Melbourne v Essendon @ Etihad Stadium - 20th March, 2015

[Goodvibes 3,596]

The second half against Footscray was the perfect warm up for this game. Spots are genuinely up for grabs and I'd be surprised if we didn't smash them. I want us to play at round 1 intensity, clean them up and avoid injuries. If that happens, we'll boost confidence and boost membership and have us all believing a victory against the suns is a possibility. There's a lot of decisions that the coaching staff need to make. I'm most interested in where they'll play Frost and whether they'll play Gawn and Jamar in the same team not to mention Gawn, Jamar and Pedersen in the same team. Will Salem remain at half back and will the coaching staff back in Toumpas? Can Kent, JKH and Garlett all play in the same team? Will Roos support Grimes and Garland and if so how do Frost, Dunn, McDonald, Lumumba, Jetta, Salem, Grimes and Garland all fit into our structure? The Essendon game will reveal much.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Not to be on the negative bandwagon, but this is such a frustrating game for our club. The risk/reward scenario is so heavily favoured in risk for me; playing against players that view it as a last opportunity to put themselves out there, the possibility of injury (although always there whether it be game or training), and of course the potential embarrassment of losing to a team half made up of top ups.

I'm glad we're approaching this like round one, I want us to come out of the blokes and be up by 5 goals at quarter time and unlike last week I want us to go on with it. I want the team to view this as a statement to the competition, we are a new Melbourne.

Agree totally, I think we all do. This is another short straw for the MFC. 20 goals would be a nice little display of contempt.. probably won't happen though, I'm tipping a similar scenario to last week, well ahead at half time and then with no reason to perform, we'll ease off to win narrowly

[Henrietta Lumbago 331]

I'm shattered not to be seeing Brayshaw play against Essendon. From all reports played really well last week..perhaps Paul doesn't think he is up to it..

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I'm shattered not to be seeing Brayshaw play against Essendon. From all reports played really well last week..perhaps Paul doesn't think he is up to it..

Mate - as a number of us have stated in this thread (and others), the fact that we are NOT giving our first year players games straight off the bat is a very GOOD thing. Roos is making them earn it, along with fielding a more mature side that is more likely to win games of football, which we DESPERATELY need to do for the sake of the club. It is the opposite approach of the Bailey/Neeld era which seemed to work on the assumption that high draft pick players would develop more quickly just by putting them straight in for as many games as possible. It wasn't necessarily a bad plan, but history records that it didn't work - the kids got knocked around and suffered huge belting after huge belting and along with tarnishing our image, it made an awful loser's culture at the club - the stains of which we are still trying to wash off.

The new approach is mirrored by our recent imports - experienced, proven performers and leaders, the very things we have lacked over the 2007-2013 period. Fielding Vince, Lumumba, Dawes etc instead of Stretch and Brayshaw is exactly what we should be doing - and before you say it, we should also be fielding the likes of M.Jones, McKenzie and Bail before these kids too. Even though these guys are limited footballers they have the bodies and the games behind them to actually compete at AFL level, and besides, it is too early in their careers to declare them finished, to be replaced immediately by 18 year olds.

I don't know why you would be so keen to see the kids out there. Have some patience. I for one would much rather see them dominate in the twos, for as long as it takes for them to do it consistently - and to finally be given their chance after being so hungry for it they are starving. Then they come into the side where they are surrounded by a consistent, experienced, stable side - instead of a bunch of other kids, lambs to the slaughter, which is the way we used to do it. Then, just give them a taste, a few games here and there, really really make them perform for their right to be in the 22 over the next 2-3 years. As somebody else (sorry can't remember) said recently 'that's what the good clubs do' and they were exactly right.

Roosy knows what he's doing.

[What 18,810]

if this was the Schwab era you can bet your ass that Brayshaw, Stretch and a couple of other young kids would be playing a full game this week and would be thrown to the wolves in Round 1.

Things are so much better now.

[P-man 13,367]

Will Roos support Grimes and Garland and if so how do Frost, Dunn, McDonald, Lumumba, Jetta, Salem, Grimes and Garland all fit into our structure?

Throw Howe into the mix and this for me is the biggest mystery going into the season. Nine doesn't go into six. What does Roos see as the full strength backline?

Absolute givens: Dunn, Jetta, T Mac

More than likely: Grimes Garland

Which leaves four pretty high quality talents in Salem, Frost, Lumumba and Howe remaining.

Frost did well when pushed forward but is a natural defender and is showing that he is a strong contender for best 22, there looks to be a reliance on Salem on HB, Lumumba will perhaps rotate through the middle but steadies the ship down back, and who knows where Howe gets squeezed in now.

Hopefully a few more clues against the druggies as you say.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Salem should be at half back, that is where he trained today, except towards the end of the session, he joined a few of the midfielders for a drill welcomed with "I thought you were the star half back now", from Nathan Jones

[daisycutter 29,917]

It took me a long time to zee what you mean, but thank you for zetting me straight. There are few things to change in my houze, not to mention my horzes and cheezes. Does that mean that a French zebra is a sebra?

i'm still trying to get my head around how the english exported the 'ze' to america before the norman invasion. time machine?

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Throw Howe into the mix and this for me is the biggest mystery going into the season. Nine doesn't go into six. What does Roos see as the full strength backline?

Absolute givens: Dunn, Jetta, T Mac

More than likely: Grimes Garland

Which leaves four pretty high quality talents in Salem, Frost, Lumumba and Howe remaining.

Frost did well when pushed forward but is a natural defender and is showing that he is a strong contender for best 22, there looks to be a reliance on Salem on HB, Lumumba will perhaps rotate through the middle but steadies the ship down back, and who knows where Howe gets squeezed in now.

Hopefully a few more clues against the druggies as you say.

I think we'll get a fair idea come Friday night when the squad has been cut to 22. I totally agree with the above, in that 9 doesn't go into 6. Outside of the 3 givens you mentioned you could still make a case for all 6 of those players being in the side. Howe will obviously miss at least Round 1, and if you push Lumumba into the midfield and possibly play Frost forward it means Salem plays across half back.

It is, however, a nice problem to have for once. We aren't giving games to players who don't deserve it any more which is terrific.

[hemingway 7,633]

We want to win but NAB games are practice matches and a time for experimentation. It is going to take time to settle our side.

[rpfc 28,966]

I'm shattered not to be seeing Brayshaw play against Essendon. From all reports played really well last week..perhaps Paul doesn't think he is up to it..

Are you taking the [censored]?

[Red and Bluebeard 2,101]

i'm still trying to get my head around how the english exported the 'ze' to america before the norman invasion. time machine?

Well, they reckon the Vikings got to the New World centuries before that Italian sluggard Columbus, so maybe their Norman cousins sent a delegation there on the way to the Battle of Hastings?

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

I for one am glad Brayshaw is not playing tomorrow.

He played last week...Let him play at Casey this week so he can practice and consolidate what he learnt.

Trengove is in serious doubt of furthering his career because his body was thrashed way too long and hard by the previous clown school

I am glad the MFC is now run by real football people.

[Biffen 12,949]

Tim Watson played at 15.

Let's get it on!

[Go the Biff 3,474]

Tim Watson played at 15.

Let's get it on!

Yeah but at 15 Watson was built like a 32 year old

[Whispering_Jack 31,299]

I for one am glad Brayshaw is not playing tomorrow.

He played last week...Let him play at Casey this week so he can practice and consolidate what he learnt.

Trengove is in serious doubt of furthering his career because his body was thrashed way too long and hard by the previous clown school

I am glad the MFC is now run by real football people.

Is there any medical evidence to support this proposition?

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Yeah but at 15 Watson was built like a 32 year old

and it was 40 years ago, things have changed

[Biffen 12,949]

and it was 40 years ago, things have changed

Not your undies.

[Biffen 12,949]

Yeah but at 15 Watson was built like a 32 year old

Age is just a number- and that was actually his number.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Age is just a number- and that was actually his number.

You seem to have hit the bottle a bit early today Biff, fine form though

[Bossdog 2,002]

Footballers then only trained Tues and Thurs.....They had full time jobs

The coach was in charge of every thing to do with fitness and only had an assistant if he was lucky

The game was a lot slower and players played in position

Watson was still at school....and they were allowed to do goal kicking practise without some one telling them that they can't because it will cause muscle overload

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Is there any medical evidence to support this proposition?

We'll have to check with Richmond.

It was obvious he needed a rest regardless of any fancy medical report anyway- the kid was stuck in quicksand!

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

We ruined Trenner's career. That happened.

[McQueen 17,867]

2014 gained some ground by the 140-point loss in 2013 negates anything achieved in the 2011 and 2012 wins against the Bombers.

That game doesn't count because we didn't even turn up to play.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

We ruined Trenner's career. That happened.

I spoke to him the other day, he is very optimistic about returning, needs to get through next surgeon's meeting and then he can take a 'step' forward again, still got a career to look forward to if the foot behaves