Jaded No More

It was just a metaphor

Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems. For the love of god, when did Melbourne supporters become such wimps? Grow some balls and move on. Judd is a [censored], TJ is gone. Brock and Rivers will continue to be great players regardless of their European shenanigans. Teams that look a million bucks now will look crap next year, and vice versa. The Roos were 15th last year, Geelong and Port also missed out on the finals. Get on board and support this club. The only bleakness I see in our future is not having 100,000 supporters witness the greatest football team in the world win their next premiership. We have great young players, an exciting new coach, state of the art facilities on the way, what we don't have is supporters who buy memberships, turn up to games, and believe that we can be successful.

Look I'm not trying to compare Sylvia to CJ. Sylvia clearly has more natural ability and has had to battle injuries. CJ on the other hand has had no problems with injuries, yet has been given little to no opportunity to have a sustained run. Even in the second half of the season, he was not given a run with the likes of Ward and Brown. Those two are now gone, while CJ is still just 21. When he gets a game, his ground time is limited, yet he still manages to accumulate a few possessions, and overall his disposal is good. No doubt he has limitations, and he also doesn't have a defined position. With the delisting/retirement of Brown, Ward and Pickett, there are now 3 more openings for CJ, who could play as a half-back flanker, a half-forward flanker, or on the wing. He is one player who would IMO benefit enormously from having a new coach. Worse can scenario he doesn't improve much after some more game time, he turns 22 and we trade him. I'm sure we'll still get a late third round pick next year if we really wanted. This is not a matter of 'now or never'.

With a $400,000 a year salary, I highly doubt it. Robbo would have been gone too.

He had quite a few BOG for Sandy this year. Must suck knowing that no matter how well you perform at VFL level, the coach won't give you a sustained run in the seniors. That sort of lack of faith eventually takes its toll. Oh and CJ was drafted the same year as Sylvia. Sylvia has played 31 more matches, yet averages less disposals and less marks per game. If CJ was a pick 3, and Sylvia was pick 36, CJ would be getting all the game time in the world and Sylvia would be talked about as a 'dud'.

I did say 'rarely' It takes 22 rounds to get into the finals, and TJ has been no more or less of a finals performer than Bruce or Green. He's had some very good games, and some ordinary ones. For someone with his talent, he should have dominated and he should have won us matches. He never has. I think you're correct about a lack of help, but again, someone as talented as TJ should have learnt to deal with a tag and with the attention. All superstars have to deal with it. TJ is as much a victim of his own talent as anything else. If he wasn't so good with the ball we would have said "the hell with it, we wasted pick 1 on you, but we'll cut our loses and delist you". We're so afraid to let him go because we think that when we do, he'll finally pull the finger out. But living in fear never got anyone anywhere. And besides, I think there is much more to trading TJ than just his on-field performance, and that is an issue that probably none of us can comment on. If Bailey didn't think he was setting a good example, than I'm glad he's gone.

As always, you incite such anger and debate H I love watching TJ, and I have stood up for him countless times. Up until late this season I was against trading him, however it was his game in Round 22 against Carlton that finally changed my mind. He was very good that day, racked up possessions at will and some of his disposal was, as always, sublime. Which begs the question why doesn't he play like this every game? He's capable, hell, he's more than capable. He could have been as good as Judd, that's how brilliantly skilled he is, and yet so rarely does he perform when the heat is on, when a hard tag is applied, when he is NEEDED! We've needed TJ to perform for 10 years, but he hasn't. Now, as he turns 28, the club is facing a new era under a new coach, and a young playing group. We no longer need him, and the harsh realities of the competition state that when someone is no longer needed, you let them go. I don't know why TJ never turned out to be the player he should have been. I suspect it was a combination of fitness (or lack thereof), lack of determination and above all immaturity on his behalf. If he was hungry like Godfrey, or competitive like Neita, he would have been the equal of any player to ever play for this club. But coulda, woulda, shoulda don't win premierships. I JUST WANT AN F'ING PREMIERSHIP!!!!

Well, it took longer than I thought, but we finally got there... Can't wait till we lose a game and then all these armchair critics will come running with their torches and yell "we never should have got rid of Daniher". Daniher had 10 years, Bailey has had 10 minutes. Why don't we just wait and see what happens?

We shouldn't trade any of pick 4, 14 or 21. It really only leaves us an option of trading players. Clearly nobody is interested in Ferguson, which more than likely means he's getting the flick. Miller and Jamar appear to be off the table, and we've heard nothing about Carroll. That seems to leave only CJ.

Yep, best of luck to TJ. When you pull the finger out you're a joy to watch. I'm sure you'll enjoy having the ball fed to you by the likes of Lappin, Black and Power. One more day to go. Hopefully we can snare something else.

Umm who do you think recruited CJ? <_<

You don't know what the issue with TJ is. There is also a reason why Carroll is on the table. We may have players who have under-achieved on the field, but we don't have any other 28 year old who has off field issues combined with lack of effort. That is a very bad combination. Bailey wants to build a team around our young group of players. He won't keep senior players around who won't pull their weight and won't guide the young players in the right direction. Whether you think that's right or wrong, that is actually what is happening. Trading TJ may not be the difference between winning a flag, or finishing 14th, but it sends a very clear message about what is expected of our players both on and off the field. Plus, it clears a huge amount of money. His salary could easily pay for new contracts to Jamar, Miller and probably the new guy Meesen too. As for Brock and Rivers, this was their first offence. TJ has had issues for 10 years and has stuffed up more than once. Plus, both Brock and Rivers are committed and have the right attitude.

When are you getting drafted DD? Demonland will definitely sponsor you if Melbourne picks you up. If you go elsewhere, you're dead to us!

The general consensus amongst Adelaide supporters is that Meesen doesn't apply himself. He has talent, but does very little with it. Sounds like so many players we already have... Hopefully he enjoys the change of scenery and hopefully Bailey puts a rocket up him!

How do we go forward and improve, given that we've been average for so long? If we do nothing, change nothing, trade no one, things will forever be the same and we'll never win another flag. The fact is that we don't know what is going on off the field with TJ. I promise you that Bailey is not trading him only because he is lazy and has under-achieved on the field. It is so important to get good characters at a club. As a senior player, TJ should be setting examples and leading, instead he is as immature as a rookie. Even his good friend Ox admitted that he has off-field issues that he has to deal with. We've waited 10 years to see him win one B&F. That is a very poor output for a number 1 pick, and someone who is on so much money! The way he played in that SF against Adelaide in 2002, is the way he should play week in, week out. Sadly he hasn't produced that and it seems highly unlikely that he'll ever repeat his performance from that night. At nearly 28 years of age, he hasn't got much longer to go. Pick 14 could have 10-12 years ahead of him, and could turn out to be a very good player who consistently performs and who is in the right state of mind to be an AFL player.

Can't disagree with point one. I think we're all hoping that Bailey can extract improvement out of our players, otherwise why did we get him to the club? As for point 3, I disagree with Bailey if he thinks that a 3rd round pick in the hand is better than CJ. Doesn't mean I won't support him, and I definitely won't cry myself to sleep over it. I guess I see a lot of potential in CJ and given that we're persisting with less talented players who have been given more opportunities, it seems odd that we'd let CJ go for a low pick. We would get better picks for both Miller and Jamar.

Conflicting reports that we're trading him for pick 50 something may have confused me. 43 is still a very speculative pick. We gave Adelaide 37 for a ruckman whos played 2 games, and who we could have taken for nothing in the PSD. I just don't think we're likely to pick anything better with 43. There's always a chance, but how often does a Bartram fall through the cracks these days?

Congratulations

Hope he and Carlton rot at the bottom of the ladder for the next 10 years. His press conference made me sick. "Oh I want to help build a club from the ground up"... you could have done the same thing at Melbourne. Why don't you just come out and say "Dick is giving me money, lots and lots of money"! Ugh, not sure who I hate more, Carlton, Judd or West Coast!

I can sympathise with the supporters who really love TJ and don't want to see him go. I would be reacting the same way had we traded Robbo. The thing is, Travis is 27. We've waited 10 years to see him become the player we know he can be, and he hasn't done it. The longer we hold onto him and hope that he makes something of himself, the more his value will decline. I enjoy watching TJ as much as any of you, but what I enjoy even more is seeing players committed to every contest and every ball. I don't want to see a player standing around pointing and yelling at his teammates to man-up because said player won't. I have no doubt TJ will perform for Brisbane, but in 3 years time he'll probably retire, while we could very well be seeing the start of a wonderful career by pick 14. This is a bad time of year if your favourite player is on the chopping block, but you have to keep remembering that you barrack for the Melbourne Football Club, not for the individual players. Do you love this club any less because Judd didn't choose us? Will you love this club less when Neita retires? P.S.- Why is TJ earning $400,000 a year? That is a ridiculously high amount for someone who has achieved so little!

I have no issue with trading CJ, it's what we are allegedly trading him for that I'm not happy with! I hope we get something better than a fourth round pick, as I think CJ's value at Melbourne is higher than that.

200cm and only 88kgs? Is he related to Nicole Richie by any chance?

If Wood is worth pick 14 + Shaw, maybe, just maybe, we can squeeze an extra something out of Brisbane. Still, pick 14 is a VERY good result. It gives us 2 first round picks which is ideal.

Stupid trade if it goes through. The chances of getting a player who is better than CJ with such a high pick are minimal. It can be done, and has been done by us before (e.g.- Bartram), but it's a risk. Why would we include him in a leadership tour if we're also willing to throw him away for a fourth round pick? Didn't SEN report that we're getting Judd?

You can't be serious Dan! Best footballer at the club? Putting aside his kicking, he is lazy, he is uncommitted, and he has off-field issues. Bailey wants to change the culture of the club, and it's not a minute too soon if you ask me. We also got Jones and Frawley with picks 12, Bartram was pick 60, Petterd was a late second rounder too. Oh and Juice was something like 50??