TGR

Surely, the MFC are the kings of no bouncing. We must have the lowest number in the AFL for a few years. At least this guy will run, carry, take-them-on, bounce, attract 3 opposition players, which will, if my maths is good, free up a few Melbourne players for over-lap footy. I prefer Mitch Robinson though, as that manic contested ball freak that isn't one-paced. But granted, I know how HarryO will add to our stocks.

The goodwill given to Clark has evaporated in a millisecond. Ross Lyon referred to him as "Mitch who", and is obviously still bothered by the "guarantee" Clark gave to Freo a couple of years ago. It was reported that he wanted to leave Melbourne FC in September 2013, but Roos talked him out of it. There is a stench here, and it will grow and linger if he finds himself at another Melbourne club. Some may see this as leveraging on psychobabble.

Nathan Jones not named in AA 40? Nor should he be. A very good ordinary B-grader, with an A-grade attitude and work-ethic. Doesn't make him an A-grader though.

From a purely on-field perspective, Mitch Robinson is an absolute and utter must at Melbourne. Courageous, selfless, manic. A contested ball freak, but unlike Jones, Tyson, Cross, isn't one-paced. From an off-field viewpoint, Roos' no-DH policy might kick in. But guess what? We are in such a predicament, I think we have to punt on Robinson. Roos + Tammy + Meditation + direction + last-chance-alley = possible born-again for born-again-and-again Robinson. pTGR

Emma Quayle is spot on. We don't deserve a priority pick. Full stop. Fact is. We weed...... no sh@t in the bed, so we should sleep in it. Nuff-nuffs were in charge of the asylum. The supporter-base didn't have the brains, nor wherewithal to place high standards on those in power. Unfortunately this has a flow-on effect. If I was a bulldog, Geelong, Richmond, St.Kilda supporter etc... I'd be saying that the MFC are in this position because of its gross incompetency over a decade, and they can suffer the consequence of their own pathetic decisions. What do we want now, Stefan Martin back? These are my long-held objective views; anything else is either blatantly biased and/or plain wrong. TGR.

The whole point is maximising Roos' influence. Roos has complained this year that "you don't actually get to spend as much time with the players as you used to".

I can't believe Jamar gets off scot free in these forums. Then again, we have a history of keeping rucks that are useless or past their used-by date (White, Jamar, Spence) and off-loading 150 game influential multi-dimensional mobile tall ruckmen like Jolly and Martin. (At demonology you are welcome to view my consistent views about Martin) If a slow dinosaur is not taking marks and dominating taps to advantage, he just makes a one-paced midfield look slower.

Credit to Hannabal, Trav 20, H and whoever else he trades under. This guy is so clinical and unemotional that he nailed it before Jack got out of his blazer (if you ignore the Lethal interview). Win-win would be for Jack to go to a good club. He would be an elite player at a club where others could do the manic hard tough stuff. At Melbourne, the midfield experiment should be done-and-dusted. Jack Watts at Melbourne will be nothing but a forward, that hits-up, and with his agility can play high and run toward goal. I still think he can be a great forward for the MFC. Geelong and the footy world was patient with Hawkins. Watts hasn't enjoyed the same luxury unfortunately.

We will get our sorry pressers....and how the team is going to make amends etc...and they might even show a bit next week. But if the players are hell-bent on improving, they must do one thing; and that is opt-out of the AFLPA agreement that gives them the mandatory 6 weeks off. If they are serious. If they are over being 3rd rate. If they want to maximise time/education under Roos, they should commit to returning 2 weeks early. On 360, Roos has repeatedly stated his frustration that the pre-season period is actually too short to implement a detailed understanding of game-plan....and to work on deficiencies....because in the "old days, you had them for a lot longer over the break". Yesterday at the game, MFC supporters reminded me of Peter Finch....they are slowly turning feral and will not take it any more.

Drop Jamar. Make Dawes do a bit of 2nd ruck.

Jamar - ripe for dropping Cross - never gives up Frawley - not AFL standard Melbourne - No bounces today Melbourne - stationary recievers everywhere Dawes - 2nd ruck next Gawn - Over taken Jamar Watts - Midfield experiment over Roos - accountability must come

Caro bashers like you haven't the intelligence to absorb her articles. Stick to Mark Robinson and Finey and Mark Doran for your dumb-down try-hard version of appearing knowledgeable. Now Barry Hall is in the media on Fox. I want to be reminded that Tom Rockliff did a preseason with the demons. I want to be reminded that we virtually gave away Jolly and Martin to other clubs, yet at the same time kept inferior ruckmen or multi-dimensional mobile talls. I want to be reminded that we took the Toomp for Ollie Wines. MFC supporters in their drought are too quick to say "let's move on" rather than truly examining the mistakes of history. For the record, I was, am and will be a tanking supporter. While the AFL dangles the carrot, you do what is best for your club long term.

Tyson is so young in terms of games actually played. Really, Bernie Vince with his experience and age (peak) should be "the man", and he aint. Gerard Healy was spot on about Vince, where he said Vince was happy just to be a B grader. Healy said Vince should have dominated the endurance stuff over pre-season, and didn't. Vince's stats are better than his actual output IMO. He also does the inevitable Brock McLean "smart ass" kick across his body to split a needle short pass that turns the ball over in dangerous positions. Both Tyson and Vince have missed some easy kicking targets this year; so maybe I'm a tad unfair to Bernie. Cross has never been a great kick either. I'd rate Cross; then Tyson; then Vince. But Tyson is playing brilliant footy beyond his experience.

No ego at all; just self confidence etc. Think he feels responsible for not getting the anointed one 11 months on. Obliged to stay on the for the 3rd year due to this. Either the coach will come from within, or like I said 6 months ago, it will be a Sydney Swans product (Kirk etc...) as Roos has Sydney-fied Melbourne.

Our defence has done remarkably well. Last week, I recall the 'against' column being below 1000. Our defence is top 8 material; and we have done it without Frawley. But our defensive figures are more amazing when you consider our D/E grade offence and turnovers with the ball. Maybe our defence, on this year's figures, considering other factors, is actually top 4. Credit to Roos, Dunn, McDonald, and the backline assistant coach...who is....? Maybe he should take over from Roos in 2 years.

Where our list was, even if Kelly becomes a star (A+), then getting 2 elites (A minutes) is probably a win everywhere. We didn't have depth, we didn't have decent players across the park. A good win. Roos is yet to stuff up at the trade table? At the very least, his decision making with trading is 2nd to none. After he retires from coaching; you'd pay him a couple of hundred grand as a recycled player consultant and doing a few other little gigs around the club I reckon.

If Nick Maxwell doesn't coach and have relative success, I'll be surprised. All Ling has on the board is "good bloke" and "positive" on his CV. So did Dean Bailey. So did Neeldy, if you ignore "good" and "positive". At least Roos knows what Ben Mathews, Brett Allison etc. are capable of. If we don't get top-shelf, it might come from within. I'd have Maxwell in a heartbeat though.

I prefer the slower, older Daniel Cross to be honest.

Today's presser suggests Ling is not an option.

Watch him more closely. He aint the hardest at Hawthorn. Watch how he goes to ground time and time again. In an average team, he wouldn't be worth a cracker.

Ling - No. Bolton - Definitely No. Thompson - No way. Looks like it will be Captain Coach Kirk. Matthew Lloyd will coach one day, and do bloody well IMO. I wouldn't mind Plough doing Eade's role.

Leigh Matthews on 3aw basically suggested that Watts is suited to basketball, not contact sport. He didn't beat around the bush. We might end up trading him (if the Heffernan rule allows). Watts would be a star in a top 4 team. He wouldn't have to win his own ball as much, and would be icing on the cake time and time again. If Luke Breust played for Melbourne, he would be very Watts-like IMO. Shannon Byrnes at Geelong is basically similar although Byrnes was a fringe player at Geelong. It was always predictable though, that Byrnes would struggle at an average club.

Massive. Has been our most important player when he played. The news of the break equalled "a tough month ahead" in my book. Might have got Steve Johnson today, had he played.

The players really need to re-assess their collective bargaining agreements under the AFLPA. They have one preseason left under Paul Roos; and as it stands 30 odd games. To maximise their last preseason under Roos, they might want to reconsider their entitlement and rest period away from the club. In other words, even though they have the right of 4 weeks off, they might choose 2.

I'd throw it in if Bolton (or Thompson or Ling) got the gig. He should think more about becoming a life-coach than anything.