Please outline your method of selection..

In a very simplistic and qualified summary, always choose the best players available and give them a few successive games to prove themselves.

No the irritating thing was the opponent name was wrong.

What can I say, I'm anal retentive.

Auto complete. Google Chrome's fault, not mine.

In a very simplistic and qualified summary, always choose the best players available and give them a few successive games to prove themselves.

How's this for paraphrasing?

"I want to express my dissatisfaction at team selection however I don't wish to be specific. I would much rather wait till after the game is played so I can assess the successes and failures of the selction team and express my expert and hindsight-benefitted opinion."

On one hand you spout words such as courage and leadership, yet you criticise what is clearly a risky and courageous team selection strategy, in a non-specific way so as not to be called out.

Criticise the club by all means, but pick your mark.

B: James Frawley, Jared Rivers, Joel Macdonald

HB: Tom Scully, Jack Watts, James Strauss

C: Jordan Gysberts, Brent Moloney, Jack Trengove

HF: Cale Morton, Colin Sylvia, Jeremy Howe

F: Max Gawn, Brad Green, Jamie Bennell

Foll: Stefan Martin, Nathan Jones, Jordie McKenzie

I/C: Neville Jetta, Liam Jurrah, Daniel Nicholson, Michael Evans

Emg: Matthew Bate, Sam Blease, Tom McDonald

In: James Strauss, Tom Scully, Jack Trengove, Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe

Out: Matthew Bate, Michael Newton (Foot), Matthew Warnock, Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric

New: Max Gawn (Sandringham Dragons), Jeremy Howe (Hobart)

The future has almost taken control of this team. Sometimes injuries aren't such a bad thing

Liam to be super sub

You can highlight Gysberts.

He's better than Tapscott...

In a very simplistic and qualified summary, always choose the best players available and give them a few successive games to prove themselves.

Specifics please.

I think it's brave when you choose the future over seasoned pros who are horribly out of form.

The cowardly action would have been to keep Bate, Dunn, Petterd, Warnock, and Maric in the side for spots they didn't deserve just because kids were the only other option.

How's this for paraphrasing?

"I want to express my dissatisfaction at team selection however I don't wish to be specific. I would much rather wait till after the game is played so I can assess the successes and failures of the selction team and express my expert and hindsight-benefitted opinion."

On one hand you spout words such as courage and leadership, yet you criticise what is clearly a risky and courageous team selection strategy, in a non-specific way so as not to be called out.

Criticise the club by all means, but pick your mark.

You asked for a method of team selection, not what I think the team should be.

I don't believe in criticising 'the club' - my 'mark' remains unchanged and should be very clear.

You asked for a method of team selection, not what I think the team should be.

I don't believe in criticising 'the club' - my 'mark' remains unchanged and should be very clear.

Stating you are unhappy with team selection then failing to provide specific examples when challenged, and providing a response such as this? This is the antithesis of "courage", you know, that word that you claimed to know something about.

NB: I am out of red, and slightly grumpy.

Fantastic changes IMO.

We lose nothing in removing Bate, Newton, Petterd, Warnock and Maric. Maric maybe is a bit stiff, but overall he's not the player people think he is, or want him to be. When he has even a remote influence on the game, it makes people happy, but in the end, his decision making is not great, his kicking is about half as good as what people say it is, and he doesn't offer a lot when we don't have the ball. Having said all that I was seeing improvement in him, so on that basis I wasn't expecting him to make way, but I couldn't care less.

Scully and Trengove pick themselves. Gawn deserves his turn, given his form and our ruck stocks. He certainly won't be any worse in the ruck than Newton was. Same goes for Howe; he can't do any worse than Bate or Petterd have been doing of late.

Strauss gets his chance, I assume because we're looking for some skill bringing the ball out of defence, without Davey, Tapscott and Grimes. Hopefully he's prepared to work hard and get the contested ball, because he didn't look like he was ready for that last year.

Morton and Bennell are very, very fortunate to have held their spots, but I think we might see them both play forward this week. Bennell to crumb, Morton because where else would he play?

I see no reason for playing Jurrah as the sub. If he's going to influence the game, let him have the entire game to do it. If he's not fit he shouldn't be playing, so I'm going to presume he's fit, in which case he should be out there from start to finish. Jetta to be the sub (although I note we have used 9 different players so far in 9 games).

Harden up.

Haha.

Stating you are unhappy with team selection then failing to provide specific examples when challenged, and providing a response such as this? This is the antithesis of "courage", you know, that word that you claimed to know something about.

NB: I am out of red, and slightly grumpy.

Re your NB: Obviously, but stay positive, you will be happier after Round 24 (or hopefully even earlier) when the world will start again! The bottom line is that it is 'the club' that we all support!

Re your NB: Obviously, but stay positive, you will be happier after Round 24 (or hopefully even earlier) when the world will start again! The bottom line is that it is 'the club' that we all support!

Grumpy or not, I think he would still like to know what you don't admire about the changes made.

You can critique the club - we all do it.

Grumpy or not, I think he would still like to know what you don't admire about the changes made.

You can critique the club - we all do it.

Grumpy is a great self defense

More people should try it.

It is almost as good as a single malt or a good red!

Or a poor one for that matter

Zing !

Timely reminder for the incomprehensibles.

No bolding for the Gyzzzzz?

No to LJ as the sub.

Missed one

Liam is damn lucky he's not at casey. His second efforts are non existent. His attack on the loose ball is not anywhere near the required intensity. his attempts to mark when the heat is on are what one might consider "bruise free footy"

It's the big league now and he needs to be held to the dame standard as everyone else.

B: James Frawley, Jared Rivers, Joel Macdonald

HB: Tom Scully, Jack Watts, James Strauss

C: Jordan Gysberts, Brent Moloney, Jack Trengove

HF: Cale Morton, Colin Sylvia, Jeremy Howe

F: Max Gawn, Brad Green, Jamie Bennell

Foll: Stefan Martin, Nathan Jones, Jordie McKenzie

I/C: Neville Jetta, Liam Jurrah, Daniel Nicholson, Michael Evans

Emg: Matthew Bate, Sam Blease, Tom McDonald

In: James Strauss, Tom Scully, Jack Trengove, Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe

Out: Matthew Bate, Michael Newton (Foot), Matthew Warnock, Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric

New: Max Gawn (Sandringham Dragons), Jeremy Howe (Hobart)

The future has almost taken control of this team. Sometimes injuries aren't such a bad thing

Liam to be super sub

Goddammit...dropped Maric but kept Morton?!

Apart from that, excellent team.

Maric is a selfish but talented goal sneak. However he (and Petterd) MUST learn to chase and tackle and apply constant pressure. Warnock unfortunatley is too much of a liability with the ball in his hand and has just been filling a gap (albeit a good physical one) until either McDonald (Tom) or Davis or Fitzpatrick are ready to go. Not pleased with Mortons effort(or lack thereof)last week but otherwise I think the selection is fantastic and really look forward to seeing the young blokes having a crack and giving us some glimpses of the not to distant future

I thought the same of Maric - in fact he was close to the first bloke I'd have cut from the list. Reckon he's shown a bit at stages though. He's tried to back himself - hasn't always worked but if he managed to somehow gain a bit of confidence & trust his first option, just reckon there might be something as a half forward rotating with Sylvia through midfield. His vision is not bad - just needs to go with his first instinct. His kicking is sometimes shabby but sometimes superb. Be interested to know what message he received this week - why he is being sent to Casey & what he has to work on.

Agree on Warnock - he is a limited player who will give good service if he plays within his limitations. Running & bouncing the ball are outside those parameters.

Also agree on Ricky. He is a downhill skier of the worst kind. Classic half forward flanker. Kick a bag one week & then won't get a sniff for a month. Should be wearing Andy Moir's number 29 as homage to the way HFF's traditionally play.

It's like you might as well post on my behalf

I was saying why I found it annoying

Missed one

Liam is damn lucky he's not at casey. His second efforts are non existent. His attack on the loose ball is not anywhere near the required intensity. his attempts to mark when the heat is on are what one might consider "bruise free footy"

It's the big league now and he needs to be held to the dame standard as everyone else.

Agree on what he needs to do but Casey or a starter for mine.

He is one of the few who can break a game open. With better structure across the ground and better delivery, he can capitalize.

I hope the FD can get your points across without the slap in the face (yet).

Grumpy or not, I think he would still like to know what you don't admire about the changes made.

You can critique the club - we all do it.

Explaining the grumpiness was for your benefit and for those who know me not for "hardnut"... who is certainly in no position now to critcise any short steps or pulling out, or even use the term courage with any credibility.

Best Ins and Outs in absolutely ages.

I'm actually excited about footy again.

SCULLY!!!!

Me too! Best Ever!

Zing!

Forecast pain arrives on schedule.

Goddammit...dropped Maric but kept Morton?!

Apart from that, excellent team.

Yep..a bit miffed about that myself. Alas teh FD must have thought 'others' will do the harder work

I had experssed earlier and elsewhere a wish to See the likes Of Howe, Gawn (as a possibility ) and either of Strauss or Blease come in as well as the auto's in ScullGrove so I cant complain.

Please, lets just see a determined effort ( and second, and third) ...ALL NIGHT !!

respect the jumper and the priveldge to wear it.

Ought to give the Bummers a decent game.

It baffles me that even in a season when he would definitely be top 5 in the B&F and is 23yo, people still don't acknowledge Jones as part of the future. No idea what the man has to do to earn some love.

Fantastic changes IMO.

We lose nothing in removing Bate, Newton, Petterd, Warnock and Maric. Maric maybe is a bit stiff, but overall he's not the player people think he is, or want him to be. When he has even a remote influence on the game, it makes people happy, but in the end, his decision making is not great, his kicking is about half as good as what people say it is, and he doesn't offer a lot when we don't have the ball. Having said all that I was seeing improvement in him, so on that basis I wasn't expecting him to make way, but I couldn't care less.

Scully and Trengove pick themselves. Gawn deserves his turn, given his form and our ruck stocks. He certainly won't be any worse in the ruck than Newton was. Same goes for Howe; he can't do any worse than Bate or Petterd have been doing of late.

Strauss gets his chance, I assume because we're looking for some skill bringing the ball out of defence, without Davey, Tapscott and Grimes. Hopefully he's prepared to work hard and get the contested ball, because he didn't look like he was ready for that last year.

Morton and Bennell are very, very fortunate to have held their spots, but I think we might see them both play forward this week. Bennell to crumb, Morton because where else would he play?

I see no reason for playing Jurrah as the sub. If he's going to influence the game, let him have the entire game to do it. If he's not fit he shouldn't be playing, so I'm going to presume he's fit, in which case he should be out there from start to finish. Jetta to be the sub (although I note we have used 9 different players so far in 9 games).

I agree with everything you have said...We are already starving Jurrah of chances? He's our leading goal kicker...why make him as the sub? Green should be our sub before Jurrah.

It baffles me that even in a season when he would definitely be top 5 in the B&F and is 23yo, people still don't acknowledge Jones as part of the future. No idea what the man has to do to earn some love.

I have to agree with you. Prior to this year, I was as far off the Jones bandwagon as you could be, but in the past ten weeks or so, he's been one of our most consistent performers. He's got endurance and strength in spades, and he plays his best footy as the Bruce-like link in the handball chain (with correct handpassing technique to boot). If he can stick to playing netball-type "get and give" footy, then he'll continue to be a good player for us. It's when he tries to bite off more than he can chew that things can go wrong.

The difference between top 6 sides and us is the way they are able to introduce new players into the team. The majority of posts here indicate a positive response to the new players being given a game, however it really is a baptism of fire. The best sides have the ability to bring in a new player into a winning team, where the pressure is off and they have an excellent, balanced side around them. At the moment the poor old Demons are bringing in debutaunt players left, right and centre, into a team low on confidence, and expecting them to be key contributors straight away. I put Pettard, Gysberts and Maric into this category. These players have played a combined 69 games between them and are bring very harshly criticised for lack or effort or intensity. The reality is that it takes around 70 games minimum to be able to get used to the speed and pressure of AFL football. Only a very, very small percent make an impact in their first 50 games. These players usually go on to become champions at their clubs. Do we really think that 15 of the 22 players running out tonight will become 200+ game champions?

There is nothing we can do about it, and its not necessarily the coaches fault. We have been cruelled by injury and therefore our new players are under more focus because they are suddenly expected to play week in, week out, in their formative years. The arguement will be "but why can't they play with more passion and aggression at least?" Well how are they supposed to do that when they still have such raw bodies and are learning game plans, structures, zones, presses, AND trying to get a kick. And now they have to be the aggressors also because we have next to no experience in the team.

Tough situation to be in, but that is our lot at the MFC. I wish people would stop bagging the likes of Maric, Pettard, Jurrah, Morton, and even Warnock (55 games). Let them get to 60-70 games and then we can be armchair experts because we will have seen enough of them to know. Remember blokes like Travis Varcoe, Paddy Ryder, Andrew Mackie, Dale Thomas, Bryce Gibbs, etc, all copped the same criticisms along the way, but their teams had the luxory of only having 1 or 2 such players per year. We have 15+ at the moment! Let sit back and enjoy the debuts of Gawn and Howe tonight, but for Gods sake, lets not start smashing them if they aren't in the Herald Sun best every week after 5 games.