THE BIRDS by JVM

For the life of me, I don't understand how Adelaide could have possibly firmed to such hot favouritism for Saturday's game. The Crows struggled last week against the 15th placed Western Bulldogs when, not only their credibility, but also an outside chance of falling into the top eight and finals football was on the line. And yet they were overrun by the Dogs to the tune of seven final-term goals to three and with that went their chances of a top eight berth.

It's been much that way for the Crows for most of the season; patchy, inconsistent and a little flakey. Who could blame them for their demise after suffering from AFL sanctions and the loss of key forward talent like Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker?

The AFL has been somewhat remiss in failing to see the promotional opportunities presented by this match up at a time when its poised to come down hard with sanctions on Essendon over the supplements scandal. These teams should be playing off for the 2013 NAB Transgressors Trophy with the Crows being done for salary cap breaches in the past twelve months and the Dees for cracking poor jokes in public. Dean Bailey would be the perfect choice as presenter.

The emotion factor will certainly be operational in terms of the fact that the Crows play their last game at the ground before relocating along with Port Adelaide to new digs at the Adelaide Oval as from next year.

But history says that Melbourne has a chance. Although, the team has produced only minimal improvement since the dark days of early 2013, it does have a good record when it comes to closing down opposition football grounds. The last time that happened was on 21 May, 2005 when Melbourne beat Carlton by 18 points in the final AFL game at Princes Park (aka Optus Oval, MC Labour Park and more lately Pricefixer Park or something to that effect). So, with a good recent record at farewelling the fields of others' dreams, the Demons are poised to cause an upset.

Melbourne's team for the game has a much better look and feel to it than the one that was first strangled and then demolished by Fremantle last Sunday.James Frawley and Chris Dawes come in to bolster a key defence and key forward position respectively, Cam Pedersen was his team's best player in the game before he was injured and David Rodan and Jimmy Toumpas will add run to the team, the latter's confidence also bolstered with a couple of classy displays at Casey. The players should also be keen to give Aaron Davey a fitting farewell after a decade of fabulous service to the club.

This is not the same Adelaide that swept all before it last year under first year coach Brenton Sanderson. Neil Craig has a treasure trove of knowledge about this team to offset the home team's advantages in skill and experience and with Sando showing signs of cracking up last week I was almost tempted to go for a Melbourne win. It was at about this time that the reality bus drove right past me with hundreds of black crows hovering menacingly above.

Adelaide by 45 points.

Interesting no comments since thread was posted at 10.28

6.5 hours later no interest.

Not sure why I am surprised as I have almost no interest in the game either.

Interesting no comments since thread was posted at 10.28

6.5 hours later no interest.

Not sure why I am surprised as I have almost no interest in the game either.

Perhaps old dee, it's because everyone one this site wishes it was over and we were looking at draft time.

Interesting no comments since thread was posted at 10.28

6.5 hours later no interest.

Not sure why I am surprised as I have almost no interest in the game either.

Noticed that aswell this season, but generally no one seems to comment until the line up has been posted because there is nothing really to talk about which the DL post hasnt covered.

Interesting no comments since thread was posted at 10.28

6.5 hours later no interest.

Not sure why I am surprised as I have almost no interest in the game either.

It's sad when the highlight of the season for us is the pending draft.

It's even sadder when we feel that the draftees are going to quickly and automatically turn our fortunes around.

Oh, well. Gees, I can't wait to see who our first draft is. Hope he's a gun mid-fielder!

Noticed that aswell this season, but generally no one seems to comment until the line up has been posted because there is nothing really to talk about which the DL post hasnt covered.

Even after the team line up has been posted there's still nothing to talk about; other that how does he(insert whoever) keep getting a game.

It's sad when the highlight of the season for us is the pending draft.

It's even sadder when we feel that the draftees are going to quickly and automatically turn our fortunes around.

Oh, well. Gees, I can't wait to see who our first draft is. Hope he's a gun mid-fielder!

It is way sadder that we have now been doing this for seven years.

Even after the team line up has been posted there's still nothing to talk about; other that how does he(insert whoever) keep getting a game.

Or, the other perennial favourites:

• why isn't Magner in the team
• deck chairs on the Titanic

There's nothing quite as effective at crushing interest in football as supporting Melbourne!

If Taggert gets a run I'm very happy

If Taggert gets a run I'm very happy

Taggert won't get a game

In: D.Rodan, J.Frawley, C.Dawes, C.Pedersen, J.Toumpas

Out: S.Byrnes (foot), J.Strauss (shoulder), S.Blease (ankle), J.Fitzpatrick (concussion), T.Davis

No Magner. So Rodan's our future is he?

No, but neither is Magner for that matter.

No Gawn, Taggert or Magner WTF........Rodan must mow Graigs lawn

No Magner. So Rodan's our future is he?

Or they've told Magner he isn't needed next year and he's expressed a desire to stay with Casey for the rest of the season. That's the best explanation I can give.

Now Gawn either after he had 60 hit outs.

FB: Dunn Frawley Garland

HB: M. Jones McDonald Terlich

C: Toumpas Jones Trengove

HF: Kent Dawes Davey

FF: Howe Pedersen Tapscott

Foll: Spencer Viney McKenzie

Int: Sylvia Watts Grimes

S: Rodan

Why is Watts playing. I thought he was being made to understand.

I think it's a good idea to allow Spencer to be our main ruckman for the entire game. Let him run it out, see how he holds up and performs, did so with Fitzpatrick and turned out to be a better player than we were expecting.

Taggs kicks 5... No game?

This is how I see it

INS

Good:

James Frawley, Chris Dawes, Jimmy Toumpas

Bad:

Cameron Pedersen, David Rodan

OUTS

Good:

• Troy Davis (Omitted),
• Sam Blease (Ankle),
• Shannon Byrnes (Foot)

Bad:

• Jack Fitzpatrick (Concussion) - easily replaced by Dawes
• James Strauss (Shoulder) - [censored] give this kid a break

Could someone explain to me how Rodan gets a game over Magner? (there is definitely something wrong there!)

Bad:

• James Strauss (Shoulder) - [censored] give this kid a break

Pun intended?

Inexplicable from Craig.

Pun intended?

Not intended (otherwise it would be "give this kid another break")

“David Rodan has been in very good form at Casey for a period of time now.” Off the MFC website, WTF he has only played the last 1 and 1/2 games for Casey

Inexplicable from Craig.

Apparently Paul Little just described it as "reprehensible", or on second thought, he may have been talking about something else.