Straight Sets Simon

Between a Brock McLean and a hard place "I will say that driving distance from my home in Maribyrnong to Casey was a consideration. It took me an hour to get there and on a bad day two hours along the Monash to get back. "It isn't ideal being in a car for an hour before you are going to run around for a couple of hours. Your back seizes up, your hammies get tight. "I now live 10 minutes from Carlton. The 2-3 hours extra I was spending in a car can now be re-invested into recovery sessions, extra weights, fitness. It's a shame, because I see the move to Casey as one of the most significant for the club in decades. I understand the issue for McLean (and other players), but after Melbourne were previously training on grounds that didn't have goal posts I would have thought that none of them would be complaining too much. EDIT: Thread title was too harsh

Let go far too easily? At least we got something for them, when a player wants to go it's either a trade or the PSD.

Now now, the private life of Wayne Carey is of significant national interest.

Agreed.

I really like it, looks very professional, but sorry to nitpick but any chance of getting a photo of Davey in blue shorts? He is the odd one out is all.

Melbourne should have extended Weetra's contract after two years, it just wasn't enough time and it was clear that he was sticking to a plan to help Melbourne secure draft picks.

Agreed.

Dey took yer jerbs! EDIT: Jurrah is unlucky not to be in the top 50.

Anyone can coach a team badly enough to not win, it's the style of play (few players in the forward line, multiple loose players in defence and overall negative tactics) that have been a disaster. It is very much a Forumulated Opinion that Melbourne could have won seven or so games this year if they didn't "tank", at best the Richmond game was the only game that Melbourne had a chance to win. 2010 will determine if Bailey is a good senior coach, and not just a development coach.

I've been a massive Petterd fan since his first game. He is a smart and classy footballer and I hope he does stay at Melbourne when the Gold Coast enter the competition.

Game plan. That's what needs to be addressed. Can he coach on game day?

When they trialled the four goal umpires in the pre-season a couple of years ago there was never any issue of confusion.

Well this was a 0.05% occasion, a Grand Final mind you where each goal's value was extremely significant due to the score and pressure of the game. There is no harm in not having two goal umpires, no point risking it at all.

The deliberate out of bounds rule needs to be addressed immediately. Two goal umpires at each end needs to be in place, something I have been calling for a long time.

Another disaster year will see Bailey gone before round 15 next year.

Slight exaggeration, I just hope that McLean really wasn't fully fit because if Valenti is considered slow then McLean was crawling.

I'd take Valenti over McLean.

I was surprised to see him playing in the ruck the other week, I didn't realise how tall he is. I rate him and always have. Very surprised that he didn't get much of a run this year.

If the Bulldogs had Jurrah they would have won. Pure and simple.

Do they sit on the same coach each week, or do they rotate coaches?

I'd take Valenti and Buckley. If possible (excluding current contract situations) I'd have them both ahead of Miller, Bartram, Newton, Bail, Bell, Cheney* and McNamara*. *Not writing these players off just yet, but I'd prefer Buckley and Valenti.

The way he runs with the ball and breaks lines is Judd-like.

I rate Buckley and always have. The way he moves and breaks lines in Judd-like. His long kicking is very good and still a very inexperienced footballer. Well worth keeping.

I'm amazed that it has taken this long for them to start testing kicking skills.

I know he has good hands, is quick, can read the play well and can run all day, but what is his kicking like?