Jaded No More

The bench will/should be: Jamar, Davey, Newton, Buckley/Moloney. Good on Bode, that is a very quick progression from playing seconds in the VFL, to being named in the senior AFL team. But I don't think he'll play this week. We better not go into the team with one ruckman again. P.S.- Ferguson to take Hall!

He plays taller than he is, but essentially he is a second, sometimes third tall. Show me a second forward who consistently kicks 40+ goals a year... there aren't many, if any. I agree with everything you said about his lack of defensive pressure and so on, but he has given us very good service for many years, and we've always been able to rely on him to stand up when it is most needed (a rare quality amongst senior MFC players). I just hope that he hasn't gone into self preservation mode, like some of his mates, and is therefore playing for himself instead of the side. He'll get a 2 year contract and finish his career at Melbourne, as he should. And let's not forget that he has never held a gun to our head during contract negotiations, and has taken pay cuts to stay at the club previously.

Are we talking next year? I was sure the cut-off date to elevate rookies has long expired for 2007, besides why wait till now when we had long term injuries weeks ago...

That is very harsh Rhino, even for you. Robbo is a small forward, so in terms of consistency, he is right up there with other small forwards. He kicks around 40 goals a year, which is a very good output from someone his size. Injuries have played a massive role in his last 2 seasons, and yet he battles on. He is now reaching the end of his career, so we cannot expect the same output from him, but he still needs to cut out the sometimes selfish and lazy behaviour. As much as it kills me to say, he needs to reassess what his role in the side is and realise that this is not the Robbo Show.

Adelaide - Scott Thompson (I miss him in red & blue, but that aside you'd have to go Rutten) Brisbane - Brown Carlton - Murphy Collingwood - Cloke Essendon - Davey Fremantle - Pavlich Geelong - Scarlett Hawthorn - Franklin Kangaroos - McIntosh Port Adelaide - Chad Cornes Richmond - Deledio St. Kilda - Mcguire Sydney - OKeefe West Coast - Judd/Kerr not fussed Western Bulldogs - Gilbee

Here's the thing about Sheedy, which differentiates him from all others... Even if he doesn't win us a single game, he'll bring this club so much media attention, raise our profile and lure the sponsors, and that is something we need nearly as much as a premiership. Of course, that all depends on his willingness to adjust to a new level of control, as he won't get to be in charge of recruiting and other aspects of our club, in the same way he did at Essendon.

Agreed, and the same goes for Jeff White. Clearly, nobody has had a really outstanding season, one deserving of winning the club's champion award. This year's award should be more about reward for hard effort and consistency, than anything else. With that in mind: 1- Junior 2- Jones 3- Bell Positions 2 and & 3 depend on how these 2 perform for the rest of the season. If Belly is still recovering from the hammy, he might be overtaken by Godfrey or White. Whereas Jonesy could still finish first. All 3 players deserve to be recognised for their solid efforts throughout the year. They've all stood up despite being part of a complete rabble of a team. Other awards: Best first year player- Petterd Most improved- Bell? Best clubman- McLean? (I think you have to be under 25 to win the award???)

What the hell is wrong with Sylvia? This kid just cannot get a break... curse this season!!! (Unless they've decided to pull the plug on him for the rest of the year, ensuring he's fit and ready to finally do a pre-season?)

Hmmm... here are my two theories: 1) He wants to do an assistant role first, so he can take over from Matthews at the end of 2009 (come on down!) 2) He realised Carlton are rubbish and didn't know how else to let them down gently If nobody gets him, I won't mind... just as long as we don't lose out to Freo or Essendon!

How about Pickett's unfair treatment of the MFC? The club who saved his career, paid him good money, and did everything in their power to make him an important part of the team? His poor form, lack of fitness and discipline issues are a slap to the face for those who had faith in him and paid good money, and gave away a good draft pick in order to see him in a Melbourne jumper. As it stands, he owes us a lot more than we owe him. Nothing would please me more than to have a fit, firing and mentally focused Byron Pickett on our list next year, as he is without a doubt, a very talented, match-winning player. However, given his behaviour and performance over the last two years, I just cannot see it happening. He has a lot of making-up to do.

West Coast, like Melbourne a few weeks back, forgot to bring the right jumpers. They will be fined $10,000 by the AFL.

Yeah, Bell lacks aggression FFS, have we really run out of things to talk about, we're resorting to discussing a 15 second incident that is completely irrelevant?

I'm excited that I don't have to worry about finding the cash to pay for finals tickets No wonder us Melbourne supporters can afford to drive luxury cars and take frequent vacations in the snow

PJ and Carroll have cemented their place on the list, Bizzell is hanging on by a thin thread and they dropped him... much like CJ. On the Demons Bandwagon, it doesn't surprise me that you don't understand what I'm saying. We have a big chunk of experienced players who make up a core of our best 22 (Neita, White, Robbo, McDonland, Bruce, Green, TJ etc...). What we don't need, is to carry around fringe players on the list with no scope for improvement. We've been doing it for too long, and it hasn't helped us.

Why don't you quote my entire post, instead of neatly editing out what you like? I wrote that he's a fringe player, and the fact that he's 30 puts him high up on the list of 'gonners'. Go back and quote the entire reply next time! CB, don't kid yourself, Bizzell isn't in most people's best 22, including our current coaching staff, who, may I remind you, did not play him until it was the absolutely last resort this season, and dropped him last week. With a fit Rivers, Bartram, Petterd etc ... he just does not fit into our best backline. In fact, he's lucky to have held a gun to our head 3 seasons ago, to get a long contract, or he wouldn't be on our list this year to begin with. Look, he isn't the worst player on our list, not even close. He has skills, but his role is very limited. If we're going to be honest with ourselves, we need to cut down the list and start building a team around the younger players who will help us win a flag in the future (one would hope). Bizzell just doesn't fit into that plan, and nor do a lot of other players.

Well it's about bloody time!!! Well done Jonesy, much deserved recognition for all of your efforts and hard work week in, week out. Aside from possibly Belly, he's been our most consistent player this season. Now I'll have something to listen to on the drive home (tune into SEN at around 5ish, as they always interview the Rising Star nominee on Tuesdays).

Does that mean they both go through? This is why they shouldn't let the public vote, it's a popularity contest!

If Bizzell was anywhere near the vicinity of Harvey in terms of talent, output, leadership and importance to the side, than of course you'd let him carry on. But the comparison is irrelevant. As I said, Bizzell is not in our best 22, and when you get to 30 years of age, and you're not part of the club's best team going forward, you are not a required player. That's just the way it goes. We must be ruthless and start cleaning out the list, which is full of deadwood. Haha, Bizzell being compared to Robert Harvey. That's classic! :D

Absolute madness! We're lucky to have both Gardner and Harris. They are great businessmen who have done a lot of good for this club, including achieving record membership numbers, finding us a home and building new facilities, and getting our finances in order. That is the job of the board, winning games of football is the job of the football department, which is currently being restructured due to the proactive approach of our board.

I know you love Clint Bizzell, but how can you advocate we delist Warnock and CJ, and keep Bizzell? List managment is more than about one season. Bizzell has no future at Melbourne, because to put it simply, he's old. He doesn't fit into our best team, which means he's depth, and for some reason, 30 year old depth players don't really appeal to most clubs. Bizzell would also cost us more than Warnock or CJ would.

Age: 25 Games: 42 Born: September 29, 1981

Wasn't refering to what you said specifically, but the implication in some other posts is that he is weak for not standing up to him. Again, no point in having a whole pack of players come in and start a fight over a simple incident and give away free kicks, or get suspended, or get fined. It achieves nothing, especially when you're getting spanked on the scoreboard. I rather see senior players encouraging their own young teammates, than starting fights. Last week it took nearly half a quarter before anyone approached Frawley and told him to keep his head up. That to me is more concerning and more disappointing. Belly's sheppard was illegal, what exactly would they be fighting about? P.S.- What does 'he look like he's about to [censored] himself' imply?

Please, we hang Davey out to dry when he remonstrates with the opposition and gets suspended, but Belly is weak for not getting sucked in by Brogan? It seemed to me like Brogan wanted to start something, but Bell was too smart to take the bait and give away a 50m penalty. I don't think he was apologizing for what he did, or pleading his innocence, he was probably just letting Brogan have his rant and get over it. It was the mature thing to do, and does not at all reflect badly on him or the team. Better him walking away, than costing us a goal. If he was coming in to help protect his own teammate, it would be a different story.

Had his colours lowered in the first quarter, but stood his ground and improved steadily as the match went on. Took some nice contested marks as well. I love that, like Belly, he has the guts to take the opposition on. He will try to break the line, and because he has pace, he is often quite successful in doing so. Kicking is amusing to watch, and his technique means that he takes a second longer to get boot to ball, but overall it's not a huge issue. Will be a player given experience, and especially time to grow physically.

Great list. For this reason alone, I'd look at keeping Miller. I doubt very much we'll get more than a 4th round pick for him, and considering Holland and Ferguson are both cut, we'll need another tall body as depth. He won't be best 22, or even best 25, but he'll serve his purpose in covering injuries, which he can do both up forward and down back. I rather him as depth, than another year of Ferguson. Holland is better than Miller, but we won't get more than a year out of him, therefore Miller over Holland too. That leaves Miller and Warnock as depth, although I'm still keen to see what we can get out of Warnock at senior level. He hasn't had enough opportunities, and he does have something we badly need, pace.