B: Garland (Jones), Warnock (Hale), Bartram

HB: Rivers Frawley (Petrie) Grimes (if fit)

C: Green Moloney Morton

HF: Petterd Bate Bruce

F: Jetta Miller Davey

R: Spencer Jones McLean

Int: Johnson Buckley McDonald Sylvia

Based on what I saw at Casey, Petterd must play, and Jetta is in if Wonna is unfit. Cheney in for Grimes if deemed unfit.

Newton is and will always be rubbish. Miller must play a genuine FF.

For mine, Miller is ineffectual when he leads up from CHF because he's too slow in moving the ball on.

Fair call. I must admit, I'd prefer to see him taking his time as opposed to how he used to go about it, which was mark, then immediately fire off a handpass to the first Melbourne player he could see.

B: Garland (Jones), Warnock (Hale), Bartram

HB: Rivers Frawley (Petrie) Grimes (if fit)

C: Green Moloney Morton

HF: Petterd Bate Bruce

F: Jetta Miller Davey

R: Spencer Jones McLean

Int: Johnson Buckley McDonald Sylvia

Based on what I saw at Casey, Petterd must play, and Jetta is in if Wonna is unfit. Cheney in for Grimes if deemed unfit.

Newton is and will always be rubbish. Miller must play a genuine FF.

Hey hold on!

Melb beat Brisbane at Cairns, with Newton named as our best-kicked 3 goals out of 11?

Bate is not a KPF--Might be a darned good player in due course but is not big enough for CHF or FF.He's in but on a flank.

I think they must play Newton for a few games. And Dunn MUST play--he's ideal for a number of tags even against Petrie around the ground.

Surely Sylvia doesn't just slide back in--if so it's the hallmark of a weak adminstration

After the debacle with Garland last year, I'm not going to judge anyone until we get into the thick of the season.

Newton is half an inch taller than Bate. This 'he ain't big enough' to play KPF rap on Bate is unfounded. He hasn't had the chance to fail or excel at FF or CHF. Last year he spent all his time on a flank with Miller pushing him out and toward the boundary.

He has been adequate at HFF but I think he is solid enough and smart enough to average 2.5 goals a game at FF in 2009.

The good thing as far as I am concerned is even with our injuries, like Bell, Wheatley, Wheels, Grimes, Robbo, Maric, Jamar etc we still seem to have a deeper pool of players to draw from.

This bodes well for the future.

Hey hold on!

Melb beat Brisbane at Cairns, with Newton named as our best-kicked 3 goals out of 11?

Bate is not a KPF--Might be a darned good player in due course but is not big enough for CHF or FF.He's in but on a flank.

I think they must play Newton for a few games. And Dunn MUST play--he's ideal for a number of tags even against Petrie around the ground.

Surely Sylvia doesn't just slide back in--if so it's the hallmark of a weak adminstration

I personally don't see Bate as a key posi player but I do see him as a 3rd tall forward after Butcher & Watts.

The good thing as far as I am concerned is even with our injuries, like Wheels, Grimes, Robbo, Maric, Jamar etc we still seem to have a deeper pool of players to draw from.

This bodes well for the future.

Absolutely agree 'Redleg'.

I personally don't see Bate as a key posi player but I do see him as a 3rd tall forward after Butcher & Watts.

Well none of Watt or Butcher [or Baker or Candlestick maker for that matter] seem likely to don the guernsey against the shin-boners in Round 1.I'm simply saying that Newton deserves some sort of a run in a reasonable team--forget last year--none of our forwards got any easy goals from our mid-fielders ever. For a KPF to appear successful, he will have to earn a number of his kicks/goals, but it's also true that if he can move quickly and take a grab, it's likely he will receive some gifts. Neitz did--who will forget some of the passes delivered to him by Brad Green or Travis in the years when MFC was a decent team.

You don't write off a player such as Newton until he's had a chance to show what he can do in a reasonable team. Our midfielders and small forwards should be able to give him decent service this year--at least better than in 2008

With Grimes and Bell out its going to be interesting how we match up with the kangas quick forwards of thomas,campbell and Harvey.

Petterd will have to be played off HB i would presume.

We got Bartram that can run with the quicker forwards.

Cheney gets a start?

I think James Strauss is a big chance of making his debut?

We need some good foot skills coming out of our back line?

Be interesting.... CANT WAIT

strauss is out for several weeks with an ankle injury.

its pointless at guessing what our round 1 lineup is going to be because of all the injuries we have but i think cheney is going to debut for sure.

Simpson - McDonald

Harvey - Grimes(!)

Watt - Dunn

C. Jones - Bruce

Hale - Warnock

Wells - Bartram

Petrie - Johnson

McIntosh - Spencer

Simpson. I'm happy for anyone to go h2h. Brock, Moloney, Jones.

Harvey - Dunn copped a spray from the midget, Go Dunn again.

C.Jones - Garland's a perfect match.

Hale - Warnock. Extra height doesn't faze me.

Wells - Cameron Bruce, Bell, Bartram

Petrie - Frawley or PJ. depends where he plays

Mcintosh - Spencer

Thomas and Campbell - Cheney and Bartram. Love to see Bennell play.

Ultimately do we pick arguably the best matchup for Hale in Martin, or the (presently) better footballers that are in better form ? Frawley, Warnock, and Garland have had better form in the preseason and are ahead in development. I can't imagine that trio not playing. Is Rivers a little underdone for Rd 1 ? Possibly. But for me Frawley, Martin, Warnock, Garland and Rivers don't all fit into the team.

I think they can, but not all in the same defence, and certainly not at the same time.

Which means that if the decision is made for them all to play, that either Garland or Rivers probably needs to play forward. I would have Martin in the side for Hale as he is a player who has the ability to take the game completely away from us, and I'd like to see Rivers tried up forward, but we are a surprisingly tall side at the moment so balance is a serious consideration.

Also, anyone who says that Hale is not a power forward is kidding themselves. Anyone over 2m tall, over 100kg, and able to kick 8 on Matthew Scarlett deserves their own plan in the preparation.

My go at this is:

B: Cheney, Martin, Frawley

HB: Garland, Warnock, Bennell

C: Green, McLean, Bruce

HF: Petterd, Miller, Sylvia

F: Wonaeamirrri, Bate, Davey

R: Johnson, Junior, Jones

I: Buckley, Morton, Spencer, Moloney

E: Newton, Rivers, Dunn

strauss is out for several weeks with an ankle injury.

its pointless at guessing what our round 1 lineup is going to be because of all the injuries we have but i think cheney is going to debut for sure.

Bummer about Strauss

Bennell would be a good chance then.

Agree on trying to guess what the full line up will be ! Too hard

Petterd has been riding on the back of his brilliant first few matches back in 2007 for a while now. His current form does not warrant immediate selection to me. Seems to lack confidence, would benefit from VFL footy.

Not that I've seen any games, but wasn't he one of our better players in the intra club game, kicked 2 goals against brisbane and was our BOG until he got injured last week?

If anything, I'd say he's been one of our better players this pre-season. He's a monty for round 1.

Here's how I make the mix:-

....B: BRUCE, MARTIN, RIVERS

..HB: GRIMES, WARNOCK, GARLAND

....C: BUCKLEY, MCLEAN, MORTON

...HF: GREEN, MILLER, DAVEY

.....F: NEWTON, BATE, WONAEAMIRRI,

FOLL: JOHNSON, MCDONALD, JONES

...IC: SPENCER, MOLONEY, DUNN, CHENEY,

EMERG: = FRAWLEY, SYLVIA, JETTA, PETTERD, BARTRAM

Here's how I make the mix:- revised

....B: BRUCE, MARTIN, RIVERS

..HB: BUCKLEY, WARNOCK, GARLAND

....C: DAVEY, MCLEAN, MORTON

...HF: GREEN, MILLER, BATE

.....F: PETTERD, NEWTON, WONAEAMIRRI,

FOLL: JOHNSON, MCDONALD, JONES

...IC: SPENCER, MOLONEY, DUNN, CHENEY,

EMERG: = FRAWLEY, SYLVIA, JETTA, BARTRAM

Here's how I make the mix:- revised

....B: BRUCE, MARTIN, RIVERS

..HB: BUCKLEY, WARNOCK, GARLAND

....C: DAVEY, MCLEAN, MORTON

...HF: GREEN, MILLER, BATE

.....F: PETTERD, NEWTON, WONAEAMIRRI,

FOLL: JOHNSON, MCDONALD, JONES

...IC: SPENCER, MOLONEY, DUNN, CHENEY,

EMERG: = FRAWLEY, SYLVIA, JETTA, BARTRAM

Just about on the mark i would suspect. I would have frawley ahead slightly on cheney. Wona unlikely to play IMO so sylvia or jetta to come in there otherwise pretty close to a run on side at this stage

Cheney Warnock Garland

Rivers Martin Frawley

Green McLean Morton

Sylvia Miller Petterd

Wnna Bate Davey

Johnson Bruce McDonald

Spencer Jones Bartram Moloney

FB: Garland Warnock Martin

HB: Petterd Rivers Grimes

C: Morton Jones Green

HF: Sylvia Bate Davey

FF: Wonaeamirri Miller Jetta

Foll: Spencer McDonald McLean

Int: Johnson Moloney Bruce Buckley

Emergency: Frawley Bennell Dunn

Revised due to injuries.

FB: Garland Warnock Martin

HB: Petterd Rivers Frawley

C: Morton Jones Green

HF: Sylvia Bate Davey

FF: Wonaeamirri Miller Jetta

Foll: Spencer McDonald McLean

Int: Johnson Moloney Bruce Buckley

Emergency: Bartram Bennell Dunn

Not that I've seen any games, but wasn't he one of our better players in the intra club game, kicked 2 goals against brisbane and was our BOG until he got injured last week?

If anything, I'd say he's been one of our better players this pre-season. He's a monty for round 1.

Particularly when his own captain nominates him as the one big improver for this season.

Particularly when his own captain nominates him as the one big improver for this season.

The amount of awareness, poise and balance Petterd has makes him Rivers or dare I say Bizzell-like. He will kick the occaisional pie floater but his general disposal is good. He looked quite good up forward too, adding another string to his bow.

Not that I've seen any games, but wasn't he one of our better players in the intra club game, kicked 2 goals against brisbane and was our BOG until he got injured last week?

If anything, I'd say he's been one of our better players this pre-season. He's a monty for round 1.

I can only comment on what I've seen and I wasn't at the intra-club or Bears game. Against both the Hawks & Swannies he was very quiet. BOG until he got injured against the Doggies? He showed some encouraging signs but ultimately he had little effect playing across half forward, presented well but it bounced off his chest everytime, admittedly it was pissing wet and he's not a leading forward.

I'm not saying I don't rate him, even when he isn't playing well he puts his body on the line which is something we lack, but from what I've seen he is clearly out of form at the moment. I think he will be better for it if he runs out some full games and finds some touch in the VFL.

FB: Bennell Warnock Martin

HB: Cheney Frawley Garland

W:Buckley Jones Morton

HF:Davey Miller Green

FF: Wonna Bate Petterd

RR: Spencer McLean Bruce

I: Jetta, Sylvia, McDonald, Johnson

Which means that if the decision is made for them all to play, that either Garland or Rivers probably needs to play forward.

Rivers is not a forward. He zones off, and reads the play, can't do that as a forward. Garland could be a forward, although I'm not sure he's the right shape to be a true key forward. If he played forward, I'd see him more as a flanker.

If I were going to try one of these key backs down forward, it would be Stef Martin.

Kicked goals when he played in the Ammos I'm lead to believe. He moves well, has good size and good skills. I'd like to see him tried down forward. And we all know we need another key target in the forward line.

This is how I'd pick the side.

FB: Garland Warnock Bennell

HB: Petterd Rivers Green

C: Morton Jones Bruce

HF: Sylvia Bate Davey

FF: Wonaeamirri Miller Martin

Foll: Johnson McDonald McLean

Int: Spencer Moloney Buckley Dunn

Emg: Bartram, Newton, Maric

A bit hard on Chip, but if we lose a KPP at either end, Newton comes in and Stef Martin heads down back again. But for the balance of the side I just can't fit Chip in.

A lot of people have Cheney ahead of Bennell, and I've only seen the one pre season game against Sydney, but Bennell looked more polished than Cheney. While Cheney was serviceable, I can't see him being much more than that to be honest. Bennell on the other hand has class. And I really think it's important to have that specialist back pocket in your side, Wheels has done the job for years, and I think Bennell has been drafted as the heir apparent.

FB: Garland Warnock Bennell

HB: Petterd Rivers Green

C: Morton Jones Bruce

HF: Sylvia Bate Davey

FF: Wonaeamirri Miller Martin

Foll: Johnson McDonald McLean

Int: Spencer Moloney Buckley Dunn

Emg: Bartram, Newton, Maric

A lot of people have Cheney ahead of Bennell, and I've only seen the one pre season game against Sydney, but Bennell looked more polished than Cheney. While Cheney was serviceable, I can't see him being much more than that to be honest. Bennell on the other hand has class. And I really think it's important to have that specialist back pocket in your side, Wheels has done the job for years, and I think Bennell has been drafted as the heir apparent.

The only reason that people have Cheney in at the expense of Bennell is that Cheney is ahead in physical development. Bennell's body is a little underdone, whilst Cheney has shone this preseaon. There's little doubt Bennell will be a very good player, but Jetta is slightly ahead in a 'ready to go' scenario out of the two - albeit different positions.

Frawley will definately play.

Martin has spent the entire preseason practising every drill as a backman. Every discussion or meeting he's been involved in has been as a backman. Every set play and zone setup has been as a backman. Drill after drill after drill. He's not about to be picked to play round 1 in the forward line.