Relax We've got this.....

[Macca 17,120]

Dees by 1 point

That's the spirit OD !

Demons in a shoot out . Big Mitch Clark will be the difference .

This is of course , my optimistic view !

[Jaded No More 68,976]

It's going to be suicide hour here tomorrow at 6pm.

Optimism is bloody dangerous for Melbourne supporters.

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

Moloney out with Groin soreness again this week so we should see Tom Couch get a run.

I can see us dominating the clearances this week but it's the ball use which needs to dramatically improve.

I think Mitch will kick a bag on Saturday and we'll get up comfortably.

Not just should have. He was equal top possession getter last week against Frankston and he's been in the best players in every match for the Scorps this year. Then we have Morton, who's also been doing fairly well but nothing spectacular for a more experienced AFL player, and Davey severely out of form and no time spent downstairs. Then Tappy, who was not mentioned in the best players by any review that i've seen to this point. And no, this is not a witch hunt on any particular player, just calling it as i see it.

So if we're basing our selection criteria on "Effort" and "Form".... and necessity ie., 1 player down in the mid (Beamer) with a ready made AFL sized frame to replace him who's racked up the most possessions in the VFL the week before, also playing through the mid, and who's also been in the best in all 3 weeks so far for Casey ....the most deserved and logical choice is.................................

COUCH!!!!!!

......Ummm.....Nup....sorry mate....this is the Melbourne Demons here....we don't tend to reward players who've earned their place....there's other more important and complex factors at play here including match ups etc that you supporter plebs would never get (Yeh, THAT'S YOU Rusty...you know nothing about this modern game....so just go back to playin poker!!).

That's right, we're going with past performers, one of whom has spent no time trying to find his form downstairs (Davey), and another who's really only had 1 full VFL game since injury and didn't show all that much and probably could have done with at least one more in Tappy (who i'm sure will be a great addition when he's had a little more game time and fully earned his spot and gained some form etc...a big Tappy fan here if he can get and stay fit).

And then there's Morton, who based on his performance at Casey, could be argued has at least earned his return. But hasn't Couch also earned his place ahead of Davey and Tappy at this point?

It's my belief (and just my op) that rewarding performance, rather than reputations, should have a more positive reinforcing impact on the playing group in the short to medium term where it counts....on the field!

Oh well, WTF do i know....

Anyone for cards??

B)

[That's a Stretch 18]

What is everyone going to say if we win by 40 points? Just a bad start to the season or a fluke win?

[Chook 15,023]

It really is bizarre that we've elevated Tom Couch on the back of consistent good results in the VFL, and yet we've neglected to play him in one of the least promising Melbourne sides I've ever seen.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

us by under 10 points is paying 12.00!

got to be worth a flutter

oh wait i forgot we're shizen

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

BUMP!!!! Hey beautiful people it's back. Round 1 I am asking all of you to relax. Why? Surely not. Yes you can. Relax we've got this.

Melbourne Vs The mighty Port Adelaide. Port Adelaide! Fair dinkum I will eat a hat if we lose but we won't which is why I and you can relax. We have had a second proper pre season. Not one of Bailey's "Just run around the oval a couple of times if your up to it" Pre seasons. We have had Neeld,Mission and Craig's version which is " RUN YA BLOODY MAGGOT UNTIL YOU PUKE THEN EAT THE PUKE THEN SPEW IT UP ON THAT SCULLY PHOTO THEN RUN SOME MORE!" The dead wood was cut away thanks to Neeld's trusty axe.

So it's us against them. What have they got? They have Boak. Yep he is good no doubt. That's enough in depth analysis of them. We got ourselves a 18 year old son of a titan who would run through a tank and throw it through the AFL HQ before you could blink. We got ourselves some premiership players and a break dancer who will all play and dance around Port with ease. Toumpass will be horrified at how easy we make it for him and how bad a team Port are. No TV presenter can save them from the spanking they are going to receive. They better bring that stupid tarp so they can shield their supporters (do they have any?) eyes from the ass whooping. If this sounds like pure garbage with no substance then I give you my evidence. Remember playing junior footy and most teams had that kid who was chubby and couldn't get a kick and would be plonked in the back pocket all day? Sometimes our boy Sellar reminded me of that kid. He improved down back last year but up forward he was a horror at times. Well he kicked 5 on their best defender in the pre season. 5 goals to Sellar! Ha! They have no chance. Yes Mitch is half fit but he is a cybernetic organism with living tissue over a metal endoskeleton. They will be terminated.

GO DEE'S and Relax We've Got This!

[P-man 13,367]

Quality bump Cowboy.

[PartyTimeJohnny 537]

hahahahah. nice.

[Muvver Jones 64]

Whatever happens, please give us a bump next week instead of waiting till the begining of next season.

[demonkeaney 61]

Gold. Loved it

[old dee 24,028]

I hope we can play as well as your imagination CFH

[Range Rover 1,935]

Best Thread Title of 2012 is back.

Why am I getting an ominous sense of dejavu?

[biggestred 5,266]

we are SO going to lose.

[Allen Jakovich 516]

Best. Bump. Ever.

[stinga81 210]

Brilliant.

[dazzledavey36 55,983]

Pencil this game of us getting a flogging

[old dee 24,028]

Dees by 1 point

Gee I got this seriously wrong we were never in the hunt then or for the other 18 games.

[Deetective Sgt. Taggert 389]

You'd like to think Rodan can bring us some inside info, although with a new coach it may not be of much use.

[Irish Demon 33]

I think our boys are primed for next sunday.Port Adelaide won't know what hit them.I just hope the team bring effort,intensity and passion to the table this season.Having those character traits is half the battle.

[Deetective Sgt. Taggert 389]

Oh and I used to always play back pocket, but I'm not fat goddammit!

Quite the opposite in fact, but I was often pitched against the fat kid, which meant I was always able to peel off and play a sweeper role. Even though I din't have the best skills or endurance (hence why they put me there) I could read the play, and young kid are so predictable, always kicked long towards the goals...amazing how many easy touches I got in the goal square!

[hardtack 10,978]

Yes, just like we could have won the game against the Lions (Eagles game was a bridge too far regardless), yet we lost by 41 points. Unfortunately this game is no push-over, although I do believe it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that we could win; I just wouldn't be putting my house on the result, that's all.

However, I do find it amusing that as we get past the halfway point in the week after a >100 point drubbing, the wailing and gnashing of teeth makes way for the fanfares ushering in what is certain to be a certain victory and a turning of the corner :-)

Well Old Dee, I was uncharacteristically less optimistic than you.

I don't really give a toss about what we supporters think, my hope for this season opener is that the players aren't feeling too comfortable about this game on the back of a win in Renmark... I think that is one mistake they have made too often in the past, last year against the Lions being a perfect case in point.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I think our boys are primed for next sunday.Port Adelaide won't know what hit them.I just hope the team bring effort,intensity and passion to the table this season.Having those character traits is half the battle.

Jack viney eats effort,intensity and passion for breakfast. Seriously it's port Adelaide. It's all gravy baby we've got this.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Please everyone get down there and scream your lungs out, no bloody excuses. I don't care if it's a bit cold or you are too tight to pay for a train ticket and a meat pie. I don't care if you are worried we will lose. I don't care if the missus is up in your grill about doing some other meaningless crap. It has been a rough 6 seasons on the trot, but who knows, we could be turning a corner. What we expect from them is 110% so we have to give it also. The side needs to know there are people out there backing them, and that their efforts are appreciated.

Oh and if you haven't signed up do that right effing now.

[alias275 259]

" RUN YA BLOODY MAGGOT UNTIL YOU PUKE THEN EAT THE PUKE THEN SPEW IT UP ON THAT SCULLY PHOTO THEN RUN SOME MORE!"

Remember playing junior footy and most teams had that kid who was chubby and couldn't get a kick and would be plonked in the back pocket all day? Sometimes our boy Sellar reminded me of that kid.

Yes Mitch is half fit but he is a cybernetic organism with living tissue over a metal endoskeleton. They will be terminated.

Absolutely love your work CFH.

If we can play as well as you can post. It's going to be an absolute white wash...... or blood bath