Rogue

The Bode mistake was a strange one, but I don't think it's a hanging offence. I didn't think the article was particularly interesting though - the angle didn't really grab me. I have liked some of his Demons-related articles in the year though. PS. I agree with those who liked the NM article.

You'll never learn, will you? Fall for it every weekend...

Whether mediocrity is a common commidity in these parts is beside the point. Some might argue TJ epitomises many of the problems we've had in recent times anyway - not particularly hard or accountable, struggled with a tag, but kept some supporters happy with flashes of brilliance in an inconsistent career. Regardless, TJ is 29 in a few months and - TJ or no TJ - we were going to struggle last year and will struggle this year. If you look at the big picture, having TJ isn't going to make any real difference to Melbourne's story. TJ's a great fit for a team who was - or thought they were - a contender. Likewise, pick 16's a good result for a team that's rebuilding. Whether right or wrong, I certainly don't think your view is a majority one.

I believe you are.

It's fine to say players can go. However, you need to replace them with someone (preferably better). Does Newton kick more goals or create more opportunities than Miller? Zomer? Who else is there? Miller's worthy of a best-22 spot.

If you think that comment was unfair then feel free to answer the rhetorical question - who would you prefer to play against if you were a Coach? Melbourne's got to be right up there on the list of preferred opponents...

No doubt about it - it's why Ward played as many games as he did. Unfortunately his game was a little too Ward-like for my liking. It's great to have someone with 'some dash' but - regardless of what the efficiency stats suggest - I felt his disposal let him down too often. With regards accountability (or lackthereof), it was something that was apparent since I saw him in pre-season last year. I wasn't too fussed about his disposal at that stage but his accountability was an issue and it was good to hear he was dropped for that reason. As grazman said, it seemed to improve on his return. You still need to be accountable.

Haha, wow.

The forward 'structure' showed the same problems as last year - plenty of times we'd win the ball and there'd be no options down field (or our forwards would be outnumbered 3:1 etc). Unfortunately the player with the ball gets the wrath of the "just kick it" fans who fail to notice there's only one foward of the ball and he has three opponents on him.

Don't worry, I thought exactly the same thing as you when I read this post from Azz: I'm not sure what he meant to say, but I think the aforementioned quote is pretty clear in asserting that NRL can't get the numbers AFL teams do because of their smaller seating capacity.

It doesn't.

What, we're bad so he'd suit us? On a serious note, I'd be very unhappy if this were to occur. I don't think it will, so I'm not going to worry

When people claim MFC has 'no support' etc it puts it in perspective. Our average crowd figures also smash most other sporting clubs.

Sure, but so are a number of things - memberships, merchandise, etc. My point was that the raffle tickets - or any other similar 'source of cash' - aren't 'instead' of a debt demolition 'tin-rattle'.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's another campaign (albeit on a smaller scale) some time this season. I don't think it's a new thing - they've done that the past couple of years, haven't they?

In a word - no.

I don't need to re-read your posts. If we don't take action we'll continue to have this problem forever! At some stage you need to bite the bullet. Use low picks/rookie picks on (tall) ruck options, as I've said each draft time I've posted on here. A while ago I had a look at the two rucks for each Club and how they came into the AFL system (clearly I had too much free time back then). Many of them were picked up as speculative picks late in the draft or as rookie choices. Given that rucks develop later than smalls this makes sense. There is an issue with numbers when you claim that it's pointless to have another ruckman on the list because we won't be able to find game time for him. As you agree, other Clubs have as many or more ruck options so I'm sure we can ask them how to deal with this 'problem'. You also assert that many young rucks are poor and yet complain that they may have to play VFL 2nds, which you indicate would be terrible.

List management isn't just about the 'now', and perhaps it was that very same argument that meant we did nothing to bolster our ruck stocks further at a time when the fruits of the labour would be reaped now. It's not enough. With a ruck division of Jamar (we tried to trade him away), PJ (seemingly written off as 'first ruck' potential), Meesen (treading water) and Spencer (a rookie) it's still too thin. While it may not have helped us right now, I disagree with your assertion. If we take it that Meesen is no good, as you've said, that PJ isn't going to play the 'number one' ruck role, as Bailey has hinted, that leaves Jamar on the primary list (and no one else). Plenty of teams have as many or more rucks than we do. ...and yet you argue that we can't pick up a second rookie ruck because, with five ruck options across the primary and rookie list, the first-year rookie ruck may not be gauranteed a spot in the VFL 1sts? Each to their own...

We've got huge ruck problems. We need to hope that our injury curse of the past two years is over, at least when it comes to our rucks over the next 8 weeks.

I didn't see it, but I understand where you're coming from. What a mistake by Dyson! In this era you'd think there would be some D/L software so these mistakes were limited. In other news, this wasn't bad - MG Johnson not out 123 A shame about everything else. What a contrast with Harris and McGain.

That's why I'm hoping he'll do well if he gets another bowl, rather than asserting that I'd like to see him do well when he gets another bowl. It's looking even less likely now that Katich has been dismissed. I'm not sure the go-slow is the right decision...

I agree. I think there'll be less of them though, even if we don't see too many more wins.

Not impossible for a guy his age to put on a few centimetres...

Haha, I know what you mean. Don't listen to casey scorp when he says it's for the kids

I think you're probably right. Given his age I think some need to cut him some slack.