Hannabal

I really liked Meesen today. Maric has skill but is a long way off. Cheney got involved in the second half. Looks a likely prospect. Buckley finds the ball very well, but turns it over. However don't dismiss the ability to win the footy. That said, I'm still dubious. Valenti is capable of playing decent AFL footy. Martin is ungainly, but a very interesting prospect. Bate was Bate. Played well. Bode is simply not up to AFL standard.

Agreed.

I always thought I'd answer "No, would stop following a single football club". As much as I hate to say it, I'd still support the pricks. I'm consumed by winning a flag, but deep down I know I couldn't turn my back. I love my club too much. Mainly Robbie.

That's fine, but in islolation they were significant penalties. The players in question would be in their prime and it's the very age group letting us down today. You may be sick of excuses, but that doesn't diminish the effect of those penalties at the time.

Whelan is one of the more important players in our team. If he can play good football for the remainder of the year and dispel concerns over his recent injuries he'd be one of the first I'd be signing up.

Thankfully, we're looking good for the 2008 draft.

He's not on the MFC playing list, therefore is ineligible for selection. He is on our affiliate clubs list - Sandringham. He's about 29 and tears it up at VFL level, but is too slow and short for AFL. The gulf between the 2 leagues is enormous.

He may be Bulgarian, but thinks the Russian sounds better, a la Nick "The Russian" Radev.

Many supporters on here need constant reminding of the only worthwhile goal of any football club, Fat. Some supporters think it's ok to make up the numbers and play a few finals here and there. Some supporters get angry when players such as Ferguson get delisted, not understanding that flags aren't won with a player of this calibre. Some supporters say that they'd rather constantly be in the bottom half of the 8 than endure a year or two propping up the ladder. Sure, there are no guarantees and some clubs seem able to avoid bottoming out, but we need a sloid rebuild. And it's going to start at the draft table. I was far more disappointed last year than this, as the culmination of where our list was really at became evident by the week. In 2008 Bailey will be sorting out who's going to be part of the jourmey that will yield the ultimate. There will be much blood letting at year's end. This excites me, as I feel that a plan for the future has already started. And I'm glad you get it, Fat. And I'm sure that your future posts will recognise the only true objective of any club and its supporters. As for my sincerity ? Please yourself.

You know Fat, I'll defend my worst enemy if I thought they were being unfairly treated. It's just the way I am.

You sound like me from years ago. I'm still waiting.

Rubbish. Sydney were terrible in their Buckenara/Barrassi period. Not of Barrassi's doing, btw.

I'm actually in a good mood, but I may have a way about me But do you're own research. I'm not your maid. """"????!!!! your style is the pits

How can I rationally argue with someone that I diametrically oppose ? It's a flag or bust for me. Nothing else matters. Finals mean absolutely jack [censored].

I feel like I'm arguing with a homeless person. My stats are qualified you old fart. There's about 10% in any given year between the best and worst teams covering all their key performance indicators. Do your own [censored] research you [censored]. It's all on the Net.

You've become the greatest chest beater of all on these and other boards lately. I've watched you grow in confidence. It's great to have backbone Spunjy, but remember your neck sticks out at one end.

Well, I'm not big, I'm not fat, and I'm not soft. Do I have more brains than you ? Undoubtedly. I would've traded Bruce last year. I wanted to trade White 3 years ago. I wanted to trade Yze 2 years ago. I wanted Robertson off to Footscray last year. I advocated trading Johnstone 3 years ago because he was the cream, but would never make the cake rise and we needed the right mixers. I was happy when Woewodin left. I told CAC that Bizzell's 3 years was a joke. I only care about the team and its chances of winning a flag. Nothing else. I've also stated that Cam Bruce plays his best football when in a negating role. It's how he started his career and made a name for himself, and what he does best. He's rarely beaten one on one and can push forward and expose his opponent the other way. Over the journey some have expected him to be the next James Hird, but he's not good enough. And as we know, supporters expectations are not to be trifled with. It's these expectations that dictate misguided views. I remember what he did to Hird in the Broadbridge match. Obviously Bailey agrees, as he's shut down Brad Johnson, Steve Johnson, and now Nick Stevens. The passionate but nonetheless dumb supporters like you fail to understand his current role and what it brings to the team. Why would I have traded him ? Purely because a flag wasn't close, he's not a star, and I thought we may have gained a valuable first round pick. Am I soft, or am I realistic ? Maybe you're just stupid.

And the very best teams still commit these atrocities you refer to, just less of them. And if stats are so meaningless why are coaches so consumed by them ? The football you watch today has been governed by stats and a need to create advantages. Stats aren't the be all and end all, but they paint a picture and dictate the future. And forgive me if an old man's eyes don't interest me.

I can't believe you [censored]. Bruce was a late draftee who has carved a much finer career than ever envisaged by himself, the club, or his family. The [censored] pouring from footy stupid supporters on these sites never ceases to amaze me. Would I have traded him for the right deal last year ? Sure, but business is business.

True, but as you're great at defending young and inexperienced talent such as the Garlands of this world, perhaps you should use such wise judgment on other young players representing other stables. Especially when their talent is prodigious

And Bartel and Ling are postcards for run and carry ? I love pace, but the best teams move the ball quickly, and have great skills and decision making. They're not necessarily the fleetest by foot. Outside quickish mids are far easier to find than effective contested ball winners. As Essendon are showing, the latter don't take years to develop. Every successful side needs hard bodied inside mids complimented by skilful users who can break the lines. Things can turn around quickly. It won't take 5-7. Frankly, you mostly talk [censored].

Without trying to be egotistical, but since I've been watching Melbourne - which is a fair while, I reckon that Rivers is the only player to have genuinely surprised me. I can't think of any other player since 1980 that's put egg on my face. Garland aint carrying an omolette.

You believe in fools gold. You also believed we had a top 4 midfield inspite of overwhelming evidence. You're as stubborn as an old moll. We teased, but were never going to win a flag with the list we had, or have. A new coach was always going to bring a diversity of style. It's hard to defend Bailey as there's little light to behold. Is he any good ? I don't know, but there's no point bleating like a stuck pig after every loss. He's going to be given time, as he should. I'm happy to turn the list over and weed out those that have shown they can't produce when needed. Lord knows many have had enough time. Daniher proved he couldn't deliver with the group he picked. And FFS, stop creaming yourself over playing finals. Yes, they're often a stepping stone to ultimate success, but if you thought our finals appearances over the last 3 years were gradients of success you're more obtuse than I originally thought.

This was a bit in-house Boi and about a year ago, but thanks for sharing. The guy is 21 and on his way to kicking over 1,000 goals, but there will always be heroes finding fault. Finding fault, when it comes to footy, is pretty easy to do.

I've done the stats for 07. The difference between the best and worst is about 10%. Now you can argue that stats mean nothing, but then so does your guesswork. <,,,,,...........///??? (make you feel more at home ?)