OK experts, what's the thinking... bring Robbo in to provide some distraction? Keep Miller in for some protection of Watts? Some interesting calls this week, but at all costs we want a forward line that will win this game. Maric to crumb, imo he'll enjoy working off Watts.

What do you think we'll see, and what would you dream of seeing (resurrecting Jakovich would probably require a bigger miracle than is likely

OK all you experts, what's the thinking... bring Robbo in to provide some distraction? Keep Miller in for some protection of Watts? Some interesting calls this week, but at all costs we want a forward line that will win this game. Maric to crumb, imo he'll enjoy working off Watts.

What do you think we'll see, and what would you dream of seeing (resurrecting Jakovich would probably require a bigger miracle than is likely

The dream would be

Marric Bate Sylvia

Jurrah Watts Wona

Reality is

Bruce Bate Marric

Watts Robbo Sylvia

resurrecting Jakovich would probably require a bigger miracle than is likely

Don't be so sure.

Don't be so sure.

I hear Jacko is seriously considering lining up alongside Jack.

It's been a long time since Jacko felt the urge to kiss another man, but it seems the time is upon us

Bate in a dream forward line????

For this week:

HF: Watts, Bate, Sylvia

F: Maric, Robbo, Green

Still lacking that extra quality tall, but having Robbo and Green in there does sure it up a little bit. Bate to play Miller's lead-up role. Sylvia also in for marking power, though will spend a fair portion of the game in the midfield. Could use an extra crumber as well, although Jetta's form hasnt been great in the VFL and Wona's year has been ruined by injury so far.

2010 & beyond:

HF: Jurrah, Watts, Bate

F: Maric, Butcher, Jetta/Wonaeamirri

IMO that forward line has the right combination of quality talls (Watts & Butcher), good ground level players with defensive pressure (Wona, Maric, Jetta), and strong marking mobile medium sized forwards (Jurrah & Bate). If Sylvia keeps his good form up, he will be spending more and more time in the midfield.

Obviously others will rotate thru that forwardline, but i'd be happy with that starting 6 or 7 forwards every week for the future.

Bate in a dream forward line????

I think the question should be... Bate at CHF in a dream forwardline??

I have no doubt Bate is valuable as a 3rd or 4th option forward, not KP. He's still reasonably young (22?), and other than his indifferent start to this year, he has shown a bit. However the gap between his best and his worst is still too wide and he should be playing more consistently at his age. Still could become a very good player for Melbourne, but as i said earlier, if he does it won't be as a key position forward, thats for sure.

Bate in a dream forward line????

YES!!! surrounded by the right people Bate could be a very dangerous player. Imagine if it was him getting the 3rd, 4th or 5th best defender each week rather than the 1st or 2nd

CHF Sylvia Miller Bate

FF Maric Robbo Watts

CHF Watts Newton Bate

FF Maric Robbo Jurrah

I'd like to see Newton and Jurrah in this week. It's highly doubtful either will be. It also seems we're bringing Robbo back in (which is slightly disappointing, due to the fact it's going a little easy on him). He will add another marking option up there though. It's quite potent, how I invisage it.

Mine for this week:

HF: Bate, Watts, Miller

F: Maric, Robbo, Green

Good enough forward line to win this week, which is what really matters!

(Suddenly we've got a wealth of forward options, if Miller is dropped to make room then we've got Sylvia. But I'd like to see Miller up the ground, one-on-one with some space to work in)

Does anyone find it funny how BATE is the new flavour of the week hahaha

He is in just about everyone's DREAM forward line. Go back 2-3 weeks and he wouldnt have been in any.

I think its good he is playing SLIGHTLY better but its funny how this forum changes so much from week to week.

Ohh and I really like the look of maric. He is a VERY smart player and can use the ball really well.

Davey, Grimes, Maric and Sylvia have impressed me most of all this year in terms of their BALL USE AND FOOTY SMARTS (very underated these attributes).

AND morton biased....

Davey, Grimes, Maric and Sylvia have impressed me most of all this year in terms of their BALL USE AND FOOTY SMARTS (very underated these attributes). AND morton

Ditto. Each time Maric gets the ball across half forward, I usually expect him hit a target. Likewise, Grimes off the back flank and Davey and Morton are the best kicks in our side. Sylvia's improvement is slowly rising. Hopefully he can break QB open.

Ditto. Each time Maric gets the ball across half forward, I usually expect him hit a target. Likewise, Grimes off the back flank and Davey and Morton are the best kicks in our side. Sylvia's improvement is slowly rising. Hopefully he can break QB open.

All of these players make me AT EASE when they have the ball. The sign of great players.

Morton has a little more work to do but he is definitely up there.

CHF Sylvia Miller Bate

FF Maric Robbo Watts

Bate CHF ?? THis forward line will be pretty close to the mark

Does anyone find it funny how BATE is the new flavour of the week hahaha

He is in just about everyone's DREAM forward line. Go back 2-3 weeks and he wouldnt have been in any.

I think its good he is playing SLIGHTLY better but its funny how this forum changes so much from week to week.

Ohh and I really like the look of maric. He is a VERY smart player and can use the ball really well.

Davey, Grimes, Maric and Sylvia have impressed me most of all this year in terms of their BALL USE AND FOOTY SMARTS (very underated these attributes).

Agree with you re that last lot, I've liked Maric since his first game this year (remember, plenty were wanting him dropped).

As for Bate, I think it's his potential. Sure, he had some shockers earlier, down on confidence & form. But his potential is better than that. I think he's worth persevering with, especially in a potent forward line where Bater's not getting one of the best opposition 2 or 3 defenders each week. And like Miller, I think Bate operates best up the ground where he can mark one-out.

Agree with you re that last lot, I've liked Maric since his first game this year (remember, plenty were wanting him dropped).

As for Bate, I think it's his potential. Sure, he had some shockers earlier, down on confidence & form. But his potential is better than that. I think he's worth persevering with, especially in a potent forward line where Bater's not getting one of the best opposition 2 or 3 defenders each week. And like Miller, I think Bate operates best up the ground where he can mark one-out.

I agree strongly his potential is great, that's why i said he is playing slightly better because i know how good he can play. Hopefully will be an exitement machine in years to come.

the key with bate is playing to his real potential and his strengths. he looks good when he can use his strength one out and the ball is kicked to advantage. he looks good when he can use his pace and burst away. he also looks alright on the lead, when it is delivered out in front.

he never looks good when the kick is not to advantage; he struggles to push back and doesn't mark or contest well when not in the advantageous position. he doesn't turn well; if he has to use agility he is made to look slow.

if he is allowed to use his strengths he could be a very solid player. we really need to rest of the team to deliver the ball to him effectively.

one of our biggest problems is that we are crying out for a forward who can take pack marks or contested marks over the top of other players. midfielders don't always get the pass right, and forwards aren't always in the best position (or there may be extra defenders dropping back). in these cases we currently have no one capable of taking charge in the air, it is usually marked by the opposition, or if spoiled it is often cleared quickly, especially given that we have had a tall forward line of late (newton, robbo, miller, jamar, PJ, neitz, bate, have all been in or out and we have played with 3 tall forwards alot, even though they havn't been great performers) and not many great crumbers.

Mine for this week:

HF: Bate, Watts, Miller

F: Maric, Robbo, Green

Good enough forward line to win this week, which is what really matters!

(Suddenly we've got a wealth of forward options, if Miller is dropped to make room then we've got Sylvia. But I'd like to see Miller up the ground, one-on-one with some space to work in)

This works for me but make no mistake we really don't have a wealth of forward options, but it is a big step in the right direction......

Does anyone find it funny how BATE is the new flavour of the week hahaha

He is in just about everyone's DREAM forward line. Go back 2-3 weeks and he wouldnt have been in any.

I think its good he is playing SLIGHTLY better but its funny how this forum changes so much from week to week.

Oh that happens, just wait for him to have a couple of poor games and the world will cave in again !!!

This works for me but make no mistake we really don't have a wealth of forward options, but it is a big step in the right direction......

Agreed, and consider... I left out Bruce, Sylvia, Jetta, Jurrah, Dunn. Left Martin down back. And didn't even consider Newton or Petterd. A nice dilemma to have

Agreed, and consider... I left out Bruce, Sylvia, Jetta, Jurrah, Dunn. Left Martin down back. And didn't even consider Newton or Petterd. A nice dilemma to have

Getting to be that way but, just in my opinion, the jury is still out on some of those (and a few other) players.

But as I said we seem to be definitely moving the right direction !!!

How it will line up this week:

CHF: Sylivia Miller Bruce

FF: Maric Robertson Watts

How I'd like them to line up:

CHF: Sylvia Watts Maric

FF: Jurrah Robertson Jetta

Has anyone heard the Jimmy Stynes ad on SEN, Brilliant !!!

Keep Miller in for some protection of Watts? Some interesting calls this week, but at all costs we want a forward line that will win this game.

If you wanted to win you wouldn't play Miller he is a poor man's Leigh Brown. He is a brain dead joke I don't know why demonland love him he should never play a game in the red and blue again. He is the worst Melbourne player to play over 100 games even worse than Hopgood.

HF: GREEN, BATE, WATTS

F: JURRAH, ROBBO, MARIC

I think Watts will spend more time outside the 50 than in, however:

Watts Miller Bate

Maric Robertson PJ

If you wanted to win you wouldn't play Miller he is a poor man's Leigh Brown. He is a brain dead joke I don't know why demonland love him he should never play a game in the red and blue again. He is the worst Melbourne player to play over 100 games even worse than Hopgood.

HF: GREEN, BATE, WATTS

F: JURRAH, ROBBO, MARIC

Your player bashing is getting out of control. Either keep your attitude in check or there will be consequences.