Jaded No More

One positive- we are one game closer to getting our best players back/ the season ending

That is the biggest problem IMO. What is his position? We keep playing him in every position on the field, but never for long enough to allow him to get some consistency. His best games have been on the wing, where he is able to push forward. Why the f' are we then playing him in the backline? I wanted to see him take on Judd, but instead they threw him down back, where he actually didn't do a bad job defensively but was utterly useless offensively, which is where he excels. I understand that we need to teach him to go the other way, but he is such a unique player with a unique set of skills, and currently we are wasting him. Play him on the wing every week from now until season's end, then make a decision.

It seems that he doesn't have much upper body confidence right now, which is probably residual damage from his injury. He is a gun, and offensively he continues to get better, but he has had some average defensive performances this year, particularly in the air. That someone his size can take Betts out of the game is amazing though. And currently he and Rivers are the only two defenders we have left who actually deserve a game. He has no support whatsoever down there right now.

How so? Betts had no influence on the game until junk time late in the last. Frawley was one of our better users of the ball last night and at least provided some run and strength. He is an absolute gun.

Losing Barts for this game is a killer with Carlton's small forward line. I'm sensing a smashing! Rubbish side btw. Worse team we have fielded in a really long time. And just in time to take on my most loathed team. So much fail

I'm curious as to whether you have any sources close to Tom/GWS/MFC?

Agreed. I don't like it. Maybe for a quarter as an exercise in "this is what you have to replicate in your own career", but I actually would like to see Morton brought back in and given the task on Judd. Has elite endurance and it will be good for him to do a defensive job, given that he has been lacking in this area of his game. I think Judd is also an easier match up for him than Goodes.

Fair enough. I'm sick and tired of these idiotic Scully threads, which is why I try to steer clear of them. It's just that your reaction to this matter is quite interesting. I was just wondering if you knew something about the Scully issue that you can't let on.

You think the club didn't know early enough that GWS would be sniffing around? I'm curious to know whether you know more about this than you're letting on, because some of the comments you've made on the Scully issue have been a bit sus. Just wondering B)

Given Jones has had zero clearances and 2 tackles last week, I don't really see how he could line up on Judd and do a decent job.

Will probably miss a few targets by foot. I'm calling it now... dud.

You can probably work on getting more tackles, but ZERO clearances last week?! That's pretty bad.

Deferring your decision is conceding that you're off to GWS for the money. Sh*t, wrong thread

Yep that sounds pretty weird to me given I've had my appointments bumped by artho surgeons before because they had 'emergency appointments' to attend to with footballers. I've had Colin Garland steal my appointment before. Bastard!

Agreed. Pathetic move if this injury is indeed a ploy to mask Davey being dropped, especially if it means we can't even play him with Casey. He is not above being dropped for poor form. Sorry but as a leader he should feel more pressure than anyone to perform and if he doesn't, he should be made accountable for his poor form.

I smell bullsh*t

But, would it have taken Frawley less or more time to work his way to form had he come back through the VFL, given he wouldn't have played more than 1-2 games there and given it took him 6 rounds to find some touch? I don't disagree that Scully should probably get back via Casey, however we have to accept that whether he is back this week or next, he will be rusty and it will take him time to work back into form. Question is, can you think of anyone currently available for selection who would exceed the output of a half-done Scully?

I'm pretty sure those were the 5 minutes he spent playing on, and out-marking, Michael Newton. Tough ask that. When Watts was playing against him he tore him a new one on the lead. Disgraceful voting.

Ah Port Adelaide, the Collingwood of SA minus the money and the success. Why wouldn't you want to go there?

Trading Moloney is going to tear the playing group. He is a real leader, and the boys love him. I don't think a young group of guys is going to appreciate seeing one of their best mates and leader being stabbed in the back and shipped off for yet more draft picks. There is a lot to be said for players believing the club they play for is going to look after them. Given the recent iffy departures of McLean, Junior and Bruce (all of which I completely support btw), it's time we gain a bit of trust back. You can't just [censored] off a player who is a leader and in top form, just because you don't think he'll still be on fire 4 seasons down the track.

Hasn't Richmond been rebuilding for like 18 years? Did Wallace have a 5 year plan in place about 8 seasons ago?

I'm very glad Barts is free to play this weekend (god knows we can't afford to lose any more players right now), but FML the MRP and the AFL's 'justice' system are one big giant disgraceful joke.

I'm going, and will take the horns. All my friends, and I mean all of them, are dirty Carlton supporters. If we win I'm wearing those bad boys out after the game when we go out. Surely that's enough motivation for the boys to win this one

Yeah look I appreciate Jones' hard running, but he is not good enough to be a pure outsider, and someone with his relative size and experience in a young side needs to do a lot more contested work. He also had zero clearances. That's pretty deplorable if you ask me.

How about the fact that he suffered a very serious head injury before the draft in a non footy related incident? We aren't the only club that passed on him. 24 picks were made before West Coast decided to pick him up, and don't forget that at West Coast he has a couple of more experienced big bodied forwards to take the pressure off him in Lynch and Kennedy (who is a top notch KPF). He would have no such support at Melbourne.