Talking point: The first half of the season to come

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

Have you looked at who we play in the first half ?

I think your expectations are a little high.

First 4 rounds

GC, GWS (away), Adelaide (away), Richmond

Nothing there scares me, we should be aiming at 4-0. Not saying we will of course but there's no reason to think we should be extreme underdogs in any of those games. Anything less than 3-1 will be disappointing.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

By the way just looking at the fixture why the [censored] do we play in Darwin AFTER the bye and why the [censored] do we play in NT both before the Collingwood and Essendon games? It's [censored].

[old dee 23,801]

By the way just looking at the fixture why the [censored] do we play in Darwin AFTER the bye and why the [censored] do we play in NT both before the Collingwood and Essendon games? It's [censored].

WCE and Freo play away every second week and do every year.

Good sides win anywhere and poor ones lose anywhere.

Can we please get over this hard done by issue with the draw every year.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,400]

As we hopefully become better we can stop selling our home games.

[BrisbaneDemon 1,572]

WCE and Freo play away every second week and do every year.

Good sides win anywhere and poor ones lose anywhere.

Can we please get over this hard done by issue with the draw every year.

Agree 110% OD, the poor old Melbourne mentality has to stop. We cannot be taken seriously while that happens....

[rpfc 28,547]

First 4 rounds

GC, GWS (away), Adelaide (away), Richmond

Nothing there scares me, we should be aiming at 4-0. Not saying we will of course but there's no reason to think we should be extreme underdogs in any of those games. Anything less than 3-1 will be disappointing.

GC are ahead of us, although they may be without their best player.

GWS in Canberra is not the fait accompli that some (for some reason) think it should be.

Adelaide away - this will be a line in the sand game for the Crows - they have already mentioned this off-season that the loss to us was the derailment of the season.

Richmond is still a feather in the wind, but we dream of being a feather in the wind - they are ahead of us.

We could smash an Ablett-less GC, come up to Canberra and grind out a win against GWS, we can go to Adelaide and gauge the disinterest of Danger Mouse playing his last year in SA, and allow Richmond to think they have won before they have and then beat them.

We could be 3-1 but we could also be 0-4. We could be 1-3 and be playing good footy.

[old dee 23,801]

GC are ahead of us, although they may be without their best player.

GWS in Canberra is not the fait accompli that some (for some reason) think it should be.

Adelaide away - this will be a line in the sand game for the Crows - they have already mentioned this off-season that the loss to us was the derailment of the season.

Richmond is still a feather in the wind, but we dream of being a feather in the wind - they are ahead of us.

We could smash an Ablett-less GC, come up to Canberra and grind out a win against GWS, we can go to Adelaide and gauge the disinterest of Danger Mouse playing his last year in SA, and allow Richmond to think they have won before they have and then beat them.

We could be 3-1 but we could also be 0-4. We could be 1-3 and be playing good footy.

Thank God someone has a realistic idea on the teams we play.

Has everyone forgotten we finished equal last in 2014.

Yes we have added a couple of players with senior experience and another bunch of kids.

I am confident we will improve on last year but why does everyone seem to think all the other sides will stay still.

2 -2 would have me very happy.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,400]

Is Ablett suspended round 1 or is it the whole injury thing?

[old dee 23,801]

Is Ablett suspended round 1 or is it the whole injury thing?

Injury to Shoulder that saw him miss the last half of 2014.

Latest in the HUN today says they expect him to play practise matches.

he will be playing the first game.

[Ouch! 2,266]

Is Ablett suspended round 1 or is it the whole injury thing?

given he was injured for the last 8 weeks or so of the season I'd say the latter....

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

WCE and Freo play away every second week and do every year.

Good sides win anywhere and poor ones lose anywhere.

Can we please get over this hard done by issue with the draw every year.

I agree however playing in Darwin is a different kettle of fish to playing at Docklands.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

Agree 110% OD, the poor old Melbourne mentality has to stop. We cannot be taken seriously while that happens....

Give me a break - the big clubs whinge about every second thing yet we don't say they are hampered by their mentality.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

GC are ahead of us, although they may be without their best player.

GWS in Canberra is not the fait accompli that some (for some reason) think it should be.

Adelaide away - this will be a line in the sand game for the Crows - they have already mentioned this off-season that the loss to us was the derailment of the season.

Richmond is still a feather in the wind, but we dream of being a feather in the wind - they are ahead of us.

We could smash an Ablett-less GC, come up to Canberra and grind out a win against GWS, we can go to Adelaide and gauge the disinterest of Danger Mouse playing his last year in SA, and allow Richmond to think they have won before they have and then beat them.

We could be 3-1 but we could also be 0-4. We could be 1-3 and be playing good footy.

I agree but the point is they are all little more (or less) than 50/50 games.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,400]

given he was injured for the last 8 weeks or so of the season I'd say the latter....

Fully aware he was injured and missed 8 weeks and a Charlie I just thought the whole reason for the early surgery was to be right for round 1. Has there been a setback, how many games is he expected to miss?

Need to know for SuperCoach.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

I agree but the point is they are all little more (or less) than 50/50 games.

Agree.

All are winnable.

It's mentality as much as anything else. Especially for us.

If we win the first two, we'll be riding high and brimming with confidence in heading to Adelaide.

The MFC have the worst record of recent starts to the H&A season and the players who have been around for a long time on our list know it. Confidence plays a huge role for those particular players.

We have a better list than we did last year with the additions Lamumba, Hogan (regardless of what people say) and Garlett. We have have greater depth and talent running through the midfield with upgrades to our midfield like Tyson, Vince, Michie, Newton and Cross. Two years ago we had Sylvia, Rodan, Magner, McKenzie, Nicholson etc in our starting 22.

Sure other teams are improving but we are without a doubt bridging the gap quickly thanks to list management and coaching.

None of those games will be blowouts and we are in with a big chance in each of those four games.

[chookrat 4,257]

Have you looked at who we play in the first half ?

I think your expectations are a little high.

OD, I don't expect us to be 5-5 but rather take a view that for us to take the next step as a club we must enter and ride out the season with a view to win and play finals each and every year. Anything less we are simply developing our list and practicing and refining our game plan until the next season comes around.

[old dee 23,801]

OD, I don't expect us to be 5-5 but rather take a view that for us to take the next step as a club we must enter and ride out the season with a view to win and play finals each and every year. Anything less we are simply developing our list and practicing and refining our game plan until the next season comes around.

I don't disagree with your principle I just think we are still in the developing the list stage.

[BrisbaneDemon 1,572]

Give me a break - the big clubs whinge about every second thing yet we don't say they are hampered by their mentality.

The big clubs pick their battles though, they whine mostly about draws and how they can make maximum profit, we're where we are because of our mentality most bottom clubs are. If we start winning games most of our issues go away.

[old dee 23,801]

The big clubs pick their battles though, they whine mostly about draws and how they can make maximum profit, we're where we are because of our mentality most bottom clubs are. If we start winning games most of our issues go away.

I also never hear the MFC management or FD complain only our supporters.

[Moonshadow 17,676]

Malceski and Mitch Hallahan will be excellent additions to GC in 2015. And GAJ comes back in. They've lost no players of real worth at the end of last season and are on the rise. IMO Rocket will also make a big difference.

Too many people here think round 1 is in the bag, far from it.

[old dee 23,801]

Malceski and Mitch Hallahan will be excellent additions to GC in 2015. And GAJ comes back in. They've lost no players of real worth at the end of last season and are on the rise. IMO Rocket will also make a big difference.

Too many people here think round 1 is in the bag, far from it.

We will go into this game the under dog by a considerable margin.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

I also never hear the MFC management or FD complain only our supporters.

Amen to that OD, gee the doom and gloom.

I think we have a chance in the first four games, it is a new season, nobody has any idea about how teams are going to fare, including Paul Roos, he keeps saying so

[jackaub 1,402]

Cant get odds on the DEEs losing the first game so it will probably happen as per usual

We havn't come to play for so long I keep forgetting what its like to optimistic at the beginning of the season

We must win the first game!!!!

[old dee 23,801]

Cant get odds on the DEEs losing the first game so it will probably happen as per usual

We havn't come to play for so long I keep forgetting what its like to optimistic at the beginning of the season

We must win the first game!!!!

You are far being on your own jackaub

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Malceski and Mitch Hallahan will be excellent additions to GC in 2015. And GAJ comes back in. They've lost no players of real worth at the end of last season and are on the rise. IMO Rocket will also make a big difference.

Too many people here think round 1 is in the bag, far from it.

Too many, or one or two?

I think the common theme among most is that it's winnable. Not 'in the bag'.

We will go into this game the under dog by a considerable margin.

Based on end of year results for 2014?

Why don't we wait and see how the pre-season form looks. That'll give us a better indication of 'odds'.