An open letter to Sir Michael Malthouse.

[Punxsutawney Phil]

Great coach, but have his poor Magpies ever really been outplayed to lose a game?

One week its the umpires, the next its the problem of getting up for "blockbuster" games every week, the next its injuries. Poor bloke, they have been so desperately unlucky in his time to have all of these things go against them every time they lose.

Boo *smile* hoo.

 

[Tames]

He is a sook, but at least he does the coaches votes properly. :-X I'd like to see 6 on the bench, it would be a good way to blood youngsters, as well as help with rotations to lessen injuries.

 

[Streak]

I'd like to see 6 on the bench, it would be a good way to blood youngsters, as well as help with rotations to lessen injuries.

There are pros and cons to this for sure.

One concern I have with putting more players on the bench is the impact this will have on teams with less squad depth.

This may seem like a big call, but I would be very concerned that a side like Melbourne this year would go winless for the season under such a scenario. Conversely, a team like Geelong would be even harder to beat because of the additonal talent they would be able to consistently put on the bench.

For mine, 4 is enough. And right now, I think there are bigger issues for the AFL to worry about, like tanking.

 

[Mac]

There should be 10 on the bench, but so it doesn't speed the game up any more, they should be made to run 400m relays full pelt while they are on the "bench", to knock the edge of them before the go on. Every player would be required to do at least one lap per half.

This would also add interest to boring games, as you can barrack for the relay teams all game.

It would also give us the advantage with a heap of skinny runners

 

[Dyer'ere]

Remember that GF when he picked Jason Cloke to play - get ready for this - centre half forward - and then implied blame on the player for his side's defeat?

Last weekend he picked a vet who with suspect fitness and then blamed the rules for the injury.

With Mick it's always someone else's fault. It's endemic in the code. Dimi anyone?

BTW if you want to see flooding taken to all new levels you increase the size of the bench. The bench gets smaller if anything.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

Remember that GF when he picked Jason Cloke to play - get ready for this - centre half forward - and then implied blame on the player for his side's defeat?

Last weekend he picked a vet who with suspect fitness and then blamed the rules for the injury.

With Mick it's always someone else's fault. It's endemic in the code. Dimi anyone?

BTW if you want to see flooding taken to all new levels you increase the size of the bench. The bench gets smaller if anything.

From memory Jack, when asked about Jason Cloke's game in that Grand Final, his response was along the lines of "he played better in last year's Grand Final" which was a swipe at him considering he was out suspended in the previous year's GF.

I agree, with him its always someone else's fault.

 

[jb03]

Remember that GF when he picked Jason Cloke to play - get ready for this - centre half forward - and then implied blame on the player for his side's defeat?

Didn't Terry Daniher cop the rap for that too?

 

[Dyer'ere]

I remember it too, Phil.

And jb, he didn't, did he? Sheeeesh.

 

[Snap]

Spot on DG.

TW submitted a proposal earlier this year re. an extra two players for the interchange bench to cover injuries.

And I suspect many on here (probably including TigerForce) shouted him down.

For both it is a method of deflection for the real issues.