Here is my take on the game yesterday:

HOWE - Has definately earned a spot for the dees next week. He was strong whenever the ball was around him and can take a great mark. I would be dissapointed if he does not play next week - espescially with some of the blokes currently running round in the dees forward line!!!

GAWN - Had a great game and has really come a long way. He was strong in the ruck but was most impressive around the ground. Took some good marks and was agile for a big bloke.

SCULLY - I think he would come straight back in to the dees team after his game. He ran very hard and positioned himself very well. He didnt have heaps of game time but made the most of when he was on and actually played more than what I thought.

STRAUSS - Made more of an impact as the game went on but still has a bit of work to do. His skills were good when he got the footy, but needs to get more of it.

BLEASE - Was involved in some very good pieces of play and impressed me for most of the game. It was great to see him in the guts with Sculs and Gawn teaming together with Blease winning a couple of clearances. He kicked a great goal and must be close to a debut. I would like to see him working harder off the ball but he did throw up 3 times in the 3rd Quarter so maybe he is working harder than I thought.

WONA - Dissapointed in his game. Didnt do alot and I believe he should be able to tear up a game like yesterdays when he wants to - its just a bit of an attitude problem for Wona

Certain Ins - Howe

Possible Ins - Gawn, Blease, McDonald

Certain Ins - Howe

Possible Ins - Gawn, Blease, McDonald

Scully?

Scully?

Yes, Sorry

I think Scully was definately another certain In!!!!

Can Max Gawn go with the experienced ruckmen at Essendon?

I think it's a matter of necessity if we want to avoid the sort of spectacle we saw last night. The kid's a big ruckman and Newton as backup is a major fail.

(note: I'm Max's sponsor at the club but there's no bias in my views)

I agree if he is ready - I think he shows more promise than Sandilands or Cox showed at the same time of his career. RR stated he thought Cox did well in the Colts games but this guy is just burning in the second best comp of football. BUT I do not want him to play until he is ready. Take a 5 year contact out on his sponsorship WJ- you'll get great milage IMO..also note many big men take a good two years to fully recover from a knee. WHAT A FUTURE IS INSTALLED FOR MAGIC GAWN.

Now let's not get too carried away. He's played two very good games in a row in what might be the second highest tier of the game but it still is a fair way below AFL standard.

That said, he held his own against Ben Hudson who had several years of AFL experience on Max (although Max has 10cm height advantage).

This is why I would not have had any issues with Max having played in Melbourne's last two games because the circumstances were such that his presence would have stretched the opposition ruckmen and therefore created what might have been a point of difference in our favour for once. I'm a big believer in doing things like that - especially when you're starting behind the 8 ball with injuries as we were last week.