Round 1 team and thoughts

[jnrmac 20,186]

Dogs was shorter under Wallace.

Nice grammer. Not too Dapper, Dan.

[jnrmac 20,186]

The average height of your spine would be about 186cm (about 6' in the old money).

Probably the shortest in the last 20 years of AFL footy.

We played in a GF in 2000 with Robertson at CHF and Bizell at CHB. That's pretty short!

[ucanchoose 1,816]

I see in the teams released for tonights game that there is no mention of which is the sub, just the same as last year with 4 on the interchange and three emergencies

Do they release who will be the sub 90 minutes before the game when they put in their fiinal team sheet?

If this is the case the sub could be any one of 7 people (the 4 on the bench and three emergencies)

This may well become a very tactical thing, depending on weather sometimes, which will be interesting

[titan_uranus 25,043]

I see in the teams released for tonights game that there is no mention of which is the sub, just the same as last year with 4 on the interchange and three emergencies

Do they release who will be the sub 90 minutes before the game when they put in their fiinal team sheet?

If this is the case the sub could be any one of 7 people (the 4 on the bench and three emergencies)

This may well become a very tactical thing, depending on weather sometimes, which will be interesting

Yep, the sub only has to be named on the final team sheet, 90 minutes before the bounce. But the sub will be one of the four on the bench, as the three emergencies will have already been finalised (i.e. on Thursday night for Friday/Saturday games or on Friday night for Sunday games).

[drdrake 3,187]

Tapscott In, certain starter Bailey just announced it

[DEELIGHTED 16]

We played in a GF in 2000 with Robertson at CHF and Bizell at CHB. That's pretty short!

ummmm, yeah from what i recall not a great result in the GF

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Tapscott In, certain starter Bailey just announced it

Might be the ideal sub he can play forward back or midfield and will be better if he doesn't have to start off with a full game. Either that or the player subbed out when he tires.

[stranga 328]

We played in a GF in 2000 with Robertson at CHF and Bizell at CHB. That's pretty short!

Biz didnt join us until 2002.

Who was our CHB? Ingerson?

[DemonDave 1,089]

Biz didnt join us until 2002.

Who was our CHB? Ingerson?

Correct, we still had the player we swapped with the Cats for Biz playing, the Gurg! He got reported too.

Have a look at the selected side on wikipedia (yeah I cheated, sue me), it names Ingo at fullback,

and Matthew Collins(!) at CHB, with sideshow bob nicholson in a back pocket. From memory Simmonds started

at CHB on Lucas.

For what its worth, my team:

B: Bartram Warnock Garland

HB: Grimes Rivers Davey

C: Trengove Moloney Green

HF: Jetta Watts Petterd

F: Dunn, Jurrah, Maric

R: Jamar Jones Sylvia

I/C: Bail, Tapscott, Martin, Bennell

Emerg: Bate, Gysberts, MacDonald

[MadAsHell 4,215]

FB: Garland, Warnock, Bartram

HB: MacDonald, Rivers, Bennell

C: Grimes, Moloney, Davey

HF: Watts, Dunn, Green

FF: Martin, Jurrah, Maric

FOLL: Jamar, Sylvia, Jones

INT: Petterd, Tapscott, Trengove

SUB: Gysberts

EMERG: Bail, Bate, Jetta

Even with Frawley, Scully, McKenzie, Morton & Wonna out I can't find room for Bail or Jetta, especially seeing as we now know that Tapscott is playing. This is a great sign for Melbourne of competition for spots.

IMO Maric's pre-season form means he has to play and Martin has to play as the 2nd ruckman as Newton's still injured as is Fitzpatrick.

[drdrake 3,187]

Even with Frawley, Scully, McKenzie, Morton & Wonna out I can't find room for Bail or Jetta, especially seeing as we now know that Tapscott is playing. This is a great sign for Melbourne of competition for spots.

IMO Maric's pre-season form means he has to play and Martin has to play as the 2nd ruckman as Newton's still injured as is Fitzpatrick.

Besides Maric, Jetta was one of the big improvers over pre season, nothing more certain them him getting a game this week. One other point no club will take a ruckman as a sub.

[Disco Demons 92]

I've left Warnock and Watts out on purpose. They might get a game but others have done more to deserve a game for round one. ie., Jetta, Maric...do we need Warnock?

FB: Bail, Garland, Bartram

HB: MacDonald, Rivers, Bennell

C: Grimes, Moloney, Davey

HF: Maric, Dunn, Green

FF: Martin, Jurrah, Petterd

FOLL: Jamar, Sylvia, Jones

INT: Bate, Tapscott, Trengove

SUB: Jetta

EMERG: Warnock, Watts, Gysberts

Edited March 24, 2011 by disco_demon

[DemonWA 3,936]

id say the team that will get us 4 points on sunday is;

B: Bartram Warnock Garland

HB: Grimes Rivers Davey

C: Trengove Moloney Jetta

HF:Green Watts Dunn

F: Petterd, Jurrah, Maric

R: Jamar Jones Sylvia

I/C: Tapscott, McDonald, Bennell

SUB:Bail

Emerg: Bate, Gysberts, Martin

Edited March 24, 2011 by DemonWA

[Brayshaw Self 847]

Bartram Garland Grimes

Rivers Warnock Davey

Bennell Sylvia Jetta

Maric Dunn Watts

Jurrah Green Petterd

Jamar Moloney Jones

Bench: Trengove Tapscott Warnock

Sub: Bail

[rpfc 28,779]

The pressure is on our midfield.

But more than that it is on our leaders.

Green, Davey, Jamar, Moloney, Jones, and Sylvia will be the ones to spend a great deal of time in our midfield.

The expectation will be on them.

Our leaders consistently disappoint and this is a great opportunity for the ones who the younger ones are supposed to look to actually earn that focus.

Let's hope they can do it.

[hells bells 2,023]

The pressure is on our midfield.

But more than that it is on our leaders.

Green, Davey, Jamar, Moloney, Jones, and Sylvia will be the ones to spend a great deal of time in our midfield.

The expectation will be on them.

Our leaders consistently disappoint and this is a great opportunity for the ones who the younger ones are supposed to look to actually earn that focus.

Let's hope they can do it.

I have serious concerns about our midfield. I think our forward line is strong and our backline although weakened will probably break even. I'd look at having Bail run with Goodes, Dunn at CHF. Sylvia will have to play in the midfield most of the game. Moloney and Jones worry me in the middle. A lot of attempted tackle breaking rather than creating handballs to runners. Our forward line could dominate, but the ball has to get down there. Intensity is what we'll need and is something we haven't seen all preseason.

I'm nervous, I think we'll get rolled and its one we should win.

[Guest DeesPower]

I have serious concerns about our midfield. I think our forward line is strong and our backline although weakened will probably break even. I'd look at having Bail run with Goodes, Dunn at CHF. Sylvia will have to play in the midfield most of the game. Moloney and Jones worry me in the middle. A lot of attempted tackle breaking rather than creating handballs to runners. Our forward line could dominate, but the ball has to get down there. Intensity is what we'll need and is something we haven't seen all preseason.

I'm nervous, I think we'll get rolled and its one we should win.

I think we'll get rolled too. I'm tipping 30 points. I can't see us covering the loss of Scully, Frawley, j Mac,, Cam Bruce and Morton from our last winning team against the Swans.

I think we will come to regret getting rid of the veterans this year. I don't think we should underestimate the role models they would have been. Without them the kids will be leaderless, and I'm not convinced the current leadership group has anyone of the quality of Bruce or McDonald with the exception of Green. The others I think are either not in the elite or still learning.

It is going to be a tough year to be a Demon fan IMO. I predict we will finish 14th unfortunately

Edited March 25, 2011 by DeesPower

[binman 43,762]

The final team as per the mfc website:

Melbourne

B: Clint Bartram, Jared Rivers, Joel Macdonald

HB: Jack Grimes, Colin Garland, Jamie Bennell

C: Nathan Jones, Brent Moloney, Luke Tapscott

HF: Rohan Bail, Colin Sylvia, Liam Jurrah

F: Jack Watts, Brad Green, Addam Maric

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Lynden Dunn, Aaron Davey

I/C: Neville Jetta, Stef Martin, Ricky Petterd, Jack Trengove

Emg: Jake Spencer, James Strauss, Matthew Warnock

New: Luke Tapscott (North Adelaide, SA)

melbournefc.com.au

[binman 43,762]

The final team as per the mfc website:

Melbourne

B: Clint Bartram, Jared Rivers, Joel Macdonald

HB: Jack Grimes, Colin Garland, Jamie Bennell

C: Nathan Jones, Brent Moloney, Luke Tapscott

HF: Rohan Bail, Colin Sylvia, Liam Jurrah

F: Jack Watts, Brad Green, Addam Maric

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Lynden Dunn, Aaron Davey

I/C: Neville Jetta, Stef Martin, Ricky Petterd, Jack Trengove

Emg: Jake Spencer, James Strauss, Matthew Warnock

New: Luke Tapscott (North Adelaide, SA)

melbournefc.com.au

Great to see that Trengove is in, given the outs this is key. Also i'm rapt to see Jetta in. He was by far our best against BL in terms of intensity. Having just watched the cats v saints game it really reinforced how important intensity is going to be this year. It will be very interesting (and possibly quite instructive) who will be the sub

Edited March 25, 2011 by binman

[1858 285]

Sydney have made the finals in 2 of the last 3 years. During that time they have won 1 of 9 MCG games (against Richmond). This doesn't pencil us in for a win but it does suggest that the MCG has been a stumbling block for them of late.

I'll be looking at our forward line defensive pressure as a critical area - we can't let their defenders bring the ball out too easily (no Malceski will hurt them). IMO we're good enough to break even in the middle and defensively we can at least be sure that Garland and co will make them earn it.

Sydney are honest but I expect us to win this.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

The final team as per the mfc website:

Melbourne

B: Clint Bartram, Jared Rivers, Joel Macdonald

HB: Jack Grimes, Colin Garland, Jamie Bennell

C: Nathan Jones, Brent Moloney, Luke Tapscott

HF: Rohan Bail, Colin Sylvia, Liam Jurrah

F: Jack Watts, Brad Green, Addam Maric

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Lynden Dunn, Aaron Davey

I/C: Neville Jetta, Stef Martin, Ricky Petterd, Jack Trengove

Emg: Jake Spencer, James Strauss, Matthew Warnock

New: Luke Tapscott (North Adelaide, SA)

melbournefc.com.au

I think that's the strongest team possible considering the injuries. I wouldn't change it at all.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

I think we'll get rolled too. I'm tipping 30 points. I can't see us covering the loss of Scully, Frawley, j Mac,, Cam Bruce and Morton from our last winning team against the Swans.

I think we will come to regret getting rid of the veterans this year. I don't think we should underestimate the role models they would have been. Without them the kids will be leaderless, and I'm not convinced the current leadership group has anyone of the quality of Bruce or McDonald with the exception of Green. The others I think are either not in the elite or still learning.

It is going to be a tough year to be a Demon fan IMO. I predict we will finish 14th unfortunately

Sadly I share your thoughts. Combination of a relatively poor midfield, ever recurring injuries, a very young list, disgraceful pre season form (V's Essendon and Brisbane)and the loss of Junior and Bruce all adds up to a 5-7 win season/13th-15th finish.

Don't worry, we'll win a few games at the G (against your Gold Coasts, Brisbanes and Richmonds) but I just can't see us matching it with the top 6 or so teams on any given day.

The fact that we're favourites V's Sydney (who are a far better team than us) according to the bookies is nonsense.

[M_9 2,091]

I'm predicting a 3-4 goal loss. Grimes is the only reliable kick in the back six.

Also, against both Essendon and Brisbane we got smashed in centre clearances and at the stoppages.

Without Scully, there's no-one that I can see who can turn that around. Possibly Trengove if he's fully fit (I doubt he is).

Jones and Beamer are not the answer across the centre - Jones continually gets caught, and Beamer with his Daniel Ward-like long bombs.

I predict that Jetta will be named the sub and by the last quarter will be playing in the guts, both for his pace and tackling ability (which was evident against Brisbane).

Edited March 26, 2011 by M_9

[Roost It 1,434]

Sadly I share your thoughts. Combination of a relatively poor midfield, ever recurring injuries, a very young list, disgraceful pre season form (V's Essendon and Brisbane)and the loss of Junior and Bruce all adds up to a 5-7 win season/13th-15th finish.

Don't worry, we'll win a few games at the G (against your Gold Coasts, Brisbanes and Richmonds) but I just can't see us matching it with the top 6 or so teams on any given day.

The fact that we're favourites V's Sydney (who are a far better team than us) according to the bookies is nonsense.

Blasphemy

[e25 5]

I think we'll get rolled too. I'm tipping 30 points. I can't see us covering the loss of Scully, Frawley, j Mac,, Cam Bruce and Morton from our last winning team against the Swans.

I think we will come to regret getting rid of the veterans this year. I don't think we should underestimate the role models they would have been. Without them the kids will be leaderless, and I'm not convinced the current leadership group has anyone of the quality of Bruce or McDonald with the exception of Green. The others I think are either not in the elite or still learning.

It is going to be a tough year to be a Demon fan IMO. I predict we will finish 14th unfortunately

Why would we regret it?

We'd only regret it if we're foolish enough to believe we'd immediately be better off without those players.

That's not the case.

We are still in serious development stages and needed to take a step back to take 2 steps forward.

Even if we lose by 70 points tomorrow, I will not regret it.

If we do lose like that, it will be because of injuries, youthful inconsistency and inexperience.

Injuries you can't help and the other factors will only be ironed out by playing the kids.

The sooner we do that, the better. We're fast-tracking them.

It's not like we're contending for a premiership just yet.

That's realism.