old dee

Fev's in Tropical waters again.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/lions-investigate-brendan-fevola-complaint-as-afl-stars-future-hangs-in-balance/story-e6frepf6-1225915875863

You do not need to be a rocket scientist

but this could be the end!

Even if it is only part true he is a [censored].

My Brother is a Lions member and he has been claiming for some time that the lions would cut him if they could get out of his contract.

Lions might be happy with this result, they could cut him and walk away.

The finals system should stay the same.

It certainly doesn't need to be expanded!

I agree "Rogue" with one small variation.

The Dees to appear in 2011

It's got to be the tropical variety. Otherwise...no deal/

At my Age I would much prefer Minties not into these new lollies.

In line with the start of this thread.

WHY IS HE ( Watts ) NOT RESIGNED?

Is the MFC Playing hard ball!

Has Watts got too high a ticket on himself!

What is the hold up? ( no pun intended )

I was basing my best 22 on who I think will be the best 22 players on our list come Round 1. I think he - along with the likes of Bail and Gysberts - will probably be regular members of our team next season and have the potential to be anything, however they are still at early stages of their development.

To put it another way, if we were playing a Grand Final tomorrow, I'd pick Bate ahead of him.

Spot on Dee Man, if Petterd and Bate are fit I think it will look a bit raw if Watts plays at their expense in the first game of the year.

In two years or so, Scully will be the AFL's elite runner. He's already one of the best. Very few will be able to keep up with him.

I can't understand anyone saying they have zero doubts about Trengove and Frawley becoming elite and then not including Scully on that list.

Maurie I am not sure why you think I do not include Scully as a good player.

All I am saying is I think Trengove is a better kick and in the long term that may be the difference between them.

St Kilda reached a preliminary final in 2004. They just dropped off afterwards, with the changing of coaches and some other things.

And nothing is going to go wrong at Melbourne!

Guys I find it hard to believe you think Moloney will not be there in 2012.

The guy will only be 28.

He bleeds red and blue

He is tough and gets the ball ( which is a hell of a start )

He never takes a backward step and will be great for our young mids as they develop over the next 3 years.

Every team needs his type

Wouldn't worry about JT - will be a star

Will be as good or better than TS. I sense there will be a friendly rivalry here, both are so dedicated to getting the best out of themselves, A bit like having two young Nathan Buckleys

I have a feeling you are right. I think JT is a better kick than Tom.

They both get plenty of the ball and a good kick can be the difference between a good player and a champion.

I've worked out that we will 'most likely'* win a flag in 2013.

This is based on the Increment of Four formula.

This Increment of Four is based on MFC winning the wooden spoon in 2009, winning four games.

In 2010, MFC finished in 12th position, an improvement of four places on the AFL ladder.

In 2011, MFC will 'most likely'* finish in 8th position, an improvement of four places on the AFL ladder.

In 2012, MFC will 'most likely'* finish in 4th** position, an improvement of four places on the AFL ladder.

In 2013, MFC will 'most likely'* finish in 1st position, an improvement of four places on the AFL ladder. In addition, the crowning of MFC as premiers in 2013 will have seen four years pass since the 2009 wooden spoon.

** - 2012, due to a fourth place finish could see a flag come this year, the formula sustains this anomaly slightly

* - there is absolutely no basis or foundation for an Increment of Four. Except for a flimsy connection between 2009 to 2013. And the four wins in 2009. And the improvement of four places on the AFL ladder in 2010 Besides, the mighty Dees will win a flag before that!

Your logic maybe good but I think 2013 is too early.

Look how long it has taken the saints after they bottomed out and they still have not won it.

We are only starting the climb and it is damn hard to win one.

just look at the pies.

They have had a lot of good teams and have won it once in the last 51 years

2015 is probably more realistic ( even though that seems a long way off to me)

1- Win 12 games and I don't care where or how

2- Jack Watts to have a big year and prove I know nothing

3- Dunn to continue on from where he finished this year

4- LJ to play the whole year

5- Fitzpatrick to play 4 games at AFL level.

Why is McNamara so coveted by posters?

From what I have seen at Casey he has been OK without setting the world on fire.

What role does he have in our side going forward and at who's expense?

I agree with you Rhino I have seen nothing from Mcnamara to suggest he will make an AFL player.

Bate stays, all teams have injuries and he is certainly in our best 25-6 players

Cheney is a honest goer but just not good enough at AFL level probably stays on next year as again we need back ups to cover injuries.

Go and have a look at You Tube. See Jack playing with/against similar body types, weight etc etc.

That will translate to AFL over time.

And it will be The Age, you will then get a front page special as well as the sport lift out!

Note - I believe of all threads/post started today, of course a Watts thread is the first to got to two pages? And this one was only started at 12pm.....Geez!!

Opinions vary but one thing is for sure - everyone loves talking Jack Watts.

I have seen it all before it means little now he is playing with the big boys.

Thanks the Age will be good, especially the GF addition.

Cannot understate the improvement in Dunny's game this year! I never thought he was in our best 22 but his efforts this year have proved me wrong! Great goal Dunny! Hope it wins you the cookies, but more importantly, it's indicative of the improvement shown this year! 2011 and beyond!

Dunn came to the MFC as a forward but we never seemed to want to play him there.

In the second half of the year we have played him for the large part as a permenant forward

and surprise surprise he is playing well.

Can anyone say why Warnock is never tried as a forward?

Does not even get a trial at Casey.

He is strong, a good mark and not a bad kick.

Nothing wrong with him showing some disappointment.

I would simply counter that by pointing to the joy he shares with his teammates when a goal is kicked.

Let's look back at this thread in 2015 once the "Are we too Jack Watts focused" threads start because we kick to him too often.

To me he is starting to show more Hird like traits (just a comparison people, not saying he will be Hird) rather than a KP type player. This may change a bit with the physic he brings to the field next year.

That left foot pass in the second quarter to Brad Green Did anyone else catch that because it was pure, pure class. He looks to have a bit of hunger for it which is why I am not concerned that he displays some disappointment, this hunger is why I believe once he has the body to give him confidence, he will have no issue applying himself physically.

I cannot wait,look forward to the day, hope I am still alive.

If not lay the copy of the Hun on my grave.

Just to address the notion that he isn't earning his spot on the side, have a look at his stats for yesterday. If you discount the goals column, they are identical to Jurrah. Given that Watts plays further up the ground and rarely gets passes directed to him in the forward 50, it's not unreasonable that he didn't kick a goal with any of them.

So, anyone want to say that Jurrah isn't worth a spot in the side?

Remember that saying about Stats? they do not always tell the full story.

I hope you are not suggesting that yesterday JW was as good LJ!

Yes... all true.

I just get frustrated with the number of posters who seem hell bent on finding fault with him. People don't usually criticise loose men when their teammates blaze away at goal without passing it off ....

Hoopla I try hard not to find fault but some days my frustration gets the better of me.

Fortunately I do not run the football department, susposedly more skilled peole than me perform that task.

My frustration stems from the number of games Jack gets when he is IMO playing poorly.

I have no choice but to except that the brains trust knows what they are doing.

Hopefully this time next year I will gladly say they were right!

No he's not. But he is the only player who has had more threads than games played !

That because he was No. 1 pick it goes with the territory.

And we are all looking for the KPF to lead us to the promised land.

Trengove?

The same bloke Port tried to give up picks 8 AND 9 to get?

He'll be fine.

It's a long year for a rookie.

I agree no problems with him.

Also think he is a better kick than Scully.

Yestreday he did some beauties, exactly the right weight for the player down field.

No...not a good post- just another ( albeit subtle) anti-Watts post.

So they don't always see him ... or as a kid he's not always in the right spot... or he is acting as a decoy...?

Leave the kid alone - just let him play without his own supporters looking for a problem every time he scratches himself

We really should ban any more Watts'threads!

Hoopla why is it Taboo to discuss Jack Watts?

Is he the only player that is beyond comment?

Why is that?

Are you saying he hasn't deserved the games he has been given?

Do you think he didn't deserve to play yesterday?

Do you really entertain the thought that his teammates are purposely ignoring him on the field..?

I think yesterday's game didn't prove you a dill, but that post may have.

Correct, he has not earned his spot for the last 4 - 5 weeks.

The Hawthorn game he was poor! tell me four things he did well that day?

Against port the only person who had less possesions was Bennel!

How else do you account for the fact that he is constantly ignored?

I'm not sure they don't have the cattle or at least the makings of a good side , like us they are young and inexperienced . I think the problem is the board doesn't know how to handle a born to rule membership that expects to be on top of the ladder 100% of the time . Still hope they spend the next 20 years in the wilderness. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch .

You are correct there is definately a large element of the "born to rule" at Essendon.

I live in the North, have numerous friends who are supporters and they just don,t understand they are not a power any longer.

By the way I still think their list is ordinary. When Fletcher retires they will have no backline to speak of.

I have kept my mouth shut about this for several weeks now, but last night confirmed once again that several of our players seemingly ignore or are reluctant to pass the footy to one J. Watts. Over and over again, Watts finds himself alone on a flank, inside fifty, in the corridor and despite jumping up and down and waiving his arms crazily, he continually gets the cold shoulder from a large majority of MFC players.....WHY?

Do they not have confidence in him? Do they genuinely not notice him? Has there been a directive from the coaching staff to make him earn his own footy?

I really am struggling to understand it. It has been ongoing now for soem weeks and I am interested to see if others have noticed it and what explanation they have for it. Perhaps it is partly his own fault. The fact he constantly slips over may be one reason for it. But seriously, we chose to go to options that were in worse spots that Jack. He runs full legnth of the ground sometimes and is ignored each time in favour of shorter/lower percentage options.

The one time someone decided to 'go to' him last night, he took a strong grab on the lead outside fifty in the pocket near the 'red seats'. It was a strong mark and an equally strong lead. So why do we not trust him mre often. There has to be something more to it all.

Anyone that thinks Jack doesnt notice it, look at is body language. He knos he is ignored and he gets rather pizzed off. Eg. Last night, think it was Dunn, maked outside or on 50. Jack streaming alone into goals, no one near him, ignored. Screams, throws head back and clenches fists in anger. There is an issue here. I would like to know what it is!

Thoughts

I am one of the doubting Thomas's on the subject of our Jack.

I have kept my mouth shut for the last 4 weeks, yesterday I went to the game with the main purpose of watching jack.

I went with as open a mind as I could manage.

I noticed this same thing ( have made comment on a seperate thread ). It did not happen once or twice but on numerous occasions.

It is obvious to me that a number of his team mates ignore him. I do not follow the theory that he was in a poor position.

A couple of times this may have been the case however there were plenty of other occasions that in my views he was ignored.

I have said in the past giving him games when he clearly does not deserve them will cause problems.

It may be happening now!

Have some of his team mates tired of poor results from Jack?

They probably want to win games and think on past performances he will not produce the desired result.

He is not getting many possesions and part of that may be that he is being ignored.

Yesterday I went wanting him to succeed and prove I am a dill.

Not a dill yet!

What is it that Essendon and there board do not understand

"YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CATTLE"

I have no idea if Knights is a good or poor coach!

But Jesus Christ could not do any better with their list!

A bitterly disappointing way to end the season with 3 very poor loses.

Really looking forward to next season though, and hopefully playing finals.

And yes I think we'd have made finals had Jurrah and also Ricky played the whole season.

Jaded you have nailed it for me. We should have at the very least won one of the last three.

I am going to dive in at the deep end!

Aussie is not good enough! forward presure is one thing but you have to get the ball. He simple does not get his hands on it enough.

Forwards cannot score if they do not get the ball. End of story for mine.

And now to the big taboo "Watts'

No more playing him to get games experience into him. He has had a dream run.

His contribution over the last three weeks has been next to nil, each week he has been in the bottom three

for possessions.

I watched him all day and the majority of his team mates ignore him. On numerous occasions I saw players ignore him and go to a different part of the ground.

That suggests to me they do not think much of his ability.

I can think of no other player who continually gets a game when they are way below the required level

and produce so little.

He should not have been played the last two weeks.

Next season he should play at Casey until he plays at least two games in the top five players.

I have had it with the developing big man theory!

when he produces at Casey promote him and not before.