DirtyDees DDC

It's not just a matter of numbers, although at pick 17 the MFC has 5 fewer chances to get the player they want. We could have picked up David Hale for pick 12 - no question. But we didn't offer pick 12 for Hale because of the clubs' assessment of his form, his ability and his age. So we offered pick 32, or we offered pick 12 with strings attached. Maybe we should have also thrown in a Maric or a Warnock or another listed player with pick 32 if we really wanted him. I agree that Hale would be a better option for second ruck/tall forward at the moment than Spencer, Johnson, Martin, Gawn or Fitzpatrick. But we only offered a guaranteed pick at 32. Hawthorn could offer more, so they got him.

Jones may have signed, but he may not be happy with his current role at Melbourne. Essendon and West Coast were interested, however southern suburb sources indicate he wants to remain IN Melbourne with a local club.

Agree. i don't like it. Collingwood gave up pick 17 last year for a top 3 australian ruckman in Jolly. We are giving up pick 12 for the number 4 ranked ruckman at North. I don't think he's worth it. Maybe at 32. We have had a youth policy in our recruiting for the past 3 years - now we are going to pick a 26 yo with below average defensive skills. he couln't even get a gig when Petrie was injured. No thanks.

If his growth rate has slowed for the past 18 months then he might be one of those unlucky kids that towers over everyone in school years 7-8, then refuses to go to school reunions in case they call him shorty. Has he added any inches in 2010? Be happy if he can reach his dad's stats - 183cm and 90kg, and can kick!

So what was Todd Viney? My estimate is 185cm and 88 kg.

Not so. It does happen, and often. Sadly i'm speaking from personal experience. There are also too many examples of star juniors that dominate under age football but stop growing at 16. There was a C Judd who played 2 games for Hawthorn in the 70s. Great ruck-rover type at U15s but to short for VFL in that position at about 175-178 cms. You're right that many kids keep growing past 16. Jack is possibly mid range height and above average weight in U16 football. So let's judge Jack Viney in 2 years time, when a 175cm midfielder will be on the short side in U18 footy.

I'm concerned about his height, or lack of it. He's rumoured to be 175cm and 16yo. A lot of kids stop growing at 16 and he may stuggle to match it in AFL unless he adds a bit of size. The average height and weight for AFL top teams is approx 188 cms and 87 kgs, although Joel Sellwood does well at 182cms. The reports on his game indicate he physically imposes himself at the contest; that he's a high contested possession winner who dominates the midfield in junior footy. That's fine for U16s but I doubt if he can play the same sort of game at senior level if he stays at 175cms. He may dominate the under-age competitions simply because his body is better developed than the rest of his competition. He can still be competitive if he's quick like David Rodan, but the reports don't highlight any massive leg speed from Jack. To use Jack Dyer's famous quote - 'A good big man will always beat a good little man'.

Let Gold Coast have their time in the sun. They will be crying poor in 2-3 years time when Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon open their chequebooks to the likes of Josh Toy, while West Coast and Freo do the same for Swallow and Matera. Gold Coast is not the only AFL team that wants to buy a premiership, and by 2013 they will not have the benefit of an extra $1m in their salary cap.

Collingwood - can't read, can't write, but gee they can bloody draw!!

If he stays fit he must also have an excellent chance of winning the Goal of the Year. Has anyone ever won both awards?

Alwyn for Jetta? Alwyn is quicker, and possibly has better foot skills. I'm suggesting a trade, only because we have 2-3 draft picks atm.

Seven news reported tonight that Brown will confirm on Wednesday he's joined Gold Coast.

Good article. No-one doubts Jones' courage - he'll run thru brick walls for the club. but that's part of the problem. Breaking tackles is difficult even if you are built like Matthew Pavlich; it's very tough if you're only 181 cms.

It's possible that Jack is adhering to team rules - that his job is to offer a series of false leads to draw a defender and free up another forward. I'm just not sure if North fell for it. Jack was on his own and in good position a number of times but was ignored by team mates and opponents. Be interesting to see if the coaching panel and the players make him a target during the pre-season training.

It's possible they kept Newton so that PJ could play 1st ruck for Casey. The scorpions are desperately short of anyone who can play in the ruck. Apart from Davey , Grimes and Petterd, this team for the match against North is possibly our best current 22. At least 1/2 of Sunday's line-up will form the nucleus of our squad for the next 4 years. It would be terrific to beat North for the first time in 8 games, and prove how good we can be.

Good post JCB. I know you were very critical last year at the communication from the MFC to the fans. An example was changing the training venues at short notice - leaving a few melbourne supporters stuck at a vacant ground at Casey. The club was very apologetic and have clearly made strong efforts to improve their communication with the rank and file. Sounds like it's all part of Jimmy's grand plan - to create a inclusive community club - a 'clan'. I saw Hawthorn's pre-game entertainment last week. Getting supporters to have shots at goal and offering prizes. Maybe the club could get some of some of the more famous (or infamous) demonland and demonology members to take part in a goal kicking competition - to 'put their feet where their mouth is'! I'd like to see that.

Don't most of the rugby union players come from private school and university backgrounds? 120kg front row forwards may lack brains, but i don't think they lack intensity.

They humiliated us in round 1, and on paper they have an even better side today with the addition of Buddy, Bateman, Burgoyne and Sewell. But we had a number of players short of experience (Scully, Trengove, McKenzie, Strauss and Spencer) and form and fitness (Davey, Bate, and Bruce). Different story this time with Scully, Trengove and Jordie all packing on double figures of games, and our backline has been unchanged for weeks. If we can avoid another 6 goals to nil quarter like last time, then we're a chance. Go Dees.

We face the Hawks without 5 to 6 players from our 'best 22' at the start of the year (Moloney, Grimes, Petterd, Bate, Morton and Warnock). We also have another 5 kids who were picks 11 to 21 in the draft who must be pushing for selection in the senior team next year. The problem for all these guys is the rise to fame of our 'no name' brands - McKenzie, Dunn, Bail and Bartram. I discount Jamar because he was everyone's pick as our No 1 ruckman, but where did these other guys come from? I also feel sorry for Cheney who is showing good form at Casey (great win yesterday too - their best for the year). I really hope we do the dorks today, but regardless of the result, we could see up to 10 diferent players in our side when we next play the hawks. We now have a lot of depth to see us thru the next two years. Very handy bercause we wont get many new draft picks.

Good win. We had too much skill for them in the last quarter. What'll happen when Jurrah holds all his marks and kicks straight? I was rapt to see the tremendous number of red and blue streamers and banners behind the goals at the punt rd end. Last year i went to the Dees Freo match at the 'G' and we had nothing there behind the goals. Just another small sign of the re-emergence of the MFC as a power in AFL.

Certainly is. He had 25 possessions against Brisbane = - the same number as Jurrah, Bennell, and Wonnaeamirri combined! You can hardly say that Jones gets a lot of cheap easy kicks. Looks like Bailey wants more pace in the team. Maric was also stiff to go out, and we now have a reserves team with Morton, Bate, Jones, and Warnock - 4 guys who were probably in our top 22 at the start of the year. Things will only get tougher next year when Tapscott, Blease, Grimes, and Gysberts are pushing for places.

Richmond are possibly in better form at the moment. They seem to get a lot of drive from their backline - with Newman, Connors and Deledio starring. We should seriously consider putting a defensive player on Deledio. He's very quick and generates a lot of run from their defence. Maybe Jones is an option here.

It wasn't so long ago when we were complaining about our poor starts to matches - the Carlton and Geelong matches were classic examples. We have turned this around in recent weeks and now have won 7 1st quarters for the year, including 3 of our last 4 matches. Bailey has consistently said we need to win more quarters of footy this year. Currently the total quarters won is 30, just 2 down on 2009. However, now we can't seem to win any last quarters of football. We've only won 6 for the year. The last was against Collingwood and the other 5 occuring in rounds 1-5. It hasn't been a problem when we jump sides by a big margin like the swans, but the Brisbane match was too close and we struggled badly. We had just one shot at goal in the final quarter, and that was courtesy of a 50 metre penalty. I hope the MFC pick this up on Sunday. Richmond have only won 24 quarters in 2010, but 8 have been final Qs. We could be in trouble if it's close at 3/4 time.

I recall this topic coming up in earlier posts. Some members indicated Green wasn't eligible next year for the veteran's list. Maybe they misread the words 'in the relevant year' to mean 2010.

That makes sense ID, but i have a feeling that Green can't go on the veterans list till 2012.