John Crow Batty

Still disagree on Whites goal kicking. Jeff White does not deserve AA honours if he couldn't complete the business end of the season without tiring. Not good enough for the highest rating if he can't perform in the finals and crunch rounds. From speaking to my Sydney friends they rated Jolly as a good bargain in his first season.

I disagree with his goal kicking. It was very good from the 40-50 metre range. What you say about White's forward prowess sounds similar to how Jack Watts is perceived by many. But that's not stopping attempts to develop him. So why was Jolly underperforming with us and then leaves to become a gun ruckman? Not spitting the dummy. He made the right decision. He was never going to develop with the opportunituies he got under Daniher. I dispute White was an a complete AA ruckman. Sure with his great leap he touched the ball first often. But it could go anywhere. He looked good but accuracy was a trade off for his lack of height despite his leap.

Then he should have had the opportunity to go forward instead of battling against the odds. Though I would have preferred it a couple of years earlier when we had Jolly still around. Despite his great leap his hit outs to advantage were only just above average. Only went forward for a rest when he was shagged out or when we were having problems there. Never had a real 4 quarter game forward.

Why wasn't ever Jeff White moved forward? Daniher's fault? We might have kept Jolly then. He just became the ever continuous shrinking ruckman the longer his career progressed. With all his skills he would have been the gun CHF. Frawley's still growing as a premier defender. An heir apparent to Scarlett IMO. Don't mess with him.

Ok, give it to him just so we don't have to talk about it anymore.

Am not a MCC member and never been there. As I never had the opportunity I don't miss it. I enjoy the outer and even in the old days when you could, I'd enter in the Melbourne members reserve in the Olympic stand and go around to the Southern Stand. Was a Redlegs for one season in the 80's but couldn't stand some of the stuck up Redleg members in their reserve and the haughty doorman. Always been suspicious of the MCC. None of the half dozen or so MCC members I know well follow Melbourne. I dislike them for this because they are only there for the prestige of being in the MCC. Reinforces my opinion that this is a snooty club and could not be bothered with it. If the MCC took more interest in our club I might change my mind.

I found it strange too. On the 2011 thread, I got a blank page using Internet Explorer on a windows computer. On my Mac I got a blank page also on Safari but it worked OK on Firefox. I switched over a few times and was still absent on Safari but working OK on Firefox.

Had same problems too on Safari and Internet explorer. Sorted out when I switched to Firefox browser.

I admit I have a soft spot for 14 since Rodney Grinter wore it. Lets reserve that one, it might give us some steel when we get an Ablett type.

I was at that game with a bunch of old friends from when I grew in Collingwood. We always have a reunion on QBW every year. They are all dog mad Collingwood supporters. They have never rated any Melbourne player in a positive manner in the past, only offer derision and scorn. But they were highly impressed with Mark Jamar. They were asking who was that man mountain, incredible strength. They thought he was awesome. Funny though how they didn't seem to know he's been around more than a few years. They hated Fraser that day and served it up too him big time. As for Warnock, Bate and Jetta. They may be in limbo at the moment but next year is a new ball game.

IMO there's not much difference between the clubs and supporters expectations. They generally mirror each other.

I agree with this. As for Jim, I believe greater more meaningful honours await for him. It was a long time since he retired. Why wasn't 11 reserved then? No tradition in this when others have worn it since.

I don't like all this gushing optimism about the draw. Setting us up for a big dose of over confidence and already bookmarking "easy games" and "throwing in the towel" on others. I'd prefer to see every game as a unique challenge with its own variables. We don't yet know which opposition will have the form next season. I am a big believer in the "Take it one game at a time" philosophy.

From what I read and hear of the guy I don't think he'd care who got it. Just as long as the recipient plays to the best standard they can.

Did I criticise him on his career? Valid criticism is warranted for the very public dummy spit which tainted what should have been a glorious departure. His time was up and should have had some grace when he left.

You got to be kidding, are you? This is a football forum and everyone passes judgement. I know the moderators were trying to get feral's into line but there is no need for pontificating.

I've noticed here its more OK to sink the boot in the most derogatory fashion to current players and that even benign criticism of past players for their deficiencies is more or less frowned upon. They play 200 games and are elevated to sainthood. I think valid criticism is appropriate for past players especially since some formed the backbone of an underachieving and mediocre club.

He certainly was a good player and could have been better with injury luck. As I said he had a good innings. But the stupid things he says after being eased out change the perception of his legacy. A 12 year plus career is a rare luxury in this game and he had it. No need to go out kicking and screaming. He should have been celebrating.

I don't know whats in the book but I hope he had the right things to say about the club along with the tongue in cheek stuff. It was the right thing to retire him. He had a good innings. Look at the progress of medium forwards like Jurrah, Pettard and the new/old look of Brad Green since he left. Brad reminds me of 2000 now. Where has he been all these years? If we kept Robbo he would be putting all these guys at risk of getting cracked vertebrae.

The decision to delist him came none too soon.

If there one area of improvement that I haven't seen anything of yet is the elimination of the habit of "PLAYING LIKE MILLIONAIRES" syndrome when we've hit form and some confidence. Usually manifests itself when we play sides that we have a very realistic chance of beating and interstate against moderate opponents. This trait first appeared during the later stages of the Northey era and has dogged us ever since except for the recent very lean years when we were hopeless anyway. But it did reappear in full bloom again last season. I hope it will finally go away next season.

I'm going to be optimistic and go for 13+ wins. I thought we underachieved last season and should have had 10-11 wins at least. We wasted a few games and that does not include Collingwood. So I expect that we will cancel out those disgraceful performances and add 2 or 3 more for the anticipated improvement.

I would have preffered Johnson to stick around at least one more year as insurance.

Does anyone have an example of the 33 demon to show? My memory has been jolted I now do remember the twistees packets and the stained cards.

R.I.P.