Time to bring back Jesse White...

[Cosmic Wizard]

Seaby at all times before White!!
He can ruck, mark and actually do things!

[Lucky Knickers]

I watched 20 mins of the Ressies feed before I got sick of the bad connection.

Two things struck me.

1. The difference in disposal between this level and the step up is enormous.

2. The things that players don't get selected for, or have been selected and dropped for, are very evident. Meredith shirks the hard stuff. White has no peripheral vision and isn't a great contested mark (though he has a much better engine now days). Moore is a cut above (his pace isn't found out at this level). Everitt looked good. etc

Didn't see any solutions.

I'm not sure I agree with your assessment of Meredith at all. I've watched a bit of the ressies and haven't seen that. Actually think it's been great for his football to see him play consistently this season.

[Kirkari]

I'm not sure I agree with your assessment of Meredith at all. I've watched a bit of the ressies and haven't seen that. Actually think it's been great for his football to see him play consistently this season.

No, Meredith totally shirked the hard stuff this week. Didn't even seem to raise a sweat... whilst sitting about 4 rows behind me at the game in Geelong.

[Lucky Knickers]

No, Meredith totally shirked the hard stuff this week. Didn't even seem to raise a sweat... whilst sitting about 4 rows behind me at the game in Geelong.

Cmon.....he was eating that weird chicken. Definitely hard.

[Dirtyburt]

Did you guys go to Geelong then? Hardly mentioned it!

[Cheer_Cheer]

How many 1st grade games has Jessie actually played ? Hawkins only came good in the finals last year.. Seeing as he just played his 100th, that means 75 pretty ordinary games before he came good.

[Nico]

Why would you play White before Morton? Morton moves around and has some skill below his knees. We don't need a ruckman and White is good at finding a black hole in the forward line. If we are going to include another forward to support Reid it must be Morton.

[Nico]

How many 1st grade games has Jessie actually played ? Hawkins only came good in the finals last year.. Seeing as he just played his 100th, that means 75 pretty ordinary games before he came good.

Difference is Hawkins always had some idea of how to play the game as a forward.

[Ludwig]

Jesse has been very impressive since Seaby's injury and playing in the ruck all game against so many different opponents I would tend to discount the inferior nature of the competition. I don't hold much hope that he will any great success, but given the current ruck situation, he's not all that bad for a 3rd ruck depth player. And if he can continue his current form, he could even give Pyke a challenge for 2nd ruck next year. I think he's good enough to keep and let us off load Seaby and not have to worry about drafting another ruckman this year. All the ruckmen have have long term injuries over the last 2 years, so we really need a backup. I think Jesse is a better option as a ruckman than LRT and would be the choice if we lost both Pyke and Mummy.

[swanspant12]

Yeah, he'd definetly offer more than LRT against good sides. LRT went completely missing during our games against good teams.

[Melbournehammer]

Difference is Hawkins always had some idea of how to play the game as a forward.

You know that's completely unfair on Jesse. Hawkins was playing with arguably the best midfield in the comp and drawing the third best tall defender after mooney, pods, etc. white on the other hand only started getting the second best defender this season and towards the end of last season.

For those of you who hate him go back and have a look at two of our better recent wins - Carlton final ans Geelong at Geelong.

His cards have clearly been marked - either he has agreed to go somewhere else or there has been a falling out - but he has always offered more as a forward ruck than lrt. Lrt offers more versatility and is clearly a better defensive tall - ie his job is to spoil his tall defender - Scarlett, Taylor etc, or to tackle them once it hits the ground.

In reality neither is much good and our strategy all season of bombing long to a contest has never given either of them any real opportunity to mark on a lead - but that is obviously the game plan.

I am over this debate but I am sick of the criticism that gets hurled his way. Go and watch the Richmond game and it is clear that our midfield got destroyed by them - but he and seaby were the scapegoat for that. And sure maric won on the day, but so did Cochin, deledio, houli, Martin, riewoldt, etc etc etc

[bloodsman]

You know that's completely unfair on Jesse. Hawkins was playing with arguably the best midfield in the comp and drawing the third best tall defender after mooney, pods, etc. white on the other hand only started getting the second best defender this season and towards the end of last season.

For those of you who hate him go back and have a look at two of our better recent wins - Carlton final ans Geelong at Geelong.

His cards have clearly been marked - either he has agreed to go somewhere else or there has been a falling out - but he has always offered more as a forward ruck than lrt. Lrt offers more versatility and is clearly a better defensive tall - ie his job is to spoil his tall defender - Scarlett, Taylor etc, or to tackle them once it hits the ground.

In reality neither is much good and our strategy all season of bombing long to a contest has never given either of them any real opportunity to mark on a lead - but that is obviously the game plan.

I am over this debate but I am sick of the criticism that gets hurled his way. Go and watch the Richmond game and it is clear that our midfield got destroyed by them - but he and seaby were the scapegoat for that. And sure maric won on the day, but so did Cochin, deledio, houli, Martin, riewoldt, etc etc etc

Hammer once again you are on the money. I'd add it obviously our game style that prevents many marks inside 50. Its not much good leaving one tall to play on 2 or 3 backs. We flood back hard and often finds it hard to move forward against the good teams. I hope if we don't play that way all game if down midway through the match. I'd rather see us role the dice and take risk. We have been kicking long into the forward line all year so we can't change the plan now. We must have a couple of talls to pull down a few contested marks (Not LRT). Let's hope Reid has his best game for the year. I'd back White because he must have hardened up playing ruck all year.

[Matt79]

It will not happen for a final (barring injury etc)...but I am in the "Give Jesse another chance" club!

[Dirtyburt]

It will not happen for a final (barring injury etc)...but I am in the "Give Jesse another chance" club!

Nah heart of a pea, no work ethic, bye bye time

[Melbourne_Blood]

Time to bring back Jesse White...

If he went as hard as some of his smaller teammates he'd be worth giving a go. But he doesn't, he's a big huge man who's afraid to engage the opposition physically. The amount of times where he could of really impacted an aerial contest and I've watched him slow down so that he doesn't even make the contest when the balls there to be won. It's frustrating as all hell. I'm off him. Keep as a ruck option for injuries but cant see him getting too many games.