Young Dee

Might be able to keep him if Melbourne can show some major improvent in the second half of the year.

I think it would be great to get Daisy and we should but he is not the so called 'A grader' that we need. Is he a hard at it midfielder who would inpire and mentor our young draftees? If he is the best we can get so be it but I think we would still need an 'A grade mid' who crashes into packs (congestion), good by foot and would be and inspiration and mentor to our youth. Even an ageing Chris Judd would look a saint in our midfield and be more use to than us he is to Carlton (they have lots of mids and he generally plays up forward). Daisy alone is just not the answer we need someone who can win their own ball but also be able to dispose of it (to compliment Jones).

I agree that his effort is questionable but wouldn't every Melbourne players be? For almost all his career he has been stuck in a pathetic cancerous team with no real experience of success - no wonder most of our team lacks intensity. As the team starts to improve so will Sylvia - they will actually be playing for something (finals/flag - because right now they know they can't get into finals). He is one of the top 2-3 players at the club and has been consistent this year under Neeld so no way can we afford to let him go for next to nothing. You will be turning in your grave the moment he pulls on a black and white jumper.

Cute - but I do wonder how much internet these things take up (especially when there is a whole page of them!)

Yer, I agree. Putting Watts upforward is pretty much like playing a player short because he just doesn't have the strength or aggression to win or mark the ball. I can think of very few times that Watts has taken a mark in the forward 50 and gone back to slot it (especilaly contested marks). And how many goals has he got from wining his own ball in the 50? I can still remember that one agianst Richmond 1-2 years ago (thats how rare it is!). Most of Watts goals from memory come from free kicks - can anyone find a stat for that? I bet it would be quite alarming! If only we could lock him in a cage with Hurley for 5 min....mmm

Isn't that just because the ball is always in our defensive 50? You would think our defence would be pretty good at rebounding by now!

Not on the weekend anyway

If only a bit of Terlich rubbed off on Watts you might just have a half decent player with desire and skill. Watts topic really frustrates me - sic of hearing that he is so talented. Why should he come back into the AFL team after 3 weeks out injured and prior to that he was about to be dropped anyway. As Dawes said in the presser after the game our major downfall is effort. We finally showed some on the weekend and everyone wants to now bring in Watts? Let's make sure he has some desire/aggresion before he comes back in, we don't want him to have any negative influence on the team.

Has a very odd body shape - similar to Dawes before he came to us. I think if he slimmed down a little like Dawes did he would be quicker and more agile. Too top heavy I think.

Agree - a great depth player replacing Warnock and probably means we can get rid of a fringe player like Joel Macdonald. We seem to now have an over abundance of backman - Joel Macdonalds nearing his end does he offer any leadership or needed qualities? We need to free up spots for mids next year and if Sellar cements his place as a good depth backman than we can get rid of one of them.

Agree he just has that on field presence - something we lack so much! Most teams (even junior level) have that big player that everyone looks up to - tough/strong Jonathan Brown type of player. I know I have already said it already but just loved that moment when we had a good center clearance and banged it into the forward 50. It rolled out of bounds but Dawes made an effort to applaud the mids for winning the clerance and then everyone else around him seemed to go ... oh maybe we should try that? Was at the start of the game and just made Dawes look like he just oozes leadership - anyone else see that?

Outs: Nicho or Bail (probably can't be both so Nicho) Toumpas (injured and form), Trengove (if we have someone to bring in) Ins: Blease, Byrnes, Viney (in not injured) Can not bring Watts straight back in - he was on the edge of being dropped before he got injured. I hope Neeld tries to make as few changes as possible - we finally put in a 3-4 quarter effort. Have had a large number of changes each week so far! I would have definatly droped Trengove if he had not shown a little in the last quarter but if he is going to stay in he needs to play in the midfield - he is useless everywhere else. Both Blease and Byrnes to provide some midfield strength. So probably 2 changes which would show Neeld has faith in the team he fielded last week.

That must be one mighty sore toe then?

Didn't you say that last week? I assumed you were joking are you joking now? - SERIOUSLY

Why are we playing him up forward? If he is unfit he shouldn't be playing - full stop! If it is a matter of form/confidence he should be playing at Casey - full stop! The kid needs to be at Casey - I couldn't care less if he is a captain! Seriously what's going to happen if they put him in Casey for a couple weeks, is our team going to fall apart (oh wait) or is the media going turn their spolight on us (oh wait)

Where have all the Chris Dawes sceptic's gone? Seemed to be a lot more sceptic's than believers during trade period..... funny that!

I think you misinterpreted me. I was only wondering whether we would be in the same position we are in now if we had Ablett. He seems to lead GC single handedly and no doubt is a great mentor for young team mates. Everyone knows our midfield is pulling us down - would one player in Ablett have a big influence on our team? I am not seeing any game are you? ... and if you don't like games you are on the wrong forum.

1. Davey (was everywhere today and realy think that his most damaging position is that rebounding spot (defensive wing to back flank) we need someone to create play from there) 2. Garland (Really finding composure and confidence) 3. Terlich (Really playing a role in the team - similar to Matty Whelan?) 4. M Jones (Just is playing like a miny N Jones - love his composure in congestion and one of the few you won't see handballing to a player in a worse position) 5. Dawes (Massive presence, made me have no dought that he is a leader and loved when he applauded one of the center clerances and then the whole team applauded it) 6. Dunn (Probably the most underated player on here at the moment - is defensive but then also has the ability/confidence to drift off his man and do damage) Just to tough to pick! Would have had Dawes up near the top if it wasn't for his 3rd quarter

Mckenzie has shown enough to be persisted with but Nicholson has had way to many chances and is clearly not part of our future (a list clogger - bit like Bate). The MFC at the end of this year need to decide who has the potential to be part of our future and who doesn't (Nicho, Gilles, Rodan, Macdonald, Couch etc). These guys are not ahead of Mckenzie Replace these list cloggers with young players with potential and we have a future!

I think Watts if anything has taught us to lower our expectations. I have never seen Watts do anything thats suggests he is a potential superstar - at least Toumpas hit a couple of contests today and that is all I want from him now - desire (something Watts has still never shown)

Maybe now with Clark out but next year we will have Dawes, Clark and Hogan (and possible Watts if he lifts). 2-3 of those 4 will probably push up to the 80-50m zone to make space for the FF. I think this is our greatest strength. We need to throw all our resources towards mids and a small forward.

I wonder where we would be now if we had Ablett?

Trengove has lifted this quarter

Didn't even have the ball

How many times has Tappy done that!