Howe and Gawn to debut

[armstrong35 262]

hi all

was at the club today and was told these two boys will play this friday night

the playing group had a light training session today..

i don't know if it was the 22 + emergencies if so scully was training and dunn wasn't

[Rogue 585]

Good stuff. We'll know in 20 mins or so.

[Guest Artie Bucco]

Brilliant.

[Choko 493]

hi all

was at the club today and was told these two boys will play this friday night

the playing group had a light training session today..

i don't know if it was the 22 + emergencies if so scully was training and dunn wasn't

Thx for that. Very exciting and good decisions by the club if true.

[sylvinator 96]

Thx for that. Very exciting and good decisions by the club if true.

Match committee continues to make mostly excellent decisions at the selection table.

[Goat 98]

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/115368/default.aspx

[Guest 36DD]

Match committee continues to make mostly excellent decisions at the selection table.

Echo those sentiments, should we lose to Ess no doubt the criticisms will come, u can set your watch to it

[Choko 493]

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/115368/default.aspx

I think this is the best possible side we could have at the moment. Well done to the match committee.

Let's hope Watts plays forward.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

http://www.melbourne...68/default.aspx

BIRTH OF THE HURRICANE!

Thanks Greeny. Would have given Maric one more shot to fire off some salvos against all the criticism this week rather than Strauss. Apart from that i'm applauding!

[Bang Bang Bang 5,825]

Bailey has his downfalls but one thing I have really liked about him is the way he brings young players into the side. He does it infinitely better than Daniher did.

Can't wait to see Big Max in action. Future cult figure for sure. Also Scully, Trengove, Howe, Strauss, Evans, Nichlson give us more reason to watch the game, flogging or no flogging.

[Roost It 1,434]

Super happy about this side. Once we can get Blease and MacDonald in we'll be able to ship out the likes of Bate, Dunn, Warnock and get to the future we've all been waiting for.

[DemonDave 1,089]

No Bartram! and Jetta and Bennell somehow survive. Great to see the younger Tommy Mac get named emergency for the first time...

[Guest 36DD]

Super happy about this side. Once we can get Blease and MacDonald in we'll be able to ship out the likes of Bate, Dunn, Warnock and get to the future we've all been waiting for.

Throw in cook and a few others as well...exciting times

The reason why we are where we are is because of the failed development of Bate, Dunn, Warnock etc

[rhaz 342]

blease and McDonald emergencies too...

[Bhima 0]

Great to see these two debut.

What strikes me is how average essendon's team looks on paper - other than their talls - and that is with Hurley, Pears and Gumbleton missing.

Seriously, it's bloody frustrating we don't have close to our best team out there this Friday because this is a winnable game.

By my count we have 14 players with less than 50 games experience - that makes is tough to win against anyone, however, the bombers have 11 players with under 50 games.

With Scully and Trengove back - this might be closer than people think.

Go dees

[armstrong35 262]

Super happy about this side. Once we can get Blease and MacDonald in we'll be able to ship out the likes of Bate, Dunn, Warnock and get to the future we've all been waiting for.

agree 100%

i cant wait for each player to be fighting for their spots

at the moment they seem to think they will just get it

blease and mcdonald were training today so im thinking maybe another debut over the next few weeks

went past the lockers today and saw pencil in his undies and on crutches... the big fella looked like he was learning how to walk again.

[Maldonboy38 6,400]

The ins and outs for this week are a breath of fresh air. There has been so much depressing, frustrating guff from we Demonlanders over the past week (me included) and to see the 22 with all these inclusions will be great.

Gawn : I don't expect too much from him. Remember he is up against a lot of experience

Howe : I am really looking forward to his debut, and have been for a number of weeks. Not so much for his reputation to take speccies, but his attack on the ball and his skills on both side of his body demonstrate great potential.

Trenners : We have badly missed his skill, positioning, decision making and poise.

Scully : I reckon many of us have forgotten how good this kid is. His speed could be instrumental.

Strauss : Here is his chance and it is a big chance. Bartram is an established member of our backline who does a lot of hard work but his skills and decision making have us shaddering at times, or peeeking through our fingers in fear. If Strauss can show some intensity along with his footskills he may create a definite place in the back 6.

I feel really sorry for Maric and think he should have been given one more week.

Bate was borderline for mine and I just hope we don't miss his body strength. His output hasn't been great but hjis effort and kicking has. Weighing it up, it is probably time to try some young kids in his place.

.

[Gorgoroth 12,947]

No Bartram! and Jetta and Bennell somehow survive. Great to see the younger Tommy Mac get named emergency for the first time...

I thought Bartram was out for another 3 weeks? I'm sure I saw it somewhere Hip 4 weeks last week.

Great to see the ins, will make watching the game much more bearable.

[old dee 23,787]

Match committee continues to make mostly excellent decisions at the selection table.

you are kidding me

Bennell in!

[old dee 23,787]

The ins and outs for this week are a breath of fresh air. There has been so much depressing, frustrating guff from we Demonlanders over the past week (me included) and to see the 22 with all these inclusions will be great.

Gawn : I don't expect too much from him. Remember he is up against a lot of experience

Howe : I am really looking forward to his debut, and have been for a number of weeks. Not so much for his reputation to take speccies, but his attack on the ball and his skills on both side of his body demonstrate great potential.

Trenners : We have badly missed his skill, positioning, decision making and poise.

Scully : I reckon many of us have forgotten how good this kid is. His speed could be instrumental.

Strauss : Here is his chance and it is a big chance. Bartram is an established member of our backline who does a lot of hard work but his skills and decision making have us shaddering at times, or peeeking through our fingers in fear. If Strauss can show some intensity along with his footskills he may create a definite place in the back 6.

I feel really sorry for Maric and think he should have been given one more week.

Bate was borderline for mine and I just hope we don't miss his body strength. His output hasn't been great but hjis effort and kicking has. Weighing it up, it is probably time to try some young kids in his place.

.

I agree MB Maric out but Bennell in

I must have been at a different MCG last friday.

[Guest 36DD]

you are kidding me

Bennell in!

Given a defensive role on Gartlett last week, held him pretty well, do you expect 30 possies and a couple of goals as well???

[Guest Artie Bucco]

I think that's fair.

Bennell wasn't terrible last week and is unfairly maligned on this forum.

[Meggs 595]

Great to see good performances in the VFL being rewarded. Very excited to see Big Max and J Howe play plus Tom and Jack are back! Interesting that Liam is named on the bench.

Disappointed that Addam Maric has been dropped. He played really well against the Bombers in the NAB Cup. Unfortunately for Addam the selectors continue to prefer Bennell to him. He was unlucky not to play games late last year despite his good form in the VFL and Jamie had dropped off.

I am going tomorrow night with my best mate (a Bombers supporter), a tradition that goes back to the late 70's. I haven't had too many joyous moments over the years and those I have had have been largely unexpected. Go Dees.

[old dee 23,787]

I think that's fair.

Bennell wasn't terrible last week and is unfairly maligned on this forum.

Your right he was bloody awful.

How many good games has he played? 2 from my memory.

Just what we need is another outside player.

has not been in one collision this year.

[pitmaster 3,544]

By my count we have 14 players with less than 50 games experience - that makes is tough to win against anyone, however, the bombers have 11 players with under 50 games.

Go dees

And five players (Strauss, Nicholson, Evans, Gawn and Howe) with I think, five games between them.

Gives us plenty to look for Friday night.

Don't have any problem with Maric out and Bennell in. Bennell has one clear asset - his pace - whereas Maric I am afraid appears to have none and is not reliable as a goal sneak or a field kick.

I am rapt with the ins.