Pre-season is done now for the real stuff, no much how we try to positive spin our pre-season matches showed much of the same, we switched off for periods that saw our opponents smash us on the scoreboard. The main issuews facing the selection team this week is how many underdone players do we take into round 1 and are some of these players better underdone than other options. To me we need to line up

Jetta Frawley Terlich

Watts Garland Dunn

Toumpas Sylvia Rodan

Howe Clark Davey

Byrnes Dawes Sellar

Jamar Jones Grimes

Nicholson Viney McKenzie

Blease

M Jones Gillies Magner

My team is based around run, Dunn Telrich and Watts can play the third tall defender if needed, Davey, Byrnes, Rodan and Blease add that speed. To me if Clark and Dawes are fit we need to play them, no point playing them at Casey they will just get frustrated. Besides Trengove and McDonald to me this is our best time 22 we can field.

FB: Jetta - Frawley - Garland

HB: Watts - Gillies - Dunn

C: Terlich - N Jones - Grimes

HF: Sylvia - Pederson - Howe

FF: Clark - Sellar - Byrnes

R: Jamar - McKenzie - Viney

IC: M Jones - Rodan - Blease

Sub: Toumpas

Em: Nicholson, Tapscott, Kent

If we take more than 2 of Clark, Dawes, TMac, Trengove, Blease into the game we will not win. Clark Even rusty will command the best defender plus have others looking about. Blease can be subbed out if he runs out of puff.

Yeah I have a hunch tmac and trenners won't play. Obviously fitness will be the main factor here, but those guys can be covered.

Dawes, Clark and Blease, less so, due to the unique attributes they bring to the side.

I would have one of Blease or Trengove aas the sub and not play the other if they are both underdone.

Clark and Dawes you can play underdone but we need our 10 midfield rotations to be as fit and firing as possible.

And they would be: Jones, Grimes, Magner, McKenzie, Viney, Matt Jones, Sylvia, Rodan, Toumpas, and Nicholson IMO.

I was at Casey Fields Saturday and stayed until Mitch and Sam safely left the arena...

My thoughts are that Mitch (so long as he has recovered OK), Sam and Jordie should be OK for next Sunday. I liked Kent too.

On the other hand Trenners I thought looked too underdone to play this week.

PS: thanks to the Clyde Road tip, a much easier trip from the city than the South Gippsland Hwy

I would have one of Blease or Trengove aas the sub and not play the other if they are both underdone.

Clark and Dawes you can play underdone but we need our 10 midfield rotations to be as fit and firing as possible.

And they would be: Jones, Grimes, Magner, McKenzie, Viney, Matt Jones, Sylvia, Rodan, Toumpas, and Nicholson IMO.

Jeez, Sunday will be problematic if they're the 10.

B: Garland, Frawley, Dunn

HB: Watts, Gillies, Grimes

C: Jetta, Jones, Howe

HF: Blease, Dawes, Sylvia

F: Davey, Clark, Byrnes

FOLL: Jamar, Rodan, McKenzie

INT: Viney, Toumpas, Sellar

SUB: Terlich

EMERG: Strauss, Tapscott, Macdonald

I'm assuming that Clark and Dawes will play, while Trengove and McDonald will miss. M. Jones a bit unlucky, but has time. Pederson to come in if one of Dawes/Clark don't play. With the pre-season that Sellar has had, he gets a spot ahead of Pedo.

It's not a terrible team on paper. Plenty of goal-kicking power up forward, and the backs look solid enough. Mid is still our problem, with the exception of Nathan Jones.

B: Garland - Frawley - Terlich

HB: Watts - McDonald - Jetta

C: Grimes- Rodan- Trengove

HF: Sylvia - Clark- Howe

F: Blease- Dawes- Byrnes

R: Jamar - N Jones - McKenzie

I: Dunn- Sellar- Viney - Davey(sub)

Jeez, Sunday will be problematic if they're the 10.

You're telling me...

2013 is going to be all over the place.

It's going to be a Led Zep song.

Long, crazy, but hopefully good once you get past the crap.

FB: Jetta, Frawley, Garland
HB: Terlich, Watts, Dunn
C: Blease, N Jones, Grimes
HF: Sylvia, Dawes, Howe
FF: Sellar, Clark, Byrnes
R: Jamar, McKenzie , Viney
IC: M Jones, Rodan, Toumpas

Sub: Tapscott

Em: Nicholson, Kent, Pedersen

I'd give McDonald and Trengove another week or two. Clark and Dawes if healthy should play. We need Blease. Sub him in the second half if need be. Fitness not such an issue. Toumpas gets the nod ahead of Kent. Viney is a given. Terlich and Jetta ahead of Strauss and Nicholson. Sellar deserves a chance ahead of Pedersen and Matt Jones keeps Magner/Nicholson at Casey. Gillies has to wait his turn and I'm afraid Davey is nowhere near our best 22.

Edited March 25, 201312 yr by Goodvibes

You're telling me...

2013 is going to be all over the place.

It's going to be a Led Zep song.

Long, crazy, but hopefully good once you get past the crap.

Never imply led zeppelin play crap ever again.

Kind regards.

I have done about 5 of these, but final one coming up to this week.

FB: Garland - Frawley - Terlich

HB: Watts - Gilles - Dunn

C: Blease - N.Jones - Viney

HF: Sylvia - Dawes - Howe

FF: Sellar - Clark - Byrnes

R: Jamar - Grimes - Rodan

I: Jetta - Toumpas - McKenzie

S: Trengove

Match Ups:

Frawley - Schultz

Garland - Westhoff

Gilles - Butcher

Terlich - Ebert

McKenzie - Ebert (lock down role)

Jones - Boak (just beat him)

Viney - Wines

It is supprising to see how many have Terlich in their 22!

Heres my dream 22 for round 1:

FB: Watts, Frawley, Stauss

CHB: Dunn, McDonald, Jetta

C: Blease, Jones, Toumpas

CHF: Howe, Clark, Sylvia

FF: Davey, Dawes, Byrnes

FOLL: Jamar, Grimes, Magner

INT: Viney, McKenzie, Tapscott or Rodan, SUB: Kent (Trengove if Neeld thinks fit)

EMER: Sellar, Spencer, Terlich, M. Jones

Edited March 25, 201312 yr by Young Dee

FB: Garland - Frawley - Terlich

HB: nicholson - watts - Dunn

C: M.jones - N.Jones - Toumpas

HF: Sylvia - sellar - Rodan

FF: dawes - Clark - Byrnes

R: Jamar - Grimes - Howe

I: davey - Viney - Magner

S: Blease

Melbourne FC just tweeted: "Jack Trengove and Mitch Clark have been removed from our injury list."

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-03-25/trengove-clark-5050-for-round-one.workstation

And this looks good, just 2 still injured and one of those due to be available for round 2:

Round 1 injury list

Rohan Bail (concussion) – 1 week

Max Gawn (hamstring) – test

Chris Dawes (hamstring) – test

Tom McDonald (ankle) – test

Nathan Stark (knee) – 3 weeks

Jack Fitzpatrick (concussion) – test

Edited March 25, 201312 yr by hardtack

FB: Jetta - Frawley - Garland

HB: Watts - Gillies - Dunn

C: Terlich - N Jones - Grimes

HF: Sylvia - Pederson - Howe

FF: Clark - Sellar - Byrnes

R: Jamar - McKenzie - Viney

IC: M Jones - Rodan - Blease

Sub: Toumpas

Em: Nicholson, Tapscott, Kent

If we take more than 2 of Clark, Dawes, TMac, Trengove, Blease into the game we will not win. Clark Even rusty will command the best defender plus have others looking about. Blease can be subbed out if he runs out of puff.

I seriously like this team, all depends on injuries, and who they are willing to risk

FB: Jetta, Frawley, Garland

HB: Terlich, Watts, Dunn

C: Blease, N Jones, Grimes

HF: Sylvia, Dawes, Howe

FF: Sellar, Clark, Byrnes

R: Jamar, McKenzie , Viney

IC: M Jones, Rodan, Toumpas

Sub: Tapscott

Em: Nicholson, Kent, Pedersen

I'd give McDonald and Trengove another week or two. Clark and Dawes if healthy should play. We need Blease. Sub him in the second half if need be. Fitness not such an issue. Toumpas gets the nod ahead of Kent. Viney is a given. Terlich and Jetta ahead of Strauss and Nicholson. Sellar deserves a chance ahead of Pedersen and Matt Jones keeps Magner/Nicholson at Casey. Gillies has to wait his turn and I'm afraid Davey is nowhere near our best 22.

No problems with your selections however I do not sure your views on Davey who has been playing well at Casey. I would put him in ahead of Tapscott. Problem lies in the following week when McDonald and Trengove are knocking on the door!

It is supprising to see how many have Terlich in their 22!

Heres my dream 22 for round 1:

FB: Watts, Frawley, Stauss

CHB: Dunn, McDonald, Jetta

C: Blease, Jones, Toumpas

CHF: Howe, Clark, Sylvia

FF: Davey, Dawes, Byrnes

FOLL: Jamar, Grimes, Magner

INT: Viney, McKenzie, Tapscott or Rodan, SUB: Kent (Trengove if Neeld thinks fit)

EMER: Sellar, Spencer, Terlich, M. Jones

Young Dee you cannot play Magner on the ball as he is not an eligible MFC player until he gets promoted off the rookie list. I would substitute Sellar for him and then juggle the team positions to suit. I am also afraid that I am one of those who believe Terlich should get a game [possibly at the expense of Strauss]

Still not sure of my team sort of depends on characteristics of opposition

in defence and onball

Do we go Tall or quick??

Heres one from left field

FB Jetta Frawley Garland

HB Watts McDonald Dunn

C Blease Jones Toumpas

HF Clarke Sellar Pedersen

FF Howe Byrne Dawes

Fol Jamar Grimes Viney

Int Rodan Gillies McKenzie

? Terlich DAvey Sylvia

Im looking for run and delivery into the forward line with some bulk and spread from all forwards plenty of space for any of them to run into and plenty of crumbs.

Its good to have so many unknowns to select from

I hope Neeld is really enjoying it

Melbourne FC just tweeted: "Jack Trengove and Mitch Clark have been removed from our injury list."

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-03-25/trengove-clark-5050-for-round-one.workstation

And this looks good, just 2 still injured and one of those due to be available for round 2:

Round 1 injury list

Rohan Bail (concussion) – 1 week

Max Gawn (hamstring) – test

Chris Dawes (hamstring) – test

Tom McDonald (ankle) – test

Nathan Stark (knee) – 3 weeks

Jack Fitzpatrick (concussion) – test

FULL STRENGTH FOR ROUND ONE

well done MFC staff, it has been a while since this has happened

we cannot leave anything in the sheds for this one, crucial match

MacDONALD FRAWLEY GARLAND

WATTS McDONALD GRIMES

BLEASE McKENZIE TRENGOVE

BYRNES DAWES HOWE

DUNN CLARK RODAN

JAMAR SYLVIA JONES

JETTA DAVEY VINEY TOUMPAS

FULL STRENGTH FOR ROUND ONE

well done MFC staff, it has been a while since this has happened

we cannot leave anything in the sheds for this one, crucial match

MacDONALD FRAWLEY GARLAND

WATTS McDONALD GRIMES

BLEASE McKENZIE TRENGOVE

BYRNES DAWES HOWE

DUNN CLARK RODAN

JAMAR SYLVIA JONES

JETTA DAVEY VINEY TOUMPAS

Some pretty important players are underdone or have a niggle.

I wouldn't be surprised if most of those 5 don't play.

I am expecting Dawes and Clark to run around like headless chickens for a few weeks while they settle into each others patterns.

And Trengove and Blease will take a while to get going... Would have one of them sub.

I have done about 5 of these, but final one coming up to this week.

FB: Garland - Frawley - Terlich

HB: Watts - Gilles - Dunn

C: Blease - N.Jones - Viney

HF: Sylvia - Dawes - Howe

FF: Sellar - Clark - Byrnes

R: Jamar - Grimes - Rodan

I: Jetta - Toumpas - McKenzie

S: Trengove

Match Ups:

Frawley - Schultz

Garland - Westhoff

Gilles - Butcher

Terlich - Ebert

McKenzie - Ebert (lock down role)

Jones - Boak (just beat him)

Viney - Wines

Viney vs Wines. I'm salivating as we speak.

It's really interesting to try and sort the new guys and work out where they fit best. I'm probably way off here...

FB: M Jones, Frawley, Garland

HB: Watts, T. McDonald, Jetta
C: Blease, Viney, Toumpas

HF: Sylvia, Dawes, Howe
FF: Sellar, Clark, Byrnes
R: Jamar, N Jones, Grimes

IC:, Rodan, McKenzie, Terlich

Sub: Nicholson

Em: Tapscott, Kent, Pedersen,

I'm expecting a cautious approach for round 1 with our under done players in Clark, Trengove, Blease and Bail to be given another run at Casey.

I reckon Dawes and McDonald will get up as I think the games they've missed have been more so do to caution then seriousness of injury.

Having said that I'm expecting.

FB: Garland, Frawley, Jetta

HB: Watts, McDonald, Terlich

C: McKenzie, N. Jones, Rodan

HF: Howe, Sellar, Magner

FF: Pedersen, Dawes, Byrnes

FOLL: Jamar, Grimes, Viney

INT: Davey, Sylvia, Toumpas

SUB: Tapscott

EMERG: Dunn, Gilles, Nicholson

FULL STRENGTH FOR ROUND ONE

well done MFC staff, it has been a while since this has happened

we cannot leave anything in the sheds for this one, crucial match

MacDONALD FRAWLEY GARLAND

WATTS McDONALD GRIMES

BLEASE McKENZIE TRENGOVE

BYRNES DAWES HOWE

DUNN CLARK RODAN

JAMAR SYLVIA JONES

JETTA DAVEY VINEY TOUMPAS

Just one minor change, Dunn into the backline his exceptionally long bombs are going to be a weapon for clearing the opposition forward press

I don't think this has been posted.

From the AFL website:

Season preview: Melbourne

By Peter Ryan7:00am AEDT Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Will 2013 be the year that Jack Watts fulfills his potential?

Best 22

B: Daniel Nicholson, James Frawley, Colin Garland

HB: Jack Watts, Tom McDonald, Lynden Dunn

C: Jack Trengove, Jack Viney, David Rodan

HF: Sam Blease, Chris Dawes, Colin Sylvia

F: Shannon Byrnes, Mitch Clark, Jeremy Howe

Foll: Mark Jamar, Jack Grimes, Nathan Jones

I/C: Jimmy Toumpas, Jordie McKenzie, James Sellar

Sub: Luke Tapscott



Injury list

Mitch Clark's return is anticipated but he’s unlike to hit his straps
until rounds four or five. Jack Trengove and Sam Blease will be
underdone in round one but could be available, and the same applied to
Chris Dawes. The club is taking a prudent path with the concussion
recovery program for Rohan Bail.



The big questions

- Is the team improving as quickly as can reasonably be expected? The
Demons have been down and out for a long time, but there's a quiet
optimism the team is finally on the upward curve. More and more will be
demanded, though, as Mark Neeld enters a more critical stage in his
coaching tenure.



- Will the forward combination with Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes work?
Melbourne was enthusiastic in its pursuit of Dawes, and got their man in
last year's trade period. Clark showed bits and pieces in 2012, but
injury took hold later in the year. How well the pair gel will determine
much of Melbourne's success this season.



- When will the J-squad of Jimmy Toumpas, Jack Viney, Jack Trengove,
Jack Grimes, Jack Watts, Jordie McKenzie, James Strauss, Josh Tynan,
Jeremy Howe, James Frawley and Jesse Hogan peak? The Demons have built a
steady core of players in recent drafts, and have had a large turnover
of their list. They're still in a rebuilding phase, but things are
looking up. It's a little quirky, but Melbourne will be hoping the
players with a first name starting with 'J' can usher in a successful
era at the club.



Summer standout

Jack Watts has been the standout in the practice match series. He
returned much fitter and with Neil Craig emphasising what he needs to do
in order to take the next step, the competitive aspects of his game are
improving. He is just 22 and remains a relaxed character but appears to
be relishing the chance to settle in defence.



Fantasy cash cow

Matt Jones is valued at $102,700 but has been in good enough form
pre-season to vie for a spot in the midfield. As a mature-aged recruit
he can be expected to bear some of the brunt for the talented youngsters
and, if he is good enough, he will play plenty of games. At worst, his
value will increase in the early rounds.



Sudden impact

Jack Viney is the man most likely although the Demons will ensure his
development is done with an eye on the future. He has a strong body
already, has been in the system for one season and is no shrinking
violet. He has the attributes to make a strong early impression.



It's crunch time for…

Colin Sylvia. An obvious talent, he is out of contract this season as a
restricted free agent and needs a consistent year to prove to outsiders
that his future is with Melbourne. At his best, he is a match-winner but
at his worst he can appear an unfulfilled talent. He needs to play his
role consistently.



Pivotal match

Round one is only worth four points but it looms as more significant
than most for the Demons. At the MCG against the Port Adelaide, most
would have pencilled the opening game as a win for the Demons when the
fixture arrived. If they win they can settle into a season of
improvement but a loss will allow the doubters to find voice.



Melbourne will have a good year if…

It can play four quarters more often. They need to win more of the
football and find more goalkickers. An injury free Clark will make a
difference, particularly if Dawes can start holding some marks and
Jeremy Howe plays on the opposition's third best defender. Signs that
Viney and Toumpas are as talented as their junior rankings indicate will
give everyone heart, while Watts should provide the team with plenty of
rebound.



AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 15th