Time to turn our thoughts to Saturdays game. Melbourne fans are all resilient. This week is a huge challenge to our players. Assuming Tom is fit, we have Davie, Scully, McDonald, ... available to come into the team.

Who comes in?

Who goes out?

And, of most interest to me is, how do we beat the bruise free blues (Blues)?

Come on Dees!!!

I'd hope.

IN: Davey, Scully, MacDonald, Morton. The rational is that this week that those experienced players whose performance has been sub-par or their future value questioned should be given a run this week. This list includes Dunn, Bate and Maric, all of which have kept their spots for Carlton.

OUT: Nicolson, Strauss, Howe, Bate. The flip of the above logic, take the least exposed of the next generation players out, I feel that this game will be best served by those MFC players with the most to lose if they under perform.

That said the above selections are based on a key assumption that all the players present themselves to play for the club cherry ripe and raring to go.

Edited August 3, 201114 yr by PaulRB

And, of most interest to me is, how do we beat the bruise free blues (Blues)?

Stop Judd from having any meaningful influence, plain and simple .

Maybe not simple .

Edited August 3, 201114 yr by Fork 'em

I'd look at either Davey, Scully and Trengove to Judd. May not beat him (he is good) but quite likely to hurt them the other way if Judd does not pay them too much respect...?

Do the same for Murphey?

Edited August 3, 201114 yr by PaulRB

Stop Judd from having any meaningful influence, plain and simple .

Maybe not simple .

I'd give that honour to Sylvia. A lot was made of his performance on Judd last time they met, and Col is crying for a pay rise, and has had questions raised all week about his abilities and his under-performing at the Club. You want to prove the doubters wrong Col? Here's your greatest chance. You don't have to beat him - few do, but if you can walk off with your head held high, then you have some right to state your case.

Judd is strong, fit and can make his opponents look 2nd rate. He will slaughter us if we "try" someone that is not quite ready for a challenge like this.

Murphy on the other hand should see McKenzie hanging off him all night like a Roger Davidd suit.

If my memory serves me correctly Judd played OK against us until about the 4th quarter but then smashed us because his tagger couldn't keep up with him. Why not make the subs role to tag Judd for the 4th quarter?

If my memory serves me correctly Judd played OK against us until about the 4th quarter but then smashed us because his tagger couldn't keep up with him. Why not make the subs role to tag Judd for the 4th quarter?

Great idea re. sub.

The game was lsat year when Judd battled but blew us away in the last. From memory Junior was tagging him all game. But I may be wrong that a 34 year old was struggling to run out a full game.

What about bringing in Barty to also play a midfield tight tag on Judd/Murphey with others? I worry about Silvia if Judd goes to the forward pocket to "rest".

We need to tip the midfield to our advantage any way we can..?

Regardless of the stage of the game , if the blues get into trouble , 9 times from 10 it's Judd that comes into the game for them .

Stop Judd , stop Carlton IMO .

Can Davey tag? We know that a strong tag takes him out of the game but if he has a completely defensive role on Judd and does okay it would not matter that he doesn't get much of the footy.

Could also make Judd accountable with a bit of speed pressing forward on a turn over.

He is maybe not strong enough around the pack...

Very good idea re sub on Judd in 4th, as long as it is a player with genuine leg speed. As to who should have him early up, I would feel ok about Col getting the job, but what about the special Jordie MacKenzie? Would look good hanging off Judds waist all night.

but what about the special Jordie MacKenzie? Would look good hanging off Judds waist all night.

Because McKenzie is a plodder who lacks pace. Judd has blistering pace. While Jordie would be effective at tackling him in the packs,

its Judds ability to burst from the side of a pack and break free using pace that makes him special. Jordie would be grasping at thin air.

It has to be someone who can run at his side and keep up, certainly Sylvia has this but not sure of his dedicated defensive capabilities.

I'd look at either Davie, Scully and Trengove to Judd. May not beat him (he is good) but quite likely to hurt them the other way if Judd does not pay them too much respect...?

Do the same for Murphey?

I know he's been out for a while Paul but his name is Davey not Davie. Being picky I guess but people complain often on the spelling of Moloney.

Fixed, Ta.

Very good idea re sub on Judd in 4th, as long as it is a player with genuine leg speed. As to who should have him early up, I would feel ok about Col getting the job, but what about the special Jordie MacKenzie? Would look good hanging off Judds waist all night.

I just don't know if Jordie is strong enough. We need someone who can go toe-to-toe with Judd physically, as well as put up with all the blocking off the ball that good teams do when their better players are tagged.

I'd give that honour to Sylvia. A lot was made of his performance on Judd last time they met, and Col is crying for a pay rise, and has had questions raised all week about his abilities and his under-performing at the Club. You want to prove the doubters wrong Col? Here's your greatest chance. You don't have to beat him - few do, but if you can walk off with your head held high, then you have some right to state your case.

Judd is strong, fit and can make his opponents look 2nd rate. He will slaughter us if we "try" someone that is not quite ready for a challenge like this.

Murphy on the other hand should see McKenzie hanging off him all night like a Roger Davidd suit.

The same Sylvia who ran through the centre square to a throw in on the defensive side of the wing with Sam Mitchell but kept going to the contest even though Mitchell had stopped and placed himself 20 metres off the throw in on the wing? And yep the Hawks got the ball to the unguarded Mitchell from the throw in.

The same Sylvia who ran through the centre square to a throw in on the defensive side of the wing with Sam Mitchell but kept going to the contest even though Mitchell had stopped and placed himself 20 metres off the throw in on the wing? And yep the Hawks got the ball to the unguarded Mitchell from the throw in.

Correct demoniac, and I have stated my reasons why. I'm not saying he will be our saviour, and I'd be expecting him to get a hiding in all honesty, but if wants some bargaining power at the contract table, wouldn't it be a great opportunity to try and earn those extra $$$ he thinks he deserves?

Much has been said about all our senior players, they are all on notice.

Would you prefer a kid play on him that will get smashed?

Judd will have a massive influence no matter whos on him, let him go. Jordie Mc to Murphy, JT to Simpson and Beamer to go head to head with Robinson. Judd is a champ but he cant do it by himself. stop the others, stop Carlton IMO.

Judd will have a massive influence no matter whos on him, let him go. Jordie Mc to Murphy, JT to Simpson and Beamer to go head to head with Robinson. Judd is a champ but he cant do it by himself. stop the others, stop Carlton IMO.

Understand your thinking but don't like when players get a free run of it. I am of the opinion you need to at least try and limit the damage and then make them accountable for an opponent.

Essendon let Swan do as he liked on Sunday and it caused a 100 point turn around.

Edited August 3, 201114 yr by Mac7

I like the logic for playing Sylvia on Judd. He has the speed and talent to do a decent job of it. Just needs to be fired up and dedicated to the task.

Davey has never really provided a strong tag and would be far too raw I would think.

Lets just make sure Lynden Dunn does not go anywhere near Judd... His effort on Chappy last week seemed to feed the killing frenzy the cats were already in...

Bartram will play this week, so will McDonald.

That is almost a guarantee.

Bartram will play this week, so will McDonald.

That is almost a guarantee.

I would think that there will be 4 additions, surely after last week there must be considerable change.

In's Bartram, Mcdonald, Davey and Warnock.

Out Nicholson, Strauss, Maric and Sylvia

Why Sylvia, he has been poor for weeks now in fact I cannot remember his last good game and someone in the older group has to Pay IMO.

I would like to drop Green but that won't happen.

However who knows what Viney's opinion on the players is we might all be very surprised by the changes he pulls.

I think he will go for as solid a defence as he muster.

Great idea re. sub.

The game was lsat year when Judd battled but blew us away in the last.

Yeah, he was phenomenal in the last quarter of that game last year. I think it was a wet night at the 'G.

Bartram will play this week, so will McDonald.

That is almost a guarantee.

That would be alright; Bartram is a competitor and it'd be interesting to see McDonald play.

I also wouldn't mind seeing MacDonald return; similar reasons to Bartram.

Yeah, he was phenomenal in the last quarter of that game last year. I think it was a wet night at the 'G.

That would be alright; Bartram is a competitor and it'd be interesting to see McDonald play.

I also wouldn't mind seeing MacDonald return; similar reasons to Bartram.

Sorry i meant Joel MacDonald not Tom McDonald

I think that Todd will play some older, harder bodies this week, we need to put some aggression on the field and they will show it.