MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE - PREGAME

[CBDees 3,162]

Magner is still a rookie and ineligible to play however half the demonlander's cannot seem to grasp this fact.

[Redleg 38,258]

Hard to fault much of the selection process which has rewarded good preseasons and has not gone heavy on rushing back players that have not had recent continuity. I expect since M Jones and Pederson were confirmed as debuts and Terlich wasn't that he will be emergency. Based on this I expect the bench to be Blease, Pederson, Jones, with Tappy the likely sub. Clark was a given to play. A half fit Clark in the goal square still needs much attention. Blease also brings qualities we don't have an abundance of and I expect a 2013 Blease lacking match fitness is still fitter than any Blease we saw in 2012. Port's back 6 seriously lack height and experience exemplified by Sellar's 5 in the preseason. I think if we come even close to halving the midfield battle we will win and win easily.

I don't share your enthusiasm. We have 4 guys coming off a Casey game with only one playing well. At least 2 coming back from injury and underdone. A swag of first gamers. The weakest midfield in the AFL. 3 players who have shown nothing in the pre season at all (Gillies, Pedersen and Byrnes ). One win in the pre season, when both sides were made up of reserves players. Port far more impressive in the pre season.

But then again.....................................

[timD 994]

Pre season form is hard to use as a reliable indicator for future performance. Truth is, I think the biggest issue will be that the team doesn't know how to play as a team yet purely due to the number of changes and lack of time together. Combine that with a weak midfield and I struggle to see that will win. But i'll hope we do and I'll be dirty as when we don't.

[Yokozuna 1,004]

Honestly, I know it will be a tough game this weekend, but I think so many people here look for excuses (we are underprepared, unfit etc.) or look to negatives (our recruits are no good and have shown nothing) before they think of anything positive (these recruits will fill roles we need filled, our 1st year players will be stars, we have had another strong pre season of training and development) or what we might do well.

What we know:

* We are rebuilding

* We are not that good at the moment

* We have lots of new players

* We are trying to reverse the negatives of the past.

You can look at that two ways, one, we are battlers, we need new, average recycled players to help us out and we have shown very little of late. Or, we have shown progression, our new players will fill roles that need to be filled, and do them well, and our new recruits will show energy and enthusiasm to lift everyone.

Personally, I think we will win, simply for the reason that I think our size up forward will worry them. The midfield battle will be a challenge, but I am not sure why people think they are so much better than us in there.

Someone tell me who ALL their guns are?????? Port has been talked up for the past week or two, and I am not sure why? They are not that good!

I will be very disappointed if we lose, and yes I can see it happening, but I believe we are smarter and better prepared than last year.

[Young Dee 1,303]

I don't share your enthusiasm. We have 4 guys coming off a Casey game with only one playing well. At least 2 coming back from injury and underdone. A swag of first gamers. The weakest midfield in the AFL. 3 players who have shown nothing in the pre season at all (Gillies, Pedersen and Byrnes ). One win in the pre season, when both sides were made up of reserves players. Port far more impressive in the pre season.

But then again.....................................

Byrnes has defiantly shown something this preseason, didn't he kick 5 goals against Stkilda?

We need a small forward and he also provides some run in the midfield. As for Gilles i guess he is replacing McDonald - its either him or Terlich. I hope Terlich is not selected in the team for we have to many tall defenders and would have benefited from playing another small defender/runner (Jetta). As for Pedersen I have no idea he is slow and flat footed, he plays as a 200cm player but is really not even that tall.

I would defiantly bring in Blease to add to the midfield (speed) and possibly Tappy to add some grunt.

[the pearl 29]

Byrnes has defiantly shown something this preseason, didn't he kick 5 goals against Stkilda?

We need a small forward and he also provides some run in the midfield. As for Gilles i guess he is replacing McDonald - its either him or Terlich. I hope Terlich is not selected in the team for we have to many tall defenders and would have benefited from playing another small defender/runner (Jetta). As for Pedersen I have no idea he is slow and flat footed, he plays as a 200cm player but is really not even that tall.

I would defiantly bring in Blease to add to the midfield (speed) and possibly Tappy to add some grunt.

I like your defiance.

[Gorgoroth 12,395]

Chaplin no longer with them will help our cause up forward.

[Bates Mate 4,022]

Byrnes has defiantly shown something this preseason, didn't he kick 5 goals against Stkilda?

We need a small forward and he also provides some run in the midfield. As for Gilles i guess he is replacing McDonald - its either him or Terlich. I hope Terlich is not selected in the team for we have to many tall defenders and would have benefited from playing another small defender/runner (Jetta). As for Pedersen I have no idea he is slow and flat footed, he plays as a 200cm player but is really not even that tall.

I would defiantly bring in Blease to add to the midfield (speed) and possibly Tappy to add some grunt.

byrnes kicked five in our intraclub against us

[farmerwiz 60]

would u call that good opposition lol?

[CBDees 3,162]

It certainly speaks legions of our backline!

[Brayshaw Self 847]

Byrnes has defiantly shown something this preseason, didn't he kick 5 goals against Stkilda?

We need a small forward and he also provides some run in the midfield. As for Gilles i guess he is replacing McDonald - its either him or Terlich. I hope Terlich is not selected in the team for we have to many tall defenders and would have benefited from playing another small defender/runner (Jetta). As for Pedersen I have no idea he is slow and flat footed, he plays as a 200cm player but is really not even that tall.

I would defiantly bring in Blease to add to the midfield (speed) and possibly Tappy to add some grunt.

Terlich is a small defender/runner. I was surprised that Nicholson was selected ahead of him and if Terlich doesn't make the final 22, i would assume that they are rewarding Nicholson for his outstanding training in the pre-season but I think Terlich will push him out soon enough.

[jnrmac 19,440]

Agree Nasher, I reckon Davey will play instead of Terlich tho.

You cant be saying that on pre-season form?

[jnrmac 19,440]

Just heard a pre game review on SEN. They are saying big money has been put on Port (BTW I HATE the fact gambling odds are shoved down our throats) but its nonsense. We took an incredibly inexperienced team to Renmark and won the game. Their team wasn't a long way off their best.

We have played 9 times at the MCG and won 8.

We should win this.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Magner is still a rookie, isn't he?

Ah yeah, good point. Well guess it isn't overly suprising then is it.

[S.R.J 418]

Honestly, if we lose i doubt its the end of the world. There will still be 21 rounds to play. I just want to see us compete for 4 qtrs and have a fair dinkum crack

[rpfc 27,663]

Magner is still a rookie and ineligible to play however half the demonlander's cannot seem to grasp this fact.

You can't seem to grasp that we could have elevated him at the drop of a hat with Gawn on the LTI.

The fact that we haven't lends itself to two conclusions, and they are not mutually exclusive:

1. That Magner is not seen that highly by the FD.

2. That Gawn is close to returning to playing and an elevation of Magner for one week would be pointless.

I think mostly 2, but I can't escape 1 being slightly true.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

You can't seem to grasp that we could have elevated him at the drop of a hat with Gawn on the LTI.

The fact that we haven't lends itself to two conclusions, and they are not mutually exclusive:

1. That Magner is not seen that highly by the FD.

2. That Gawn is close to returning to playing and an elevation of Magner for one week would be pointless.

I think mostly 2, but I can't escape 1 being slightly true.

Exactly, if they were desperate for Magner to be playing, he would be. They obviously aren't for one of the above two reasons.

[Steno 200]

Gawn is playing at Casey this week....

Back to normal negative commenting....

[rpfc 27,663]

B: Watts, Dunn, Nicholson, Garland, Frawley, and Gillies.

F: Clark, Byrnes, Davey, Sellar, and Pedersen (BUR)

C: Jones, Grimes, Viney, McKenzie, Toumpas, Matt Jones, Rodan, Sylvia, and Blease (SUB).

R: Jamar

Emer: Terlich, Spencer, Tapscott

That is how I see they set-up.

That midfield would fill me with confidence IFF Sylvia pulled his finger out, Matt Jones was the next Barlow, Viney and Toumpas play as if they were 21, Rodan's knees hold up, and McKenzie does a Junior and gets the most out of a limited skill-set.

Let's see how we go.

[Daz's Dee's 113]

Hard to fault much of the selection process which has rewarded good preseasons and has not gone heavy on rushing back players that have not had recent continuity. I expect since M Jones and Pederson were confirmed as debuts and Terlich wasn't that he will be emergency. Based on this I expect the bench to be Blease, Pederson, Jones, with Tappy the likely sub. Clark was a given to play. A half fit Clark in the goal square still needs much attention. Blease also brings qualities we don't have an abundance of and I expect a 2013 Blease lacking match fitness is still fitter than any Blease we saw in 2012. Port's back 6 seriously lack height and experience exemplified by Sellar's 5 in the preseason. I think if we come even close to halving the midfield battle we will win and win easily.

Based on your theory why isn't jetta in the squad. Spencer over Pederson and terlich probably deserves a crack?

[Gorgoroth 12,395]

You cant be saying that on pre-season form?

No, just a feeling, I think they will give Davey 5 matches to show he belongs on the list.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,408]

Based on your theory why isn't jetta in the squad. Spencer over Pederson and terlich probably deserves a crack?

Jetta for Nicho is the only change I would have made. We cant go in with 2 rucks so Pederson has to play if you want a 3 tall forward line. Terlich is on the interchange who would you play him ahead of?

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,408]

I don't share your enthusiasm. We have 4 guys coming off a Casey game with only one playing well. At least 2 coming back from injury and underdone. A swag of first gamers. The weakest midfield in the AFL. 3 players who have shown nothing in the pre season at all (Gillies, Pedersen and Byrnes ). One win in the pre season, when both sides were made up of reserves players. Port far more impressive in the pre season.

But then again.....................................

What would you have selected differently for round 1? They have potentially 3 first gamers and 3 players playing their first game for Port. Not much difference to what we are doing. Ignore who was on the park we played them and beat them with Sellar kicking 5 where I believe they had pretty much the same defensive 6 as they will have round 1. Agree they have us in the mids but as I stated if we are close to even we will win and win easy.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

B: Watts, Dunn, Nicholson, Garland, Frawley, and Gillies.

F: Clark, Byrnes, Davey, Sellar, and Pedersen (BUR)

C: Jones, Grimes, Viney, McKenzie, Toumpas, Matt Jones, Rodan, Sylvia, and Blease (SUB).

R: Jamar

Emer: Terlich, Spencer, Tapscott

That is how I see they set-up.

That midfield would fill me with confidence IFF Sylvia pulled his finger out, Matt Jones was the next Barlow, Viney and Toumpas play as if they were 21, Rodan's knees hold up, and McKenzie does a Junior and gets the most out of a limited skill-set.

Let's see how we go.

Surprised with Nicholson over Jetta/Terlich.

Perhaps they see him as being better defensively than those guys - particularly given that Dunn and Watts will be the real distributors running off half back.

Wish Dawes was playing. McDonald is obviously a big out.

[Young Dee 1,303]

You can't seem to grasp that we could have elevated him at the drop of a hat with Gawn on the LTI.

The fact that we haven't lends itself to two conclusions, and they are not mutually exclusive:

1. That Magner is not seen that highly by the FD.

2. That Gawn is close to returning to playing and an elevation of Magner for one week would be pointless.

I think mostly 2, but I can't escape 1 being slightly true.

Gawn hasn't played an AFL game for something like a year and a half. He is going to spend a few weeks at casey according to mission, i guess 4-6 weeks depending of form. Isn't that enough to warrant upgrading Magner, how many rookie upgrade/demotions can we have in a year? Magner seems to really be the only rookie in contention the others are: Couch (similar to Magner but less upside), Stark (not AFL ready), Clisby (doubt he will be AFL ready this year).

If Gawn is going to be out for 4 or more weeks I think that gives enough reason to upgrade Magner considering our weak midfield.

Edited March 29, 2013 by Young Dee