Melbourne v Western Bulldogs @ Eureka Stadium Ballarat - 14th March, 2015

[Roger Mellie 4,103]

Strange we have seemingly picked a best available side yet no Dean Kent?

I would have him as a best 22 player.

Anyone know if he is injured?

I didn't see him at training but he might've been there

[old dee 23,872]

Why would you rest him?...........He needs all the game time he can get.......No use wrapping him in cotton wool......He is an AFL footballer FCS and they need games under their belts before the real season starts....Surely.

He has played 2 games in three years

I don't disagree with your sentiment Bossdog but he has 2 practise matches in one+ year.

He only became elligible at the start of 2014.

[DubDee 26,117]

not named: brayshaw, harmes, howe, hunt, kent, king, o-mac, anb, petracca, spencer, riley, terlich, trengove, vince, white

take out injured, you are left with: brayshaw, harmes, hunt, kent, king, o-mac, spencer, riley, terlich, white

do we take from this that the above guys will be very unlikely to play round 1? some young guys there understandably but if I was Riley, Terlich and Spencer I would be worried. Kent must be being managed

strange approach Roosey is taking, usually NAB is seen as getting 2 games into all fit players but he is treating it like firming his 22. fair enough i say! just different to his usual style.

[AzzKikA 2,371]

I like his approach, get this 22 gelling together as early as possible, strong team compared to the dogs, missing some of their big names, so it SHOULD be a win.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Bar Vince and Howe, it's very close to our best 22 vs a very young dogs side without a handful of their most important players.

As I'm sure there'll be those who continuously play down NAB cup, completely disregarding the way top half teams approach these challenge games vs bottom half teams and adopting the 'they're practice games so they mean nothing'. The 'they mean nothing' comments, I agree with, so far as to say we don't win or lose premiership points. But, this game on Saturday will showcase close to our best 22. We have an extremely experienced side playing. The skill level of our side continues to concern me, especially the handful of players who last week hopefully proved to some that players' individual skill-level doesn't magically change over one pre-season and doesn't change a hell over the course of their careers once at AFL level.

I expect us to easily account for the doggies. And I will be seriously concerned if we don't due to the reasons I have stated.

Edited March 12, 2015 by stevethemanjordan

[CBDees 3,167]

It will be nice if young Stretch gets a run, though I am not sure at who's expense from last week!

[old dee 23,872]

The Dogs have some seriously good players out and we have theoretically improved and with the exception of Howe have what is probably as good as the squad gets this year.

IMO anything less than a win in this game shows we have come very little distance since this time last year.

[CBDees 3,167]

The Dogs have some seriously good players out and we have theoretically improved and with the exception of Howe have what is probably as good as the squad gets this year.

IMO anything less than a win in this game shows we have come very little distance since this time last year.

I would be inclined to have Kent and Vince nominated alongside Howe in the best squad, especially whe you are talking about 29 players and 26 taking the field!

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

not named: brayshaw, harmes, howe, hunt, kent, king, o-mac, anb, petracca, spencer, riley, terlich, trengove, vince, white

take out injured, you are left with: brayshaw, harmes, hunt, kent, king, o-mac, spencer, riley, terlich, white

do we take from this that the above guys will be very unlikely to play round 1? some young guys there understandably but if I was Riley, Terlich and Spencer I would be worried. Kent must be being managed

strange approach Roosey is taking, usually NAB is seen as getting 2 games into all fit players but he is treating it like firming his 22. fair enough i say! just different to his usual style.

Not sure about Kent

As far as I can gather, and some will like this, will see Riley, Terlich and Spencer start at Casey definitely as they have not done the full amount of work required due to a stop start pre seasons, same goes with King and Hunt, think they will give Harmes a year at Casey and see how he develops, didn't get a clean run at it last year, White has missed a bit with his toe and that just leaves O.mac who needs a body and Brayshaw who I thought they would want to look at, think they are a bit concerned with his head first attitude, he got a belt again today, probably want to ease him in via Casey

[old dee 23,872]

I would be inclined to have Kent and Vince nominated alongside Howe in the best squad, especially whe you are talking about 29 players and 26 taking the field!

I knew someone would raise that pair CBDees however they don't fare large in my expectations for this year.

My point was the dogs squad is missing more of their best players then the dees.

[old dee 23,872]

Not sure about Kent

As far as I can gather, and some will like this, will see Riley, Terlich and Spencer start at Casey definitely as they have not done the full amount of work required due to a stop start pre seasons, same goes with King and Hunt, think they will give Harmes a year at Casey and see how he develops, didn't get a clean run at it last year, White has missed a bit with his toe and that just leaves O.mac who needs a body and Brayshaw who I thought they would want to look at, think they are a bit concerned with his head first attitude, he got a belt again today, probably want to ease him in via Casey

He has taken over from Bail Saty

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

I still get the feeling they'll rest Hogan. Again from how he trained I think they'll look at Frost forward for probably at least another half as well. Trying to get a plan for round 1 and if forwards miss at other times as well. I'd love to see Stretch play but if you pick him you cost yourself a chance to sort through just who you think will get the nod for the last couple of spots on the bench in round 1 and really there's a lot of questions and not many answers with that right now.

FB: Jetta Dunn Garland

HB: Grimes McDonald Salem

C: Toumpas Jones Newton

HF: JKH Dawes van den Berg

FF: Garlett Pedersen Frost

Foll: Jamar Tyson Lumumba

Int: Viney Gawn Cross Michie Fitzy Watts

S: M Jones Bail

E: Stretch, McKenzie, Hogan (rested)

[Demon Jack 6,930]

Was disappointed to see Brayshaw not named but I now know why thanks to the Herald Sun

"No.3 draft pick Angus Brayshaw was left out after signing a contract extension this week."

Must be knackered after doing that. Good to see the club aren't going easy on the first year players in terms of training.

[barneymfc 152]

Why would you rest him?...........He needs all the game time he can get.......No use wrapping him in cotton wool......He is an AFL footballer FCS and they need games under their belts before the real season starts....Surely.

He has played 2 games in three years

play him every chance we get he has learn how to play afl level footy

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

Why would you rest him?...........He needs all the game time he can get.......No use wrapping him in cotton wool......He is an AFL footballer FCS and they need games under their belts before the real season starts....Surely.

He has played 2 games in three years

Because we don't know everything about footy injuries - see Mitch Clark and Jack Trengove.

Daniel Wells had a foot injury after being stepped on last year. North kept trying to get him right all season and never thought it was much of an initial injury. All of a sudden he missed the whole year.

If it was just a bit of bruising and he has no issues after training today then I'd play him. But if there's still soreness we should be cautious. 1 nab challenge game really wont change much in the scheme of things.

[Supreme_Demon 3,899]

I wouldn't risk Jesse Hogan if his foot is still sore. He can always play against Essendon in the next NAB challenge match.

As for Angus Brayshaw and Billy Stretch. I would love to see them play in a NAB challenge match. But they need to EARN their spots. Christian Petracca looked the closest to playing a NAB challenge game until his unfortunate knee injury.

Either way, we need to simply be patient and let the youngsters play some good consistent matches at the Casey Scorpions before earning a chance in the Demon's senior side.

I have faith in Paul Roos and the rest of the MFC coaching staff.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,510]

It's a real statement to leave out the highly fancied young guys.

It's telling them that they're gonna have to work their behinds off to get a look in, even in the preseason cup. I imagine it would have gone for Petracca too. To have Gus Brayshaw chomping at the bit and running through walls to get a senior gig, will only serve him (and us) well in the long run.

[What 18,810]

Geez the Doggies squad looks very ordinary. If we can't blow them off the park somethings wrong.

[Red and Blue realist 2,058]

Hi guys,

Question about the game (if anyone knows), I've got tickets for myself but there's no option to buy for kids under 6. Does that mean they get in for free? Not an issue just don't want to have to line up to buy my 3 year old a ticket if there's a pre-purchased line to go straight in.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,408]

Geez the Doggies squad looks very ordinary. If we can't blow them off the park somethings wrong.

Time for big game from Dawes.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

not named: brayshaw, harmes, howe, hunt, kent, king, o-mac, anb, petracca, spencer, riley, terlich, trengove, vince, white

Willy Wonka's gonna have his hands full

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Willy Wonka's gonna have his hands full

not really, we're actually going OK. Only two of those are important players and the others aren't even injured AFAIK. However, there are others, such as Watts, who are in the squad but their ticket is secured. We still have three weeks for some lucky lads to snatch up some remaining tickets

just for once, God, please, can we have something that is somewhere near our best 22 for round 1

Edited March 12, 2015 by Curry & Beer

[Seraph 1,824]

Hi guys,

Question about the game (if anyone knows), I've got tickets for myself but there's no option to buy for kids under 6. Does that mean they get in for free? Not an issue just don't want to have to line up to buy my 3 year old a ticket if there's a pre-purchased line to go straight in.

As per the MCG, I don't think you have to buy a ticket for kids under 6.

[Red and Blue realist 2,058]

As per the MCG, I don't think you have to buy a ticket for kids under 6.

Thanks Seraph!

[Samael 560]

Do members get in for free or do we have to buy tickets?