THE ROAD TO ROUND 1, 2015

[DubDee 25,917]

Compared to the lineups from the nab challenge there are a lot less talls listed. I like it, however we may be stretched in the ruck with only Jamar & Frost. It will test Jamar taking the bulk of the ruck duties & so far Frost has been limited in the ruck. Perhaps Gawn will come in for Howe as another poster previously mentioned.

GC are not going in very tall so this might be the reason. No need for a 2nd ruck to drop back to mark their big fwds

[Bonkers 994]

It's a good point Bonkers. I think Roos and the FD trialled having the extra talls in the side and quickly realised that it didn't work as well, and therefore we have gone a little smaller. Our forward line does have some potency to it however, and I love the idea of having Garlett, Kent and JKH roaming around down there at the feet of Hogan, Frost and Watts.

The quality sides like hawthorn only have two genuine Talls in their forward line. Having 3 can leave a team short of run & forward pressure. Hopefully Watts can play in a Gunston type role leaving the other small forwards to push up the ground & provide support to players moving out of the backline. As you said they probably trialled the tall set up vs small, if the game against Freo is anything to go by the small set up worked. Hopefully that is a sign of things to come on Saturday & they can display a similar performance for a full 4 qtrs.

[old dee 23,801]

The non-selection of Grimes, Bail, M.Jones and McKenzie goes to show that 90% of Demonland posters are astute judges of talent.

Amen to that mo64.

for a few years now I have been saying when these guys cannot get a game we will know we have improved.

Now win on Saturday and prove me right.

[DemonOX 8,791]

& they can display a similar performance for a full 4 qtrs.

This will be our biggest test all season.

The first game will give us a good indication.

This is something I'm not confident we can do either. Hope I'm wrong.

[Bonkers 994]

GC are not going in very tall so this might be the reason. No need for a 2nd ruck to drop back to mark their big fwds

Although they have listed Gorringe & Smith in their team so they have two specialist rucks named vs our 1 & part timer.

[DubDee 25,917]

Not bad emergencies for GC! Matera out of favour I wonder? Good mid and defence but with a few kids in there I reckon we can win

Cue the over the top expectations building!!!

OLD COAST

B Jarrod 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

Fol Zac Smith, Gary Ablett, David Swallow

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

Emg Tom Nicholls, Brandon Matera, Seb Tape

New Nick Malceski, Touk Miller, Mitch Hallahan, Jarrod Garlett, Adam Saad

[Gorgoroth 12,972]

I reckon Grimes will come in for Howe on the day.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Surely Saty would be pulling his hair out with some of the outs for this weekend...

McKenzie, Grimes, Bail, Matt Jones.

Training form means 'whaaaaaaaaaat'?

[old dee 23,801]

Surely Saty would be pulling his hair out with some of the outs for this weekend...

McKenzie, Grimes, Bail, Matt Jones.

Training form means 'whaaaaaaaaaat'?

They are proven low performers come game day steve

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

They are proven low performers come game day steve

Yes yes, I'm just prodding.

I think it's the strongest round 1 Melbourne side I've seen in a while.

Very good looking sheet of paper.

[old dee 23,801]

Yes yes, I'm just prodding.

I think it's the strongest round 1 Melbourne side I've seen in a while.

Very good looking sheet of paper.

That is yet to be proven but if you compare it to the last game of 2014 I think there are eleven different names.

Edited April 2, 2015 by old dee

[What 18,810]

Jesse Hogan media conference

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2015-04-02/media-conference-jesse-hogan

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

Didn't last long, though.

87 - Great year

88 was good for forgettable for obvious reasons

89 - Solid year

90 - Solid year

91 - Solid year

It was good, not great. I think we hold the Northy years highly because he put us into the finals for the first time in 23 years. But really that weren't all that remarkable.

It's all relative. Since then we've had few really good years, 94, 98, 2000 and 2004.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,084]

The non-selection of Grimes, Bail, M.Jones and McKenzie goes to show that 90% of Demonland posters are astute judges of talent.

But which 90% is an interesting question ...

[G-max 154]

I reckon Grimes will come in for Howe on the day.

Could have a similar effect to "dropping" Shane Watson.

I like the team. Garland is still a player who I wince every time he gets the ball. Had a good 2013 but didn't get going last year. Two very important games up front vs GC and GWS. Have to win one of the two, it gets rockier after that.

[Buzzy 992]

Huge calls.

Great looking team.

I'm iffy re Toumpas, at this stage he still has a lot of weaknesses and adds little to our largely inexperienced forward line, so I'd still put Bail just in front of him - but I hope he proves me wrong.

20 mostly efficient possessions will be enough to win me over!

If we kick straight we can do this.

Can't wait to smash down a pie & sauce at the 'G.

[Guest]

Road to round 1 you say?
https://youtu.be/AWtCittJyr0
This video is being preserved here for a later date (most likely after round 1 if we lose). It will come in handy for the sure round of wrist slashing and doomsaying that will come about in the wake of said defeat.
Joking aside, not a bad line up. Not much continuity from last year which might be worth considering but perhaps that is a good thing.

[McQueen 17,865]

Quite simply that is the best team we've had on paper for freaking years. Whilst it's not really surprising, having really fit and available numbers come H&A time certainly makes a huge difference.

I look at that team and think that there's a full team of blokes ready and capable of putting it all out there.

I'm tipping the upset of the round.

Carn Demons!

[CBDees 3,167]

It will be interesting to see if Frost remains in the forward structure when Dawes returns for Round 2? What are the views of Demonlanders? My personal one is that he would be invauable in the back structure with his speed and height [until O. McDonald is ready to come into the side]. Just a shame that he presents as a better option for the forward line than the alternatives of Pedo, Fitzy or Gawn.

[bing181 9,246]

This year it was harder to get a line on us from the NAB games, that is if the Essendon game was an anomaly.

Perhaps, but one of the issues with the Essendon game, especially in the last quarter, is that we didn't have (enough) leaders to take it upon themselves stand up, stem the tide and turn the game around. Grimes was/is one of those.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

It will be interesting to see if Frost remains in the forward structure when Dawes returns for Round 2? What are the views of Demonlanders? My personal one is that he would be invauable in the back structure with his speed and height [until O. McDonald is ready to come into the side]. Just a shame that he presents as a better option for the forward line than the alternatives of Pedo, Fitzy or Gawn.

I think it's a mistake not playing Fost in defence as his run is needed back there, and I think if Dawes was in he'd probably be back there

[Gorgoroth 12,972]

I just realised since I moved I have no idea where my membership is...

[Guest]

I just realised since I moved I have no idea where my membership is...

Did you check your microwave?

[leucopogon 1,519]

Interesting that with almost everyone fit that is who the selectors think are the best/in form 22.

When fit/available, Dawes and Vince both come in. But who for? I'd say Frost for Dawes, and one of Toumpas/vanDemon/Brayshaw for Vince, depending on form.

If Dawes does come in for Frost, who does the back up ruck role? If both play, with Hogan, I fear week be a touch too tall up forward, we have worked better with a shorter forward line.

I feel we are a touch short in the forward line though given we don't have a true back up ruck. Frost will do it, and I suspect Howe will swing forward at times to add an extra dimension.

Interesting.

Dawes for Garland and Frost to the backline for R2 would be my changes.

[chook fowler 19,459]

Love the side picked. Plenty of fresh new faces - it really represents a point of difference from the last few years.

Plenty to be excited about.