Jaded No More

I just picked the first 3 ordinary players that came to my head. If you're really that upset about it, I can edit his name and put in Ward or BRUCE or.... Please don't make me list anymore, it's depressing enough as it is.

Amen to everything you just said!!! I'm a "play the kids" junkie, I admit it, but FFS there has never been a better time to take a chance. We're 0-2, we've got a massive injury list, our depth is extremely ordinary and we're coming up against a good side. I don't blame any Melbourne supporter who doesn't feel like wasting their Sunday watching Brown, Godfrey and Bizzell kicking hospital passes to Geelong's defenders.

I advocate we fake an outbreak of mad-cow disease at the club, forcing the AFL to suspend any Melbourne matches for 5-6 weeks (depending on the length of McLean's, Neita's, Robbo's and Rivers' injuries) But if we must line up on Sunday, I hope we don't play someone who can't take an overhead mark at FF. I have nothing against PJ, I just think it should be a requirement that a forward can take a mark. I'd rather Jamar at FF. At least he might be able to take Scarlett down behind the play or something. Our best option IMO is to line up with a smaller forward line, and trying to beat the Geelong defenders on the lead. That means Davey, Yze and CJ closer to goal, with Miller and Bruce leading out. None of this will matter if we lose the clearances though, because a backline of Ward, Bizzell and Ferguson is likely to implode more often than a nuclear plant.

*Goes in search of a gun* Wheatley at CHB. Gold! Please Daniher, please play Petterd and give me a reason to actually want to watch the game. Edit: there must be an echo in here because where's Sylvia?

Negative 7. May rise to 3 if Daniher decides to debut some kids this week. Edit: after seeing the side that will line up on Sunday, negative 157

Is it true that our backline and forward line coaches swapped positions over summer? As for Paul Williams, the man may have been a good player, but he isn't the Wizard of Oz. He can't give hearts or brains to those who haven't got them.

Given relative age and time left in the game, as well as attitude and application, I'd have Arma (and I'm not even a fan). Davey is another story altogether, besides, he's a midfielder apperantly

It wouldn't have killed him to quote some of the more intelligent life-forms who post here

I think the batteries need replacing... in more ways than one!

I think you may be onto something, but it's not necessarily related to Daniher's love of midfielders, but more his desperation for them. Bruce is a utility, and IMO Daniher did the right thing by making him jack of all trades, because to be honest, he was never a master of any. Green's move to the midfield came about when we had a surplus of forwards, and not enough midfielders. As I said, I'm not convinced Green is a midfielder. He doesn't have the necessary instincts if you like, in that he often gets lost in the action and finds himself drifting and floating along the boundary line. As for Davey, clearly desperation on Daniher's behalf to inject more speed into the midfield. What Daniher doesn't seem to understand, is that Davey's speed is useless in the midfield, where he is too easily blocked and pushed away from the contest. Yes, Davey is badly out of form, but by trying to make him something he's not, we're only exasperating the problem.

I've become a big fan of Greeny following his complete turn around last year. I admire that way he's gone about changing his game. The issue I have, is that I still don't believe him to be a natural midfielder. IMO he is better suited to a back/forward flanker role, where he can push into the middle. The last two games he's had very little influence on the match, and that has always been his problem. He finishes games with 25 disposals, but a lot of the time his impact doesn't match the stat sheet. With the injuries to Robbo and Neita, I'd love to see Greeny back in the forward line.

Everyone here is missing the point. You can criticise whoever you like, even our captain. As far as I'm concerned, it's not who you criticise, but how you do it. Be mindful of that fact that a lot of people are reading your opinions and it is unacceptable to get personal, be it with players, coaches or fellow posters. Basically all we want is for you to think before your post. As I said, nothing wrong with criticising our captain (maybe there is, but everyone is entitled to their opinion), the reason the thread was locked was because the responses were abusive and pointless.

If they can't swim, we'll give them floaties, if they sink, we don't want them! If Newton gets smashed by Scarlett, he'll get up and he'll learn. We can't protect these kids forever, and to be fair he has been in the system for a few years already. At some stage we need to bite the bullet and give them a go. Never has there been a more desperate need for a tall forward to stand up and deliver. Newton is our future, and it seems the future is now.

So rated in fact, that they traded him. At best Bizzell plays FF, and kicks a couple. At worse, he does absolutely nothing and his player runs off him all day creating more headaches for us. Bottom line is, this is most likely Bizzell's last season. He never was and never will be a FF, and playing him there will be like wallpapering a cracked wall. It won't help us in the long term, and it probably won't help us in the short term either. On the other hand, we can let someone like Newton or Dunn play at FF for the next 4 weeks. They may not dominate, hell they may be completely useless, but at least we'll know. Either we'll unearth a long-term option, or we'll find out if these guys can cut it at senior level. Neita is not going to be around forever, neither is Robbo, or especially Bizzell. We're in a [censored] situation, and we can either be brave and make bold moves and gain something, or we can continue to fill gaps with players who are never going to get us anywhere. Not making the most of this situation would be absolutely criminal, and a further blow to the team.

I don't take any of that seriously, however if I see Clint Bizzell lining up at FF on Sunday, I will spew. He will never be a FF, and it would be a completely wasted exercise to play him there. I'd rather Davey lined up at FF! We're in a really bad position with our injuries, but this is the time to blood new players and make some changes. We'll most likely never have this sort of opportunity again until Neita and Robbo both retire (hopefully!). Who knows, we may uncover a real FF option for the future.

For the love of god, just give it up already! This blatant bias towards Milsy, and the negative mind set of so many supporters is disgusting. No, he isn't Jonathan Brown or Wayne Carey, but he works himself into the ground, and continuously presents. He is one of only two players in the side who gets thrown around the ground to fill gaps, and he does his absolute best to help the team. He doesn't throw tantrums, and he never has his head down. I wish we could say the same for some of his teammates. The way people are carrying on about him, you'd think he was going out there and committing some sort of crime. As it stands, he's had a good finals series in 06, and a reasonable start to 07. Absolutely no reason to attack him this way. I just hope he doesn't read this crap!

But he was in our best players on Sunday, and he did take lots of good marks and kick 3 good goals and showed determination... right? Just making sure you're not blind as well as bias towards Miller. <_<

I'm going to say Miller. I know he isn't in the leadership group anymore, but he is still a leader. So he won't be breaking through the banner, or tossing the coin, but he will still lead. It is the only bit of hope I have left for the season... Miller proving everyone wrong. In an official capacity, they will most likely give it to Bruce, which will further highlight why McLean is our next captain.

Hand over those happy pills already! No Neita, Robbo, McLean or Pickett... if we get within 45 point of Geelong it will be a mighty effort.

Robbo and Neita both had knee scans, but no results yet. Apperantly both are likely to miss up to a month according to Ch. 9. Neita seemed to be walking ok, but Robbo was on crutches. On the bright side, only 20 more rounds of this crap

I'd like to see him go with Chapman, be it up forward or in the middle. He always tears us apart, but I think Belly can match him in toughness and speed, plus we'll get to see a bit of Belly in the midfield that way.

So what you're saying is, that Travis is scared when he doesn't have his buddies to protect him? God help us if that's true! He struggles with a tag, we know that. But the bigger issue IMO, is that he has a very limited attention span. He is the kid in class who knows all the answers, but never bothers listening to the questions. A very very flawed genius is our Travis. When his kicking and brain are switched off, he may as well stay at home and play PS3.

I don't see why, 10 minutes into a quarter, our entire midfield gets rotated. What happpened to starting each quarter with your best players at the bounce of the ball, and letting them run for 20 minutes? Maybe I notice it more because I sit near the bench now and all I ever see is player A coming on, player B coming off, then player A coming on again 5 minutes later. How is anyone supposed to get a feel for the footy, especially at the crucial centre bounces, when they are constantly running on and off the ground? Also, was his hamstring soreness the reason Rivers kept coming off the ground yesterday? He never spends time on the bench usually.

Way ahead of you!

Agree wholeheartedly with Neitz, Brock and Rivers. Jonesy could be on his way. Dunn is a very left-field choice. Obviously you're rating him based on his apperant potential, because he hasn't exactly blown us away in senior level yet. For what it's worth, mine are Neitz, Brock, Rivers, Johnstone (when he feels like playing) and Carroll. Carroll is not necessarily the best player we've got, but in terms of structure he's one of the most important. I'm hoping that next year, the list will include Sylvia and Frawley instead of TJ and Carroll (and further down the track, Newton instead of Neitz).