Hannabal

Today he didn't lack potency at all. Learn to evaluate the game you're at and not spew out preconceived views. Lightweight.

And of course that's a decision making skill. He doesn't make too many of those.

You really are dimwitted. Eade even tagged him with Eagleton after half time as they recognised he was carving them up.

Are you listening Freak ?

In reality it was a perfect result. Hated the maggots today.

You'd like to think so, but you don't know this.

We have a couple of winners...

There's a very funny, and I mean very funny, paragraph in that article. Can anyone pick it ?

But not when it counted - Finals. Do you understand what the premiership season is all about ? It's not looking good until round 18, or teasing - like the Saints have done for 5 years, it's being able to win when it counts. A team is no "good" unless it wins at least one Final, and even then the result must be measured against varying parameters. You win Finals and I'll stand up and listen, otherwise you're taking up space and kidding yourselves - and people like you. And as you've a closed mind that won't be "swayed" I won't waste further time. And shouldn't have bothered. (Btw, my signature should tell you what I think of players and teams that don't perform in Finals)

You're easily pleased. Half the 16 team competition play Finals every year and it doesn't make them "good teams". We were just making up the numbers in those years.

Depth evolves, you can't target or earmark players for depth. I'm also a believer in turning the list over when the need arrives and getting kids into the club - something the club has been poor at this decade (save the last couple of years). The facts are, Dunn in his fifth season is yet to make a position his own in the worst team in the league. The fact that he was a first round draft pick in exchange for Jolly makes it that little bit more bitter. If you can't make the hard decisions on a player like Dunn you'll never make them about anyone. Unfortunately, I believe he has a year left on his contract. If I could get a cold pie for him at year's end I'd do the deal.

I don't agee. We're apparently not going to sway one another. One things for certain though, Dunn is a very disappointing first round draft pick who hasn't found a position in the side after 5 years. I've rarely seen anyone as reticent as Dunn when contested marking contact is perceived. It's too embedded in his makeup. But as I said, I don't really care. I've wasted enough time tap tap tapping away about a very average footballer.

Green has always been brave in marking contests, even in his first year - 2,000. He wasn't brave to the extent that he marked fearlessly, as he does now, but he always put his body on the line in marking contests. Dunn never has, in fact he's avoided contact. Despite your "feelings" there's been a big difference. And I'm backing it won't change. But here's the kicker, I don't much care if it does. He's a very ordinary footballer - brave or not brave.

I've been a so called "Sylvia knocker", because I'm aware that he'll never be a quality, or 'A' grade midfielder (imo), but I also recognise what an important finishing role he could play in a good team.

I don't agree with this. Whilst Green didn't overtly impact games with a physical presence, he didn't constantly welsh situations like Dunn. I've never had cause to question Green's courage, even in the early days. Some supporters thought he was soft and whilst he was far from hard, he was never a squib. Dunn on the other hand...

I've been hard on Sylvia for the reasons espoused by many, but I want to keep him. In a top side he'd be an exceptionally dangerous finisher. And that's his most dynamic attribute in the AFL, to be a powerful, line breaking, 15 possession finisher. Our current side will make him stand out for his deficiencies, but as the team improves so will Sylvia's contribution. He won't be the reason for the improvement, but watch his stocks rise with the teams'. It would be a brave and I believe foolish decision to trade Sylvia. He's worth more to us than what we'd receive in return. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As for Morton ? I can't believe the stick he cops here and elsewhere. With Watts, he's the most important player on the list. It is an under appreciated skill to be able to pick up possessions at will in the AFL. And having watched Melbourne for a long time I'm acutely aware of this. Morton will fill into his 193 cm frame. He will gain more and more confidence over preseasons and he will become an elite AFL footballer. With confidence his decision making will improve. And as his decision making and confidence improves so too will his disposal, which isn't nearly as bad as made out. Running into goal from 60 metres I'd back him every time, so don't tell me he can't kick. Him missing targets from 25-30 metres happens due to pressure and his youth. The more he feels he belongs at AFL level and the more he trusts his body the less he'll turn the ball over. I'm thankful to have a player of Morton's talent on the list, whilst some prefer to find flaws in his game. He can run all day, is far from slow, and at 193 cms will become a Chad Cornes type utility at either end of the ground. How do opposition clubs matchup on, or stop, a 25 year old Cale Morton ? He's a third of the way into his second year, is still a teenager, and a stick figure. How many of his draft contemporaries playing in the midfield are 193 cms ? Firstly, most don't have his dangerous upside and secondly, they should be more advanced because they're closer to their physical maturity. But I don't see the same gap in output. We have a gem on our hands even though some are yet to realise it. And despite their doubts, I firmly believe that he will be elite. And no, he's not above scrutiny, no AFL player is, but the expectations of many are unrealistic and show little understanding.

Wow ! I'll have a better day now.

I don't need to choose, but to satisfy your curiosity, I think that Bennell could potentially become an elite AFL player, which means I rate his potential pretty highly as we don't have one elite AFL player currently on the list. Carlton.

Both. Do you have any harder questions ?

Cheney isn't slow. In fact some of the comments on here amaze me. He's gone from a likely delist at season's end 08 to a starter in the first game in round 1 09. Someone that has made such a quantum leap in one preseason has earnt my respect. I won't judge him too quickly as the curve on the graph is well and truly pointing in the right direction.

There wouldn't be many/any players in the history of the game that were always happy with their efforts to commit their bodies to contests. However, Dunn is a serial offender. He's at his worst going for marks when he expects contact, but he's also been found wanting contesting loose balls at pace. You've seen only one instance this year, whilst I've noted many. More to the point, when a player has this flaw entrenched in their makeup, like I believe Dunn has, he will avoid certain situations so as not to highlight or expose this said weakness. So it effects their ability to get involved, or make the play. He's a very disappointing first round pick and will find it extremely difficult to make a position his own, or to ever cement a place in the side. The young talent coming through behind him only makes it tougher. He's not a KPP, he's not a quality midfielder, and he doesn't use the ball exceptionally well. His only chance is as a hard running third tall forward - like his debut year. But I'm dubious to say the least.

It's our home ground and that should be the end of story. I don't like these kind of precedents.

I'll try to remember, but I suspect he won't put them in Scully's class. His exact comment was "Scully is the best kid in Australia. There's Scully, a big gap, and then the rest".

I discussed Butcher and Scully with a prominent player manager on Sunday. He's not sure where Butcher presently fits in the draft but in his opinion there's Scully, a big gap, and then the rest. Said that if he ends up at Melbourne he'll Captain the club at a young age. Will be an absolute star.

Dunn must own some photos. Then again, he averages more possessions than a player that a poster tonight said was one of our best performed. WFM