Jerry Lundergard

Here are three more from me. 1. I don't believe that Warnock and Rivers are up to it. I know it doesn't help when it is coming in there as much as it did today, but i would like to see how we go with Frawley at FB, and the other 5 defenders slotted in around him. 2. The disposal efficiency of two of our potential stars in Scully and Grimes. 3. Our inability to get the ball inside 50 enough. Happens week in, week out with no improvement in sight.

Watts was better was he?

It hasn't necessarily been a weak point for us this year, but we were absolutely pathetic today to the point where we were almost doubled, which contributed to the 60- 29 IN50 count against us also. Just a disgustingly soft effort from the team today.

6. Bate 5. Frawley 4. Trengove 3. Garland 2. Dunn 1. Scully

I think with the hiring of the new coaches in Scott and Hardwick, it is starting to show that Bailey may not be up to it. What it has taken those two guys nine months to achieve, we are still struggling to gain that two and half years later. I thought it was a case of the list turning over, and retirements of key players that may have caused us to be so terrible in 08 and 09, but am now starting to believe that may not have been the issue. If we don't show signs of improvement toward the end of this season, i will be more than happy to have him moved on

Did you expect to finish last though? Because that is a real possibility.

I know it won't happen, but the retractions(myself included), will be pretty funny if we get up in the second half.

Anyone feeling optimistic now? We have only won 1 of our last 7, and are getting absolutely pantsed by a bottom rung side. The wooden spoon may be battled out between us and the Eagles.

How about they all change their boots at quarter time, because nobody can stay on their f***ing Feet!

I like your dedication to the cause Freak, but surely by now you must realize that you are on sinking ship? McLean was drafted to our club in 2003, to help us in a Grand Final that was played in 2000. The game has moved on, Mclean hasn't, but perhaps you should.

People in glass houses.......

I think Richmond like to have people believe that they haven't tanked or bottomed out like us or the Blues, but a look at their high draft picks tells us otherwise. They should be showing improvement, just like us. Delidio - 1 Tambling - 4 Cotchin - 2 Vickery - 8 Martin - 3 That is 5 top tens, to match Scully, Trengove, Watts, Morton and Sylvia on our list.

I think there was another thread a couple of weeks ago on this topic.

I know everyone is entitled to their opinionn, but i can't beleive Davey does not make it in some peoples top 6 players, he was best on for me, along with Jamar and Moloney. 6. Davey 5. Jamar 4. Moloney 3. Morton 2. Garland 1. Jones

I was told he did.

Didn't know he had that in him.

How will our defensive match ups play out for the game? I accused the coaching staff last year of tanking early, by the fact they started Frawley on Lockyer, while Cloke ran up to the HF/Wing and continually marked whilst Rivers was on him, and of course Dick destroyed us as well. I think if Frawley plays he must go to Cloke. He has been their most dangerous forward this year, and when he is up and about so are the Pies. If Rivers goes to him again, and like against the Eagles with Kennedy, we will get torced again. It may be negative, but i would just about advocate trying to get Rivers playing as a loose man in defence from the start of the game, as i don't really see an appropraite match up for him, unless Fraser or Jolly starts down there. Grimes can play on either Medhurst or Davis, with Bruce going to the other, and Warnock gets Brown or Dawes. Didak is a worry, as Junior and Jones may have taken him. I have called for a Daniel Bell recall for this role as he as been playing it at Casey, and as he has played as a defender, he can handle himself when Didak goes forward.

Maybe i am jumping the gun just a tad, but the immense optimism i had around the time we beat the Lions and were sitting at 3-2 is starting to fade a little. Expectations were probably raised a little due to that 3 game run, against what now appears to be weak opposition. But 1 win and 5 losses later, i find myself pondering are we going to be in a battle for the wooden spoon again, because even the Tigers are playing better than us at present, and interstate teams will alaways snag a couple at home. Injuries mounting, players out of form, very few avenues to goal and tiring kids will be contributing factors to our fortunes in the second half of the season as our team continues to balance between development and trying to get wins. I am still optimistic for our future and firmly beleive we will play finals next year, but am just starting to feel a little shaky about whats ahead in a tough second half of the season.

Looks like Sylvia may miss as well. Out:Jones, Junior, Sylvia, Watts In: McKenzie, Dunn, Frawley, Bell Bruce to go forward. Bell to play a defensive midfield role as he has at Casey, as a last chance to save his career. Maybe he can do an Andrew Welsh and resurrect his career in that role. Miller on his last chance. Rivers not far behind.

He gave us a C, and North Melbourne a D. That is the way i heard it.

This is my first post on the whole Watts debate as i have not wanted to judge a player to early in their career. But what i have noticed is a real lack of urgency and intent. It is hard to compare him to other star forwards who are much more mature than him, but if you compare him to a guy like Hurley, who attacks the ball and the contest with such intent and vigor that you can't not be impressed. I have always thought the comparisons with Niknat have been unfair due to the positions they play, but ones with Hurley are not ad IMO, he is a mile behind him.

What particulary annoys me about being bullied by Carlton, is that the two people who constructed the plan in Ratten and Riley, are both former Melbourne coaches. That tells me that we are still considered a soft and mentally weak team by those who have been inside our club before, and what we all deep down really know about our club, but were hoping wasn't the case anymore. That probably breaks my heart as much as aything out of yesterdays game. I am going to hate going to work tomorrow and see those smug, smirking Carlton faces.

Due to the impotency of our forward line or some would say our game plan, I have decided to compile a list of quarters of fooyball played by the Demons in the Bailey era that we have scored 1 or no goals in a quarter. Make of it what you will. 2008. 27 out of 88 quarters. 2009. 21 out of 88 quarters. 2010. 12 out of 44 quarters. Not much improvement, even this year when we have won a few games.

Rating: 5/10 I am grading on the season in isolation, and not on expectations going into the season. Looking at the draw, i believe the first half of it is easier than the second half, and we should really have a couple more wins on the board than we do, so a five is as high as i can give 3-2-1: 3. Mark Jamar. All-Australian form as our premier and lone ruckman. 2. James Frawley. Our best defender. 1. Brad Green. Our most dangerous forward who beats his opponenet more often than not. Team Highlight: A 50 point drubbing of a then undefeated Lions team in front of 36,000 at the MCG on a Saturday was my highlight so far. Team Lowlight: Round 1 against the Hawks was woeful, but i thoght our performance against a poor travelling team in the West Coast Eagles was as a disappointing day at the footy of have had this year. Biggest Surprise: Jordan Gysberts in his 2 games so far has surprised the hell out of me. I wonder by the end of the season who we will rate higher out of Gysberts, Scully and Trengove? Biggest Disappointment: Our forwardline, especially post Petterd injury. Individual Highlight: Jamie Bennells goal in the wet against the Dogs was the most outstanding bit of play from a Demon this year for me. Individual Lowlight: Happened in the preseason with Jurrah going down with a shoulder.

Always much easier to find players to drop when losing, so i will kick it off. Out: Jones(inj), Rivers, Watts In: Dunn, McKenzie, Frawley Like for like on all these selections. Rivers may have been better yesterday, but if Frawley comes back in, it has to be for Riv. Dunn is in for Watts and can also help Miller as a back up ruck. McKenzie for Jones is an easy choice. If Ryan Houlihan can go forward and kick goals as a defensive forward, surely Bruce could play a similar role for us. We need another player down there who can take a grab and kick goals.