The Chazz

HT - I'm pretty sure I'm on RPFC's Ignore List, so can you please request that he updates his post with regards to Jeffy's contract status please. Cheers.

We've seen Petracca and Trengove come in without any match fitness last year. Sorry Azz, I know you're not the only one concerned by this, but seriously, it's 12 months off. No different to someone coming back from an ACL, other than that they've been able to train solidly during that time. If it were 3 years off and they were 30+, that'd be a different story.

Didn't Jeffy re-sign for another 3 years only a couple of weeks ago?

Point? I did actually have a laugh on Monday. According to the radio station I was listening to, at one stage Watts had had 5 kicks and was kicking at 25% efficiency. Now, I'm not a mathematician, but if he had 1 good kick out of 5, that'd be 20%, or if he had 2 good kicks, that would be 40%.

Going to be a let down - when my wife and I were expecting our first child, we nicknamed the foetus "The (Love) Bug". Just after that Tomas debuted, so he sparked our interest and ended up in Dream Team's, etc. Sorry it wasn't any better than that...!

Old Dee, I always agree with this sentiment. However... I reckon this year we are seeing a far superior way of managing our younger players. We've seen Oliver rested twice, Petracca has had a delayed start, the likes of Angus and Salem are out for health reasons. We've also given ANB and Newton a taste, but now they're back at Casey. I am confident that if any of our young players start to show signs of tiredness, there are players that have had an "easier" year (at Casey) more than capable of coming in and playing their role for 2, 3, 4 games straight. Our finals ambitions will be made clear after this Sunday.

Averages at just under 75% disposal efficiency in his 77 games to date. Did acknowledge that I have no knowledge of his leadership abilities, and to be honest, I'm not asking him to be a leader like Kirk, just think their playing style is very, very similar.

No doubt there are other threads about him, but thought this bloke deserved an updated one. Roos always had that ability to find a player from another team, bring them in to his environment, then watch them get to levels that many didn't think would be possible. I know we got sucked in to that sort of thing when we picked up the likes on Michie and Newton (no disrespect to either of those blokes). Vince has always been a quality player, but has probably been more consistent than anything else. The one that I think has the ability to develop in to something else is Tom Bugg. For some weird reasons that I won't go in to in this forum, I've watched Bugg a lot since his debut at GWS. At the start of this year I was stoked that he was now playing for us, so that I didn't have to watch GWS games. Not once did I think that he could become an outstanding player, but this view is fast changing. What I will throw out there for discussion, and I'm happy for people to shoot it down, but by geez he reminds me of a young Brett Kirk. Kirk turned out to be one of Roos' great leaders, so I'm not sure where Tom sits with his leadership ability, but he just looks to me like the kind of guy that is one of the first picked each week because of the roles he can play, is happy to play, his unselfishness allows him to play. Welcome to the Melbourne Football Club, Tommy, I think you will enjoy your time with us, not nearly as much as we're enjoying it though!

The players that Guthrie mentioned in this article are being managed superbly by the coaches. They have another core group of younger players developing at Casey, where they can learn (and make mistakes), so that when their opportunity in the seniors comes up, they will slot straight in. The likes of ANB, Newton, even Mitch White. I'd like to see those blokes get a solid 5 or 6 games toward the end of the season, where they can show that they can play their role too. I am trying really, really hard not to get excited about this team at the moment, but it's very difficult not to.

Jeesus, Stuie will have a meltdown!

Stuie, very readable post, thank you. Seriously though, has your account been hacked?

Oh, I didn't realise you wanted my opinion, you didn't actually ask. My view is that while our defence has leaked a lot of easy goals, I think given they are trying to get used to the balance of attack and defend, they are doing a great job. Due to the outs (experience) that I've previously mentioned, I think that the younger players, in particular Wagner and Hunt, are going well. I don't think having an experience "gulf" is a negative for these guys, mainly because it appears that even for the experienced guys that have managed to get on the park, that they are struggling with the new game plan too. I think our disposal coming out of the backline has been the best it's been for a long time. Obviously still has a lot of work needed, but generally, I don't cringe when our HBF kick it out, especially when comparing it to the days when Grimes was down there. On the leaking of goals, it's amazing to think that while sometimes it's like we have NFI down back, we are only 8 points worse off YTD. Truth be known, we will actually have conceded less points than last year after this week's game. If I had to choose one or the other, I would say our backline hasn't gone backwards this year. Further to that, the fact we can see the type of footy we want to play is a massive improvement compared to previous years. Their best has been excellent, but the gap between great and pus is still too wide. This will change with more games and development of players playing under a "new" game plan. It has to be mentioned though that when our defenders have looked ordinary at best, it has generally been on the back of our midfield getting a touch up. Do we invest more in to strengthening the midfield, so that it helps out backline? Finals this year is highly unlikely, but we can't lay total blame on our lack of experience in the back half. What I am satisfied with is that we've been able to let our long-term defenders learn in the seniors, without it being too much of a burden on the rest of the team. This experience/development will prove invaluable.

How can I agree or disagree? This was my original point. You obviously believe it has gone backwards but you're arguing a point that can't be proven. Further, you are arguing that because we lack experience in the backline, it's having an impact (which has to be negative) on the development of players. I'm amazed that you don't barrack for Collingwood, given your fetish for things to be black and white. There's far too many variables with this topic, but as usual, you struggle to have a civilised discussion about a topic where there is more than one right answer.

So you're not saying our backline has gone backwards? What are you saying then? It has improved? It has stagnated? You are making it sound like the only development a player gets is during a game (be it at Senior or Reserves level). Do you not think a big part of a younger player's development happens during the week also? The lack of onfield, game day experience is well and truly being made up for by the offield development. Roos/Goodwin knows that providing H & Melksham can get a solid crack at it in 2017, that they will instantly add 337 games of experience in to it. I'm all for adding quality to our team, but I don't think it's as drastic as what some are claiming. Again, at the start of 2016, Roos would've been expecting H, Melksham and Garland to provide this experience you desire. Between the 3 of them they average 166 games each. That's a lot of experience that will hopefully be injected Round 1, 2017. (I would love to inject Hurley in to that group).

Roos can't control a lack of senior players when they get suspended for the season (Melksham), receive concussion that puts them out indefinitely (H), or sees them in and out of the team due to injury/form (Garland, who is also part of the LG). I'm sure having those players this season would've assisted in the development of Frost, OMc and Wagner. And perhaps Roos rates the current type of development, i.e. playing in the seniors, a lot better than having some our other senior players in the team (i.e. Dunn) playing along side them. I'm sure you still believe we have gone backwards, but as I said, your definition and Roos' definition would be poles apart.

Stuie, I think it depends on what your definition of "improved" and "biggest weakness" is, then how this compares to those that have more idea than you and I (i.e. Roos). I think you will find that Roos is satisfied with our defence, even though it looks that we've taken one step forward and two steps back. We, the outsiders, often have a very simplistic view when it comes to this sort of stuff. We're entitled to, as we are the ones that they ask to make financial contributions to the club. Most of us are over the mediocrity of the past decade (or even longer for some), so are looking for instant results. Roos was never about instant results, but he is setting up the team so that Goodwin is.

DD, if you have a look at the clip of Bernie's "report" on the MFC website, it shows an extended version of the play. If you have a look at the 16-17 second mark, you can actually see that Pannell isn't actually looking at Bernie when the "incident" happened. He more paid both the 50m and the report based on Squealer Smith's reaction, which totally sucked Pannell in. I remember thinking it at the time that Pannell wasn't actually watching Bernie, and just responded to Smith's sooking. The clip on the MFC site just confirms it. Joke.

1. Brisbane 2. Freo 3. Melbourne Last few years I'd have Melbourne as a clear top choice. Our skills and (lack of ability to implement any sort of) game plan have been quite painful to watch, and if I didn't bleed red & blue, I'd never watch one of their games.

It's 11 points worse off than the defence of 2015 (as at Round 10). That's not per game, that's over 10 games. Poita, how would our style be if we DID have the players to play it right?

Sorry for quoting yours specifically, DC, but here's something that we need to consider... After Round 10, 2015, we stood at 3 wins, 7 losses, points for 701, points against 971. After Round 10, 2015, we stand at 5 wins, 5 losses, points for 1054, points against 982. Have we really gone backwards with our defence? What has happened is that when the opposition score goals, they score them a lot easier, which makes our defence look terrible. However, compared to last year, the amount of goals/points that we are leaking is basically no different (just on 1 point per game), yet our own scoring has increased around 6 goals a game. We have to be on the right track, especially as this is the first year where we have seen significant evidence of the defensive side of our game.

Melksham?

I think you are seeing things, HT. Just have to see how much/little Ebert's head moves after each one. If they were punches, Ebert would've; a. been knocked out b. been bleeding c. not been in any state to retaliate d. all of the above Yes, the other Power players came in after the event, but it wasn't even a melee. If they were punches thrown, it would've been on for young and old. Should get off, and I would say that regardless of who he plays for. It was a brain fart, and his punishment was a goal against. That's all it deserved (other than a Roos bake at some stage).

Out - Wagner, Kent In - Grimes, Trengove We never beat the Hawks, so lets blood JT. Clearly Kent needs a confidence check. Wagner is up there with [censored] on a bull...

Lost again at selection. Here are the rules: - Know every position, and every position's role. (enter Craig Jennings) - pick players that are 100% right to fulfil their role - sit back and watch us win. Continually losing it at the selection table. Roos has 10+ games left of his tenure. So money rights, but so many chances left to right his wrongs.

He needs to get used to it. If he can't, then his teammates need to deal with it better. Jones has spent years dealing with a tag on his own - perhaps he knows what it takes to assist young Jack... Experience means bugger all to me when it's our experience that lets us down. I love Bern more than most, but his inability and reluctance to consistently remain an A grade footballer is killing us. Played out of position? maybe, but Bern, you're better than holding grudges...