Jaded No More

There have been very few players more deserving of a Rising Star nomination. I know it's all rubbish and means nothing, but we still gush over a 38 disposal-game from Ablett, so to think Scully topped that in the pouring rain in a losing team is absolutely outstanding.

1. A 10 goal win 2. Jack Watts 3. 35,000 loud Melbourne supporters

It is OK to raise these issues, and there is no denying Jack does make mistakes by foot sometimes, but I think it is far too early to be worried about these things. Oh and please show me an example of where I criticised anyone who has played 19 games, please. All young players have areas for improvement. That's why experience is so vital, but for 3 weeks in a row now we've had a few posters jumping on his back to suggest that he should improve. Of course he should improve, and he will. Ugh, why are you even bothering wasting your time picking an argument with me when you know full well that some of the stuff that gets mentioned here about young players is completely stupid?! Haven't you got anything better to discuss? And btw, there was nothing "woeful" about Grimes' disposal on Friday night. Given the conditions, I thought he handled the ball well. And this is my issue with this thread, little mistakes being blown out of all proportion with kids who should be struggling to get a kick, but instead are racking up 30 disposals a game!

Grimes is top 5 at the club for kicks, marks and disposals. He has played 19 games. If people can't program those facts into their brain before coming on here and talking about his sometimes poor disposal and decision making, then it is a poor reflection on their football analysis and not on Grimes. A guy who can't kick and doesn't make the right decisions and isn't disciplined, is never going to be trusted with taking the kick-ins for his team 9 times out of 10. Think about that, let it immerse your brain and then move on. Grimes is playing a FOREIGN position because the coach thinks he is so good at it, and so disciplined at defending and then attacking, that he won't play him in his natural position which is the midfield. Talk to anyone at Melbourne, anyone at all, and they'll tell you just how much they love Grimes. I sat with our head of marketing last year and he told me that Grimes missed out on a leadership position by a mere few votes, and that was after playing 12 senior games. Sometimes when I come to Demonland I wish I hadn't.

Exactly right. I also think that Gysberts has, from all reports, been playing exceptionally well for a number of weeks with Casey now, and hence deserves a reward for form. Ideally, I'd love him and Watts to come in this week, but the omissions will be difficult. I'd drop Dunn because his goal kicking was very costly on Friday but to make room for Gysberts we'd have to either drop PJ and let Jamar ruck alone, which I think is very unlikely (especially since Bailey rarely brings a player in for one game then drops them again), or perhaps drop someone who is slightly sore. The weather might end up dictating selection.

In regards to Morton, has he lost any pace or lateral movement as a result of his knee injury? I ask because my knee is completely stuffed now after a fracture and after 6 months or so I still can't walk properly or run. I know I ain't no footballer, but if Morton is running as normal then that's the main thing. Fitness and ball handling will come with a bit more time and getting used to the pace of the game again. Knees are a complete nightmare. I have no idea how footballers recover from reconstructions!

I said we should drop him He has played 19 games FFS. What is wrong with Melbourne supporters?

Said Blease is out for the rest of the season with injury. Later said it wasn't true. Complete and utter unsubstantiated garbage.

I'm calling it now to avoid multiple threads during the week. In: WATTS

I know Coburg are terrible, I mean a side full of Richmond rejects can't be any good, but I think that this shows that with good delivery (and I assume that less pressure on Casey from Coburg means more time to dispose of the ball and better forward delivery), Watts can play very well. He'll enjoy having Trengove/Grimes/Scully/Sylvia/Moloney kicking it to him on a lead at the MCG.

But why does someone 30m away get to have more of say in this situation than the man who is paid to stand right there and call the shots? The goal umpire thought it was a goal and he was closest to the action by an absolute mile. Words really do fail me in regards to this game.

I'd put Grimes in that category too, you can already tell he'll be a great player, although I suppose he might be half a step below Scullgove. I used to say that Grimes was the best 18-gamer I've even seen, but now Scullgove are the best 7-gamers I've ever seen. Oh the problems I have

Only 20 disposals but he had 7 clearances, so he did his main job well. He and Scully both had game high 7 clearances. Scully was OK I suppose

Led the team in marks last night. Good debut in terrible conditions.

Geelong shouldn't play at Skilled unless they are playing an interstate team. Simple, it's too small a ground to support an all-Victorian game. Nobody plays on suburban grounds anymore, and Geelong shouldn't be any different. It is a ridiculous home ground advantage they hold over the rest of us Victorians who play in one of two grounds. And yep, another Friday night game or two wouldn't hurt. We certainly put on a better showing last night than the rubbish St Kilda and the Bulldogs put on the week before.

He was OK last night given the conditions, but he only had 62% game time which to me indicates that he wasn't required, especially when Hudson dominated around the ground while PJ and Jamar watched on. We should have gone another runner in those conditions, and to be honest PJ is still very much killing time until his contract is up for mine. Not going to make it long term given he is only an average ruckman and extremely poor physically and above his head. Those conditions were actually working to his advantage, because he was able to use his agility in a scrappy game. It's when the ground is dry that we see how glaringly obvious his failures are for a big guy. He'll play next week because we need to keep supporting Jamar in the ruck, but to me experimenting with Martin has more long-term merit.

It's frustrating as a supporter who wants to see him play, not frustrating from a physical point of view where I think he should be further advanced than he is. Sheesh, take a chill pill everyone.

Did he clarify whether we asked the AFL mid-week to change the uniform and had our request denied? Or perhaps why a multimillion dollar national organisation is capable of making such glaring mistakes? No, I'm still not over it!

After retirement. Scully was so fatigued in the last he got 18 disposals. Seriously, unless they are physically hurting and showing real signs of injury, they stay in the team. They need all the experience and game time they can get, not to mention we actually need them playing. They make us a better team. If Trengove is tiring he can easily play as a forward for half a game.

Barts has been phenomenal. He has literally resurrected himself from the dead. The conditions suited him no doubt, but he is very accountable and much smarter with his decision making and disposal these days. Deserves his spot in the side from now until he unequivocally proves otherwise. We lacked run IMO and it was a poor tactical error to leave PJ in the team given the conditions on the night. If the same weather is forecasted I'd leave PJ out next week and put in Jetta or Maric or someone with a bit of leg speed who can carry the footy. Let Jamar rip NicNat a new one again all on his own.

He lives! Btw, Dunn missing two critical and fairly gettable shots on goal tonight means I am rightfully shitty with him. Probably harsh on him because he isn't great and can't do a whole lot more than he already does, but he is a poor footballer.

Out: PJ In: GAWN Make it happen.

Out: Scully In: Newton Also, Dunn to the tip and Bail straight in if he's fit. Other changes pending Casey result. And if it's going to pour can we please pull the plug on PJ, who at the best of times struggles to have aerial impact on contests, let alone when it's bucketing down? Thanks.

I'm waiting for some mid-week "drop Scully" brilliance B)

Why don't we deserve the credit? Dogs and Pies weren't flat, they were pressured into making mistakes because we hunted them. Just like last week North hunted us and won. We are actually not a bad team. I know it's hard to comprehend and I forget that sometimes, but we are in a much better position than a large majority of clubs because we have a lot of uncapped potential and talent. When we can play on our terms, we are right up with in terms of ball movement. Imagine what a forwardline could do for us...