Ned

Played like a sack of potatoes except for Stef Martin. He is having a red hot crack and we're proud of him.

Yes, you get a sense of that. I think they both see what could be done, and probably pretty quickly. Having said that, as Dees supporters I think we all have a bit of wishful thinking with these two -- that we read perhaps a bit more into what they say than there actually is. As to Gerard, I think he has a soft spot for Melbourne, and I loved seeing Robbie Flower getting into him a bit, in his gentlemanly way, for leaving. Brock McLean -- very decent bloke and I wish him all the best.

I think that was a very gentle translation of what he said. Pea-hearted frontrunner is what he implied.

I really hope we can recover from most of the injuries for the second half of the season so Bailey can show what he's got. The article confirmed a lot of what I thought about him being a decent bloke with a big heart. That doesn't mean he can coach. Brad Scott tore Bailey a new one from the box a couple of weeks back. To put it in perspective, North then lost to the Lions. Melbourne's problems were evident prior to the injuries. We are incapable of penetrating the press -- despite it being in place for a couple of years -- and we are not trying to implement one (as far as I can see). This is a serious strategic mistake. If Bailey can snag some big wins in the second half of the season and make the finals then he stays. If not, we shouldn't keep him. Some of you people are marshmallows -- you read a little PR and are won over. Get a little heard-headed.

Let's remember this is Martin's second game as the main ruckman. Granted, Kozi is a spud, but Martin performed strongly. I really like his second efforts, too. But what most impressed me was that in the middle of the melee at half-time Riewoldt tries to have a got at a couple of our blokes. Martin bumped Riewoldt and sent him flying and he didn't come back in. It seems to me Martinis only just coming to understand how he can physically dominate opponents (like jumping on Kozi's head!) Sometimes these sorts of crap times with injuries bring something out of those left. Having said that, I just watched the third quarter and don't understand how we lost the game. St. Kilda were appalling. If we couldn't win then I think it's going to be a very long season. Think we'll need a new coach and fully fit team and need to try to fire in 2012. This year we just need to keep pressing youngsters to step up a la Martin.

Gambling is a menace and the ease with which people can bet now is just scary -- the adds on TV and the spruiking by top former sportsmen add to the whole thing. So, yep, I would definitely prefer Melbourne to sever this connection. Australians like a bet and that's fine. But the gambling industry is getting out of hand.

Yep, good call Nasher. I can't stand the way he plays but I would be even more horrified to ditch him and then watch him blossom someewhere else. Keep him in the magoos with strong direction on what he needs to do to reeturn to the senior side.

Superb post. Absolutely sums it up.

On Carlton, agreed; but if they don't I think he will. Viney isn't bright enough.

Fair enough rpfc. I just don't think people need to get excited when a No. 1 draft pick plays an ok game a couple of years after being drafted. And that game still has substantial deficiencies.

I know it's a little off topic and I know they're not in the same category, but the loss of Lloyd and Junior harmed both Essendon and Melbourne. I don't count Lucas as he was clearly falling away. You don't fire captains that are still capable of performing. It destabilises the team and for that reason is stupid.

Morton should stay in the magoos until he has confidence, is getting physical and is dominating.

Yes, that's a good call. Nothing to do with money or anything.

I think the bar is set incredibly low for Watts these days. He takes a couple of marks and kicks a goal and people get excited. What about the scores he drops, his timidness and his ABSOLUTE FAILURE to stick a tackle. When Watts is the tackler you're already looking ahead to see where the ball is going because it's that certain the opposition will get through. He has skills, you can see it. So what? The only game of his I would rate was the one against Freo in Perth last year. But he missed a couple of critical goals when the pressure was on and we lost what would have been an extraordinary comeback. He looks like he lacks ticker. Hopefully it's just low confidence. But he didn't do anything yesterday that excited me. His impact was minimal.

I really can't get enough of a handle on Bailey to say he must go. We have an inexperienced team and most people would say that tends to result in inconsistent performances. That I guess speaks in Bailey's favour. The problem is, check out Essendon. A basketcase last year and now playing solid football after the introduction of a high quality coaching group. My suspicion is that this year's going to be a writeoff. I don't think you can reappoint a coach if after four years nothing has really happened. New blood will be needed. I now doubt Malthouse will come to Melbourne. He'll want revenge on Eddie for kicking him out and will take Carlton. It would be a shorter journey getting them up to challenge than it would be with Melbourne. I don't see Paul Roos coaching after just one year out. Ruling out those two I don't see many options. I reckon Ross Lyon has talent but he's contracted. Eade isn't worth it. Neither is Clarkson. Chocko has had his day and Laidley is a twerp. The only answer to me is to do what Essendon did -- get Garry Lyon and get someone, perhaps Roos, to act as a senior assistant. Go for a massive funding drive to pay for what is needed. We also need to recruit a couple of champions. Open the cheque book and try to lure a Jimmy Bartel or a Goddard. Someone who can set a gold standard for a young group. It feels like we're flailing about. I really hope the administration is working hard figuring out the next move. In a way, tanking for draft picks is the easy part. The next move requires something special.

In: Blease. Like to think we could get a game out of a top 20 pick from 3 years ago. Honestly, his failure to reach the level (I understand the injury) and Watts' failure to perform at it have me scratching my head about that draft, and the one before with Morton.

I'm a big critic of Sylvia but I thought he battled his guts out today. I ask no more than that. If you're going your hardest even when things aren't quite going your way then you don't deserve criticism.

Twice he failed to pass on to the guy in the goal square. Petterd and Bate earlier. I was pretty taken aback too. I think he's fine as captain though. We don't have anyone else at the moment. You can't put a pisshead in charge of the team. Great player and bloke but leave him as the spiritual leader.

Watts needs to grow a pair. I didn't see him stick a single tackle. He was brushed aside constantly. Guy needs to go to the twos and harden up with Morton. Dunn isn't just a spud. He's also a moron. If he doesn't get suspended then he should be dropped like a hot potato. Outside of that, we were trashed by injuries. Still, it makes me sick that that whining [censored] North Melbourne coach will be able to gloat. Unless we're really lucky and get over the injuries for the second half of the season, it may wind up a lost year. Depressing.

Yep, I'm a big critic and agree he was great. Love to see him back it up now. In fact, love to see the whole team back it up.

Not sure when West Coast and Geelong were at a similar level. Maybe this time four years ago? You're comparing last year's wooden spooners (admittedly improved) and a dual-premiership team. Not sure that makes much sense.

Yep, outstanding. Seems to get something from everyone, even spuds like Jake King.

Lies, damn lies, and statistics. Sylvia isn't Judd's little finger. Judd leaves everything he has on the field.

Seconded.

Cale Morton: Cale needs to continue to focus on the little things in his game Like not kicking out on the full. That would be a great start. Jeez....this bloke was a top 10 pick?