I love the never ending optimism I hope it's well placed. Dixon and Warnock are certainly outs that should improve our chances a great deal, Dixon especially.

if you go Thompson on dawes it means that day goes to Gawn and sellar assuming he plays forward gets one of Mckenzie, broughton or Murphy, unless Brennan plays in defence or they sacrifice a tall forward

This is an area they struggled against us with last year.

With Dixon out, I hope we don't play James Sellar.

I love how people bag Sellar who has actually played well every game he has played back. I would play him currently ahead of McDonald based on output.

Interchange - Sellar, McKenzie, Strauss and Kent

i thought our biggest deficiencies last week were KPF and strength in thr ruck. Sellar can assist in both areas but unsure if we are too top heavy. Although the long term plan is for us to have 3 KPF.

Ugh ugh

His flexibility comes from his inability to successfully hold down any position as his own.

It's been telling that the FD can't fit Sellar with Jamar, Clark and Dawes sidelined.

Didn't say he was good 'Rhino' but a better bet than Pedersen (the other wondering mr. flex) I would think.

What are we expecting from Dawes? Id be happy for him to get through injury free and if we can see some of his 2010-2011 form that would be good. Some nice marks and if he can kick 2 or more goals id be happy.

This week I want to see Melbourne players run hard backwards after taking a mark, not just jogging back and facing the wrong way. One of my biggest gripes in recent weeks.

This week I want to see Melbourne players run hard backwards after taking a mark, not just jogging back and facing the wrong way. One of my biggest gripes in recent weeks.

Fifty years ago Clint my coach told me "never turn your back on the play"

It is still as true today as it was fifty years ago

What are we expecting from Dawes? Id be happy for him to get through injury free and if we can see some of his 2010-2011 form that would be good. Some nice marks and if he can kick 2 or more goals id be happy.

A target, some good contests any goals and so on is a bonus, if he ties up one tall defender it might allow gawn, sylvia, howe, sellar to get on the end of a few a a possible mismatch

Six goals, 12 tackles, 24 possessions and a partridge in a pear tree would be nice.

Six goals, 12 tackles, 24 possessions and a partridge in a pear tree would be nice.

Of that lot the"Partridge in a Pear Tree" is you best chance

Of that lot the"Partridge in a Pear Tree" is you best chance

I'll take it. It's been a while since I've had a good bird.

I'll take it. It's been a while since I've had a good bird.

I should have guessed that from your avatar

What are we expecting from Dawes? Id be happy for him to get through injury free and if we can see some of his 2010-2011 form that would be good. Some nice marks and if he can kick 2 or more goals id be happy.

Dawes was recruited to give us more potency up forward in combination with Mitch Clark, Jeremy Howe and/or Jack Watts. We haven't been able to get the combination together because of injury. On his own, I expect him to present a target up forward where we had none last week. Perhaps, he can work well with Sellar and Gawn to stretch the young Suns' defence?

We're likely to be beaten in the midfield duels but if we can limit the damage in that area and get some drive via the new skipper, we should win this one.

Why are we not playing Magner? He has destroyed the VFL.

Every round bar round 2 he has had 30 plus disposals, several hard ball gets and tackles. Wouldnt magner be ideal for the in and under work with jordie feeding it to guys like jones and silvia? Jones is often hampered by being forced to get his own ball and as a result his disposal is sometimes scrappy.

I understand the club wants to play the young guys but i think there is much to benefit from magner at this stage.

Thoughts?

Why are we not playing Magner? He has destroyed the VFL. Every round bar round 2 he has had 30 plus disposals, several hard ball gets and tackles. Wouldnt magner be ideal for the in and under work with jordie feeding it to guys like jones and silvia? Jones is often hampered by being forced to get his own ball and as a result his disposal is sometimes scrappy. I understand the club wants to play the young guys but i think there is much to benefit from magner at this stage. Thoughts?

Been extensively covered but the only people disagree are trotting out lines about which midfielder is he better than? Besides Jones the answer is he's no worse than the rest.

Would have maybe given Toumpas a run against the kids for confidence and looking to see Kent again. He had only three touches but looked something special.

I love how people bag Sellar who has actually played well every game he has played back. I would play him currently ahead of McDonald based on output.

If that's bagging Sellar, I'll go he. I'm thinking purely about matchups. Without a proper match-up, Sellar offers very little down back. Is he a third tall that can rebound? No, he's not. Can he take talls and smalls like Frawley and Garland? No, he can't. Is this bagging him? No, it's not.

Wrapped to see Evans become a regular in our teams starting 22

Kid will be a superstar, has everything thats needed to do so. Viney Evans and Jones in the midfield will definitely add some flair

Didn't say he was good 'Rhino' but a better bet than Pedersen (the other wondering mr. flex) I would think.

You were promoting an aspect of his game which at best is unproven and trying to compare to a clearly worse player does not make him any better.

Taller players at MFC won't get a better opportunity than today to beat their shorter opponents.

Taller players at MFC won't get a better opportunity than today to beat their shorter opponents.

And an even better opportunity tomorrow when they actually get a chance to play on them.

I worry about the continued inclusion of mckenzie and nicholson. While nicholson has endurance and can get his own ball, his problem is the more he gets it the more he turns it over in our back half. mckenzie just does not do enough by himself, just running behind players and trying to tackle immediately is not enough these days, good players dish it off too quickly, need someone who can be defensive but still get the ball and do something with it. Dunnies effort last week was excellent, need more of that attacking / defensive role out of all midfielders.

Wrapped to see Evans become a regular in our teams starting 22

Kid will be a superstar, has everything thats needed to do so. Viney Evans and Jones in the midfield will definitely add some flair

I'm not sure if Michael Evans will make it into the "superstar" category but I agree that he's done most of the things asked of him since breaking back into the side after a very long term injury. If he can stay healthy, I can see him being a factor in our midfield for some time. I agree Viney and M Jones have also added something and with Jimmy Toumpas returning soon after a run in the VFL, there are some definite signs of improvement in our impoverished midfield.

We still need to import more class into this area but at least something is stirring.

If that's bagging Sellar, I'll go he. I'm thinking purely about matchups. Without a proper match-up, Sellar offers very little down back. Is he a third tall that can rebound? No, he's not. Can he take talls and smalls like Frawley and Garland? No, he can't. Is this bagging him? No, it's not.

EA my comment wasn't specific to you but anyway

How many marks did Hampson take forward last week? Would have been nice to have a big tall bloke who could run well in straight lines. Do you think GC won't push their ruck forward this week? Maybe this means Sellar can play true key giving us he flexibility of moving Frawley ono a smaller type and offer some drive if we want to.

Sellar is a good backman but people seem to not notice the difference when he moves from one end of the ground to the other.

Edited May 10, 201312 yr by big_red_fire_engine

EA my comment wasn't specific to you but anyway

How many marks did Hampson take forward last week? Would have been nice to have a big tall bloke who could run well in straight lines. Do you think GC won't push their ruck forward this week? Maybe this means Sellar can play true key giving us he flexibility of moving Frawley ono a smaller type and offer some drive if we want to.

Sellar is a good backman but people seem to not notice the difference when he moves from one end of the ground to the other.

Fair enough. I do rate him as a KPD but I think Dixon would be his preferred matchup and I'm not sure he would be a useful inclusion. Hopefully McDonald can find some form