Robbie57

The allegation has been removed from Thomas' blog. No doubt because it is false.

He should apologise to Neeld.

Neeld has been foxing. Watts on wing to play goodes type of game. Just how they played him last week at last we are playing to his current strengths. Joel mac is no surprise (even if I didnt pick him) as he is a hard at it type that neeld would like.

Might be a surprise or two on the day.

I have long thought Cousins was a self indulgent brat in a culture in the West (and elsewhere) which glorified his behaviour.

No one pulled him up, he was allowed to play fuelled on drugs and so the cycle continued.

As you can tell I had very little sympathy for him but today I agree with hardtack he is so far down he needs compassion at this stage.

I dont like him or what he has chosen in life but I can see its desperation time which is sad for anyone.

Last night I watch this game . Many thanks to Fox Footy for a day of Stynes magic.

Boy did this game bring back some memories. I wont try and list them all but our team was pretty solid that year.

My first observation is how good Jimmy was on his knees, yes his knees!

It all came back to me, once the big guy hit the ground he was always quickly to his knees and hand passing the ball.

Not his best game but did a few game saving things. Will never be forgotten.

And Jimmy's mates:

Viney; racked up the possessions at an unbelievable rate (but coughed up at least 2 Mortonesque clangers).

Stinga; blond tips were big back then but some other flashes of brilliance as well. (reminds me a lot of Petterd for some strange reason)

Febey; as the commentary says "not sure which one that was" but one of them will get a lot of votes.

Neeta; looking very young and slightly thin (playing down back reminded me of a young Watts).

Lyon; a very angry ant, gives the ump a ferocious spray at one stage. Absolutely top class CHF who hadn't been hugged by Jimma yet.

Jackovic; Great perm and very tight shorts ( it was a full forward thing in that era).

Wight; Absolutely poleaxed one of our own players in a trade mark go for the contest at all costs leap. Like Jimma spent a lot of time flailing around on the ground and saved a certain goal with a soccer goalie save.

The Ox: I had forgotten how good he was and it was no wonder Neeta was playing down back with the Ox , Jackovic and Lyon in the forward line.

There was a spark in this team. I wonder what games they talked about yesterday over a drink for Jim?

(For the record we won by 5 points in a tight game we dominated all day. The 3rd quarter looked like it would be scoreless at one stage)

Such a tricky word. I'll assume your brothers were added to the membership list and not removed.

They were but in the event they fail to Re-sign next year they will be resigned.

Where did you see the photo Robbie?

http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/afl/jim-stynes-funeral-20120327-1vvk9.html?selectedImage=0

The HUn had one of Sam Newman in a red and blue tie as well which was a nice touch on his part.

Just saw the photo of Bruce. Class.

Watched on the web from Sydney, tears streaming down the face.

Jim lives on in all of those who spoke.

This is all Jack Watts' fault...

..or Morton's.

dees best and fairest? Jones

dees best 1st year player? Magner

goals clark will kick? 56

games jurrah will play? 10

dees surprises of the year? We will sign Pendles causing Eddie demand Vlad remove us from the AFL.

premiers? West Coast in 1 point win over Hawks (who are destined to lose the following year after the Dees eliminate them in the Prelim Final by a point).

first coach to get sacked? Kevin Sheedy sacks himself claiming he is the King of Scotland and the rightful heir to Vlad's crown and is last seen walking down Parramatta road in a Pith helmet and Kilt, meanwhile mounting pressure on Buckley as the Pies fall to 7th, Cloke signs with Richmond and Buckley tells Eddie "we are in a rebuilding phase".

biggest off field controversy? Breakfast point Drug raid during which Voldermort is tasered and put out for the rest of the year. NSW Police claim they thought there was a wild animal in the room after seeing Voldermorts Billy Ray Cyrus Skunkcut poking out of the top of bedsheets.

games won by gws? 1; in round 9. Essendon management book flights to Skoda Stadium but only after boarding the flight do they realise they are heading to Prague in the Czech republic.

Like rfpc's idea .

Here is my take:

Back Zone - Sellar, Garland, Bennell, Rivers, and Bail .

Back line match up - Frawley (Longer),

Mids (Rotation players) - Moloney, Magner, Trengove, Jones, Bate, Green, McKenzie.

Forward Zone - Clark, Davey, Howe, Martin, and Petterd.

At large - Jamar, Watts

Tagger - Bartram (Black)

Sub: Grimes

Watts is not going to be the next Brown, Roughead, Franklin, Cloke, Dawes, Pavlich, Riewoldt, other Riewoldt, or anyone else, for that matter.

He's going to be the next Jack Watts. And he's going to play in a position which suits him. If that's FF, so be it. If it's CHF, so be it. If it's the wing, or HF, or HB even, so be it. The talent is there, the fitness too. Once the hunger, the aggression, and the consistency settle in, we'll see he has got what it takes.

Agree. Let's use him as best we can. Personally I think he is more like a goodes type around the ground run all day tall.

Has neeld been foxing on this? maybe he is going to play him as an old fashioned ruck rover.

We're wrong but not because he played a good game last night.

A great team player.

May be given a rest by the match review.

I shouldn't show my anger but I will as I am reading a bit criticism of Jimmy having a state funeral.(not on here - Sun and Age comments on articles)

"Lots of people do good work for charity and their work doesnt merit a state funeral".

I for one do charity work and will never receive a state funeral.

I for one have not founded an organisation that has helped over 60,000 young Australians. Many celebrities have lent their names to charities that have helped raising money in the short term and then run out of steam as their "celebrity status" dissipates( not that I will ever criticise any efforts to help others). Whilst Jimmy has maintained a certain level of celebrity Reach has become what is not because of Jimmy lending his name but because of his committment ( and others) to the cause.

I suggest to anyone that says lots of peoples do good charity work (which I applaud) that goes unheralded to go and research Reach and see the enormity of what it has done and continues to do in large measure due to its founder.

Does Jimmy deserve a State funeral ? No. He deserves a federal funeral and national day named in his honor.

I think its important to remember that events like this are symbolic recognition of the many people who do excellent work like Jimmy. By recognising one individual we are not diminishing the work of others but in fact celebrating that the selfless work of many is something our community values.

I resigned my brothers, so its +2.

I have no problem tipping against the Dees if I genuinely don't think we can win. That does not mean that I want us to lose. I would much prefer to get my tip wrong in that case. I have never understood why people think they have to tip us out of some blind loyalty.

Certainly not critical of anyone for tipping against us. I believe anyone spending time on this site is a loyal supporter full stop.

I think one of my mates has lost it when he refuses to wear something again that "caused" a big Melbourne loss (although the demon shop does a brisk business on him alone) and he thinks I am mad when I tell him not to predict a shot on goal.

It just pains me to tip against or to think there is no hope of a win.

I just hope the players go into every game thinking they are a chance to win.

One man takes us on a journey and we see the world a different way.

After watching Gary what struck me is that Jim is living on in him and no doubt the countess others he has touched.

Gary did himself, our club and most imporatantly Jimmy proud last night.

This has taken a long time to type as I wipe away the tears of loss, joy, sadness and pride.

I could never tip against the Dees even if it meant losing the tipping, which it has.

Exactly how I feel. I gave away work tipping because i refused to tip against them.

Could we have a tipping competition where everyone must Tip the Dees or are Robbie F and I destined to bring up the rear?

I'm in and making an exception for Demonland, as I find it almost impossible not to tip the Dees every week.

God speed Jimmy our thoughts are with Sam, Matisse and Tiernan and all your family.

Whilst we shed a tear or two I can hear you singing:

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side

The summer's gone, and all the roses falling

'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow

'Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow

Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And when you come, and all the flowers are dying

If I am dead, as dead I well may be

You'll come and find the place where I am lying

And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me

And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be

For you will bend and tell me that you love me

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

And I shall rest in peace until you come to me.

Oh, Danny Boy, Oh, Danny Boy, I love you so.

Followed by a rousing chorus of a Grand old Flag!

"Ave" for you and RIP, you will always be our inspiration.

A mate of mine was at an REIV breakfast this morning where Malthouse was a speaker. Apparently not a great one either. Was all over the place.

Seems that most of his talk was critical of Melb – our game plan, that we won’t be successful for 5 years, to of course, everyone’s favourite punching bag at the moment – Jack Watts.

Seems that in the past few days Jack has come to Mick and asked him to be his mentor. Seems odd that he’d go to Malthouse, also odd that there’s nobody at the club who could do it.

Maybe Mick wanted the job and was upset when we got Neeld?

Anyone notice how much we are upsetting the Wobbles lately, (Hi Pendles).

Watts is going to be a terrific player for the club and the whole media circus around him is just a lot of blather breeding on itself.

Watched all the videos on DeeTV last night.

Now whether you like history, Cams style or think its corny one thing came through very strongly, our Board, staff and footy department are one eyed and committed to making it great.

They are building an elite culture through the club "with elite compiance" and I reckon we as supporters might adopt a bit of that elite compliance.

Thanks to Cam, Don and Mark.

Its taken me two days to come back to the site, like most of you I hated Saturday nights performance. I felt sick in my stomach.

Nab cup or not, they hurt.

Then I watched the Neeld presser and thank heavens he was feeling sick in the stomach as well.

He hates losing and is not going to tolerate it; "my round one team is not the same as it was 7 days ago".

Sylvia wouldn't be playing round 1 after his efforts.

More importantly Neeld knows what is going on, missed tackles were the result of Technical (we went too high in the tackles) and attitudinal (not hard enough at the contest) issues.

This guy is not going to leave anyone in the rooms wondering what he expects and how hard it will be to get a game.

We failed in the middle with poor clearance work (we won clearances but our disposal was poor) and Neeld let Hale teach a young guy a lesson.

Unlike others I think we do have the cattle its just they have some learning to do and he will kick their sorry arses until they have learnt the lesson.

No one is guaranteed a game under this regime.

More importantly he is not panicked by it and he believes he has the answer.

We will know sometime in the second half of the year if our players are up to his challenge.

settle down... ABC radio reports he is being questioned which is different to being held in custody.

I think we need to just wait for relaible information.

Not sure if this kinda thing has been posted already but let's have a look at some other KPP and Nic Nat to see (stats wise) where old Jack is at now after 40 games. I reckon he's exactly where he should be.

Matches Disposals Goals Behinds Tackles

Nick Riewoldt 40 577 39 31 49

Travis Cloke 40 461 28 46 57

Jonathan Brown 40 503 43 26 46

Nic Nat 40 469 14 14 144

Jack Watts 40 571 33 17 69

Sure these don't tell the entire story but at least it's something to compare with.

Edit: Sorry, the numbers don't line up.

Best contribution of the day for mine.

Send a copy to Malthouse and the others.

He is going to be a star in our premiership team.

The issues which Liam is dealing with are family related and are his personal business so I won't elaborate here or anywhere else. However, as he was still recovering from his wrist surgery and was a few weeks away from playing again, the club has been terrific in granting Liam some personal leave to sort some matters out back home. I expect him to return shortly eager to complete his rehab and be ready to do his bit for the team. The club should be congratulated for the understanding and support they have shown Liam.

Thanks Rudeboy, I think its great the club has respected his privacy, culture and wishes.

Best wishes to him and his family.

Cant wait to see him back on the park.