Hannabal

Why's that ? Why wouldn't they have just been named if the club planned on playing them ? Who is struggling with injury in order that a late change may be required ? Or is it that you simply didn't agree with the named 22 ?

You talk about "kidding" and then fail to name Green.

You owe me a round in the Bullring after the game.

Scully has performed well in his first 3 games and I see no reason to drop him. He certainly doesn't need a "rest" as someone suggested. He's the fittest at the club. Newton will be dropped. Sylvia plays 60% forward and 40% midfield, and Dunn gives similar benefits to Newton with regards to the forward structure.

Bailey wants to get games into Scully Trengove McKenzie, etc. They'e come up against Hawthorn, Collingwood, and Adelaide, who all have strong midfields, but we're going to drop Scully the first opportunity he has of playing against a weak side ? With a realistic chance to celebrate another win with his mates and the confidence that delivers ? When we're trying to fast track him to 40 games ? Scully won't be dropped. It doesn't make sense.

There is zero chance they will drop Scully for this game.

Thank God this is a thread about "bloopers".

It's all guesswork/gut feel. Once Scully finds his feet I reckon he'll be the tough midfield general. Trengove is smoother. I love both and rate them higher than Grimes, which doesn't mean that I don't have love for Grimes, but I believe the other two are better footballers. In order: Scully, Trengove, Watts, Morton, Grimes, Blease

Yes, he'll talk of "getting games into the young players", "competitiveness", the amount of "quarters won" last year not being good enough, of not rushing Jack and getting his "body ready to withstand the rigours of the AFL", the disappointment of losing "Liam Jurrah" and how incredible it is that "he's only played 9 games", how well "Scully and Trengove have recovered from games" and that we carefully monitor their "loads", that he's got a great relationship with the "Board and Cameron Schwab who've been very supportive and understand what we're trying to achieve", how it "wasn't acceptable to lose to Collingwood" and that the players will "learn from that"....

"Stars" are usually the best leaders, so the two go hand in hand. I've been banging on about it for years. Until we unearth a couple of genuine stars, i.e. champions of the AFL and not just champions of our club, then we'll remain starved of the type of success that some of us crave. (and I said "some" for a reason, as a flag isn't the be all and end all for some on here - each to their own)

It's subjective isn't it ? Hmm, "Years away", I suppose it begs the question, how good do you expect him to be at 20/21, which by my reckoning doesn't quite fit the "YEARS away" category, as you put it. He turns 20 in the May of 2011. I hope that Watts finishes his career as one of the star key forwards of the modern era. Just about every star key forward in living memory was very very good by the age of 20 and bordering on stardom by 21. Players such as Lockett, Carey, Brereton, Lloyd, Kernahan, Buddy Franklin to name a few, were all stars by 21. Our own David Schwarz was on his way to stardom until cut down by injury at 21. David Neitz was a rung down from those players, but was AA by the age of 20 in a defensive role. Naturally these players peaked in their mid 20's (excluding Franklin), but they were bona fide stars by 21. If Watts is as good as we anticipate he won't be YEARS away. He'll start showing some very promising signs this year, be a very good player in 2011 and it's up to him from 2012 onwards. This isn't to say that I'll 'right him off' if he falls short of stardom by the age of 21, but by then I'll know whether he'll reach those heights. I expect he will. No-one needs to worry about Watts' frame. He'll be a massive man at his peak and well strong enough within 2 years. Does he have the heart, or hunger ? They're the questions he needs to answer.

On the contrary, he thinks that we'll be a powerhouse for many many years, just not in the next 3-4, which is Ball's window. He manages Watts and Blease amongst others. And it's Ball's decision, not his managers. Run along.

I don't know what's so surprising. I posted some of the following on Oct 24 after a discussion with his manager Paul Connors: "The Ball Camp: 1. An influential Family member doesn't want Ball to go to Melb. He's done the hard yards at another club and Melb's window for a flag is considered to be at least 5 years away. He's Captained another club and has probably passed the stage in his career where he wants to revisit struggle street, albeit they know Melb's future is very very good. 2. They consider it a "2 to 1 chance" that he'll reach Collingwood in the ND. I was surprised. At this stage, and it could well change as they firm up the chances of reaching C'Wood, the likley scenario is that he'll take his chances in the ND in the belief that he'll get there." The "influential family member is his Father Ray. This is no slap in the face to Melbourne and Ball has in no way disrespected the MFC. He just doesn't want to play with us. If I was him I wouldn't either. They have believed for some time that they're "2 to 1" to get to C'Wood at pick 30.

How would you know how much time I spend there ? Why do you spend time reading there ? How do you know their ages ? Footy banter has a habit of making the best posters seem childish. Just ask Fan when it comes to Rono. I did go through a stage where I posted there too often, as it is somewhat enjoyable to have banter with opposition supporters. There comes a time when the "should we keep Barty", or "what do you think of Juice" type threads reach their expiry date. That said, I've reached mine. And I recognise it.

I didn't read it. But let me tell you it's a beautiful day. I've been out since 7.30am and there are joggers around Alexandra Ave, rowers, etc. Yet you're couped up at home punching out meaningless crap - I assume. Get out Son.

I'll back my own intuition and judgment over the veracity of his comments, [censored].

Just trying to educate the odd little nerd.

How often do you hear how "talented" player X is ? Unfortunaltely, the world is full of unfulfilled talents. Barassi's point was that you may have untold natural ability, but genuine talent is when that ability is maximised. You say that this is "incorrect". Please yourself. It matters little. Jurrah will be a star when he maximises his God given talent. Demon supporters have had so little to get excited about that one can't begrudge their premature evaluations. At least he has the ability to become a star, which can't be said for many others. Though perhaps that's changing.

It just means that he has freakish ability. Stars regularly infkuence the outcomes of games at pivotal moments. Let's hope he becomes one.

I prefer the way that Barassi explained it to all of his players. He saw a distinct difference between talent and ability when it came to footballers. He would tell them that natural ability would only get them so far. Talent was when they successfully coupled this ability with effort, practice, dedication, sacrifices, etc. You won't find his distinctions in the dictionary, but I always knew what he meant and it made perfect sense to me. It might be a tad obtuse for some.

Denham is parroting what he's heard. Do you think he's making it up ? Ball hasn't ruled Melb out, but there's no doubt that he and his manager want him to get to Collingwood via the ND. His manager told me.

You're confusing ability with talent. There have been plenty of players with tonnes of natural ability that have never made much of their career. Talented people are those that have properly harnessed and fully utilised their inherant ability. Jurrah has the ability to be a star, but it doesn't mean he will. He needs to provide the output before he should be and will be labelled a 'star'.

I only know Connors - through our Kids. It's purely where they see our premiership window compared to his career. I doubt they want him to be 30 when we're a real chance. That said, we need to show that we're a realistic chance in 3 years. And frankly we should be.

The fact that their are diverse opinions on this thread about whether Jurrah should be presently labelled a star or not is indicative in itself. True 'stars' of the game don't have such threads as the answer is plain for all to see. I think Jurrah will become a 'star' within 2-4 years.

Ball's manager Paul Connors told me a week ago that Ball didn't want to come to Melbourne because our window at a flag is perceived to be too far away. He advised me that Ball's Father Ray doesn't want his Son coming to Melbourne. He's been there and done that and doesn't want to go through all that is required at a struggling club. At his stage in his career it's not an attractive proposition. It's little wonder that Chris Connolly came out aggressively in the papers this week saying that with our draft picks it's either the Saints or the Dees for Luke. Did anyone wonder why he did that ? It's because he knows that Ball is reluctant. Things may change if they genuinely think that they won't get to Collingwood in the ND or if he won't go back to the Saints. He didn't say categorically that he won't end up at the Dees and that Melb are a chance, but it's not what he wants. We'll see.