Benny & The Jett

I understand where you're coming from, but i think there's two major components to being a good AFL player. 1. To have the kind of professional attitude towards training and preparation that Miller has, and 2. Ability, talent, performance on the field, or whatever you want to call it... He has the first, but the jury is seriously out on the second.. All i'm saying is that if I'm seeing a teammate, who is a leader of the club out on the field, who is spilling lace-out passes off his chest, missing targets from 10-30 metres away regularly, giving away pointless free kicks, and missing straight-forward shots on goal often, i'm not going to respect him as a 'player'...and that has ramifications, i believe, for how you perceive him as a 'leader'. I still believe that the most crucial aspect of being a leader is to 'lead by example' with your exploits. The words, attitude towards training, and attitude off-the-field are very important, but they carry no weight if you can't back it up with actions on the field for mine..

The problem is, the message is unlikely to stick with the younger players if you haven't put the 'runs on the board' yourself as an AFL player.. If I were a young & talented key forward at Melbourne, i'm sure i'd like Brad Miller as a person, but I would pay little respect to what he has to say about becoming an AFL player, because he's achieved virtually nothing in a 7 year career at the club.. I'd be looking elsewhere for role models to be honest...

Miller needs to improve drastically in both skill level and consistency to stay on our list beyond 2010. I know he's a great 'clubman' and all, but that's the bottom line. The fact the match committee have kept dropping him over the past couple of seasons, even though our forward line has been terrible would indicate this too..

Petterd impressed me when played up forward last year. Was surprised at how good his overhead & contested marking ability was for a smaller bloke. Also seems to use the ball better when played up forward, and seems to have a nose for the goals. I reckon its a smart move having him train with the forwards, as others have mentioned his tackling and pressure skills are quite good as well, and he can play that Max Rooke 'defensive forward' type role on dangerous QB style defenders. One area that we've been particularly poor in is defensive pressure inside our attacking 50, and he could help greatly in this area potentially.

Hi all, 1st post here!! Go the Mighty Dees!!! 2010 Ladder Position and record: 12th/8 wins-14 losses B& F Winner: Colin Sylvia Most Brownlow Votes: Colin Sylvia Most Rising Star Votes: Jack Trengove Most Improved: Neville Jetta 5 Most important players at end of season: Sylvia, Davey, Frawley, Bate, Grimes 2010 Premiers: Hawthorn Wooden Spoon: Richmond Brownlow: no idea... G. Ablett probably Coleman: Lance Franklin