The Next Cameron Bruce

[bontshow]

We've all seen Melbourne's cold hearted approach to their loyal senior stars - Russell Robertson, Paul Wheatley, Matthew Whelan, James McDonald, Brad Miller and Cameron Bruce in the last 2 years have been forced into either early retirement, or into finding a new club.

Down at the Dees they seem to rate themselves by how many of their players have the potential to be good, not how many good players they actually have. It gives the coach an excuse for not being able to win a game to save himself.

So, who do you think will be next line - which player north of 25 years of age will have too good a year, and become an ex-Demon?

 

[HurleyLegend]

We've all seen Melbourne's cold hearted approach to their loyal senior stars - Russell Robertson, Paul Wheatley, Matthew Whelan, James McDonald, Brad Miller and Cameron Bruce in the last 2 years have been forced into either early retirement, or into finding a new club.

Are you suggesting that Robertson, Wheatley, Whelan, Miller, Bruce and McDonald are stars?

If you think Melbourne would be better off with those hacks in their team, instead of their up-n-comers, you have no idea.

 

[Stylus]

Shouldnt you be posting this with your XXX5 alias? Gogriff is normally for north trolling.

 

[LightTower4]

We've all seen Melbourne's cold hearted approach to their loyal senior stars - Russell Robertson, Paul Wheatley, Matthew Whelan, James McDonald, Brad Miller and Cameron Bruce in the last 2 years have been forced into either early retirement, or into finding a new club.

Down at the Dees they seem to rate themselves by how many of their players have the potential to be good, not how many good players they actually have. It gives the coach an excuse for not being able to win a game to save himself.

So, who do you think will be next line - which player north of 25 years of age will have too good a year, and become an ex-Demon?

Jason Akamanis board.

 

[Bigeasy]

So, who do you think will be next line - which player north of 25 years of age will have too good a year, and become an ex-Demon?

Even when you're trolling another club, you still find a way to include North.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Are you saying young T.J Scully will be going to GWS

(I don't know Scullys middle name)

 

[Bender_]

I say Mark Jamar will get the arse so Gaaawwwwnn can take the "potential" ruck mantle with his enormous head.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Scott West board??

 

[bontshow]

Are you suggesting that Robertson, Wheatley, Whelan, Miller, Bruce and McDonald are stars?

No doubt on Robertson, Bruce or McDonald. The others weren't game breakers, but solid contributors that were sacked before their time.

If you think Melbourne would be better off with those hacks in their team, instead of their up-n-comers, you have no idea.

You can't be perennially better off with 20 year olds with potential than clubs that actually win games

Shouldnt you be posting this with your XXX5 alias? Gogriff is normally for north trolling.

I'm not XXX5.

Jason Akamanis board.

He should have retired at the end of 09. Went on too long, as opposed to not long enough.

Even when you're trolling another club, you still find a way to include North.

Sorry BE. Which player over 25 then

Are you saying young T.J Scully will be going to GWS

(I don't know Scullys middle name)

It's certainly on the cards Byron, but that's not the topic of the thread.

I say Mark Jamar will get the arse so Gaaawwwwnn can take the "potential" ruck mantle with his enormous head.

Yep that's the sort of thing I could see happening. Jamar won't be around for this 'next flag' they are heading for, so will get the short shift.

 

[bontshow]

Scott West board??

West didn't even play a single game in his final year due to getting injured all the time. Clearly past it.

 

[XXX5]

Shouldnt you be posting this with your XXX5 alias? Gogriff is normally for north trolling.

Hello. What?

 

[Davis333]

We've all seen Melbourne's cold hearted approach to their loyal senior stars - Russell Robertson, Paul Wheatley, Matthew Whelan, James McDonald, Brad Miller and Cameron Bruce in the last 2 years have been forced into either early retirement, or into finding a new club.

Down at the Dees they seem to rate themselves by how many of their players have the potential to be good, not how many good players they actually have. It gives the coach an excuse for not being able to win a game to save himself.

So, who do you think will be next line - which player north of 25 years of age will have too good a year, and become an ex-Demon?

Robertson was a great player. but he was yesterdays player. He had no defensive capability. Also he tried to kick a goal while he had taken a mark in the goal square. Only problem was that he tried to kick it over his head while he was still on the ground.

Wheatley was borderline 22.

Whelan was the most underrated player in the AFL but his style of play had seen him battered and had too many injuries to play consistently anymore. Was a sad day when he finished up.

James McDonald was playing some good football. Tweeked his hamstring which was should have kept him out for 1 week. He was gone for 7. Would have loved for him to play on this year. But we couldn't keep him and Bruce.

Cameron Bruce was offered a contract and turned it down. He wanted two years. We only offered one. Not sure how we are at fault here.

Brad Miller was never good enough.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Does Scully to GWS count?

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Robertson was a great player. but he was yesterdays player. He had no defensive capability. Also he tried to kick a goal while he had taken a mark in the goal square. Only problem was that he tried to kick it over his head while he was still on the ground.

Wheatley was borderline 22.

Whelan was the most underrated player in the AFL but his style of play had seen him battered and had too many injuries to play consistently anymore. Was a sad day when he finished up.

James McDonald was playing some good football. Tweeked his hamstring which was should have kept him out for 1 week. He was gone for 7. Would have loved for him to play on this year. But we couldn't keep him and Bruce.

Cameron Bruce was offered a contract and turned it down. He wanted two years. We only offered one. Not sure how we are at fault here.

Brad Miller was never good enough.

Interesting. Is only on a 1-yr contract at HFC - but with an extension if he plays a certain # (20?) of games.

 

[bontshow]

Robertson was a great player. but he was yesterdays player. He had no defensive capability. Also he tried to kick a goal while he had taken a mark in the goal square. Only problem was that he tried to kick it over his head while he was still on the ground.

He was still a great contributor. Just admit it, you sacked him under the 'won't be there for the next flag' rule.

Wheatley was borderline 22.

Only because half of your 22 under Bailey has to be kids. He was only 28 FFS.

Whelan was the most underrated player in the AFL but his style of play had seen him battered and had too many injuries to play consistently anymore. Was a sad day when he finished up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Whelan

In August 2009 Whelan announced his retirement from the AFL alongside team mate Paul Wheatley, effective after Round 22, as part of the Melbourne Football Club's youth policy.

James McDonald was playing some good football. Tweeked his hamstring which was should have kept him out for 1 week. He was gone for 7. Would have loved for him to play on this year. But we couldn't keep him and Bruce.

Total bullshit. You were front loading contracts just to pay the minimum 92.5% of the salary cap. No reason you couldn't have kept both.

Cameron Bruce was offered a contract and turned it down. He wanted two years. We only offered one. Not sure how we are at fault here.

Why didn't you offer 2? Because the 'youth policy' included plans to retire him early?

Brad Miller was never good enough.

Rubbish. He was your best forward for a while there. He was also good enough to be picked up by another club after you unceremoniously dumped him.

 

[Schulzenfest]

Lol Miller. Sometimes you just need to concede the point, gogriff.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

West didn't even play a single game in his final year due to getting injured all the time. Clearly past it.

He played 4 actually, missed the rest due to a stress fracture in his leg which he'd overcome at the time you blokes unceremoniously dumped him.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68139

 

[Mofra]

He played 4 actually, missed the rest due to a stress fracture in his leg which he'd overcome at the time you blokes unceremoniously dumped him.

His last game (playign for Willy) he limped around on one leg, with the difference in definition between the two being vast. He conceded that when he later saw footage of the Willy game he knew he was done.

It's not like have captains whoring themselves off to the highest bidder a la Judd.

 

[Bender_]

It's not like have captains whoring themselves off to the highest bidder a la Judd.

Bullies are no pimps, more so the John that pays for lowly skanks a la Arkermanis.

 

[bontshow]

Lol Miller. Sometimes you just need to concede the point, gogriff.

Sometimes you do, gopower, this much is true. But I stand by the facts:

- Miller was the leading goalkicker for the Dees in 2008
- He was picked up by another club after he was delisted

At Melbourne, it's better to be young than good.

He played 4 actually, missed the rest due to a stress fracture in his leg which he'd overcome at the time you blokes unceremoniously dumped him.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68139

My apologies, 4 it was. That doesn't really change much though, he would have been 34 at the start of the 2009 season if we had kept him on, coming off a serious injury. No-one else picked him up, even though West put himself out there - as Mofra said, he later acknowledged himself he was done, he just didn't want to believe it at the time.

324 games over 16 seasons, retiring at age 33 - that's not a career cut short. Routinely retiring regular senior players before age 30 is.

So, who will be the next Cameron Bruce? I'm tipping Brad Green, he somehow makes it to 30 next Sunday without being delisted first. Surely 2012 is too much to ask. Might get picked up by the Pies and actually play some finals footy.

 

[hawks 09]

Doug Hawkins says hi.

 

[Schulzenfest]

At Melbourne, it's better to be young than good

But neither are relevant to Miller.

 

[bontshow]

Doug Hawkins says hi.

Hawkins moved to Fitzroy at age 34 for one extra season.

Bruce moved to Hawthorn having just turned 31 hoping for another 2 or more.

In isolation, it's not all that significant that Melbourne offered one year and another club was willing to offer 2 (subject to conditions), but 6 players over 2 years spells a trend.

But neither are relevant to Miller.

What about Robertson? Whelan? Wheatley? McDonald? Bruce?

You can't explain this away by lack of talent. Never before in AFL history have we seen routine sackings of under 30's.

---

So what are we thinking at the end of 2011 - Green to Collingwood, Jamar to Hawthorn, Davey to the Dogs?

It's ridiculous that their 2nd oldest player is only 27.

 

[liam_13]

He was still a great contributor. Just admit it, you sacked him under the 'won't be there for the next flag' rule.

No he wasn't a great contributor. He was actually quoted as saying he wanted to win Mark of the Year before he retired. Shows how he played (selfishly)

Only because half of your 22 under Bailey has to be kids. He was only 28 FFS.

Wheatley had some ability to kick long and also had the ability to kick lo..oh wait

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Whelan

Wow that wiki page makes it sound like Melbourne screwed Whelan over...he seems so angry that he left on good terms!! Clearly, he was the opposite of Robertson, but wasn't one of those great players who sticks around for ages because they are so good even in 'old age' (Harvey, Fletcher, Black etc)


Total bullshit. You were front loading contracts just to pay the minimum 92.5% of the salary cap. No reason you couldn't have kept both.

James McDonald granted, was still his same old self, and without knowing the inner workings, should have been kept for another season.

Why didn't you offer 2? Because the 'youth policy' included plans to retire him early?

Probably because most clubs have a policy that over 30s get 1 year contracts

Rubbish. He was your best forward for a while there. He was also good enough to be picked up by another club after you unceremoniously dumped him.

Are you thinking of the same player? The player who is most well known for having a hot missus? Yes he was their best forward, when he was competing with Michael Newton and an achilles-injury affected Russell Robertson. Now there are quality youngsters getting games.
And he is only at Richmond for mentoring roles, will be lucky to play more then 5 games. He definitely isn't there to be a 2nd focal point for Jack Riewoldt.

6 characters

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

What about Robertson? Whelan? Wheatley? McDonald? Bruce?

You can't explain this away by lack of talent. Never before in AFL history have we seen routine sackings of under 30's.

McDonald turned 34 the week after the grand final replay.

Bruce was 31, and wasn't sacked.

Robertson was 31 and his body was shot.

So the "routine sackings of under 30's" is down to two "sackings", Wheatley and Whelan. Hardly two superstars of the club, more like Melbourne's version of Mitch Hahn. Whether they were sacked or simply realised they';d struggle for selection is a matter of conjecture.