We don't normally get many down to report on training but I have a feeling that a few might go down to Gosch's Paddock tomorrow.

No doubt all eyes will be on Chris Dawes and Bernie Vince?

Confidence is a funny thing - input my house on the vibe at training being immensely positive but professional

With Dawes and Vince available there will be some players feeling a little insecure.

With Dawes and Vince available there will be some players feeling a little insecure.

Dawes!

why should he be rewarded with a spot.

He waits till someone plays poorly and opens a spot.

Casey next weekend for mine, he will probably hold his marks there.

Dawes!

why should he be rewarded with a spot.

He waits till someone plays poorly and opens a spot.

Casey next weekend for mine, he will probably hold his marks there.

Why Dawes?

• he is a senior pro that leads by example
• he is out Number 1 forward
• he was instrumental in our few wins last year
• he strikes fear into the opposition (I personally dont mind the odd suspension once they are not cheap shots)
• only player to crack 20 goals last year
• will take the best defender and ease pressure on hogan

shall i go on?

Yeah let's not get ahead of ourselves here; I'd love to say we can't make Dawes wait, but we need him. Teams will already start hearing footsteps with Hoges, throw Dawes in there too and we'lol have opposition defenders doing little nuggets in their game day shorts.

Why Dawes?

• he is a senior pro that leads by example
• he is out Number 1 forward
• he was instrumental in our few wins last year
• he strikes fear into the opposition (I personally dont mind the odd suspension once they are not cheap shots)
• only player to crack 20 goals last year
• will take the best defender and ease pressure on hogan

shall i go on?

So you want to drop a player who played well in our first round win the first in a decade I might add for a guy who took a cheap shot and was suspended.

He was the best forward for the MFC in 2014.

Does not say much.

So you want to drop a player who played well in our first round win the first in a decade I might add for a guy who took a cheap shot and was suspended.

He was the best forward for the MFC in 2014.

Does not say much.

I agree he was only the best of a bad lot.

but good teams drop players when better players come back. itll give us the best chance of winning next week.

Why Dawes?

• he is a senior pro that leads by example
• he is out Number 1 forward
• he was instrumental in our few wins last year
• he strikes fear into the opposition (I personally dont mind the odd suspension once they are not cheap shots)
• only player to crack 20 goals last year
• will take the best defender and ease pressure on hogan

shall i go on?

Agree!!

The man is a walk up start.

He rang roos last year and said, mate I'm ready put me in v Carlton.

And not only did he play.. He booted a massive goal from outside 50.

Massive heart in every week for me!

A big forward is very reliant on the midfield that serves him, last year the service to Dawes from the midfield was lousy.

This year, based on Saturday, the service seems to have improved markedly.

Adding Dawes experience, bulk and leadership to the forward line, is too obvious. And not a slight on the player who goes out...

Toumpas's would be in the gun to be dropped, not sure who else TBH, maybe Dawes for Toump, but you would think Vince would come in.

The biggest advantage of Dawes coming in is that it will result in Watts taking the third defender instead of second, making him more dangerous than he was on the weekend (that based on the assumption that he has actually turned the corner with regards to his attitude). I don't know who he will come in at the expense of, but I would be surprised if it is vandenBurg (Brayshaw maybe?).

The biggest advantage of Dawes coming in is that it will result in Watts taking the third defender instead of second, making him more dangerous than he was on the weekend (that based on the assumption that he has actually turned the corner with regards to his attitude). I don't know who he will come in at the expense of, but I would be surprised if it is vandenBurg (Brayshaw maybe?).

Maybe even the fourth defender? Someone big has to play on frost or jamar when forward.. Unless watts moves to the midfield to fit Dawes in..

Agree!!

The man is a walk up start.

He rang roos last year and said, mate I'm ready put me in v Carlton.

And not only did he play.. He booted a massive goal from outside 50.

Massive heart in every week for me!

and he was BOG in the win @ Adelaide Oval vs the Crows

Dawes is a must.

Not just because of all the good things being said about him here, but if we want to make the transition easy for Hogan having someone like him around is invaluable.

Thought I had opened the "Changes to Next Week" thread.

Any training reports?

Thought I had opened the "Changes to Next Week" thread.

Any training reports?

Good question billy.

Wild guess I think the answer is NO

From FB page:

Melbourne Football Club Supporters Page

18 mins ·

Currently at training for the first time in a month or so... Jack Viney by my understanding is nursing a minor calf complaint and is doing skill work only, on the flipside I'm unsure if this is Alex Neal-Bullen's first session back or not but it's good to see him out there.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Hogan and Dawes work together. I have a small concern that Dawes has the tendency to interfere in marking contests when he clearly shouldn't be competing for the ball. If they can stay separate and provide good leads then the opposition should be really stretched.

After being at the G on Saturday and enjoying it, took footy free couple of days

No shows today, Trengove, Petracca, Hunt and Nathan Jones

Light duties Viney, Watts, Howe, Tom McDonald, no major issues, just management and Jetta (who had a bit of issue with concussion after the game)

Ball movement and stoppages still the focus

Spoke to quite a few of the players, as expected all up and about but there is a steely resolve to back up at the weekend

Complimented Jeff Garlett on his game, got the usual "just playing my role", asked about the Watts tap back, said there was no call, just two players playing on instinct, said he enjoyed his time in the midfield

Chris Salem said it was a very good weekend, said his kick for goal couldn't have come of his foot any better (Arsenal beat Liverpool 4-1)

Asked Aaron Vandenberg how easy AFL was, said his body said it wasn't

Chris Dawes is looking like a caged bear, if he gets the run, would not like to be first GWS defender who gets in his way

Bernie Vince got through whole Casey game unscathed and is cherry ripe, I asked

Should make Thursday's training interesting

Pics will be on Twitter Demonpk

Any questions feel free

It's pretty simple really ... Dawes plays if the match committee thinks we're more likely to win if he's in the team and he doesn't if we don't.

Everything else is noise.

How do we fit Dawes and Vince in the line up, that's the big question.

How do we fit Dawes and Vince in the line up, that's the big question.

Look at the other post "Changes for Round 2" and you will find a myriad of suggestions (though none of them are easy)! There is little consensus so just as well that Demonland does not have responsibility for picking the team!

Dawes!

why should he be rewarded with a spot.

He waits till someone plays poorly and opens a spot.

Casey next weekend for mine, he will probably hold his marks there.

Wow, OD you are up and about. Must have mistaken the angry pills for the regular half an aspirin

Dawes plays for mine. His tackling pressure, size and presence make him walk in.

Roos like solid bodies.

JKH and Timmy T for Bernie and Dawes I suspect.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Hogan and Dawes work together. I have a small concern that Dawes has the tendency to interfere in marking contests when he clearly shouldn't be competing for the ball. If they can stay separate and provide good leads then the opposition should be really stretched.

They have been training all summer on running patterns. Shouldn't be a problem