The Chazz

WYL, Ox picks and chooses his moments with regards to his commentary on the MFC. A few years ago he was on AFL Game Day (I think it was called that back then). Sheedy was tearing us a new one, and Ox sat back ad let him go. Sheedy finished it by saying "who would want to coach Melbourne", and did our big, brave Ox stand up for the Club? No chance. I listen to SEN, and I don't share the view that he's just a passionate supporter. He kicks the Club when it's down, and when everyone else is kicking it. As he is on radio, it's much easier to voice his opinion, because other than via social media, anyone that challenges him on it he just hangs up on them. He had the chance to stick up for the Club in view of the public, and he was as soft as [censored].

Abe, your argument is based on Grimes being consistent, and the other players being inconsistent. If we are honest about it, a consistent Petracca, Harmes, Kennedy and Kent crap all over a consistent Grimes. Not only that, those 4 blokes have played 116 games between them, Grimes has played 99.

How did you come up with that? I'm picking them because they are clearly better players that Grimes will ever be. It is natural to think that, providing they aren't injured, that those players (the first 3 in particular) will be even better players next year. So you mention playing him on a wing/HFF, let's break this down; HFF - competing with Petracca, Kent, Kennedy, Harmes Wing - Players that can rotate through there will be Vince, Stretch, Brayshaw, and (potentially) Hunt, Melksham, Salem, ANB, Matt Jones Grimes has been forced out of his previous role as a HBF by the recruitment/development/addition of better players (more so if we get Hibberd). He is up against tough opposition to push on to a wing. A HFF role is his best option, but he's competing against Petracca (who has the world at his feet). As I said, his situation is like Howe's, but unfortunately I don't think he has the trade value that Howe always had. Be assured, Melksham is a walk up start in our top 22.

If we lose McDonald, we MUST get Hurley.

To get Prestia, I think we need to "exploit" the academy points thing (which I know SFA about, but obviously Mahoney does). With the GC having a couple of players that they will pick up through their academy this year, could we couple of 2nd and 3rd round picks, and potentially a player (i.e. Grimes), in exchange for the 1st round pick we gave GC last year, which we then trade back for Prestia? As I said, I don't know enough about the points system, but from my minimal understanding, GC need to offload early picks so that they don't use them on academy players. Hope that makes sense, and I'm sure I will get some feedback about my above scenario - be gentle if it's not possible! With regards to Hibberd, I think it could depend on getting a potential deal done with Prestia, then seeing what we have left. I must admit, I far prefer the idea of him coming to us as a DFA. There should be no reason why we will use ANB as trade bait. 2nd year player that Roos picked, developing lovely in the reserves, will only be better next year, he's the type of player that could bite us on the bum if we move on at the end of this year. And further to that, he's the type of player that if he was at a different club, we'd be wanting to trade in to our team.

Salem, Brayshaw, Oliver and Wagner all offer more than Grimes, and will only get better with age and experience. Grimes is only playing at the moment because of injury to three of those names, and load management of the other. Melksham will be playing a specific role that he will do very well at, and will be a lock for starting 18 come Round 1 '17. I'm not saying he will win our B&F, but he will make it hard for the players to push him out. Roos indicated that Melksham will play HBF, which is the exact role that Grimes has been trained not to compete for - Roos has constantly said that Grimes has needed to play in other positions to try and force his way back in to the side. Grimes has Howe Syndrome - he can play OK in a few different positions, but we just have a lot of better options for those roles. Don't believe me? Tell me what position he has in our best 22, and when you realise he's not in it, tell me what position he is 1st or 2nd choice depth. It's hard for some people to understand, but we are in a much better position when we are delisting guys like Grimes at the end of each year. It means our list is getting healthier and healthier, which is needed when trying to push for Top 8/4.

I'm not even going to address your first three replies - they are a waste of effort, and in particular point 3 (the comparison of those players), you've clearly missed the point. With regards to your last point, saying that the reason Grimes wasn't playing in the past 18 months because he was "shellshocked" is one of the most mind-boggling things I have read on here. Grimes needs to do more than get his hands on it. His first game he had 32 possessions, which was the 3rd most for the game. He got last best on the AFL website, didn't make the best in the Herald Sun, and didn't received 1 vote from either coach. Says a lot about the quality of his disposal (don't give me the 90% efficiency stat - I watched his game and that stat is far from reality), and also says a lot about the impact he had on the game. Knowing the game plan isn't his issue, it's being able to perform his role within it, and being able to improve his skills, which has ALWAYS been his problem, and will ultimately cost him his place on the list at the end of the year.

It could be argued that Watts has had to deal with more crap than what Grimes has had to deal with. I would also argue that an uninjured Trengove would've flourished under the Roos program. Admittedly, this is a hypothetical situation. You can't compare Grimes/JT with Garland/Dunn in terms of being closer to getting a game, simply because they play different positions. If Tom Mc and O Mc both went down, Garland and/or Dunn would be called up straight away. The thing in Grimes and JTs favour at the moment is that the kids that were keeping them out of the team in the first half of the year are starting to run our of gas. Add to that the fact that Newton and Michie haven't been able to get consistency in the VFL, they are in a great position to get a few games in the back half of the year.

The same regime that Nathan Jones, and to some degree Jack Watts, have been through? Which is the same regime that Garland and Dunn have been through? All players (that are left on our list) that went through that dark time have had the opportunity over the past 3 years to consolidate a spot in our best 22. Some have taken it, some haven't.

Just hear that on SEN too Tappy? For those that didn't hear it, there is gap between what was said on SEN and what Tappy has mentioned. To add to the story, it was a caller that made the claims. Take out of it whatever you please. I know I'll be taking the grain of salt.

Oscar and Vince cleared of serious injury, both a chance to play this week. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-12/demons-get-good-news-on-vince-mcdonald-injuries

What, no Grimes?

Thanks ManDee, interesting reading.

Found it - almost 6 years to the day...

Can honestly say I posted this on here, could be some 5-6 years ago. I would love to find my post as it certainly didn't get a lot of positive feedback! Any help in finding it would be appreciated.

And the stats you used to compare Rivers, are they for those eligible to receive a nomination, or of those that did receive a nomination? If it's the latter, then it would only be fair to compare Talia to those in his year that did receive a nomination. It would be interesting to see the full list of both years.

ManDee, just wondering how they work those stats out? What I mean is that you are showing Talia was ranked 79th in his year of nomination, but there can only be 22/23 nominated each year.

Give him 1 more then [censored] him off. Seriously...

Give him 1 more then [censored] him off. Seriously...

Culture killer. Next please.

Conspiracy theory; We use the remaining games to trial things for next year, rather than win at all costs. We find ourselves drop down the ladder 3 or 4 positions making Gold Coast's first rounder (that they got from us) a better pick. In return, they give us Prestia for "cheap". Everyone knows we have minimal to offer this year for top end talent, so we need to "manufacture" some other way to get a deal for Prestia done. There will be a number of other clubs around or below us that will be using the back 9 to work on their game. Junk time wins this year will mean bugger all, especially if it lands us this bloke. Fact is, we know exactly where we are going, and 2017 is looking very bright especially if we land Prestia. Hibberd and Hurley. No-one will think about our 2016 ladder position when we are playing finals in 2017.

The longer it goes, the more I like our chances of getting both. By the sounds of it, we're more likely that we will get Hibberd across. As far as Hurley goes, he's clearly disgruntled with his club, can't blame him. I would think the tif he was staying, Essendon would've had him locked away by now. The fact they don't gives me hope, and the longer he goes without signing grows my confidence. I wonder if, as per ET's above post, Hurley is waiting for this next 5 weeks to see how we (or other clubs) are going to finish off the year. It's important for us to remember that it's in no benefit to us to not win games, unlike many clubs below us. We don't have a first rounder this year, so there's no incentive for us to not win, meaning we could finish the year with some momentum, and make us an appealing prospect for someone like Hurley.

PM me if you want tomorrow's lotto numbers...

Same happened with Cameron Bruce, CB.