Big Jake Spencer will absolutely love the contested stuff in the wet this week

We are one run-with player down with Viney out, that's the only reason McKenzie got included. We needed that option against Freo's stacked midfield. Clearly Roos isn't excited about Jordie for much beyond that.

It's obvious we're going to need one of Gawm or Spencer to step up in the ruck in the next year or so. Spencer's earned this opportunity from the sounds of it.

Stoked that Stretch is getting a run. He'll definitely start as sub. Would expect him to get a run in 4th quarter garbage time once Sydney have conceded defeat. This makes me doubly optimistic that ANB will get a run if he stays healthy.

Suddenly very excited to tune in on Saturday night (channel 7).

Does anyone else get the feeling that these are career defining changes. McKenzie and unfortunately Grimes I cannot see them being at the club next year now.

And I think its a fair chance Jamar will retire at years end.

Grimes was cooked last year

Even legends make mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes, The smart ones learn and change

We are one run-with player down with Viney out, that's the only reason McKenzie got included. We needed that option against Freo's stacked midfield. Clearly Roos isn't excited about Jordie for much beyond that.

It's obvious we're going to need one of Gawm or Spencer to step up in the ruck in the next year or so. Spencer's earned this opportunity from the sounds of it.

Stoked that Stretch is getting a run. He'll definitely start as sub. Would expect him to get a run in 4th quarter garbage time once Sydney have conceded defeat. This makes me doubly optimistic that ANB will get a run if he stays healthy.

Suddenly very excited to tune in on Saturday night (channel 7).

I think its on Foxtel...

I think its on Foxtel...

Says here it's on 7:

http://www.afl.com.au/broadcastguide

the Swans played an exhausting game in the wet last week, so I hope it pisses down again

It helped the Doggies and it will help us

the Swans played an exhausting game in the wet last week, so I hope it pisses down again

It helped the Doggies and it will help us

Its a myth mate.

It bucketed down against adelaide and we came out next week and pumped Richmond.

They have enough sport science and And technology to get this stuff right

Swans by over 80 points.

Grimes and McKenzie... why is it at Melbourne we have so many players actually go BACKWARDS in their careers? It is not supposed to happen that way, and it makes little sense when it does. We always go 'wow, if he's this good now, imagine him in a few years with a bigger body, bigger tank and some experience' yet they actually end up WORSE than they were in their first couple of years. Is the same thing going to happen to Brayshaw, Kent, Hogan and Salem?

Some career enders in that selection. Jamar did try hard last week but if Spencer does the business I reckon he's done. Why? Spencer is bigger. He is an excellent tackler. His marking and kicking ability is at least equal to Jamar's. He has developed some serious mongrel and therefore will cause some opposition players a nasty moment.

Sorry for Grimes.

Must be curtains for McKenzie.

Good luck to Stretch - a bit premature for mine.

Jack - You better play a [censored] good one!!

Swans by over 80 points.

That's the second .hithouse comment I've seen from you tonight Clint, keep that up and I'll drop you for McKenzie.

Grimes and McKenzie... why is it at Melbourne we have so many players actually go BACKWARDS in their careers? It is not supposed to happen that way, and it makes little sense when it does. We always go 'wow, if he's this good now, imagine him in a few years with a bigger body, bigger tank and some experience' yet they actually end up WORSE than they were in their first couple of years. Is the same thing going to happen to Brayshaw, Kent, Hogan and Salem?

Sounds like you expected too much out of Grimes and McKenzie

They are both severely flawed players, and that was obvious early on in their careers

Hope Spencer takes his chance, hes at the age now where most ruckmen blossom

No doubt hes a competitive beast, I just hope hes worked on that ball drop and his contested marking

An opportunity for Spence, but may also the ultimate test.

Grimes & Mckenzie were set up to fail.

grimes is pretty stiff I reckon

wow look at sydneys 3 ins.

• Sam Reid,
• Isaac Heeney,
• Ben McGlynn

Because he is a DUD

He isn't up to scratch, but really calling an AFL listed player a 'dud' is most offensive and shows no respect for the enormous amount of hard work he has put in over the years.

I would think Jamar is being rested but at the same time, Roos wants to intimidate Pyke by using an aggressive ruckman in Spencer. I'm looking forward to this game and don't think it will be the walkover that many are probably expecting on the back of last week's performance. Being a night game at the MCG in the wet should create a very level playing field.

Very surprised to see Jamar dropped. Not that it's without all merit, but I just did not see it coming. This is huge for Spencer, he can't keep getting chances at AFL level and doing nothing with them. Needs to take this opportunity.

A bit surprised to see Grimes dropped. Neither him nor Jetta in the side means we'll need someone else to play as a small defender...maybe Toumpas will get a new role?

I thought Michie did enough against Richmond to get more than two games.

Not surprised at all that McKenzie was dropped. Sometimes you make bad calls at the selection table; Jordie being picked last week was one of those.

wow look at sydneys 3 ins.

• Sam Reid,
• Isaac Heeney,
• Ben McGlynn

To be fair, you could name just about anyone from their list and say the same thing. But yeah, scary. Heeney is going to be an absolute superstar!

IN: Chris Dawes Jake Spencer Billy Stretch Jimmy Toumpas

OUT: Jack Grimes Mark Jamar Jordie McKenzie Viv Michie (all omitted)

in the immortal words of 'that' bloke... " didn't see that coming !!!!

Spencer needs a few chances. He's 25 and could give us 5 or so years service as a decent back up ruck option if he's up for it. Or he could be delisted and we can start again with more talented rucks. The sooner we find out the better.

Our biggest weakness is a complete lack of outside speed and skill. Yes we lost the clearances (particularly the centre stoppages) against Freo but the likes of Michie and McKenzie weren't ever going to be responsible for that. Stacking the team with grunt types doesn't help.

Grimes is stiff. But Lumumba provides a better option at half back and all of that means there's room for running players and hence Stretch and Toumpas come in.

To sum it up:

We are a developing side, that's not an excuse for performance, but we need to get young talented players in to develop now!

Reckon Viv is stiff. 17 touches at DE of 88% (best). The most disposals 21. Ran with Fyfe for two quarters and whilst beaten provided contest. Certainly was not the worst out there last week by a long shot. His game the week before was exceptional. Think giving a bloke 2 games, one against the best in the competition is pretty poor.

Very surprised to see Jamar dropped. Not that it's without all merit, but I just did not see it coming. This is huge for Spencer, he can't keep getting chances at AFL level and doing nothing with them. Needs to take this opportunity.

A bit surprised to see Grimes dropped. Neither him nor Jetta in the side means we'll need someone else to play as a small defender...maybe Toumpas will get a new role?

I thought Michie did enough against Richmond to get more than two games.

Not surprised at all that McKenzie was dropped. Sometimes you make bad calls at the selection table; Jordie being picked last week was one of those.

Would seem that there are expectations for some and other expectations for others.