John Crow Batty

Pointless exercise. We are the greatest.

I'd be interested to know the facts of his fall from grace at Collingwood before I make a firm opinion on him. But I do notice his defensive work rate and skills are lacking something. Forwards who don't have these skills are out of fashion at the moment and are a liability the way the game is played these days.

I think most of the criticism is a reaction to his stonewalling. As our most senior player he is not going to perform as at his peak but still be of value. No one is denying him an extra season. But ours is a young club short of experienced leaders. The best contribution our most senior player can offer is leadership and guidance for the group. I think many posters recognise this is lacking in Bruce and are frustrated by this messy post season episode.

I think some have been over rating Wellman as a defensive coach. Despite some serious good talent down back we conceded far too many goals from stoppages all season and late in the season our defence wilted often under sustained forward pressure. Even Richmond gave our backs(sans Frawley) a good caning before they tired.

If we had heard something positive in the last few week the venom would not be there.

Yes

Scully and Grimes certainly have some problems with disposal. They are still young and learning and I suspect there is a lot of effort going into getting them to pass. Bruce flunked out long ago.

At the least if Bailey can keep the team within a decent sniff of a finals position for most of the season and fade away in rounds 20-22 it will keep the dogs at bay. Improvement will have been noted. If we come to rounds 16-17 with Buckley's or a slim mathematical chance of making the finals there might be trouble for him. IMO real improvement will show itself if we can pinch a game or two from top sides, repudiate playing like millionaires against peer group and lesser opposition and take a couple from interstate. And a little luck on our side too.

I like these sentiments. And I think scrutiny will be applied to Bailey if we don't get at least six wins by the end of round eleven next year. Five will show that we have barely improved and seven will show we are a genuine candidate to make the finals.

Thanks for the clarification. He could pop in though and bond with the rest of his team mates. Just got be careful he doesn't slip on a banana peel.

So its just a past players opinion, so what? If you ask a 100 past players their opinions on Royal you will get every kind of divergent opinion possible.

I'm a bit concerned at the comment in THE AGE yesterday that he may be boycotting training as insurance in case he gets hurt before the contract is signed. Hmmm.

Everything seems to be in Baileys favour at the moment, but if things go wrong and the team hasn't lived up to expectations by midseason 2011 the current goodwill will likely collapse and could lead to extreme negativity against him. Might be an Obama/Knights moment. I'm sure he knows this and feels the pressure. Acting hardball on recently departed players and I suspect with cam too leads me think he is not letting anything stand in his way to achieving success and wont die wondering. I remain optomistic in the administration, the coaches the playing list to achieve something next year. My outstanding concern is if all these changes have changed the club culture for the better. We've been used to losing for too long thus satisfied with too little.

I hope so, he now has some cracking assistants to back him up and some great playing talent. I've been around for a long time and seen many dreams crash but this administration and playing group keeps the dream alive.

Hey Rhino, I started saying "if we respectfully discuss what is in the public domain". Are you advocating self censorship in discussing this? Are you insinuating all other poster sans yourself are morons? I haven't seen anything untoward in discussing Jimmy's plight so far, only graciousness and well meaning curiosity at the worst.

I am really pleased that we are getting some hard core experience back into the coaching ranks. Viney and Royal are both seasoned campaigners with know how and both have the discomfort of unfinished business twisting their guts but for different reasons. These are the guys we want. Hey Rhino, isn't it about time you stopped bellyaching about how Jeff White was ruined by rule changes. If you can't survive to the rules as they develop then theres no hope we gonna ever win a flag. He became a dinosaur so deal with it.

Seriously though, I'm starting to think he might have been badly advised by his "Snake Oil" manager or there is a substantially more attractive offer lurking somewhere. His standing has taken a drop amongst supporters at least on this forum.

If he wants more money let him have it. We can start rattling the tin and aslo put out a chook raffle.

What definition of "phantom" will be in the terms of reference?

If we respectfully discuss what is within the public domain and avoid still private issues and rumours I think it is OK to continue. We are all with him and our concern is reflected by our interest. Last I heard via the Hun as has WYL, is that he was in Indonesia investigating alternative therapies.

Apology for what? Its within the natural scope of this forum to speculate when there is a lack of information and clearly other issues are behind this resigning. If he won't be upfront he deserves all the scrutiny he gets. If you are right take it for a credit. No need for hubrus.

More speculation in the AGE. Perhaps a top five team may be showing interest. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/bruce-yet-to-resign-with-dees-20101103-17e27.html

The last thing I wan't to see is a player being kept on so that he can reach a milestone of games. If he wants that then he should go to somewhere like Carlton where they could accommodate him ala Mick Martyn. If he hasn't shown any commitment at this late stage of the year then I don't mind if he takes a permanent hike.

sums it up.

As you say he was the dominant ruckman for 17 rounds then faded and was a major contributor to our chicken livered colapse for the remainder of the season that counts the most. Made us into a laughing stock for the rest of the comp. For such a sustained period of dominance it all ended in a spectacular failure. Ended up F-. You can have the final say.