From round 23 last year:

Melbourne:
Missing: Tyson, Vanders, Kent, Jetta, Frost, Pedersen, Dawes, Watts, Lumumba, Petracca, Trengove*

Out: Cross, Howe

In: Melksham, Bugg, Kennedy

GWS:

Missing: Mumford, Shiel, Hoskin-Elliott, Coniglio, Steele, Davis, Patfull, Haynes, Griffen, Patton, Scully

Out: Treloar, Bugg, Plowman

In: Stevie J

It's a little scary how much GWS had missing in round 23 last year. Mumford is huge for them and Shiel is a star. You could make a decent midfield with the rest of those players. Patton in forward (with Stevie J) and Davis, Patfull, Haynes are their 3 best tall defenders.

Then again Vanders and Kent bring speed and hardness to our forward line and depth to our midfield. We haven't lost a gun like Treloar and if we get a 2nd tall forward in form that will help.

I expect GWS to improve and not to do a Gold Coast, so it's going to be a huge test.

And here's my stab on side for Rd 1 - assumes no pre-season injuries.

Small defenders (3): Salem, Bugg, Melksham (I really think this is why we recruited him)

Mid-defender (1): Lumumba

Tall defenders (3): Garland, Dunn and T-Mac

Ruck (1): Gawn

Mids (6) - Viney, Vince, N.Jones, Brayshaw, Vandenberg, Stretch.

High HF (2) - Watts, Harmes

Small forwards (3) - Garlett, Kennedy/Kent, Petracca

Tall forwards (3) - Hoges, Frost, Dawes

Emerg from: Jetta, Grimes, Junior Mac, Neal-Bullen

Jetta as an emergency? no thank-you. he is one of our best defenders.

Really cannot be done until NAB challenge to see how some of the draftees perform

Jetta as an emergency? no thank-you. he is one of our best defenders.

Yes a really interesting year for Jetta coming up I suspect.

He was a revelation in 2014, but in 2015 had his moments (another great game on Betts), had his concussions (Howey's gone now so less likely to happen) and had his games where he didn't provide enough dash from defence - which ultimately as a small defender is a key part of your role.

He has to be careful that he doesn't slip back into thinking he can be a bit passive on offensive transition.

I suspect that's part of the reason why Melksham was recruited, because at the moment only Lumumba, Salem (when fit) and T-Mac take the game on out of defence, although Grimes tries but is limited by his kicking depth.

Given we now have so much midfield depth (I even inadvertently left out Tyson), I suspect and hope that Brayshaw is sent back to defence this year because we know he has good aerial skills on top of his tackling and he can play down the left side - unlike most of our guys.

If it was up to me, I'd have Brayshaw slotted in already for HBF, because I doubt he is ready to take a midfield slot permanently, and that way he plays most of the game and can provide more run off the back line.

But I can't see Roosy going down that path yet because ultimately he is pretty conservative.

Jetta had a disappointing 2015. Whether he is a permanent player in 2016 will be a reflection and an indicator of our improvement. He has his limitations and I can't see him holding down a spot in a more offensive attacking side that starts to gets it act together.

When does the full draw come out?

When does the full draw come out?

Thursday this week.

Thursday this week.

Cool thanks dees.

From round 23 last year:

Melbourne:

Missing: Tyson, Vanders, Kent, Jetta, Frost, Pedersen, Dawes, Watts, Lumumba, Petracca, Trengove*

Out: Cross, Howe

In: Melksham, Bugg, Kennedy

GWS:

Missing: Mumford, Shiel, Hoskin-Elliott, Coniglio, Steele, Davis, Patfull, Haynes, Griffen, Patton, Scully

Out: Treloar, Bugg, Plowman

In: Stevie J

It's a little scary how much GWS had missing in round 23 last year. Mumford is huge for them and Shiel is a star. You could make a decent midfield with the rest of those players. Patton in forward (with Stevie J) and Davis, Patfull, Haynes are their 3 best tall defenders.

Then again Vanders and Kent bring speed and hardness to our forward line and depth to our midfield. We haven't lost a gun like Treloar and if we get a 2nd tall forward in form that will help.

I expect GWS to improve and not to do a Gold Coast, so it's going to be a huge test.

That GWS list of missing is down right scary.

They will make the 8 depending upon injuries. Everyone of those players apart from Steele would be a starter in their best 22.

That GWS list of missing is down right scary.

They will make the 8 depending upon injuries. Everyone of those players apart from Steele would be a starter in their best 22.

Melbourne:

Missing: Tyson, Vanders, Kent, Jetta, Frost, Pedersen, Dawes, Watts, Lumumba, Petracca, Trengove*

Our list of outs is also pretty scary. You could make a strong case that all 11 of them are in our best 22.

Saturday arvo r1 in march is a great result. I think we will get a good crowd. Hopefully a cracking day weather wise. Well we should and I cant wait for it.

Hope howe enjoys his first trip to ANZ stadium.

all depends on the structural integrity of those houses around Gosch's Paddock during January and February.....

I actually think this is a good thing. Round 1 tends to attract bigger crowds even for poor-performing clubs. We got 27,000 against GC is Round 1 last year. Good crowd considering.

I think we could push 30,000 in Round 1 if we have a good pre-season. Same game scheduled mid-season would be 16,000-20,000, so it's good to get the low-drawers early in the season.

Should be a cracking game of footy, if deficient in the skills department as most round 1 games are. Hard to predict the result because we have no info on final lists, injuries, form through the NAB challenge etc...

Over the last few years my eldest daughter and I have made a point of attending the MFC v GWS games, a it is our annual "booing of Tom Scully" match which we enjoy immensely. I don't understand why this gives us so much pleasure but it does. But this year, I genuinely don't give a **** about Tom Scully. He has become such a non-performer and rarely impacts a game that I will hardly notice him.

As long as it is at the "G" and not docklands.

Surely the AFL realise Melbourne supporters hate that joint.

Easter Saturday, first game of the season, we could break the 20K barrier.

27k against the Suns in the same game this year.

Extremely generous given Essendon, St Kilda and Brizzy all have to travel

Not complaining though

Someone on BigFooty said we've only travelled once in round 1 since 1991! (Twice if you count going to Kardinia Park in 95).

Jetta had a disappointing 2015. Whether he is a permanent player in 2016 will be a reflection and an indicator of our improvement. He has his limitations and I can't see him holding down a spot in a more offensive attacking side that starts to gets it act together. I disagree. He had a very good season which was interrupted by injuries.

How did my comments get incorporated into your post????

How did my comments get incorporated into your post????

Not sure

Should be a cracking game of footy, if deficient in the skills department as most round 1 games are. Hard to predict the result because we have no info on final lists, injuries, form through the NAB challenge etc...

Over the last few years my eldest daughter and I have made a point of attending the MFC v GWS games, a it is our annual "booing of Tom Scully" match which we enjoy immensely. I don't understand why this gives us so much pleasure but it does. But this year, I genuinely don't give a **** about Tom Scully. He has become such a non-performer and rarely impacts a game that I will hardly notice him.

Is that a racist thing?

How did my comments get incorporated into your post????

Not sure

yeah, that's weird

Is that a racist thing?

are the scully's a race?

Aah to see Tom $cully do an ACL on The Members Wing

We should get 40,000 to a Home Game with that as a possibility....

Is that a racist thing?

Edit: - Voldemort loves it.

Edited October 26, 201510 yr by ManDee

are the scully's a race?

A rat race ????

Good to see the precedent for the season has been set again, we get a home game against a low drawing side so we can make little money, and the Pies travel at a time where they are well rested and it will impact them the least. Lets hope it isn't a sign of the whole draw ahead.