PaulRB

Unfortunately the only cure for a soft team are bitter humiliation like the two we've suffered so far this year. The Hustler school of character development requires it. Best thing about the latest fiasco was watching Jack Watts step up a notch in my book. Unfortunately if was well off-set by others dropping notches left right and centre.

Last night occurred "inevitably" in the context of the clubs (not just Bailey's) stated strategy of recruiting and blooding a team capable of contesting for a premiership post 2013. Many want their cake (wins now) and to eat it too (a premiership), however the strategy requires a short term cost. Last night as a down payment on developing a battle hardened team that may bring us what we all crave. That said, many player were well below par last night, and that needs to be addressed for next week.

Agree the coaches have to take some of the flack but surely the players execution, intensity and ability to execute any gameplan is equally if not more critical than the plan itself. The kicks out of bounds, missed targets, poor decisions, etc.. last night were all made by players...

Name the forwards we could build a structure around? Liam (22 game 53 goals), Watts (23 games, 14 Goals), Dunn (75 Games 70 goals), Wonaeamirri (29 Games, 35 Goals), etc... Even your top shelf coach can't make a silk purse out of a Sows ear... It is delusional to think Mick or Paul will waltz in and Dunn will start playing like Cloke and Liam like Plugger. I too am [censored] off about last night, I'm just inclined to be less generous about the players (who played the game) that Bailey has to work with at this time.

Ha ha ha Been better...

Losing teams always have their game plan broken open, their weaker players exposed and their supporters moaning. Should we throw away the progress of the past three years that Bailey has led as a result of one week? Talk of sacking Bailey denies those players that were woeful taking responsibility for their performance. Should he have dropped Gysberts and Frawley if he could have know what they would produce last night? Would we have been happy with him if he had? Yet in retrospect we can see that Warnock and Petterd may have been better choices last night... If we are committed to long term success we need to get better at sucking up the INEVITABLE floggings as we blood kids and they struggle to perform. Baileys only mistake was to ditch Junior a year too early, his absence combined with MacKenzie and Scully being injured means we are lacking poise and grunt in the centre... and for me this is not a hanging mistake. Enough of the moaning, and coach bashing, lets move on..?

I think Baileys only mistake was to think that Green was capable of stepping into Juniors shoes on a night like last. Junior would have rallied the troops and provided some spine to a frazzled team... Not a sacking offense.

Petterd was best when Liam was not playing, and with Liam, Green and Jamar as FF options Ricky's lack of defensive pressure at times seems to be keeping him out.

I think Dunn adds a heavy body in the forward line to help clear a path (for Liam) and apply defensive pressure. Bennell has burst speed which will be useful in the final Quarter at Subi...

The big Russian said it in his interview on the MFC site today, "as a young bloke you get gifted a couple of games but when you get older you have to earn them". JW is just around the corner from his coming out game, here's hoping it is this week. Perhaps Ricky is too similar to LJ to be a walk up at the moment..? Go Dees.

Good thing about the Thursday night game is that Matthew Warnock, Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric will be able to play for Casey on Sat if they are not called up...

I'd guess Bennell to sub.

Selected sides announced - Melbourne B: James Frawley, Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram HB: Jack Grimes, Colin Garland, Luke Tapscott C: Brad Green, Nathan Jones, Rohan Bail HF: Jordan Gysberts, Colin Sylvia, Aaron Davey F: Austin Wonaeamirri, Liam Jurrah, Jack Watts FOLL: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Jack Trengove I/C: Jamie Bennell, Cale Morton, Lynden Dunn, Stef Martin EMG: Matthew Warnock, Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric IN: - OUT: - West Coast Eagles B: Ashley Smith, Darren Glass, Shannon Hurn HB: Sam Butler, Eric Mackenzie, Scott Selwood C: Andrew Embley, Matthew Priddis, Matthew Rosa HF: Luke Shuey, Josh Kennedy, Mark Nicoski F: Mark LeCras, Quinten Lynch, Jack Darling Foll: Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr, Adam Selwood I/C: Bradley Ebert, Nic Naitanui, Patrick McGinnity, Andrew Gaff Emg: Will Schofield, Thomas Swift, Gerrick Weedon In: Mark LeCras, Ashley Smith, Patrick McGinnity Out: Mitch Brown (Hand), Will Schofield, Bradd Dalziell

agreed and changed

Back filling with this weeks likely team (out of position)... MELBOURNE Backs Jack Grimes Bartram Jared Rivers Half backs Tapscott James Frawley Colin Garland Centreline Morton Bail Aaron Davey Half forwards Jamie Bennell Wonna Jack Watts Forwards Nathan Jones Jurrah Brad Green Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Gysberts Interchange Lynden Dunn Stef Martin Colin Sylvia Jack Trengove Emergencies Petterd Maric Which seems to be a improvement and investment in our future...

MELBOURNE Backs Jack Grimes Matthew Warnock Jared Rivers Half backs Cameron Bruce James Frawley Colin Garland Centreline James McDonald Jordie McKenzie Aaron Davey Half forwards Jamie Bennell Matthew Bate Jack Watts Forwards Nathan Jones Daniel Hughes Brad Green Followers Mark Jamar Brent Moloney Tom Scully Interchange Clint Bartram Paul Johnson Colin Sylvia Jack Trengove Emergencies Lynden Dunn Neville Jetta Jake Spencer In Jack Watts Out Lynden Dunn Of that team that played WC last year four players (bold) are no longer at the club, four players (underlined) are struggling to get a game and two are injured (italics). This highlights that 10 players in tomorrows team didn't play last year and emphasises changes the team has been undergoing and why it's almost impossible to use last years performance to speculate on this years.

Agreeing with Nutbean's zero idea statement. Perhaps we should shift the topics to tragic laments we could listen to as we console ourselves if he goes? To kick it off "I'm not the one" by the Black Keys. Suggestions?

We are building synergy between team mates through them playing games together. Only way to improve. Watch Trengove and Tapscott or Wonna and Liam and you'll see them anticipating and supporting each other. The backline had it in stages last year also. We're good at the moment, can only play and beat those teams you face (same situation the Doggies and Blues have had this season). Gotta be patient and enjoy the glimpses as they become more common and the team lifts... We're in the 8, few injuries. Enjoy the Bye, then bring on the Weagles...

Listening to Aaron Davey it became apparent that they shall be setting another goal for the next set of games from Weagles (Rd 5) through to the next Bye (Rd 16). If we can win 5 of these 10 games we should still be in the hunt. Gonna have to improve...

To use video game parlance, we have got through "Level 1" ( the first 4 games) with a score, 2.5 wins, slightly above expectations. We now come to level 2 (Weagles to North)... then Level 3... long season, etc... but we're doing OK.

Weagles, Adleaide @ G, then North mean the next month contains three winnable games that would start to make our position in the 8 more secure. Win all 3 and we'll hit the Saints, Carlton, Essendon and the Pies with some confidence and momentum... Great draw this year. Carn the Dees

I recon we drop Liam Jurrah, Jared Rivers and Maloney, so as to even it up a bit and build confidence in those players on the edge (Watts, Petterd, Maric and Strauss). We may lose, but if we win those boys will have had to step up...

pox

And we'll be on top of either Carlton or Essendon... Whooo Hooo Unless they draw...

Interesting to note that when Liam Jurrah was Jack Watts current age he was yet to play a senior game of AFL footy...