dpositive

Wow That was just Sensational across every level Cant say anything more

Lots of good stuff here showing the complexity of the issue. I remember discussing Ben with Jim when Ben was up for trade. I proposed that Ben could represent a positive story to MFC using some of the experience and resources of Reach to contribute in a positive fashion. Jim said something along the lines of he is an addict and unfortunately his situation will end in disaster which the MFC and Reach do not want to associate with. Of course he hoped for the best and wished ben every success but felt it more appropriate and worthwhile to put energy into more positive and winnable causes. THank goodness he did. I often thought of these comments and witnessed Jims consistency in applying himself. I feel proud to be influenced by Jim and try in my insignificant way to emulate the passion and compassion he displayed. I also think no ill of Ben and feel strangely sorry for him.

I think its not just about the sale of Merchandise It is about promotion and it is about owning the Melbourne brand this will assist us with other sponsorship. The promotion to students will grow the awareness and the market and may help attract sponsors any merchandise sales and future gate receipts and memberships would be a bonus

I totally agree with this. We are Melburne and should leverage off that fact. The Melbourne Grand Prix is another promotional advantage that we have over other sides.

B-H I am certainly not disagreeing with you, and in fact agree wholeheartedly I think someone else said it may be easier to teach him those aspects you mentioned than to teach his skills to others. I also hope to see his influence under finals conditions andI think his and others skills will get us there.

Aint it great "its not so easy" thats why I'll leave it to the coach. I now (through demonlanders comments and reports) know more about our players than ever but still dont know enough(anything) about our structures and strategies and even less about the opposition. I just hope that the coaching etc team do and have a variety of plans. GO DEES

Thanks to all who have commented. The united front is certainly on display and a legacy of a great man. If his deeds can be emulated we will all be better people.

I thought this may have been a "controversial" "tongue in cheek" post until I read responses. I reckon you might do something good on a footy field if you were given 30-40 games but i wonder if you crashed a pack and didnt squib wehther youd get that many games, Of course I dont know what condition your body is in but if you reckon you are up to it perhaps you should be the number one draft pick. As to his value dropping I think it is only gauged if he was on the market and I do not want to see that when we have some structures and strategies in place to utilise his abilities and add to our success. There are too many examples already given by many to see that players with ability will impact I believe even though you have not seen anything special in 3 years his athleticism and skill is still recognised by most (including opposition teams who found it necessary to place their better player/s on him) that he offers plenty to our side. I just hope that you are proved to be wrong, only time will tell. I do think that the concentartion on Watts is unfortunate as I dont believe he was the only high draft pick who has not been as successful as lower picks. I still think its about the team and its about support. Give it to Jack and the team while he is part of it. GO DEES

Did you notice the Quantas East China Air agreement?? Could this have any significance to previous prognostications?????

Hard and smart. As stated there are many ways to hurt your opponent the worst is probably to be suspended. Laying that tackle and exhausting yourself that you must be rested the next game could be a strategic positive. Preparing for the game and the season is what a smart hard team will do. Peaking is as important as performing. I think theres a lot more to this than we have identified its a great topic.

At risk of compromising my like tag This is the sort of post I do like Flexibility and rotation recognised to put the inform players in the side. With Fat Tony giving some indication of who they might match up against its a considered structure. Of Course may not fit with the playing strategy and I think we need a few games to see how that transpires. Still plenty to like!!! GO DEES

And OL55Just my contribution when I have time to read I really do appreciate the match and training reports and even enjoy the (I hope)faux disagreements. All debate helps us progress "I appreciate your advice even when I choose to ignore it" I do love the passion that everyone displays for the Dees

I did say I agree with all BUT the last para in its entirety. It was the Richmond reference that particularly got my response. Thanks Biff

Royce Hart anyone??????

I agree with all except for the last para in its entirety. I think we will drop a few "winnable" but think these will be compensated with the surprise "unwinnable". Like Dees Rule I predicted 6th and will be pleased if we play smart and are competitive. I still have faith that the depth of our complete squad will give us some flexibility to match different opposition structures. I am not about selecting a best 22 as I hope it is all relative to the particular game.

This is a great post and heartily endorsed Keep up the great works from any angle We do see the game differently and for those of us who only see the radio commentators version or the TV camera version or the newspaper version it is great to have inside passionate appraisal GO Dees and Demonlanders

SO its not Neelds decision but Lovetts????

BH and Rpfc Thanks for some interesting discussion I agree to agree and disagree with you both also I thought Watts displayed some terrific courage in that first Collingwood game when he was pummelled by the three blokes contesting. and I have seen him display plenty of courage in contested marking . As others have said I dont think he is ever going to comfortable when a ball is dropped down on him(who is) and I dont see him thrusting and imposing as Buddy or Brown and maybe even Clark. So yes BH he does look uncomfortable with that physical demand of the game BUt I do think others se,e he does have presence. Watts speed and atheliticism are his strengths and it will be good to see how the coach and team will exploit them. I go back a bit and remember Bernie Quinlan as a boy footballer who was known by his opponents as "footsteps" .A cuff under the ear gave you a decided edge when playing against him. He was even as a junior a magnificent player with great speed and athleticism, (I played basketball with him not footy) and he did develop into a pretty useful player (footy). . I do think that the potential as a forward needs to be developed first as Rpfc always points out he is only 20 I wasnt aware of the history of forwards who had spent time in defence and thank you for that advice. Was that at senior level or in reserves? and at what stage of their career. The game and particularly its structures and strategies have changed I would rather exploit Jacks strengths now and let him develop others if required. Using what you have and improving with it is the journey we have with Jack

I would be worried Jack going to defence might not be beneficial. I think Bruce and Green were "strikers" who lost a lot of their impact by becoming more defensive. Davey also added to thebackline but we lost his tackling and speed in attack and he was never quite the same value IMO I know that Neeta (champion CHB) moved to champion forward player but that was because we few options. We now have good defensive strength and better to use Jacks strenghts rather tahn try and modify him too much. I like his speed and fleibilkity as well as his footy smarts which many others have identified. I have seen him outmuscled (boy againstMan) early on and see his increased weight improving his game and impact

This has been a great converstaion to follow. Thanks all contributors I am still confused who/how I would have chosen I appreciate it is a collegiate matter and all parties would have some input. As a former HR Manager it was difficult to get it right against a relatively stable output position description but the football industry has the additional churn of changing strategies and structures. The need for runners and therefore aerobic fitness was a key driver the press required hard body impact style and with talls/ smalls mids etc there was a fair amount of forward planning. It seems that we have always had a 5 year plan which we reject and renew every3 years ans so lose consistency. I still support the club and hope that the existing footy department coaches and players can combine to give us improvement that can be sustained. I still reckon we have some excellent depth and flexibility to respond to many of the opposition structures and styles that will be pitted against us this season I am hoping that all the new coaches structures can be absorbed by our existing playing group to give some occaisonal immediate success before some prolonged consistent success

Thanks Heaps for all reports much appreciated

"MELBOURNE" Cricket Ground "THE" home of Football Some "branding" image for Cameron

This is a great post HR I am relying on the coaches to explain the complexities to the players, utilise the components that the players come with, enhance the skills that they need and select them for the game plan for the opponent that day. I am hoping that the practice matches have been to continue the recognition and definition process. I have said on other threads That I hope Neeld is not a one trick pony as the complexity of the game has to have more than 1 structure and I believe that the players are smart enough to comprehend more than one strategy. I See that we are rebuilding but hope we do not become again transfixed with the rebuild at the expense of success I am still optimistic Go Dees

Love the repartee. Wasn't the song Up Up and Away???

It probably depends upon the particular model adopted by the (did he say entertaining or amusing ?) fellow conducting tests. The fact that he refferred directly to the players probably means Hard arsed bastard as you intimate. He seemed pleased enough with that result. 97.5% shows an overwhelming concentration so I hope it was a good quartile. and wouldnt it be fantastic to know where the others fell Althougn I have always been slightly sceptical of any personality or psych testing methods being conclusive of anything other than a result on that day and under those circumstances. I would imagine Jurrah results would have fluctuated in recent times.