nutbean

hopefully before but definitely after

And stretcher would have needed a stretcher ( or undertaker)

I can give him a week or two. ( Under this regime I just want to see demotion for constant underperforming) (i've gone soft and my head has turned to mush)

I am definitely not one for the scorched earth policy and I will never consign any player still on our list "never to be in a Melbourne jumper again". If you are worthy of game then you get one - its that simple. Good form is rewarded and bad form requires demotion until the day too much bad form adds up and you are axed. Until that day - if your form warrants it - you get a game. My issue with Aaron is not that he is down on form - most of the team are. Head over the ball has never really been his go - its been about getting the ball handed to him and running and linking. My concern is the perceived lack of effort to try and do the things he is good at.

Sometimes it only takes one leader at a club to make a difference. Talk to Carlton people about Judd - we know he is a superstar player but the Carlton people will tell you it is more than just his footy skills - they marvel at his leadership qualities on and off the field.

Aaron Davey is only our most skillful player if he gets the ball in his hands. He hasnt had the ball in his hands all of last season and the beginning of this season due to his efforts.

I may be in the minority but what I want from the club is players who give something. I have stated I am not a fan of Bartram because he coughs up the ball way too much for my liking but I still would put him in the team before Davey as he has a go. Davey's skill will never be as an in and under player or diving in like a maniac but what he does have is the ability to link and run outside and he aint doing that. Step one- dont play players that dont put in. Step two - once we have a team of goers - then move on players that may put in but dont have the required skillset.

Forgetting that Fletcher is 145 years old I would trade all four of our players for just Watson and Fletcher and still think we have got ourselves a bargain. Watsons is in the top 5 extractors in the league and leads by example of getting his hands dirty and the ball out of the clearances. Fletcher is just the general down back and continually marshalls the troops. On paper, off paper and on the field these two alone offer so much more than any of our leaders.

I don't buy this. I admire what he has done in the past but he didnt give a yelp last year.I also suggest that on his past year and current form opposition coaches would rate Davey as very easily put out of the game. Wear him tightly - he doesnt like it. I will cut a player some slack if their form is down but you can see the effort. What I didnt see last season and so far this season is the effort. (Davey's scintillating early forms were sublime skills backed up by a large dose of wanting to run and chase hard)

If a player is going to let the team down due to conditioning then dont play him in the seniors. I could understand if his form over the last year was sensational and you play him because even in an underdone state Davey would be value but we all recognise that he has been ordinary for all of last year. So combine ordinary form with underdone conditioning = dont play him in the seniors.

Agree 100% and whilst I wont single out players,there are times in football matches where the relatively simple execution or decision making skills are butchered at defining moments and we have some repeat offenders in our team. We need two things - we need to have a stronger culture that no matter how hard it gets you dont drop your head. We also need to weed out footballers who continually make you want to drop your head through their game altering misdeeds.

Sorry to harp but where exactly in our team is the Fletchers,Hills, Watsons and McVeighs to lead the way and help our juniors develop. It is not an excuse - just an observation as to why our job is so much harder.

I read in the Hun this morning that Aaron is a chance of a recall this weekend. I looked back and he was dropped last week (acknowledged by the coaching staff) due to form but was made an emergency and taken to WA so he did not play at Casey. This doesnt make much sense to me. If you are dropped for form you should play at Casey to try and recapture the lost form. Our emergencies should be the in form players at Casey who cant quite crack the seniors. So I had no problem with McDonald being an emergency ( and was used instead of Martin). I didn't have a problem with Tynan being an emergency - as a first gamer he did ok and I almost would have kept him in 1st's. But I would have had Couch as an emergency and let Aaron find some form at Casey. How can we be talking about Aaron getting a recall when he has proved nothing? The article on his recall talks about match simulations - this doesnt cut it for me. I was excited for the season due to our training and match simulations right up until a ball was bounced for the first real game. Doesnt make sense to me that Aaron wasnt at Casey and now can be talked up as a "recall". Note - the recall part might be paper talk which is out of the clubs control however my issue is him not playing at Casey which is in our control.

I shouldnt have posted it - one really bad moment shouldnt define a really good career

I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it.

if he has the same genes as his dad he will be a fine highly skilled outside footballer who goes when it his turn ( except once !)

i really like this

It was Lincoln - I checked his blog

This cant be emphasised enough. Having leadership to set the standard in training is so essential Have older players to see how they got about it both on and off field The likes of Darling having Lynch and Lecras ( and now Kennedy who is now maturing) to take the pressure of you - allowing you to be the third target is so important. We are missing this important peice of the puzzle.

Hey!!! I resemble that remark !

there is a difference between sitting down with someone who is quirky and left of centre and accepting their money and someone who holds repugnant views. Maybe he did not espouse his repugnant views at the time (damn sure he didnt). If anyone has read Steve Jobs' book - I wonder if we would steer clear of his money ? He comes across not much different from this dude in his left of centre entrance into the business world and some of his dealings. The difference is that Jobs wasnt a racist or sexist - but he did display whacko tendancies.

In all seriousness, what exactly do you want the club to answer ? Out of the four players you mentioned you could make a case for one of them. Do you think that Cam Bruces example of why he left the club sets the kids a good example. Do you think Robbo's example of how to chase and pressure in his last years sets a good example. Brad Miller still missing easy goals that is demoralising Richmond supporters - does this set a good example ? And you have pointed the finger at the recruiting of youth and the performance of the seniors - what exactly do you want the club to say. We got it wrong with you kids and older blokes - you are just no good. What answers do you want ?

I read your post in the bp topic and offer an apology. You said you both pro darling and cook. A good post indeed. . My main gripe has been and always be that some (not you) are writing off kids before they have had a chance to mature. I will never write off anyone in particular talls until 22/23

If it was an error not to draft Darling then you would have chosen Darling instead of Cook. Please let me know why , why do you rate darling over cook.

We draft 18 year old kids who are so far removed from maturity. We get some insight at TAC level for 2 years and then we make decisions. These decisions are made with so much foresight that it boggles the mind. You can go through every team and see their drafting errors. As much as you may like Ball and Hodge they will never be in Judd's universe. The only selections that I would hold the club responsible for is Watts as by all expert opinion there was a clear equal choice. It's too early to judge yet. But I find it too hard to swallow that we have not been able to recruit a star in the last 20 years. Not one. Poor culture , coaching and development.