Correct you are - Eddie is on the AA board now? Poor Danny.

Danny's a top bloke, can be hard-line but is a very likeable character.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Fair point about Melbourne, I don't rate them as a hard side but they have toughened up over the last couple of years to have toughness extend on every line, but you are correct, they are no Brisbane or Sydney

Having said that, being a supporter of our current team, you can honestly sleep at night calling the opposition soft, we have a huge way to go before we start calling the opposition soft.

jimmae wrote:

Quote:

McLean is quality but he's not a razzle dazzle player so you may see him become like Scott West - club raves about him but he always falls short on the votes.

Doesn't break the game in the traditional sense, but brings in the game-breakers and feeds the ball to them. Can be handy outside but I see his real strength is going to be in the clinches. Maybe Ratten can show him a thing or too.

I may be mistaken but I thought Ratten had ended is association with the Dees a couple of years ago.

I think Pickett will toughen them up a bit and I hope he doesnt connect with any of our players especially a young bloke playing his first game...
Moloney and Mclean have also added some grunt to the Dees and I guess Johnston and Green would be their standout softies...of course they have Miller who is a bit of stand over merchant in the Milburn mode and like Pickett enjoys picking off players when they cant see him coming...

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I didn't notice

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Pickett has lost pace and will find it harder to pick players off in the coming seasons. He'll toughen them up, but I don't think he'll have a huge effect.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Hopefully one or two of our players WON'T be looking sideways for an incoming Pickett. I'll be watching closely.

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There's so much I could say...

Crucial that we put presure on Dees when they have the ball and win the arm wrestle in the middle.

Melbourne can play outstanding footy,but some of their prime movers drop their collective heads too easily and play like softcocks.

Dont get me wrong I think we sit in the same boat which means it is crucial we have a real flower crack come April 2nd.You think we would given it is the first game of the season.

Old 55,i give you credit for being a real decent civil sorta guy.And im not in the caper of belittling people. BUT.........are you in dreamland buddie.Gardiner assures Daniher that he has full support and his position is safe.Pffff !.......of course he would say that,wouldnt he.Plenty of coaches have recieved similar assurance's and its almost like a death warrant.In the blink of an eye they are out the door.Despite what they say Old 55,things aint as rosy as you are led to believe.And dont insult by asking me to reveal my source.I dont snitch.That taboo in my part of the world.

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All my dangerous friends

Indeed. President says coach is safe - coach gets sack. President says coach is safe - coach enters 9th year with a year to run. I agree you can't read too much into it.

Daniher was very keen and relieved to deliver on his back-to-back finals appearances promise in 2005 because he knew it was vital for job continuity. This year he is talking possible top 4 and I agree he will be in trouble if we don't at least make the 8. It's been a fair while since a coach who took his team to 3 consecutive finals series was sacked, altho the Saints sacked Alves after 2.

It's pretty clear-cut and there's no need for a conspiracy theory, we can't be going backwards after 9 years under Daniher but our real talent is in the 19-23 age bracket and we are still a fair way off peaking. It is proven that the old stagers Neitz, White and Yze cannot carry us to a flag just like Lyon, Stynes and Viney couldn't before them. It's going to be up to Rivers, Miller, McLean, Sylvia, Johnstone, Robertson, Whelan, Davey, Moloney, Green and Bruce to deliver with the old heads and Pickett as icing. Half that group are not in their prime yet and the old head have 2-3 year in them. Daniher doesn't need a flag in 2006 to be making progress.

I respect your protection of your source, but caution you that unless they are on the current board or are Steve Harris, Chris Fagan or Craig Cameron then their opinion is worth about as much as yours and mine.

First of all Old 55,i am not offering you my opinion but an undeniable fact which is 100 pc watertight.Personally i couldnt give two hoots if he keeps his job or not.Just trying to put you in the picture Old 55..........As you say Old 55,the current head honcho's like and respect Daniher.The problem they have is that he has been there a long time and has not looked like delivering.Just scraped in last year,and then got blasted out of the water.Trust me,that left a very bad taste in there mouth.Despite there regard for Daniher,the question being asked is can he deliver the ultimate prize.How long can we go on like this ?With Daniher its quite simply this year or see you later aligator.If he survives it will be a miracle.

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All my dangerous friends

This post was specifically talking about Melbourne Earl. If you would like me to comment on Carlton's toughness then I will totally agree with you, we do have a long way to go. However we have more younger, smaller players in our side than Melbourne so I think we need to consider that as well. But regardless of whether Carlton is a soft side or not, doesn't change my thoughts on Melbourne.

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Witty signature required.

Sorry Ol' 55 but I think Melbourne will be sliders this year....you can bet Carlton wont be! I mean we cant slide any lower, can we?

Having said that I think Melbourne will lose a close one next weekend!

Come round 1 we have to:

WIN

Yep, I'll second that!