Finals, but you need a better midfield who are capable of kicking bags of goals, just in case these KPF's are held (eg. Reiwoldt/Kosi this year).

So Mooney alone cost Geelong that Grand Final against the Hawks? Gotta be kidding mate. Sure he missed some goals, but there were a number of others (like you mentioned for St Kilda), that went hiding that game. Geelong had the same "no top line forwards" in 2007, they won by over 100 points. Who kicked their goals if they didn't have a top line forward??? Butcher is a huge risk IMO. If he is the best of the KPF, we need to go mids (or Vardy). Let's be honest and realistic, Watts is still some risk, do we want to take another risk, a far bigger risk on another light-framed KPF?

I agree Roost, BUT... This is the AFL. Clubs these days will NEVER, EVER dominate decades like they used to. The comp is too even. I would love to be better than Geelong, but hey, if we can be as good as them, I'll be happy to win 2 flags in 3 years, I'll be happy with 1, any more is a bonus!!! St Kilda had/have a top line forward don't they? They didn't win the flag.

Here here. Scully, Trengove, Ball and Vardy. Ball = Proven, capable midfielder. B&F winner, has enough quality to instantly be one of Melbourne's elite (given the opposition in this category) Scully = Possible SUPERSTAR, if not, will be a very, very good player (not many that fit that category in the red and blue) Trengve = see Scully Vardy = Will make the grade, just needs to become a solid ruckman 3 out of 4 are going to be in our upper bracket players in the next 2-3 years, and Vardy will take a little bit longer. There is no risk, it's the safest and best result we could ask for. Take risks in the compromised drafts, and later picks this year for the matter. We can argue this until we're (red &) blue in the face, but seriously guys, we want to win games, we don't want to risk anything with our first 4 picks, how can picking Ball in that group harm us in any way????????????????????

And when will this be? 1 year? 2 years? 3, 4, 5 or 6 years? I would say 3 years+. Ball will be 28 in 3 years, and STILL in our best 22, if not 18 - he's a proven quality. Ball will play a part in the development of that team that could win a flag, and may just be in the side that hopefully wins it. On draft night, I will cheer just as loud if we pick a kid at 11 or 18 as I would for Luke Ball at either of those picks. The difference is that I will be cheering more for Luke Ball over the immediate years as he will no doubt assist getting a winning culture back in the club, more so than those pick 11 and 18 kids (unless we are fortunate enough to jag a Selwood/Rich-type, ready-made slider). Ball WILL play at 110% for Melbourne if we select him. He wants to play football, this is proven by his nomination. He would rather play for the scum, but if it's the red and blue jumper that he pulls on next year, he will give it his all. Anyone that thinks differently need to have a serious look at themselves because that is absolute rubbish.

There are 15 clubs that he would rather not play for, he has publicly stated that. Will that stop the other 13 clubs (excluding Saints and Pies) from picking him? I'd think not. Think about it from this angle, if he is 110% certain he doesn't want to play football for the Melbourne Football Club, and would perhaps harm himself if selected by us (slight exaggeration!), WHY DID HE NOMINATE FOR THE ND??? He is not silly, he knows there is a big chance he will be in the red and blue next year because of our draft picks, if he was dead against playing for us he would have had 12 months out of the game. At that age it wont harm him too much (look at Ben Cousins, and he's 30+), all it would do is harm his reputation. I think if we would get 3-5 solid, midfield years out of him, with 2-3 years as a back pocket/tagging type, he would be well and truly worth pick 11. The impact he would have on the development of Scully and Trengove would be massive. At the end of the day, I rate Ball's leadership, ability and football brain (in his time at St Kilda) probably more than any of our players - just ahead of Davey. He showed in the GF that he still has it, so can't see why the next team that picks him up will get anything less. As I have said in the past, over the next 3 years, Ball would/could quite easily win our B&F, why wouldn't we pick him???

Good post. Even in 2009, the Cats leading goal kicker was Mooney with 41, followed by Stevie J with 39, Hawkins 30, Byrnes 29 and Chapman 27. So, with those stats in mind, and given 2-3 more years to continue to develop, I think Watts can quite easily be a 40+ goals a year even playing that CHF/Mid role. I think Martin (assuming he is played forward a majority f the season) can return around that 30 goals a season, Jurrah around the 35+ (he kicked 20 in 9 games). What that leaves us needing is more, FAR MORE from our midfield in the coming years. Geelong, the benchmark, dn't get huge amounts from their KPF, but they make up for that with a good, solid return from their mids. So, with that in mind, I'm still a big believer that we don't need a KPF in the draft (especially if Thorp is to be taken in the PSD - the Club wuld know now if that will happen). What I want to see is a bigger return (in terms of goals) from blokes like Petterd, Wona (providing he can come back and play the level consistently that he showed), Sylvia, Moloney, Bate (kicked 27 this year, needs to do it again with interest!), Green, and even Morton. These guys really need to be aiming to kick a minimum of 15 each, and that would just be a "pass", the expectation I would be putting on them is to get 20 a year. Throw Thorp in there who really needs to be a 35 goal player, and all of a sudden we become a nightmare team to coach against due to trying to shut down goal scorers. The question some people will ask is about our KPF's (Thorp and Watts) getting injured, well, by rights we will have enough goal scorers to cover any absence. If Vardy has potential to be a top ruckman, and get to the same level as Butcher would if he fulfilled his potential, I'd take Vardy any day. Rucks is by far our biggest weakness, distant 2nd is KPF's. If anyone can understand what I'm getting at there, and write it in a better way, I'd appreciate it!

I don't think Martin will play a variety of roles. At the moment, sure, while we are/were losing games, he was probably the best one to experiment with. I think now that we are looking at winning more games, Bails will try and keep him up forward. He proved this year that he can take a pretty strong, contested mark, this trait will only get better as he gets older and stronger. I think you will find in 2-3 years, Stef Martin will be our big body full forward. Personally, in 3 years time, I would love to see Watts in that CHF role that can have an impact in the midfield, and have Martin as FF, then drop Watts back to FF while Martin roams around 50m out. I don't think Butcher will get that big to be able to be the big full forward that people expect him to be, but who knows, trying to figure out what kids will develop and which ones wont is a bit of a lottery. That said, it's obvious with Martin's body that he will be a big body when he stops growing.

Stef Martin? I don't think Stef is going to be our number 2 ruckman, just a big bloke that can swing in there if need be. We will have 2 key ruckman for most games, then Stef can fill in when the on-ground ruck is out of position. I'm believe the opinion that you need a KPF to win a flag - just look at the Dogs, they haven't had one since Chris Grant (but didn't have a good team around him), now they have a handy team good enough to win a flag, but no key forward. For me, the jury is out on any of the KPP in this draft. If there isn't much difference between the KPF's and VArdy, I'd take Vardy before any of them.

I can understand that titan, but this thread is after NAMES!!! Probably right about 3 recycled players, but thought I'd throw my opinion out there like the rest. Just think we have got a great % of 0-50 game players, as well as our few 120+ game players, just think we could do with 2 or 3 more in the 51-119 game bracket to have a bit better balance.

I'll have 2 cracks - 1. Scully 2. Trengove 11. Vardy 18. Ball 34. Joel McDonald 51. Liam Patrick PSD 1. Thorp or... 1. Scully 2. Trengove 11. Worst available 18. Worst available 34. Worst available 51. Worst available PSD 1. Robbo Sorry about the 2nd list, just taking the pi$$ out of those who continually say "best available". Of course we are going to take the best available at the pick you twats!!!! Use names people rather than that boring line! Don't think BP (or whoever it is reading the names out on draft night) will say "pick 34, number 11111, best available"

You are joking aren't you? Trying not to have a personal attack on someone here, but gee Keyser, that is a STUPID comment to say we could finish above Brisbane. I will place any bet with you that Brisbane will finish higher that us. They will give top 4 a shake - I don't think we will.

Now that's ambitious! I hope you're right though! Having said that, I think we should have won anywhere from 5-8 games this season. Obviously we could/should have beaten the Tiger's, I reckon we had the Saints on toast late in the season until some experimenting, and even the Carlton game could've gone our way.

A little ambitious? I would have thought saying that we will finish 8th or 9th would be ambitious, achievable, but still ambitious. HT, we are rock bottom mate, the best part is we can't get any lower, so the only way is up. With one of the youngest lists in the AFL, and that fact that we have no current match winners/superstars, I'm being realistic, not ambitious in my comments about having a top 10 pick next year. No disrespect to any of our players, especially Jurrah, he could be a match winner, and probably went close a couple of times this year, but again, reality is we only won 4 games.