P-man

I really don't know what you're trying to achieve in this thread. How does a finals team differ from a best team, which has been discussed many times over? It just seems like you're saying "let's aim for finals" so you can reserve bragging rights in the one in a million chance event that we do play finals this year. Wait until next week at least. For god's sake, we've only just beaten a dishevelled Carlton. Cool your jets.

"Ugh" and/or "Hm"

Your posts are so one sided. His stats for that year were: 13 disposals a game 10 contested a game 24 hitouts a game 2.9 clearances a game 1.1 goals a game 3.4 tackles a game As an all round performance, you'd happily take that. With Jacobs you get more hitouts but less contribution in most other areas, particularly scoring and assists. Was it an AA year? No. But he is not the total spud you and others are claiming him to be. Stop being so precious.

Not really. I would've thought it is evidence of an improvement in his kicking, which is noticeable. Admittedly I don't know where he would've ranked in previous seasons, but I'd be amazed if it was as high as 4th. It's when and where he turns the ball over that makes it stick out in people's minds. But credit to him. He has improved.

Those top five contested ball and clearance winners are the perfect illustration of improvement in the midfield from last year. It used to be Jones with Viney lending a hand. Now there are three more contributors in between.

We have to beat Richmond. Christ they are bad. The Lions had half a team and were still in it at three quarter time.

Rapt for him. Over to Roosy to see what he can craft.

Surely it will be a lot closer than that. I've tipped the W. I saw enough last week to think we can roll them on our home ground. But either way I think it will be close.

haha..this is the first thing I think of when I hear Kirk's name now.

Dawes and Cross are clearly leaders at the club. Whether they need the title is another matter, but it's obvious that they are. I think Dawes being elevated is a no brainer.

He's got something special about him for sure. Natural instincts.

Spot on, master. The AA call was certainly premature and was justified, remarkably, by him being the best partner for Cox, rather than purely on his own merits. But he still had a very good year in his principle role: being an effective tap ruckman. Since when has being a brilliant kick come into that equation? Both Watts and NicNat still have plenty of upside and oh my god why are we discussing this AGAIN...

Some pretty embarrassing comments about Natanui. He's a lot better than the picture being painted of him in this thread. He is carrying an injury, plain and simple. You'd clearly take him ahead of Kreuzer ffs. Anyone who wouldn't is kidding themselves.

Anyone whose met him will attest to him being a ripping fella who deserves better luck than the run he has had. Hopefully this is for the best and he comes back as that kid that excited everyone in his first year.

haha..I know that guy..

If someone could explain to Russian the concept of hitouts to advantage, he'd be a star.

Good god man. You've just hexed the pigdog. (there's a sentence you don't say every day)

To the general football public, Watts is the poster boy for the past 5 years. So the "much maligned no. 1 draft pick" tag has stuck, as much by association of Melbourne being horrible as by his own deeds.When the team is no longer horrible, I suspect Watts will just be no. 4 for Melbourne. I agree it is annoying, but I understand where it originates from.

Some pretty crazy changes tbh. Kidding on JKH, surely. His score involvements alone justified him keeping his spot. More than happy for Toumpas and Salem to spend another week or two at Casey and make them really earn a spot. We are in a position this week where you make minimal changes, if any at all.

I think the winds are finally changing on that. He has been respected for a while but I think people are now starting to recognise he is a genuine A grader and a walk up start to any midfield. He has started off the season to be in AA discussions at the end of the year, but that will largely depend on how well the team does as a whole.

I wouldn't say it's quite as gloomy as that. Let's keep in mind the number of MFC players at Casey atm, and both weeks he's been among the bests. Personally I hope he gets another chance in the red and blue.

At the start of the season, Grimes nominated him as the breakout player for 2014. Time will tell but it was a decent step forward that he took on Saturday.

Great to hear Jetta was able to follow up on his performance last week. Would love to see him get another chance In a team that has some self belief. Toumpas and Salem were the two I most hoped would show something so sounds Ike that wish was granted. A little curious to see what JKH and Byrnes would be like together at the feet of Dawes, Frawley and Hogan. On Trenners, if the standard against Carlton can be maintained (irrespective of results), It may be a while before he works his way back into the team. We can't afford to let momentum slip in order to carry him. The ball movement was so much quicker this week and it wasn't coincidental.

Not sure about the "ripe for the picking" comment though They have that on tape Dawesy.

Class act.