Earl Hood

Watts has been selected at centre half forward. Does Betfair run a book on how many minutes in before he is thrown down back? I am betting he'll be on the move after the Crows have the first 4 on the board, that should take about 6 or 7 minutes on our current form.

Congratulations on a great career. I was hoping for one more year, even as a super sub. Or how about being the designated kick in player. I thought he was talking about one more season. I hope he wasn't pushed. We all know he has had problems in recent years but his kicking skills are still intact and we have precious few others who can spot up a target. Looking at his highlights reel is amazing. Who else on our list has anywhere near this amount of poise, balance, speed and agility that he had in his prime? Jurrah maybe. In fact it crossed my mind that we have had players in more recent times with some special X factor but they were all drafted in the 90's - Yze, Schwartz, Robbo, The Wizz, Jackovitch could all do some amazing things at times that got you up out of your seat but gee since 2000 we have really struggled to unearth those special sort of skills that get you excited.

We are a train wreck, I don't think a QANTAS pilot could help.

I was sitting above this incident on Sunday. At the time I was stunned at the lack of effort by Jack but thought well there were two other demon players there. But he was in a position to intervene but chose not to. Why? It reminded me of when I played second rate suburban footy some years ago and did something very similar but worse where I failed to tackle a player running toward goal. I was dragged immediately and dropped the next week. Why did I do it? At the time I was not there mentally, I was not thinking about the game at all, I was somewhere else. This indicates to me where Jack's mind was, not on the game, more likely thinking about his comments on the footy show and the backlash since. But this is of his own making.

I have been a patient fan but 5 years in I think it is time to part ways. JW is now a potential problem in the ranks. No passion, doesn't want to be here. Lets play him forward for the next two games and try to build up his currency for a trade. For heavens sake yet another high draft pick burnt. I just don't believe how we have stuffed up our drafting over 5 years. Selecting kids with these things in common time and time again, no leadership potential, no physical presence and no appetite for a contest. You could not have achieved this level of failure even if you had delibetely set out to do it.

Yes!

In the end we can argue Magner's abilities but it should be about honouring performances in the magoos. You play well consistently you get a chance. Conversely you play insipid rubbish in the ones and you get dropped. No matter watt your draft number or past history.

I take on board your point. What I noticed on Sunday was the rapid handball by Freo in contested situations. We see it all the time in the middle with the Hawks or the Cats. Their elite mids only have the ball for a second before it is passed off to another insider if required or then it is sent off rapid fire to an outsider on the move forward. Now has anyone seen this setup with the Dees? It is usually ruck tap to Jones, who graps it just prior to be being gang tackled and we get another ball up. But for us that is a win.

interesting we have on many threads been talking about culture, on field leadership, hard bodies, players who want the ball, I agree Magner is not the solution but he may be part of it. 36 handballs last week. That is 36 handballs to outside receivers, if we had any. I watched Freo do us over in the middle on Sunday, another hard arse like Viney, a la Magner would not have won us the game but it may have reduced the carnage.

Look it is obvious Magner is just an inside mid who hunts the ball and can get it out, that's all. He might get first touch 30 times but so what. His kicking is not elite, nor is his speed, or goal kicking for that matter. Now we have any number of players who can....ummh, arr. Oh I better ring Neil he knows the reason. I'll get back with the answer.

Strewth! Can you have 38 picks in the draft?

I don't disagree with you but what happened between 2010 when we seemed to be on track with 8 or 9 wins and close fought battles against the premiers of 2010 twice, the doggies and even the Hawks in the second meeting. At that stage we thought we were on the up. Later in 2011 we thumped Freemantle at the Gee by 83 points. Two years on we cop a 95 point battering. What a turn around! What went wrong in that time? Poor draft selections is part of it. Zero leadership? Yes no doubt. The way forward, not sure but gee we need a priority pick and more.

Trouble is you can't unload 36 players and draft in 36 new ones or 20 for that matter. We may unload another 12 this yer to go with 12 or so last year and 10 before that. When do we stop churning? Lets face it our recuiting has been shiyte. No talent, no chance, I say. Oh and of course no development of our players whatever that means?

Why does Craig put him in this position as floating, loose backman? His job is to mop up loose balls, not go to contests, to receive handballs and spot up targets coming out of the back line. This is not the training he needs. I blame the coaches for not putting him in the engine room where he must be accountable. They should have thrown him onto Pav or into the centre. Scarlett did this to perfection but he had earnt his points over many years as a legitimate backman.

Good comment, fits in well with this thread! Aren't we talking about Melbourne's history of off loading experienced players to our detriment. I am talking Not just Junior but Bruce, Green and others who may have helped and shielded our young draft picks and provided some leadership along the way. CS, CC and Bailey thought it would just happen with multiple early draft kids, well it never will I think we have proven that theory is BS!

Spot on I think the coach is burning these two kids. For heavens sake after what went on this week why would you throw Watts back as the loose backman but keep Davis forward in a dysfunctional forward line? Keep Watts forward and throw Davis back where he belongs would be the smart play. JW is learning nothing playing the loose backman I agree and not doing it well and can rightly ask if he is being developed!

Interesting comment given PJ's comments that one of the clubs problems is that we emptied the locker room of experience and leadership. I had stamped Davey's papers some weeks ago but I watched him today amongst the ineptitude around him and wondered if he is not worth a one year extension at basic wages. We all know Davey has deficiencies and he may need to a be a super sub going forward but gee he does have the ability to kick to a target. Oh and it's not just about the ability to hit a target, it's about looking for a target. I say this after watching today Colin S and Trengove get the bal and just bomb it high and long into the forward line. And when they and everyone else does that we can then put sh&t on Davis and Fitzy not leading out and kicking a lazy 3 or 4. A good side would work out a game plan the got the ball in Daveys hands at all costs and protected him from feral taggers. But we are in survival mode as a team, every man for themselves.

Watts Martin up to? Let's hope he hasn't been made an offer he can't refuse from GWS. (And who knows maybe Jack has an offer as well). If this is the scenario the advantages given to the expansion clubs thru draft picks and extra salary caps are becoming scandalous. Richmond is on the rise what else would Martin be chasing than $$$? Both expansion clubs have gone past us and continue to be given massive advantages and people still don't believe we need extra help at the end of the season.

Watts for Martin?

Yes I think this is a club decision not an individual's unless he has added new evidence that adds to the video.

Have to agree here. The media are [censored] off with the delays because the Dons are in there with QCs, these days SC's at 20 paces, threatening the AFL that if you charge us we will see you in court. Wish we did this over the tanking rubbish. But then we are on AFL welfare and are their lapdogs and no more. It is sad really.

I suppose the club's survey may be the place to start. Let them know your thoughts. Why should we stand fast if the club's management repeatedly rolls over. In this case the evidence looks flakey but if MFC has some other evidence should not they let us know so we understand their decision making?

That is where I am assuming Voss learnt big time. There hopefully are not anymore Fevola's out there but I take your point. What we don't need is a new coach to come in and ride over the top of Todd Viney and co in the draft selections and find we are sacrificing first round kids for ageing hacks. We have been there recently for limited return.

I think Roos might like hot humid weather. Me thinks he is off our List of coaching options. Would have loved to have him but he is perhaps a bit too smart to sign up to the MFC basket case.

Reasons for statements would be appreciated?