http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-02-20/round-1-nab-cup-squad-named

Sh!t, I forgot, footy is nearly here...

Well, Mickey Mouse footy...

ROUND 1 NAB CUP SQUAD

1 Jesse Hogan

2 Nathan Jones

4 Jack Watts

5 Jimmy Toumpas

6 Chris Dawes

7 Jack Viney

8 James Frawley

10 Shannon Byrnes

12 Colin Sylvia

13 Jordie McKenzie

14 Lynden Dunn

15 David Rodan

17 Sam Blease

19 James Strauss

20 Colin Garland

21 Cameron Pedersen

22 James Magner

25 Tom McDonald

26 Daniel Nicholson

27 Tom Gillies

28 Joel Macdonald

30 James Sellar

31 Jack Grimes

32 Michael Evans

34 Dean Kent

36 Aaron Davey

38 Jeremy Howe

39 Neville Jetta

40 Mark Jamar

42 Jake Spencer

45 Matt Jones

46 Dean Terlich

47 Tom Couch

48 Jack Fitzpatrick

22 + 12

Looking forward to Kent receiving hands from the HF line and drilling 9 pointers.

Notable absence of Troy Davis.

ot playing:

9 Jack Trengove (inj)

11 Mitch Clark (inj)

23 Josh Tynan

33 Dom Barry

35 Luke Tapscott

37 Max Gawn (inj)\

41 Troy Davis

43 Rory Taggert

44 Rohan Bail (inj)

49 Nathan Stark (rookie)

50 Mitchell Clisby (rookie)

Tapscott, Davis, Taggert, Tynan, Barry and Rookies

I am gonna guess they got the least amount of points in pre-season?

Cant play evertone on the list at the same time so some will be rested and others will be playing. im guessing viney, toumpas and kent will be moniterd.

No Bail, Trengove, Clark, Gawn (all inj) or Davis, Barry, Tapscott, Tynan, Taggert.

Or Clisby (inj) or Stark from the rookie list

Seems interesting that Tapscott, Tynan and Taggert all aren't in the side. I think Tappy has been carrying a niggling injury but haven't heard anything about the other 2. Maybe the plan was to save a couple for the game next week.

I see the 2 games this week and the game against Port as warm ups and trials prior to the last two NAB cup games which are much more about actually readying the best 25 for round 1. So this week I'd play the kids only for 1 match each as well as the veteran/important players.

FB: Strauss Frawley Macdonald

HB: Dunn McDonald Watts

C: Viney Jones Nicholson

HF: Blease Dawes Howe

FF: Davey Pedersen Fitzpatrick

Foll: Jamar McKenzie Sylvia

Int: Spencer, Kent, Magner, Evans, Matt Jones, Terlich

At half time I'd make the following changes:

Garland (Macdonald), Gillies (Frawley), Toumpas (Viney), Byrnes (Howe), Hogan (Dawes), Rodan (Jones), Grimes (McKenzie), Jetta (Kent), Sellar (Jamar), Couch (Sylvia)

FB: Jetta Gillies Garland

HB: Dunn McDonald Watts

C: Toumpas Grimes M. Jones

HF:Blease Pedersen Byrnes

FF: Davey Hogan Fitzpatrick

Foll: Spencer Magner Rodan

Int: Strauss, Sellar, Couch, Evans, Nicholson, Terlich

Disappointed that neither Taggert or Tynan make it into the team.

Both were draftees form the 2011 draft.

Both in their second year and cannot get a run in a practise match, disappointing.

Not surprised re Tapscott I think he is going to struggle to get a game this year unless we have injuries.

These games will mean little if we lose them both but a great deal if we win.

...footy?

Oh right! Footy! I remember that.

Would of liked to see Rory Taggert, must be a reason why he is not playing.

Look forward to seeing Evans could be a smoky in the midfield this year for us.

Disappointed that neither Taggert or Tynan make it into the team.

Both were draftees form the 2011 draft.

Both in their second year and cannot get a run in a practise match, disappointing.

Not surprised re Tapscott I think he is going to struggle to get a game this year unless we have injuries.

You are assuming they are fit enough to play? I would say this would be more to do with soreness or injury.

You are assuming they are fit enough to play? I would say this would be more to do with soreness or injury.

... or load management.

You are assuming they are fit enough to play? I would say this would be more to do with soreness or injury.

There is not un limited number of players who get a run on Friday night 34 in total I believe.

Some one has to miss out and those two have missed.

No mention of injury, soreness. load management etc.

Is it impossible to believe they were not viewed as being in the top 34 players for Friday night?

I believe we are putting our best available 34 on the ground first up.

After the past 12 months we need runs on the board.

We need to impress sponsors and supporters.

The other 6 fit players may get a run next week, if needed.

It was interesting that the ad in todays Sun for the game(s) had a photo of one player from each team , two established stars

from North and Tigers, and Jack Viney for us. Is it too early in his career for him to be a 'face', a marketable commodity?

Cant wait till Friday!

It was interesting that the ad in todays Sun for the game(s) had a photo of one player from each team , two established stars

from North and Tigers, and Jack Viney for us. Is it too early in his career for him to be a 'face', a marketable commodity?

Cant wait till Friday!

I see your point. I thought we were looking to learn from the pressure put on Watts. That said one promo is fine, but I don't want to see Viney as the face of the club.

No mention of injury, soreness. load management etc.

OD, we never hear anything specific re load management, so why would that be the case here?

Almost the same re injuries. We found out yesterday Rohan Bail had been in the rehab group with concussion for 3 weeks ...

You're jumping to conclusions.

It was interesting that the ad in todays Sun for the game(s) had a photo of one player from each team , two established stars

from North and Tigers, and Jack Viney for us. Is it too early in his career for him to be a 'face', a marketable commodity?

Cant wait till Friday!

Mind you, they are calling Ziebell a star.......

These games will mean little if we lose them both but a great deal if we win.

Beg to differ... with a $500k fine hanging over the MFC, suddenly the NAB cup takes on a whole new level of importance.

A few boys playing against there old clubs in this one..... Gysberts, pederson, petterd, Edwards, Rodan. Will be good to see some recruits stand up.

Is there any cash for winning the NAB cup?

Pre-season games don't count ... but they do matter. As a team they will learn a lot about themselves.

Our best chance is the 1st game against North. What will be interesting is how we run the game out against Richmond. Looking forward to seeing the new recruits. Especially Hogan, Dawes, Viney and Toumpas.

Disappointing not to see Tapscott in the squad but he might be carrying a slight leg injury. I reckon Luke will prove a few people wrong this year. He just needs a good go at it. Still just 21 years old.

Is there any cash for winning the NAB cup?

I believe there is still a monetary prize (but don't know how much). In 2010, the winner got $180k and the runner up $120k.

No Bail, Trengove, Clark, Gawn (all inj) or Davis, Barry, Tapscott, Tynan, Taggert.

Or Clisby (inj) or Stark from the rookie list

Seems interesting that Tapscott, Tynan and Taggert all aren't in the side. I think Tappy has been carrying a niggling injury but haven't heard anything about the other 2. Maybe the plan was to save a couple for the game next week.

I see the 2 games this week and the game against Port as warm ups and trials prior to the last two NAB cup games which are much more about actually readying the best 25 for round 1. So this week I'd play the kids only for 1 match each as well as the veteran/important players.

FB: Strauss Frawley Macdonald

HB: Dunn McDonald Watts

C: Viney Jones Nicholson

HF: Blease Dawes Howe

FF: Davey Pedersen Fitzpatrick

Foll: Jamar McKenzie Sylvia

Int: Spencer, Kent, Magner, Evans, Matt Jones, Terlich

At half time I'd make the following changes:

Garland (Macdonald), Gillies (Frawley), Toumpas (Viney), Byrnes (Howe), Hogan (Dawes), Rodan (Jones), Grimes (McKenzie), Jetta (Kent), Sellar (Jamar), Couch (Sylvia)

FB: Jetta Gillies Garland

HB: Dunn McDonald Watts

C: Toumpas Grimes M. Jones

HF:Blease Pedersen Byrnes

FF: Davey Hogan Fitzpatrick

Foll: Spencer Magner Rodan

Int: Strauss, Sellar, Couch, Evans, Nicholson, Terlich

I like the concept of having Fitzpatrick in both teams as he deserves a run. If Dawes has been recruited as FB then I would play him there instead of Pederson. Similarly I would play Hogan as CHB instead of Pederson in the other match as I believe that is the role that we are grooming him for rather than FB. Otherwise I don't have a problem with your selections. I suspect the half back line that you named for both matches is our best and hopefully will excell for the whole season.