Dodged a bullet

[azabob]

Re: Dodged a bullet

Not a hindsight call in the least I just think he typifies alot of melbourne players re-selfishness Yze springs to mind. Also the fist pump when you're getting pantsed looks silly,trying to take mark of the week in every contest,kicking the ball over your shoulder in the goal square. Continually let melbourne down in finals also[had some mates there]

Interesting the only other Melbourne player you point out is no longer at the club. I think you are quick to forget how poor we were in regards to team play etc etc when we were on the bottom of the ladder.
IMO Robertson seems to be more consistant in his goal output than Welsh. I think that may have something to do with him being Melbourne's only avenue to goal.
But having said all that I think your being harsh on Melbourne in general.

[ledge]

Re: Dodged a bullet

Melbourne are full of kids and its very hard to lead them at fullforward when the ball isnt there, Robbo would get frustrated as Hall does playing on a small ground at Sydney.

Personally i am not going to compare Robbo and Welsh but i have no doubt Robbo would have achieved more being with us than at Melbourne and the show off part would have been knocked on the head as Akers handstand was.

Changing teams means different culture, we have a different culture than them , players conform, re invigorate and change style to what the coach wants from them.

I think Robbo made a bad choice but sometimes loyalty over rules and i give him credit for it.

[mighty_west]

Re: Dodged a bullet

I think Robbo made a bad choice but sometimes loyalty over rules and i give him credit for it.

I know what you mean, but i don't think he made a bad decision, yeah he could have played out his career in a more successful side, but any player that chooses loyalty over $$$$'s or success, deserves the upmost respect.

[Topdog]

Re: Dodged a bullet

Robbo looks a touch out of condition to. Does anybody else think Bailey is looking Rohdesque as a coach?

I think Bailey is looking great. IMO Melbourne will be a very very good side in 3 years.

[ledge]

Re: Dodged a bullet

I think Bailey is looking great. IMO Melbourne will be a very very good side in 3 years.

I thought this early on, Melbourne will be a good side but i am just not convinced Bailey is the man now.

[hujsh]

Re: Dodged a bullet

Robbo looks a touch out of condition to. Does anybody else think Bailey is looking Rohdesque as a coach?

Rhode was worse cause he wasted 1st round picks

[Remi Moses]

Re: Dodged a bullet

I'd be more worried by melbourne's lack of intensity. Maybe a tad harsh on Bailey,this time next year if melbourne haven't improved and they don't win 7 or 8 games Bailey will have to have the blow torch applied by the media. The injury doesn't hide the fact that Robbo plays for himself and spends half the match sprawled on the carpet.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Dodged a bullet

I think Bailey is looking great. IMO Melbourne will be a very very good side in 3 years.

Find it hard to agree a coach looks great when they're about 4 from 34 games.

[Topdog]

Re: Dodged a bullet

Find it hard to agree a coach looks great when they're about 4 from 34 games.

Good for you. I don't believe in simple win / loss ratios as my factors in what makes a good coach.

Ratten lost his first 7 and now looks like a genious --> He is crap and has cost Carlton at least 2 wins this year.

Brisbane are 4th. At least 16 of their 22 have been in the side for ages and his young players like Brennan and Clark are finally playing well. I can't say he is a bad or good coach yet but the media are over estimating his role there. If ever a rookie coach was going to have success it was going to be at the Lions this year. Brown, Bradshaw, Black and Power are a fantastic starting block.

Similarly Rocket must have looked like a dud when he lost 6 out of the last 7 (approx.) 2 years ago.

Woosha is getting a 3 year extension for being in the bottom 3 because he won a premiership years ago. He is looking well and truely like a dunce at the moment.

Bailey has got his young team to play a pretty decent brand of footy but they fall down in a few areas with the main one being their forward line. They are basically relying on Robbo who is past his best now. They had 2 rookies in their fwd line last week. Bate is seriously underrated IMO.

[mighty_west]

Re: Dodged a bullet

I'd be more worried by melbourne's lack of intensity. Maybe a tad harsh on Bailey,this time next year if melbourne haven't improved and they don't win 7 or 8 games Bailey will have to have the blow torch applied by the media. The injury doesn't hide the fact that Robbo plays for himself and spends half the match sprawled on the carpet.

They didn't lack intensity when they played us, and at times this year, have showed some improvement, thats pretty much all you can ask from a side like Melbourne at this stage.

The blow torch hasn't been on Bailey for those reasons, the improvement [although not showing it with wins] and with the GC concessions in the next few years of the draft, Melbourne simple can't afford to start winning games, they can again grab 2 of the best young kids in this years draft, and go on from there.

I quite like the look of some of their younger players, i reckon Cheney is going to be something, they are going to have a very solid backline, Frawley, Rivers, Martin, Garland, their midfield is also taking shape - Bartram, Grimes, Jones, McLean, Morton, Davey, and some handy forwards as well, off course Watts as a key forward, Pettard [i rated him playing in the QLD u/18's], Bate, Sylvia is having his best season & Wonaeamirri.

Maybe throw in a Butcher or some other highly rated kids coming through and i reckon Melbourne have something pretty good to look forward to.

He has been cut some slack because of his approach, he has pretty much cleaned the cupboard and recriuted in some exciting kids, and playing those kids as well, the difference between Bailey & Rhode was that Rhode traded for trades sake, he didn't care what it cost him to plug holes, with players that were pretty much on the scrap heap or just surviving at their clubs anyway.

[Twodogs]

Re: Dodged a bullet

No way, I was there with Mantis & Sockeye when we were told about Robbo.

Yep, me three-I was there, the source is immaculate. We never, ever considered trading a pick.



Anyway I've been wrapped with Welsh and for me it's all well that ends well!

[Twodogs]

Re: Dodged a bullet

Robbo looks a touch out of condition to. Does anybody else think Bailey is looking Rohdesque as a coach?

Not at all. I thought they were really good against us-we didnt struggle that day, a lot of people just sold Melbourne's effort a bit short.

[The Pie Man]

Re: Dodged a bullet

While Robertson isn't a 6'4 power forward, he can take a contested grab, so I can see why we were looking at him. Welsh I believe is reasonably strong, and has taken some ripping marks on a hard lead under pressure, but isn't the sit under the ball contested grab that Robertson in his prime could be.

What I like about Welsh though is that despite a skip in his run up, he's a damn good kick for goal. From memory, from 40 + out, Robertson's kicks do have a tendency to drift right. I was a bit dirty on him in our flat patch last year (I think apart from the Sydney game in Canberra he'd had a very ordinary month) but all up he's been great value and we got him for nothing.

You never know, if Robbo came to us, he might never have gotten injured.

On a side note re: Melbourne - I think we should look at getting Miller next year, they might be prepared to trade him out for more youth/picks.