How dare you question the MFC website which states that:

Dawes has been given one more week so "he can get back his explosiveness and marking power"

They say people don't believe in Heros anymore Max.

We're going to give them back their Heros Max!

The MCG will be his Thunderdome come Monday

I don't read other forums but I would imagine at Carltonland they would be discussing Gibbs/Yarran/Murphy. A bit like our Watts/Grimes/Dawes/Howe. I read that Yarran has been dropped.....again. Should he be traded? To who ? And for what? Also Gibbs would be getting worked over. Hold on you can't trade him, he's a former no.1 pick. That doesn't mean s__t anymore. A couple of weeks ago Carlton played the Lions. In the last qtr their two supposed stars in Gibbs and Murphy stood up, played hard contested footy, lead by example amassing a whopping 4 touches between them. An absolutely disgraceful effort contributing to the Lions winning the game. SOS will make the tough calls at years end as will Roos. It might take a few years but eventually fans might understand clubs did what they're about to do and that's make certain players understand what's required. I personally can't wait.

Raises a hypothetical-

Would you trade Watts for Gibbs?

I know I would.

Raises a hypothetical-

Would you trade Watts for Gibbs?

I know I would.

24yo for a 26yo? yeah i'd do it, but don't think blues would

Gibbs is a TJ standard No 1 pick and Watts is a Richard Lounder standard Number 1 pick - no way this deal will get done

Gawns first real shot at the #1 ruck role.

Hopefully its the making of him.

About time we found out if he can play because I for one haven't seen it

Your constant bagging and irrational posting of Watts makes it difficult for me to have a footy debate.

Fwiw, both should play.

Nah he's right. Grimes above Watts any day.

Interesting team. Gawn, Newton and Riley are all in the 18 which means a minimum of three changes, none of which will be forced. That's something of a statement from Roos.

I'll be livid if we play both Gawn and Spencer, so surely Spencer is going to be dropped. Not sure I agree with it but at the same time we need to know what, if anything, Gawn provides us and we'll only see that as the number 1 ruck.

I'd hope the bench ends up as Brayshaw, Grimes, Toumpas and then either Michie or Watts.

Nah he's right. Grimes above Watts any day.

Nup, he's not and neither are you.

Nup, he's not and neither are you.

Jumbo i respect your support for Jack Watts but if was to pick some one that i would want to run out next out of Grimes or Watts i would choose Grimes by the length of the Flemington.

I think Matt Jones and Spencer get left out. Then a toss of the coin, but I'm tipping Michie misses given he was named as an inclusion on the extended bench.

Agree with many posters on Gawn, this is his chance to hold the ruck spot down. If he doesn't, like Spencer he might be dealt away for someone who can.

Toumpas better get another chance. I'll be annoyed if he is left out.

Watts has to play if we are to be any chance of winning. Sure, Watts and Toumpas simply do not win enough inside ball and that is what they need to work on. But they have outside polish to help us kick a winning score.

The Port capitulation I blame on effort, but I more so blame it on Paul Roos and his coaching staff's team balance. Port are best running midfield in the comp and we needed to win the inside ball. To keep it off them. But instead Roosy dropped two inside mids (Newton and Riley) and made bull Viney sub. We couldn't get our hands on the ball once frontline of Vandenberg, Jones etc. tired.

It seems Roos has acknowledged his crucial error of last week and has started all three extra insiders on the park.

With them winning it inside, Watts and Toumpas can be handed the ball on the outside and we can push for scoring plays. So my bench is Watts, Grimes, Toumpas, Brayshaw.

Newton has been dropped twice now and then recalled the next week (I think), and he didn't even play with Casey last week with the bye... Seems a bit strange to me

It seems Roos has acknowledged his crucial error of last week ...

No.

Grimes is still on the extended bench at this time, so he's not dropped.

"Barring injuries Grimes may of have played his last game in a Melbourne jumper"

This statement may turn out to be as brave as Robbo's on SEN a couple of weeks ago when he predicted that Watts had played his last game for Melbourne just ten minutes before the teams were announced, and he was named in the team.

Yes he's named on a 17 man extended bench so yes he still may play. But he's not named as starting, is he part of our midfield rotations?

Raises a hypothetical-

Would you trade Watts for Gibbs?

I know I would.

Possibly, are we then on trading Gibbs?

Jumbo i respect your support for Jack Watts but if was to pick some one that i would want to run out next out of Grimes or Watts i would choose Grimes by the length of the Flemington.

DD, I am offering support for both boys.

I've found peace with Watts - classy, skilled, thinker.

Grimes kills the pill, but he's brave and loyal.

I don't like this team selection.

Naming all of Gawn, Spencer and Fitzy? Granted not all will play but we can only really afford one out there I think.

After Roos said earlier this week some players aren't mentally tough enough to get over the past and there will be delistings at years end etc the only omission is Bail? Surely he's not the only one with past demons (excuse the pun). I know this isn't the final line up but sheesh.

I don't like this team selection.

Naming all of Gawn, Spencer and Fitzy? Granted not all will play but we can only really afford one out there I think.

After Roos said earlier this week some players aren't mentally tough enough to get over the past and there will be delistings at years end etc the only omission is Bail? Surely he's not the only one with past demons (excuse the pun). I know this isn't the final line up but sheesh.

Yep - but the cupboard is bare?

I think, in the past, Casey players had one good quarter, and they were elevated!

Let the Stretches, Bullens, etc hit their straps properly.

I just don't understand our selections this year:

Tyson misses two weeks and has to return through Casey.

Viney misses six weeks and is fit enough to play AFL, but only fit enough to play as sub.

Newton is dropped twice in a month and recalled the following week twice without playing a game at Casey.

Michie and Riley come in and out of the team on a weekly basis without seemingly doing much wrong in the AFL or anything different at Casey.

Fitzpatrick stays in the side even when there is no match up for him.

Howe and Lumumba remain undroppable irrespective of lack of form and effort. I would hate to think that either sits higher in Roos' thinking than Grimes given recent performances.

Given how ridiculous our sub choices have been this year, I predict that Spencer will be the sub and will be brought on in the third quarter to replace Gawn who doesn't have the fitness to ruck for a full game.

I just don't understand our selections this year:

Tyson misses two weeks and has to return through Casey.

Viney misses six weeks and is fit enough to play AFL, but only fit enough to play as sub.

Newton is dropped twice in a month and recalled the following week twice without playing a game at Casey.

Michie and Riley come in and out of the team on a weekly basis without seemingly doing much wrong in the AFL or anything different at Casey.

Fitzpatrick stays in the side even when there is no match up for him.

Howe and Lumumba remain undroppable irrespective of lack of form and effort. I would hate to think that either sits higher in Roos' thinking than Grimes given recent performances.

Given how ridiculous our sub choices have been this year, I predict that Spencer will be the sub and will be brought on in the third quarter to replace Gawn who doesn't have the fitness to ruck for a full game.

If this is the reason, not bloody good enough.

Elite sportsman need to work on their elite fitness.

In regards to Gawn, I think he will run out of puff in the last quarter (can't be helped having played mostly forward all year -bar the last what 2 weeks of VFL games as the main ruck), but i hope that we give him a good 5 games to develop in a row.. I thought spencers tackling ability would keep him in the team. Come on Gawny, do it for us (first use to our mids please)!

I hope the final bench is Brayshaw, Grimes, Toumpas, Michie (sub).

McDonald to Cloke, Fitzpatick to White and Dunn to kick torpedoes from the goal square.

Would be disappointed if Spencer gets the chop. Been rucking quite well and has contributed more in fewer games than Jamar did.

I have no idea what the expect on Monday.

Actually, I do: a loss.