Jaded No More

Davey also going in for knee surgery. Given that 5 Demon listed players pulled out of yesterday's Sandy game, and that CJ was named in the best, it would not surprise me in the slightest to see a lot of changes, with many older players taking an early holiday.

I'm confused. You don't want Green or Bruce to captain the side, but Robbo is your second choice for the job? I love Robbo, I really really do, but he does have the tendancy to become lazy at times, plus he is in the twilight of his career. Both Bruce and Green work incredibly hard and the perception that Green is soft is completely false. He takes pack marks and marks running with the flight of the ball almost weekly. He is anything but soft!

Well the way I see it, if we're going all out next year to try and make the top 8, we're better of appointing someone who can step up straight away, or better yet, stick with Neita. However, if we're going into a new rebuilding phase where we're going to try and build a team around our core group of 19-21 year olds, then giving McLean the captaincy makes sense as he'll grow into the role along with the side. If the club doesn't feel that McLean is ready next year, they may not want to give him the job and the time to learn the ropes when we are focusing on making finals. Of course there is the other side that, McLean is a natural-born leader and if he is appointed captain next year he'll only enhance our chances of being a real contender. It's a really complex issue, and one that as outsiders we can't fully judge. We don't know how players conduct themselves off the field, and besides, a lot will depend on who coaches us next year and how the playing group votes.

Simon Buckley ate Michael Newton? Sorry... it sounded funny in my head... Anyways, great result for Sandy, and really pleasing to see Neaves named in the bests. Obviously with PJ and Jamar not playing, he was able to get some decent game time, and put his skills on display. I'm looking forward to the match report to read exactly how he went.

I'd still go for McLean, however I can see why the club would be apprehensive to do so. I guess it all depends on where we see ourselves. If the club and the new coach believes we're a chance to play finals and be a serious contender, we'd be better off giving the job to Green or Junior. However, if we go into development mode for the next year or two (unlikely, but you never know), Brock should be made captain as he's currently our best long term option. Junior at 31 means he really will be keeping the seat warm for Brock. Green is a longer term option obviously.

That is a very valid point. Jones and Brock got caught with the ball a lot last night. Sometimes, it was unnecessary, but most times they simply had nobody to kick the ball to. Given our distinct lack of skills and ability to hit a target, it is no wonder that when those two get the ball, they don't want to waste it. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. What I don't understand is, why other teams have plenty of numbers and free men around the contest to help the ball-winners, but we don't! At least Jones and Brock don't just bomb it out and straight to the opposition. That annoys me more than anything. It's good to see players trying to break the game and take players on. Dunn tried it both last week and last night. Last week he kicked a great goal, last night he got pinged for holding the ball. That's just how the cookie crumbles.

It would be tragic if this is how Holland finishes his career. I hope his shoulder heals well and he gets another year. I'd rather him than Ferguson or Bizzell. At least he can play at both ends and take the one forward we can't match-up on, the gorilla!

We'd all love to see him change his spots, but a leopard never does. Whatever happens, I hope that the new coach selects him only if his form warrants it. He is no longer an automatic starter at Melbourne.

That vision makes me feel sick. An unnecessary act that could have caused very serious damage to Bell. You just cannot target someone's head/neck, and Ben Johnson had enough time to change directions or pull-out. Should get at least 4 weeks. On a lighter note, I love the umpire yelling at Jonesy to calm down. You don't mess with Jonesy, ump! :D

:D I think Walls' problem is that he is stupid enough to think that Adem Yze would forfeit his contract for next year and retire. That would never happen in a million years. The others are absolutely gone. Pickett shouldn't play again for our club. He got his 200 despite being unfit and overweight. Time to go.

Round 9 vs. Kangaroos (first match back): 22 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles Round 10 vs. Adelaide: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles Round 11 vs. Collingwood: 26 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles Round 15 vs. Brisbane: 31 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles Round 18 vs. Sydney: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles That's 5 good games (2 of which were outstanding) out of 11. Not horrible considering he's lost a lot of fitness in those 2 months he had the broken foot. I'm not so sure people have actually stopped to look at his season. He was brilliant when he came back from injury, only to get injured again (when it happened, we don't know).

He's the only coach on the short-list who is a proven failure. Couldn't be successful at a bigger, richer, better equiped and more supported club. What sort of miracles could he work at Melbourne? My bet is Bond will get the job.

Ummm he was actually playing on one of Collingwood's best, Lockyer, and completely shut him out of the game.

It's ok Rhino, I clearly wasn't talking about you. Maybe you skipped over the posts in question. Lucky you

Was very good tonight. Doggy is all heart. If he could give a bit of his heart to each and every member of our side, that would be wonderful. You never get less than 150% from him. He'll dive on every ball and run all day. It's little wonder that he is so loved. Sadly, his skills and accountability are not always up to scratch and I'm sure you agree that at 30 his time has come. I'm thrilled for him that he's finishing his career in style, as you said. Nobody deserves it more, and he should be remembered for the wonderfully gutsy player that he's been over the journey. (His kicking drives me crazy )

That's a much better assessment than "Brock McLean has played 2 good games in his career. He's overrated and he's rubbish". I hate Melbourne supporters sometimes. So easily pleased, yet so happy to jump off the bandwagon when things turn bad. Rhino, I have no doubt that Brock will judge himself as harshly as we all do. He's not the sort of player who will sit back and hope that things will turn around. If he can stay injury free for just one whole season, we'll see what he can really do. He is a very special player, and we're lucky to have him. I just wish we layed off him a bit, he's copping it worse than most senior players are. Where is the fairness in that?

Yeah, it's ok that he nearly equalled Judd for effectiveness last year. Forget that. He's rubbish because he's struggled for about a month now with lack of fitness, heavy tags and a form slump. It happens to the best in the business. What about the 30+ possession game against the Lions when he played on Luke Power? We see what we want to see Rhino, and you clearly want to focus on the negatives (of which there are some, nobody is disputing that). He needs to know his limitations, I completely agree with that. At the moment, he's so desperate to win the contest, that he tries to do too much. It's part of a learning curve. At least he's desperate enough to try and compete and he's showing a lot of heart and determination. He might not win as many clearances, or collect as many possessions, but he's still getting the number one tag, and that tells the real story of how highly he is rated.

DEAR GOD! 2007 Averages: 17.9 disposals, 5.1 tackles (Junior, who's been much better this season, averages 23.5 disposals, 6.7 tackles) 2006 Averages: 22.3 disposals, 5.2 marks, 78 tackles for the year (Junior, our B&F winner, 23.1 disposals, 4.8 marks) Why am I even arguing with you?!

I don't have the energy to argue about this anymore. We both know that we'll never agree on this issue if you think I'm making silly excuses. Melbourne supporters are so desperate for a star, that they expect every 21 year old to dominate consistently week in, week out. No wonder that they are shattered and disappointed when this doesn't happen. And don't tell me has to produce because it's his 5th season next year, he has ALREADY produced. Funny how Sylvia doesn't get special threads every time he has a dud game. Oh that's right, Sylvia has been injuries his entire career...

You have got to be joking! TJ did nothing in the first half. LAZY, LAZY, LAZY! I'm a big fan and I've stood up for him for as long as I can remember, but he just did not do enough tonight. Won't put himself in the contest at all. As for Pickett, please, he did nothing and was given WOG votes by MMM. His fitness, or lack thereof, is a slap in the face to the MFC. DD36, when Brock McLean has 150+ games under his belt and 10+ years experience, we can start comparing performances.

I didn't say it was all injury, and yes he has had some very ordinary games this year. I just find it hilarious that the same clowns come out and rub it in after every poor performance. The kid is 21 and has played less than 60 games. FFS, give him a break! The level of expectation we put on him is completely unrealistic. Nobody has the same pressure on them as McLean does. And yet he's not allowed to struggle while he's learning and while he's being heavily tagged and while he's injured. How about we just let him be for a while, instead of magnifying every poor performance. There are plenty of senior players who don't get nearly as much heat when they have a bad night. [censored], he's not a 300 game veteran!!!

Yep, he runs to create a contest every time, even when he's in pain... and he was in some serious pain tonight. I just wish that now that Neita has played his 300th, that we just rest everyone who isn't 100% fit, and McLean would almost be at the top of the list. He was on fire after his foot healed, and then he injured his groin and has struggled. At least he's still out there making a contest, and standing up for his teammates. He is still the best replacement for Neita that we've got.

Well, if we're being serious here: Neita- Knee McLean- Groin Wheatley- Shoulder And the list goes on and on and on.

How about... Jones and Brock- Well done for putting yourselves in every contest and trying to win the ball. If they don't do it, who the hell will? Junior, Jones and McLean are the only players in the team who know the meaning of a clearance. All were exhausted by the end of the night, and got caught. It's frustrating, but it happens. I rather they get caught with the ball, than not get the ball at all. If only they got some bloody support!!! Brown is a battler, always was, always will be. Love his courage and determination, but he is an ordinary player. If we're serious about moving the list on, he has to retire.

Dutchy- Dislocated and possibly fractured shoulder. Vomit inducing injury. Poor guy! Davey- Hamstring Bell- Serious concussion Robbo- Knee, but kept playing Jamar- Corked thigh, but kept playing Newton- Was limping, but also kept playing Pickett- Fatness