Slartibartfast

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...02-2862,00.html http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...5-11088,00.html

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I thought I'd start a separate thread to thank Barry, his wife Mavis, Barry Junior and Whistler for the years of service keeping Melbourne supporters up to date with what been happening at Sandy. I'm not a huge surfer of footy websites but of the ones I've seen Demonland stands apart because of the efforts of people like Barry who take the time to write reviews and provide information to the forum's members. And it's not only the information that is fantastic, it is the quality and reliability of the delivery which really is at a professional standard. Barry it was in no small part your influence that got me down to Sandy on a regular basis which ultimately led to many good friendships with both Sandy and Melbourne supporters. Many thanks for the hours of work, the good humour and the mountain of information that you have provided, it's been a mighty effort and one you should be very proud of. All the best with your move north. I'm wondering if you'll end up following Southport or maybe the new GC17 team or if you'll leave footy behind and start showing Mavis the attention she so richly deserves. Somehow I think footy is in your blood and we'll be hearing from you on a pretty regular basis. We all look forward to Kevin Charles reports. If he's anything like his father we'll hardly know you've gone!!! Cheers Barry, thanks and all the best in your future endeavours.

Redandbluethruandthru has been banned for 28 days. He will be banned for good if he is as poorly behaved again. His post and all reference to it have been deleted. Fan

I was most fortunate to meet them both and stand with them on the forward flank. This piece reminds me of their welcome to me and their humour. They were greatly missed. Thanks WJ for a fitting tribute at the end of our assocation with Sandy to two great Sandy men and wonderful companions.

How about you make your comments relevent? Whilst I don't always agree with Joeboy's analysis it has been a feature of this site for years now and is one of the few threads I read. The benefits of Joeboys comments is that they have the potential to open a whole range of football discussion issue. Please stick to commenting on footy. If you don't like the thread, simply don't read it. Thanks.

Nice one Scoop!

Speculation. Topic closed.

A voice of reason in the wilderness. Sadly those that will appreciate it had probably worked it out already, those that don't never will.

I agree with the title thread. We, as supporters, need to show moral fibre, courage and ticker. If we demand it of our players we must also demand it of ourselves.

Yeh it is a good question Nash. Junior did his knee in R19 2000 and played his first game in 2001 in R8. My guess is he played some footy at Sandy so I think he'd miss out. I thought Cale Morton might do a Bartram, but alas, no. Bartram's story is incredible really. Played round one in year one after being picked at 60 in the 2005 ND. Broke his ankle really badly in R22 that year and couldn't start running until well after Christmas in 2007. Played a couple of practice matches for Sandy and was selected "against the odds" in R1 2007. His knee injury suffered at training before R2 that year was much worse than anyone initially thought and he again had a very interupted preseason before being picked for R2 this year. I don't think he's played an NAB cup game since his first year. It's extraordinary enough that he achieved what he did in his first year, but to be slotted straight back into the seniors after two horrific injuries that ruined his preseasons in each of the last two year is amazing.

Bartram's first year was 2006 and he played all games in the Melbourne seniors. In 2007 he played in practice matches for Sandy and then played R1 v Saints and was injured at training during the week and didn't play again. In 2008 he's played all games from R2 v the Doggies. In round one he played for Sandringham in a practice game. He has never represented Sandringham in a representative game.

Bartram has played a practice game but never a representative game.

One of the myths about Daniher is he didn't play the kids. To suggest it was common practice to leave them in the VFL for 3 years is just rot. These players played in their first year under Daniher: Lamb, Simmonds,Green, Wheatley, Whelan, Bruce, Thompson, Armstrong, Miller, Smith, Rivers, Hunter, Ferguson, Sylvia, McLean, Davey, Jones, Bartram, Frawley, Petterd and Garland. I've left out drafted players who had prior AFL experience. Players to miss: Speers (0), Taylor (0), Clarke (1), O'Brien (0), Breese (0), Craig (0), Gill (7), Molan (0), Rogers (2), Bell (45), C Johnson (21), Bate (33), Dunn (23), Newton (10), Buckley (5), Neville (0), Weetra (2). Games in brackets and correct at beginning 2008 other than Weetra. Now the only players drafted not to get a go in their first year of any note are Bell, Bate, Dunn and arguably Newton and Buckley. Bell was injured for much of his first year, Bate, Dunn and Newton were very underage picks so the fact they didn't get a go was not surprising. They are all talls too. All the rest are failures at AFL level. Not one has crafted a career elsewhere. For the record I agree with YM, we have failed to develop our youth and that is a large reason why we don't have a "star" and Daniher may well have been part of that. But to say he left 18 yo to rot in the VFL for 3 years is just utter rot.

Agreed.

Yes, and others mentioned have looked good from time to time. Does that defeat the argument? I think not. And Leuenberger was never availabe to us. The point I'm making is that few if any of the talls taken last year have established themselves and Frawley is no different.

Frawley played mainly back. When Meesen was injured Martin moved from full back to ruck and Frawley played a KPP instead of flank/back pocket. I thought he was a bit disappointing early buy his second half was really excellent. Many forget that he missed the start of last season with a stress fracture in his foot, played a half for Sandy and was then promoted to the seniors. He's effectively played half a season of footy since leaving TAC cup level. Also of the talls taken in last years draft Gumbleton, Hansen, Leuenberger, Thorp, Reid, Frawley, Riewoldt and Sellar have yet to make any real impact. Nathan Brown has played two good games this year and his brother Mitch played some reasonable footy for WC last year. Frawley, like the others listed, is on a steep learning curve and those that are disappointed with his progress should keep this in mind.

Sandy comfortably in the end, not sure of the final scores. Valenti played a good Valenti game. He's not fast Bub. Whelan Sandy's best for mine. Rivers solid. Promising performances from Martin and Maric. Maric a chance for next week. CJ very good. Newton, Meesen, Aussi all very ordinary games. Frawley just went.

Many here argued that players like Ward, Godders, Ferg, Brown and Bizzell had to be delisted. I agreed and still do. It's a pity those that argued this didn't realise that it meant we effectively delisted our depth and that players who are not ready for AFL footy would play if we had even a few injuries. Garland may not be up to it YET. I think he will turn into a fine player but I maybe wrong. It's a big ask for him to be doing his apprenticeship in the seniors in a non competitive team and even worse that supporters don't support.

Many here argued that players like Ward, Godders, Ferg, Brown and Bizzell had to be delisted. I agreed and still do. It's a pity those that argued this didn't realise that it meant we effectively delisted our depth and that players who are not ready for AFL footy would play if we had even a few injuries. Garland may not be up to it YET. I think he will turn into a fine player but I maybe wrong. It's a big ask for him to be doing his apprenticeship in the seniors in a non competitive team and even worse that supporters don't support.

Then you should see if you can find an alternative.....

Spot on Tim. BD if you can't distinguish between the cowardly acts of thuggery (which I hate) and the acts of courage and bravery that occasionally leave a player hurt you're watching the wrong game. Neitz on McCabe was a wonderful example of the latter.

Don't forget Dean Chiron and Jamie Duursma. We had an incredibly tough team who played committed football. As for Neita's hit on McCabe I reckon it is right up there with the best because not only did he fairly take McCabe out of the game he gathered the ball and kicked the goal. It was an inspirational piece of play where the bump was part of the contest for the ball and not like many other bumps where the object is to merely take the opposition out.

I'd like to thank whoever did this. Fantastic stuff. Cheers Fan

I also left at three quarter time. Lets not over rate Martin. He's big, athletic and was towelled by Ben McEvoy. It's why McEvoy was a top 10 pick and Martin was a PSD pick. I like Martin and think he's worth a punt. But he's got a long long way to go.