2016:

Garland Dunn Jetta

Vince McDonald Lamumba

Watts Viney Brayshaw

Petracca Hogan Kent

Garlett Dawes JKH

Gawn Tyson Jones

I/C Salem Toump Frost Trengove

Emergency and not too far away Hunt

ANB Stretch

Howe is missing as I think he'll sorf

Edited November 29, 201410 yr by Roger Mellie

^^ no Grimes?

^^ no Grimes?

No Dangerfield either...

^^ no Grimes?

He'll be there for 2015 but his wayward kicking would need to be sorted beyond that.

Maybe he and Garland can scrap for the last spot, but I fully expect Garland to play like we know he can in 2015+

2016:

Garland Dunn Jetta

Vince McDonald Lamumba

Watts Viney Brayshaw

Petracca Hogan Kent

Garlett Dawes JKH

Gawn Tyson Jones

I/C Salem Toump Frost Trengove

Emergency and not too far away Hunt

ANB Stretch

Howe is missing as I think he'll sorf

Kids before Cross?

Through rose coloured glasses as usual

Kids before Cross?

Not in 2015

We have made that giant mistake recently

That is what led to 2012 -3

Edited November 30, 201410 yr by old dee

Cross will play most of the year I reckon

Kids before Cross?

My team was 2016 not 2015.

I'd expect Cross to have a big roll in 2015 again.

My team was 2016 not 2015.

I'd expect Cross to have a big roll in 2015 again.

Rog, the mistake you made was to put 2016 at the start & expect people to read it before going off half cocked

Don't do it again

Hi Graeme. I'm too biased to call it on Trenners. Very keen on him and I believe if fit he'll reclaim his spot - but then, I always thought he should have been drafted ahead of Voldemort, just a terrific natural footballer. I know nothing about the risk of a recurrence, just a matter of waiting and hoping.

Yes , I agree. Trenners at his best, with maturity, is an a-grader. And an inside mid, who can mark and kick - now there's a change! If he can get back to full fitness (admittedly a big if), he will be in the half dozen first picked. He is a potential match winner and born leader. You don't throw those people out.

I suspect a trade was contemplated this year due to his on going injury concerns. By staying on the list, we have 12 months to get that right. It may yet pay off in spades. I for one would be delighted, not only because we would get back a class player, but greatly strengthen the leadership on our list, and also reward loyalty, when others showed so little of it, and you all know who I am talking about!

B: Garland frost dunn

Hb: jetta McDonald lamumba

C: Vince. Tyson. Kent

Hf: cross Hogan watts

F: Howe. Dawes garlett

R: jamar Jones viney

I/c: gawn grimes bail

Sub: petracca

Toumpas, salem, brayshaw and co to fight their way in

I don't get why these teams exclude Brayshaw (all the pundits say he is ready to go and dominate) and Salem (who at last is fully fit. We forget what a wonderful player he was when he was fit). I would leave out cross and Kent for those two. They are both back ups IMHO. And I would play Toumpas (a class act when fit) for Bail (another backup).

I don't get why these teams exclude Brayshaw (all the pundits say he is ready to go and dominate) and Salem (who at last is fully fit. We forget what a wonderful player he was when he was fit). I would leave out cross and Kent for those two. They are both back ups IMHO. And I would play Toumpas (a class act when fit) for Bail (another backup).

Your team would have too many kids. Kent should be showing what he is capable of on a consistent basis and Cross and Bail had the trust of Roos last year and played their roles.

Brayshaw and Salem won't be able to fulfil the roles of Cross and Bail so quickly.

Why can't these kids earn their game? You know, like a real club...

No one win be a walk up starter from the kindergarten any more. If they earn the right to play, then thats great but I think Roos is against all the hype of expectation and would rather ease players into their roles.

we'll just have to wait and see who is actually ready to play. Im more than fine by that.I can certainly see some youngens getting a little NAB time, just to see how they fair at this level but then it might well be now go back and work on this and that of your game etc

Edited November 30, 201410 yr by beelzebub

The thing that i expect to happen again this year is to get 10-13 games into a multiple fringe/young/developing players. Players like Mckenzie, Michie, Riley and even Brayshaw, Petracca and Salem, may not exactly start in the team but will spend time playing throughout the year. This will be able to help the team develop but also give us more of an idea about the fringe players.

The thing I am most interested to see is how we are able to use these younger players and the different roles that they will be given, no doubt we will see them spend some time through the midfield but Petracca more so than Brayshaw can play as a Half Forward. Whilst Brayshaw could still find the goals, he is much more a midfielder that pushed through with workrate but i cant see Roosy wanting to give him too many games as an out and out mid. (think Salem who spent alot more time in the forward line)

The list is having a much more balanced look and the potential quality is now in place. Development of these players is imperative and the coaching staff around the club look like we are in our best position to do this. Arguably our biggest signing over the last few months is Brendan McCartney and he is going to play a massive role in the development of this young list no doubt.

Your team would have too many kids. Kent should be showing what he is capable of on a consistent basis and Cross and Bail had the trust of Roos last year and played their roles.

Brayshaw and Salem won't be able to fulfil the roles of Cross and Bail so quickly.

Why can't these kids earn their game? You know, like a real club...

I interpreted this thread to be talking about the team in 2015 ie the best team in 2015, not the best team for round one ( there have been several treads for that).

I believe our star kids will be in the best team: Cross will be about to retire, Bail will be in the 2s (he is not in the same class as either Brayshaw or a fit Toumpas), and I believe Salem is a class above Kent.

Otherwise, why do we improve our list every year? By the second half of the year, all these kids will be flying. I have never said they should play round one, although I think Brayshaw might be a strong possibility to do so.

Yes , I agree. Trenners at his best, with maturity, is an a-grader. And an inside mid, who can mark and kick - now there's a change! If he can get back to full fitness (admittedly a big if), he will be in the half dozen first picked. He is a potential match winner and born leader. You don't throw those people out.

I suspect a trade was contemplated this year due to his on going injury concerns. By staying on the list, we have 12 months to get that right. It may yet pay off in spades. I for one would be delighted, not only because we would get back a class player, but greatly strengthen the leadership on our list, and also reward loyalty, when others showed so little of it, and you all know who I am talking about!

A lot of players who get put up for trade bait unsuccessfully seem to leave their teams the next season. There are very few exceptions. Jude Bolton was one. So I wonder if he does get fully fit by the end of next season whether he will seek a trade himself. Personally I hope he fully recovers from his foot injury and reaches his full potential with us in 2016. At his best and with his speed back he should be close to as good as any on our list.

I have a leading physio who said in a conversation unrelated to AFL that most foot injuries that require surgery don't end well. The blood supply to the bones of the feet is very limited and so once there is an injury it is very difficult to have a long term recovery. Obviously there have been quite a few footballers who have successfully recovered such as Richo with the same injury as Clark but others have never recovered. Fingers crossed Trenners is one of the lucky ones but it isn't looking like that at this stage.

Your team would have too many kids. Kent should be showing what he is capable of on a consistent basis and Cross and Bail had the trust of Roos last year and played their roles.

The round 13 win against Essendon this year was on Fox Footy last night. Kent did a couple of amazing things in that game. A freakish snap across the body from 40 out and that incredible run from the wing inside 50 burning off Carlisle to kick a crucial goal.

One of the things I love most about watching sport is the psychology of players and teams. In Kent's case I would suggest the only thing holding him back now is his belief in himself that he can compete at the highest level. He has everything, good solid body, can hold his feet in a contest, good contested mark, excellent speed and elite kick. Build the tank a bit more and he could be anything and 2015 is the time to deliver.

A lot of players who get put up for trade bait unsuccessfully seem to leave their teams the next season. There are very few exceptions. Jude Bolton was one. So I wonder if he does get fully fit by the end of next season whether he will seek a trade himself. Personally I hope he fully recovers from his foot injury and reaches his full potential with us in 2016. At his best and with his speed back he should be close to as good as any on our list.

I have a leading physio who said in a conversation unrelated to AFL that most foot injuries that require surgery don't end well. The blood supply to the bones of the feet is very limited and so once there is an injury it is very difficult to have a long term recovery. Obviously there have been quite a few footballers who have successfully recovered such as Richo with the same injury as Clark but others have never recovered. Fingers crossed Trenners is one of the lucky ones but it isn't looking like that at this stage.

Hope your physio's comment doesn't apply to Neal-Bullens' navacular injury and he is also one of the lucky ones. Personally I'm confident the club did its due diligence and it won't be a problem.

I think this is how we'll be looking. But the interchange / emergency spots you could raffle.

I think a lot of the teams named are too top heavy down back, and too small up forward. We name 4 key defenders in our backline, but only 2 key forwards? There's no need to play T. McDonald, Dunn, Garland, and Frost all in the same team. I think we'll see Frost come in and out depending on the opposition forwards.

The third tall forward / ruck role should be Pedersen's again, as it's only really him and Fitzy who are really suited to it.

And, I think Grimey is in a bit of trouble. He'll need to find some form, or maybe re-invent himself (tagger through the middle?) to hold his spot, if everyone is fit and firing.

B: Jetta, T. McDonald, Garland

HB: Lamumba, Dunn, Howe

C: Vince, Viney, Watts

HF: Garlett, Dawes, Kent

F: Kennedy-Harris, Hogan, Pedersen

R: Jamar, Tyson, N. Jones

I: Cross, Newton, Petracca, Brayshaw

E: Bail, Frost, Grimes, Toumpas, Salem, Riley, Gawn, Michie

Jimmy is here to stay! Paul Roos:

"I think Jimmy can be a quality AFL player and I said that to him in his post-season interview,"

"He (Toumpas) needs to stop worrying about what pick three or pick six is doing, and it can be hard not to do that. But he has got serious talent to be an AFL player."

From MFC website: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-12-01/toumpas-will-be-a-quality-player-roos

Go Jimmy! Show the doubters wrong!

I wont begrudge anyone having both Petraccxa and Brayshaw in their round 1 team as it is very realistic

They are as ready made as any draftee from any season

Edited December 1, 201410 yr by hogans_heroes

Jimmy is here to stay! Paul Roos:

"I think Jimmy can be a quality AFL player and I said that to him in his post-season interview,"

"He (Toumpas) needs to stop worrying about what pick three or pick six is doing, and it can be hard not to do that. But he has got serious talent to be an AFL player."

From MFC website: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-12-01/toumpas-will-be-a-quality-player-roos

Go Jimmy! Show the doubters wrong!

Talk is cheap

Lets see how he performs next season.

Jimmy is here to stay! Paul Roos:

"I think Jimmy can be a quality AFL player and I said that to him in his post-season interview,"

"He (Toumpas) needs to stop worrying about what pick three or pick six is doing, and it can be hard not to do that. But he has got serious talent to be an AFL player."

From MFC website: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-12-01/toumpas-will-be-a-quality-player-roos

Go Jimmy! Show the doubters wrong!

Ive never written him off, though many have

He will be a player, and a damn good one at that

Talk is cheap

Lets see how he performs next season.

Dear OD, as you said in another post our thoughts are very much aligned on where the team is at...we are both realists! But I have some hope here and there. Could we have a positive word or two from you...about anyone...please...