This article is old but when i saw this i could not stop grinning

Melbourne will look forward to the return of experienced players in the next two weeks in the lead-up to the home and away season. Melbourne fans can look forward to the sight of David Neitz, Jeff White, Cameron Bruce, Brock Mclean, Jared Rivers, Matthew Whelan, Paul Wheatley, Clint Bartram, Russell Robertson, Nathan Carroll, Mark Jamar, Ben Holland, Lynden Dunn, Chris Johnson, Simon Buckley, and James Frawley appearing in the NAB Challenge in the next fortnight.

All the players in red are the ones i cant wait to see play again if this article is true...wheatley, bruce, neitz and buckley are up there but i have seen them all play more recently than the players in red

There has been talk that Barts was completing whole sessions at training recently. I'll believe it when I see it, but I will say this. He was supposed to be out for the count at the start of last year, and I went and saw him play for Sandy of basically NO training and fitness base, and he looked sensational. I couldn't help but notice how quickly and effectively he returned fro injury... I hope it's a knack of his, not a one-off...

There has been talk that Barts was completing whole sessions at training recently. I'll believe it when I see it, but I will say this. He was supposed to be out for the count at the start of last year, and I went and saw him play for Sandy of basically NO training and fitness base, and he looked sensational. I couldn't help but notice how quickly and effectively he returned fro injury... I hope it's a knack of his, not a one-off...

I have heard that Bartram is back on track, and that fears he might not play for most of the season were greatly exaggerated. I think he should play some part in the praccy match next week, but probably not this week.

Contrary to that article, I understand Wheels is still some way off.

Just my mail. Lord knows how accurate it is.

Carroll to come in from cold

great news that is about clint and also Rivers.

Bring on Round 1!!!!!

Carroll to come in from cold

I really hope Rivers is right to go! He's the keystone of our defense. We are a totally different unit when he plays.

If Whelan is our only injury for round 1, we can give the Hawks a real shake I reckon!

Could DB and BB actually be genius's and have almost our full list right for round 1? (Granted there is a lot that can go wrong between now and then)

Need a win this week with all the boys coming back; get a bit of momentum.

I really hope Rivers is right to go! He's the keystone of our defense. We are a totally different unit when he plays.

If Whelan is our only injury for round 1, we can give the Hawks a real shake I reckon!

Could DB and BB actually be genius's and have almost our full list right for round 1? (Granted there is a lot that can go wrong between now and then)

Need a win this week with all the boys coming back; get a bit of momentum.

If they are responsible for no injuries they aren't genuises they are the messiahs.

At least we aren't sharing one of the five players who's season's are over already. None as bad as Eduardo, the soccer player. What a shocking injury.

Good to hear Bartram's close to a return, after some of the doom and gloom threads of late. There's a bit of a 'I'll believe it when I see it', though, given the quality of injury-related info we get.

Contrary to that article, I understand Wheels is still some way off.

Just my mail. Lord knows how accurate it is.

Disappointing to hear about Whelan - I enjoy watching him play for us. What sort of injury?

If they are responsible for no injuries they aren't genuises they are the messiahs.

At least we aren't sharing one of the five players who's season's are over already. None as bad as Eduardo, the soccer player. What a shocking injury.

Yeah I saw that - just looking at it makes you feel sick. I dunno about the offending player being banned for life as suggested by the coach - those sort of things are pretty accidental.

Reminded me of other bad knee/leg injuries i.e. Nathan Brown, Trent Hentschel

nobody has mentioned Wheatley or Dunn... both are in our best 21-25 IMO, blokes like Yze, Buckley, Holland, Miller can replace them in the 22.... so we're looking pretty good apart from Wheels (if Bruce and Rivers can hold up)

Of course more blokes will probably hurt themselves between now and Round 1 anyway but geeeeze wouldn't it be good to actually have a squad at 90-95% for the first match

it says rivers has osteitis pubis? and is line ball for round 1.

they only people who know whats going on with rivvo are keeping their lips tight, im sure he will be right to go in our last praccie match, fully fit to take on buddy in round 1!!!

I read the heading to this topic and thought The Biz was replacing Andy Mayer - After further reading, I was sadly mistaken.