Good point.

which begs the question, who on our list is sufficiently good enough to be part of a list of 30 that is capable of genuine Tilt?

fortunately this year several have improved substantially, namely Lucas, Gibbs, Walker, Jeffrey, Armfield etc
Who else is capable of sufficient improvement in the short term to a level that enables a realistic tilt this year? perhaps another 3 or so ? and if we do happen to make it this year, by some measure of good fortune with injury in 2nd half of season & a solid game plan, who of those in the development phase are truly likely to improve sufficiently so in the medium to long term to enable a sustainable tilt beyond this year? if it wasn't for this years draftees who are a slight way off as yet, and perhaps 3 or 4 others you'd have to at the very least entertain the possibility that there's not enough necessary quality in there.

Lots of differences between our 95 side and this side. 95 side was a lot more experienced with some genuine all time/club greats. Also that side had been close in 93/94.

This side is younger and requires more tinkering.

I look forward to seeing who else gets a go.

On another matter, do you think Brad Green has ever been given a serve like that ever?

I don't know why, but I quite liked it.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

They were Malthouse's assertions and maybe some others but predominately our new coach’s.
When you read everybody's views about how competitive we were in the first three games they seem sure we are not far behind and also with a mighty win interstate on the weekend against a highly fancied opponent seems we are on our way.
Taking this into account and with some schooling and conviction with our game plan we shouldn't be far off the make.
With some luck on the injury front then we have a strong showing.
Unless some posters don't think that our enhanced coaching staff and excellent game plan(s) will not cope under the strain of teams better than the pies, cats and an every improved Richmond because they seem to be top eight if not top four material at this point in time.

Yeah i noticed that also, his body language was pretty clear both when copping the serve and later in the dressing room where video footage showed him standing next to MM appearing totally guarded. I suspect next time when asked a question by MM he wont be as relaxed as he may have been prior to the serve

So what do you SPECIFICALLY consider a realistically attainable pass mark for 2013?,

1/Those comments were made because his game plan doesn’t stand up any more. This we can argue about but he has changed it and subsequently the structure every game to suit. Which to some extent isn’t a bad thing.
2/We have been in most games one way or another meaning it can fall either way.
3/WC not in form and thing fell our way, which you need luck to get over close games.
4/As above. With Hampson and Rowe we have targets and are competing in the air and bringing the smalls into play more. Yes, we may still have improvement with the others.
5/You always need for things to drop your way as it is every year with every team. How many times has the favourite won the cup compared to the other top 4-6 teams. Has our development been great no but that’s not relative to only drafting but we should also look at the individual player and more importantly what have they sustained as far as injury and growth and when?

As far as pass mark goes ask every player and every coach at the end of the year if they were happy how that year ended and that will give you your answer.

But you have been fairly clear and vocal in some of your general assessments and calls for improvement in the performance of the coaching staff to date (including in your post above), in order for you to do that you must have a personally recognizable comparative benchmark from which to make those judgement calls, otherwise according to your own stated method of ascertaining what constitutes reasonable performance you would have to refrain from making any judgment calls until the end of the year, after you've had a chance to consult with the coaching staff and players. So based on your own methodology we can expect no more performance judgement s coming form you until after the season has ended, or alternatively you could stop avoiding answering the question and share the basis of your pass bench-marking that leads you to making the judgment calls you've made.

I like everyone else and MM himself make judgements on performance, team selection, structures and game plans on a week to week basis.
The bench make in an over all successful season is not judged on one, five or twenty two games, well maybe twenty two but I hope not.
Until that time I will support and comment on our over all standing and as a team in progress.

agree with your comment RB re benchmark being O/A team progress based on week by week proposition. have you noted ANY progress? what constitutes progress for you? is it wins? is it being competitive? is it player improvement? is it seeing a coaches face in the box other than one with grey hair?

Bright side is we won on the weekend.
I think you might have a preconceived notion that I am against Malthouse and was pro Ratten.
Let me assure you that is far from the truth. I wasn’t thrilled with Rattens appointment but I think he deserved a bit more respect that he was given after taking over a depleted and broken team. I believe it was time to go just not in that manner.
Likewise with malthouse I think we pigeon holed the decision for self-preservation purposes but now that he is here I support him fully but I will still comment on decisions that amuse and bewilder me but only objectively as I don’t play favourites.
I didn’t agree and don’t agree with a boundary hugging game plan or a small forward line and never will but I do congratulate him on the alterations to his original plans.
Progress as you mentioned is measured in many forms and we will all notice, no doubt refer to it or the lack of it from time to time, from game to game and from player to player.

Oh I know, that was just an illustration of it

Is it that hard to write "overall"?

Lol.. I was tired

WAYTA?

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

This thread's gone quiet... does that mean we are happy with his progress?

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17 4 10

Will get interesting in the next few weeks or so again.

With cachia waite and ellard has tried 34 players this year must be nearly a record 6 matches out

With our tall forwards firing so well the decision not to go or get the Q stick under free agency for nothing seems inspired - not Micks fault from all reports - probably been able to secure the q stick if hadn't re-contracted joseph or davies on longer term deals even with tight salary cap - lets hope we go into next off season being better placed