Teams v Melbourne / Are Melbourne tanking?

[BSA5]

Disagree, but Iam sure we could argue all day about it

Having a large amount of natural instinct for the game is just one factor. Plenty of players have that instinct and don't make it, and plenty of players don't have it and do. They'll never be stars, but they can be very handy players. Pyke has shown a tremendous adaptability to various sports, excelling at many before settling on Union. He's a natural athlete, and while the fact that he wasn't brought up with footy will obviously count against him, his professionalism and natural athletic ability could well be enough to get him to a stage where he can be a good contributor.

[Big Al]

Having a large amount of natural instinct for the game is just one factor. Plenty of players have that instinct and don't make it, and plenty of players don't have it and do. They'll never be stars, but they can be very handy players. Pyke has shown a tremendous adaptability to various sports, excelling at many before settling on Union. He's a natural athlete, and while the fact that he wasn't brought up with footy will obviously count against him, his professionalism and natural athletic ability could well be enough to get him to a stage where he can be a good contributor.

Agree totally with this.

[pinkemu]

Having a large amount of natural instinct for the game is just one factor. Plenty of players have that instinct and don't make it, and plenty of players don't have it and do. They'll never be stars, but they can be very handy players. Pyke has shown a tremendous adaptability to various sports, excelling at many before settling on Union. He's a natural athlete, and while the fact that he wasn't brought up with footy will obviously count against him, his professionalism and natural athletic ability could well be enough to get him to a stage where he can be a good contributor.

I'm with Big Al on this post, Pyke's adaptability to the game has been outstanding, Give him a little more time, treat him like he's 19.

[Mr Magoo]

I agree with the general sentiment that it was a terrible game but I thought there was a lot to like about the some of the younger guys efforts.

Smith was poised, solid and disposed of it well.

Barlow and Grundy played pretty well. Made some mistakes but both need another solid preseason to harden up their bodies and get a little fitter.

Bird was good at extrating the ball but his disposal looked tired and I reckon he needs another hard preseason of fitness training. Poor disposal tends to result sometimes from lack of fitness as you expend so much enerby in getting the ball that the resulting disposal then is terrible. Grundy seems to me to be in the same boat in this regard.

Hannebery was very impressive and as someone has said before , gets good disposals out of packs without you realising it was him.

Pyke - give the guy a break , first year player who will improve. Comparing him to jurrah is ridiculous. How many players even at AFL level are capable of taking the type of one handed mark that he took from behind pyke.

White - hard to tell from the TV but either didnt present well on the lead or was just ignored as they seemed to go constantly to goodes or oloughlin.

Moore played pretty well and did some hard work.

Some of the younger guys like thornton need more time to show their worth and need a solid preseason to build up strength and fitness.

The biggest dissapointment today was the attitude of the senior players and their approach to the game. Felt like some players have already put the que in the rack for the year and the sniping that seemed to be going on must have been very disheartening to those around them.

Of the senior players - Goodes still doesnt know how to play a key position role. Now he knows how Barry Hall must have felt receiving crappy service and being double teamed all the time. And for gods sake , even I could see the surface was slippery - put your long stops in Goodsy.

Oloughlin - is limping to game 300.

Shaw provides good run but I dont feel it leads to much at times and his attitude and sniping when things get tough concerns me.

Ablett - just not good enough.

Kirk - it pains me to say it but to me looks like he is starting to get to the end of his time. While hes always been slow and his disposal a bit awkward, i thought he is starting to look slower and more awkward. One more season is about all he has left in him for mine.

On the other hand , I thought Mattner, Bolton (*2), LRT , McVeigh, Jolly and O keefe were the senior core that at least stood firm and played as they should.

[Primmy]

Mike Pyke - oh for pity's sake. Its his FIRST YEAR in the game, no let me be a bit more clear, its his FIRST EIGHT MONTHS in Australia, in the game! And some of you want to finish his career on the fact that he is not yet a superstar! Oh I pity your kids.

He is willing, he learns, he is professional, he is a unit, our rucking stock of kids aren't physically ready yet, Jolls needs a breather every now and again. He is worth his place, even if just for a small amount of time. And he is improving all the time. Give me break.

[Jeffers1984]

People are forgetting that Thornton is also coming off a Knee Reco so it is a credit to him that he's forced himself into the Seniors after all looked lost when he was delisted last year.

Him and especially Malceski will come good next year, i'm sure of it.

[jono2707]

Mike Pyke - oh for pity's sake. Its his FIRST YEAR in the game, no let me be a bit more clear, its his FIRST SIX MONTHS in Australia, in the game! And some of you want to finish his career on the fact that he is not yet a superstar! Oh I pity your kids.

He is willing, he learns, he is professional, he is a unit, our rucking stock of kids aren't physically ready yet, Jolls needs a breather every now and again. He is worth his place, even if just for a small amount of time. And he is improving all the time. Give me break.

Well said - thanks for providing a bit of well-needed perspective an a guy who is doing a pretty darn good job considering where he was this time last year.

[BSA5]

White - hard to tell from the TV but either didnt present well on the lead or was just ignored as they seemed to go constantly to goodes or oloughlin

Can't speak for the 1st and 3rd quarters, but certainly in the 2nd and 4th, when he was down my end, it was very much a combination of both. Our midfield was very Goodes- and MOL-centric sending it forward, and the forwardline in general did White no favours, often blocking up his leading space, but White also did not appear to work hard even when the opportunities presented themselves. It should also be mentioned that Rivers and Warnock often double-teamed him, and did it rather well.

[laughingnome]

Can't speak for the 1st and 3rd quarters, but certainly in the 2nd and 4th, when he was down my end, it was very much a combination of both. Our midfield was very Goodes- and MOL-centric sending it forward, and the forwardline in general did White no favours, often blocking up his leading space, but White also did not appear to work hard even when the opportunities presented themselves. It should also be mentioned that Rivers and Warnock often double-teamed him, and did it rather well.

That's just it, isn't it? He's the big cheese in the forward 50 now so he'll cop the heaviest of heavies from the backline. Jolly can still drfit down and kick true because he'll still pick up the 3rd or 4th defender. White can mark reasonably as is but he needs a lot of training to be a true full-forward.

[DST]

That's just it, isn't it? He's the big cheese in the forward 50 now so he'll cop the heaviest of heavies from the backline. Jolly can still drfit down and kick true because he'll still pick up the 3rd or 4th defender. White can mark reasonably as is but he needs a lot of training to be a true full-forward.

Agree, but with Johnston and possibly Muphy along with Vespremi (who is good overhead) next year, this will take a bit of the pressure off him as the only real tall target at present.

You could throw Currie in to that equation as well as third tall option as I beleive he shows some promise in that role as well.

We will young, raw and untired next year up forward but I think we have the makings of something that we at least work with.

DST

[Big Al]

People are forgetting that Thornton is also coming off a Knee Reco so it is a credit to him that he's forced himself into the Seniors after all looked lost when he was delisted last year.

Him and especially Malceski will come good next year, i'm sure of it.

Sorry Jeffers but with your avatar I can't concentrate on what I'm sure is a well thought out argument.

[DST]

People are forgetting that Thornton is also coming off a Knee Reco so it is a credit to him that he's forced himself into the Seniors after all looked lost when he was delisted last year.

Him and especially Malceski will come good next year, i'm sure of it.

Agree, a year off a knee reco Thornton has done enough this year to suggest that with a full pre-season next year that he could a regular senior player by the end of 2010.

I expect Smith, Vespremi, White, Johnston, Hannaberry and Merideth to also be in that position along with hopefully Schmidt, DOK and Laidlaw as well if they can sort out their injury issues.

That gives you a decent list of the following to work with (not including the senior guys) of:

Jack, Bird, Schmidt, DOK, Laidlaw, Thornton, Smith, Vespremi, White, Johnston, Hannaberry and Merideth.

DST

[Jewels]

White - hard to tell from the TV but either didnt present well on the lead or was just ignored as they seemed to go constantly to goodes or oloughlin.

I was at the game and found it very, very frustrating the amount of time White was one out in the 50, yet was constantly ignored.
Surely, with his size, he stands a pretty good chance of marking when in a one on one!

[Jeffers1984]

Sorry Jeffers but with your avatar I can't concentrate on what I'm sure is a well thought out argument.

hahaha i was worried about that being an issue....i like it so i think it's a keeper Camilla Belle is her name if anyone is wondering lol.