Melbourne

Backs: Matthew Whelan, Matthew Warnock, Daniel Bell

Half backs: James Frawley, Jared Rivers, Aaron Davey

Centreline: Jack Grimes, Cale Morton, Brock McLean

Half forwards: Colin Sylvia, Russell Robertson, Jack Watts

Forwards: Brad Green, Matthew Bate, Cameron Bruce

Followers: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, James McDonald

I/C From: Paul Johnson, Addam Maric, Nathan Jones, Jamie Bennell, Kyle Cheney, Lynden Dunn, Michael Newton

TEAM CHANGES

In: Robertson, Watts, Cheney

Out: Brad Miller, Stefan Martin

Collingwood

B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Shannon Cox

HB: Nick Maxwell, Leigh Brown, Sharrod Wellingham

C: Brad Dick, Tarkyn Lockyer, Dale Thomas

HF: Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Leon Davis

F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Heath Shaw

Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree

I/C (from): Nathan Brown, Martin Clarke, Paul Medhurst, Ben Reid, Steele Sidebottom, Alan Toovey, Cameron Wood

In: Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst, Ben Reid

Out: -

IN: Robertson, Cheney, Watts (new), Dunn

OUT: Miller, Whelan, Bell, McDonald (inj)

edited.

edited.

This is going to be close...... ; bar Martin of course.

Oh, unfair on Martin.

This extended bench sucks. I want all of PJ, Maric, Jones, Bennell and Cheney to play. I think Cheney will miss, meaning final changes are Robbo and Watts in, Miller and Martin out.

Edit: Bell is lucky. And it would be a step backwards to play Dunn.

I/C From: P.Johnson, A.Maric, N.Jones, J.Bennell, K.Cheney, L.Dunn, M.Newton

My preferred bench from that lot:

Maric, Jones, Bennell, Cheney

I would've liked to have given Newton the nod ahead of Robertson, but that won't be happening now. No room for both of them in the side with that bench.

The most likely bench:

PJ, Maric, Jones, Bennell with Cheney to break the record for the most stiff player in history not to get picked. Doubt we'd go in to the side without PJ now that our only backup ruck (Martin) is out.

Have a look at this quote from this article: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsart...51/default.aspx

"Captain James McDonald has been unable to prove his fitness after hurting his knee in last week’s loss to St Kilda, and will miss this week. "

???

N.Jones named on the extended bench for the 78th week in a row!

For the sake of balance PJ would have to play, same for Jones and Maric. The 4th spot for mine is a tossup between Cheney and Bennell...

Oh, unfair on Martin.

Definitely.

He has played in a foreign position, where the ball is never seen, for two weeks. Hardly his fault.

Perhaps they are dropping him to try and learn the position at a lower level?

This extended bench sucks. I want all of PJ, Maric, Jones, Bennell and Cheney to play. I think Cheney will miss, meaning final changes are Robbo and Watts in, Miller and Martin out.

.

I agree that the bench sucks, but for me I would drop PJ and play a small bench with Maric, Jones, Bennell and Cheney.

For one, the Pies have a number of dangerous smalls that need covered, and secondly Cheney desperately deserves a game, while PJ has been ordinary.

Problem is that with Martin dropped, there is little chance PJ will go.

Edit: if Junior misses this may not be an issue and we can play them both. Is it wrong to hope that he does??

I would've liked to have given Newton the nod ahead of Robertson, but that won't be happening now. No room for both of them in the side with that bench.

I would really like to win this week, and obviously so does Bailey.

Robbo is a proven performer, especially in these games and I am satisfied that if he has been named it is because he has done what was required of him at the lower level.

At the end of the day Robbo is a far superior player and this is a big big game for us. Plus, we need to surround Watts with a bit of experience, and given Miller was dropped, I think playing Robbo is a smart move.

My preferred bench from that lot:

Maric, Jones, Bennell, Cheney

The most likely bench:

PJ, Maric, Jones, Bennell with Cheney to break the record for the most stiff player in history not to get picked. Doubt we'd go in to the side without PJ now that our only backup ruck (Martin) is out.

I agree that the bench sucks, but for me I would drop PJ and play a small bench with Maric, Jones, Bennell and Cheney.

For one, the Pies have a number of dangerous smalls that need covered, and secondly Cheney desperately deserves a game, while PJ has been ordinary.

Problem is that with Martin dropped, there is little chance PJ will go.

:D

I am happy with the dropping of Miller, but not with the dropping of Martin,

the bench will hopefully line up like this.....

Int- Johnson, Newton, Marric, Jones.

silly dropping martin, he is going to be a good defender, leave him there!

although he has not played well of late miller should be in the side as he gives us a good structure, he will also be good to help out wattsy in his first game.

It'd be a mistake, but PJ might miss out.

Maric is a fan favourite but may be considered young enough to be "rested." I hope not, but...

For mine, Dunn, Cheney... and the big one, Jones. Won't happen. But I reckon Jones would benefit from a week spell. Cheney is still green. Dunn hasn't earned a recall yet.

With Martin out, PJ will stay in.

Martin is stiff, but if they do want to make him into a forward then playing a game or two at Casey won't hurt.

From the extended bench listed I would like to see Johnson, Bennell, Maric and Cheney.

:D

<_<

Obviously its not silly dropping MARTIN. The coach wouldnt drop him for no reason. I think they know a bit more than us.

Hmm Martin out.

Perhaps its due to match up. In reallity its not as if Collingwood have a gorilla full forward he'll need to match up on.

Cloke-Warnock (did an excellent job last time)

Medhurst-Frawley

Anthony-Rivers

Whelan/Cheney/Bell-Didak

silly dropping martin, he is going to be a good defender, leave him there!

To play on what tall? Warnock takes first tall (Cloke), Rivers to take Anthony, and once you get beyond that there's not much else for Collingwood, and he's been struggling as a forward. As CB said, it won't hurt at all to give him a run at the lower level if they want to improve his skills as a forward. It's far from silly for mine.

Maybe we dropped Martin because Collingwood have the 2nd smallest forward line in the league?

Well done to Dean Bailey for having the courage to scrape the barnacles off Daniher's ship (Miller, Robertson, Yze last year).

Also, Stefan Martin would have the most exam action at the moment of anyone else. . .

Reckon A. Maric is going to be the odd one out.

If junior is injured then Jones to start with Newts and Dunn to miss out unfortunatley. Would like to see Newts in that fwd line for an extended run to see if he has any chance of believing he can play at this level and show he has finally got the defensive side of his game sorted out.

Also, Stefan Martin would have the most exam action at the moment of anyone else. . .

Reckon A. Maric is going to be the odd one out.

Stef spent two weeks studying for his VCE exams and got 99.5... he'll be right. In fact, he's gonna do his, then he's going to do mine

Maric had a superb first half last week, and his disposal has been top quality. Dropping him, particularly when we are screaming for small forwards (which I know is not where he has been playing, but it is what he is!), will be madness.

Stef spent two weeks studying for his VCE exams and got 99.5... he'll be right. In fact, he's gonna do his, then he's going to do mine

Maric had a superb first half last week, and his disposal has been top quality. Dropping him, particularly when we are screaming for small forwards (which I know is not where he has been playing, but it is what he is!), will be madness.

I spent a similar time studying for VCE and also got in the top 1%, and that doesn't mean squat either! because uni exams/assignments are much harder and more time considering, particularly if you've matured sufficiently to try your hardest.

I/C From: Paul Johnson, Addam Maric, Nathan Jones, Jamie Bennell, Kyle Cheney, Lynden Dunn, Michael Newton

Miller was always a chance to be dropped this week. We'll see what he can do in the 2's. Not sure where he's at in the scheme of things right now.

Martin is unlucky. I'm sure Bails has his reasons, but jeez, they play him all over the shop for a few weeks and then drop him. But it is what it is. Matchup issues most likely.

As for the bench, Jones will once again, be the only certaintly of the group. I don't think Dunn and Newton will be in. I'd let Maric play again. Not sure about Cheney, deserves a run but it might depend on Macca's availability. Might be a toss up between Bennell and Cheney. PJ probably gets a game just for team balance.

Once again, it's tough to pick the bench. A good sign.

Final team named at 4pm Saturday. We'll know alot before then when Casey lines up.

I spent a similar time studying for VCE and also got in the top 1%, and that doesn't mean squat either!

So did I actually, but that's besides the point because my comment was clearly tongue in cheek (and Martin obviously wasn't dropped to do his exams, and his studying would not be impacted by whether he plays AFL or VFL, as both would require the same preparation)

So did I actually, but that's besides the point because my comment was clearly tongue in cheek (and Martin clearly wasn't dropped to do his exams)

We're obviously not as smart as Stef because of all the time we waste on Demonland . . .

And re: Maric, at this stage I'd prefer to have Bennell/Cheney in than Maric, his disposal is lovely but his impact on games isn't (yet).

Bench will be the first four named with Cheney to play if no McDonald.

We're obviously not as smart as Stef because of all the time we waste on Demonland . . .

Or maybe we're smarter, because we manage to pass despite all the time wasting.

Ah who am I kidding, an AFL player beat my ENTER, I'm officially done! :D