TGR

My advice to you lot is that you don't judge players in 10 goal wins. Otherwise, Josh Caddy, Luke Bruest, Mitch Duncan and to a lesser extent Jack Gunston, are worthy of back-to-back All Australian status.

Post of the thread. I thought Cross had something left, when Roosy showed him the door. Cross kept his on-field value to the end. He was a role-model in most aspects. Slowish, but didn't really lose what he had. More importantly, rarely lost his feet. Lewis on the other hand, has pedal dementia. Lewis won't limp to the line. My view was that he limped into the 3 year deal. I am not talking about the third year, when year one has been a big enough issue for me.

The general-after-the-war has spoken. A 'balanced assessment' given as the penny crashes into the turf. Does he now think Bevo is the best coach going around? What about Joe Daniher? Does he think he has passed Jesse, and on the way to the Coleman? Garry is the ultimate general-after-the-war, as are many here. Don't get me started on Neeldy either. Lyon was a good player, and great kick. An exceptional captain with question marks on his inclusiveness of the fringe. That doesn't make you a great thinker about this game. It doesn't put you a step ahead of the pack. He is doubting Lewis' pace in years to come, but highlighted the obvious deficit last Monday. The cynic in me thinks...as a good mate of Todd Viney and others, Lyon is trying to soften the landing for those responsible at the MFC. A bit like pre-budget leaking of new harsh measures. Where was the media on this last November? Who stuck their neck out then to predict the utterly predictable? No, they all clapped without thinking; like the masses. Didn't pause one moment to think in a balanced way then. It was all about what could go right only. And for those that think he cost us nothing, gee, I wouldn't mind the club having his wage at our disposal banked up for 18/19. We are in the window, we should top up wisely....objectively, without seduction. pTGR

If Nick Kyrgios does the same, we label it un-Australian?

Rare combo of quick, hard, and prepared to take them on. The line-breaker we have needed for so long. His line breaking ability, and kick to a 60/40 contest is sometimes more valuable than the slow-play precise kicker IMO.

Unlike Joeboy, I didn't have the luxury of sitting back, assessing his whole game, reflect, ring Finey then type like a warrior. At half-time, blind freddy could see he was shot, and there was no way he was going to come back, like the team eventually did. Most games this year under Goodwin, Melbourne have had a horrible quarter and a great one. My post would have looked stupid by the end of the game if he pulled his finger out and carried us home. I also didn't go the comfort zone last November and suggest that....he will be lucky to play 2.5 years of a 3 year deal. I put my gonad on the line and said then, what some now are finally fearing. He is gone. The game has past him. Going to ground and losing your feet regularly, is the first indicator surely. Clarkson's decisions on moving Lewis and Mitchell was a masterstroke. O'Meara's knee is another issue all together. I was never for a 3 year deal nor a 2 year deal. We got seduced by the romance of a name player wanting to come to us. We got seduced by the player he was and not the player he is and will be. As I said in November, when father-time comes, it can come quickly, especially if you have no tricks (speed like Boomer; strength-mobility like Ablett Jr.) . Jordan Lewis has no tricks. No speed. No overhead prowess. No change-of-direction wizardry. He has had a massive career of unparalleled courage and hits; and if anyone in the league should be battle-weary by age 31, it is him. Pretty easy for Jordan and his throng of supporters (at SEN and demonology, and the MFC board, and MFC list management) to put egg on the face of those of us that dare say the earth may not be flat. All he has to do is play footy worthy of player 14-18 on the list I would have thought....week in...week out in 2017 and 2018. I am laying on my back, eyes closed, and here is a dozen. For those that point to the games we lost without him, should insist that the club not pick Hogan because we have won a few without him. My advice to the natives is, don't worry about the intangible you think is "leadership". That is a get-out. That is the dumbest of the dumb safety net that the simpleton holds on to, with 3 fingernails. Look deeper for once. Switch off Robbo on 360. Switch off Finey on SEN. Switch off Wacky Wednesday with Cameron Schwab. Give your brain a chance to work like it could. Stop walking with the herd. A carbon tax wasn't going to kill us. A left hand right hand opening batting combination wasn't going to be a panacea. Look at him lose his feet at most 40/60 contests, which result in us being -1 immediately. Look at turnover, when Bevo makes sure that the outlet is the guy Lewis is chasing or responsible for. Where have the thinkers gone? pTGR

In: higher tackling; higher stakes Out: Templeton, Powell & Cook Noticed that the swans were tackling higher on the Bont....around his shoulders Not going low towards hips, where he can get his hands up and handball out. The dogs redefined handball in 2016. The swans re-invented tackling last week....making WB look average for the first time in years. This week is their first 'grand final' since the big one last year. Bevo will surprise us, and no doubt Goodwin will respond.

"Most of us think the earth is flat" "Hang on, I think it might be round" So a balanced view is what? The earth is shaped like a banana? Nothing balanced about this trade dichotomy. The football world thought Melbourne got a steal. Go back to November 2016...and only a few objective thinkers thought it was going to be a stinker. pTGR

The way you guys carry on about liability leaders; we might as well get Voss out of retirement as well. Who lead the bulldogs last September? No disrespect to you, but Viney and Jones have them covered. The penny is dropping. You guys are hoping gravity and father-time is defied.

According to Talking Footy, Robbo wrote an apology note to Faz. But in it, he asks for a one-on-one interview for the Herald Sun.

Noted Cheers

We should have appointed him as runner then. Problem is, that Goody would only get 4 messages out per quarter.

I like Joeboy. Love this thread. But the Tyson call was absolutely and definitely incorrect. He was a star from start to finish. He has what a many in our team don't yet: composure. Look at the replay. Decision-making A. Execution A. Hardness A. His best ever game of footy IMO. As for the others, Hannan - finds a path (with oily shoulders) Bugg - Keeps missing chances.

Not saying he should go to VFL. I am saying he should have retired at the end of last year. Not blaming him. Good luck to him. If I was him, I would have signed the 3 year deal. I am blaming the consensus of wisdom that is SEN, a majority here, and those that didn't stand up with a clear head at the club when he called Todd Viney. A 3 year deal for a guy who should have retired in 2017, will go down as an absolute clanger.

We weren't winning at half-time.

Great post. Oscar just didn't use the numbers around him in the first half and gave it back. Good 2nd half. Tyson's game had everything; toughness, composure, skill. Loved his game. No ruckman. A lot of our players down or average. Good win.

2.5 more years of carrying this guy.....tick tock tick tock. Loses his feet more than any other player since Simon Eishold. The experts and majority were wrong on this one. pTGR

Seriously does not add one single thing to the coverage other than blocked-nose, Geelong-o-phile, over-exposure. Anyone who is enlightened by Ling, probably thinks the footy is round. Ling talks as much as Bruce and BT. Give me Jack Edwards or Bob Skilton or Doug Heywood over this guy. Too much quantity, and not enough quality. Waiting for Ross Lyon or Bevo to retire FCS.

Last night the 7 commentary was bullish on Sydney's Reid over Schache. Last fortnight on radio....Garry Lyon rates Sam Reid as a $300,000 per year player. Garry also rated Jack Gunston (in a star studded line up), as the player Watts should emulate 2 years ago. Imagine Jack Gunston playing for the MFC in the Watts era? Don't get me started on the Neeld appointment either. I think Lou Richards circa 2016 has more common-sense more of the time.

Mark Robinson is helping Fasolo out apparently.

Easy solution. Give him 20 shots at goal from 35 out on a 45 degree angle. Every goal he kicks, he gets $100k per year on his contract. Don't think they will be up for 2 mill a year.

My take on it is this. If you can handle the subsequent pressure of putting yourself forward in the media, then how are you going to be in the last few minutes of a final. Dangerfield is not talking about his credits mate. He is challenging buffoons who suggest that AFL players should be in a cave between games.

I think you will find his speed to weight ratio is more significant that your average footballer. Anthony Tip-Woody from Essendon....ditto squared.

Just the principle of making sure you tick a few boxes before writing off a player: 1. 2. 3. 4. Is there any more upside or development left in him... 9. Have we tried him in position/role a/b/c. Daniher or Roos for instance, may never have ticked this box; whereas a Bevo/Sheedy would have I think. 10. Psychobabble (how is his private-life and headspace)

I'd love to see your undies after Kent runs his 11.2 second 100m towards you. If you don't fear mass and speed, you are either brave, stupid, or have no idea of Newton and Co.