I reckon he'll start as sub but that is pending how Vince and Howe pull up. If both play AFL this week Brayshaw may get squeezed out.

Howe will have to be the sub you would think....

He has been amongst the best players on the ground in every match he has played, has he not? Why would you then not play him in Round 1?

If we get pantsed by the Suns and he performs well again at Casey, would he come into the side the following week? Almost certainly. You're just shooting yourself in the foot by delaying it a week.

He's a versatile, goal kicking midfielder. He should play and he should start.

If we get pantsed by the Suns and he performs well again at Casey, would he come into the side the following week? Almost certainly. You're just shooting yourself in the foot by delaying it a week.

If we pants GC and Brayshaw dominates at Casey what happens?

Howe will have to be the sub you would think....

In which case I don't think Brayshaw will play.

You can't risk him as one of the 21 and intend to sub him off as an injury leaves you exposed.

I suspect that even with his lack of match fitness, Howe who be better placed to run a full game out than Brayshaw.

1. What's the best thing for the fans:

Pro: He's a number 3 pick and isn't Matt Jones/Bail etc, the fans want to see him play

-Brayshaw plays.

2. What's the best thing for Angus himself:

Pro: He seems a cut above VFL

Con: Just in training against Viney and Salem he had 2 head knocks. The bigger/faster bodies of AFL will test him

- Another VFL practice match will give him even more confidence. Putting him in the AFL will give him a great first taste. There's no clear answer

3. What's the best thing for the team:

Pro: He's clearly part of the future, getting him used to senior team mates is a good thing

Pro: He's a ball winner, hard at it, uses it pretty well

Pro: He'll bring energy, enthusiasm and confidence to the team

Pro: The sub rule is a good way to give a guy a taste

Con: He doesn't have an AFL mature body or fitness meaning he's unlikely to perform well in large midfield minutes

Con: His best footy is played around the packs and the freedom of midfield, where N Jones, Tyson, Viney, Cross etc will be

Con: He doesn't seem as well suited to a wing/half forward role which is probably where he'd play

Question 1 is completely irrelevant in picking a side. We all know why!

Question 2 is worth considering for all young players before you pick them. You shouldn't pick young guys and set them up to fail. Salem and JKH were used beautifully last year

But really I think it comes down to Question 3. It's round 1, we are picking our best side to win. Does Brayshaw on debut, with all of 3 practice matches against men have the form and ability to play better at AFL level than whoever else we pick. Considering we didn't see him in the NAB challenge we are really just projecting based on VFL form on how he'd go up a grade and likely in a different role to where he'll eventually end up.

N Jones, Tyson, Cross, Viney, Lumumba, Newton all look set for midfield roles. If Bernie Vince is fit he takes a spot. Howe might be the sub.

After that you're looking at 1 or 2 of Matt Jones, Toumpas, Kent, JKH, vandenBerg, Bail for half forward/wing rotation spots in the team.

At this stage I'm leaning towards giving 2 of the above names a run knowing (vandenBerg aside) that they have played AFL and played in the NAB challenge, are stronger and have better endurance than Brayshaw and are probably more suited to the role in the team as well.

If some guys don't perform then I think Brayshaw will be straight in for round 2 but I'm just not convinced that at this stage just because he's a superior talent that he should be in the team. The team balance, experience and role has to be considered as well. The gap between regular AFL season and VFL preseason is massive.

Even if he hadn't played well, the rest of the midfield - bar Jones - have played him into round one with their [censored] poor form.

I'd rather see Brayshaw debut than watch Viney's pin point passing to the opposition or Bail's dropped marks that an under 12 should be taking or even Toumpas's out on the fulls under no pressure despite being touted as an elite kick.

Even if he hadn't played well, the rest of the midfield - bar Jones - have played him into round one with their [censored] poor form.

See I don't think they have. Tyson hasn't. A few bad errors aside Jack Viney hasn't unless you think Brayshaw has been perfect at Casey. Newton hasn't. Cross is ticking over ok for a veteran in preseason. Lumumba certainly not. And if Bernie Vince is fit then he gets a spot in the team.

He's in with a shot, but it's naive to suggest he's a walk up start.

I can't think of one player in our entire affiliation with Casey who has benefited from a prolonged spell in the VFL.

Tom McDonald.

Howe will have to be the sub you would think....

If Howe or Vince can't play a full game and as Roos says "we have 25 or 26 to choose from" then I think we shouldn't play them.

See I don't think they have. Tyson hasn't. A few bad errors aside Jack Viney hasn't unless you think Brayshaw has been perfect at Casey. Newton hasn't. Cross is ticking over ok for a veteran in preseason. Lumumba certainly not. And if Bernie Vince is fit then he gets a spot in the team.

He's in with a shot, but it's naive to suggest he's a walk up start.

Viney has been woeful.

Tyson will get it done when the real stuff starts, I'm not worried about him, although he hasn't had a decent preseason game.

The rest have shown me nothing to get enthused about, and against mostly mediocre or second string midfields.

I haven't seen any of Brayshaw this preseason, my point was it wouldn't be hard to get a gig in this team.

1. What's the best thing for the fans:

Pro: He's a number 3 pick and isn't Matt Jones/Bail etc, the fans want to see him play

-Brayshaw plays.

2. What's the best thing for Angus himself:

Pro: He seems a cut above VFL

Con: Just in training against Viney and Salem he had 2 head knocks. The bigger/faster bodies of AFL will test him

- Another VFL practice match will give him even more confidence. Putting him in the AFL will give him a great first taste. There's no clear answer

3. What's the best thing for the team:

Pro: He's clearly part of the future, getting him used to senior team mates is a good thing

Pro: He's a ball winner, hard at it, uses it pretty well

Pro: He'll bring energy, enthusiasm and confidence to the team

Pro: The sub rule is a good way to give a guy a taste

Con: He doesn't have an AFL mature body or fitness meaning he's unlikely to perform well in large midfield minutes

Con: His best footy is played around the packs and the freedom of midfield, where N Jones, Tyson, Viney, Cross etc will be

Con: He doesn't seem as well suited to a wing/half forward role which is probably where he'd play

Question 1 is completely irrelevant in picking a side. We all know why!

Question 2 is worth considering for all young players before you pick them. You shouldn't pick young guys and set them up to fail. Salem and JKH were used beautifully last year

But really I think it comes down to Question 3. It's round 1, we are picking our best side to win. Does Brayshaw on debut, with all of 3 practice matches against men have the form and ability to play better at AFL level than whoever else we pick. Considering we didn't see him in the NAB challenge we are really just projecting based on VFL form on how he'd go up a grade and likely in a different role to where he'll eventually end up.

N Jones, Tyson, Cross, Viney, Lumumba, Newton all look set for midfield roles. If Bernie Vince is fit he takes a spot. Howe might be the sub.

After that you're looking at 1 or 2 of Matt Jones, Toumpas, Kent, JKH, vandenBerg, Bail for half forward/wing rotation spots in the team.

At this stage I'm leaning towards giving 2 of the above names a run knowing (vandenBerg aside) that they have played AFL and played in the NAB challenge, are stronger and have better endurance than Brayshaw and are probably more suited to the role in the team as well.

If some guys don't perform then I think Brayshaw will be straight in for round 2 but I'm just not convinced that at this stage just because he's a superior talent that he should be in the team. The team balance, experience and role has to be considered as well. The gap between regular AFL season and VFL preseason is massive.

wow great analysis and reasoning GRRM.

I think it was Roos who said last year the most important thing for round 1 is playing fit players. You cannot play two first gamers in Gus and Vanders and take in two completely underdone players in Howe and Vince and have a focus on winning round 1. It may make more sense for the longer game but against a running side round 1 we will get caned.

Knowing Roos' desire for the kids not to be pressured into delivering more than they are capable - if he does play, he will have earned it.

We have a gaggle of very ordinary players running around, who help define our ineptitude. The sooner a talented 19 year old starts learning at AFL level the better.

More importantly, he's better than what he'll replace.

Feel very confident that our current coaching group will make the right decision. They will know when he is ready. Player management at the club is so much better now

The good news is it looks like there will a really good chance to see him play either way.

The Scorps are set to play Collingwood at Olympic Park on Saturday at 11. The closest thing we'll get to a curtain raiser all season.

Nothing changes with this club

Haven't any of you learnt from our disastrous recent history?

It is so short-sighted, impatient and just plain selfish to demand he be selected simply because he exists

We have had such a tough time supporting this club you are just utterly desperate to see some kid, maybe he does something special, then you get to feel hopeful maybe we finally have a star

FCS what is the hurry

There will be 8 under-22 aged players with hardly any games between them out for you to feast on. Is that not enough? This is why we lose games BTW. We march out a side with 2-3 years of development less than our opponent every single week every single year. By coincidence, I have done the numbers and will post it shortly, the average number of games your best 22 has is essentially your ladder position. Deadset. All we do is delist our older players and replace them with babies so we never field a mature side and finish in the bottom bloody 3 every year. And here we see demands of the masses to play another zero gamer for no good reason at all. Bail and MJones are rubbish footballers but they increase our chances of winning the football game as opposed to fielding a zero gamer.

I thought most of us were on the same page, that he should show consistent, dominant form at Casey and be given his chance once he is totally starving for it, not just waltzed in

It is what the best clubs do, but that's not us, we're Melbourne, so let's F it up again

Nothing changes with this club

Haven't any of you learnt from our disastrous recent history?

It is so short-sighted, impatient and just plain selfish to demand he be selected simply because he exists

We have had such a tough time supporting this club you are just utterly desperate to see some kid, maybe he does something special, then you get to feel hopeful maybe we finally have a star

FCS what is the hurry

There will be 8 under-22 aged players with hardly any games between them out for you to feast on. Is that not enough? This is why we lose games BTW. We march out a side with 2-3 years of development less than our opponent every single week every single year. By coincidence, I have done the numbers and will post it shortly, the average number of games your best 22 has is essentially your ladder position. Deadset. All we do is delist our older players and replace them with babies so we never field a mature side and finish in the bottom bloody 3 every year. And here we see demands of the masses to play another zero gamer for no good reason at all. Bail and MJones are rubbish footballers but they increase our chances of winning the football game as opposed to fielding a zero gamer.

I thought most of us were on the same page, that he should show consistent, dominant form at Casey and be given his chance once he is totally starving for it, not just waltzed in

It is what the best clubs do, but that's not us, we're Melbourne, so let's F it up again

Relax- Demonland isn't making the decision, the football department is and we now have one of the best in the business. The past has nothing to do with it any longer.

Nothing changes with this club

Haven't any of you learnt from our disastrous recent history?

It is so short-sighted, impatient and just plain selfish to demand he be selected simply because he exists

Not sure if serious...

He has been Caseys best player the last 3 weeks champ.

Ok, I will put this simply!

Should we have played him against Essendon?...Yes, but we didn't and lost.

Should we play him against Gold Coast? Yes.

Basic reason for answer is because he has more natural talent than most on out list, he is a hard at it midfielder who has completed the entire pre season and he has been the best performing Melbourne listed player while playing at Casey.

He could be our Wines.

Brayshaw deserves to play!!!

Not sure if serious...

He has been Caseys best player the last 3 weeks champ.

Mainly because the majority of the Casey players are inexperienced as well, and you would expect Brayshaw to stand out as to where he was drafted

Brayshaw has also not done a full pre season, he started a month after everybody else, and has had a couple of light weeks because of concussion

MIchie was the best MFC player last Saturday against Willy, didn't make an error, but everybody only sees Brayshaw

He is going to be a really good player, but let him earn his place in the team from 3 or 4 BOG at Casey in the real stuff

Ok, I will put this simply!

Should we have played him against Essendon?...Yes, but we didn't and lost.

Should we play him against Gold Coast? Yes.

Basic reason for answer is because he has more natural talent than most on out list, he is a hard at it midfielder who has completed the entire pre season and he has been the best performing Melbourne listed player while playing at Casey.

He could be our Wines.

Brayshaw deserves to play!!!

Natural talent - you mean he can turn water into wine? or Wines

He made quite a few basic skill and decision errors on Saturday in a VFL praccy game

If him missing was the reason we lost against Essendon, then we are in big trouble

Also sees my answer to HH

Roosy rewards good form and good habits in the 2s.

Brayshaw has displayed these characteristics in all 3 games.

Get him in.

Roosy rewards good form and good habits in the 2s.

Brayshaw has displayed these characteristics in all 3 games.

Get him in.

I can understand all the emotion re Brayshaw, (and Roos may go with him), but there were occasions on Saturday where Brayshaw showed he was an 18 yr old in his first few senior games, think Roos wants the most experienced side he can muster so we can get off to a good start