Jaded No More

Yep, strongest indication yet that he won't be coaching us next year, and I think that part of it is due to the fact that he himself wants to move on. I have no doubt that the club will separate on good terms if/when it comes to that, and I hope for everyone's sake that we start looking at new coaches in July, not September. I want Voss as an assistant coach, and from what I've heard, so does the club. So hopefully they make that one happen. As for Caroline Wilson, I feel for her... it must be hard being the only female in the AFL who is allowed to express an opinion. Kent Kingsley should keep his mouth shut, and concentrate on getting a kick. He can't even break into the Richmond side FFS, and yet he is taking cheap shots at people who have rightly called him on what he is... a crap footballer.

I wanna see Bell on Johnson. That is all

Once Bartram is fit, he should be played on the half back line, where he is both accountable and can give us good drive out of defence. This means Petterd can push onto the wing and get some tagging jobs under his wing. I think that every midfielder who isn't specifically an insider, should start out by being a tagger and doing jobs on the best in the business. It's the best way to learn IMO. I think Petterd is only being used in the backline because Barts is injured, Brown is a liability down back, and Ward is well... Ward.

He is still eligible to win the Rising Star.... In fact, yesterday was only his 13th AFL game

Funny you say that, because on the train on the way home, I was speaking to some equally [censored]-off Melbourne supporters who agreed that we should all donate a gold coin to help cover the fine, if Neale Daniher gives the umpires a real spray in his press-confrence and cops it from the AFL. It would be worth every cent, given the crap they dished up this weekend (and for most of our games in 2007).

But he could do a hammy or a groin if he is pushed to do too much upon his return. Remember, he has had 6 weeks off where he wasn't able to do any running, kicking etc etc... I know that he is far far too good to play in the VFL, but it might be good to ease him back. Alternatively, he will be played cautiously for a week or two, which is fine. 60% of game time from McLean is better than 100% of game time from most players.

... but it makes no difference now, does it? Jeff Geishen has come out and said that the deliberate out of bounds was the wrong call. Now nobody is saying that we would have won the game had the ball been thrown up, but there were 50 seconds on the clock, and all it would have taken was one clearances (which we were winning all day), and a long kick to a forward who could have taken the kick after the siren. So technically, had the decision been called out of bounds, and NOT deliberate, we could have gone on to win. For the sake of the AFL and the fans, I hope that the idiot who payed that free kick never umpires again. What a farce the AFL has become!

Murphy is most likely out for the Doggies, which is terrible for him, but good for us. He always gives us problems. So that, plus the fact that everyone escaped suspensions means that maybe our luck is changing.

Finally, common sense prevails. And I laughed out loud at Travis Johnstone abusing the umpires. It's nothing they don't deserve

This thread has taken a disturbing turn. Leave poor Godders alone and let him breed in peace. I hear Whitey apperantly had a boy not long ago, which is great news for our future ruck department. Hopefully he has 10cm on his dad though!

Belly! If the FD values hard work, and looks at the amount of pressure our backline has been under, Bell will be leading, or at least top 2. Is yet to have a bad game, and is probably the only one who can lay claim to that this year. Bruce and Moloney will be up there too. Come the end of the year though, I hope Rivers is up in the top 3. The kid is an absolute defensive genius.

Newton waited one week too long to start stringing bags of goal together. A week earlier and he would have debuted ahead of Garland IMO. Buckley will play soon, especially if they decide to rest Moloney given his OP situation. He is the only midfielder we have left who hasn't debuted yet. I think Daniher was just trying to emphasis the point that we have pretty much reached the end of our list. We have played everyone who has been up for selection the past 6 weeks apart from Newton and Buckley. That in itself is a pretty frightening thought. It's a shame Hughes is a rookie, as we could definitely use another crumber/ small up forward.

Do you think maybe he is going long all the time because that kicking action is less painful on the groins, and that he can't chase because he can't really run? Just a suggession. I remember his beautiful delivery to Robbo and Neita in 2005 won him a lot of praise. He hasn't lost that, he has just lost the ability to play freely. He is a great player for our club, mainly because he gives his all and he is passionate about the jumper. I have never seen an MFC player sing the song with so much enthusiasm, and that's great. He is obviously out there because he wants to be and he is desperate to represent the club, but IMO he shouldn't be.

Change 'will' to 'is' and you're spot on. "I just wanted to play my role [against Port Adelaide] and I couldn't get really near it in the first few quarters, but I just kept trying to smash in and eventually I found my way in the end. So I played okay, but I can improve and the whole side can improve." Great quote that, and his chase, smother and pick-up yesterday was just as great. What a kid!

I did see it, and I was VERY impressed. But not every player plays in that manner. Rivers, Bell, Petterd, they are natural-born kamikazes, but there are plenty of great players out there who aren't. We can't punish players for not having that natural instinct to put themselves in danger, as long as they go when it is their turn, and Bate does that as far as I'm concerned. Pretty much all of his marks today were contested, so you can't tell me he doesn't put himself in the contest. He's had an average month, I'm sure he knows that, but he is just a kid and I don't see the need for anyone to get stuck into him about his hardness, especially given the fact that last week he was leaving the SCG on crutches.

Was a great crowd today in terms cheering and atmosphere. We did well... all 10 of us

And?? <_< <_<

God that is such rubbish. I remember him dropping his head ONCE in his entire career thus far. He is a kid, and he goes in a lot harder and with a lot more determination than some of our senior players. I love how we can all sit behind our computer screens and take shots at 19 year olds for not going in hard enough. Pathetic.

Poor kid. Hopefully he'll be right to play for the seniors next week. I want him in our team ASAP. He will be able to fill a huge gap down back with any luck. P.S.- my condolences to Chip for having to spend time in Frankston hospital. It's a fairly scary place :D

What? I.... I'm just.... what?? Bell was easily beaten? By whom? Unless easily beaten to you, is letting his opponent kick a goal. Brett Ebert is Port's best, most consistent medium forward. Bell held him to one goal today. FFS, take off the 'anti Bell' glasses will you?

Young players fighting for a spot in the team don't need wake up calls. His endavour and desire to win the ball has never been in question over the last month. It was his disposal and decision making which left him wanting, and he has improved slowly. It is only fair that we give our young inexperienced players time to work through their form slumps and find their feet, in the same way we afford guys like TJ, Davey and so on time to find their touch again. I thought TJ's last quarter was excellent by the way. A real improvement on 2007 thus far.

Fair enough, and I hope you are right about it being a low grade strain. Put it this way, Bate was on crutches at the end of last week's game, and he was BOG today. As for Bruce, I'm sure he'll be fine.

His ruck work is embarrassing, but he took a good overhead contested mark, and he has some pace. Jury still out on whether we can accommodate for a crumber stuck in a giant's body.

They only mentioned Bruce's calf on radio. He may have been a bit sore and so they decided to take him off. Lets not jump to conclusions here.

He completely nullified one of the best midfielders in the competition today. Shutting down Shaun Burgoyne is one of the toughest jobs in football. Not only that, he even managed to pick up more disposals than his direct opponent today! He is in good tagging form at the moment, and he deserves some credit.