Hannabal

Yeah, I know. My Brother was on Hawthorn's senior list and played reserves footy with him when he was 17. I didn't bring up his Hawthorn time because it was irrelevant to Distance Demon's point.

It should be the site owner Whispering Jack if he's willing, as this site is only in such healthy existence because of him.

Terrible comparison. Ablett was 22 in his first year at Geelong in 1984.

What ? You're an excitable fella sometimes. Re-read my post. I've no clue what you're talking about.

Did you miss where I posted this: unlike the media I'm cutting draftees plenty of slack in their first year. Hence I didn't include Gibbs. So, forget their first year as I didn't include them. Riewoldt won the NAB rising star in his second year playing every game. As for Cooney and Ray ? Wrong. Cooney played 22 games in his second year and Ray played 14. Cooney averaged 20 disposals and Ray 10. Cooney kicked 20 goals and Ray 8. Cooney was being hailed as a future star. Try again.

It can seem that way on the surface, but my views are formulated over a period of time as evidence is digested. And evidence tells me that too many Melbourne players are timid, but haven't been paying the price.

I remember that too, but unlike the media I'm cutting draftees plenty of slack in their first year. Hence I didn't include Gibbs. And fwiw, Gibbs in his third year also isn't showing that he's going to be a superstar. The media love him but he's still very much being judged on potential not output. He mops up and is a link man, but virutally never wins hard contested ball. He presently shows no more than Cale Morton.

It's impossible to predict the changes when you don't know the injury status. That said, I'd drop Morton. I think I'm one of his biggest fans and have regularly gone into bat for him on the forums. I'm also on record as saying that he and Watts are the two most valuable commodities on our list, but he needs to know that he can't get away with not committing to contests. He hasn't gone hard enough far too often. Tthere are consequences to the decisions that players are making on the footy field. The coach needs to make a stand early in his career and show him what is acceptable and what's not. He can't preach about body on the line stuff and commitment to other young players starting out on their journey, yet tolerate less than 100% efforts from one of his more talented players. A coach can't build a non compromising tough footy team by ignoring such efforts. Just talking about it behind closed doors won't change behaviour. He needs to make a statement to the player in question, which in turn let's all players in the team know what won't be tolerated. Is he a weak coach, or a non compromising one ? I'll know on Thursday.

In light of Lethal's comments about Watts having done "nothing to show him that he should have been a no. 1 selection", how many of those no. 1's have been standouts and how many took a number of years to show their worth ? Let's look at the disappointing no. 1's - Johnstone, Headland, Fraser Let's look at the no. 1's yet to show that they are superstars of the game - Murphy, Deledio Let's look at the no. 1's that took many years to show their value - Hodge, Goddard (they took time to find their feet - at least their 4th year) Let's discount Gibbs and Kreuzer as it's too soon. So, in reality only Riewoldt and Cooney showed early in their career that they were destined for great things. When Matthews makes his assertions about Watts and the no. 1 pick, who is he using as a reference and measured against what expectations/time lines ? Because the same could have been said about nearly every no. 1 pick, especially after 2 games (when he said it). An alalysis of the no. 2's, who shouldn't be far off the pace when considering no. 1's is just as significant. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, what it does show is that no's 1 and 2 will take time to deliver significant impact. But if we get the picks right, they will be the cornerstones for a decade.

Petterd's big issue, and it would have been discussed at length during the preseason, has been finding a position of his own. When Sylvia was disciplined and suspended for round 1 Petterd took his spot on a forward flank and did ok. In reality though, Petterd's best position is as a half back. The problem is, as you highlight with Strauss, there are other players that the club prefer down back - Bennell, Grimes, and soon to be Strauss. Add Garland who can play tall or small and there was deemed to be no room for Petterd. Bailey wants elite kicks coming out of defence and this was another cross against his name. I like Ricky, as he's very courageous and across half back can find a bit of the ball, but he's now superfluous to our needs. I reckon he could make a position for himself in a young GC side that will want some experience and I wouldn't discount the fact that he's a Queenslander.

I want a loss.

True. And Whispering Jack mentioned recently that Steven Stretch also has a very highly rated junior.

I see absolutely no reason why he wouldn't. Cotchin and Rich both struggled with tags in their championships. Rich was only named on the bench for the u/18 AA side last year as a result. Scully on the other hand has also been tagged, but still named best 2 or 3 times in his 4 games. Scully doesn't have Rich's lethal left foot, but he's a more all round midfielder. Scully has an appetite for the contest, is a good kick on both feet, has good pace, and great hands at the clearances.

Only half way through his contract and you can't see him not being re-signed ? Why would he appear certain to get an extension beyond 2010 ?

I don't want Matthews, but I wouldn't take too much notice that some senior players had become disenchanted. Matthews had run his race after 10 years. The same thing happened to him at Collingwood after he'd been there 10 years, but it didn't stop him being incredibly successful at his next club. The great Norm Smith had many players play in spite of him, not always for him.

I suppose that we're going to have to put up with Trengove's name being mis-spelt for the next 5 months.

Obviously he's not going to coach Melbourne, but I wouldn't be so dismissive of Buckley's credentials. I reckon he'll be a fine coach. People often bring up Watson, but he never had the persona of Buckley, Voss, or G. Lyon for that matter.

Paid DN122817

He declared his preference of club. It wasn't Melbourne.

With another BOG today I reckon it's just about a lay down mizere that Scully will be crowned the Larke Medallist next Wednesday. Larke Medallist 2007 Cale Morton - Melbourne Larke Medallist 2008 Jack Watts - Melbourne Larke Medallist 2009 Tom Scully ? And yes, I know Steven Armstrong was also a Larke Medallist.

VIC METRO has scored a gritty six-point win over Queensland in the NAB Under-18 Championships at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon. With Queensland yet to record a victory in the competition, a goal from Vic Metro forward Sam Ezard with one minute remaining handed the side their second win of the carnival – 8.7 (55) to 7.7 (49). Metro was wasteful in the first quarter – having six scoring shots to two – and led by nine points at the first change. After a team-lifting chase and tackle on the wing by Joseph Daye and with Todd Grayson finding plenty of the ball, Queensland was able to cut the margin to just two-points. But a sloppy free-kick on the half-time siren to Ayden Kennedy gave Metro momentum at the main break. Michael Thompson provided some excellent dash from defence for Metro in the third quarter to keep his side in control. Josh Toy also provided some spark with an excellent running goal just before three-quarter time to increase the lead to 14-points. With both Josh Thomas and Alik Magin working tirelessly in their forward 50, Queensland could sense an upset brewing. After early goals to Daye, Matt Flower and Rory Thompson, Queensland reduced the deficit to just two points. But with scores level, it was Ezard who took a strong mark over his opponent from 40m out to seal the win for Metro, which faces South Australia at Docklands on Wednesday. Queensland will look to get its first win against Northern Territory. Vic Metro 2.4 4.5 6.6 8.7 (55) Queensland 1.1 3.3 4.4 7.7 (49) GOALS Vic Metro: Moore, Hicks, Toy, Kennedy, Jones, Hoegel, Purcell, Ezard Queensland: Flower 2, Thompson 2, McIvor, Thomas, Daye BEST Vic Metro: Scully, Toy, Hoegel, Melksham, Talia, Jacobs Queensland: Lock, Daye, Harley, Grayson, Flower, Smith http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tab...08/default.aspx

How bout 34 ? I'm not anti Bailey - yet, but it's not unfair to scrutinise his performance. Why would he be immune from the glare. I'm not sure that anyone could have done better than Bailey over the last 18 months. Then again, I'm not sure anyone could have done worse either.

Quite a reasonable assessment, bt, except I'm not sure you can categorically state the above. Unless you've developed a chrystal ball and yet to make it public I'm not sure how you can unequivocally say this. Of course, in time it may prove to be correct, but how do you know ? And yes, Garry Lyon is unproven. But those that are well respected within the industry are just as sure he'll be successful as you seem to be with the unproven Bailey.

And me.

I've got no doubt Scully will go no.1 if Melbourne has first pick, but if Trengove plays like it's touted and from the short footage I've seen of him, I'd salivate at a Scully/Trengove combo at the Dees next year. What's more, they'd both be in our best side from day one. Imagine our midfield in 3-5 years time: Scully, Trengove, Blease, Grimes, McLean, Strauss, ...