The Chazz

I give up - you win!

Damn you SWYL, I wanted mine to be the last post.

Yeah, he's starting to go down the same path as a lot of the others - getting far too biased. I just want callers who can remain neutral, regardless of who the barrack for or the ladder positions and skill level of the two teams playing.

I'm expecting that my post will be the last on this thread, other than a mod informing us that it has been closed.

McClure? Definitely up there, but don't think he's number one. (nb. I'm presuming you meant Newman, but thought the bloke I mentioned shouldn't go unnoticed). To answer the OP, I think there are far too many in this category to pick just one. For a start, I don't think there are any journalists that I can stomach listening to & watching (namely Slobbo, his little lap dog Ralph, McClure, Wilson, Fwit Stevens & Purple, I'm sur there are others). Of the ex-players, Darcy is up there with the best, along with Der-wayne, Brereton. Non ex-players like Basil, Brayshaw, McGuire, the CEOs brother, etc. It is far too difficult to pick just one. Give me Bruce, Dennis, Lingy and Richo for every game. Bruce gets carried away at times, especially with some individuals, but probably no more than what I do with Tyson and Hogan!

Thanks Roosy. If Viney doesn't get up because of his hammy, I'd imagine that Grimes will definitely play. If Viney does play, I can see Matt Jones coming in for Wagner. Listening to Roos' presser, I'd say it's more unlikely than likely that Jack get a run.

Would be surprised if Grimes comes in for Wagner. He has been playing more midfield/wing/half forward at Casey, so why would we bring him in to replace a half back? Does that mean Michie gets another go? That leaves the Clarry replacement. Do we bring him (JG) in for that, or do we bring in Jeffy, which will then allow Petracca to play more midfield minutes. Listening to Roos Views, he commented about bringing in players who have been playing well at Casey, even if it is at the expense of someone playing ok in the seniors. You can argue that all of Harmes, Grimes, Michie and Jones tick that box. I personally would bring back Jeffy. Admittedly he hasn't starred at Casey (conditions didn't suit in his first week), but I think he would've learnt his lesson, and knows the consequences of not performing in the seniors. He wouldn't be the first player that performs better in the higher level than what he does in lower levels.

I've totally lost it? Other than for a retirement, let me know when the last person got chaired off that WASN'T for a milestone match. And while you're doing that, tell me the last bloke that got chaired off for playing his 100th.

You chair blokes off for 200+ game milestones. On the odd occasion, you might chair someone off for the 100 game milestone, but only if they have come back from adversity. Trengove, Menzel, Morabito, these types of situations, not an average player that can't cement his spot in the side.

Did we chair Trengove off after the Hawthorn game? A much more significant milestone from a bloke that was also captain through those dark years. I would actually be embarrassed if Grimes got chaired off. It would also be a sign that some areas of the club still haven't moved on from those times.

My point is that if there was ever a game that would see the "fairytale win", it would've been Trengove's return. By implying that Grimes' 100th could be of similar motivation for the team to lift is clutching at straws at best.

How did our blokes go when we played Hawthorn in Trengove's first game back? If there was ever a game that you get up for because of an inclusion, it was that one.

Please tell me you're taking the pizz?

Grimes has been on our list for 8 years, was a co-captain at a time where we had very little else, and was only a good player in a team that wasn't AFL standard. His durability and reliability has been regular concern since he started - his reliability even more so now that we are a better team. He's stranded on 98 games - 98. Not 198 or 298, it's 98. What we are hoping to build for the future is something that doesn't see Grimes in it. He knows that. And while we're still a chance of making finals (we should be in with a big chance of winning our next 3), we will be picking a team that gives us the best opportunity. It's credit to the type of guy he is (something I have never questioned), that he keeps backing up at Casey and performing to the best he can. But, we all know the step up to the big league is substantial, and better players on our list than Grimes have struggled. I have this feeling that Roos will play him when he (PR) thinks our season is shot. It will give Jack the best opportunity to find a new home next year. I also feel that Roos will not let him anywhere near our backline, knowing that there's other blokes in that team that will be there next year that will use games to practice how we want to play, like he did when playing Frawley up forward in his last year.

It's not intimate knowledge, it's common sense. What has Grimes' history got to do with how Bernie Vince would play if JG was playing his 100th? SFA. This thing about not playing finals - I will still think we're a chance, right up until that moment where we mathematically can't make it. I'd imagine the players would feel that way too, and would hope Roos is getting this message across. Sure, it's improbable that we will make it but still not impossible. Until such time, we pick our strongest team and don't go gifting games to get a bloke to his 100th. We have rounds 22 and 23 for that.

You really think the players would lift because of his "loyal service in troubled times"? How many of the players on our list were there during this time (meaning they saw what state the club was in), and/or how many have played along side him? I can assure you, blokes like Vince, Dawes, Viney, Petracca, Hogan, et al, they wouldn't give two hoots about Grimes' past. Sure, they'd be happy to celebrate a teammate reaching a decent milestone, but that's where it would stop. The only one/s that would care about the rest of Grimes' baggage would be Jones and Trengove, maybe Dunn and Garland (although the latter 3 would be more worried about their immediate careers). I understand some love for Grimes - I have some for him too, but people are making it sound like he donated organs for the club. He was made co-captain of an insipid club, at a time where he was the likely candidate (due mainly to his professionalism), it's just that he didn't have the talent himself or around him to lead us out of those times. No criticism, just reality.

I wonder if the Prestia situation was part of the negotiation process during last year's trade period.

Jack is a victim of circumstance. Roos significantly lifted the club's expectations, which was always going to have its victims, and Jack is one of them. The minimum benchmark now is something that Jack (and others) will never be able to reach on a regular basis. I feel sorry for him, I sincerely do. But I feel much better about the fact that my club is demanding more. Do I hope he gets at least 2 more games this year? Absolutely. Has he earned a spot in the seniors this year? I have no idea, but wonder who he would replace. Do I think we "owe" him for how we developed him? No bloody way. There would be many posters on here that would have no idea what it is like to barrack for a ruthless Melbourne Football Club. That's no criticism to them, they just aren't old enough!

When it looked like his career was about to take off he was hampered by soft tissue injuries, nice bloke, teammates love him around the dressing room, can't get out of the 90's. He's our own Shane Watson!!!

Said the poster who thinks we would get Henderson, a bloke playing his first season at Geelong, who are currently on top, after spending the first stage of his career at a hopeless club. Dazzle is fast becoming the "new" 'Luded...

Jacko, I'm interested in your stance on this subject, especially given your moniker is a play on Jake The Muss, the wife-beating character from Once Were Warriors...

Weren't our last 3 squad members (in the same year) Jamar, Green and Frawley. with the latter two making the team?

The girls didn't have a big enough adam's apple in Beijing for Bitty...

Oliver out? He has been managed superbly this year, and will get another rest next week. We are playing a tough. contested footy team, and you want to drop one of our beasts? Don't think Oscar will be dropped either. While he is still making some frustrating mistakes, it's clear that he's improving each week. My money will be on "No Change", but could see the Stretch omission being a possibility. Would presume he would be replaced by one of Grimes, M Jones or ANB.

Tom must go on to Buddy. He has matched up well with him in the past, so I hope he continues that this weekend. Could be a risk starting Frosty on him. If Franklin gets up and about early, he's bloody hard to stop for the rest of the game.