Maldonboy38

Disagree. The season is not over. We are struggling, and our injury list grew again today but we always have something to play for - the jumper.

Agree about MacDonald and Newton.

Disagree about Bate, Bartram and Warnock.

Strauss Blease, Howe, T MacDonald and Cook and perhaps Gawn need game time and am prepared to rest senior layers to give them a run.

Just think about who we will have available after round 11/12 - Jamar, Scully, Trengove, Tappy (hopefully), Bail (hopefully).

Chin up - there's always next week/season/decade!!!

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Green - showed some leadership

Warnock - effective and composed (usually)

Jones - continues to impress

Bartram - unusually beaten often

Watts - on the rise

Gysberts - position and awareness

Bate - had a go

Frawley - just OK game

Sylvia - hard and tough

McKenzie - better for run

Petterd - defensive skills required

Maric - just solid enough

Moloney - tried hard often

Jurrah - is he injured?

Rivers - played his part

MacDonald - not good enough

Martin - effort all day

Tapscott - another mongrel injury

Davey - should be ashamed

Jetta - eearned his place

Newton - NEVER EVER AGAIN.

Evans - quick and daring

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The Good

Watts, Gysberts, Evans, Jones, Martin, Jetta. All young and/or inexperienced.

Seeing Jordie back on deck.

3.5 quarters of footy where they had a red hot go.

The Bad

Juice. Never, ever again.

Joel Macdonald.

Watts across half-back. We won almost every importnt statistic but failed in our forward 50.

Leaving Davey in the same position for so long.

Direction of stadium - sunshine in player's eyes.

The Ugly

Tappy. How many more injuries can we sustain?

Davey. He should feel ashamed of his performace today and at least 2 weeks at Casey.

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Firstly, I am more disppointed with today's performace than last week. Big call? Maybe, but that's how I honestly feel.

Out of today, and for the season to date, I have some things to voice, and welcome opinions.

* Aaron Davey HAS to be dropped. Simple as that. His attiude, body language, and his total play is pitiful, and has been all year. I don't want to hear this crap that he should be moved forward - even when he plays forward he has shown nothing. Make a stand Football Department, give him a number of weeks at Casey.

* One player that is on notice is Petterd. He was insipid today. There is a sickening amount of love on this site for him, but wake up people, he is one of our biggest front-runners, yet sadly, most of you don't see it. He is a Robbo 2.0, his 2nd efforts aren;t there, and he screams for free kicks that aren't there. When he decides to puull his head out of his a$$, he plays good footy, but like Robbo, that's not often enough.

* Michael Newton must not play a senior game for the Melbourne Football Club EVER again. His errors were too costly, and this is consistent with every game he has played for the club. He did bugger all today, and I cannot see how he should be played ahead of Gawn. I don't care what you think of our ÿouth policy"in regards to Gawn, he is fit, we are in injury strife, PLAY HIM.

* Matthew Bate = see Michael Newton. Bate is clogging up a spot on our list, and the change that I can see happen immediately is Bate out, Howe in.

* Liam Jurrah is on notice. While he is a frak of nature, he still needs to understand that the AFL requires a level of discipline. While it is not in his "nature"to be coached, there are still basics of footy that you need to show, and he doens't do those often enough.

* For those doubters, we WILL be a top 4 side in a couple of years. If both teams were full strength, we win easily today, simple. Jamar is the biggest loss our team has (hence my call to put Gawn in no matter what), we can't afford to cruise along the next 12 months hoping Russian doesn't break down again.

* I don't know if Bailey is the right coach, but that's not saying he isn't. I think the Club, which includes us supporters, should do whatever it takes to ensure Bailey's future ISN'T questioned until the end of the year. Having questions raised every second of the day about who should be coach, isn't the best thing for the Club, and a lot of you have yourself to blame. There is nothing the Club can do in the immediate future (this season I mean( that will turn our season around, so let's show support rather than the idiotic comments about "Bailey MUST be sacked immediately", blah, blah. I bet he wishes that he could have 1/2 those players back that are injured - I'm sure his end-of-season record would look a lot different if they were playing.

* Blease and Strauss NEED to be given games this year. If both those boys can play at least 6-8 games before the end of the season, we will go in to next season a better team. We saw today what a debutante can do that has been playing well at Casey, well, according to those in the know, Blease and Strauss should be given the opportunity. Maybe now that Tappy has done a hammy, it will open the door.

* I hope the Watts and Jones baggers can finally pull their heads out of their a$$es, because if we didn't have those 2 blokes for the plast few weeks, we'd be feeling a lot worse.

Great post Billy. Agree with almost the whole thing. If people start more of that "Bailey must go" rubbish they are simply showing ignorance. If it is required at season's end it will be done - but not now.

Blease and Strauss defeinietly in against the blues.

Watts and Jones have been terrific this year.

My only disagreement is with Bate. we still need him but we need tplay him close to goal. His turnign circle adn pace off the mark leave him exposed anywhere outside the 5om arc but we need his strength and his kicking.

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A hard call but here I go - Aaron embarrassed our great jumper today. And yes, I know it was our away strip (which I like by the way) but it is still representing our club. I cannot believe that squib moment. It took me back to me being a young skinny 17 yo playing in the country in the twos, and being given "the talk" by our vice captain after a similar moment. As and elite AFL sportsman, as a leader, as the leader of the indigenous boys, as a representative of the oldest and best footy club in Australia: Aaraon failed in every aspect and I reckon would be feeling low at the moment. I hate kicking people while they are down and he has given me a whole reel full of highlights but the MFC cannot let his effort today be accpeted in any way. 2 weeks minimum at Casey and no elevation until he shows some grunt.

At his best he is too valuable for us but he has shown nothing of this this year, culminating in a very soft, timid and ticker-less game of football.

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6. Jones

5. Gysberts

4. Evans

3. Watts

2. Sylvia

1. Martin

Apologies to Jetta.

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Hard to give clear ins and outs with no injury report to date. However:

OUT : Newton (never again to be considered), Davey (must be rested for his soft efforts), MacDonald. Not giving what is required at AFL level, even for a bottom side like the Dees. They embarrassed our jumper a few times today. Sad to see - especially from Davey. Tappy (injured)

IN : Howe (should have been in this week). Blease, Strauss, and Bennell. I am not sure any of these three deserve a call-up but we need pace and effort.

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I thought our intensity today was good.

I thought I run and spread was good (at times)

I thought we were strong around the packs with special mention to Sylvia and Gysberts and Jetta.

Good leadership shown by Green, Sylvia, Rivers and Jones

Our delivery into the forward line is either too easy to read and therefore cut off, or misses the target by enough to make it difficult to score. It rebouncs too easily.

At significant moments St. Kilda's class showed out.

At other significant moments, our young kids showed how young they are.

Davey should be embarrassed with his effort.

Newton (not our worst player) showed moments of being scared, not committing, and lacking any sign of being able to play at AFL standard.

Considering our injury list and even though I hate losing, I wasn't as appalled today as I have been during other games.

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With all our injuries, I know we have to fling players around to fill holes and roles. But why is Watts played across half-back? Every time I turn on the radio or the TV I see him showing poise and skill across half-back. so often we get possession, transition it well, only to look up and see 3 opposition jumpers to 1 Dees jumper. Is anyone else frustrated with this?

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In the pre-season I pleaded - please, please, please, do NOT play Juice ever again. Today was the reason why. Last week he showed glimpses and moments to excite. Today he was so poor at times (not all day, he had some good moments)that he cost us posession, goals, and our players would have lost confidence in kicking it to him.

DO NOT PLAY HIM AGAIN.

The Brad Green appointment was similar to the Vandenburg appointment at Hawthorn, Does anyone else remember the negative press this bloke got for being a nobody to lead the club? It was a two year stint while lgenuine leadership developed benaeth him, then he stepped aside. At the time I thought it was the perfect decision for a club about to rise. Is Brad green going to be a great skipper? Probably not. But he is the perfect man for this period. He has a lot to show and a lot to learn, but the players respect him. Have some faith in the Club and FD, and show some hard-times supoprt for a man who would be really battling now, but has been a great player over the paast 3-4 years.

The question needs to then be asked - who becomes the Captain after Green?

Some people are saying trengove but a run of excellent games does not define a player as a leader. many great players are never considered as Captain material becasue their influence over the paying group is minimal. I don't sense a lot of players "following" Trenners as they do someone else young like Joel Selwood, or a young Stephen Kernahan.

Moloney stands out as ready and able but he can be critical of his own players at times.

If Grimes can get his body right - he is the right man. A lot of the young players look up to him.

Jones is similar but I am unsure if his influence is only training related.

To be honest, our leadership stocks are thin, and we need to focus on this as a FD and as a club.

Having read all the posts above it seems clear that we are all seeking some fresh blood brought into the starting 22. I agree with this but we must remember that St. Kilda, although really poor this year, have an outstanding top 6 players, and play the physical game better than most. The questions is whether we try and match their physicality, or fill our team with runners due to St. Kilda's lack of pace. We must pick players for this specific game, not only on Casey form. For example, I don't think tampering with our forward line needs too much work, it is more than the game plan needs to leave Juice, Watts, Jurrah, Green in the forward line for longer periods. The amount of time Watts took possession of the ball across half-back against North was frustrating.

OUT: Bail, Garland (injured), Dunn (should have got another week added on for being such a dill), Bennell, Wonna

IN : McKenzie, Rivers, Bate (to help the physicality), Howe, Blease (hasn't rally earned this yet but his pace could really worry St. Kilda.

notes

1. We can't have Joel MacDonald and Rivers in the same 22. Oppositions forwards can set up too easily against this structure.

2. One of Evans/Nicholson deserve a game over Blease but I can't choose one of these two until their rookie elevation is announced.

3. If Rivers is still suspect with injury, also consider Tom MacDonald.

Backs : Bartram Frawley Blease

Half b: Tapscott Rivers Warnock

Centre: Jones Moloney Sylvia

Half f: Green Watts Maric

Forws : Jurrah Newton Petterd

Rucks : Martin McKenzie Gysberts

Inter : Howe, Davey, Jetta, Bate (sub)

Emerg : J Macdonald, T Macdonald,

I haven't seen him play at all, has anyone on here been down to Casey and watched him closely?

Have only seen a couple of Youtube Clips.

First Thoughts...Potential Gun???

I have seen him play twice, WYL, and I reckon he is one of those players who will make a smooth and quick transition into AFL standard football. He already has a large enough build, he can kick very well on both sides of his body, but it is his contested marking nouse that stands out. He not only knows how to jump, hold off his opponent etc.. but he seems to know WHEN to do these things. Cook is showing simiklar strengths. Howe may struggle against backmen like Scarlett or Fletcher but then so do most others.

I know Jordie will make an instant impact on intensity in our side, but I reckon with the excessive inconsistency being shown by many in our team, together with our injuries means people like Howe, Tom McDonald (who also looks ready)Blease, and even Gawn need to be considered, along with Evans and Nicholson when they are hopefully placed onto the main list due to long term injuries.

It's a tough one this week. A few things to consider:

Jamar cannot survive a full game on his own against Goldstein. Goldstein is in ripping form around the ground so we need an extra tall. Even though Dunn's fill-in-ruck work was much better than I expected, he will not be able to match with Goldstein. With Spencer going down Martin needs to be at least considered.

Grimes was tried in the middle, so it is possible his replcement would be a midfielder rather than a defender. Even so, Joel MacDonald will be considered but his kicking skills are questionable under pressure.

North play a very physical game and Bennell would get monstered. He does not cope with too much heavy work, so for mine he should not be considered.

Stupidly, Trenners will not get off. The MRP got this one wrong but stabnd by nad watch the tribunal agree!! This is going to be our gretest loss - this bloke is in outstanding form.

So,...

OUT Grimes, Trengove,

IN Martin, Jetta/Rivers (depending on whether they go for a mid or defender to replace Grimes)

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Watts has given the ball off about 20 times in his short career so far when he should have had a ping. I loved it that he had the confidence to have a crack. I WANT our key forward to be hungry for a goal. He is really starting to lead aggressively and players are starting to look out for him. He is not far away from a little haul me thinks.

I agree Big Red. His awareness of the position of his teams mates is always really good, but sometimes he should not give it off.

3 things I love about Watts at the moment:

He is going to grouind less, and keeps his feet when tackling.

His decision making and awareness of where his team mates are.

His skills. Here's a question - are his in-game ball skills equal to or even the best we have?

And I loved when he ran into that open goal and didn't dribble it through - he kicked it into the 2nd tier. Jakovich and Shwarz come to mind here, although I doubt he will have the ego of either of these two.

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Green - showed some leadership

Warnock - beat good opponent

Jones - strong and creative

Bartram - really good game

Watts - earning his place

Gysberts - always right position

Frawley - run out of defence (4 words)

Trengove - great midfielder's game

Sylvia - great second half (flat track bully???)

Dunn - did things well

Petterd - strong marking target

Grimes - hopefully only sore.

Maric - aware and efficient

Garland - inspector gadget lives

Moloney - hard, strong, skillful

Jurrah - more grunt required

Wonaeamirri - dangerous but unfit

Tapscott - strong and able

Davey - right foot kicks

Jamar - was simply outstanding

Bail - should clone him.

Bate - hard at it

Good.

20 of our 22 were good today, but special mention to:

Bail.

Watts. Very composed and efficient. And I loved that bit of arrogance where he kicked the ball into the stands. We need a bit of this.

Trengove.

Moloney and Jamar (if other teams target these two we may be in serious trouble)

Davey returning to running-bounces.

Frawley demonstrating his dash and confidence.

Maric. This was an important game for him.

Bad.

Grimes. It was great to see him start in the middle, though.

Those three dropped marks close to goal - Wonna, Jurrah and Watts.

Ugly.

Dunn's moustache. Yep, I still hate it.

Last quarter - Crows reading Jamar's ruck work.

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6. Moloney

5. Sylvia

4. Bail

3. Trengove

2. Davey (he ran and bounced - how good is it to see this again)

1. Frawley

apologies to Jones and Petterd

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This is the advantage of the Sub: rule, for regualar senior players like Davey. However I don't think you drop a leadership group player easily. Sylvia I think is frustration of not meeting his lofty expectations. Maybe Davey too. The loss of experience, multiplied by the higher hopes of our senior group, I think it's testing all of them, except the Russian who seems to be more realistic.

for Lake, his issues of fitness wouldn't suit the sub spot.

You have hit the main point in question right on the head, Deeluded. If some of the leadership group are consistently among the worst players, when is the right time to make a strong stance on ensuring that EVERY player must earn their place, including the leaders? Is it after 6 rounds, 8, 10??? Is it always wrong to drop your skipper ( I am not advocating this by the way. A lot more has to go wrong before a captain can be dropped).

Coaches can be sacked, so why can't leaders be dropped?

Personally, I don't think you drop a leader on form only, but leadership is influence and if their lack of intensity and grunt is a poor influence on the others in the 22, then combined with poor form this surely brings their place in the starting 22 into question.

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I see in the news tonight that the Western Bulldogs have instructed Brian Lake to return to the VFL to find form and match fitness after a couple of bad games following his return from hip and knee surgery. I really like this from the Bulldogs. Lake is an AA defender but must earn his place and prove his worth, even though he has done exactly that countless times in the past. I am sure that Scully and McKenzie will be brought back via the VFL.

My question is, with all that is going on for the Dees at present, could this strong earn-your-place principle be shown, with Frawley or Morton being asked to follow this process?

And further, should the same line be laid down to Davey and Sylvia?

I know we can't ask four of these players to prove themselves in the VFL at the same time, but it must be a consideration. My only hesitation is that we are sitting on 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses and it might be a bit early to be this strong.

Thoughts?

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Would you put Nathan Buckley in that same group ? I would.

Not quite. Don't get me wrong, Buckley was a gun but he lacked an important quality:

He was rarely creative. He did the regular things better than most and was strong in every skill area but he rarely produced those magic, creative things of Hird, Matthews or Judd.

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Really hard to choose, but will go with Judd.

Judd is probably the best midfielder I have ever seen, with stiff competition from Leigh Matthews, Michael Voss, James Hird , Tim Watson, Robert Harvey and Gary Ablett jnr.

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Heres a bit of fun amidst all the doom and gloom of this year so far.

1. Favourite Current Melbourne Player and why?

2. Favourite Past player and why?

For me:

1. Jack Trengove- Just oozes class and silky skills. Gotta love an up and coming young gun.

2. Adem Yze- Was a little bit different but everything about him just had class written all over it. The long sleeves, the white boots the freak goals. I sorely miss going to watch him play.

Favourite current player. Rohan Bail. He gets his own footy, can tag an opponent, is as hard as nails even though not huge in build and is amazing to watch at full pace. This kid could become anything.

Favourite past player. Robbie Flower. Class, skill, pace, leadership, footy brain, courage that robbed him of about 3-4 seasons of footy due to injury, and he could baulk and evade anyone. Even though the tackling skills these days are much more developed, I still reckon he could evade most of today's body players. I shudder what he wouild have been in quality team. One of my greatest footy memories is in the 1987 Semi-final against the Swans when he got his first touch after coming on from the bench and the whole crowd rose out of their seats and screamed "Robbiiiieeee".

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After watching Casey today (and yes, I know it was against Frankston):-

OUT: Wonna, Frawley, Gysberts, Dunn

IN: Warnock, Petterd, Maric, Howe/Bate

Howe is a real shot in the dark but looked ready to play at AFL level and surely he couldn't be any worse than many from last week.

My four outs were 4 of the 6-7 worst players from WCE game, who have given little in past month.

Also, I know my opinions about Frawley needing some Casey time are outweighed by some serious man-love for him from many Demonlanders, but his form versus the Lions and WCE cost us goals and showed a lack of polish and intent.

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I now have to recant my strong position on Frawley because I realised one glaring ommission. Morton MUST be dropped - his effort was really weak, and this saves Frawley from amuch deserved rest.

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After watching Casey today (and yes, I know it was against Frankston):-

OUT: Wonna, Frawley, Gysberts, Dunn

IN: Warnock, Petterd, Maric, Howe/Bate

Howe is a real shot in the dark but looked ready to play at AFL level and surely he couldn't be any worse than many from last week.

My four outs were 4 of the 6-7 worst players from WCE game, who have given little in past month.

Also, I know my opinions about Frawley needing some Casey time are outweighed by some serious man-love for him from many Demonlanders, but his form versus the Lions and WCE cost us goals and showed a lack of polish and intent.

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