Next week we will be without:

Neitz

Robbo

Brock

Whelan

Bell

Jones

Brown

Moloney

Bartram

with the a good chance that neither TJ and Rivers will play given the nature of their injuries (unknown and reoccuring respectively)

How does one cover such a huge group of players?

But it brings about a question, why dont we bottle it up more? How the hell were we going to get close with an open gameplan? especially as they have two of the best KPP forwards in the league. I dont understand how we had a chance of winning a 130 vs 90 shootout, when we needed a 11 goal slog

I suggest that at the SCG next week due to the size of the ground and the players we have on the park we may play a different style of game.

T Johnstone (hamstring) replaced in selected side by C Sylvia

B Moloney (groin) replaced in selected side by M Bate

M Whelan (hamstring)

N Jones (ankle)

D Bell (concussion)

N Brown (calf)

P Wheatley (shoulder)

These are the injuries we sustained today.

One would think Whelan, Jones, and Brown won't be right for next week. I'm not convinced Moloney will be OK, same with Travis. In the 15 years i've been supporting Melbourne i have never seen us have such a rotten run with injuries, this is beyond frustrating. What on earth can we do about it?

i was told today that rivs will prob miss next week too

Next week we will be without:

Neitz

Robbo

Brock

Whelan

Bell

Jones

Brown

Moloney

Bartram

with the a good chance that neither TJ and Rivers will play given the nature of their injuries (unknown and reoccuring respectively)

How does one cover such a huge group of players?

But it brings about a question, why dont we bottle it up more? How the hell were we going to get close with an open gameplan? especially as they have two of the best KPP forwards in the league. I dont understand how we had a chance of winning a 130 vs 90 shootout, when we needed a 11 goal slog

Brown? What happend 2 him?

Johnstone and Moloney were late withdrawals, while several others including Lynden Dunn were forced to play on with injuries.

This is from the MFC website, does anyone know what they are refering to here, or are they just talking about his earlier-than-expected return?

This is from the MFC website, does anyone know what they are refering to here, or are they just talking about his earlier-than-expected return?

Wheatley dislocated his shoulder in his return match. Still playing injured. Sylvia OP, Bell probably still feeling the effects of having his nose broken twice in two weeks and Davey alleged to have a thigh problem. Pickett lacking fitness. Other than that a clean slate.

Anyone know exactly what Nathan Jones has done to his ankle - happened almost in front of us and it blew up straight away. He hobbled off on crutches at half time on his way back to the rooms but then he came back doing a fitness test and was "running" along the boundary line.........would that indicate that it is "not that bad"????

I love him - he tries his guts out week after week and we will miss him - along with all the others........wow what a long injury list and it just keeps getting worse.

Wheatley also jarred his shoulder when laying a tackle in the last quarter- he struggled on playing with one arm.

Jones has rolled his ankle according to 3AW.

Wheels hamstring.

Brown had an icepack on his calf.

Dunn has been mentioned in a report I read but seemed fine at the game.

I thought it was an excellent game by the team despite the loss and they showed guts to keep at it. Well done boys I am proud of you.

It is still amazing that with so many injuries we still haven't had a first gamer!

ND is very reluctant to play kids and I really don't know why.

I thought it was an excellent game by the team despite the loss and they showed guts to keep at it. Well done boys I am proud of you.

Exactly. Although ND wont use the 'injuries' excuse, I thought the players were absolutely brave today & put up a great contest until the end. For the first time in 4 weeks I left the ground proud that that did their best with the resources they have available.

With this type of effort week in week out, the return of key players over a period of time, I can see our season turning for the better. Making the 8 however, may be a little difficult.

Wheatley dislocated his shoulder in his return match. Still playing injured. Sylvia OP, Bell probably still feeling the effects of having his nose broken twice in two weeks and Davey alleged to have a thigh problem. Pickett lacking fitness. Other than that a clean slate.

Funny, but i was actually referring to Dunn specifically. He certainly didn't seem below fitness today, he did well!

If Jonesy rolled his ankle, why was he rubbing his calf when he was going off???? Hope this isn't another long out like Robbo, Neitzy, Bartram, McLean - hopefully just a week or two.

another thing which i forgot to add to the orginal post.

david neitz did his knee in round 2 and was expected to be 3-4 weeks, making his return around round 5-6. today the doc says another 2-3 weeks. making his return rounds 7-8.

Brock did his foot in round 1 and was expected to be out for 6 weeks, making his return around round 7 (in fact i read an article on afl.com.au saying how he was progressing well and would maybe only miss 5 weeks), so then i almost rear-ended the car in front on the way home today when the doc says brock will be another 4 weeks. what the hell is going on? are the estimations given the club complete and utter crap? or does the doc not know what he's talking about?

Has Rivers been struck down by the Melbourne hamstring again.... this is ridiculous!!!

Exactly. Although ND wont use the 'injuries' excuse, I thought the players were absolutely brave today & put up a great contest until the end. For the first time in 4 weeks I left the ground proud that that did their best with the resources they have available.

With this type of effort week in week out, the return of key players over a period of time, I can see our season turning for the better. Making the 8 however, may be a little difficult.

great post!....was going to be extreamly tough to win today and with the additional injuries i thought the boys showed a truck load of spirit!

example: b miller has been trying his absolute best the first four rounds.. just keeps presenting when no one else will...imo he will only get better

the same can be said for godders too, and i know his skills and decision making isnt great but gee he tries his guts out..

Brock was signing autographs today at the MFC shop and said 3 weeks to me today.

Let's hope he is!

another thing which i forgot to add to the orginal post.

david neitz did his knee in round 2 and was expected to be 3-4 weeks, making his return around round 5-6. today the doc says another 2-3 weeks. making his return rounds 7-8.

Today on the TV replay he said 'hopefully this week, if not then the next' or something along those lines. I assume he means next week or the week after that.

It is still amazing that with so many injuries we still haven't had a first gamer!

ND is very reluctant to play kids and I really don't know why.

The only bright thing about our injuries today was that our younger blokes could stay out on the field and get a lot of game time instead of being rotated off every few minutes.

What has really upset me is ND's admission that Whelan and Wheatley went into the game with injuries. Now wheels is out for 3, and who knows with Wheats. This was preferable to playing kids? Another nail in the reverend of the church of mediocrity's coffin. :angry:

Wheatley dislocated his shoulder in his return match. Still playing injured. Sylvia OP, Bell probably still feeling the effects of having his nose broken twice in two weeks and Davey alleged to have a thigh problem. Pickett lacking fitness. Other than that a clean slate.

And Whelan.

What has really upset me is ND's admission that Whelan and Wheatley went into the game with injuries. Now wheels is out for 3, and who knows with Wheats. This was preferable to playing kids? Another nail in the reverend of the church of mediocrity's coffin. :angry:

Damn ND for going out and trying to win the game. Gee that's mediocre of him

Who would replace Whelan and Wheatley if they were out? Which of the kids would take those roles?

FCS, some people chirp like parrots about "Play the kids" "Play the kids" and prepared to wave the white flag on a season without a second thought for the fitness, development and positioning of these players.

If we continue to play unfit players we will keep losing them for longer periods of time.The whole idea of recruiting younger players is to teach them and give them experience so that the list is maintained.When you have this many injuries it is a poor decision not to blood at least 1 new player in 4 completed rounds.If this is not true,why get young drafted players in the 1st place?We have to stop making poor selections for each game and get on the front foot and find out what these kids can give to the club.Long injury lists should equal opportunity.Dont give me that crap about negative selection processes.Some of these kids will end up being long term champions of our club , but they need a chance here and there.One more observation would be that we play, like we train!The sooner we work a bit harder the sooner the improvement will come.No miracles ,just harder work and development. Our endeavor is good,our effort to run hard is lousy.

According to Ch. 7, Wheatley should be fine this week, but Jones and Brown are going to miss a couple, and we know that Whelan will miss 3-4 with a hamstring tear (is it just me, or does he ALWAYS injure himself when playing in the midfield?).

Jones was on crutches when going for scans. God help our midfield!

Play the kids play the kids.......

Bate, Bell, Jones, CJ, PJ, Dunn, Bartram have all been given oppourtunites this year. they are kids. there are only so many you can realisticly play each week.