nutbean

No - Petrie clearly beat him. I wouldnt have liked to be a defender the way the ball was coming in yesterday ( far too easily) but at the end of the day - it doesn't matter - I thought Petrie beat him.

No - for the record it wasn't the only thing. Yes he missed some. But he did a few shots from on the 50 or just outside and some from the angles of 45 degree or better. This has been addressed in other threads Yup - some teams are missing easy shots against us but there was an article in the age last week that we are number one in the comp for not giving up goals within 25 metres. Roos has said a few times that we are making teams take shots from difficult positions - we are rarely giving up the corridor close.

Negatives for Tom - can get lost in transition, can be outbodied, questionable footskills and decision making Pluses for Tom - He can punch - he can mark. His big plus is his willingness for a key defender to get involved. I see him as being similar to Ted Richards - the big difference is that Richards averages 12 touches a game and TMac - 16 touches. The big ? of course is whether he can clean up his disposal and decision making - at 21 - I would definitely not put a cross through him.

So obviously you disagree with trying to "develop" a player. Further consider that we have been appalling in this area for a number of years and this is the first footy department that knows anything about "improving". 13 games into the new regime - lets just flick him ? And further consider that not a single coach but ALL coaches have this benchmark of 70 games plus before footballers start to really know their trade. Then add that big blokes take even longer. McDonald has questionable footskills and is prone to poor decision making but there is also a lot to like about him. He finds the ball plenty and I am sure that the coaches will try to polish off his very rough edges. I am willing to suggest that Roos and co do not share your views on his retention so standby to see a 2-3 year contract signed. If TMac does not resign I don't believe it will because the footy department dont want him.

Wow. He does have the odd brain fade and scares me a little with ball in hand but he has been the centrepiece of a defense who has been quite miserly compared to the last four years. He is young and learning and will improve. What gets me is that he is being pilloried for getting done on the lead. You can slam jetta for that too. Or we might concede that it had something to do with ball being waltzed into their forward line way too easily last night.

You know noothin Deestroy all

good get !

I like that he doesn't bounce players in and out the team. ( for the record - I have never been an advocate of dropping a player after a couple of quiet games. Nor have i ever been an advocate of calling any player in the AFL a spud)

Like anything - confidence brings improvement - I rated his hardness and shutting down ability but didn't believe he provided enough offense. With confidence ( I guess from not being bounced in and out of the team) he is now not only doing a great defensive job but also offering some offensive rebound. I think as we improve this will also become more a feature of the game. I loved the little run in the 4th Quarter when he gathered the ball and both Pies forwards around him though he would dish off laterally but instead he charged straight down the middle leaving both Pies forwards flat footed.

You know this how ? Roos confirmed we would not have taken Kelly but I haven't seen any reporting that we would have taken Salem at number 2 ?

Murphy has always had class on and off the field.

I have "slade" tattoed on my knuckles (not really)

In come the dollars and in come the cents to replace the pounds and the shillings and the pence. Be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix on the 14th of February 1966. Clink go the cents folks clink, clink, clink. Changeover day is closer than you think. Learn the value of the coins and the way that they appear and things will be much smoother when the decimal point is here. In come the dollars and in come the cents to replace the pounds and the shillings and the pence. Be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix on the 14th of February 1966.

In come the dollars and the cents Out go the pounds and the shillings and the pence......

In come the dollars and the cents Out go the pounds and the shillings and the pence......

I read it on here. ( must be the truth then...)

I also asked about his best position. He said a bit more engine and muscle needed and he is a genuine mid. I said he may not have genuine speed but has all the moves. he nodded and said "of course he has the moves - at his size, if he didn't he would be dead by now"

Someone on thread mentioned JKH as being a loner and stand apart from the group (can't find the actual post). I live in oakleigh and was walking the dawgs tonight past the Oleigh chargers ground. They were training and I got talking to a trainer about the next gun from the chargers. What he told me I found very interesting. Even though they are two years apart JKH and Dom Tyson went to Trintity and both captained the chargers (did not know that). He said they knew each other both before and after Tyson went to GWS and were friends and JKH was over the moon to come to the demons because "his friend Dom was at the MFC. My first bit of inside gossip - make it of it what you may.

He also did something on Saturday night a few times that showed me he is growing in confidence. Most of our midfielders who grab the ball in the centre throw it on their boot immediately. A couple of times at least Dom opted to run with the ball and drove it deeper to a contest. A much better outcome than a blind kick in hope ( a blind kick in hope is still better than no clearance at all !)

Not that you don't want pay someone their worth but the benefit to Melbourne if he signed a two year extension would be that it wouldn't be an expensive exercise. If the footy department believe he has got what it takes to develop into a really good footballer, extend the contract whilst his price is low. I reckon it is a risk after 6 games ( even though he has shown plenty) but an acceptable risk.

Then perhaps demonland is not the best place for you ?

So you think supporting a club means you are therefore excluded from expressing opinions critical to players ? Following your logic, if you shouldn't criticise the players then you shouldn't criticise the management and the board ? And by that logic when you as a member see a totally inept board ( sorry for being critical), at the AGM you must sit on your hands as voting against them is voicing criticism. If you voiced your opinion saying that over the top rants and personal abuse on players is not on then I agree with you. But this forum is set up to voice both praise and criticism. I applaud Saty's loyalty to players but at times feel it is a little misplaced - of late he has moved more to the centre and expressed opinions on Tappy, Strauss and Blease that if they cant get out and play AFL they will be gone by years end ( damning from Saty !). There are posters who criticise here with some intellectual rigour to back up their criticism - they don't go over the top and abuse and that's fine by me.

what a jidiotic way of spelling it .

if I play my cards right, I might get a Freddie Clutterbuck tonight. ( neh...dream on)

Nonsense ! I have seen his highlight reel - he doesn't knock doors down - he kicks them in. If you think that Viney is tough - watch this space.