Without Kerr and NN WC's midfield is nowhere near full strength.

Fair point.

Wait, isn't NicNat just a talking highlight reel..?

I want to see us play competitively in the first round if we win then that's great but if we lose god its only Round 1 FFS, no use droppin our bundles because we lost the first of 22 games this season.

Idiots in the Media want to turn football into Days of our Lives or Neighbours and build the drama into football. A lot of people will get sucked into it, but really last year our competitiveness improved each round and all I will be looking for is that to continue and be sustained for longer the W and L's will sort themselves out as we move through the season.

Go the Dee's

I can't believe how much pessimism surrounds our chances.

We're going to struggle against most teams due to our weak midfield. However, if there is ever a situation where the difference between our mids and another side's mids is nullified, or even out-weighed, surely it's when Port Adelaide visits the MCG?

Which of their defenders takes Clark? Or Howe? Which of their forwards is renowned for their defensive pressure? How strong is their bottom 6? One may be able to reel off some names like Boak, Cornes, Hartlett, Gray, Schulz and Cassisi, but beyond that, Port is weaker than we are, at a ground they do not like, nor play at very frequently.

None of this means we're going to win, of course, but the amount of negativity surrounding this match is unwarranted. There will be plenty of games this year where we will clearly be a worse side and our chances will fairly be toned down. This ought not be one of them.

For Melbourne to progress they need to beat teams like Port, Doggies, GWS & GC. Those four teams including melbourne could not win more than five games. Only the lions finished above that group with 10 wins. Big gap between bottom 5 and the rest.

Being competitive is not enough anymore, Melbourne need to win. Making progress is beating the teams around you, not just being competitive with the other bottom feeders.

Just a reminder on the last two rounds of 2012, those games were horrible only the saints game looked slightly promising.

Freo 101 def Melb 40

Adel 150 def Melb 81

Melb 84 def GWS 59 (not overly convincing)

Saints 107 def Melb 82

Melb 108 def GC 66

North 127 def Melb 73

Sunday game, so they have until Saturday to name the team

As the earlier poster suggested, unless something has changed (or a concession made on Good Friday), our team will be in today. In previous years, it has always been teams announced for Friday and Saturday games on the Thursday night, and squads for the Sunday games. And then teams finalised for the Sunday games on the Friday evening.

Edited March 29, 201312 yr by Forest Demon

For Melbourne to progress they need to beat teams like Port, Doggies, GWS & GC. Those four teams including melbourne could not win more than five games. Only the lions finished above that group with 10 wins. Big gap between bottom 5 and the rest.

Being competitive is not enough anymore, Melbourne need to win. Making progress is beating the teams around you, not just being competitive with the other bottom feeders.

Just a reminder on the last two rounds of 2012, those games were horrible only the saints game looked slightly promising.

Freo 101 def Melb 40

Adel 150 def Melb 81

Melb 84 def GWS 59 (not overly convincing)

Saints 107 def Melb 82

Melb 108 def GC 66

North 127 def Melb 73

Being competitive is the only thing we can do at this point, it is unrealistic to think that we should be winning, it is also premature we are putting the cart before the horse so to speak. Winning is a result of hard work, perseverance, skill and luck. Last season our team was introduced to one aspect of that the hard work the rest is still to come. Where the media, the public and the supporters think/want/expect us to be at this season will not deter MN, NC and DM and the rest of the Football Department at the MFC from going through and ticking off each progression as it happens. I laugh when I hear the experts in the Media say it would sound the Death Knell if we lose the first round because they think that our Club would implode on itself. The coach and the football department have been quite clear from the outset about the amount of work that needs to be done to get this club back to greatness. It has been 17 months since this journey has started I don't think I will place any high expectations on winning games on the team for at least another 17 months more. But that's just me.

Final team:

18 Named, plus...

Bench: Blease, Pedersen, Tapscott, Jones

Emg: Davey, Spencer, Terlich

Just watched the last quarter of last year's win against the Dons. Pumped!

We will beat Port.

Slightly left field perhaps, but I'm predicting a big game from Sellar tomorrow.

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

We would be playing with two rucks who add little around the ground. That would be like playing without 2 players. If Pedersen plays he will give Jamar a chop out for 10-20 percent of the ruck work & play across half forward. I can't see Spencer playing this role or any other role effectively.

Team announced as Stuie stated above.

Club can't spell "Watts." Backline looks shaky without Mcdonald.

With no Chaplin or Carlile, Clark, Pederson and Sellar should stretch Port - hopefully providing opportunities for Rodan and Byrnes to be dangerous at ground level.

As always, it's all on the midfield.

Gee Pederson and/or Sellar will have their work cut out against Lobbe.

That Port side without Casissi, Butcher, Thomas, Ebert, Gray, Carlisle, Pearce and Chaplin looks awful, but once again it will probably be decided in the midfield.

Boak v Mckenzie

Cornes v Jones

Hartlett v Sylvia

Broadbent v Grimes

Must break even here, and must nullify Stewart who kicked 4 in Darwin last year.

Team has been named for sunday

Melbourne v Port Adelaide, MCG Sunday 1.10pm

MELBOURNE

B: Lynden Dunn, Tom Gillies, Daniel Nicholson

HB: Jack Watts, James Frawley, Colin Garland

C: Jack Viney, Jack Grimes, Jimmy Toumpas

HF: Jeremy Howe, James Sellar, Colin Sylvia

F: Shannon Byrnes, Mitch Clark, David Rodan

Foll: Mark Jamar, Jordie McKenzie, Nathan Jones

I/C: Sam Blease, Cam Pederson, Luke Tapscott, Matt Jones

Emerg: Aaron Davey, Dean Terlich, Jake Spencer

NEW: Tom Gillies (Geelong), Jack Viney, Jimmy Toumpas, Shannon Byrnes (Geelong), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Cam Pederson (North Melbourne)

PORT ADELAIDE

B: Tom Jonas, Jackson Trengove, Campbell Heath

HB: Jasper Pittard, Cameron O'Shea, Lewis Stevenson

C: Matthew Broadbent, Brad Ebert, Kane Cornes

HF: Justin Westhoff, Paul Stewart, Angus Monfries

F: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Jake Neade

F: Jarrad Redden, Hamish Hartlett, Travis Boak

I/C: Matthew Lobbe, Oliver Wines, Andrew Moore, Kane Mitchell

Emerg: Aaron Young, Daniel Stewart, Jack Hombsch

NEW: Campbell Heath (Sydney), Lewis Stevenson (West Coast), Angus Monfries (Essendon), Jake Neade, Oliver Wines, Kane Mitchell, Jack Hombsh (GWS)

Blease is a big inclusion, he's looked the goods leading into this. The fact our backs and forwards trump theirs makes me a bit more bullish about our chances (notwithstanding the omission of T Mac and Dawes). I'm not pessimistic about our chances, but I think teams will underrate Port this year at their own peril. Playing at home, If we can be competitive in the midfield and get some decent delivery into the forward 50, we should get over the line.

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

Swan is also labelled a "good accumulator". It's too often used to dismiss a player's worth. Ebert would be our best midfielder. I agree on being injury prone, but Hartlett is an elite ball user and Port have cottoned onto that by pushing him further down the ground. He will be a damaging player this year.

Their midfield ran over West Coast's in pre-season at practically full strength. You can read into that what you like, and I agree that what they've lacked is some consistency, but even if you accept their midfield is bottom 5, ours is currently bottom.

So did Freo, maybe West Coast's midfield isn't as elite as some would think.

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

I personally feel Blease will be something special come 2014 and beyond. My spidey senses are tingling.

So did Freo, maybe West Coast's midfield isn't as elite as some would think.

As said before without Kerr and NN it isn't. Kerr is the heart and soul, he's the type of player we need.

We would be playing with two rucks who add little around the ground. That would be like playing without 2 players. If Pedersen plays he will give Jamar a chop out for 10-20 percent of the ruck work & play across half forward. I can't see Spencer playing this role or any other role effectively.

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.

Team has been named for sunday

Melbourne v Port Adelaide, MCG Sunday 1.10pm

MELBOURNE

B: Lynden Dunn, Tom Gillies, Daniel Nicholson

HB: Jack Watts, James Frawley, Colin Garland

C: Jack Viney, Jack Grimes, Jimmy Toumpas

HF: Jeremy Howe, James Sellar, Colin Sylvia

F: Shannon Byrnes, Mitch Clark, David Rodan

Foll: Mark Jamar, Jordie McKenzie, Nathan Jones

I/C: Sam Blease, Cam Pederson, Luke Tapscott, Matt Jones

Emerg: Aaron Davey, Dean Terlich, Jake Spencer

NEW: Tom Gillies (Geelong), Jack Viney, Jimmy Toumpas, Shannon Byrnes (Geelong), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Cam Pederson (North Melbourne)

PORT ADELAIDE

B: Tom Jonas, Jackson Trengove, Campbell Heath

HB: Jasper Pittard, Cameron O'Shea, Lewis Stevenson

C: Matthew Broadbent, Brad Ebert, Kane Cornes

HF: Justin Westhoff, Paul Stewart, Angus Monfries

F: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Jake Neade

F: Jarrad Redden, Hamish Hartlett, Travis Boak

I/C: Matthew Lobbe, Oliver Wines, Andrew Moore, Kane Mitchell

Emerg: Aaron Young, Daniel Stewart, Jack Hombsch

NEW: Campbell Heath (Sydney), Lewis Stevenson (West Coast), Angus Monfries (Essendon), Jake Neade, Oliver Wines, Kane Mitchell, Jack Hombsh (GWS)

New: they missed out on Matt Jones and Hombsh isn't playing for them. A similar shake up for both sides, which goes against the argument of not picking us due to such significant changes by the experts on Fox Footy's League Teams.

Their midfield is more advanced and at this stage arguably more talented, however not so much that it can't be neutralised. If Melbourne breaks even in the midfield, or goes even close to breaking even then I expect a win, as we're stronger in other areas of the ground and have a healthy home ground advantage.

I'll be exceedingly disappointed with a loss.

If we lose to that Port side I will be disgusted beyond belief

Good point MH. We have 7 new, them 6 yet apparently we look desperate with so many changes? Makes no sense.

I also think its good that Davey is an emergency and Trengove, Dawes and McDonald are still to come into our best 22. Puts some pressure on those in the side.

Wish we had some midfielders to come in though.

That's game. It was an amazing show. Fanatics like you are why Melbourne needs to get up this week.

Good stuff

That's game. It was an amazing show. Fanatics like you are why Melbourne needs to get up this week.

Good stuff

Seeing Springsteen tomorrow at hanging rock, can't wait, bit looking forward even more to watching the Dees on Sunday.

Come on Dees, let's go!

For Melbourne to progress they need to beat teams like Port, Doggies, GWS & GC. Those four teams including melbourne could not win more than five games. Only the lions finished above that group with 10 wins. Big gap between bottom 5 and the rest.

Being competitive is not enough anymore, Melbourne need to win. Making progress is beating the teams around you, not just being competitive with the other bottom feeders.

Just a reminder on the last two rounds of 2012, those games were horrible only the saints game looked slightly promising.

Freo 101 def Melb 40

Adel 150 def Melb 81

Melb 84 def GWS 59 (not overly convincing)

Saints 107 def Melb 82

Melb 108 def GC 66

North 127 def Melb 73

Thanks Ben Her?

Neeld is getting serious.

No Davey is a very good call.

Hard to see him getting a game this year, imo.