Reckon we have seen close to our starting 22

B: Jetta, McDonald, Garland

HB: Salem, Dunn, Grimes

C: Lumumba, Tyson, Newton

HF: Kennedy-Harris, [Pedersen], Watts

F: Garlett, Hogan, Frost

R: Jamar, N Jones, Cross

I: Vince, vandenBerg, Viney SUB: Kent

Emerg: Howe, Toumpas, M Jones

Think only one of Howe and Vince play. They won't risk both players. So I go with the experience and class of Vince. Howe will play one more week then come in.

Kent gets a game as the sub. If he had've played one of the last 2 NAB games he is starting.

Frost plays as the second ruck and gets subbed off. I don't think the forward experiment will last too long.

[Pedersen] plays for Dawes in Rd 1. We will miss him, he is in good form and has had a big PS

Bail makes way for JKH, who will come straight back in.

I think M Jones will play, but have Vince as the player who takes his spot. We need Viney more as we need the midfield rotations, plus he has been used as a tagger in PS.

Toumpas needs confidence in the twos. It won't hurt him.

Brayshaw is a massive chance to play rd 1 too. Think they will give him another week or 2 though.

looks an OK team. although:

- 2 guys playing their first ever AFL game

- 6 guys with less than 20 AFL games

cant expect much from those.

hopefully the senior guys can stand up and lead the way

I'd like to see it line up as this;

B: Dunn, McDonald, Grimes
HB: Jetta, Frost, Salem
C: Lumumba, Vince, Tyson
HF: Watts, Hogan, Cross
F: Garlett, Pederson, Kent
FOL: Jamar, Jones, Viney

IC: VandenBerg, Newton, Howe

SUB: Bail

EM: M.Jones, Toumpas, Garland

I'd actually prefer M.Jones in the team over Bail, but Bail has better run which will be need for the sub.

looks an OK team. although:

- 2 guys playing their first ever AFL game

- 6 guys with less than 20 AFL games

cant expect much from those.

hopefully the senior guys can stand up and lead the way

and therein lies the rub

and therein lies the rub

Indeed. The scary part is when you review that 22 for seasoned, talented, senior players (ie. leaders) that have been with the Dees for a few years that the young guys can follow. you are left with Jones and Dunn

That is why Cross and Lumumba are important. and why our youngsters dont come on at half the rate of other clubs, and why we are so so bad

People are going to get a rude awakening in round 1.

Gold Coast 40+ at 4$ looks value.

So, Vandenberg has not been upgraded. I follow Patrick Keane on Twitter and her tweeted something about a deadline being today. If he isn't upgraded today does that mean no round 1?

Round 1 is an absolute must-win for both teams for different reasons.

GC need to be able to win on the MCG consistently. They've beaten us the last two times and will want to kick off what should be a finals campaign with a win.

Melbourne need the win because:

1. It hasn't won in Round 1 in a decade

2. It needs members and bad starts in previous years have severely hurt marketing efforts

3. Its suffering supporters need hope

4. The game's followed by two tough interstate matches

5. The team hasn't won in front of its faithful (home team fans) since 2013: we didn't win a home match last season, and our three wins at the the MCG were in front of small fan contingencies.

I think a round 1 loss for Melbourne would be rather disastrous. It's a must-win imo.

Prediction: Gold Coast by 28

Edited March 24, 201510 yr by praha

So, Vandenberg has not been upgraded. I follow Patrick Keane on Twitter and her tweeted something about a deadline being today. If he isn't upgraded today does that mean no round 1?

I dimly recall last year someone was upgraded about a day or so before the teams were selected.

Ablett keen to play against us:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-24/gold-coast-suns-captain-gary-ablett-skips-afl-captain27s-day-t/6344502

Ablett keen to play against us:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-24/gold-coast-suns-captain-gary-ablett-skips-afl-captain27s-day-t/6344502

Who wouldn't be!

He doesn't want to give up the opportunity to get a lazy 40 possis in his first match back after injury.

Ease himself back into the game and who better to do it against than us!

Edited March 24, 201510 yr by DemonOX

Ablett in for round 1- Mark Stevens reporting.

^{Ablett could play on crouches against us and still be best on ground.}

^{Ablett could play on crouches against us and still be best on ground.}

Crouches Tiger, Hidden Dragon?

So, Vandenberg has not been upgraded. I follow Patrick Keane on Twitter and her tweeted something about a deadline being today. If he isn't upgraded today does that mean no round 1?

It was nominated rookies today. Rookie listed players can be upgraded at any time for long term injuries. I'm pretty sure Aaron will be upgraded next and play on Saturday.

How has everyone rated Toumpas's pre-season? At training it sounds like he's been one of the big movers and shakers, but on game day there wasn't a whole lot that was brilliant from him. Will he be there round one or will he be given a game in the VFL to get some confidence?

Sounds as though Howe and Vince a really pushing to be available for GC, would be massive to have them both but especially Bernard.

Edited March 25, 201510 yr by Pates

Season preview from Ben Guthrie: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-03-25/season-preview-melbourne?utm_medium=RSS

Reckon his team is just about bang on at this stage.

Best 22
B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
HB: Jack Grimes, Lynden Dunn, Christian Salem
C: Bernie Vince, Nathan Jones, Heritier Lumumba
HF: Jack Watts, Chris Dawes, Jay Kennedy-Harris
F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Sam Frost
Foll: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney
I/C: Ben Newton, Daniel Cross, Colin Garland
Sub: Dean Kent

A Gold Coast side for comparison would be handy

A Gold Coast side for comparison would be handy

Off their bigfooty page:

FB: Saad Thompson Broughton

HB: Mckenzie May Malceski

C: Kolodjasnij Swallow Harbrow

HF: Bennell Gorringe Martin

FF: Matera Day Miller

R: Smith Ablett Prestia

I: Shaw Nicholls Hallahan

S: Sexton

E: Rischitelli Russell Tape

Edited March 25, 201510 yr by The Stigga

Rischittelli will play.

Rischittelli will play.

I think he's probably the least of our worries looking at that line-up.

Yeah, he is a decent player and won't be an emergency.

Ablett keen to play against us:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-24/gold-coast-suns-captain-gary-ablett-skips-afl-captain27s-day-t/6344502

Ablett keen to play against us:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-24/gold-coast-suns-captain-gary-ablett-skips-afl-captain27s-day-t/6344502

Id love to see one of our bigmen wrap him up him up in a good tackle or bump him hard!

Yeah, he is a decent player and won't be an emergency.

He is obviously the whipping boy, like a Grimes, who is left out of mock sides by supporters even though it's clear they will be picked when the real stuff begins.

Off their bigfooty page:

FB: Saad Thompson Broughton

HB: Mckenzie May Malceski

C: Kolodjasnij Swallow Harbrow

HF: Bennell Gorringe Martin

FF: Matera Day Miller

R: Smith Ablett Prestia

I: Shaw Nicholls Hallahan

S: Sexton

E: Rischitelli Russell Tape

Jesus Christ, another round 1 loss. ?

What's so urinate-yourself-scary about that side? Greg Broughton, Jarrod Harbrow - oooooooooo.

It's a solid side, but really. That looks like a middle of the road side to me.