THE ROAD TO ROUND 1, 2015

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Correction:

McKenzie did not play on Ablett last year. He held O'meara and Prestia whilst it was Jones, Vince and Howe minding Gary.

My point still stands however. Would rather McKenzie not play.

McKenzie was certainly on him with 7 minutes to go, when he got a free against him for 'blocking' Ablett at a ball-up in our defensive 50. It was rubbish. Of course he went back and kicked it, extending the margin from 13 to 19.. we kicked 4 goals to 2 after that but we ultimately lost by 8 pts. Could well have won the game if it wasn't for that gift.

[Robbie57 2,020]

I am looking forward to the match and in the spirit of not falling into "the here we go again" trap this is what I would like to see:

1. Our defensive unit carrying on from its good work last year ( we effectively ditched Frawley to build this unit given he was already gone)
2. More precise kicking skills going forward, they are simply needed these days to penetrate the flood of players.
3. Some offensive capability (if you are going to contend you need at least 2 major avenues to goal above your mids scoring as well).

To some extent we have seen this developing in the practice matches and that is exciting. Getting the ball into the hands of Salem, Watts and H are the key to precise supply. Hogan Frost Garlett JKH and Dawes (when he is available) start to make us look more offensive. Its going to take time to gel but we look different and for me that is exciting. I am not convinced GC has the offensive capability they need yet so we will be in the mix on Saturday.

No doubt we will have our moments but I really cant wait to see us improve and start winning, lets hope the first is Saturday.

[low flying Robbo 979]

anyone know a pub in Seattle for Aussie sports?

[Vagg 2,439]

I haven't read all the thread, has anybody mentioned it will also be HL's 200th game, expect a big one from him

Yes, should be a big game for "H". His first in the Red & Blue. But game 200 in the AFL. Sure hope he lights up the MCG! (A win would be even better!)

[titan_uranus 24,975]

I am looking forward to the match and in the spirit of not falling into "the here we go again" trap this is what I would like to see:

1. Our defensive unit carrying on from its good work last year ( we effectively ditched Frawley to build this unit given he was already gone)
2. More precise kicking skills going forward, they are simply needed these days to penetrate the flood of players.
3. Some offensive capability (if you are going to contend you need at least 2 major avenues to goal above your mids scoring as well).

To some extent we have seen this developing in the practice matches and that is exciting. Getting the ball into the hands of Salem, Watts and H are the key to precise supply. Hogan Frost Garlett JKH and Dawes (when he is available) start to make us look more offensive. Its going to take time to gel but we look different and for me that is exciting. I am not convinced GC has the offensive capability they need yet so we will be in the mix on Saturday.

No doubt we will have our moments but I really cant wait to see us improve and start winning, lets hope the first is Saturday.

3 is the one I want to see the most - even if the kicking skills aren't perfect, I really want to see us taking the game on a little more and demonstrating a move towards more positive football. I think we have a list that is much better placed to carry this out than we have had in the last couple of years.

I'm confident in our back line, though the expectations should be high with a couple of GC forwards missing.

[Deestar3 167]

Looks like Vince & howe in the team....no Pederson & brayshaw & vandenberg on extended bench

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Looks like Vince & howe in the team....no [Pedersen] & brayshaw & vandenberg on extended bench

I wouldn't read too much into the side they put up on the Footy Show. It's just an extended squad, anyone can still be picked for the side no matter who they put up.

[dazzledavey36 54,285]

Looks like Vince & howe in the team....no [Pedersen] & brayshaw & vandenberg on extended bench

Teams aren't selected that was just the footy shows what they think the teams will be.

[SaberFang 7,151]

Wonder how many frees the umps will gift Gary in his return game? I'm guessing at least 3,with 2 converted into goals.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Wonder how many frees the umps will gift Gary in his return game? I'm guessing at least 3,with 2 converted into goals.

They love gifting him a cheap free kick inside 50. LOVE it. They wait on any sort of dodgy looking contact and blow that whistle as quickly as possible.

[SaberFang 7,151]

Yep, protected species, up there with Selwood and Hodge.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Yep, protected species, up there with Selwood and Hodge.

The thing that annoys me about Selwood is how much Geelong supporters fawn over him and turn a complete blind eye to the way he goes about getting free kicks, how he likes to snipe other players and complain all night to the umps with a constant frown on his face. Superb player, rubbish bloke.

[Gator 17,281]

The thing that annoys me about Selwood is how much Geelong supporters fawn over him and turn a complete blind eye to the way he goes about getting free kicks, how he likes to snipe other players and complain all night to the umps with a constant frown on his face. Superb player, rubbish bloke.

I fawn over him too. One of my favourite players and how I'd love him in red and blue.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

I fawn over him too. One of my favourite players and how I'd love him in red and blue.

Terrific. I think we all would. That wasn't the point of my post at all. I said he was a superb player, I just dislike how he goes about it.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,593]

Cant wait to see HL's 200th

[DeeSpencer 25,477]

Wouldn't mind something like this on the banner:

H Lumumba

200 great games

1 wise trade decision

or

H Lumumba - 200 games

Just like TV

You were great in black and white

But you'll be even better in colour

[Demonland 71,622]

THE WRITING ON THE WALL by The Oracle

Gary Ablett's shoulder popped out of its socket early in the third quarter of the Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood game in Round 16 last year and with it went his team's prospects of a finals appearance. The Suns finished 12th, just a game out of the top eight with ten wins and a percentage of 93.7.

Melbourne also struggled at the end of 2014 losing its last 10 games and finishing in 17th position on four wins, ahead only of St. Kilda on percentage.

Fast forward six months to the pre season competition of 2015 and even without Ablett and a handful of other regulars, the Suns managed 1½ wins as against Melbourne's solitary victory and a record that included a loss to a half-baked Essendon in its final NAB Challenge hit out. We don't take much notice of practice matches but has anything changed?

The Demons have recruited well with Heritier Lumumba (Collingwood), Jeff Garlett (Carlton), Sam Frost (GWS Giants) and Ben Newton (Port Adelaide) crossing from other AFL clubs inclusions for Saturday's season opener against the Suns along with the long-awaited debut of boom youngster Jesse Hogan, the inclusion of young draftee Angus Brayshaw and mature age Canberran rookie upgrade Aaron vandenBerg. The Suns have recruited Nick Malceski (Sydney) and Mitch Hallahan (Hawthorn) and have also introduced some fresh young faces but they will be relying mainly on their bevy of runners like Harley Bennell and Dion Prestia and, of course, Ablett himself to press home the advantage.

The key to this game remains the man who hasn't played a game since 5 July and has yet to take part in even a practice match this year. However, my rule of thumb is to always take note of those who frame the odds and once it became clear that Ablett was definitely in the mix to play this weekend, the Suns' firmed with the betting agencies.

According to the Official AFL Player Ratings, Ablett starts the season as the No. 1 ranked player on 723.4 player ratings points, nearly 30 points ahead of second placed Scott Pendlebury on 692.9. The leading Demon, skipper Nathan Jones, sits just outside the top 100 in 101th place with 405.5 points.

If there really was such a thing as a one man team, then the writing would be well and truly on the wall.

THE GAME

Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns at the MCG Saturday 4 April, 2015 at 1.40 pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 3 wins Gold Coast Suns 3 wins

At MCG Melbourne 2 wins Gold Coast Suns 2 wins

Past five years Melbourne 3 wins Gold Coast Suns 3 wins

The Coaches Roos 0 wins Eade 0 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy Channel - 1.30pm (live)

RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand

THE BETTING

Melbourne to win - $2.95 Gold Coast Suns to win - $1.40

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Gold Coast Suns 11.20.86 defeated Melbourne 11.12.78 Round 5, 2014 at the MCG

It was close on 12 months ago when the teams faced off at the MCG. It was a close game although the Suns took the lead in the second quarter despite their inaccuracy in front of goal and held on to it for the remainder of the game. A costly but questionable free given away to Gary Ablett Junior for interference in the last quarter gave the visitors the breathing room necessary to take away the points. Ablett had 32 touches and a goal while Nathan Jones was the Demons' star with 30 disposals and 5 tackles.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta

HB: Christian Salem, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe

C: Heritier Lumumba, Daniel Cross, Ben Newton

HF: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Jimmy Toumpas

F: Jeff Garlett, Sam Frost, Jack Watts

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson

I/C: Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Aaron vandenBerg

EMG: Max Gawn, Jack Grimes, Matt Jones

NEW: Angus Brayshaw, Sam Frost, Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Heritier Lumumba, Ben Newton, Aaron vandenBerg

GOLD COAST SUNS

B: Jarrod B: Harbrow, Rory Thompson, Kade Kolodjashnij

HB: Trent McKenzie, Steven May, Nick Malceski

C: Jack Martin, Dion Prestia, Alex Sexton

HF: Michael Rischitelli, Sam Day, Matt Shaw

F: Harley Bennell, Daniel Gorringe, Touk Miller

FOLL: Zac Smith, Gary Ablett, David Swallow

I/C: Mitch Hallahan, Jarrod Garlett, Adam Saad, Greg Broughton

EMG: Tom Nicholls, Brandon Matera, Seb Tape

NEW: Jarrod Garlett, Mitch Hallahan, Nick Malceski, Touk Miller, Adam Saad

OFF THE WALL

The reality is that it will be the best team that wins this game and for Melbourne, I suspect that we have seen in the selection of its team a pointer to the area of its likely improvement over its abysmal record of recent years.

One half of the selected 22 were yet to play an AFL game for the Demons when Paul Roos arrived at the club 18 months ago. Seven are making their debut with the club in Saturday's game while four others - Dom Tyson (GWS Giants), Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs) and draftees Christian Salem and Jay Kennedy-Harris came to the club last year.

The Demons worked hard at improving the defensive aspect of their game in 2014 and appear to be settled in this area of the ground. There was also an improvement in the midfield which has again been bolstered by the recruiters. Lumumba and Newton have been named on the wings and it will be interesting to see which of them takes his place as the first Demon to line up on the newly named Robbie Flower Wing. It's hard to believe that the Prince was just a toddler when Robbie last graced this ground with his magical presence: Newton wasn't even born.

We all know that Melbourne's 2015 nemesis was its attack where it averaged a little under an appalling 61 points per game, more than 50 points behind the premiers, Hawthorn. This is the area where team selection is indicating significant change. Hogan and Frost are the two new key position players, Garlett the pacy crumber with two partners in crime in Kent and Kennedy-Harris and more outsiders in Watts and Toumpas. The overall picture is an almost complete transition from the one-paced predictability of last year's forward line which was blamed for the team's penchant for slow sideways movement into attack. With these players up forward, there is less reason for the players further downfield not to show the enterprise necessary to take the game on when the opportunities present.

This is of course, placing great responsibility on the inexperienced shoulders of Frost and Hogan but these two have already shown glimpses of their physical attributes as athletes. Hogan makes his long-awaited debut, delayed by nearly a year because of injury interruptions but he has already shown that he has the strength, endurance and skills to make the wait worthwhile. Frost has pace to burn and I expect his combination with the three crumbing amigos will make for interesting viewing for Demon fans for a while to come. I'm excited!

What reinforces my view is the fact that there are a few who would once have been considered regulars who missed selection for various reasons. If it's true that the strength of a team is measured by its depth then this is indicative of a great leap forward and suggests we are about to witness a significant improvement in all round skills at Melbourne. I'm even more excited!

But what about the Suns? They're expected to give the finals a shake and, after all, they are the firm favourite to win but I'm going against the grain. They certainly have been gifted with a talented bunch of players but when their lynchpin is one whose shoulder hasn't been tested in the field of battle, it's a worry. He might be superhuman and he will probably touch the ball thirty times but if the Demons stick to the task and put the right amount of pressure on the man, they can nullify his influence and knock the favourites off the wall.

Melbourne by 10 points.

[What 18,810]

Hres my last stab at the team before its named tonight..

B - N.Jetta - L.Dunn - J.Grimes

HB - C.Salem - T,McDonald - C.Garland

C - H,Lumumba - D.Tyson - B.Newton

HF - JKH - J,Watts - B.Vince

F - J.Garlett - J.Hogan - S.Frost

R - M,Jamar - D.Cross - N.Jones

I/C - V.Michie - J.Viney - A.Vandenberg

Sub - D.Kent

Don't think both Howe and Vince will play, and Howe hasn't had a run anywhere yet. Ive said all summer Viv Michie will play Round 1, cant back out now and he was apparently in good form last week too.

Wouldn't shock me to see Brayshaw debut. Think Toump might be s chance to play too..

Edited April 1, 2015 by hogans_heroes

[timD 994]

couldn't agree more. I am already looking to Saturday arvo with dread, as I know the likely outcome is another poor showing and comfortable defeat

That's exactly what I think. Another season with a midfield that cannot compete and a gameplan that looks useless because of the midfield that cannot compete.

The MFC's total and utter inability to find and develop midfielders + a 'midfield team' is becoming a sickening joke. We have a whole lot of blokes who are just not good enough. They may be trying their guts out but they get regularly beaten by their opponents and I see nothing changing this year.

I dread every game we play. Not losing by 10 goals will be a relief.

[What 18,810]

The MFC's total and utter inability to find and develop midfielders + a 'midfield team' is becoming a sickening joke. We have a whole lot of blokes who are just not good enough.

Relax mate, Roos is building a midfield and it already looks ten times better than it did 2 years ago.

Lets not forget he started with one great midfielder in Nathan Jones and literally nothing else to work with.

[watchtheeyes 1,417]

That's exactly what I think. Another season with a midfield that cannot compete and a gameplan that looks useless because of the midfield that cannot compete.

The MFC's total and utter inability to find and develop midfielders + a 'midfield team' is becoming a sickening joke. We have a whole lot of blokes who are just not good enough. They may be trying their guts out but they get regularly beaten by their opponents and I see nothing changing this year.

I dread every game we play. Not losing by 10 goals will be a relief.

Honestly mate, why watch then. I'm sick of this 'I watch every game we play with dread' drivel.

While I might leave disappointed, I enter each game with hope. Why? Because I'm a SUPPORTER.

Seriously.

...

Commence vitriol.

[the pearl 36]

Wonder how many frees the umps will gift Gary in his return game? I'm guessing at least 3,with 2 converted into goals.

Ablett's free kick stats were about the same as Nathan Jones last year - which were not much less than Joel Selwood.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

That's exactly what I think. Another season with a midfield that cannot compete and a gameplan that looks useless because of the midfield that cannot compete.

The MFC's total and utter inability to find and develop midfielders + a 'midfield team' is becoming a sickening joke. We have a whole lot of blokes who are just not good enough. They may be trying their guts out but they get regularly beaten by their opponents and I see nothing changing this year.

I dread every game we play. Not losing by 10 goals will be a relief.

I hear the worry and share it but in my opinion the source of the worry comes from somewhere else.

I believe, (like others) that our midfield is actually competitive these days. It's clear we've added both depth and talent to it and key stats suggest we've improved hugely in that area of the ground.

Our midfield has and is improving.

It's our skill level, decision making and confidence of a handful of the same blokes that still let us down and did last year.

Our inability to move the ball forward effectively from our backhalf into our forwardline is now our biggest weakness. Spotting up those short 20 metre targets and honouring those leads. It's something we've seen a bit more of through the NAB series but last year there were certain players in our backhalf that wouldn't even try and hit them for fear of making mistakes. Confidence and skill level both play a part.

It's one area we need to address at the end of this season without doubt. There's a reason Salem has been moved back there.

I reckon we'll match it with Gold Coast's midfield in terms of getting our hands on the ball first. But it will be how efficient we are going forward from there as well as from our backhalf that will tell the tale on the day. And of course any lapse in competitiveness from the team.

Edited April 1, 2015 by stevethemanjordan

[timD 994]

Honestly mate, why watch then. I'm sick of this 'I watch every game we play with dread' drivel.

While I might leave disappointed, I enter each game with hope. Why? Because I'm a SUPPORTER.

Seriously.

...

Commence vitriol.

I don't know why you watch every game with hope. We've been awful for years and very little has changed despite lots appearing to happen. I still go - I convince my kids to go - but I expect us to be bad. I want us to be good, but know it is terribly unlikely. And I've grown accustomed to shocking performances.

When I go, I support the team. I make a point of trying not to criticise players, of applauding just about anything that is good. I support the team. You should spend a few minutes considering how much better a supporter I am than you. I hold fast while acknowledging reality; you hold fast while ignoring it.

There's your vitriol, as ordered.

Mate.

[3Dee 1,153]

I want Ablett to play & to beat them at strength. Wish we had a harder draw too..

here we go!