Happy to see Kent back in the side. I struggle to find any flaws in the way he plays.

Love the way he goes about it, and I think with another pre-season or two under his belt he can spend more time in the midfield as well. He can then put that beautiful left foot of his to even better use.

Happy with the changes we've made this week, as both McKenzie and Riley have been very good for weeks and deserve their chance. JKH was due for a rest, we are too tall with Gawn and to me, Terlich isn't in our best 25 players when everyone is fit. This is not a knock on him, just that we now have a little more depth and with both Howe and Jetta in terrific form down back there just isn't a spot for him there.

I expect Essendon to come out firing, but if they can't overwhelm us early I believe they will crack. McKenzie, Kent and Riley will stiffen up our resistance to any onslaught and for mine, the game will hinge on our forwards making a bit more of their opportunities than they did last week. If the game is in the balance at 3/4, Salem will be very hard to stop.

It's set up for a classic Roos game - stop them, then swamp them.

I expect Essendon to come out firing, but if they can't overwhelm us early I believe they will crack. McKenzie, Kent and Riley will stiffen up our resistance to any onslaught and for mine, the game will hinge on our forwards making a bit more of their opportunities than they did last week. If the game is in the balance at 3/4, Salem will be very hard to stop.

It's set up for a classic Roos game - stop them, then swamp them.

A good start is critical this week - important to deflate the early and not give them a sniff. We can't afford our usual first quarter sleepiness.

Wow that's a lot of changes for Roosy

I don't know how I feel about Terlich being dropped without an obvious replacement... unless Riley is going to be used as a small rebounding defender.

As much as I see Terlich's obvious flaws and the curse the day he kicks the footy, defensively he's been good this year. Will be interesting to see how we line up now.

I'm especially interested to see who takes Chapman. I hate the [censored]!

Really like the side this week! In fact would only like to see Blease in this side to be almost ( bar Hogan) to be at full strength.

Blease because his outside run and explosive pace are bonuses in out team.

In answer to your question Dunne to take Chapman ( whom I greatly admire as a footballer)

Wouldn't think Jordy bought in to be sub so may either be Salem or Kent. Having said that I really like Kent as a mobile forward ( something we lacked last week which is probably a reason Max was dropped.)

Dees to win by 25 points, Injectiondon in disarray, time to strike!

Edited June 14, 201411 yr by picket fence

Really like the side this week! In fact would only like to see Blease in this side to be almost ( bar Hogan) to be at full strength.

Blease because his outside run and explosive pace are bonuses in out team.

In answer to your question Dunne to take Chapman ( whom I greatly admire as a footballer)

Wouldn't think Jordy bought in to be sub so may either be Salem or Kent. Having said that I really like Kent as a mobile forward ( something we lacked last week which is probably a reason Max was dropped.)

Dees to win by 25 points, Injectiondon in disarray, time to strike!

Not sure about Dunn/Chappy Fence. Chappy is elusive and a fast starter - Maybe Jetta as we'll use Dunn on a big.

Essendon don't have a very tall forward line, apart from Daniher, so who will McDonald go to if Dunn gets Daniher?

Essendon don't have a very tall forward line, apart from Daniher, so who will McDonald go to if Dunn gets Daniher?

They usually rest a ruck down forward. I would think Tommy Mc would get Daniher. Cross to Heppel.

They usually rest a ruck down forward. I would think Tommy Mc would get Daniher. Cross to Heppel.

Ah thanks.

It's a fascinating quirk of history, just how many significant events have occured around Melbourne-Essendon games, or how many of those game shave themselves been significant.

Grand final 2000.

2004 Elimination Final decided by a goal (Lloyd you dirty diving cheat!)

The moving first game of 2005, commemorating Troy Broadbridge.

The 2005 'must win' round 22 game, down to the wire and decided by Robbo, part of his extraordinary season.

Neale Daniher's final game (what a game that was!) in 2007.

Disaster 148 point loss that derailed 2013 in just round 2.

And now this.

Any other recent ones to note?

Oh, and of course, if my memory serves me correctly it is 4-1 in premierships.

It's a fascinating quirk of history, just how many significant events have occured around Melbourne-Essendon games, or how many of those game shave themselves been significant.

Grand final 2000.

2004 Elimination Final decided by a goal (Lloyd you dirty diving cheat!)

The moving first game of 2005, commemorating Troy Broadbridge.

The 2005 'must win' round 22 game, down to the wire and decided by Robbo, part of his extraordinary season.

Neale Daniher's final game (what a game that was!) in 2007.

Disaster 148 point loss that derailed 2013 in just round 2.

And now this.

Any other recent ones to note?

Oh, and of course, if my memory serves me correctly it is 4-1 in premierships.

Our first win of the season in 2012 - the Essendon 'supplement' season is an interesting one in a way. The Bombers' season went down the gurgler after that.

FWIW:

Sam Landsberger ‏@SamLandsberger 14m

Don't be surprised if Dustin Fletcher joins Jobe Watson on the sidelines against Melbourne tomorrow night. Late change firming for the Dons.

It's a fascinating quirk of history, just how many significant events have occured around Melbourne-Essendon games, or how many of those game shave themselves been significant.

Grand final 2000.

2004 Elimination Final decided by a goal (Lloyd you dirty diving cheat!)

The moving first game of 2005, commemorating Troy Broadbridge.

The 2005 'must win' round 22 game, down to the wire and decided by Robbo, part of his extraordinary season.

Neale Daniher's final game (what a game that was!) in 2007.

Disaster 148 point loss that derailed 2013 in just round 2.

And now this.

Any other recent ones to note?

Oh, and of course, if my memory serves me correctly it is 4-1 in premierships.

How recent is 'recent'? In the 90s we had the game where we lost after leading by 47 in the final quarter, us beating them in the 1991 elimination final, and another game where if my memory serves me correctly Steven Clark was lining up for the match winning goal after the siren at Windy Hill and missed amidst a ground invasion. Also, Lloyd took mark of the year against us late in his career.

Edited June 14, 201411 yr by pantaloons

FWIW:

Sam Landsberger ‏@SamLandsberger 14m

Don't be surprised if Dustin Fletcher joins Jobe Watson on the sidelines against Melbourne tomorrow night. Late change firming for the Dons.

If this is right and both Watson and Fletcher are out we have to be really careful that we don't take this game lightly cause of a couple of players r out (even though they r good players).

Will be interesting to c how all the players come out on Sunday whether they are all fired up again or mentally exhausted.

Edited June 14, 201411 yr by DemonOX

It's a fascinating quirk of history, just how many significant events have occured around Melbourne-Essendon games, or how many of those game shave themselves been significant.

Grand final 2000.

2004 Elimination Final decided by a goal (Lloyd you dirty diving cheat!)

The moving first game of 2005, commemorating Troy Broadbridge.

The 2005 'must win' round 22 game, down to the wire and decided by Robbo, part of his extraordinary season.

Neale Daniher's final game (what a game that was!) in 2007.

Disaster 148 point loss that derailed 2013 in just round 2.

And now this.

Any other recent ones to note?

Oh, and of course, if my memory serves me correctly it is 4-1 in premierships.

I think the 1948 grand final was the first drawn one as well. Not recent, but there you go...

4-2 unfortunately

Happy with the changes. Gives us more running/tagging options.

Jordie hopefully will quell Heppell and give us something the other way if he has learned his lessons from Casey

Not sure who Cross will run with but he and Riley are definite grunt for us which is great.

Go dees

Cross to Stanton

Jordie to heppell

Really want to see watts hit the score board today part of that high half forward role is to stop the opposition run off half back and I reckon the best way watts can do that is to impact the score board and create score assists with his great kicking

Cross to Stanton

Jordie to heppell

Really want to see watts hit the score board today part of that high half forward role is to stop the opposition run off half back and I reckon the best way watts can do that is to impact the score board and create score assists with his great kicking

Yep like these moves and Although Bitter and twisted has provided "Food for thought" with Jetta going to Chappy, with a one on one, Chappy would outmuscle Jetta, Still think Dunne to Chapman, but won't be surprised if this isn't the case!

Heard a rumour Fletcher is doubtfull Any confirmation out there?

Edited June 15, 201411 yr by jackaub

The order of the day is tackle tackle tackle

(safe in the knowledge that it's unlikely that our players will contract hepatitis by doing so).