rjay

With you on this, Jones and Frawley are not senior players yet but they along with the skippers and a few others they have had to stand up and take the reigns before their time. I've had a go at our over 25's in the past but there are not many of them left now. Jimmy Mac was the only leader among them and the club was at fault for letting him go. I heard the Ross Lyon interview and the point he was making was about getting buy in from the players. If you are changing the way they play it really helps to get an early win to show the coach is not a total dick h. Neeld has taken on a very difficult assignment and without a win it must be that much harder particularly with some of our senior players and some of their proteges who have had things their own way for way too long.

We're only going to close the gap on that one from within, that's why we have a young leadership group. If we could get a Dangerfield great if not it will be Viney and draft picks with the current 23 - 24 yo providing the leadership. We have no choice and keeping failed leaders will not help.

Add Sheahan to that 2011 list of who knows, but could be a smokey.

Getting back to the game it was good to see that Sheahan and Taggert are coming along nicely. They are both really good ball users which we lack in senior ranks, lets keep an eye on them as the year rolls along.

He did show it and the interesting thing was that they went half way, not into the contest but towards it. That seems to show that they were uncertain of what they should have been doing, had no confidence and just stood there spectating.

He laid some great tackles against the Saints, and a few on the weekend. I would think there would be a few in line ahead of Cale who need to learn to tackle.

I would hope and think it is the job of the leaders and maybe there is too much pointing by players who need to get on with the job.

I think that with modern day football moving at such a rapid pace special comments guys on radio and TV should be moved on after they have been out of the game for more than 2 years. There are plenty of roles for the greats of the game in the media and on the rubber chicken circuit but special comments from ex player coaches like Leigh Mathews who was starting to loose his grip on the modern game when he was moved on from Brisbane are better in the hands of someone like Malthouse who is just out of the game and ex players like Ling who should be used in a more prominant role, not just as a boundry rider. Mathew Lloyd was a revelation as a special comments expert when he was first out of the game but he gets less relevant the more time moves on. When someone like Rocket Eade has been used for special comments it really brings a lot to the table. I remember back when Sheedy was coaching Essendon in a finals campaign he half jokingly complained to the ABC guys at the time to get Rocket off the air he is giving my secrets away. The greater the time out of the game (unless you are Acker) the more prone to the exagerated, over the top comment you are. Cases in point Mathews, Hudson is a better recruit than Clark, Walls, Hawthorn players gave the game away against Sydney along with many, many others, Dermott, love him, he is a ripper bloke Brereton, where do you start. I could mention some others who really didn't have much of a clue when they were in the game let alone comment on it now but that's another topic. These ex player coaches are great for the colour of the game and they have learned how to perform in the media, to me Watson brings good experience to the boundry rider position and has a feel for the game but if you want top class analysis it is someone more in touch with the game as it is played now that will bring it. Friday night football is the showcase game of the week and 7 should be using either Malthouse, Ling or both. Same thing on radio, Fox, all of them. Entertaining as some of the ex's are, many are past their use by date as far as special comments are concerned.

I fear this one also...but if we play a one on one game then the uncontested stuff doesn't become a problem. Our problem with this is that we continually get drawn to the ball like moths to a flame and leave opposition players running free. I think Neeld is aiming to have no inside or outside players, just players who can be inside or out depending on the circumstances, when it is their turn to go. Of course as with everything some will be more biased one way or another.

The trouble is that against good opposition Moloney doesn't win his own ball, his best football is played when Jamar feeds him and they don't allow it. If it doesn't come to him he doesn't go out of his way to get after it. He has continually burned team mates in better positions not a couple of inches away but in a much better position than him. It still sits in my mind how Mark McClure labelled Moloney and Silvia as dumb footballers a few seasons back and I think it's still the case. Maybe I have a blinkered view about Moloney like a lot have about Morton, but he drives me to distraction.

Out Moloney in Couch I can't see him at Melbourne next year, but maybe that is my prejudice. Either him or Silvia or both have to be moved on. I don't like the way he goes about it and again today if it wasn't served up to him he didn't go out of his way to get to the contest. When he does get the ball he burns his team mates consistantly. Out Sellar in Fitz, lets see what big Fitz can do. He will add a bit of much needed pace and could be a wildcard if given a bit of time in the ones. Out Tap in Bennell, we need the run and carry and maybe the penny has dropped for Bennell. Out Silvia in Petterd and leave him in for at least 4 games to see what he can do. Watts for Bate? or Watts instead of Couch for Moloney? maybe another run at Casey for Jack but we could do with his ability to hit a target.

He shouldn't play until he learns to get and give...

Moloney needs to get his own ball, lurking around for the easy one. He could learn something from Morton.

Leigh is in the media now so to remain relevant you have to create some level of controversy. Take 5 points off for media duties and a couple off for being out of the game for more than a couple of years. Great player/coach but being kind maybe a 3/10 now.

He's just not the same build as those guys and never will, he won't crash packs but he will be bigger and stronger and make an impact. His skill and ability to make good decisions is what will make him as a footballer. By the way Cloke did win a Copeland (CollingwoodB&F) as a 20yo in 2007.

Hope Moloney does something, I know Neeld says the club are not thinking about last year but he must be embarased about not getting a touch. Trengove will go with Bartel and Selwood at different stages, good for his development as Hayes and Del were last week.

So many said he would never play again, well lets hope he does a Teddy and sticks it right up em. It would be great to see him back in our forward line, he brings so much joy to the game. Went to a game with a Sydneysider last year and he was transfixed with Liam, just loved him.

I think Garland is still developing and a long way from his peak. Rivers I will concede is pretty much what you see is what you will get from now on and Bartram I'm not sure of, if they could address his disposal then he has a lot more in him.

Back you up on this one. Barry Hall said that everyone thought Adam Goodes was soft in his first few seasons, he certainly isn't now. I think whether true or not Watts is painted with that brush, you only need to watch opposition players getting into him. Is he going to be one of those highly skilled players who just falls away or will he put the work in that's required?

I get your point on Sylvia but to me he doesn't offer what a senior player should, he is senior in years only, not in mind.

As Neil Balme just said on SEN, we forget that Tom Hawkins spent time back in the VFL last year before his breakout finals series, it's just part of learning the game and becoming a player. So lets hold the doom and gloom and let Watts develop into the player I'm sure we all hope he will become.

I think he learned a big lesson chasing Fisher around in the first quarter last week, he was absolutely exhausted by the first break and had no effect on the game. I thought playing him on Riewoldt would have been a good learning experience but playing on Fisher (good call by the coaches) he learned the amount of work required to be a top line player, at least I hope he did. I don't think it will be one game and back up for Jack, he is going to have to string some good games to gether to come back into the team. I hope he does and that this is the making of his career from here on in.

Good to see Jurrah and Gysberts back and look forward to seeing how Viney goes. Hope to see Taggert get a run.

I agree with Pates, I think the club has handled the issues thrown up particularly well. Denham seems to be a bit late with the story and had nothing really to add but just a few cheap shots. That said, he does seem to have issues with CS judging by the odd comment he makes from time to time on SEN so the challenge is for him to either put up or shut up. I'm not happy where we sit after another 4 or 5 year re build which seems to have been a waste of time but the crap he rolled out in the article adds nothing. So...if you really have something worthwhile to say Greg Denham come out and say it, let us know what the problems are and who you believe is responsible. Bring something new to the debate not just a rehash of the Walls and Roos line.

Ricky came into the WC game underdone as Tap has over the last couple and Silvia did last week, they've struggled. The bye at Casey in between the last 2 games hasn't helped him either. If he gets a clear injury free run for the rest of the season I think he will find a place in the side and we might get to see the best of him. His career has been too stop start to date, I wouldn't be writing him off just yet.