nutbean

I'll use a "two way running" analogy - old school coaches like Neeld ( I know we can debate whether Neeld was a coach at all) are one way runners - their way or the highway - can work well for an established side full of stars but not for a team that needs to be developed. Roos was among the first of the modern day coaches to really nurture and take feedback from players. From what i understand Goody is even more embracing of two way relationships or two way running with the players. I like it as it does put much more responsibility on the footballers for how they play and at the end of the day they are the only ones who can kick the footy. It can be uncomfortable when it seems that you get a mass revolt of players to a training camp but that's the price you pay for allowing the players so much input and feedback into what they are doing . It doesn't surprise me that someone like McDonald would gel better with Goody than Roos. I get that this coaching approach is not liked by all but i am a fan of making the footballers much more accountable for how they play ( I thoroughly detest when the coach gets blamed for the players "not turning up to play")

Not this year at least ( too soon ?). I think Angus Brayshaw is one of those rare commodities that is more appreciated by their own supporters ( and Roos and umpires) than outside watchers. I think he is an absolute gem and by seasons end will not be all that far behind Viney in value to our team ( big call, I know !)

I know the thread is about who we think but i will suggest whom I think we need to take the next step to improve further this year. Lever and May will really shore up the back line. Given that no one goes backwards, in my mind, if The Weid can kick around the 35-40 goals this season we will prosper. T-Mac is a good forward - we need a second big man in the forward line. I'm not sure he will but this is my hope.

same same - ( you do get a scarf !) - i get pleasure from the club and it i see it as paying for that pleasure..

JKH is too small for an AFL footballer...Lewis towers over him...

Whether we like it or not, money rules sports. Professional teams overseas leave no stone unturned ( read spend copious amounts of money) in an effort to get an edge. Some of these innovations will work some won't. AFL coaching staff don't visit 3rd division soccer teams in Greece to get an edge - they visit professional gridiron, baseball, English soccer teams that spend squillions on improving what they do. Hence the reason we go and visit them. The thing overseas coaches could learn from our game is how we produce world class athletes on a shoestring budget.

and 84 kg and a forward pocket/half forward flank goal sneak. If TMac or Weid go down we need a key position player to replace which Townsend definitely isn't

free biffen

My advice to her is to start taking blood and bone and she could get promoted to the tree department...

talented but quite easy to shut down - aerogard...

I'm visualizing a 168 cm 62kg nippy goalsneak. edit: he needs to be drafted on his name alone

Tyson ? really - I liked Tyson's ball winning ability but his disposal and decision making - patchy. He was our second best midfielder when he arrived behind Jones. Oliver's gone past him, Viney's gone past him, Harmes has gone past him. So he is 5th in the pecking order at best. Not hard to replace him.

Before you pot Mahoney's negotiation skills you do understand he doesn't work in a bubble ? He has input from the CEO ( salary cap for present and future) and the coach (who he wants and who he doesn't want) and recruiting staff ( picks and the possible selections). There is input from all covering the scenario's. Sooo.. The pants wasn't dropped on Watts. They wanted him gone and going to Port with a contribution was the cheapest option. ( the mistake on Watts was the contract amount he got initially). Do you think he would have got a game this for us ? So we cleared cap space and a playing spot. You can arguably Hogan all you like over Lever - Lever made the all Australian squad - Hogan ? Learning to manipulate ? Hogan was going next year and wasn't a free agent so we have no compensation like GC was going to get for May. Big picture is we got two players we wanted now to give us a serious push further up the ladder for one player who didn't want to stay ( how would it effect his playing next year if he stayed ?) and was out the door next year for an unknown draft pick.

And as you ridiculous as it may seem to you, this has always existed for some footballers. It may be ridiculous but there is a big enough body of evidence to tell you that it well and truly exists.

and he was not half the footballer he was at Melbourne. The way i see it is he has never really been settled in Victoria - some footballer adjust here - he was always one contract away from going home.

just as an aside - does anyone truly believe that Mahoney came out said the things about being open to Jesse being traded and also what final deal was going to be acceptable without input from others at the club ? This a Mahoney decision and no-one else's ?

Because we would have picked the one that does turn out to be star ? Not sure I understand this thinking ?

fixed... (Don't get me wrong - I like what I am seeing with Weid but he is still a work in progress - Hogan kicked goals from the first game he played. If I could only have Hogan or Weid for the next 10 years, based on the current body of work - it would be a no brainer)

Come back to me when he kicks 40 plus goals in 3 out of 4 seasons. I agree that Hogan is more a CHF than a stay at home FF but to me citing the Weid in this story is folly. Weid could be absolutely anything and absolutely nothing - the jury is definitely still out on him.

I don't necessarily agree with your reasoning but we are in violent agreement on the end sum - it is just a matter of who !- I am an "in form" Tyson fan - but we run Jones, Oliver, Salem, Harmes, Viney and Brayshaw through the midfield. To me only Viney, Jones and Oliver are walk up starters. The rest have played at Casey at various stages due to form. To me Tyson is replaced by Salem, Harmes and Brayshaw because all 3 are playing better than Tyson. (actually , and this is pure opinion - On best form Salem and Brayshaw should be certain starters and Harmes has probably been the surprise for me and has been the one to take Tyson's spot due to his good form). I also like the mixing it up by seeing Fritch, ANB and Hogan have a midfield burst from time to time. Keep the opposition guessing.

An in form Brayshaw is priceless. He is fierce at the player and the ball and usually makes good decisions. He is not overly quick but is quick of mind which compensates. At this best he is a walk up starter.

Here is my handling of out contract players/ rumours of comings and goings. Every player on our list is a Melbourne player right up until the time they are not. (this keeps my head from exploding - you're welcome)

Maybe i saw something different. I thought his first quarter was good. To me he always looks like he has time with the ball in his hands. After quarter time he got the fumbles along with the other 21 players.

The one club player may make us all feel warm and fuzzy but the landscape is that players look after themselves and clubs look after themselves. If both the player and the clubs needs and wants are aligned the player stays otherwise hasta la vista baby...

correct - the number of players who have made the same comment only to be playing elsewhere in a season or two... Sign on the dotted line and then you are a Melbourne player for the next (insert length of contract here).