MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE

Sunday, 2.10pm AEST, MCG

MELBOURNE

B: Cameron Bruce, Nathan Carroll, Adem Yze

HB: Nathan Brown, Jared Rivers, Daniel Bell

C: Colin Sylvia, James McDonald, Aaron Davey

HF: Ricky Petterd, Brad Miller, Byron Pickett

F: Lynden Dunn, David Neitz, Brent Moloney

FOLL: Jeff White, Simon Godfrey, Travis Johnstone

I/C: Paul Johnson, Nathan Jones, Matthew Bate, Matthew Warnock

EMG: Ben Holland, Simon Buckley, Chris Johnson

In: Neitz, Jones, Warnock

Out: Colin Garland, Mark Jamar, C. Johnson (all omitted)

New: Simon Buckley (Sandringham Dragons)

PORT ADELAIDE

B: Troy Chaplin, Darryl Wakelin, Michael Pettigrew

HB: Jacob Surjan, Chad Cornes, Matthew Thomas

C: Nathan Lonie, Kane Cornes, Domenic Cassisi

HF: Peter Burgoyne, Warren Tredrea, Josh Mahoney

F: Greg Bentley, Damon White, Brett Ebert

FOLL: Brendon Lade, Shaun Burgoyne, David Rodan

I/C: Nathan Krakouer, Daniel Motlop, Danyle Pearce, Toby Thurstans

EMG: Fabian DeLuca, Brad Symes, Adam Thomson

In: Motlop, Pearce, Thomas

Out: Steven Salopek (hamstring), Michael Wilson (pectoral/chest muscle), Symes (omitted)

Dissapointed about CJ, but it will be great to see warnock and see what he has got

CJ just can't take a trick. I don't see him in Melbourne next year if things remain the way they are, which would be a real shame.

Was really hoping to see Buckley this week, but am more pleased that Jonesy is back. Hopefully there are no late- withdrawals, but I have a feeling either Jones or Bate will pull out.

The spine looks much stronger with Neitz back.

The spine looks much stronger with Neitz back.

Do you mean there's now some backbone.

hopefully cj keeps impressing at sandy and finds his way back into the 22

a disgrace that cj has been dropped!

a disgrace that cj has been dropped!

While you do need to put somewhere near the best team out on the park, I would like the MFC to try and get as much game time into CJ as possible this year.

If Bate or Jones don't come up it seems likely CJ will come back into the team though. I'd be surprised if Buckley debuted as a late change considering ND is often pretty particular about debutants (playing them at home, naming them in the 18 early).

I agree with the selection. As per my post last week we should not decide who will not be with the club next year and not play them regardless.

Unfortunately in my opinion the following come into this category:

Biz - has been a great servant of the club

Wardy - another great servant of the club

Holland - has been a good player at the tiges and the Dees

Brown - Still good at AFL level but his time is up at the Dees if we are serious about moving forward

The tiges have told Gasper he will not play regardeless.

We should play the kids regardeless. We cannot make the 8 so lets plan forward.

We are in the good position of having a lot of good young players and a giood mid mature players. I say get some AFL footy into the kids - NOW.

i think bizz can still offer something as he can use the football unlike quite a few we are playing

but cj needs to be played or will end up at another club playing good football

I agree with everything said about CJ so far, I just want to add that he's not going to learn anything new playing with Sandy, he needs multiple games at AFL level to develop his game.

I'm concerned that Daniher is going to do what's good for Daniher and not what's good for Melbourne for the rest of the year.

I think either Jones or Moloney will be late withdrawels with Neitz out too

Glad to see Jones back. The kid is a real hard goer, and is already very important to us IMO.

I dunno what to take from it but I heard on 9 news "The skipper David Neitz back in the team, a certain starter in this weeks clash against the Power". Brought a slight smile to my face hearing those words.

Oh and CJ being dropped is definitely a bad move, you can't develop a player like that properly, it's just no good for their confidence...

Yze and Bruce in the BP's position. I know Whelans out but surely we have better options than that??? CJ? if he comes in he will have to play back. Honestly who will play in the BP? Petterd? Hmmm...I think we are lacking small defenders

The team is looking good!!

As for the CJ lovefest in this thread, well... the less said the better

and you all wanted doggy dropped, lol

shame on CJ, but he wasnt up to it last week, but i think he will come in and bate will go out

I agree with everything said about CJ so far, I just want to add that he's not going to learn anything new playing with Sandy, he needs multiple games at AFL level to develop his game.

I'm concerned that Daniher is going to do what's good for Daniher and not what's good for Melbourne for the rest of the year.

CJ is unlucky to be picked out of that loss against the swans.

Armstrong was treated the same way... First to be dropped... Up and down like a yo yo.

Give CJ consecutive weeks to prove himself.

I think either Jones or Moloney will be late withdrawels with Neitz out too

That's not good news occo, do you have any inside info on this?

GoDs, Armstong is a different player at West Coast, it's amazing what some confidence can do to a player.

I understand ND has to put what he thinks is the best team that can beat port, but he also has to balance this with the development of younger players. Jamar needed to be dropped his form is going backwards, CJ very unlucky, personally I would prefer CJ than Brown, IMO Brown has no future after 2007 at the MFC. Garland had a taste would have liked to see him again this week but with Neita back he gets his spot. Good to see Bate playing but if is sore on anyway he should be rested, we don't want to push a kid his age to play injuried. Neita will still be limited it would have been nice to see him play in tandem with Newton.

Cj needs more of a go. In one week and out the next is not the way ot build form at an afl level.

In all honestly, the following players may not be at the MFC next year:

Fergo

holland

bizz

ward

brown

CJ must be groomed to fill one of these back roles. Let him hang out to dry if he have to, he is a must play. If he fails after 3-4 weeks, then drop him. One game here and there is no way for him to build form.

Great to see warnocks inclusion. He is another player tha needs afl gametime to be ready to fill a key role down back in 08.

That's not good news occo, do you have any inside info on this?

GoDs, Armstong is a different player at West Coast, it's amazing what some confidence can do to a player.

I completely agree. I believe/believed both players have talent enough to cut it at AFL level... Armstrong now looks damaging in West Coast.

Let CJ "blossom" as ND described it at the start of the year, give him time and then we will know for sure.

How was Brown not dropped ? He was woeful last week only 10 posses and 1 of them was a shocker resulting in a goal to McVeigh. Disgraceful decision, Brown best football is way behind him now, either C.J or Buckley should have played. P.J is absolutely useless I would rather see Holland as the second ruckman or no second ruckman at all. Pickett and Sylvia are lucky to be in the side as well their form doesn't warrant it they have been rushed back too quickly. At least they are giving Warnock a go. For Newton not to be in is another disgrace. Our team hasn't looked like kicking a decent score all year and this kid kicks 6 for Sandy and still can't get a game it's an absolute joke. This is why Daniher has to be sacked. He had the chance to go in the right direction and play the kids their form did warrant selection but instead he's persisted with the same old crap this is why we are going nowhere. Add the fact that we haven't made the top 4 for 7 years show that he is not up to scratch. They can make all the injury excuses they want the fact is that we have 1 of the oldest list in the comp and it took us to last week to even debut a player even with the massive injury list we have.

How was Brown not dropped ? He was woeful last week only 10 posses and 1 of them was a shocker resulting in a goal to McVeigh. Disgraceful decision, Brown best football is way behind him now, either C.J or Buckley should have played. P.J is absolutely useless I would rather see Holland as the second ruckman or no second ruckman at all.

Everyone agrees about Brown being dropped.

CJ did not play well last week however he does deserve to be persisted with but for the love of god, pick a spot for him.

Play him HB for 3-4 weeks, Play him Wing 3-4 weeks, play him HF 3-4 weeks, i don't care.

Just pick a spot and stop throwing him around like he's the saviour who can plug holes.

He's young and needs to find his position in the team and utility is not a position.

Jamar's being more useless then PJ (that's not saying much) but we need a second ruckmen. U'll b stupid to just play White.

The question should be asked, are we any closer then when ND started? Has he rectified any of the problems that have plague MFC in his 9 years (i.e. the mentality of MFC playas and their ability to be ruthless). No.

That's not good news occo, do you have any inside info on this?

GoDs, Armstong is a different player at West Coast, it's amazing what some confidence can do to a player.

The conifidence is a combination of better coaching, better facilites and being back in his home state.

Agree with everything said about how disappointing it is that CJ has been dropped.

How on earth is he ever going to get into a good playing rhythm (if there is such a thing) at either Sandy or Melbourne if he's with one group one week and a different group the next?

I too feel like there will be a late change but I also had a dream last night that we beat them by 26 points... so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.