As predicted, the Bombers are pretenders.

We can beat the Pies. We match up very well on them, and, dare I say it, we have the wood on them in the mind games stakes.

Watching today's game the Pies are not that awesome, and the Bombers are pathetic.

Go Dees.

But we must have both Pettard and McKenzie in the team. They were very important in both games last year

I hope we play Jamar, Gawn and Martin.

dare I say it, we have the wood on them in the mind games stakes.

How exactly is that? What can we possibly offer to psyche out a team who has won a flag and played in front of crowds in H&A games that we'd be lucky to see in a prelim? Is Bails going to throw toilet paper at Mick's house?

I knew Essendon would get smashed the minute they decided to put Hill, Ryder and Bellchambers in the same team. The way to beat the Pies is tackling pressure (McKenzie highly important here) and a mobile forward-line (Jurrah, Petterd, Wonaeamirri, Bennell very important here). Winning the clearances is also going to be massive, and so the Jamar/Martin combo is going to be huge for us.

I must be watching a differant game.

Tackling and midfield pressure will give the Filth a contest. I was very suprised Essendon played 3 big guys.

They will be smashed by games end....We will be more mobile up forward against them, but let's win a few games before thinking of Q.B.

Hird's Turd's are very beatable though, as they were last year. This game will take the stuffing out of them.

Although as i am typing this they are pushing..1 point Leroy.

I fear what Collingwood will do to us on QB.

We are almost at full strength and struggled to beat an under-manned Brisbane at the G. It would need to be some turn around in form to get close to Collingwood.

Running so close with them last year will hurt this year, they'll want to smash us, and sadly probably will.

How exactly is that? What can we possibly offer to psyche out a team who has won a flag and played in front of crowds in H&A games that we'd be lucky to see in a prelim? Is Bails going to throws toilet paper at Mick's house?

Didn't you watch last year's games? The Pies are playing in the same way.

I hope their club and supporters are as complacent as you are.

Go Dees

I fear what Collingwood will do to us on QB.

We are almost at full strength and struggled to beat an under-manned Brisbane at the G. It would need to be some turn around in form to get close to Collingwood.

Running so close with them last year will hurt this year, they'll want to smash us, and sadly probably will.

No i think the MFC will rise to the challenge, as the Filth have said..to them it is just another game.

We just have to play well in big games to win respect, no excuse will do anymore.

Essendon don't seem to be getting smashed to me. 2 pts in it. Game on

Yes Cloke and Harry O are limping. Big change in the 3rd Q

It appears we may have gone a little early on Essendon. Their run is key, and it will be the same when we play the Pies on QB.

90% of what makes Collingwood so good is their work rate. Players never stop running, with or without the ball. I wish Melbourne had their work ethic.

Didn't you watch last year's games? The Pies are playing in the same way.

I hope their club and supporters are as complacent as you are.

Go Dees

What's that got to do with mind games?

I wish I lived in Cloud Cuckoo Land like some of our fans, would be a magic place.

90% of what makes Collingwood so good is their work rate. Players never stop running, with or without the ball. I wish Melbourne had their work ethic.

Yep, it is a simple game when everyone is running, creating opportunities. That said Heppell and Crammery have been outstanding.

MFC young players have got to learn to work that hard.

Cloke & Dawes- big men up forward might be even more useful as fatigue sets in. The running brigade get slower but ... oh, you know the rest.

And at the end of the ANZAC day armwrestle, it's Cloke and to a lesser extent Dawes who proved too much for the Bombers to handle.

Until we develop at least one gorilla forward of this type, we cannot be serious challengers.

Question is, who on our list will become this player/s and how long do we have to wait for them?

Edited April 25, 201114 yr by Range Rover

Yep, it is a simple game when everyone is running, creating opportunities. That said Heppell and Crammery have been outstanding.

MFC young players have got to learn to work that hard.

The workrate and pressure from both teams is outstanding. We are miles off this sort of footy.

And at the end of the ANZAC day armwrestle, it's Cloke and to a lesser extent Dawes who proved too much for the Bombers to handle.

Until we develop at least one gorilla forward of this type, we cannot be serious challengers.

Question is, who on our list will become this player/s and how long do we have to wait fore them?

And is there one that we can steal from somewhere else? Obviously you're never going to get a Franklin - and with GC and GWS on the market you'd be lucky to get anyone half decent if they were also interested - but are there any 21-22 year old big bodied forwards at other clubs that we could have a crack at?

And is there one that we can steal from somewhere else? Obviously you're never going to get a Franklin - and with GC and GWS on the market you'd be lucky to get anyone half decent if they were also interested - but are there any 21-22 year old big bodied forwards at other clubs that we could have a crack at?

Jarryd Roughead would be ideal. 24 years old with 5 or 6 good years ahead of him. They'd probably never let him go but I'd be prepared to offer Hawthorn a quality trade in return.

God knows why we didn't draft Jack Darling as a readymade bustling key forward.

*Sidenote ... Pendlebury is the best player in the AFL at the moment.

Edited April 25, 201114 yr by Range Rover

The workrate and pressure from both teams is outstanding. We are miles off this sort of footy.

But WHY are we miles of that level? Essendon finished 14th last year.

It's is upstairs where the change has come from.

I believe Melbourne can beat any team, i just dont think we can do it week in week out YET. A win against pies would be fantastic.

We better come close. It's our grand final.

No

I fear what Collingwood will do to us on QB.

We are almost at full strength and struggled to beat an under-manned Brisbane at the G. It would need to be some turn around in form to get close to Collingwood.

Running so close with them last year will hurt this year, they'll want to smash us, and sadly probably will.

Well we did loose to West Coast at the G last year and nearly rolled Collingwood. In a few weeks we have Ess, Carl and Coll on the trot! All prime time games and everybody will be watching us. Hopefully we've found a bit of form by then.

Bloody Collingwood.

One more goal and we would have moved ahead of Essendon on the ladder!

Now we have to sweat it out and beat the Eagles by more than Essendon beats Gold Coast in Round 6 !