The Jacks

Martin has that "beast" in him where you can see him dominating games for a long time. If Scully get's his body right and can move at pace year after year, he will be incredibly damaging and an absolute star. Martin looks like he will be that guy who has the ability t stand up in the big moments (and in the big games). Scully can and will just run teams ragged. Both will most likely be stars.

Exactly right. Most decisions in businesses, even big decisions, are essentially made on "gut feel", "experience" and "instinct". Getting the official research or expert consultant in is a way for a business to have a formal justification or research to back up the decision they were going to make anyway. Depending on the type of business and it's stakeholders it can be a necessity.

From the outside looking in (pretending that you're not in this situation is very amusing) I would find it odd if: (1) Hawthorn didn't offer Clarkson a new contract; (2) Clarkson didn't sign a new contract with Hawthorn; and/or (3) Clarkson signed for Melbourne, given I think (1) and (2) are very likely. By the way, why do people say that coaches like Eade and Sheedy were "sacked" by their clubs? You have a three-year contract. Those three years are up. Club does not offer a new contract. Who got sacked?

You are sick, mate

I don't understand the question? Maybe phrase it in another way and I will try to answer it. In the meantime, I have a question: How is directly threatening to travel interstate to kill someone (the person you are speaking to) any more or less of a big deal than threatening to rape someone's mother (the mother of the person you are speaking to)?

It is, mate. Anyone who thinks this is anything more than a game is kidding themselves. I love footy and the MFC as much as anyone else on here, but seriously, the AFL are the moral police? I do play amateur and don't say things like that. I do come out with the odd sledge and definitely stand up for myself and teammates when I need to. But if someone says something like this to me I do not punch them in the face. I laugh and show them that calling me names or trying to put me off my game won't work. Sure, there will be a time and a place to get some revenge, but I'd rather help my team win the game and hang [censored] on the player later. Ricky looked like a little kid on Sunday complaining because "he called me a name and it wasn't fare, you should get him in trouble, then I'll feel better"

I have a genuine question for you all: What is the difference between: (a) McGinnity telling Petterd he will rape Petterd's mother; and (B) Petterd telling McGinnity he (Petterd) will go to Perth and kill McGinnity? If I was Petterd I would definitely want to get a bit of pay back somehow out there on the field, but I would initially probably just laugh at him for being the fool that he is. Petterd just looks like a little kid who can't control his temper. If I was an Eagles player I'd be taunting Petterd for being effected by what McGinnity said - you know you've put him off his game and that he is a bit of a sook. Back to my initial point... If the Eagles player is charged or suspended, then so should the Melbourne player. In case I'm not being clear, I think neither player has a case to answer. They called each other names. Have you guys ever been on a football field before?

You guys still worrying about this? Scully will announce who he has signed with at the end of the season and you won't be able to do anything about it. That is what he said was going to happen ... what a waste of energy.

This is embarrassing. That a player can be suspended for this kind of thing is hilarious. That a club enforces this on their own player is even funnier. I'm a bit annoyed Petterd tried to make something of it; and his [censored] dad comes out having a go at the Eagles player!

I'm very happy about this, but have no idea what this has to do with the type of person Trengove or Scully is. The attitude to the game and life of a professional footballer is just a little removed from that of a fan. Some people really struggle with perspective sometimes.

The subject of the post refers to the players being "Indigenous" and I don't see how that is relevant to the discussion. Am I missing something? If we are simply looking at under performing players, or players who might not be good enough, that is definitely not an exhaustive list!

There is a reason people refer to "the Liverpool way". It's a turn of phrase that encompasses many aspects of Liverpool FC, it's history, it's players and it's supporters. If anything what could be described as "the Melbourne (FC) way" would be an embarrassment and is indicative of the problems we find ourselves in as a club right now. I believe we belong at the top of the pile, but we need to start acting like it and the club leaders, administration, board, president and players need to genuine believe it and want to make it happen. Just by the way, there is no real equivalent of coming back from a 3-goal deficit in Aussie Rules footy. Just isn't comparable. Oh yeah, and Gerrard dived for the penalty which eventually led to the equalising goal, not that I complained at the time or care anymore! Gerrard also played much of the extra-time period filling in at right back and stopping the Milan substitute full-back Serginho.

What's this bullsh!t about "deserving" to play finals? The top 8 sides play finals. Doesn't matter who well you played, who you beat, when you beat them and whether it will be good for the development of your list to have some finals experience! It's such a weird attitude to footy to not want your side to come 8th, preferring 9th or 10th. You've either got no experience being part of a football team or haven't been associated with a successful one.

As far as I can see the white fellas haven't been too crash hot either. Not sure why these players need to be grouped together unless you're suggesting their shared cultural background, history or skin colour are the reason for their poor form? Anyway, since you mentioned them, I'll give it a go: Davey - Hasn't been helped with injuries but was probably close to being dropped in any case earlier in the year. Is a massively important player for us with his kicking which is why I'd rather get him behind the ball in defence and setting us up going forward rather than feeding off the crumbs of our non-existant key forwards. Jurrah - Has that seemingly laid-back approach to the game that always comes in for criticism when he's not in form. Definitely needs to be taught to work harder to get more involved when we have the ball and to have an impact of some kind without the footy. I'd happily keep him at Casey for the rest of the season unless he shows massive improvement int he above pretty quickly. How'd he go last week? Bennel - Shows flashes of class but has never put it together for more than fleeting moments. Not sure what kind of a contract he's on btu wouldn't be too worried about it not being renewed. Jetta - I like his ability in close, tight spaces and that he also has a bit of pace to break away from congestion when he can. Needs to get more of the footy when he plays but I think there's some genuine talent there and am looking forward to seeing him play when injury free Wonnaemeri - I have a real soft spot for him because I love good tacklers and the guys is a joy to watch when he is around the goals, especially his wild goal celebrations. But unfortunately that's not enough to warrant a spot in the side. When fit he seems to contribute to the side, but can't seem to stay fit for more than about a month at a time, which is disappointing and makes him unreliable.

I love this sh!t. You're up there amongst the leaders because you have tipped more winners than most of your competition, yet now you're close to winning it you're going to change your tip based on who you think everyone else will tip! How about you tip who you think will win? Will Carlton win, or Melbourne? That is the question. No extra points for clever tips or half points for your underdog almost getting up. By the way, I'd tip the Blues if I were you (which I'm not)

Our midfield isn't good enough for what? To make the finals this year? To win a flag in five years?

Take another look if you think it's a coincidence that Malthouse coaches teams that continue to get so much out of young players and tend to exceed expectations. If you genuinely thought Collingwood were going to dominate like they did in 2010 and have the potential to do over the next few years when assessing their list a few years ago you're lying. There are no coincidences, only the illusion of coincidence. Anyway, what has this got to do with Melbourne?

Good work, Jack!

Ah, of course, the all important "body language", where premierships are won and lost

I'd say we reasonably well covered in terms of having match ups for opposition key forwards (between Chip, Rivers and Garland and Macdonald and Warnock as back ups) and smalls too. Chip gives us great drive from the backline goinbg forward, especially for a guiy his size capable of playing on some of the big gun forwards and run off them. But unless we move someone like Davey back there, we have no one with really top quality kicking skills to bring the ball out of the backline. This is a key part of the game at the top level (at most levels, really) and it's one area we do struggle in. I'd love one really classy and silky skilled half-back flanker to finish off our back half. We really need two if we are to have depth.

So you agree with me? The fact that a panel of ex players decided picked Jamar in the All-Australian team last season (read: "they decided Jamar was the second best ruckman last season") doesn't change my view. Ignoring the All-Australian team and looking at what actually matters, namely Jamar's performances in a Melbourne jumper, do you disagree with me? If so, why?

I though I was doing what everyone else was doing?

For some reason I think our performance in this game will get less scrutiny than Thursday night's performance against Essendon is getting. Considering it will be a week and a few days closer to the start of the season, that is just strange.

On Jack Watts, if I were an opposition fan I'd be giving it to him every time we played Melbourne, but I'm not in the business of doing the job of opposition fans. Hate to say it, but at Melbourne games we seem to be out numbered in more ways than one.

Jamar is the most overrated player on our list. He's vitally important as the only decent ruckman on our list and had a great year in 2010. However, he is not suddenly a "star" that can be relied on week in, week out, to put in top level performances, and I doubt he ever will be. That's fine and I have no problem with the guy. In fact I really respect him for how he has improved his game and lifted himself to the level he is currently at. Doesn't make him a star like some seem to think he is. Davey gets 'tagged' almost every week, you just worry about it when he has a bad game or he gives a silly free-kick away (and probably otherwise has a good game).