deeko

That's not quite the thought process I was aiming at Chook. I'd say the awful head space Mitch found himself in is due to the scrutiny, media and Mitch's own pressure that he puts upon himself to perform. The dark place it put him in gave him no other option than retiring. A bit of leave, or continuing on the LTI I could understand us all having faith he would return but the extremity to actually retire and walk away from the game to improve ones mental health I just wonder why someone would entertain the thought of a comeback. I still hold hope he will be back but I don't believe it will happen.

I'm not sure who in the house likes him more, Miss Deeko or myself. This worries me as I like him a lot!

If we are complaining about Grimes not being good enough at least we know we are heading in the right direction. He has always been a favourite of mine and will continue being so but he was very ordinary yesterday and hasn't had his best season by far. He copt a big hit to the head in the game, can't remember when it was. He is always going in head first and getting knocked around. It worries me as we all know he is looking for a free kick but its a big risk when your putting your scone and neck on the line how Jack does it. Maybe he stunk it up more after this hit as he was a little dazed? Or maybe I am clutching at straws. I have no issues at all with him still playing ones until someone in the twos shows us more and demands selection. I think Grimes is safe for this season

Someone just start some 'drunken sex romp' rumours

6. Cross. His job on Polec was brilliant as Polec has been in great form of late. Furthermore, he took some super important grabs around the ground. 5. Pederson. Big strong marking who loves throwing his weight around. Some great bumps and som crunching tackles. Great job 4. Tyson. Couple shanks cost him the 6 but how good is this kid going to be! 3. N Jones. Just another truck load of clearances, posseys and tackles. Typical Jonesy effort but doesn't stand out as much noting he is no longer surrounded by witches hats for team mates. Still, this man is a star. 2. Dunn. Really enjoy getting on here week after week saying how wrong I was about the boy. Good job 1. Jamar. I think our team walks taller when he is out there and helps out our mids so much. Jamar is probably lucky over Jetta really only sneaking in after smacking out Lobbe,

As much I would love the great man back in the red and blue I don't think it's worth the risk of him trying. If he was put back on a list the media would be relentless around him placing him in an awful environment. Furthermore, if he got through that, busted a gut getting through pre-season and then hurt himself badly round 1 can anyone imagine how distraught he would be?? I've put him in the Jacko, Jurrah, Schwartz category. Bright flames that burnt to quickly.

There will be outside gut-runners every year to look at, there will rarely be key forwards like this who are already as good as has proven himself like he has. I'd love to have three big forwards roaming each week. They can share it playing two thirds a quarter each up and a third of the quarter plonked in the square. Imagine, instead of kicking it to Dawes everytime at CHF (which isn't the worst at the moment with the efforts he puts in) there will be two options streaming at you. Then once one of the two clunks it, the ball goes down to the next line with a gun full forward demanding it or Gawn/Jamar just chillin beans in the goal square. Seriously sexy stuff! I really couldn't care how it happens I just want the kid as he is a star! Besides, from the continued injuries key men are getting these days how often will all three play together?

Yeah but Riewoldt came out and ridiculed the game plan and tactics didn't he? Deserved a backside kicking. The lad is a moron and its probably the only way the message will get through. If Welsh's biggest tool is to motivate players to come out and "shove it up" him then we are in big trouble there. My idea of a good coach is one you believe in, want to play his way and want to play for him. Not to come out and "shove it up him"

Sorry to hear about your redundancy, really hope you are getting a nice package at the end of it. Agree with your comments to a degree around it being "a generational thing" In saying this though, in generations gone past, a bake might have been the best thing in the world for some players, it still might be today but it's definitely not for all players and its not for the world to see. It's no way in the world to get the best out of players (in my opinion anyway) Can't imagine many senior coaches saying what he has here, I thought it was disappointing and uncalled for that's all.

You're a harsh judge Sat. He isn't playing as well last year but he isn't playing awfully either. Well considering he has kicked 3 times as many goals as our leading goal kicker while playing in the worst team in the comp. Also, he coach has come out and said the following: "He was really knocked around by that perforated eardrum that he had. He's a ball player, Jeremy, he really does crack in very hard," Cameron told Fox Footy. "But secondly his ankle has been playing up for about three or four weeks and with that he just hasn't had the ability to train." Come on mate, get on board

Come on Saty, jump on board the Jez-train! Were any of those boys kicking bags in dust teams winning All Aus honours as a 20 year old? Were they double teamed or triple teamed like Jez? No, course not, they probably weren't even off the boob yet.

Hmm. 22 year old player with 'potential' to be a good player for an already proven star of the game at 20 years old . As much as I like Jacky boy and still have hope for the kid if anyone said no to this they are way to biased towards Jack. Or just stupid.

I always struggle with this mindset. I'm getting paid to perform at the moment in a really great job that I should be thankful for. But as my boss frustrates the hell out of me I'm happily perusing demonland. I'm only on a 2 year contract so I need to perform yet here we are. I understand that our two's weren't great but publicly ridiculing anyone never helps. Just creates a bigger divide between the coaches and players.

My guess would be that there key backs have not came on really at all (and Davis being injured) so they need someone back there with some ability. The forwards of Patton, Boyd & Mummy/Giles couldn't go back, they aren't good enough/mature enough so unfortunately for young Jez he has to cop the CHB role as punishment for being a dam fine player. Dare we dream.... Watts Hogan Dawes Gawn Cameron JKH I don't care where you put them, I'll like it

I am a massive fan of danger's and would do anything to get him to the club but midfielders, seem to come and go every year. A 20 year old who already has an All Australian label, nearly a Coleman in his second year and is just an out and out star is waaaaaay to good an opportunity to let slip. We have truck loads of cash available in the cap, more so with Mitchy boy pulling the pin so there is no issue there. This would give us strongest forward line in the comp for at least the next decade!! Whatever you need to do Melbourne get it done!!

Putting up a brick fence or tubular steel? ****pauses for bulk laughter at genius comment*** In: Frawley and Jetts Out: Dawes and Salem I'm excited about Salem but would like him to go back and work on a full game and keep building his tank. I don't mind the idea of playing youth but right now I would rather best 22 each week no matter who it is. Toump was ok last week so he holds his spot.

Can't see it happening at all but loving the fact that we can now dare to dream again Ah Pauly boy

Bit harsh on him there Adam, the man gets continuous free kicks as teams have to push the rules to the absolute limits to curb his influence. I only watched the game on the tube vs the Doggies and there players were continually lining him not even looking at the pill with Picken hanging on to him, was very ordinary to watch but I can totally understand why they have to as you said, the man is a genius

Firstly, apologies about the response here He was most consistent stats wise last year and was always getting a bit of the pill. My issue last season however was he was playing the easiest role on the field most weeks playing loose across the HBF or on the oppositions 4th / 5th best forward. I remember him playing a couple good shut down games as well which was a good effort in a team getting pumped. Still, I never expected anything more than the occasional glimpse from Dunny and was tired of waiting for him to mature. Not saying he was the problem at all however in this dark period I would never say he would have provided any light to assist us improve At the time I was arguing this point about rarely being beaten in the one on ones as I stated above, was always playing on the 4th / 5th best forwards or just playing loose. I can't recall him playing on a Cloke, Tippett, Riewoldt etc that really would have seen this point challenged. But.... Yes, I can't deny the fact how well he has played this year and when giving an opinion on Lynden I was definitely a poor judge. I would have traded him years ago. He has been fantastic so far this season and I honestly couldn't be happier for him and the team. I love the fact he using his leg as a weapon and is taking key forwards now freeing up Chip Always happy to proven wrong by a player exceeding my expectations.

I think you are being very very generous saying he has been good for a few years now. He has showed glimpses over a few years that he could be a good player and every now and then played a whole game where he was great. Still, they were few and far between. I was sick of him and I wrote him off last year honestly. Put him in the 'flat track bully' category. Glad he has proved me completely wrong and loving his work at the moment, has a fantastic leg on him. Good boy

I wonder if Welsh may have been talking about Jordie when ripping on the players who made mistakes. 35 touches and one would assume bulk tackles/clearances but not in the best? Glad to see Tappy in the best. I still have faith he can make it as a player. Well done as well to Kent, sure he will be in sometime shortly after the mid year spell

VFL accumulates dream team? Since when? Had a look at the VFL web page and was happy to read Blease had a disposal efficiency at 75% which (considering some of the comments that stated he made a few howlers) isn't to bad. Very glad to read that he and Tappy are getting some pill. I still have faith. Also, glad to read about the Toump. Looking forward to him earning his spot back and adding some polish which we need. I wrote off Strauss a long time ago and can't see him being around past his current contract.

And we never will. I really like Jordie, he's everything I love in a player, ridiculously courageous, strong, big tackler and when there was the crap jobs to be done (tagging) he would always be given the task. In his third year I think he was getting circa 20 touches a game and continually improving, thought we had something. Was never going to be goal kicking, match winning mid but he is an accumulator of the pill, just like Cross, Stanton or Sewell etc. Unfortunately he didn't get to there level as players but at one stage, I thought he was on the way. With a few hard bodies in the guts now I can't see Jordie playing many games for us in the future but I will never be upset if he gets a call up.

I'm all for minimal changes and I agree with this and hope that there is any, it will be just for injury cover. Who really is there to bring in? - Blease. No, finally seemed to get a bit of the pill which is fantastic, his challenge now to back it up. - Clisby. Probably closest. - Tappy. No, not fit enough yet - Toump. Let the kid learn there for a while and get some confidence up - Strauss. No and always will be a no for me as I just don't think he can play - Mitchie. No, not fit enough yet - McKenz. Unfortunately for Jordie we picked up Cross and he's a step above. - Riley. No, not fit enough yet - Evans. See Strauss. I'm not willing to bring someone in half done, whether they have a ripping nickname or not, to have a crack in the ones. So much to everyone's shock and horror we may see another week of everyones besty in Boo-erns