is this the worst opinion piece for the year?

[MC Gusto]

and is there an award for that?

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/m ... ikghj.html

adding weight to the general all round crapness this article represents is that other than the eye catching headline the journo really does sit on the fence and take an each way bet...still the headline is there and arguably even after a mere few weeks on, he couldnt be further from the mark.

where can we vote for worst article of the year?!

[bergholt]

I still agree with him. Melbourne's kids are miles ahead of ours and we haven't even seen Petracca yet. They're going slightly worse because their group of seniors doesn't compare to ours, but seniors aren't going to win either of us the next flag.

[saintspremiers]

The idiot appears to rate Lonie over Newnes and Webster. Strange. Lonie looks the goods but the other two have a few more runs on the board and do deliver consistently.

[RW&B]

I still agree with him. Melbourne's kids are miles ahead of ours and we haven't even seen Petracca yet. They're going slightly worse because their group of seniors doesn't compare to ours, but seniors aren't going to win either of us the next flag.

Agree.

[plugger66]

The idiot appears to rate Lonie over Newnes and Webster. Strange. Lonie looks the goods but the other two have a few more runs on the board and do deliver consistently.

Idiot? Why because he has a different opinion to you?

[stkfc1]

I still agree with him. Melbourne's kids are miles ahead of ours and we haven't even seen Petracca yet. They're going slightly worse because their group of seniors doesn't compare to ours, but seniors aren't going to win either of us the next flag.

Don't know how you can come to that conclusion. Paddy and Hugh only first year players so it's impossible to rate them yet (although the signs are good). Melbourne have a good side with Hogan,McDonald,Brayshaw and Viney leading the way. Petracca being the unknown but you would assume he goes ok but you never know how people come back from injuries. At this stage we have a much better forward line in the making. Bruce, Paddy,Lonie, Membrey, Billings,Sinclair. They've got Hogan. That's it! I know which I'd prefer. Midfield they definitely hold the advantage, at this stage,although our ruck stocks are much better than theirs but we add another midfielder this year and get Billings fit and firing, we start looking much better. Dunstan is suffering second year blues, so he'll be better next year. Angus could well end up down on his output next year for the same reasons. The red light for me in this article is making out Newnes and Webster are just ok players. They have the potential to be top line players.This guy is overselling their kids and underselling ours.

The one thing that the author leaves out is the most important factor of all. Culture. Their's is awful and ours is on the rise. Even though we know we can't make finals we are still hanging tough. Teams like Dees and Collingwood have taken their bat and ball and gone home because it's all too hard.Not going to be a great team with that attitude. We are developing a team of hard nuts, that don't give up. I'd take that any day over a team that has been down for so long, that loosing is in their DNA.

[philtee]

Was discussed under this thread when it came out.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89291&hilit=niall

If anything, results since then have made it seem even sillier...a journo scratching for something to write.
Witness our "win" * against the Cats at the weekend, and Melbourne's capitulation to Carlton, which has,
to quote David Parkin today, "One of the worst lists I've ever seen".
Or indeed, our win over Melbourne on their ground by 37 points, the day after this article came out.

*You know what I mean.

[St Chris]

I'd say this is the second worst opinion piece of the year.

I give you the winner:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-pre ... 7301765363

This was written after the Bombers' triumph over the Hawks in Round 2.

[SemperFidelis]

I doubt he'd write the same thing this month.

[GrumpyOne]

I think Paul Roos' comments on 360 the other night decide that issue.

[Dr Spaceman]

I'd say this is the second worst opinion piece of the year.

I give you the winner:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-pre ... 7301765363

This was written after the Bombers' triumph over the Hawks in Round 2.

Lisa: Riley Beveridge?
Homer: Well, you haven't heard the last of him.

[Sobraz]

If we can pinch Jimmy Toumpas (taken ahead of Wines and Stringer) from them for our 3rd or 4th rounder, then that should even up the debate a little bit.

*not entirely joking, I'd take Toumpas for a next to nothing price, and I think the Dees would be happy to offload him.

[gringo]

I actually don't mind the controversial stuff, it gets every one riled up which is pretty good. I'm very happy so far and think we are going as well as could be expected. Picking who will go up and who will fall is always risky. I thought the Dogs might finish last this year after losing their coach and senior core. Port Adelaide were premiers at the end of preseason. Melbourne seem psychologically damaged. I know Hogan will be a star but has there been a more over hyped kid ever? He was the next Carey after one game. Josh Bruce has had a statistically better year but is B grade and not even talked about as a potential gun. Petracca doesn't even need to play to be considered a champion in waiting.

[plugger66]

I actually don't mind the controversial stuff, it gets every one riled up which is pretty good. I'm very happy so far and think we are going as well as could be expected. Picking who will go up and who will fall is always risky. I thought the Dogs might finish last this year after losing their coach and senior core. Port Adelaide were premiers at the end of preseason. Melbourne seem psychologically damaged. I know Hogan will be a star but has there been a more over hyped kid ever? He was the next Carey after one game. Josh Bruce has had a statistically better year but is B grade and not even talked about as a potential gun. Petracca doesn't even need to play to be considered a champion in waiting.

I would have thought he deserves the hype. Many worse players than him have been described as the next so and so. And comparing Bruce to Hogan isn't really even close to fair. Bruce is in about his 4th year of AFL footy. As for Petracca I don't think many apart from Melbourne supporters have described him as a champion in waiting.

Instead of knocking their players maybe we talk about how good our players may end up being.

[mr six o'clock]

Melbourne have had ten years of top ten draft picks !
On that reckoning they should be on top of the ladder . In the next few years with a bit of desire they may .
Thats the difference i saw when we played them a month ago . In greasy conditions our guys had the desire to get the hard ball and be on the bottom of the packs . the dees were reactive , probably comes form roos coaching , the scribes love him ( don't know why ), i think his game plan has been surpassed .

[saynta]

Was discussed under this thread when it came out.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89291&hilit=niall

If anything, results since then have made it seem even sillier...a journo scratching for something to write.
Witness our "win" * against the Cats at the weekend, and Melbourne's capitulation to Carlton, which has,
to quote David Parkin today, "One of the worst lists I've ever seen".
Or indeed, our win over Melbourne on their ground by 37 points, the day after this article came out.

*You know what I mean.

Yep.

And yes Roos game plan is old hat.

[ozrulestrace]

Honestly there are two things Roos has to do as coach.

Number 1 teach them actual football skills and decision making. Their kicking and handballing are really poor and not up to standard.
It's all very well to teach the players some gee whiz you beaut game plan when they can't even kick properly.

And two, say adios to Jack Watts. I'm not a Melbourne supporter but every time I watch him play I tear my hair out whenever he has the ball-lack application, lacks follow through and is slap dash in his play. And if he isn't going to see beyond thinking he is a legend in his own mind, if I was Melbourne, I'd be moving him on.

[6621104]

Who would trade for Watts?

[Enrico_Misso]

I still agree with him. Melbourne's kids are miles ahead of ours and we haven't even seen Petracca yet. They're going slightly worse because their group of seniors doesn't compare to ours, but seniors aren't going to win either of us the next flag.

Agree.

Well if the "brainstrust" are convinced that Melbourne are going to go ahead of us then we should ditch the current recruits and rebuild.

[plugger66]

I still agree with him. Melbourne's kids are miles ahead of ours and we haven't even seen Petracca yet. They're going slightly worse because their group of seniors doesn't compare to ours, but seniors aren't going to win either of us the next flag.

Agree.

Well if the "brainstrust" are convinced that Melbourne are going to go ahead of us then we should ditch the current recruits and rebuild.

I don't think you understand that they have had better picks than us for a long time. Doesn't mean our recruiting is even slightly struggling. Its just how it works. We have recruited great in the last 2 years. Strange response.

[Teflon]

I still agree with him. Melbourne's kids are miles ahead of ours and we haven't even seen Petracca yet. They're going slightly worse because their group of seniors doesn't compare to ours, but seniors aren't going to win either of us the next flag.

So do I Berg
It's a reasonable article just not liked by bias saints fans
Facts are on paper Melbourne's younger A grade list runs deeper than ours - 4 out of 5 club recruiters agree
Facts are our older blokes A grade quality craps on Melbourne but they'll be gone in 3 years and are huge in games for us still
We need A grade talent - we have taken a big punt on Paddy and skipped 2 top line draft choices so let's just pray we saw something others didn't
Our midfield isn't anywhere near good enough and won't be till Steven/Armo become our second stringers with elite talent brought in
Nunes, Ross, Acres etc all still really unknown where they'll land
Next 2 drafts are crucial for us

[plugger66]

I still agree with him. Melbourne's kids are miles ahead of ours and we haven't even seen Petracca yet. They're going slightly worse because their group of seniors doesn't compare to ours, but seniors aren't going to win either of us the next flag.

So do I Berg
It's a reasonable article just not liked by bias saints fans
Facts are on paper Melbourne's younger A grade list runs deeper than ours - 4 out of 5 club recruiters agree
Facts are our older blokes A grade quality craps on Melbourne but they'll be gone in 3 years and are huge in games for us still
We need A grade talent - we have taken a big punt on Paddy and skipped 2 top line draft choices so let's just pray we saw something others didn't
Our midfield isn't anywhere near good enough and won't be till Steven/Armo become our second stringers with elite talent brought in
Nunes, Ross, Acres etc all still really unknown where they'll land
Next 2 drafts are crucial for us

I'm unsure Steve and Armo have to become second stringers but they certainly need help with outside run. We are 2 drafts away as you suggested but our first pick wont get it done. That's only 2 players. We need drafts like last season for the next 2 seasons and also a FA or two in the next 2 years and some great trading as we have had in the last year or two. We are about 8 players short from a finals side. maybe even more so it will take some very good drafts to get that many players.

[suss]

Yes it is.

God only knows why he would compare a team who's been welded to the bottom of the ladder for 10 years against another who's made three grand final appearances in the same time frame. I would've expected them to be a tad in front of us.

Perhaps St Kilda and Geelong would've been a logical comparison.

[Teflon]

Yes it is.

God only knows why he would compare a team who's been welded to the bottom of the ladder for 10 years against another who's made three grand final appearances in the same time frame. I would've expected them to be a tad in front of us.

Perhaps St Kilda and Geelong would've been a logical comparison.

I don't think time at bottom is relevant when simply comparing list quality of 2 teams
We're not comparing whose been more successful or who rebuilds fastest

[Teflon]

I still agree with him. Melbourne's kids are miles ahead of ours and we haven't even seen Petracca yet. They're going slightly worse because their group of seniors doesn't compare to ours, but seniors aren't going to win either of us the next flag.

So do I Berg
It's a reasonable article just not liked by bias saints fans
Facts are on paper Melbourne's younger A grade list runs deeper than ours - 4 out of 5 club recruiters agree
Facts are our older blokes A grade quality craps on Melbourne but they'll be gone in 3 years and are huge in games for us still
We need A grade talent - we have taken a big punt on Paddy and skipped 2 top line draft choices so let's just pray we saw something others didn't
Our midfield isn't anywhere near good enough and won't be till Steven/Armo become our second stringers with elite talent brought in
Nunes, Ross, Acres etc all still really unknown where they'll land
Next 2 drafts are crucial for us

I'm unsure Steve and Armo have to become second stringers but they certainly need help with outside run. We are 2 drafts away as you suggested but our first pick wont get it done. That's only 2 players. We need drafts like last season for the next 2 seasons and also a FA or two in the next 2 years and some great trading as we have had in the last year or two. We are about 8 players short from a finals side. maybe even more so it will take some very good drafts to get that many players.

I think the point I'm badly making is right now Steven/Armo are our best mids. They're no Dangerfields or Fyfes IMO if we are to successfully challenge we need greater quality than these two - so in effect they become very good mids underpinning some real top line talent. Right now if I could inject a younger Hayes, Dal Santo and Goddard into that midfield then Steven/Armo would be great support mids in as second tier IMO

Yes we are 8-10 players off
No these can't all be first round picks but our best chance at A grade is first round selections and preferably top 5-10