Have Gold Coast gone past us??

[Oscarman]

Take Ablett out and they're a 2-3 win a year side.

If you added Ablett to our side we would be much better too.

 

[Dory_77]

Dixon is a gun. Matera is very under-rated, contributes a lot.

Yeah Dixon has really stepped up this year, and Thompson at FB (I think) has done pretty well too.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

If you added Ablett to our side we would be much better too.

That's an understatement - especially so given the current imbalance in our lineup. Ablett in our side, with our forward line, would make a substantially bigger difference to us

 

[RedLegs#5]

Take Ablett out and they're a 2-3 win a year side.

Agreed with this.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Add Ablett to us and we could win 3 games.

 

[Some Idiot]

Don't worry guys, they're better than us and St Kilda too plain to see now

 

[Shane Mead]

Things can change quickly, by hiring the right people in the off-season and getting some mature age rookies like Port have done. Not players who have been released by other AFL clubs but recruit those who missed out on being draft who has been playing against grown men in the WAFL and VFL.

Your club is in pretty bad shape and the media will continue to talk about how bad they are (Do you ever hear them suggest ways to turn it around? Media is purposely destructive rather than constructive) but it can turn around.

If you added Ablett to our side we would be much better too.

I agree with Oscarman, if you had Gary Ablett people would be talking about how Gold Coast are a failure and more of your young guys would have a easier time developing etc.

 

[wowlace]

GCS will play finals next year, pending injuries.

 

[PerfectFooty]

yes the suns are past us. because they have maintained their development and their midfield had 3 years under their belts now. melbourne is starting fresh by rebuilding it's midfield. else were melbourne is strong but without a good midfield there is no run or carrying of the ball between ends.

 

[Nomore4s]

Things can change quickly, by hiring the right people in the off-season and getting some mature age rookies like Port have done. Not players who have been released by other AFL clubs but recruit those who missed out on being draft who has been playing against grown men in the WAFL and VFL.

Your club is in pretty bad shape and the media will continue to talk about how bad they are (Do you ever hear them suggest ways to turn it around? Media is purposely destructive rather than constructive) but it can turn around

Agree with this. Get someone in like Port did with Kochie and clean out off field deadwood. I really think Melb need to not only change it's playing list but the off field support group need to be cleaned out as well.

Hire an experienced AFL coach on a 2 year contract with the sole aim of lifting standards and cultural change, get players playing with some passion and desperation for the club and jumper. Even if it is someone like Gary Ayres who has AFL experience and done reasonably well at Port Melb and who isn't so worried about trying to prove themselves or being worried about being on a hiding to nothing. Let the new coach assemble a new assistant coaching group, no point keeping the existing group.

Clean your list out, move players like Sylvia and Watts on, maybe even Frawley if he can't commit. These guys have had plenty of opportunity to improve and become senior players and leaders at the club but haven't.
But instead of trying to go solely for youth, get the best young kids you can with your first or second round picks but then go for the best mature age players in the VFL, WAFL and SANFL or guys off rookie lists from other clubs who have been in the system for a couple of years but can't get a regular gig at their current AFL club. Why? Because they will be hungry and desperate for a shot at the AFL but it also brings in mature bodies, minds and maybe even a new desperation and passion to succeed.

Look at how guys like Simpkin(Hawks), Hutchings(WCE), Dwyer(Pies), Kane Mitchell (Port), Brett Goodes (WB), Hibberd(Ess) have all been able to come into AFL and be competitive. It's guys like this that can improve Melb immediately, and most of them are young enough to be around for a number of years.

Melb have the makings of a competitive team with a decent forward line if Dawes and Clarke click, a decent backline if Frawley can find his spark again and with guys like Howe, the 2 Jones boys, Gawn, Terlich, Evans showing they are capable of having a crack. If you guys get a few mature agers desperate and willing to have a crack along with a coach who can lift standards and provide some direction to the players Melb could improve drastically very quickly.

 

[CWaffles]

The Suns look very impressive tonight and have so the past few weeks. They have come on in a big way this year.