Pates

It'd be sad to see him go, but it'd be sadder for him to languish at Casey. I'd be quite happy to see him go to Sydney, I reckon they'd be a good fit for him and give him a crack at finals footy. Clearly Neeld's style hasn't been embrace by Beamer, and as sad as that is (especially since I expected him to thrive) I'm not surprised that we have lost one player that in the past has been in our best. I hope people aren't angry with Brent, or Neeld for that matter, these things happen, it's a changing landscape and I hope he will always feel like Melbourne is his home.

Perhaps been misinterpreted, it might have been a part of the idea of the players controlling their own destiny. I doubt it would've been to the point to what people are saying, but I do believe the players were given too much latitude during Baileys tenure.

I disagree that it wouldn't have mattered, even if he did play a straight bat to it and bat it away it would still be on record as a question asked and should be relevant to to press conference given that part of the reason he's being sacked is because they believe they have a good list. Something that came about because he lost his first 9 (?) games. Isn't it incumbent on the media to ask these questions, and seek the answers to the deeper questions. Given the witch hunt on Melbourne to do with tanking (caused by a Carlton player no less), shouldn't they be more willing to investigate that as they were with Bailey? The action is not so about Ratten and his answer, it's the wider issue that they have been so willing to grill us that they should be equally keen on Rattens answer the that big question.

Can someone tell me if the media grilled him about draft picks and tanking? Completely missed the presser, and if he wasn't asked then this is the first but of evidence that the media really does have it in for us.

Get him Melbourne. I gotta say, this is the cowards way out for carlton, in the grand scheme of things he hasn't done bad and there are mitigating circumstances with their poor year. The courageous thing would've been to stick fat with Rats, but as I said they've caved to pressure and taken the cowards path. And I will be royally [censored] if no one from the media doesn't grill him about tanking as they did for Bailey, should be interesting.

Got me. Cruel but well played.

Nah all good, didn't mean it to sound snippy if it did. It certainly has looked he's been playing with a broken heart.

Did you read my whole post? Just in case you didn't here is the first bit again.

I would be sad to see him go but he has played the year like he doesn't want to be here. If that is the case then the best thing for club and player is to move him on and help him get to his preferred destination. Question is would port Adelaide be his preferred destination? I thought essendon had interest in him and since they've got a much better chance of playing finals surely that'd be where he'd like to go. If he doesn't want to go, I would be quite happy for us to have another crack with him. His combination with Jamar/Stef in 2011 is too recent for me to just say "give him the boot".

I voted that we got it wrong, that's not to say I don't believe Watts will become an excellent player for us, but I see more in Nik Nat than I do in Watts. Apart from athleticism, desire, and the foreseeable future for Nick to be the dominant ruckman in the competition, I also see his marketability and freakishness. These things get people (especially kids) through the gate. Watts is everything Melbourne has been in the past; nice, polite, articulate, and seemingly a pure footballer. He was the safe option. Having said all that, Watts does have great potential and talent in him, but I feel his time of being a stay at home defender is up. He knows how to get the ball now, get him using his abilities on the wing and up forward.

Yeah they put on Crowded House after he had gone off, would've been much more appropriate for while he was out there.

Two sides to this. I'm not defending $cully at all, but our game is in my opinion very childish when it comes to players moving clubs. I'm not saying I want a situation like in the NRL when players and coaches move without care but at the same time a player should feel comfortable about being able to to tell their current club what the situation is. In the lead up to Tom making his "final" call many commentators and former coaches were asked if he was your player and he told he was going would you play him. Most said no. That is an extremely immature way of looking at things. So I can to a certain degree understand why Tom lied to Jim, he was probably afraid of the reaction of the club if he told them the truth. What I don't agree with is the lie he told. He could've told Jimmy, "honestly I don't know, If GWS come to me with a big offer I may take it" and while that's not telling the whole truth it's at least being upfront about the fact that leaving Melbourne was in his mind. GWS put him in that terrible position, seemingly egged on by his father and manager who had $$$$$ in their eyes, and the game's lack of ability to handle players moving made him want to lie. His decision wasn't wrong, the way he handled it was. Very true.

I'm a fan, but today was one of his poorest games I've seen for a while. Was run off his feet, but it doesn't help that the midfield is smashed. Walker got space to run in, and beat him in all areas: Body work, pace, skill, and endurance. Not a season to remember, I'll back him to return in 2013 with a vengeance.

Jeez poor form from ABC, if your televising a sporting event like VFL surely your basic obligation is to show the end of the bloody game! Well done the scorpions for finishing on top, I hope we don't pull our players out for surgery and leave then high and dry. Good to hear Fitzy having a good day, good chance to get a game next week with Green finishing tomorrow.

I saw the score, moment I switch on GWS got a goal. Switching off right now!

Based on what I've heard about the conditions we should be able to peg that back. Go Scorps!

I already admired Jones for his effort and tenacity, but he is becoming a complete player and has won me over as someone who'll be critical to our rise up. Blease is another, knew he had attributes but has shown he's got what it takes. Will be interesting to see where he settles.

There are many facets to this. For me not much has changed with the trial date. I still feel that trying to get him on the rookie list under special grounds (which hopefully the AFL will go with) is the best course of action, if he tells us that he is committed to the footy club. As I said there are different facets to it, it's very easy to look at it purely from a football perspective but I hope the club considers Liams future. If we dump him with these revelations, what will that do to him? And what would be better for him IF he is prosecuted, but not given jail time? Playing footy or fending for himself? I believe that we have a massive opportunity to not just hold on to a gifted footballer, but to seriously positively affect a persons life in the long term. Playing football, regardless of timing of the trial or the outcome, will give him focus and hope for the future. Put it in the "too hard basket" and what we may lose is more than just a footballer. Will be very interesting to see what comes by list lodgement time.

With apologies to WA demons fans, I'm glad he's choosing to end it at the G. Seems appropriate to me that he get chaired off at his home ground for his entire career in front of the members.

I'm done wih worrying about our position with picks, we get the picks where we're placed. Would be a great way to send off Brad with a win. Might even chuck a lazy $10 TAB donation on us for the win.

Best news I've had all day, great stuff Sam!

He's depth, shouldn't be much more. He's got a good spoil on him and he competes fairly well, but another "good endevour, poor skills and decision making", boy we seem to rack them up.

I don't know that he ducks, but he does the Selwood-esque driving his when picking the ball up. On Dunn, good to see people getting cited and charged for it.

Jeez I completely missed that one. I can't say I agree with that, for me it will encourage clubs to move older players on earlier than they would previously. Perhaps it may give some players a last chance at a club with finals prospects, but I would think it will mean a few older players are lost to the game prematurely.

Forget about it, must be done for the year. What can we possibly gain by playing him for one more game? Important player who must be put on ice for 2013.