I will also add that Mick Malthouse did give us a few presents as well at the selection table: McLean, Garlett, Waite all omitted. Waite, while not the second coming of John Coleman, was probably the forward target they needed. They reminded me a lot of us in Round 1 with absolutely nothing to kick to when they went forward.

Plus with Chris Judd out, they were on a hiding to nothing.

Make no mistake, we played much better last week. Let's just keep things in perspective.

We might do OK against the Gold Coast as they are a team with no real marquee forward (Tom Lynch and Brandon Matera are just kids who haven't hit their straps yet). The Suns will get the W if their midfield dominates ours. Let's hope Jordie can reproduce his effort of last year and that the rest of our mids can stick with the young midfield that the Suns got via the draft. Spencil will need to make it two good games in a row and he can as he is up against another inexperienced ruckman in Tom Nicholls.

I think we are a real chance this week (Geez, I love going to a game and not thinking it's a lost cause!). Let's make it two in a row boys!

With the calf tightness, Kent told me at training he was very doubtful, another one with interupted pre season, during pre season you can lighten the load for a week as your legs get back into it, unfortunately during the season you miss games...Dawes etc......there is no problem with the training

Georgiou's disposal worries me. His kicking at least does. He seems solid enough one-on-one though, but let's wait and see how he goes on a better forwardline than Carlton's. Carlton really do have a horrible list, which pleases me to say the least.

He currently leads the club with disposal efficiency with 85%. Looks like an Andrew Dunkley clone, awkward but very effective!

Reckon Evans is VERY lucky to keep his spot and will be the sub again this week.

3 disposals (2 of which were ineffective) in nearly 1/3 of a game is an extremely poor return for a sub.

Stuie, my quote won't work, Evans impacted the last qtr with his pressure acts and tackling, Roos thought he did enough, that will do me

Stuie, my quote won't work, Evans impacted the last qtr with his pressure acts and tackling, Roos thought he did enough, that will do me

I think Roos is just giving him another chance. I like that about him, doesn't cut and run after 1 poor game. But seriously, 1 useful disposal in a third of a game? His energy was good, but you don't bring on a sub just to make 4 tackles and 1 useful kick.

Disappointed that Kent's injured. I've been really enjoying watching his progression over the last two seasons.

Reckon Evans is VERY lucky to keep his spot and will be the sub again this week.

3 disposals (2 of which were ineffective) in nearly 1/3 of a game is an extremely poor return for a sub.

Stuie - not sure if u saw the 4th qtr last wk but Evans pressure and intent were very good. His did the team things well. I might be a bit biased because I like what he could bring, and I agree that he needs to find the ball a bit more, but I also think he deserves a decent run to string together at least 5-6 games to find the ball more - provided he keeps doing the team things.

Stuie - not sure if u saw the 4th qtr last wk but Evans pressure and intent were very good. His did the team things well. I might be a bit biased because I like what he could bring, and I agree that he needs to find the ball a bit more, but I also think he deserves a decent run to string together at least 5-6 games to find the ball more - provided he keeps doing the team things.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Evans. He has great energy and effort. But 1 useful possession in a third of a game is not enough of a contribution. I reckon he'll be sub again this week and will need to be more involved if he is to keep his spot. I hope he does. As I said before, I like that Roos doesn't drop players after 1 poor performance like Neeld used to, give them a chance to show something.

I agree on Pickles as sub. He hasn't done enough to get a full run (I'd possibly have dropped him for Toumpas but happy either way).

Give Jetta a start while he's in form. And to [censored] off jumbo.

Final team

Melbourne team: round five

B: Alex Georgiou, Tom McDonald, Lynden Dunn

HB: Dean Terlich, James Frawley, Jack Grimes

C: Jack Viney, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince

HF: Jack Watts, Cam Pedersen, Jordie McKenzie

F: Jeremy Howe, Chris Dawes, Rohan Bail

FOLL: Jake Spencer, Nathan Jones, Daniel Cross

I/C: Jay Kennedy-Harris, Matt Jones, Neville Jetta, Michael Evans

EMG: Shannon Byrnes, Jack Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Toumpas

IN: Neville Jetta

OUT: Dean Kent (calf)

Jetta to get the sub vest?

Not much help for Jake in the ruck but he should be able to break even or beat Nichols.

Conversely there is a lot of run in that Melbourne side. Clearances are the key. If we let their midfield dominate we will lose.

Hopefully we can maintain our confidence and trust, spread when we have the ball and keep lots of defensive pressure on them as they come out of our forward 50. If we can do these things and not turn the ball over form kick-outs we will win. Easy

PS

Shame Kent not playing.

So which Warnock brother will be considered the better footballer at the end of their careers? I hope Matthew gets to 100 games (currently on 81)

Gonna be in Melbourne for this one and first time to the MCG since I was twelve. Where do all the Dees supporters hang out at the G?

Where do all the Dees supporters hang out at the G?

In the bar.

Just like being 12 again.

A lot will be in the member area if you have reserved seats, the cheer squad is behind goals in the southern stand, try there or the pockets of the southern stand.

Cheers

Gonna be in Melbourne for this one and first time to the MCG since I was twelve. Where do all the Dees supporters hang out at the G?

Last year after quarter time in the bars

Last Every year since 2007 after quarter time in the bars

Fixed

Don't hang out with dees fan, they're annoying

We are coming off a good win against Carlton and they are coming off a thumping from the Hawks.

We played them twice last year..

Rd 7 MCG Melb 7.12(54) vs 16.18(114) they dominated all stats clearly we lacked a midfield.

Melbourne - Goals/Best/Impact: Gold Coast - Goals/Best/Impact:

M.Jones(25disp) Ablett (38disp)

Terlich(23disp). Prestia(30disp 7tac)

Viney(23disp). M.Shaw (1.0 27disp)

N.Jones(20disp) D.Swallow (24disp)

J.Howe 3.3 O Meara (23disp)

R.Thomson (11marks)

A.Hall 2.3

T.Lynch 2.2

Rd 20 Ms Melb 10.17(77) vs 13.12(90)

Statistically we played well but didn't finish off in front of goal we dominated hit outs 56v34 but our 1percenters and tackle we're down 39 & 44.

Melbourne - Goals/Best/Impact: Gold Coast - Goals/Best/Impact:

J.Grimes(24disp) Swallow(28disp 1.0)

D.Terlich(23disp). Prestia(23 disp 8tac)

J.Viney(24disp) D.Stanley (21disp 1.0)

J.Watts(21disp 2.0) A.Hall (1.4 20disp)

D.Kent (19disp 2.2) O Meara (10disp)

T.Sumner 2.0

S.Day, Ablett, Dixon, Thompson all 1 goal.

The GC games this year.

Rd1 vs Rich @ MS 12.15(87) vs Rich 10.9(69) they were dominated in hit outs and clearances. This is where we can beat them if Spencer vs Nicholls but we need them to go to advantage which means we need set plays!

Gold Coast - Goals/Best/Impact: Ablett(41 disp 2.0) Prestia(32 disp 1.1) Rishitelli (28disp) Swallow (27 disp 1.4) Broughton (24disp) Harbrow (22disp) O Meara (1.0 22disp 10tac) Stanley 2.0.

Rd 2 vs Freo @ PS 5.9(39) vs 12.15(87) Fremantle dominated everything especially hit out 69 vs 19.

Gold Coast - Goals/Best/Impact: Ablett (24 disp) D.Swallow (27disp) Prestia (22disp) Rischitelli (21disp) S.Day 2.0 Matera 1.3 A. Hall 1.0 T.Lynch 1.0 O Meara (8tac)

Rd 3 vs Bris 17.12(114) vs Bris 9.7(61)

Gold Coast - Goals/Best/Impact: Ablett(3.0 38disp 10tac) Prestia (32disp) Swallow (2.2 26disp) O Meara (1.1 24 disp 7 tac) S.Day 4.0 Matera 2.1 Harbrow, KK, Lemmons, Lynch and Shaw all 1 goal.

Rd4 vs Haw @ MS 7.7(49) vs Haw 23.10(148)

Gold Coast - Goals/Best/Impact: Ablett (1.0 35 disp 8 tac) Prestia (27 disp) Swallow (27disp 1.1) A.Hall, O Meara, T.Lynch, Rischitelli and Shaw all 1 goal.

From the games this year Ablett, Prestia, Swallow and Rischitelli have been their best players, all midfielders who consistently kick goals It is vital we keep these guys quiet, Mckenzie to Ablett, Viney to Prestia (both hard nut inside mids very similar players) Cross to Rischitelli and we need to be wary of Swallow and O Meara who will get big numbers, but it all depends whether they get those numbers in there defensive half or attacking half. We are in big trouble if we let them get in space around their attacking 50.

We should dominate the ruck with hit outs, but we need to get it to our midfielders, we need set plays in there!

We have the defenders to shut down S.Day and T.Lynch who it seems are there main forward targets. We have better big men and Dawes, Frawley and Watts should be a hard to contain for GC.

Also a special mention to A.Hall very fast and loves to play against us, we have struggled to deal with him in the past and we need someone with pace to play on him. D.Stanley is another who plays well against us.

We need to be more direct when we go forward this game.

A lot to take in but I think Roos will be confident going into this game. This will really show whether the boys are improving or not.

Someone has too much time on their hands... school holidays?

Would to see Howe back up forward and Dunn remain down back to help repel the Suns attack. Some have pointed out that Vince is due for a big one, and whilst that might be true the stage is set for Watts to tear a game apart. I'm aware of how he has played this year but we are still waiting for him to take his game to the next level and become elite.

I think the big thing for me this week is to see what we actually have with a fit and in form Neville Jetta. Kent making way due to injury is disappointing, as he was starting to build some nice form for us and looked like someone who could hold onto his spot in our best side. Jetta gets a chance to show the club he is more than a VFL killer.

In the bar.

Thats so funny See you there!!

Would to see Howe back up forward and Dunn remain down back to help repel the Suns attack.

Why?

Howe's just now starting to settle into defence, whilst Dunn has made a difference in attack. Why change that now?

He currently leads the club with disposal efficiency with 85%. Looks like an Andrew Dunkley clone, awkward but very effective!

That surprises me greatly. Thanks for that, HB.