My MAIN concern re NMFC

[Devil Fish]

No doubt its a good sign that we are able to re-sign our players & maintain a stable playing list. Obviously someone high up at NMFC is adamant that the current group will take us to the Promised Land. Personally, I just don't see it. The reason I say this, is that our young players have progressed so SLOWLY over the last 3-5 years, that if they continue to progress at the same rate (bearing in mind some have actually regressed), our 2 best on-ballers with x-factor & leg-speed (Harvey & Wells), will be gone. Take those 2 out of our midfield and we have a very mid/slow-paced, mid-sized, mid-skilled midfield. I honestly can't envisage how a midfield of Ziebell, Swallow, Basti, Adams, Cunners etc. will be of a high enough standard to win BIG games on a CONSISTENT basis.

Hopefully I'm wrong. I want on-field success as much as anyone else here. The glory days of the '90's seem like a life-time ago and I desperately want us to be one of the BIG BOYS again. But I guess time will tell whether the faith shown by NMFC in our current crop has been justified.

 

[Harris 10]

You're not alone in these thoughts.

 

[Jimms]

it's ok. they are all mates. they are having a ball coming into work

 

[tazaa]

I was confident in this group in each of the previous 4-5 years but now I have my doubts. The talents there I just dont think they have the drive nor hunger to be successful. Bit of a shame really but eventually footy cleans out those who arent worthy. Well just have to be more patient and wait another 15 years.

 

[DarwinRoo]

it's ok. they are all mates. they are having a ball coming into work

Would you prefer that they hated the joint and wanted to jump ship as soon as their contracts were up?

 

[Jack Bradley]

NMFC now has a soft culture - nobody has the balls to be a prick and turn this place around.

 

[Gasometer]

I have faith...but not in what the second tier group is doing at the moment...the faith...call it blind faith is the next generation at Werribee and what we pick up over the next two drafts that will be crucial.

My reasoning is that come the time when JZ-Basti-Cunners-Black-Mullet-JMac-McDonald are in that 26-28 age bracket and 'elite', the second tier players will be of a quality that gives us the edge.

The only problem is that GCSuns and GWS with their level of draft picks will be ruling the competition and the rest will be nowhere near close.

In other words, I have no idea of the future.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

Garner and Harper both have the pace, they need to be fed games.

 

[Event Horizon]

We'll have to trade aggressively in the off season. At least 1, possibly two outside mids with X Factor are needed.
Gary Rohan? We should be into him right now. Higgins perhaps?

 

[Jimms]

Would you prefer that they hated the joint and wanted to jump ship as soon as their contracts were up?

although engaging your rhetoric is pointless, i would prefer the focus be on NMFC becoming a club of choice because it presents the best avenue of professional development and success. If they are all mates and are having a whale of a time, that's great, but it should be a byproduct of something bigger.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

We'll have to trade aggressively in the off season. At least 1, possibly two outside mids with X Factor are needed.
Gary Rohan? We should be into him right now. Higgins perhaps?

Higgins is good but way too risky, you never know when his terrible body will implode. Rohan is exactly like Harper! He's fast agile with great skills but doesn't get a lot of the ball, we should play Harper! Id prefer to look for a player like...brad hill, Stephen hill, matt white and the like- maybe Chris yarran?

 

[LuvtheKangas]

although engaging your rhetoric is pointless, i would prefer the focus be on NMFC becoming a club of choice because it presents the best avenue of professional development and success. If they are all mates and are having a whale of a time, that's great, but it should be a byproduct of something bigger.

You, sir, are a quality poster.

 

[Twinkletoes]

KB was talking about Gary Rohan this morning, saying he should move back to Vic for a fresh start. Another preseason into him and I reckon he'll be back to his best. Eddie McChins also said last night that we have room in our cap to land a big fish at the end of the year, when they were discussing Barlow from Freo putting contract talks on hold.

 

[Event Horizon]

Higgins is good but way too risky, you never know when his terrible body will implode. Rohan is exactly like Harper! He's fast agile with great skills but doesn't get a lot of the ball, we should play Harper! Id prefer to look for a player like...brad hill, Stephen hill, matt white and the like- maybe Chris yarran?

Brad Hill is not exactly on the market.
The reason I brought up Rohan and Higgins, is because one can't get a game for a top side, who are also struggling to balance the salary cap, so it's not too hard to get a player out of there. And the Dogs are in rebuilding phase, and by the end of this season they will realise they have more rebuilding to do than they thought. Therefore, Higgins for a second rounder will be doable.

 

[Event Horizon]

Higgins is good but way too risky, you never know when his terrible body will implode. Rohan is exactly like Harper! He's fast agile with great skills but doesn't get a lot of the ball, we should play Harper! Id prefer to look for a player like...brad hill, Stephen hill, matt white and the like- maybe Chris yarran?

How about Rohan for Harper in a straight swap? I'd do it without a second thought.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

How about Rohan for Harper in a straight swap? I'd do it without a second thought.

Id be less keen. We've put the time into Harper, stick with him

 

[Event Horizon]

Id be less keen. We've put the time into Harper, stick with him

In my opinion, Harper is on the verge of being gone anyway. If he can't get a touch at VFL level, while being fit for many weeks, there is a big question marks on him to even be playing ANY footy next season IMO. Hope I am wrong of course.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

In my opinion, Harper is on the verge of being gone anyway. If he can't get a touch at VFL level, while being fit for many weeks, there is a big question marks on him to even be playing ANY footy next season IMO. Hope I am wrong of course.

That's true, I'm worried about his future also, but I feel that Harper and Rohan have been playing similar footy, Rohan was missing consistently in his stint this year, I just feel they are the same sort of player then why not try Harper again and see what he brings? He's different to nahas, I disagree that they compete for spots. Harper and garner are the ways to the future, when boomer retires, we'll need them to step up

 

[Jack Bradley]

Id be less keen. We've put the time into Harper, stick with him

Harper is done and dusted

 

[shinboner spiggs]

Harper is done and dusted

Have some faith heathen!

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

How about Rohan for Harper in a straight swap? I'd do it without a second thought.

Neither can get their hands on the footy.

One doesn't have a car crash victim type broken leg.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

No doubt its a good sign that we are able to re-sign our players & maintain a stable playing list. Obviously someone high up at NMFC is adamant that the current group will take us to the Promised Land. Personally, I just don't see it. The reason I say this, is that our young players have progressed so SLOWLY over the last 3-5 years, that if they continue to progress at the same rate (bearing in mind some have actually regressed), our 2 best on-ballers with x-factor & leg-speed (Harvey & Wells), will be gone. Take those 2 out of our midfield and we have a very mid/slow-paced, mid-sized, mid-skilled midfield. I honestly can't envisage how a midfield of Ziebell, Swallow, Basti, Adams, Cunners etc. will be of a high enough standard to win BIG games on a CONSISTENT basis.

Hopefully I'm wrong. I want on-field success as much as anyone else here. The glory days of the '90's seem like a life-time ago and I desperately want us to be one of the BIG BOYS again. But I guess time will tell whether the faith shown by NMFC in our current crop has been justified.

I see list management as being like a marriage. These are some of the scenarios you may have and how they compare to AFL teams:

1. Get married, stick it out through thick and thin but always wonder if there was someone better out there. (North)

2. Get married, have a great life and never waver. (Geelong)

3. Divorce wife, meet another and realize it was the best thing that could have happened. (Fremantle)

4. Divorce wife, re-marry, divorce, re-marry, divorce, etc. (Melbourne)

5. Get married, keep improving wife through surgical enhancements, live a very happy life. (Hawthorn, Sydney)

6. Get married, try to improve wife through surgical enhancements, makes things worse, realize she was pretty good to begin with. (Richmond)

 

[Gasometer]

I see list management as being like a marriage. These are some of the scenarios you may have and how they compare to AFL teams:
(North)

2. Get married, have a great life and never waver. (Geelong)

. (Richmond)

Yeh, nah.

Having lived in Geelong in the Norties it was more;

2. Get married, realise Mrs has not got the bank balance you thought she had...in actual fact she is up to the eye balls in credit card debt...you are broke, go with hand out to the in laws, in laws give no strings attached loan to build bigger house, father in law becomes your Personal Finance Manager, adopt some great kids and then never waver.

 

[DarwinRoo]

although engaging your rhetoric is pointless, i would prefer the focus be on NMFC becoming a club of choice because it presents the best avenue of professional development and success. If they are all mates and are having a whale of a time, that's great, but it should be a byproduct of something bigger.

And how do you know that it's not the place to be for those very reasons? Look at the facilities, the coaching staff, the medical team. The players are staying because they buy into what the club is trying to do and they want to get there.

 

[LB2Snake]

I see list management as being like a marriage. These are some of the scenarios you may have and how they compare to AFL teams:

1. Get married, stick it out through thick and thin but always wonder if there was someone better out there. (North)

2. Get married, have a great life and never waver. (Geelong)

3. Divorce wife, meet another and realize it was the best thing that could have happened. (Fremantle)

4. Divorce wife, re-marry, divorce, re-marry, divorce, etc. (Melbourne)

5. Get married, keep improving wife through surgical enhancements, live a very happy life. (Hawthorn, Sydney)

6. Get married, try to improve wife through surgical enhancements, makes things worse, realize she was pretty good to begin with. (Richmond)

Yeh, nah.

Having lived in Geelong in the Norties it was more;

2. Get married, realise Mrs has not got the bank balance you thought she had...in actual fact she is up to the eye balls in credit card debt...you are broke, go with hand out to the in laws, in laws give no strings attached loan to build bigger house, father in law becomes your Personal Finance Manager, adopt some great kids and then never waver.

2ripping posts from Mr. Blonde and Gasometer