Oliver Hill

I didn't do it, but I have no problem with it. You pay your money and can do what you like with your own merchandise. I'm more annoyed by the supporters I saw clapping the players off.

Why do you so readily accept such a pathetic performance? After pondering your signature I have low expectations as to the quality of your reply.

I started going to the footy in the early 1970's as a young kid. From about the age of 11 I'd sit by myself. I'm kind of unusual in that I prefer watching football by myself. I'm also not the sharpest tool in the shed, because week after week, year after year, I'd want to go and watch my team play just hoping we'd eke out that unlikely win. It was a terrible decade to be a Melb supporter. I was a pretty stony faced kid in those days. Robbie Flower was probably all that kept me going. I have two boys aged 9 and 10 and they're smarter than me. They have no interest in football, or the Dees. Sure, they say they barrack for them, but I can't even get them to go to the games anymore. They sort of had an interest for a while, but loss after loss has taken its toll. But as 'Age' points out, it's probably not even just the losing, it's the lack of goals, or virtually anything for a young kid to get excited about. They no longer even ask me about the result when I get home, or how we'll go this year. They don't care and I can't be bothered with the spin. But I'm really not that hard to please. I don't demand wins. I know where we're at and I am patient. I just wanted them to have a crack. And the only ones that did were Green, McKenzie, probably the captain, and poor old Scully and Trengove. I feel like I've let this insipid football club suck my soul.

Round 8. Although a loss to the Shitmond in round 4 would be pretty depressing.

This thread is obviously reactionary and I picked us to come 15th based upon the poor quality of our better players, but at the same time Bailey has done nothing whatsoever to prove he can coach. Maybe he can, maybe he can't. Who would know ? I doubt anyone else could have shown less or have done worse.

You've got to love supporters that are so antiquated in their views that they think that "kick the ball!!" is how modern footy is played.

I think as supporters of a bottom club it becomes easy to expect the worst, but in reality we should be an even money chance today. It's your best players that nearly always determine the outcome of a match. The Hawks are missing Franklin, Sewell, Rioli, Bateman, Burgoyne, plus their first two rucks. They've also lost Croad from the teams that usually pumped us. Hodge, Mitchell, Roughead, Lewis, Brown versus Davey, Green, Bruce, Jamar, Bate The Hawks still have the edge in top end talent, but not by a lot and our lesser lights arguably shade theirs. My head tells me that we're right in this game. My Melbourne nervousness tells me we're likely to lose.

Great story. I have two questions for you. 1. Is Ablett a gun? 2. Is Ablett a F/S selection? Take your time.

How about you do your own research. I'll help you with a link. http://www.footywire.com I don't think anyone expects that top 10 draft picks guarantee success, but each year as talent identification improves the better players are coming from early picks. For example, look at Sheahan's top 10 for 2010. Ablett, Riewoldt, Franklin, Judd, Brown, Selwood, Goodes, Scarlett, Hodge, Cooney. Who's the odd player out in that group? Goodes. Every other player is either a gun F/S selection, or a top 10 draft pick. Now some can critisize Sheahan's list, but that top 10 is quite a reasonable guide going into the current season. Stars of the game are most likely going to come from early picks or F/S's. But yeah, the right development is obviously important too.

I don't expect to win, but I give us a sneaky chance. The Hawks line-up outside Roughead, Mitchell and Hodge is woeful.

One too many.

Wonaeamirri's career is now at the cross roads. I won't be factoring him into footy any time soon.

I counted Watts with 3 kicks and 5 handballs. He did a couple of nice things, but not much. I was disappointed he didn't take a couple of marks he got his hands on, but his achilles heel is marking in one on one contests. He's fine on a lead, or coming over a pack, but poor one on one. He's definitely bulked up noticeably though. And it's his first hitout, so can't glean terribly much. A bit rusty. IMO, he needs a solid couple of months at Casey. I'd really make him earn a call up. Gysberts got a fair bit of it. He got caught holding the ball a couple of times, but in the main was pretty good. Once he fills out he'll be a terric size for an inside mid. Fitzpatrick and Spencer don't have vice like grips in marking contests unfortunately. Wish I hadn't bothered turning up.

Garland back. Watts forward and around the wing. Bate close to goal/CHF - kicked 3 in the third. And as you'd expect Gysberts was in the midfield. EDIT: Watts only played the first half.

Why would somebody bother to BS about something so innocuous ? As it turns out I was there and left at 3/4 time. And yes, Garland and Watts both kicked a goal. Nothing much to report I'm afraid.

Learn to deal with things in isolation. Isolated, this discussion (3 years out) is a complete and utter waste of time. And if we had a team of superstars the nervous Nellies would still find something that caused great angst.

But there's nothing to discuss. Firstly, he's signed on for 3 years, which should have been enough to placate the nervous Nellies round here, and secondly, he comes from country SA. His home was nowhere near Adelaide, which lessons the liklihodd of him ever wanting to leave for an Adelaide team. Other than Thompson when is the last time that a quality player returned to SA ? Even the laughable Dockers manage to keep hold of Pavlich. Try not to fret.

You're right. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I have a filing system for opinions.

Close and possibly the most deserving after Flower, but no cigar. A+

I rate 'stars' as champions of the game, not just champions of their club - think Carey, Lockett, Dunstall, Hird, Voss, Ablett, Judd, Scarlett, Diesel, Harvey, Buckley, ... Then there are elite, or those one might grade as A+ - think Lynch, Crawford, Hall, Fevola, Cox, Richo, West, Aker, Neitz, Tredrea, Fletcher. I think Adam Cooney will end up in this category by the end of his career. The Melb players you list aren't 'stars' and they're not A+. Getting the idea ? The last 'star' or true champion the MFC had was Robert Flower. And if you think I'm being harsh maybe you can list the flags we've won in the last 40 years. Stars have a higher liklihood of playing in a premiership team. Lord knows we desperately need to unearth a couple. It's been a long time between drinks. It's little wonder we're presently at the far reaches of the ladder and it's little wonder some supporters have no real clue as to why we're there. My Brother asked Ron Barassi at a function recently "who was the last champoin at the club ?". Rightly, his response was "we haven't had one since Flower, have we ?". No Ron, we haven't. Glad you get it. Oh, for a friggin 'star'.

We picture "screamers" differently.

I feel a lot better now.

A number of people have Lynden Dunn in their 22. I must have been at the wrong game yesterday, as all Dunn did was confirm why he's a class below being an AFL footballer.

Frawley will take Roughead. You're back to square one.

You may well be right, but he wouldn't be in my team come round 1. And I don't agree with your next point. EDIT: I should clarify my last point. In the main you're probably right, but Warnock is a very limited and one dimensional footballer. This type of player isn't immune form being left out due to matchups.