Webber

By numerous, what you really mean is 2...a missed pass into the 50 in the 2nd, and a dropped mark in the last quarter. Otherwise, he was excellent today, and ran EVERYWHERE, presenting for the kick-ins, and working the ball into space from the clearances when he could. His engine is simply massive, and thank the Demon Gods for that! He and Beamer were lone hands in the first quarter. Well done Jonesy, at least your qualities are apparent to some of us.

Agreed......his role has been required to change over the past 3 years on account of a paucity of midfield muscle, speed and skill. At his best, Nathan Jones is exciting and reliable. Once the midfield matures around him, he will become the 'rock' that we all want him to be, and some of us believe he will be. At the moment though, he and Beamer's abilities are less obvious because of their need to do ALL the grunt work. It's unglamourous, and they do it like the great clubmen they are.....gee, I wonder if that's why they're in the leadership group?!

Surely you're kidding if you imagine they'd be doing that on the MCG after the game?

I'm another one who can't believe the Jones hatred. All I have seen from Nathan Jones over 4 years is a steady improvement in all areas, with his role and responsibility growing accordingly. He will adapt to his new leadership role in the current midfield and become as indispensable as he clearly was last year. I have no doubt of this. The same opinions apply to Brent Moloney....god forbid he drop below his 23 or more possessions per game, which with Jamar was the top clearance partnership in the AFL last year. Because if he does, how quickly a whole swathe of Demonlanders will be labelling him slow, a hack, and under threat from those who have hardly had a kick with the big boys, eg. Gysberts, Blease. If I imagine a current Melbourne lineup without Jones or Moloney, it frightens me. If you think we're getting pushed around by midfields such as Hawthorn's and Geelong's now, I shudder to think how bad that could be without either of those two.

It has certainly impacted on our ability to lay tackles, it would seem. There is a lot of rose-tinted opinion of Jordie McKenzie on here though. He was a breakout player last year, no question, and as much as anyone I thought his toughness in the middle was a revelation, but almost entirely through his tackling. If you look at the FD comments about Jordie however, you will see, as I also believe, that he needs to develop the other aspects of his game. He is limited, and all of us would love to see him progress, but I won't be holding my breath. I have much less doubt though that the other young midfielders will develop their tackling with their physicality. Young bodies (Jordie excepted)just aren't as able to make tackles stick, or have as much confidence in doing so.

I disagree as strongly. Last year he took an enormous step in the 2 weak aspects of his game, decision making and ball use. He was consistently able to find space, then use the ball to great advantage out of traffic, and his foot passing became elite, hitting leads on the chest from 40m plus. That he has been underpar for the first 2 rounds is of absolutely no concern to me....ups and downs. To say he has not progressed in 5 years is just baffling. Should our currently understrength midfield lose him, we would be in more trouble than we are already. But in the end, it all comes down to expectation. He is not Gary Ablett, no matter how much people want him to be.

I agree that Jetta should be Caseyed for this week, but I also think he will be a big part of our future, and as a midfielder. He was our BoG in the preseason game against the Lions in precisely that role. Clearly his whole game endurance isn't there, but injuries allowing, it will come this season. How many games has he played? Under 20 I'm sure. Gysberts needs to be rewarded. Maric, and it will be a little unlucky for him because he has limited opportunity, should make way for Wonaeamirri. Those who think Nathan Jones should be dropped are woefully misguided. He is also still developing, believe it or not, and had some superb games last year. In the absence of Junior McDonald, and with the club trying to push him into a new level of versatility, he's going to take a few games to find his mojo this season.

I think the case of Jack Riewoldt is really illustrative here.....3 years ago, and I dislike Richmond a lot, he was being bagged from bench to goalsquare by Richmond supporters. He was rubbish, why did they draft him? Was it because of his name? etc...etc...I thought they were remarkably impatient, and to me, he showed glimpses of the fact that he was going to be a gun. In equal measures through physical maturity, familiarity (games), and psychology (competitive confidence), he has grown. He's a gun. I have precisely the same feeling watching Jack Watts.

I agree again, and I think there was a certain level of impatience in not letting him develop into a role up forward. The other consideration, and I think Stef is starting to show it now, is that his size, speed and athleticism make him the perfect utility who can ruck. We know he is excellent in the back line, and he is showing his on ball talents now. If they pop him in the goalsquare frequently, I have very little doubt he'll make it his own. Then your Stef-Aussie crumbing dream might just come true.....here's hoping huh?

All good stuff, I have also been a Stef bandwagonner, and held the idea he should go forward as a deep strong marking option. It seemed obvious.....but then they did try it in spells last year, and at Casey, but for some reason Stef found it difficult to judge, let alone hold, the attacking mark. It's odd, because you see him this year, and his aggressive marking ability is excellent. My suspicion is that it is a confidence thing. It is a very different level of expectation having to take the defensive or uncontested linking mark, to the goal scoring mark. Having said that, I'd love it if they kept trying it in bursts, because if he takes his current form into the forward line, it would solve a significant problem we have.

Too true....spectacularly, tragically fickle. Also woefully predictable, hence once again Nathan Jones becomes the whipping boy. He was far from in our worst players last night, and as 'the Hun' did, I would probably put him in our 6 best. That he is not Gary Ablett seems a personal offence to so many posters here.

Perspective......there are 7 players at the top of the Demonland home page......2 of them played yesterday. The 'kids' and rookies were simply overwhelmed yesterday by the experience and physicality of a mature Lions unit, and this created irretrievable difficulties for our own more experienced players. The really good signs are Neville Jetta in the midfield. He is showing us his future, and will be an instant selection for round 1 in the absence of Jordie McKenzie. Addam Maric will also win first round selection, and on his current form, will keep Matthew Bate out of the side. Jeremy Howe is tantalising. Look apart from his high marking, and he has speed, skill and is a thumping kick. He may not get a gig straight up, but he will very soon, and it'll be lip-smacking.

Injury woes are kicking in now....oh, how quickly a nearly fully fit list turns to one with a long injury list! Haven't heard anything about Jordan Gysberts or Luke Tapscott. They are presumably injured, but why no mention of them? Anybody know anything?

Agree with that!

This is just staggering stuff. His disposal, particularly by foot, was second only this year to Aaron Davey. With daylight to the rest. There also seems to be this hangover impression that he gets caught with the ball. This year, almost never. His ability to make the right decision with the ball, was, and I reiterate THIS year, as he has vastly improved, the best of the midfield. The FD realise this, and I'd be stunned if they moved him on.

I saw every game this year, and after the first couple of games , I can't remember him being free-kicked for 'holding the ball' once. Not once. That must be last year you're thinking of, and frankly his kicking to a target over a distance is absolutely the BEST at the club. There seem to be a lot of posters who have a problem crediting true improvement, and I don't get it.

This is all good, and as Bailey has said in regard to both Green and Davey, he would like 5 of them to play all over the ground. The one thing for me which cements Jurrah's best use, is that he LOVES to kick a goal. I would be loathe to put him anywhere he doesn't feel that is a continuing option. In regard to Jack Watts, he will be the high roving forward that every team looks for, and will dominate as both a target coming out of the defensive 50, and coming into the attacking 50. The forward line will look after itself, with Green, Petterd, Dunn, Wonnaemirri, Bennell, Maric, Jetta etc.,and resting ruck (Jamar and any one of Johnson, Martin, Newton (I know, I know). The midfield is no worry with those we've used this year including Gysberts the 3 game wunderkind, then possibly Grimes relocated, add potentially Blease, Tapscott (suspect he is more of a high half forward). Remember that the game plan at Melbourne will be a high speed, high skill one, with great mobility in the forward line. I really don't see the lack of a monster forward a la Barry Hall as being an issue. Jack Watts versatility will cover this and more.

For a player of Matthew Bate's size and perceived playing area, i.e. inside forward 50, his inability to take a contested overhead mark is basically a career killer IMO. He is predictably easily spoilt in the overhead contest, almost without exception. This basically comes from an inability to jump slightly early at the approaching ball, thus keeping the opposition player behind him from access. Robbo was a master at this, and stuck his bum out as well, which is why he was able to take so many contested chest marks. Adem Yze also an excellent exponent. Bate just runs straight through the approaching ball without any elevation, or props at the ball's landing point, offering no body shield. This has bothered me for 2 years....can you tell? That is not to say he couldn't have a life as a midfielder, but we've got midfielders lining up at the door. Therefore I don't see where his future lies.

You need to be registered at yahoo (no strings attached), as 'flickr' is a photo/picture networking associated site. Then go to www.flickr.com/photos/daubings. Tom Wills paintings are on the second page.

Am with you dee-luded. Stef is the forgotten man amongst supporters. A difficult year no doubt, but I still reckon he'll come back to that role with aplomb. Big and talented, and with more to offer on the contested mark. The most disappointing thing about Johnson, Newton, Miller and Bate is their inability to take a true contested mark overhead. Aside from Brad Green, Dunn and Petterd have shown the best chops for a contested forward line mark (and Jamar when he is there). Jurrah is freaky good, but not body to body, and Jack Watts will, I believe, start showing his contested marking next year.

Hey fellow supporters, I am a painter, and whilst photo posters are excellent, if you want to get really serious, only a painting will do. I would be happy to accept commissions from any of you! It has so many fabulous facets to it, that I suspect I'll paint a version anyway(with the 'home' uniform and shorts in replacement) My avatar is in fact a 'front on' view of the Shaun Smith mark using artists models (it's a bit hard to see I know). It is one of a triptych....front on, TV side view, and opposite side view. They are 5 foot tall, acrylic on canvas. I've also done a couple of modern impressionistic portraits of Tom Wills, both very football specific. If anyone is interested in seeing them, I can provide the relevant link to www.flickr.com where they (and the Shaun Smith) are in much higher def.

All class Brad Miller.....best of luck for the future.

Well said.

Total agreement....his improvement has been obvious, and his confidence growing. A lot of new players with theoretical 'upside' give me pause, but I don't have a shade of a doubt about Jack Watts future....he will be a terrific player for us. It's not his draft position, or the fact that we need a KPF desperately. It's because of the signs he shows in his football.

My thoughts completely.....brilliant. Jonesy's use of the ball yesterday was near faultless. His ability to pick the right option and execute it well has improved out of sight this year. If he can get his total possessions up around the 30 plus mark next year, he will go All-Australian. You heard it here.