Where did it all go wrong?

[Scorlibo]

So we get burned one year and you seem to think it's less likely to happen two years in a row? How did that work for us this year?
To me it's like arguing the value of having car or house insurance. Why exactly do you want to cheap out on adding a ruckman?
Are you really OK with Bontempelli rucking in games or Jong and Dunkley?

On paper, having Roughy (every bit deserving of the title 'Premiership Ruckman' on 2016 form), Campbell, Boyd and English on the list is exactly the kind of mix we need. I'd object to having more than 4 ruckmen on a 44 man list. For me, if we were to find other options, it would have to be at the expense of Roughead or Campbell, not in addition. Otherwise we will end up with three pure ruckmen at VFL level.

[bornadog]

On paper, having Roughy (every bit deserving of the title 'Premiership Ruckman' on 2016 form), Campbell, Boyd and English on the list is exactly the kind of mix we need. I'd object to having more than 4 ruckmen on a 44 man list. For me, if we were to find other options, it would have to be at the expense of Roughead or Campbell, not in addition. Otherwise we will end up with three pure ruckmen at VFL level.

Would we prefer Boyd to stay at FF and bring in another ruckman?

[anfo27]

So we get burned one year and you seem to think it's less likely to happen two years in a row? How did that work for us this year?
To me it's like arguing the value of having car or house insurance. Why exactly do you want to cheap out on adding a ruckman?
Are you really OK with Bontempelli rucking in games or Jong and Dunkley?

I'm just a bit torn on the idea GVGjr because we already have the solution there in English but he isn't quite ready yet & is there a good option out there that we can use till English is ready? I'm not convinced there is.

If Roughie & TC struggle with fitness again next year then we will look like fools if we have done nothing to rectify the problem.

[ledge]

roughie will always get injured it's in his genes.
Never major but getting hit in the eye by the ball is the perfect example of Roughie and injuries

[Twodogs]

roughie will always get injured it's in his genes.
Never major but getting hit in the eye by the ball is the perfect example of Roughie and injuries

Did he cop another falcon last week or the week before? I'm sure I saw him cop one but no one has mentioned it.

[bornadog]

roughie will always get injured it's in his genes.

He played 25 games last year but missed the first half of this year due to a freak injury. I think he is getting more durable.

People can say he hasn't had a good year in the ruck, but they forget he was injured in the preseason which didn't help him or us for the whole season.

[Ozza]

He played 25 games last year but missed the first half of this year due to a freak injury. I think he is getting more durable.

People can say he hasn't had a good year in the ruck, but they forget he was injured in the preseason which didn't help him or us for the whole season.

Good call.

I think for Roughy, and Dicko as you've mentioned elsewhere, the injuries they sustained in the pre-season meant that both of them never really got going for the year.
If you look back over Dicko's career - the difference between the couple of years where he had continuity vs those where he missed big chunks, is just massive.

For Roughy - he is probably never going to be a dominant player, but keep him fit like 2016, and he is a valuable contributor. It will be important to keep him and TC available and on the park, as English will need 3 years more development at least working under these guys.

At 26 and 27 respectively next season - TC and Rough are potentially coming into their best years. Consider that Tom Boyd has just turned 22 and English 19 or 20 - I think the ruck stocks are in reasonable shape IF the boys can stay on the park

[Bulldog Revolution]

He played 25 games last year but missed the first half of this year due to a freak injury. I think he is getting more durable.

People can say he hasn't had a good year in the ruck, but they forget he was injured in the preseason which didn't help him or us for the whole season.

The only time the team got going late coincided with Roughead finding form

[merantau]

I like to think Tom Campbell's best is ahead of him.

[jeemak]

Reasonable effort from Greg Baum:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/western...24-gy3fia.html

[bornadog]

Reasonable effort from Greg Baum:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/western...24-gy3fia.html

Good article, and about sums it up.

[Hotdog60]

2016

•BRETT MONTGOMERY - SNR ASSISTANT
•ROHAN SMITH - BACKS
•DANIEL GIANSIRACUSA - FORWARDS
•STEVEN KING - MIDFIELD
•JOEL COREY - STOPPAGES
Maybe we shouldn't mess with a winning formula until it breaks.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

We have lost our McCartneyism. We have lost our cracking in, our contested footy. We need to get Brendan McCartney back as assistant coach to set the benchmarks for contested footy.

[ledge]

We have lost our McCartneyism. We have lost our cracking in, our contested footy. We need to get Brendan McCartney back as assistant coach to set the benchmarks for contested footy.

Interesting statement when you consider what are becoming Melbournes strengths.. I've always said McCartney would make a great list manager or junior development coach.
He just wasn't a senior coach, let's face it the list that won the flag was pretty much his.
I give him a lot of credit for 2016 happening.

[bornadog]

we have lost our mccartneyism. We have lost our cracking in, our contested footy. We need to get brendan mccartney back as assistant coach to set the benchmarks for contested footy.

please no