nutbean

His handballs are not wasted and I dont find too much wrong with his kicking. He wants to be at every contest and loves a tackle. He aint quick but gets to where he should be.

But damn the man looks ugly doing it - nothing silky about him at all.

In Summary

- doesnt burst from stoppages like Beamer - but gets clearances

- doesnt do the run downs like Flash used to do - but knocks up getting tackles

- doesnt look as sweet with his hands inside as the Gys but gives out as many effective h/balls

- doesnt look as silk as Trenners in tight but always there feeding the ball out

Proves to me that doesnt matter how good you look doing it as long as you get the job done and he is getting the job done and then some.

You are talking about the last few weeks. He has had opportunities up the ground.

I suggest that he may be playing a defensive post because he doesn't involve himself enough. He is a big talent. I think everyone who has a bit of a handle on him would assess him the same, even the man himself

He has a way to go and again made some blues and indecsions on Saturday but I really like him - he is creative and prepared to run. I would like him getting more possessions but I think he has been alright and is progressing nicely. Young and improving like many on our list.

No place for it all.

Dermott B spoke about things being said in the heat of the moment but did not condone it any way shape or form. However if RR says is correct and it was going on the entire match then that is a disgrace as this is not equivalent to heat of the moment.

I still have very unpleasant memories of sitting in the top deck of the western stand during the 2000 GF with my then 10 year old daughter and watch Long take out the big snake ( pardon the pun). The racial abuse from our own supporters behind me was so ugly and I had to remind them that they were shouting racial abuse to Long and Jeff Farmer was right in between Long and the abusers. What Long did was wrong and would have been wrong if Jeff White, Brad Green, Jonno Brown or Alvin Purple had done it.

I have no problem with anyone calling a footballer a scumbag - although I prefer wittier sledges. I do have a big problem with the need for any descriptors placed before the insult which relate to race,religion or creed.

Here ya go ... awesome tackle!! I actually laughed when he did this

The other wonderful thing to note ( if the clip had gone 3 seconds more) is how quickly he bounced straight back up looking for the next contest.

Thomas is an amusing man - its almost like he says the first thing that comes into his head without filtering it at all and then digests it - half the time you can almost see him thinking " what i just said is a crock/wind up" and the other half of the time you can almost see him patting himself on the back because the voice from his mouth actually made some sense when it exited and then got digested by his brain.

Can someone please shed some light on this Wolfmother character?

I seem to have missed an explanation of his background?

I just want to be able to gauge the legitimacy of his posts.

cheers

Face value

I also love his ability to keep the ball in our 50 and 'alive'. He is very creative and dangerous in they way he does this. if he can't have a shot or kick to a teammate he is fantastic with his hands, following and trapping the ball and pushing it around with his hands. Watts is also great in this way. Petterd was also doing this last year before he was injured. He really was our most potent forward before LJ returned.

Besides his tackling on Saturday the rest of his game was just ok but thats 100% fine by me -the rest will come. He doesnt look as dangerous as he did in the early part of last year as his disposal doesnt look as clean - but thats also ok.

I said it in the Howe thread and the same applies here. Not everyone will be 100% on their game every week but as long as you have some impact on the game then you have done your job. His tackling and his kamikaze attack on the ball made him more than valuable. Ricky more than did his job on Saturday and I put him in the best players purely based on his mantra of not letting the ball out of the forward 50 and committing 100% to every contest.

Too much time on my hands - watched the replay again against the Toiges and looked carefully at Jeremy Howe. He had a quieter game than the week before.

Its has already been mentioned his harrassment work and second efforts in the first quarter on the wing to cause a turnover and then work hard back to goal to kick the goal.

He didnt mark too many on Saturday but hit enough contests with body positioning to make sure he was the only one with a chance to mark. It was either him or nobody.

Then his refusal to give up in the last quarter and break through a shepherd ( albeit a weak one) and cause McGuane to turn the ball over resulting in a Sylvia goal was again persistance.

It shows you dont have to be getting 20 possies plus or 12 marks to influence a game.

I just love what this kid brings to the table. I am not one for going early ( read my dozens of early comments on Jack Watts - " ill wait until he is 23 before judging him") but my bones tell me that he is going to be pivotal to our forward line structure going forward.

Lighten up bruiser. He's clarified it, let's move on to the next "I spoke to My girlfriend's ex's third cousin who spoke to Tom Hafey's wife who knows some people who live in the same suburb as Tom's parents and they heard at the local RSL from Bert Newton that Tom was a noble and likable chap" story. Hell even I've added one to the mix which if I had my time again I would have left out. Not because what I was told isn't from a good source but in the end it's just someone talking and conveying their opinion as fact. I've decided not to post anymore on this topic until we here it from the club and Tom. It has been a guilty pleasure!

Ive said that a few times too

But everytime I try to get out...........they pull me back in again

When was the last time we won there ?

I went to us play the doggies there - ( half expecting a loss as they were on fire) and we won - cant remember when that was

As hard as a cats head!

never understood that - my gf has a cat and i reckon i could crush its head with one hand ( not that it has ever crossed my mind......)

Bartram had an eye injury last week that arguably gives him some excuse for his poor disposal and decision-making.

I cant believe everyone let this one go through to the keeper !!!!!

A couple of things. Just prior to that McKenzie was on Cotchin - got pulled up for holding his jumper.

Just after that tackle by Jordie, Nathan Jones' bump on Nahas sent Nahas through the air. Perfectly executed.

I enjoyed the Jones bump as well - but it was on Nahas, so Jonesy reputation was at stake if he didnt send Nahas flying. ( Imagine the ribbing you'd get if you laid a bump on Nahas and he DIDN'T go flying)

Just another point about Howe, this was very good coaching, Richmond would have looked at his aerial ability and tasked somebody with stopping him takings marks, so Howe did lead all day and the team happily ignored him, leaving a space for Green, Trengove etc to work into and take some uncostested marks.......he did his job, he got rewarded with a goal

What you also didnt mention about Howe is who created the pressure /turnover for him to get the goal ? - it was Howe up on the wing. The kid works really really hard.

If anyone asks me what sort of effort I want ( read love) from the Dee's each week there is no better example of the tackle from Jordan McKenzie on Dustin Martin in the 2nd Quarter.

He literally flew from the ground like Superman. I replayed it a few times in slo mo to see the look of horror in Dusty's eyes as Jordie flew thru the air at him.

The thing I loved so much is that Jordie was behind a body after an initial contest and seemed out of the this next contest and could have been forgiven for not making that second effort to launch into a tackle. But launch himself he did.

Super stuff - super effort.

and what if he is telling the truth??

then you are banning a fellow Melbourne supporter because he decided to share something with the rest of us.. great culture here guys

I think you will find there wouldn't have been a problem if "anchor" had said that a foundation member has said those things at the lunch but I too read the post and gulped as it was clearly insinuated that Sheedy, the CEO and Dipper (it should have rung alarm bells when his named was mentioned !) had said those things to the lunch.

What he didnt show early in the season ( apart from the Swans "sub game") which he has shown specifically in the last two games is a kamikaze approach to the contest - be it ball or man. Thats what impressed last year before injury and thats what I am loving now.

My stuff is wasted on here sometimes.

I guess I could go over to BF like Hannabal but that would be shooting in an even less populated barrel of fish...

Its not the size of the population of the barrel of fish at BF that scares me - its the IQ of the population of the fish in the barrel ( or lack thereof)

And "the mail" has been all over the place.

I don't know which "mail" to believe...

One certainty - mail is currently addressed to the wrong people, delivered to the wrong houses or doesnt arrive at all.

Mail has been doing that as long as I can remember and will continue to do so forever and a day.

Umm - that may have been my point?

And Port Adelaide won the flag not long after.

I've always really liked Choko, wonder how he's enjoying GWS?

Sorry Ol' - subtlety is lost on me !!

I would be suggesting from previous noises made by TS that it will be MFC or GWS. The Tigers or Pies machinations talked about are going to be way too difficult to orchestrate.

hangon has been consistent - he's been on about Richmond since last Christmas

I'm reminded of Choko Williams and Nick Stevens.

Except that Nick Stevens was adament he wanted to go to Collingwood and ended up at Carlton and therein lies the point that RPFC is making.

There has to be an enormous amount of work done for TS to get a club other than GWS. Once TS says no to MFC AND GWS then he loses control over where he wants to go unless a deal is struck.

This thread is a loathsome, offensive brute - yet I cannot look away.

Good post

I have been in the other camp generally aggreing with the clubs' and TS management to put it off until post season

Unfortunately it now has become such a hugh issue that i believe the club must draw aline and challenge TS and his managemnt to negotiate now

It has the benefit of all at the club in particular the players of knowing exactly where the club is going and who will be a part of the future and on waht terms

It is a distraction they dont need

It is interesting that no other club seems to be having this issue with geelong and collingwood successfully entering into negotiations as necessarry to secure their best

I think the club is being held to ransome in this matter and in my humble opinion the club should make the call. Either commit to negotiate or dont play. We must remember this is not footy it is big business and we should act as commercially as we can. There is no room for sentimentality

Given the above I understand supporters waxing and waning on this. I hope with all my heart

that we can do a good deal for Tom and the club

So much wrong - where to start ?

It has become a huge issue - for who ? the media ? some demonland posters ? the club,the player and his management have said they are comfortable with waiting until season end - a position which has not altered since last August

No other club has this issue - Ablett at Geelong already played out, Pendlebury signing for one year only - well done on your tough stand Pies. Jackson Trengove and others - go back over the seasons - they are numerous examples of not only the MFC but other clubs having contractual arrangements not finalised until draft day or weeks before.

Benefit for the club and player to know his future and his terms - if this does not happen until season end ( as happens with many players) this affects the player and the club how ???

The club is being held to ransom - welcome to negotiating - its called demand and supply - players who are hot can demand big contracts. Out of form/fringe players have to beg for a contract. Certain players are considered overpaid when their payments does not match perceived performance( Cam Bruce ? Fevola ? ) whilst other players are a steal as they are probably overperformed on their contract payments ( I would suggest that over the last contract Mark Jamar may fall into the category)

Commit to negotiate or dont play ? this comment completely contradicts you next statement - it is a business and we should opt for commerciality with no sentimentality. Talk to anyone in business about negotiating for a wanted item and rule one is dont give ultimatums that there is no backing away from. Question - is him signing a contract in October a deal breaker ? I cannot see why it is so why throw up the ultimatum. It is not unreasonable that a player doesnt negotiate until contract end.

The one correct statement is the supporters waxing and waning. Cool headed, calm people and a professional football club is not.

Trades come up before the draft ( call me Captain obvious).

Unless there was a specific player who really wanted out of his club and was open to coming to the Dees - for example - Travis Cloke entertained going to Essendon two years ago - (how nicely would he fit in) I wouldnt be trading like Collingwood have done.

I dont think we are in the window like the Pies and Dogs to trade as they have but never say never