Hannabal

There's a reason that he took so long to get his nomination. I first liked Rockliff when I saw him at the G in 2008 playing for Vic Country. He kicked 4 and took some really nice grabs. I like him as a player, but understand why he didn't get picked up in the ND. I just don't value (as much) cheap possessions in the back half these days. And nearly all of his footy has been played there this year since Banfield was preferred as their smaller forward, which is why he couldn't get a game at the beginning of the year. They sent him down back and he's thrived. He's a good mark and uses it well.

Two things. I couldn't give a FF what you like, or dislike. There was no "insult" in my first statement.

Rockliff has played off a half back flank picking up cheap possessions on the switch of play, keepings off, etc. He doesn't compare to the young mids learning the caper the hard way. There's a reason why Scully, Trengove and Hannebery have at various stages started the game with opposition tags and Rockliff is allowed to run free. Rockliff won't place in the top 5. Good Dreamteamer though. This isn't a knock on Rockliff as he's been a great pick up. He would have been a Demon, as he trained with us, if the Lions didn't pounce in the PSD.

My heart says Trengove and my head says Trengove. Trengove Hannebery Scully Bastinac Fyfe Trengove has been more consitent than Hannebery.

We won't win. The extent of our loss will depend on the performance of our fragile "senior" players.

I see, so when Aussie is ready to celebrate life membership with Melb for 10 years of service his first year, where he played 18 games, won't count ? Wonaeamirri is a talented footballer, but we won't see his best until he sheds plenty of kilos. A starving Byron Pickett wouldn't eat him due to the excessive calorie intake.

Disgusting timeslot. Doubt I'll go.

True. AFL Tables is the one I tend to rely on and they have him at 191cms. http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/L/Liam_Jurrah.html Others have him at 188.

True, but I'm more interested in the associated positives. 1) It's one less thing to defend in the media 2) The bottom line

Blease had 14 kicks, 3 handballs and 3 marks. He played until 3/4 time. He's clearly lacking match fitness and was rotated on to the bench at least twice every quarter. He's a very good kick and hasn't lost any pace. A couple of times he backed himself and took the game on with multiple bounces. He has some much needed outside class and should get a number of games next year. Played off a wing.

Hannebery has reached 20 disposals only 5 times in his 12 games, so I doubt he's been named in the Swans bests "week in week out". Trengove has been more consistent than Hannebery, but his best games haven't been as good as Hannbery's. Hannebery's two best games were very good. Martin is good, but I suspect he's one of those players that won't get a lot better than he is now. He doesn't have the silk/balance of Trengove, nor the running ability.

It's a good post and even better topic. The best thing about Bailey is that under extraordinarily difficult circumstances he's galvanised the club and playing group. You won't hear a bad word about Bailey. From Cameron Schwab down to the players they're behind him almost to a man (if you can't get a game then he's probably not your favourite person). When one considers that this is arguably our worst 3 year period in history (statistically anyway) that's some feat. I can't imagine that any other coach would have had worse results than Bailey. It's almost inconceivable. But I also can't imagine that any other coach would have handled themselves better as the public face of a club under immense pressure. How many CEO's has he had ? It's for this very reason that he's cut an inordinate amount of slack and regularly goes under the radar. He has more teflon than Julia Gillard. I have to say though that Damien Hardwicke really impresses me. He comes across as a great bloke and one that doesn't talk crap. I can imagine that the players would want to play for him. We have a better list than the Tigers, but he's getting better results (irrespective of today's outcome). Can Bailey coach ? I think so. Is he a great coach ? I doubt it - yet. Getting towards the end of his third year and there are as many questions unanswered as answered. Fwiw, I reckon coaching is overrated. Alan Joyce won a premiership at Hawthorn when he took over form a sick Allan Jeans. Subsequently he went to Footscray and was hopeless. He had fantastic players at Hawthorn and didn't at Footscray. The players at both clubs hated his guts. Hawthorn players have spoken of winning a premiership in spite of him. At least the players and seemingly the whole club like Bailey, which I suspect is half the battle. From a distance, Bailey appears to be a very good 'manager'. And in reality I don't reckon that a club needs much more than that, as long as the other coaches and footy personnel are good at what they do. Ultimately it gets back to the talent on the list, as well as the the ability to properly develop it. A wise man once said, "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken [censored]".

I disagree. Having watched him in the intra-club and in the lead-up games I'd wondered if he'd run over a Chinaman. He'd never looked worse. It had nothing to do with inflated expectations. I agree with ID's assertions, but your use of Jurrah (preseason) is a poor example.

Ease up, Jungle Jim. When someone makes outlandish statements about this under performing football club, i.e. "best sporting club in the world", then it's in my nature to provide a few checks and balances. I agree that's it's not the right thread though, otherwise I'd talk about the possibility of the "greatest club in the world" having a distinct possibility of winning its third straight wooden spoon.

It's not about being "sour", although the glad-handlers may assume otherwise. It's about being realistic. You know, the old fashioned 'call it as it is', or 'plain speak'. I excel at the latter.

You're delusional, which comes as no great surprise. At least you can please yourself.

This club ultimately has to be judged on premierships. We're not a great club, in fact, we've been pitiful. The wheel is turning, but any future success can only be judged by flags. And yes, Jim is a great man.

I'm not sure that the bolded needed stating. Answer: Trengove, Scully and Watts.

It was used as singular quotation marks, not as an apostrophe.

Most players stay because of their teammates, not their respective clubs. Players usually only move for better opportunities, back home if interstate, or if it's late in their career they may chase success. Then there's Garry Ablett. I see potentially probably only 3 bona fide stars on our list and 'Coldawg' isn't one of them.

Firstly, I wouldn't write "your" when I mean "you're". Secondly, it wasn't a "fairly simply worded comment", it was an exceedingly simple and inaccurate comment, nonetheless, one that does you justice. As for my love of the MFC ? I've been watching pure and unadulterated crap since the 1970's and I'm still here and at the 'G' every week. But yes, I mark harder than some. I'll lavish praise when it's deserved.

Why are you and many others so emotive in your language ? Rivers "haters" and Rivers "bashers". Rivers is a disappointment to me and many others. He certainly never elevated his game from his RS year. We all know that there are some reasons for this, such as injury, but another is that he's slow, too small for big forwards and burnt on the lead by the quicker forwards. Another is that he's just not that good. So, it's fair to say that I'm not a Rivers fan. But by your definition, I'm a "hater". You're not that bright are you ? Also, it's great to see some of the glee in this thread. Imagine if we're ever in the position to re-sign a bona fide 'star/s'.

Bartram - devoid of class Bate - not a KPP Bennell - potential is there Bruce - a Bruce game Cheney - not enough tricks Davey - needs support Dunn - has a punchable head Frawley - versatile Garland - looks like a dope fiend Green - usual class Grimes - errant kicks Jamar - battled hard Jetta - fringe player Jones - a battler MacDonald - related to Daniel Bell ? McKenzie - had a crack Moloney - errant handballs Rivers - usual nothing game Scully - get used to tags Spencer - provides comedy Trengove - 9 contested possessions Watts - starting to believe

Yes, I knew what you meant. I just wanted to make sure that others didn't misinterpret your clumsy scribblings.

Watts has talent that I've rarely seen in a key tall forward, but there was always one question mark; and I've said enough on that. At worst I reckon he'll be a good player, so I haven't really "gone off him". Winning a flag is the only reason I follow footy. It's the only thing that matters to me. And knowing how hard they are to win I knew how important the super draft of 08 was. The [censored] that frequent footy forums get up in arms about calling players messiahs and state how unfair it is to pin such high hopes on a young player, but the reality is that if we're to win a flag it is going to be on the back of a couple of stars and a number of A graders. Imo, Watts needs to be a border line star for us to win a flag, which, as stated, is all I care about. So yes, I was invested in that pick and that draft. As a club we really are in need of those first 3 picks to be players and for various reasons there still are question marks on all three. As for Sylvia ? I did say he was "just a player". I also said that his best role could be as a "finisher". I don't see any great midfield qualities in Sylvia, but I do see a player that could become a good finisher, who has the occasional rotation in the midfield. And once again, for varying reasons, he's having a disappointing year.