bing181

How, prey tell, do you assess 18 year olds except by their performance at under-age (e.g. TAC) footy? Another day on the MFC Boards ...

Who's making excuses? I didn't. Neeld didn't. None of the players did. I don't accept that it was Hawthorn's 20 year olds who took us apart on Saturday, it was the same old hardened warriors who've been doing it for years. They didn't recently win a premiership for nothing. It just takes time, I don't see that as making an excuse, it's just the way it is. If it wasn't like that, we should all be shaking in our boots at the thought of facing all the mega-stars at GWS.

I for one have some difficulty seeing this as a problem in the same vein as some that you referred to above. But for me, I feel that we handled the difficulties of the TS situation as well as possible, and so far, the same goes for LJ. I wouldn't say the same for St Kilda with the successive schoolgirl/Lovett scenarios, or even North's cack-handed mismanagement of the Majak Daw situation of a couple of weeks back. Also, unlike these various other scenarios, there's a very clear timeframe here, and things will sort themselves out around the court case in May. Actions and responses will naturally flow on from that I would have thought, and in the meantime, everyone will just keep their heads down and get on with things. Really hard to see how Liam would be considered for selection in the AFL before then, for a variety of reasons. Every club has player management issues ... it's a long long list, and includes our very own Moloney, Sylvia, Blease etc., and while the scale of the LJ situation might be different, it comes with the job I would have thought.

Why would that be surprising. Couch and Magner are 24 (or going on), they've effectively been in the system for 5- 6 years, which is 3 or even 4 years longer than the names that are being bandied about here. They're men, with men's bodies, and yes, are harder all round. At least compare apples to apples. Going to be a long year for some of you.

Moreso than the people who pencil in a certain loss?

I could agree with some of the more negative posts here if what we saw last night had been repeated across the whole 3 weeks of the NAB cup, but that's not the case. We were OK up in Brisbane, though hard to judge given the conditions, and did very well, more or less, against Collingwood. But, we weren't able to back that up this week. Not surprising perhaps given the number of young players, and the absence of arguably our 2 best players against the Pies (Petterd and Magner). Learning the game plan and working together is going to take time. Learning to put it together week in week out is going to take even longer. Consistency will be the last brick to fall into place, frustrating as that may prove for many of us - if only we had a few senior players with the quality of Hawthorn's to show the way. Cheney looked better with the Hawks than he ever did at Melbourne - but who wouldn't with a Luke Hodge up the ground whenever you looked up. But if our worst had to be on display, I'm glad it was at this stage of the season. Now all the new coaches have a clearer idea of what they're working with - and presumably can start to do something about it. On top of that, we're still underdone. McKenzie's and Trengove's first game of any sort for the season - even Judd was described as being "rusty" in his first hit-out, and Jonathan Brown hardly took us apart when we played Brisbane for his. I also think a few here are underestimating Hawthorn. Not so much because they aren't a very strong side, but because of where they are this year. They weren't quite able to go all the way last year, and they've been hurt badly. It's clear that that has put a kind of steel in their collective souls this off-season, and they're a team on a mission. They're going to be tough to beat, for everyone. Finally, I don't know about anyone else around here, but the Jurrah episode has left me feeling as flat as I've been for a while - not just for Liam and the events, but because of the broader context for it all. I cannot believe that Liam's team mates, professional as they are, haven't been touched by it as well. They certainly looked flat.

Depressing end to a depressing week.

Not looking good. Nothing like the intensity of last week.

As a contribution to some of the background reading here, the following is worth a look. It's a transcript of the sentencing for Jurrah's co-accussed in this case, Chris Walker, for the original stabbing and death incident. An insight into Liam's world. http://www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au/documents/sentencing_remarks/2012/2/Sims_Walker_27022012_21029579_21030455_SenNet.pdf

Me also. Not only is he well enough to give an interview, but if you're attacked by any sharp weapon, the first place you get cut up is your arms as you try to protect yourself. Not questioning his version of events either.

Which is something he hasn't be able to do of late. You wonder (or I do) how much of a problem this wrist injury has been, dragging on as it has since August last year, through a series of (failed?) ops, and all the time stopping him doing the one thing that gives his life meaning in Melbourne, footy. The club apparently told him he needed to do a solid month of training before playing any game at all, but with upcoming events back home (a funeral and the birth of his baby), he must have been wondering when he was ever going to run out onto the MCG again.

- we're sending a couple of guys up there at the moment, along with Bruce MacKinnon - Liam is well supported at the club, Craig Lees was mentioned - no problems with Liam at Melbourne, with his attitude or application - Josh Mahoney and Craig talking to the other players - Liam also supported by the other indigenous players - don't really know anything specific of the events of the last 24 hours - haven't spoken to Liam yet Maybe others can chime in ...

Quality posts guys.

Devastating and tragic for all concerned, hope somehow Liam can get through this, whatever that may mean. Speechless.

There's a statement on the club site re why he was given leave. Don't know what's worse, what Liam's going through, or some of the posts here.

None of us even know what the "this" is that you're referring to. Hard therefore to see how you can jump from there to "there's definitely a case". We know nothing and - as a few of the posts here show - understand even less.

To answer my own query: Gysberts and Sam Blease, who both played in Melbourne’s win over Collingwood at Etihad Stadium last Saturday night, will play for Casey. Youngsters Lucas Cook, Kelvin Lawrence and Jai Sheahan will also play for the Scorpions. ... as will Strauss and Jetta.

No Kelvin Lawrence. Had hoped to see him get a run. Same for Strauss and Cook. Still a few guys off the pace and/or coming back from injuries and ops it seems.

Jurrah sauce ... I like it. Add to forward line, mix to taste.

I believe it's the same injury, the hip as a result of the fall on the sprinkler. They did a "clean-up" op at the end of the season, and that's what he's coming back from.

You don't have to be an aboriginal from an island off the NT to have your life thrown into turmoil by the sudden and tragic death of close family members. Really insensitive comment if you ask me.

Thought you'd lost interest in the thread. Can't help yourself.

To the extent that I can decipher your "English", no-one here is claiming to be an expert in indigenous culture. On the other hand, they are at least acknowledging that there may be differences, which is more than what you're doing.

The old "I'm only saying what other people are too scared to" gambit? And without any evidence. Hard to see on what basis you can claim to represent "a lot of the members". You don't speak for anyone. As was suggested earlier here, these couple of posts are easily amongst the most offensive ever posted on this board - which is saying something.

Agree with everything here, hard not to! A few notable plusses for me re last night: - the win is going to really help the "buy-in" for Neeld and the coaches on the part of the players. That's if anyone still needed convincing. - the new blood around the place, the Magners, Crouches and Clarks have brought a new energy and attitude that helps lift everyone. - including the "old hands". Green and Davey both looked like players who are rediscovering themselves and their footy. - what we've been missing for so long has been senior players and leadership. We may still not have much of the former, but we're starting to see some of the latter. Jones played a solid captain's game last night, leading from the front and by example.