Jaded No More

Bloody brilliant summation of this topic. Morton is a very very good footballer, and is a big part of our future, so much so that I've heard our area coaches argue over where he should play because they all want him in their area of the ground. But he has deficiencies, just as any other kid has. He has to get better defensively, and he has to get stronger in contests. He also needs to be locked at McDonalds and be made to eat his way out. Regardless, I have no issue with him playing some games down at Casey to work on his defensive side, remembering that he has already chalked up a lot of senior games for his age. We are still about development, and Bailey has proven over and over again that he is capable of turning players around and getting the best out of them. Just look at the remarkable turn around in guys like Sylvia, Dunn, Jamar, Bartram and the list goes on. I doubt Bailey would bother teaching Morton new tricks, if he didn't think he was worth it. Only the very talented are played in multiple positions over their career.

Their forward entires looked poor mainly because Chip was all over Reiwoldt like a fat kid on a waffle. Their delivery managed to catch Garland and Rivers at times, but they just went to Reiwoldt too often, even when it became clear he was being beaten. I think they were travelling at about 90% of their maximum capacity at this point in their development, whereas up until the last quarter we were at about 60%, probably less in terms of disposal. But when we had the ball, it was clear that we were far superior in our class and ability to transition the ball from half back to half forward. Had Jurrah and Green not missed fairly gettable shots on goal, we would have won by 8 goals.

Or a 50m penalty given by Buddy for a push on Chip after a mark. Chip then goes back and slots one through from 55m. Taking his tally for the game to 26 disposals, 15 marks and 1 goal, and Buddy's tally to 3 disposals, 1 mark and 0 goals. I'd probably die and go to heaven.

HATE HATE HATE those arrogant pricks from Hawthorn. From their president right down to that ahole Brown. I'm sick of watching them smash us, and it's about time we got back to the days when Neita was breaking their players' collarbones and we enjoyed big wins against them. This is the biggest game we've played since our 2006 finals series, and I would love nothing more than to make a real statement. We may not win, but as long as we have a serious crack at them I'll be happy.

He's played about 6 games, so obviously he does have plenty to work on, but he is so important to our style of play because he can run, break lines, hit great passes and is very courageous and a good overhead mark. He'd be one of my first selected each week for the forseeable future, because he gives us exactly what we need... dash. Love him and love his efforts, especially in the last quarter.

Exactly. I don't want Buddy, or anyone else next week testing out his foot. So folks, nothing to see here. Our AA defender is raring to rip another forward a new one.

I'm already excited/ [censored] myself/ angry at a possible loss. I need help.

Well you have been a Melbourne supporter your whole life...

Can you please show me examples of when he shirked the contest today? He is very much a one-touch player, which is what makes him so special. Does he need better second and third efforts if at first he doesn't win the ball? Sure he does. Is he 19 and just out of nappies? Sure he is. I have never seen a more ridiculously and unfairly scrutinized and criticized kid, pick 1 or not. It is beyond a joke, and all credit to Watts for not letting that impact him.

I love Miller, but I voted no. I don't want to mess with our forwardline, given it is FINALLY working. The only way I can see Miller playing next week is if, as you said, we choose to play Jamar alone with Miller/Dunn as back-up (which is unlikely given Jamar looks less than 100% fit), or if Dunn's foot injury gets the better of him (he was hobbling horribly as he walked to the bench). None of our talls deserve to be dropped, especially for someone who is unlikely to be part of our future.

Well that sucks balls! I know Grimes has been out for too long now, to not get a run with Casey, but... BRING BACK GRIMES!!!

Nobody is getting rested unless they are sore, finals or no finals. Scully doesn't seem bothered one little bit by the workload, and Watts has also gotten better the longer the season has gone on. Trengove just had 2 weeks off. If we don't let these kids feel the heat and pressure of finals-like matches now, when will we? Bate has done nothing in the VFL to suggest he deserves a call up to the seniors. Warnock is criminally hard-done-by because our defensive unit is killing everything in its sight, and Miller is just plain unlucky that he is kicking 10 goals for Casey when our forwardline has finally started to function. Nothing beats winning form. We've won 4 in 5 weeks, and we're starting to develop a settled line-up. Why the hell would you mess with that? And what sort of message are you sending these players, if you're unwilling to expose them to the tough tasks? They can all handle it, and if they can't, they should rethink their career choice.

Can't believe I forgot to bump this. Need to just sticky this thread and be done with it!

No amount of finals chances will make our match committee drop these two guys. Scully had probably his second best game ever today, and Watts is a VITAL part of our future and he has to get as much experience as possible. It would be incredibly short sighted of us to go down this path, even if finals are still a possibility. Because what good will playing finals be, if we don't make finals with the team that we think will ultimately win us a premiership? I guarantee you that Miller won't be part of that team, even though I've been a fan for years and appreciate him for forging a 100-game career on nothing but heart.

Pretty sure he was referring to being dropped, and hence the "stoked to play" comment. It would have been a big slap in the face for him to be dropped, given he has played every game this season. But the reality of where we are at the moment is that the competition for spots is so tough, most players who miss out will be unlucky. If Brad Miller doesn't get a game next week, and he may well not, he would be the stiffest footballer in history.

Just look at Green. Hardness at the contest can be taught. Watts doesn't exactly run the other way when presented with a physical contest, but coming from school footy and a basketball background, the physicality of the game is bound to be his weakness. It will probably take two good pre-seasons, James Frawley style, to give him the confidence to go harder. Also, the better he plays, the more he'll feel he belongs, and the more confidence he'll have to go hard and win those one on one contests. Some players are born with a death wish, like Ricky Petterd who ran into an oncoming Barry Hall in his first match, or Rivers who runs blindly into marking contests. But for most players, putting themelves in danger is not a natural thing, but something they have to learn to deal with as they mature. It will be expected of Watts to go hard, and I have no doubt that he will.

We struggled to win the contested footy and get clear possessions out of packs, but when we had the ball, our transition and movement was a class above Richmond's. Yes some of our kicking was horrendous, but the intention to move the ball was good. Often we'd have 3 maybe 4 kicks from half back to get the ball into a scoring position, and that really caught Richmond off guard. They played well, we played average, and we won. That's a sign of a team that's really going somewhere. HUGE game next week against a team that has enjoyed smacking the living daylight out of us for several years now.

In: Moloney Out: Jones Harsh on Jonesy, but it's the same story from last week. Moloney is better, and the pressure for spots is intense at the moment. I think Aussie does invaluable ground level work, and his pressure is good, and Bennell finally got his hands on the footy when he was sent to half back. I want to see him down there again next weekend. Back to where it started. Also would love to have Warnock back in the side to take on Roughead, but you can't drop any defender at the moment. Chip's biggest test of the season coming up next week.

And guess who has been taking the kick-outs over the last three games... Garland.

Agreed. Bail has been another gem this season for us. Love his dash, and his instinct to just run. His kicking is very good too. Love him. Not sure what Jack Watts has to do for people to stop bagging him. I watched bits of the West Coast game and my god Naitanui was a spud, but I bet no West Coast supporter is calling him a girl. Lay the hell off. His last quarter was great. He is working hard, his kicking is superb and his fitness is coming along nicely. He needs to go harder, and he needs to start kicking goals, but FFS he is 19 and has played less than 20 games in probably the hardest position on the ground.

Sorry but you lose for having so little faith in Chip. 3 to Reiwoldt... pffft! B)

He should be. If he isn't in the best 6 defenders in the league this season, then the selectors are on drugs. And because he has beaten everyone from Brown, to Reiwoldt to that little cockroach in Milne, he could easily be selected as a FB, a CHB, or a back-pocket. But even if he doesn't get selected, he'll definitely finish top 3 in our B&F, and I have a feeling he'd be happier with that honour than with an AA selection.

Did you see Collingwood last night? Half their kick-ins were long bombs to a contest. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. It's very hard these days with zones, to get the ball moving quickly out of the backline and pick long targets. We have become so much better in this area. Two years ago, 50% of our kick-ins results in direct turnovers, but these days our drive off half back is probably our biggest strength. And the reason why Garland takes the kick-ins is because he is a good kick, a very smart player, and because if Davey takes the kick-ins he can't win the ball in the middle, and I'd rather him deliver the ball inside 50, than out of the back pocket. Obviously we need to keep improving, and some of our kicking today had shades of 2007, but I'm more concerned about our inability to get clean ball in clearances without Moloney, than our kick-ins.

I gotta agree with you re Dunn. I would be described around here as a "Dunn-basher", but FMD he has turned himself and his career around. What is even more remarkable is that he is clearly carrying a foot injury. Anyone who saw him coming to the bench today would see that he can barely put weight on one of his feet, and is hobbling badly. Amazing effort from him to really drag us through some rough patches 2 weeks in a row. I'm going to give all credit to his dirty mo! I'd say that apart from Green, our senior players were relatively quiet today. Junior wasn't at his best, Bruce had good patches but didn't do a lot, and Jamar is clearly not 100% fit, and yet we managed to drag ourselves over the line thanks to the efforts of Scully, Watts, Bail and Jurrah in the last quarter. Also, I f'ing love James Frawley!!!!

Nearly 46,000 at the game. Mostly Demons too. Amazing turnout and noise from the crowd.