MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE - PREGAME

[Gippsland Dee 367]

a team has never won before with more than 4 debutants (so i've heard), melbourne and port are debuting 6 and 7 respectively, so it'll be a first, lets hope it goes our way

[mauriesy 6,859]

a team has never won before with more than 4 debutants (so i've heard), melbourne and port are debuting 6 and 7 respectively, so it'll be a first, lets hope it goes our way

Who are the debutantes apart from Toumpas, Viney and Jones? All the others have played AFL games before.

[Yossarian 1,808]

Look for Sylvia to stand up big time, and Blease to be the secret weapon

Probably won't bother looking for that.

[Bonkers 918]

Hope Sellar gives him a chop out, he's a better ruck option but will depend a bit on how much he is contributing forward.

Yeh there's a few options, Sellar looked ok playing in fixed forward role during pre season but is obviously more than capable of taking some ruck duties. Pedersen is interesting, he has been maligned by a few on here but I think he will help provide another marking option as well as contributing around the forward half & in the ruck. All we need him to do is break even with his opponent, contest/bring the ball to ground & kick the odd goal. From what I briefly saw of him in pre season he looked to enjoy competing & the physical side of the game. The forward half has been lacking in this area for a couple of years. I think at least he will help add some structure to our half forward setup & help lock the ball in the forward half a bit more.

[Thehardtackler 785]

Pedersen and Sellar could be pretty potent on Sunday. Pedersen's best game for the Roos appears to be have been against Port Adelaide in 2011, maybe he likes playing them. Sellar may continue with his good form and kick a bag.

[bing181 8,224]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/teams/alipate-carlile-out-but-its-team-first-for-power-coach-ken-hinkley/story-e6frf9mo-1226609144466?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HeraldSunAfl+%28Herald+Sun+%7C+AFL%29

"All up the new Port back six has just 112 games of AFL experience - half with Trengove."

[ThreeOneSix 953]

I think Jamar is our biggest weapon in this game.

[Gippsland Dee 367]

Who are the debutantes apart from Toumpas, Viney and Jones? All the others have played AFL games before.

oh right, woops, wel they're debutants for our team then, same goes for Port.

[Vagg 2,422]

a team has never won before with more than 4 debutants (so i've heard), melbourne and port are debuting 6 and 7 respectively, so it'll be a first, lets hope it goes our way

Oh Dear! I guess history tells us that NEITHER team will win, then. So, a draw coming up...!

[Brian Wilson 331]

Who are the debutantes apart from Toumpas, Viney and Jones? All the others have played AFL games before.

Do they wear white dresses? I hope this isn't a charity event.

[Return to Glory 7,795]

dont know how gilles gets a game, is tough but not much else

I reckon you're selling him a little short. Reads the play well and, essentially is just starting his career. In time, I'm confident we've got the better of the River/Gillies swap.

[stuie 7,374]

I reckon you're selling him a little short. Reads the play well and, essentially is just starting his career. In time, I'm confident we've got the better of the River/Gillies swap.

No. Just no.

[Bossdog 2,002]

I think the more game time Gillies gets the better....He has only played 16 games finding it hard to break into the Cats strong line up

He is only 22.....He will improve....

[Demonland 66,417]

WJ's complete preview has been loaded onto the opening post. No surprise about his prediction.

[stuie 7,374]

I think the more game time Gillies gets the better....He has only played 16 games finding it hard to break into the Cats strong line up

He is only 22.....He will improve....

Agree with this, but to say he's better than Rivers is a bit silly to me.

[Return to Glory 7,795]

Agree with this, but to say he's better than Rivers is a bit silly to me.

Stuie, he's not better now. Perhaps I could have been more succinct. I think in time we will get the better of the deal. I also know that I could be wrong.

[stuie 7,374]

Stuie, he's not better now. Perhaps I could have been more succinct. I think in time we will get the better of the deal. I also know that I could be wrong.

Fair enough. Hard to know without having seen him play a bit for us yet, but I know a lot here underrate Riv.

[greenmachine 21]

we should winthis imo

[farmerwiz 60]

rivers is much better than gilles which will show up in spades

gilles would have done well in the 80's where all u needed to be was a tough defender

now u need to be able to read the play better, dispose of it, etc

wont be up to it

[Bossdog 2,002]

rivers is much better than gilles which will show up in spades

gilles would have done well in the 80's where all u needed to be was a tough defender

now u need to be able to read the play better, dispose of it, etc

wont be up to it

And you can tell this how???? Two practise matches????

Give me a break....at least see him play in a proper game before you write him off.....

[P-man 13,277]

I think Jamar is our biggest weapon in this game.

Now we just need to set his trajectories properly.

[Pates 9,537]

Looks like the two NAB cup grand finalists are going to lose, one getting smashed by the doggies. To those who reckon Port are going to beat us based on pre-season form, looks like as usual it is meaningless.

[Maldonboy38 6,034]

The only one I really struggle with is Nicholson instead of Jetta.

Excluding injuries, Dawes, Trengove and McDonald should come back in next week. Probably means Gillies,Matt Jones and Pedersen/Sellar will make way for them.

[Satyriconhome 10,010]

If all Pedersen does is take a tall defender away from the double teaming of Mitch Clark and kicks the odd goal then he will have done his jjob, gee some of you are hard markers, listen to what Neeld says, he has a role In the team, we have no idea what that is

[bing181 8,224]

The only one I really struggle with is Nicholson instead of Jetta.

Excluding injuries, Dawes, Trengove and McDonald should come back in next week. Probably means Gillies,Matt Jones and Pedersen/Sellar will make way for them.

Not sure re Trengove, was pretty flat at Casey today judging by reports. Could need a few weeks.