Young Dee

Watts recently admitted that his early debut against Collingwood sapped his confidence and probably affected his development. That's a big statement to make - learn from your mistakes mfc! I hate to see a great talented and chirpy guy like Toumpas walk of the ground sapped of confidence like that.

I quite enjoy the Craig Report and liked the clips of the week. He is trying to implement an offensive game style where we move the ball out of defence really quickly and catch the opposition of guard (like Geelong 2009). He said it requires speed and good disposal. It's a breath of fresh air after Neelds stagnant boundary line play. I partically liked Watts getting the ball in the centre taking a few steps and making that beautiful pass to Fitzy (hope to see watts do that again). Imagine trying to stop Fitzy, Dawes, Clark and Hogan all leading in different directions and Watts pushing up the ground waiting to get a rebound and pass it off to them. No need for a midfield then - problem solved! What do people think is Craig just wasting time or is he actually on to something we can use in the future? http://m.melbournefc.com.au/video/2013-07-23/the-craig-report-round-17

He is ready to go because he has had a whole year at vfl

That's basically what the club had been saying but everyone preferred to think that he was done and the mfc were hiding the fact that he is slowly dying (is his number cursed?)

[quote name="rpfc" "I feel for Toumpas as he is asked to perform in an environment different to a Mayes or a Macrae. We don't have the talented bodies in the midfield that allow a young player to play their role and not much more. There is less easy footy for Toumpas, there is more responsibility"

This thread is becoming an absolute joke - if it wasn't already! Worse than the tOm scully thread (to much speculation and that's why I have refrained from posting here)

Oh ok - I can never seem to quote properly with my iPhone - sorry

[quote name="Demonfan26" "I wasn't aware of that either? haha Nah mate, just Demonfan26, although my name is Ben."

"Clearly the most important player on our list is the first genuine potential superstar this club has recruited in 40 years - Hogan. Any other suggestion is madness." That's where the thread is a little flawed - does it mean most important player "currently" or in "future". And it could be argued viney is more important to the football clubin the future for if Hogan doesn't come through we still have Clark, Dawes, Watts and Fitzy (the first 2 for at least +5 years) and is Hogan even officially on the list?

"Key position players don't grow on trees." But his not really a key position player - is he? Will he ever be with Clark, Dawes, Hogan and Fitzy? I think he will end up playing playing on the forward flank - but always be pushing up the ground - on the wing (like buddy and riewoldt except less of a key forward) He just doesn't have enough grunt to be a key position player - he needs space and time

Our forward line and back line are well stocked so the "most important" (biggest team loss - if injured/traded) would have to be a mid: Current: Nathan Jones (if he goes down we have no midfield) Future: Jack Viney (currently our leading young draftee - mid) Could throw watts name under future (has Nick Rewoltd capabilities) but I am sick of putting any expectations on watts. Don't really have any true back up for frawley...

I would like to see tapscott, Strauss and Davis get a few consecutive games this season (definitely think Strauss deserves more than 1-2 games to adapt to AFL considering he has been very good at vfl this year). As for the outs: I think Toumpas, Kent and possibly matt Jones could do with a rest (and vfl stint for first 2). Not wanting to make to many changes (Byrnes and Davey are on thin ice) Out: Toumpas, Kent (assuming no injuries) In: Strauss, Tappy (Tappy probably doesn't deserve it that much but I really want him to find his feet)

Why would we trade him now just when he is beginning to find some confidence - he has been on the list for like 4 or 5 years. Even if we did want to trade him it would be best to wait another year (for trade value). It was only during the Brisbane game that I realised that he no longer looks like a school boy amongst men. I think he is just realising that himself (finally showing a little grunt). Never been a watts fan (very frustrating) but I liked what I saw in the Brisbane game - just needs to get a little more of the pill and needs to study Viney. First time I saw this so called speed, agility and decision making of his.

"What "Why" did he give?" ...... Ah ... because he sucked and nobody liked him!

This might push our premiership window back a few years! How does 2024 sound .......fcuk!

You can't just look at the inside 50's stat with out considering the effectiveness of those deliveries. Although since Neeld has left there has been a lot less bombing it inside 50 (as if their only job was to get the ball inside 50). I think the new free flowing style of footy that Craig has brought in means the players in front of the ball are less stagnant. I hope I never have to witness that kicking long along the boundary to a stagnant group of players only to be thumped out of bounce or rebounded (so boring!). With this free flowing style we can actually create chains of possessions and therefore more inside 50's.

Do you think fitzy would have played nearly as we'll if Dawes didn't play (Dawes would be getting the best defender and is probably looking forward to Clark returning and a midfield that actually knows how to kick to a leading forward)

It's a bit gloomy on here today! We lost by 20 points (one of our smallest margins for the year) Brisbane recently bet north and Geelong! Improvement is all I ask for and that's what I got today so I am happy (cant run before you learn to walk) Least we all know now that our midfield will be the key to us improving (and I think it would make a huge difference) Hope we can get that priority pick and trade it for an established mid (23-26)

Good post rpfc! Taggert? Bit harsh To even be on that list I think and Fitzy showed a little recently but otherwise good list. We desperatly need to get rid of these C grade players with little potential (no future) but can't divide/unsettle the team in the process. The coaching group needs to show they believe in the core group of players. I think all of MacDonald, Gilles, Sellar, Rodan definately have to go and probably Jetta, Nicho and Davey. Rookies: Couch and Magner should be replaced with youth (more potential). Could easily cut more (Bail? Davis? etc.) The only problem as rpfc mentioned was we have to weigh the ins and outs to see if it is worth it + how much it would unsettle the group (have to learn from Neelds mistakes)

Craig is basically a bag of ice on which we are throwing the team on until we get a new coach. What can he do? - good question maybe considering his position (no expectations) - he can concentrate on developing youth (thats apparently what we were doing though)

I want Melbourne to find a good proven coach and do so quickly. In that case assuming that they are not already coaching - they could start planning for his immediate takeover come round 24 (or what ever it is these days). In that case the coach will have had sufficient time to plan and study our list and formulate a stratergy/gameplan. This way we don't have a coach coming in and running around like a headless chook! I don't want a coach to come in any earlier than our last game for the same reason - you can't just walk into the club during a season without being restricted and think it should be as soon as we finish our last game.

Out: Royal In: Ratten just get it done!

Yes - following our win against GWS I thought we were really only giving Neeld and co a little more breathing space - but this was always going to be the end result.