monoccular

...and no flair either

It is multifactorial. Recruiting? Development? Fitness? Game plan? Teamwork? Skills? If a player is really fit so he is not gasping his last breath by the time that he is about to dispose of the ball he will deliver the ball better. If he knows that a teammate will shepherd for him he will have time to deliver the ball better. If he knows that teammates will run, spread and give him multiple options, he will deliver the ball better, and usually sooner. If he knows the game plan, and he knows that the players down field and behind him know the game plan, he will deliver the ball better. It is going to take time.

I would counsel against too much of the usual schadenfreude or epicaricacy from us on this one, given recent events.

He needs to get fit enough to train before he can get fit enough to play the role we need.

I was referring to the widely held (alleged) view that he played round 1 with an undeclared injury, just as he (allegedly) fronted up ill without telling anyone to the 186 then couldn't deliver. IF this / these are in fact true, yes, he needs to earn the trust of the club. Now IF in fact he was injured during the Brisbane game, or went in with a declared injury and the club accepted that risk, then yes, straight back in, and an apology from me.

One can admire them without supporting them. And as far as the handbag stuff is concerned, which team do you think holds the handbags right now (exclude the franchise facsimiles)?????

?.......especially as Sylvia, and apparently Moloney when he owns up to it, are injured at this point.

Gut run -- what is that? Haven't seen it in many years of watching MFC. Oh -- is that what we see when Hawks, Cats, Pies, Eagles, Carlscum etc players actually work really, really hard, even when they don't have the ball?? Could that maybe explain success vs failure? Novel thought that.

Agree - we are waiting for someone with his work ethic, plus skills - then he will move on.

Can anyone please explain the logic of dropping Aaron (or any other player for that matter) for poor form, then not making them play for Casey?? Is he in fact being treated differently, or specially, or whatever you would like to call it, than any other player? We're any other "dropped" players taken to Perth and not told to play at Casey? Was he being "protected from the media", and if so for how long?? How can he regain form sitting in a plane? I am a bit bewildered.

After today, do you still think Hawkins is unproven??

They have an amazing WORK ETHIC, and a great group of ON-FIELD LEADERS. Things we sadly lack. Also of course a great balance of hard bodied mature players and up and coming youngsters. Things we sadly lack. On top of that, I guess it all comes down to the fact that they really WANT to succeed, and not just would like to. Success has to be player driven - coaches, fitness folk etc can only do so much -- it is ultimately won in the heads of those privileged to represent the club on the field on the day, once the basics are there. Division and bickering never wins the prize. And as far as today is concerned, Buddy needs to reserve those smart arsed dribble shots for when the result is secured -- a sense of "poetic justice" that he missed those two and they lost narrowly.

He has to EARN his place back in the team first. As I have mentioned elsewhere, IF in fact he tried to hide an injury and went into last week's game underprepared or unfit, he deceived the coach and selectors and let down his team-mates...and should be made to come back through Casey. It would not be the first time he has tried this.

Thanks for those observations. I was really wondering if TMac is already ahead of JW in physical terms. Sounds from some that he is. He also appears to be very versatile and has played the KPP forward and defensive roles already, though at VFL level most of the time.

Thanks so much for your report - I am sure we all appreciate your efforts. It was "interesting" that Davey was dropped presumably due to a poor on field performance, yet wasn't selected at Casey. Was he in fact injured; if not how will he reagin form on a flight to and from Perth?

His disposal is sometimes criticised, but as you point out if the rest of the team showed his endeavour and never-say-die attitude we would get a lot further, even with our current physically under-developed list. Too many show ponies - not enough hard workers like Jordie.

re fitness.....starting from our very low point, Missen needs a lot more time. To compare us with Adelaide - Craig would have had them far fitter for Sanderson to inherit. Now that's not the whole story of course but we ARE starting well behind the pack fitness wise.

Big big mistakes --- just watching Hawks v Cats. We have Morton. Hawks have Rioli. No brainer.

Master has I think surprised many here - but one cannot doubt his tenacity and his strength. When / if our younger perhaps more skilled mids develop more strength with Missen's programme, then he may be in trouble, but now he is by far the strongest and should get a lot more game time.

I wondered that. So a bigger body already than #4? Does he look nearly ready for AFL CHF? The glimpses I have seen of him on TV suggests that he has a bit if confidence and some poise as well.

.......a collective desire, dream and vision.

Am I right in saying that Tom Mac has done some good strong stuff up forward? Now I haven't seen him play, but is there any way he could be or become or much needed CHF??

Deestar - I couldn't agree more. There are another 21 rounds for the team to adapt to a very different game plan (in fact getting used to a game plan at all). A footy season is a marathon, not a sprint. And remember that I think round 2 or 3 2007? many Cats fans were baying for Thompson's blood.

Now I am not saying 25, but GAblett Jnr was regarded by many as overrated for several years. Tom Hawkins, also a product of APS (like the much maligned Watts and a couple of years ahead of him) really only came of age last GF. But for all that, we have had a pretty dismal record of developing highly rated young players, and haven't had a genuine star for many years.

Maybe our club should adopt the second one as their creed -- there is not a lot of desire or vision around at the moment, but sometimes a bit of dreaming though at inappropriate moments like when the ball is heading your way or when the opponent has the ball!