Harrisonrules

It's time for you to go and watch soccer. The games are close

For the last two years under Bailey his cup has been half empty. Today his cup was half full. In time it will runneth over.

Morton was considerably better, good attitude. Showed self belief. One of the best long kicks in our team which creates opportunity down field.

If you think Bartram can stand tall you are misguided. Their small forwards mangled us. Bartram couldn't cope as he couldn't against Nahas last week. In the third quarter as we were pressing he got a free kick on the back flank at the 29 minute mark and starts waving to everyone he's going to slow the game down. We desperately needed a goal in the final minute so as usually not knowing where to kick sends it safely back twenty metres, because that's all he can do. He doesn't have the mind for this level of AFL. He is what I call a circular player handballs around but never gains yardage. While we stick with him we are settling on C grade plaers. Did you see the way Murphy played that's what good teams have, Shaw, Johncock types and swe have to put up with Bartram and his crazy fan club on this site. JOrdie McKenzie, plays on his knees all day long. He's another circular player, rarely gets it off to an outside target for an effective clearance. Of course its hard to remember him actually getting away an effective kickd himself, either this game or any other. This was one of Jonesy poorer games. The number of times he got caught was part of our problem. At least Rivers could stand tall. AARRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Well said. The negative crap on this forum is of the unknowing.

Cal;e made a considerable contribution. His attitude was considerably better, showed more confidence and self believe. Will not be dropped again this year and will end up in our top ten by end of year. A way to go but so much upside in him

Why? yes he made a couple mistakes, but who didn't. Cale was one of our more effective contributors. His long kicking is as good as any and creates opportunities. He showed considerable more confidence and self belief. The kid is back.

If it wan't for the heritage of the MCC members our home ground would be Etihad, or Carara. Melbourne represents the MCG and not the City of Melbourne. Our combination of MCC and MFC is an asset nothing we should use to cause division in our club. It means we can have people on all sides of the ground. In our club I can talk to a Collins street toff, or a heart and soul lad from Casey, and when it comes to talking of the dees we are one.

Often we come away feeling lucky to escape with a draw if the game ends that way. But there must be situations when a team comes away feeling that it is a loss. Can there be a situation when both come away feeling like losers.? I figure it could be this week, Dogs verses Demons. Both are desperate for a win, becasue if they don't win, one wonders how bleak will it be looking for that first win.

Following last weeks debacle - in fact the first three games - all talk has been of how far back we have gone. It's been hard to see the positives. Talking to a tiger fan through this week he commented that when he saw the demons come out on to the field his initial response,'hell what a big team.' As the game progressed he became increasing concerned with the number of our talls taking significant marks, Jamar, Seller, Clark, Tom McDonald and Martin and throw in Howe's screamers, Garland, Rivers Frawley and Watts to create the illusion of big guys marking and his anxiety grew. Of course the first half was one story and the second another. I love a marker, but in this day and age we need balance and the tigers speed eventually over ran us. At least one dimesnion of our game may be developing

Yes I am praying ...for Liam. Often demonlanders review our draft selections and pour scorn over our recruiters ( I have done it myself at times) and it often includes the oversight of Cyril Rioli. Even though his possession count is often low we would dearly love him (how lucky for him he didn't come to us). His tantilizing skills are supreme. His great value is the motivation these provide his team as he weaves his magic at those necessary moments in a game. Fortunately at a far lower pick we got our 'Cyril' in Liam. I can't see too much difference in their ability. Now with our evolving forward line, Clarke, Howe, Maybe Tom Mac, Jack Watts, and Resting Ruckman, 'our Liam' will be able to play the 'Cyril role'. His return to Casey next week is lighting a spark of excitement within me. .....and yes you are dam right I am praying these next couple of months go his way.

Topic is a great topic. The long term vision of the club keeps changing. We are on a new five year plan. With respect your treatment of some players suggests the subtlety of list management and player assessment leaves a lot to be desired. If you include Bartram in you must keep list you lose credibility. His courageous attitude is far outweighed by his very modest skills. Above all I find it hard to think of other players who have an ill equipt mind for the game. There is no ball impact dimension to his game. Its a case of stop, think, think, turn back to the goal square every time for he doesn't have the skills to implement a thrust forward. He has reached his peak and is just marking time until one of Tynan, Davis push him aside. The supporters of Clint are happy with a very modest level of performance by the demons. Essentially players above 25 will not be part of our assault on the top four. We are again three to four years away. Its a case of managing their departure.

Its got nothing to do with fault. It's about the capacity of the coaching panel to improve the performance of team and players. I'm not overly fussed about the win loss ratio. At the beginning of the year I spoke to friends about my interest being in rounds 5 to 15. I believed early games with new coaching panel was going to be tough. Probably by the end of the year injuries and tiredness for young bodies would be taking its toll.

So I say there are other issues involved. Our kids had the same level of skill as any other- lets say at under 18. Transfering to this elite level, requires additional qualities to utilize the skills they do have. For example, I never believed Danial Ward was much of a player in his early years but the game gradually changed and eventually his running skill and hence he became a valuable contributer. My brother and I saw Tappy in an under Age game and weere really impressed. As promising as his start has been his natural skills have not yet blossomed to the point I believe they will. Other factors are inhibiting some of his skill. Yes if you are not fit enough and are always under pressure your kicking will not reach its full potential. The skill of the coach is to develop all aspects of a players game to bring out the innate skill. I will not buy that our players are not skilled. We are still a work in progress as in fact our coaching panel is.I'm not to fussed about our win loss record at the moment. What does disturb me is whether I can see signs of a players development and signs that the coaching panel have a grasp of such development.

Listening to Ross Lyon on SEN he reminded listeners that the press/flood has sped the game up. You cann't fiddle around but must find a way of moving forward quickly to break the lines. A few suggestions. 1. Team handball. 2. Leg speed 3. Long accurate kicking. 4. Smart minds In the three games I've witnessed this year I cannot recall much speed. Where can we find it? How would you prioritize the list above and how would you implement your plan to increase our speed

I wrote last week of the Junction oval legacy. We have never had the facilities to build a base of physical power into the players for strength and speed. We now have the facility and the knowhow. I believe that with the increased power the culture will change. I say it needs at least a period of 5 years to have lifted the demons to a competative level. The culture will change with it.

The game has moved on, maybe you haven't. Speed is the new evolution. We must have the slowest in the comp.

Howe - A smaller Goddard (in the making)

How cushie can you get

A valuable reporter for the rest of the Demonlanders. Keep up the great work. I almost look forward to your report more than the seniors report.

I'm of the belief that position in round one drafting order makes no difference. GWS and GCS can't trump us, just force us to use our first round pick. They have to assume we wouldn't go higher than round two.

Miller has had his one lucky day for the year- 4 points next week. Reiwolt can't get a kick. We have a chance

Schwab has recently been praised by McLardy for his recent work. The AFL think he is one of the best CEO's going around. Connolly is in the marketing wing now. I trust you are joking.

Normally I wouldn't watch EMT but naturally the mention of the MFC on the Agenda meant I couldn't help myself. Fancy Eddie deciding to jump into Jimmy's shoes and save the Melbourne Football Club. If he was genuine he would have spoken to our President and offered his services behind the scenes. I felt insulted that he decided we couldn't do it on our own. He 's just a grandstander for his own purposes. We saw it with the Jurrah interview. When it comes to something for Eddie, he'll be the first at the head of the queue.

Once again we saw the same theme in the game against West Coast. Stronger harder bodies being brushed aside and beaten in power running. The emotional ranting from personal rage by many demonlanders is too often without thought. Demonland has become simply a forum for emotional exfoliating. I argue that our strength and speed inadequacy is the legacy of the horribly under equipt gym at Junction Oval. Our leaders never fulfilled their potential because they never had the fundamental equipment to transform their natural ability into effective talent. The Eagles have had the equipment and know- how from their beginning. It sets a higher base that new recruits immediately come into. The new era is only just beginning. We now have the facilities. We have the leadership thinkers in the club (Neeld, Craig, Misson) but this will take time to trickle down through the player list. If your can't live with the vision of this new platform we are establishing , you'll continue to rant and rave over the inconsequential. We have a good board who established this new base line, we have a sensational coaching structure - yes it is in its own early days of development, we have a reasonably good list. Instant gratifiers threaten to disrupt the morale of the club. Great clubs stick together through thick and thin.