It's really strange, at the end of last year i had him in the best 22, not sure what the go is, doesn't even seem to be on the radar at the moment.

He hardly ran pre Xmas so he is a bit behind the rest, if you watch a bit of the vision of the praccy game, you will see him 'struggling' with the running

Assume because he had an issue with his patella, they are also being extra cautious

He hardly ran pre Xmas so he is a bit behind the rest, if you watch a bit of the vision of the praccy game, you will see him 'struggling' with the running

Assume because he had an issue with his patella, they are also being extra cautious

Thanks for that Saty, hopefully he can get himself right an get back into the team sooner rather than later.

How can a game be over six quarters? Why not four thirds or five halves?

Obvious really six quarters the last time I looked was a cup & a half. (Think Cadbury's)

Four thirds, now that's plain silly we don't play thirds any more, they become the under 19's now sadly gone as has the McClennan Trophy.

I think five halves play rugby, could be wrong.

Hope that has cleared things up .

Squad named on the Demons site

Melbourne squad:
1. Jesse Hogan
2. Nathan Jones
4. Jack Watts
5. Jimmy Toumpas
7. Jack Viney
8. James Frawley
9. Jack Trengove
10. Shannon Byrnes
12. Dom Tyson
13. Jordie McKenzie
14. Lynden Dunn
17. Sam Blease
18. Daniel Cross
19. James Strauss
21. Cameron Pedersen
22. Viv Michie
23. Bernie Vince
24. Jay Kennedy-Harris
25. Tom McDonald
31. Jack Grimes
38. Jeremy Howe
41. Alexis Georgiou
42. Jake Spencer
44. Rohan Bail
45. Matt Jones
46. Dean Terlich
48. Jack Fitzpatrick

Grea to see Viney back for a run. Hopefully I can get down for a look. Relatively strong side apart from a couple of talls, I would like to see another solid run by the boys, a spanking wont do the confidence any good. It will be interesting to see how Georgiou performs against a quality outfit. I think he has been a stand out in the preseason so far. Its been said before but he is the best worst kick in the comp. Can he be upgraded in place of Riley for round 1 if Garland does not come up?

Forward kine of Howe, JKH, Bail, Byrnes, Hogan and Fitz is capable but I think Hogan and Fiitz will need to play blinders for the forward line to kick enough goals.

I will be very interested to see if we can win enough ball aganst the best midfield in the comp. I like Spencer but am not convinced his tap work at the stopages gives us first use of the ball often enough.

Go Dees!!!!

They are going to play as close to match conditions as possible so 3 of that squad will be emergencies and 1 sub

At this time of year it is always interesting to see the omissions and there are four out from last week - King and Barry were obvious, but Nicho and Clisby both had major game time last week and there was a lot of man-love on Demonland site for Clisby after his game.

Could he have got a slight knock, or are the superior kicking skills of Strauss being rated ahead of his chip kick.

Great to see Viney back - hopefully he'll get a chance, although with 27 names, I imagine three more will not get a game yet.

Byrnes survived at this stage but with JFK likely to be given a shot and Blease also in line-up, it's hard to see all three small forwards (four with Jimmy T) getting a game.

They are going to play as close to match conditions as possible so 3 of that squad will be emergencies and 1 sub

Is that a definite squad of 22 or are you just assuming this - I thought it was 22 and two subs for pre-season - hence squad of 27 which includes three emergencies?

I'm probably wrong but if I am, then there's quite a few omissions from squad yet and if it's 22, then it will be really hard for Viney to get game, unless Jimmy T is rested because of knock.

Squad named on the Demons site

Melbourne squad:

1. Jesse Hogan

2. Nathan Jones

4. Jack Watts

5. Jimmy Toumpas

7. Jack Viney

8. James Frawley

9. Jack Trengove

10. Shannon Byrnes

12. Dom Tyson

13. Jordie McKenzie

14. Lynden Dunn

17. Sam Blease

18. Daniel Cross

19. James Strauss

21. Cameron Pedersen

22. Viv Michie

23. Bernie Vince

24. Jay Kennedy-Harris

25. Tom McDonald

31. Jack Grimes

38. Jeremy Howe

41. Alexis Georgiou

42. Jake Spencer

44. Rohan Bail

45. Matt Jones

46. Dean Terlich

48. Jack Fitzpatrick

Grea to see Viney back for a run. Hopefully I can get down for a look. Relatively strong side apart from a couple of talls, I would like to see another solid run by the boys, a spanking wont do the confidence any good. It will be interesting to see how Georgiou performs against a quality outfit. I think he has been a stand out in the preseason so far. Its been said before but he is the best worst kick in the comp. Can he be upgraded in place of Riley for round 1 if Garland does not come up?

Forward kine of Howe, JKH, Bail, Byrnes, Hogan and Fitz is capable but I think Hogan and Fiitz will need to play blinders for the forward line to kick enough goals.

I will be very interested to see if we can win enough ball aganst the best midfield in the comp. I like Spencer but am not convinced his tap work at the stopages gives us first use of the ball often enough.

Go Dees!!!!

A spanking is just what we need.

The Hawks will get over it.

JFK likely to be given a shot

The magic bullet?

Too soon?

Looking at that squad and considering who is out injured I believe with the exception of Garland and Gawn that is probably as good as we will be able put on the park in 2014.

So The game against the Hawks will be a fairly good test of how far we have come since the end of 2013.

If we can stay close to the reining premier on the weekend I will go into the season with confidence that most weeks I can go to a game and feel confident we have a chance of winning.

Edited March 6, 201411 yr by old dee

At this time of year it is always interesting to see the omissions and there are four out from last week - King and Barry were obvious, but Nicho and Clisby both had major game time last week and there was a lot of man-love on Demonland site for Clisby after his game.

Could he have got a slight knock, or are the superior kicking skills of Strauss being rated ahead of his chip kick.

I think it's more that Clisby is a tad behind Terlich at this stage.

It is a bit hard to select against hawthorn from the squad offered and shame about Dawes & Gawn still not available. Maybe the following would look good as practice/preparation for Round 1?

B: 41. Alexis Georgiou 8. James Frawley 14. Lynden Dunn

HB: 31. Jack Grimes 25. Tom McDonald 46. Dean Terlich

C: 5. Jimmy Toumpas 2. Nathan Jones 4. Jack Watts

HF: 38. Jeremy Howe 21. Cameron Pedersen 9. Jack Trengove

F: 24. Jay Kennedy-Harris 48. Jack Fitzpatrick 1. Jesse Hogan

Foll: 42. Jake Spencer 12. Dom Tyson 23. Bernie Vince

Inter: 18. Daniel Cross 22. Viv Michie 7. Jack Viney

Sub: 44. Rohan Bail


Emerg: 45. Matt Jones 13. Jordie McKenzie 19. James Strauss

Unlucky: 10. Shannon Byrnes & 17. Sam Blease

At this time of year it is always interesting to see the omissions and there are four out from last week - King and Barry were obvious, but Nicho and Clisby both had major game time last week and there was a lot of man-love on Demonland site for Clisby after his game.

Could he have got a slight knock, or are the superior kicking skills of Strauss being rated ahead of his chip kick.

Great to see Viney back - hopefully he'll get a chance, although with 27 names, I imagine three more will not get a game yet.

Byrnes survived at this stage but with JFK likely to be given a shot and Blease also in line-up, it's hard to see all three small forwards (four with Jimmy T) getting a game.

Well Strauss being rushed back in clearly suggest he's rated ahead of Clisby and Nicholson. Down to him vs Terlich for the final spot in the back line, however I'd see both of them playing Round 1, one starting on the bench.

I'll be very disappointed if Byrnes plays Round 1 in front of JKH. I understand and respect the whole protecting rookies thing, but the entirely serious nature of the debate is that from limited footage, Jay gives us a far better chance of winning a football match than Shannon.

As for the others, I'm excited that two of Viney, Toumpas, Matt Jones, Viv Michie arguably won't play because there are better midfielders already selected. Geez I would've loved this scenario for the last 6 years.

Is that a definite squad of 22 or are you just assuming this - I thought it was 22 and two subs for pre-season - hence squad of 27 which includes three emergencies?

I'm probably wrong but if I am, then there's quite a few omissions from squad yet and if it's 22, then it will be really hard for Viney to get game, unless Jimmy T is rested because of knock.

No, Misson said in an article on club website that they are going to try and keep the interchanges to the number allowed during the season...and this from Mahoney

“Our early discussions with Hawthorn are that they want it to be as close as it can be to a premiership season game,” he said.

“Our approach will be that we’ll play as close to our best side, but we still want the opportunity to play some players, who have only had limited game time.”

That being said I thought 27 was a strange number in the squad

I will be very interested to see if we can win enough ball aganst the best midfield in the comp. I like Spencer but am not convinced his tap work at the stopages gives us first use of the ball often enough.

Go Dees!!!!

Spencer was monstering McEvoy last year against the saints. Until he decided to put his hip through him and knocked him out of the game! Hale is pretty smart so he might cause Spencer some troubles. Spencer seems to be improving at centre bounces to now be reasonable. But boundary throw ins because he's tall and lean he can still be pushed off his line. Agree about the midfield though.

Is there a limit on who can play for Casey in the VFL practice match after the game? Surely we get those who miss out against the Hawks in to that game along with possibly Gawn and Kent.

It is a bit hard to select against hawthorn from the squad offered and shame about Dawes & Gawn still not available. Maybe the following would look good as practice/preparation for Round 1?

B: 41. Alexis Georgiou 8. James Frawley 14. Lynden Dunn

HB: 31. Jack Grimes 25. Tom McDonald 46. Dean Terlich

C: 5. Jimmy Toumpas 2. Nathan Jones 4. Jack Watts

HF: 38. Jeremy Howe 21. Cameron Pedersen 9. Jack Trengove

F: 24. Jay Kennedy-Harris 48. Jack Fitzpatrick 1. Jesse Hogan

Foll: 42. Jake Spencer 12. Dom Tyson 23. Bernie Vince

Inter: 18. Daniel Cross 22. Viv Michie 7. Jack Viney

Sub: 44. Rohan Bail

Emerg: 45. Matt Jones 13. Jordie McKenzie 19. James Strauss

Unlucky: 10. Shannon Byrnes & 17. Sam Blease

That actually looks like a nice line up apart from Dawes, Clark, Garland and Gawn missing. (hope Dawes, Gawn and Kent play for Casey)

Great to see Viney back!

Would love to see Strauss in the final team (might mean resting Bail or Georgiou tho).

Pedersen, Spencer and Fitzy will need to play out of their skins if we want to be a chance.

Anyone heard anything about video being streamed or recorded for us exiles from Vic?

Anyone heard anything about video being streamed or recorded for us exiles from Vic?

I heard that it might be on the MFC website and/or twitter [which I don't really understand]

Edited March 6, 201411 yr by CBDees

For anyone that is interested I made Hawthorn's 27 in to a team view.

FB: Stratton Heatherley Suckling

HB: Birchall Gibson Hodge

C: I. Smith Mitchell Hill

HF: Shiels Roughead Bruest

FF: Gunston Hale Puopolo

Foll: McEvoy Sewell Lewis

Int (from): Langford, Simpkin, Hallahan, Wanganeen, Woodward, Litherland, O'Brien, Ceglar, Cheney

Missing: Burgoyne, Lake, Rioli

If they don't drop any more out its most of their best 22 with a sprinkling of young players of which a lot of them are pretty hungry for those couple of spots in the team come round 1. Langford has looked really good so far as a tall big body tagging midfielder. Wanganeen has looked decent off half back. The one spot they are potentially vulnerable is full back whilst Lake and Schoenmakers are out. But NZ international rookie Kurt Heatherley has shown some talent and is a rangy type. Without our first choice key forwards we can't really exploit this much.

Live tweets - www.twitter.com/melbournefc
Quarter by quarter updates – www.melbournefc.com.au
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Don't know about vision, but they have a fully staffed film unit these days, so assume we may see some after

Edited March 6, 201411 yr by Satyriconhome

Chippy did you and C & B watch the same game?

He assures me he was ok.

Some how I think I will take your view.

how about forming your own POV based on what you see

OK = average = half better, half worse. I think that's a fairer assessment than Chippy's massive exaggeration

I'm no Byrnes fan but I wish people would use more objectivity rather than going off their preconceived notions about a player

how about forming your own POV based on what you see

OK = average = half better, half worse. I think that's a fairer assessment than Chippy's massive exaggeration

I'm no Byrnes fan but I wish people would use more objectivity rather than going off their preconceived notions about a player

The good was he found the ball. The bad was he turned it over a lot with fumbles and bad decisions. Wasn't as good as Bail or JKH in round 1 of NAB challenge. Was on par with Blease's efforts. Clean up all the simple errors and it would've been a good game. He knows how to run to get in space to get the ball, that much was evident last year. But without the quality skilled players around him he's a bit lost in what to do with it.

what time does the match start?

Just on a side note, do we know what players are down to play for Casey tomorrow?

Just on a side note, do we know what players are down to play for Casey tomorrow?

Don't we have to ask permission from the AFL, for guys who haven't managed a decent run in the pre season, maybe that is why they sat Hunt and Jetta out from Alice Springs, assume we should see Salem as well