Cranky Franky

Before I die I would like to see just 1 occasion where we actually tag Riewoldt - Just 1 will do.

Fully agree with you GT that he would have been better value than the 2 Freo discards. Clearly the powers that be at Melbourne had a line ruled through Jack early on. If you look at round 16 - in the AFL report they list Grimes in the best players but in the Melbourne Annual Report they do not. I also think that Casey's insipid GF performance had a negative impact on the chances of listed players to get picked up by other Clubs.

Good first season HOWEVER Josh needs to add a bit more aggression & physical edge to his game if he is going to have a long career. This is the only potential down side to his game that I can see.

The whole system is corrupt. If O'Meara is over his injuries Hawthorn have just guaranteed themselves to be a top 4 side for the next 5 years. Sides finishing in the top 4 should not be allowed to trade for elite players during the trade period without paying a heavy penalty.

We were actually pretty competitive for parts of 2011. People in the Football Dpt were clearly working to undermine DB for most of the year. Supporters tend to forget that prior to the Geelong debacle Brad Green & some senior players approached the Board to complain about interference by members of the football Dpt.

No surprises there but I still think they should have tried him as a key defender in a few games - he might have surprised a few people. It worked for Chris Tarrant.

Yes this looks like becoming another one of those myths that develop (like Alves left the Club and Scott Thompson walked out on us). After Jeff Farmer walked Woewy's management had us over a barrel & got Woewy signed on to a huge contract. Woewy was a good solid player who had a fantastic year & won the Brownlow but he was nowhere near the player that Hird, Voss or Buckley were so when his form dipped the Club had little choice but to try & move him on. No winners in this sorry saga.

Seems to me that VDB is a natural on baller who is being played forward in order to create more tackling pressure up there. Would love to see him fit & given a few games in the midfield.

Then the system is broken & the AFL needs to fix it. You can't equalize the competition with a Draft & Salary cap then let the top sides top up their teams with A grade players every year. Either the top 4 sides should be banned from picking up players of a certain level of ability or they should have draft picks taken off them.

Given a couple of chances this year & blew them. See ya later Viv.

A big disappointment because a few years ago I thought he was going to be a top player. Lacks a physical edge to his game & instead of trying to take the game on invariably takes the safe option & goes backwards or sideways. I reckon he is cooked.

Like him a lot - love the dash he provides but needs to play to his limitations as he is not the most skilful player going round ie don't try & centre the ball in the corridor to players who are surrounded & don't try & deliver millimetre perfect passes across the back line.

Brisbane get a priority pick whereas Melbourne did not despite Brisbane winning more games in the preceding few seasons. What an open accountable and transparent competition we have. Well done AFL.

Just to remind us how lacking in integrity and transparency the AFL is Brisbane get a Priority Pick. Melbourne were denied a pick a few years ago despite having a worse record than Brisbane. Nice work Gillon.

The way that a number of WB players stepped up in this year's finals - think Johannisen, Hambling, Picken & a few others reminded me that in some finals series it is not the stars or the established players that do the job but ordinary players who get on a roll & play above themselves. In 1976 when the Dees got on a roll to make the finals it was nondescript players like Ted Carroll & Terry Wilkins who played out of their skin & got us going. In the run of 1987 Duursma, Tony Campbell, Newport & Chiron were all inspired. I know some will think this is trivial but I find it an interesting point. Maybe next year Spencer, JKH, Garland & Harry O will fire up & get us on a roll. ,

All looking good so far but next year is critical as he will get more attention. Many players have had "breakout seasons" only to go backwards the next year.

"Big Jack" ??? I only heard him called Big Al or Sideshow Bob.

Yes spot on - a good depth player & versatile to boot. Still handier than some still on the list who are lucky enough to have contracts. I reckon the Casey capitulation would have sealed it for some of the borderline players. like MJ.

Totally agree with this. Terrific first year. Also needs to be a bit more physical & aggressive at the contest like Hunt & Jetta. Sometimes his approach is a bit timid & he reminds me of Garland.

Yes but as many Demonland posters are extremely self righteous its interesting to go back over the record to see who got it wrong. I've stuffed up plenty of times in my calls. Most supporters just want us to win more games & Stevie J would have certainly helped us do that in 2016. There are a number of premierships that have been won with "discards" - you just need to pick carefully.

Most Demonland posters at the time thought he was useless. 43 Goals so far. Can't help thinking he would have been very handy in helping us win a couple more games & teaching the likes of Petracca how to kick straight.

Picket Fence You are obsessed with pace. Not sure if you noticed but some of the best players going round are not at all quick. Its more about quick hands, peripheral vision & ball use & BTW if you can tackle well that is handy as well. Glad to see almost everyone disagrees with you about JT.

Melbourne now has Petracca, Oliver & Brayshaw to rotate through the midfield so they can learn the game which has meant that Bernie has to play back. Agree that his second half of the season has been poor.

It seems to me that both coaches and players are drilled to the extent that they have become robots & can't think outside the square. I remember a time during games when full back Danny Hughes was thrown into the ruck & went on to win a B&F ditto Alan Johnson from wing to back pocket. Rod Grinter going from half back to FF & won a game for us. Tony Campbell from FF to FB. These days if plan A doesn't work you do nothing.

I'm not going to criticise Paul Roos because overall he has been wonderful for the Club but the match day coaching yesterday was terrible & arguably cost us any chance of a win. Selections were poor. With Garlett out the obvious move was to bring in Kennedy Harris or Ben Kennedy for their crumbing ability & I thought Salem was the obvious replacement for Harmes. Also why on earth drop Pedersen who has been handy & is a strong body in wet conditions. To the game - Carlton have 3 dangerous players Cripps & Gibbs on the ball & Simpson in defence who sets them up. None of these 3 had a hard tag. Vince who was scratchy in defence should have gone on to Cripps. As is was we were beaten in the clearances & centre bounces. The team failed to adapt to wet weather & continued to overuse handball usually until they turned over the ball. Melbourne allowed Carlton to have a spare defender most of the day which resulted in them taking lots of uncontested marks. Dumb, dumb, dumb match day coaching. And seriously in this day & age why do our players have the wrong boots on & keep falling over.