nutbean

It's not criticism it's my observation of him as a footballer. The modern footballer is tall and agile or short, agile and very quick. Tapscott doesn't fit into either category. Time will tell whether he gets exposed because of it. And yes he was terrific yesterday.

So you have seen enough to say that this short footballer is slower and less agile than Gary Ablett Jnr ? Bartel ? Dane Swan ? Nickie D ? Rich ? None of these players are blessed with exceptional pace - all have good movement - is there something that you have seen with Tapscott that says to you he has no evasive skills ?

To me the mix for a modern day footballer is to be able to find the ball - in his one game game he has shown thats not a problem, have good courage - he has that in spades and dispose well - his foot skills are very nice indeed.

Can't see any merit in your argument at all.

With another year on a long journey to a flag I thought it necessary to have a thread that tracked the progress of the club toward that goal. The ladder and wins/losses are popular and legislatively important KPIs but in this season, where we are not a chance to win the flag, I thought it would be best to look at other KPIs that would be more relevant to our position in the league, and our improvement, or lack thereof, from 2010.

Nah - if we don't make the top 2 - sack Bailey

( btw - good job - you have defined "improvement")

Bull. He's spot on. So many posters have said "Oh I'll give him time", then 1 game in to the season are having a crack at him again. People just need to accept that Jack is a different type of player to most, and in the long run once he has DEVELOPED FULLY he will be a massive weapon for us who was well worth the time investment. Who knows what type of he player he could/will be, he was drafted number 1 by a pretty smart list management team at a crucial time for the club, I'm just guessing they know something, maybe that he is going to be a totally unique player, wouldn't we all love that?

Jack isnt a different type to most - he is a tall underdeveloped forward. There have been some stand outs that have made it from a very early age but most of these examples are from the pre flood, pre -zone football where the forward wasn't being double and triple teamed and had some space to work in. The history books are littered with key forwards who have been absolute guns that have taken to 22-23 until they showed their worth. This is the norm.

I'm with you Stuie - I'm keeping my powder dry

I point blank refuse to make pronouncements - star/not star/average/above average/ champion - on a just turned 20 tall under-developed footballer.

When Hannabal mentioned all those names (Carey, Brereton etc) what did click in my head is the game is so different now to when those guys played. With flooding, zoning and the congestion that now is the norm is football it does make it incredibly hard for any forwards to become champions in the vein of the guys mentioned. So little space to work in and the big forward being double and triple teamed.

Makes me admire the Reiwoldts and Franklins even more.

On the club wesite - called E EVOLUTION

link -

http://www.e-diary.c...d=186&appid=170

You da man !

Thanks !

Just paying homage to the poster (who I shall not name) the other day who said Jones was a clearance player, but Moloney is not.

Clearly, it's tripe.

Am I right in saying that Jamar/Moloney combo was no 1 in the AFL for clearances last year ? Did I hear that or am I making it up ?

Tapscott is strong, has a beautiful beautiful kick. His only question marks will be his ability to play on smaller more agile opponents or those 190cm plus. Time will tell if he is good enough to cover these deficiencies. On yesterday's performance we have reason to be positive.

Could I have my pie with cream and berries please.

Couldn't agree more - time will tell if a 180cm small defender can play on 190cm plus footballers - Franklin, Brown, Cloke. Take note coaching staff !

it was some that the club supplied - it had every player's birthday - it had every game - start time and venue - it had the mfc social calendar in it .

I think I will email them

I have a very dodgy memory - last year I was able to get the entire years fixture into outlook ( the only thing that saves me from forgetting everything) - also came up with birthdays and the whole demon year calendar.

Is this available this year ? and if so where from ?

I would suggest that the system would work like this.

Bailey can see what is going on from ground level but I would agree you would get a better picture from up in the box. He would be making his own moves from what he can see at ground level but would also be getting input from up above.

Although I havent experienced it I know someone who has regularly sat in the StKilda box both with Grant Thomas and Ross Lyon and the assistants are firing off suggestions to the head coach at the rate of knots - some of which are acted on - some which aren't. Some of the suggestions are to tell a player that he should be standing two foot off his opponent and to the left. Other suggestions are to make actual player moves. The head coach will pull what he likes from the discussions and either relay the message to the runners himself or tell someone else to phone it down.

I think that with Bailey on the boundary it would work no differently except that he is getting the assistants feeds through his earphones and he is able to discuss what he wants with a player directly as they come off.

I see it as having massive advantages being able to talk to a player face to face and from the few things i have heard the players say in the press last year - they seem to like the contact with coach mid game as well.

You'd think with his star on the rise, people would have learnt to spell his name correctly...

Ahhh - I took my spelling lessons from Bluey over at Demonology.

( I added the "e" into his surname - stands for excellent ..hmmmm)

All 3 of them were guessing, and inconsistent all day. Not to mention their friend the boundry umpire needs to spend some more time at the gym.

I'm not an umpire basher but that is thing that gets up my nose the most - guessing.

Umpires - if you are not sure - don't blow your freakin whistle.

I know - bad kicking is bad football.

I think the good news is that he is usually a reliable kick and the shots on goal were gettable. He could have had a very good day of 4 or 5 goals. 6 shots on goal means he is working hard to score, not content just being a defensive forward.

I believe he is continueing where he left off last year.

( small aside - is it just me, but if you put a hankerchief with the 4 corners tied on his head would he get a gig as D.P.Gumby ?)

At half time on Channel 7 they showed some vision of the Dee's training at the G - apart from the obvious good humour I noticed some interesting things. Even watching training from the sidelines, you don't really get an appreciation of the micro level the coaches go to at a training session.

1/ Bails commenting on things like Howe's ball drop - telling him to run in straighter to get a better "spin"

2/ Bails commenting on Lynden Dunne - grabbing the ball and imploring him to hold until his "run past" player was in position

I know these thing should be taken as a coaching given but it seemed it was a non stop education going on

3/ Brent Moloney never shuts up - I know we can criticise his long bombs but in 3 minutes of vision there were at least three shots of Moloney or Moloney in the background barking, encouraging - basically never shutting up

the way he links up with Jamar is very useful.

I prefer poetry in motion - have a look at the two in a row centre clearances in the last quarter - pure poetry

6 - Moloney ( the Jamar/Moloney centre clearances - wow)

5 - Tappy - (my ribs ache)

4 - Trengove ( love those floating across the front of the pack marks)

3 - Jamar ( the Moloney/Jamar centre clearances - wow)

2 - Bennell - (doesnt look fast until he does)

1 - Martin - (stong one grab clunks - yes he can mark)

Nah, it will go to the club or the Mt.Theo program.

me ! me ! pick me !! **

** all donations over $2 to the "nutbean, pee it against the wall fund" are tax deductable ***

*** deduct away - just hope the tax department doesnt question it

Bad, I know, but as complete Newbie to supercoach i have started a league "demonisers" code 614062.

Show me some love, people !

10. Bennell (another player people have already written of... again! - his second half of last season showed that he is going to be a very very valuable player for us going ahead. His run and his innate ability to get the ball will prove essential as long as he becomes more consistent)

I live in hope that he gets the ball in his hands 20-25 time a game - he will be an absolute gem if he can do this.

he may not have done a pre season but his rehab would certainly not have been a holiday. He is a fair way off playing and like everyone else needs a holiday to clear the head. Im more worried about him being in the cas.

I may be off the mark here but I would have thought the idea is for him to come out of rehab clear headed. I am not suggesting that he steps out of rehab and then goes straight into 120 minutes of football - I would have thought though, that if he was keen to show that he is on the road to recovery and wanted to impress on all ( and himself ) that he wants football to be a major part of his life then taking off for a weeks holiday to the States is not the right way to show it. What about training small amounts every day to get himself back on track to be ready to take part in round one in good shape.

Again, I am judging a book by its previous covers but I think he thinks that VFL is way beneath him - He can be half fit and still kick a zillion goals. I maybe judging his thinking harshly but his past history makes me judge him with some preconceptions. Fev just doesnt strike as one of those footballers who are dropped but quitely and dilligently go back to the VFA, work their butts off and force their way back to the seniors - Fev strikes me as I'll just turn up and play and be a superstar.

Good point. He'll be back Soooon.

Rnd 1 - Sat 2/4/2011 @ 7.00PM. Casey v Geelong ........Casey Fields...under lights.

Here is a little after thought on Fevola. If he was so dead keen to do the right thing and really wants to play football again - why is holidaying in LA ? Wouldn't it be a more positive statement from him saying I really want to play football again so I'll sweat and grind like everyone else and turn out for a practice match ?

do you honestly think Watts will end up being the same type of player as Daws? Justin Westhoff maybe.....

Even if he puts on the Muscle i doubt he'll play the same style. I bet Daws was a bigger bodied youngster too....

We are not talking about how they play - what I am trying to point out is that your taller players looking to play KP take time to come on. The N Reiwoldts of this world who turned it on almost from day one are a much rarer commodity than your Dawes, Goddards, even your Browns.

Your suggestion - Justin Westhoff - 24 years old - has he made it yet ?

My point is JW is 19 years old turning 20 this year - the expectations by some are just unrealistic - look at MOST ( not all) big men playing the game today and when they turned into valuable week in week out contributors.

Some of this Watts = Goddard talk is a touch convenient.

If you want to make more comparisons, look at Hurley. Yes he's a little older, but the kid has had a LOT of very, very good games in a short period. If you want to take the position that KP players take longer (though I don't think 24 is accurate), then fine... and I'm certainly giving Watts time... but just as Hurley is a player that made an impact very early for his type (and isn't indicative of the general trend), it's also true that Goddard is a very rare player. To go from such a fluff player to as much of a star as he is, taking that long... his case is also well outside the norm.

IMO the time is this year or next for Watts to deliver. After 2012, he'd better be on the team sheet in pen.

How about Chris Dawes then ? Drafted in 2006 ( 28) - missed most of 2007 with a knee - we can compare that with Watts playing in 2009 with a no preparation and VCE.

Dawes made little impact until last year - at the age of 21 and I suspect he will come into his own as a power forward ( I rate him highly) over the next two seasons - 22/23.

My belief has always been that big forwards start to come into their own at 22 plus - this is more the norm than unusual. Even freaks like Franklin had their breakthrough season in season 3 aged 20. Watts is nominally season 2 at present as he is one year junior to others ( being taken at 17) and his first season was getting a taste on no preseason - nothing more. He will be the same age as Buddy when he had his breakout season next year.

Another I look at is Josh Kennedy taken at no 4 in the 2005 - started to show last year that he is maturing and will be a very good footballer - he is now aged 23.

I expect to see progress this season ( would love to see a goal a game average like Buddy did in his 2nd season) and breakthrough next year or the season after. (of course - would love to see it this year !)

I think some of our expectations on a 19 year old under-developed and up to now under prepared 196cm forward is a little out of sync with reality

Nut bean you are brilliant!

I say wait till we lose the first round after winning 2 premierships in 6 years

Then sack the coach!

Smith's chance of that happening...

ohh wait....

Simple - if we are 0-5

1. Fire the goalkeeper

2. Poach Theoklitos from the "roar"