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Bater finally plays his 100th game tomorrow. It's been a long, tough gig for him. Hasn't lived up to the original hype about him when he was taken as a young draft pick all those years ago. But, he's stuck at it. And, going by his interview on the MFC site, seems he's loving the new regime at the Dees, and super keen to succeed. I, for one, congratulate Matty on his 100th game, and really hope he can yet live up to some of the early hype. Would love to see him develop into a Cooney-like midfielder.

Using Trengove v Dangerfield as a guide, he will get approximately 4,136 weeks.

I understand Viney is being pegged back due to his height and the belief that many of the advantages he's had as a junior he won't have at AFL level, but I'm not as convinced that he'll be the vanilla player some seem to be portraying. There's a particular talent in footy that gets completely overlooked in the media and on forums and that is a players' ability to be able to read the play and find the ball. Our best mid only gets it 22 times a game. Some people wonder why Brock McLean isn't as good as the equally slow Jobe Watson, but they're missing the fact that one is an A grader due to their ability to read the play and make the right decisions and the other is average at these incredibly underrated skills (one is also a great handballer and the other isn't). It's why Swan is so good. Watson is also a leader, which is why he's been able to elevate his game. It's come about through determination and single mindedness to be the best he can be. Viney also has an unyielding makeup in his character to be the best he can be. I think this is another trait that is overlooked by all and sundry. He was put up age groups in juniors because he was manic and hurting kids. He wins B&F after B&F at juniors because he's single minded. He plays in a first XV111 premiership team at school when he's in Year 9. That is incredible determination from a young fellow and don't tell me he had a physical advantage over 17 year olds when he was a short 14 year old. It shows how strong his mind is. His leadership is a trait we need and will serve us well. A poster on another site, who doesn't barrack for Melbourne, called him a "culture changer". The nay sayers may be right, but I'm not convinced that the qualities he brings to the table will prohibit him from being elite in due course. And I do think we need his 'type', because despite Neeld's love of Moloney's clearance ability (mentioned recently at a private function) I don't reckon we've got one quality inside mid - and not with Viney's pace away from a pack. Games are still won by contested footy, good decisions, and clean disposal. I agree that we're in dire need for outside class and a Jimmy Toumpas type will help in this regard. I suppose what I'm saying is that great players are often great players because of their mind. It's often down to the head on their shoulders. Garry Ablett is a great player not because of his height and not only because of his speed and not only because of his strength. He's a great player because of what he does with his talents. Because of his workrate. I don't know if Viney will be a great player, but I do know he'll leave no stone unturned in his efforts to become one. How many players can you say that about ? I reckon some are starting to sell him short, in particular I love his pace for an inside mid and attack on the contest. His attack on the contest will hold him in good stead in any environment. Numerous footy watchers have said that he is without doubt the toughest junior they've ever seen. Sylvia is built like Tarzan, but his attack on the ball at stoppages is pitiful. He attacks the man with the ball, but rarely wins the ball himself. There's a reason that Viney has dominated at every level he's ever played at, but the underlying tone by some is that he'll be found out a little once he reaches the AFL. I don't subscribe to that theory. He reads the play too well and has an appetite for the contest unmatched by 95% of players. Marc Murphy is 180cms, Sammy Mitchell 179cms, Daniel Kerr 178cms, and Shane Crawford was 174cms. Viney is only 178cms, but he's a footballer first and foremost. And I believe he has the traits to become elite. He may not have the left foot of Hodge, or Rich, but he's a very accurate pass over 35 metres, makes smart decisions and would kill his Grandmother to get to the ball first, not to mention succeed.

No it's not hard to work out, he went up there because his partners sister had died. Let's not write anything more into it, the year has been hard enough as it is.

I want Cameron Ling. Reckon he will be a senior coach one day.

If he goes to GWS or GC then he is lost to the MFC for good. The idea of a homecoming after 2 years is a ridiculous pipe dream.

"we'll take your best player, and you can have a speculative pick and one of a selection of our journeymen. Sound good?"

What do you think is the point of Robbo as an interviewer? He's not meant to be the hard-hitting media type who does what he can to get as much material out of the subject as possible. The idea is he's meant to be one of "the boys" who gives an insight into the light-hearted atmosphere around the club. He talks about himself as a bit of a joke to bring out the light-hearted banter oucher pointed out between Neeld and himself. If you are watching Robbo's interviews for anything other than a laugh and insight into the personalities around the club you are seriously mislead in terms of his role. I for one am a big fan of what Robbo does on DeeTV. Always worth a laugh and gets away from the stress of us worrying purely about the on-field performance. Keep it up Robbo!

I wonder if Scully has recovered from the hiding that Jordie gave him a few weeks ago, I see he's been dropped this week, they reckon it's a groin injury but if it was why would they name him an emergency. He probably hasn't had any sleep since knowing that he, the second highest paid player in the comp, was completely beaten by one of the lowest paid players in the comp.

I really have no idea old dee. this has been a really weird and confusing year. i have been baffled many times by selection and struggle to see a pattern we are riddled with players whose development goes backwards or just stagnates not to mention the huge number of injuries and injuries that seem to go on forever this would have to be the most depressing year of the last 5 - so little light at the end of the tunnel end of rant....pass the stilnox pls

Yes we have got to go into the mini draft to pick this man child up.I would think we could get him and Martin with our pick 3 and a player for GWS. Cant see them getting any better then that. Maybe if we just want Hogan we could trade pick 13. Then we get viney rnd 2 and have picks 3,4 win win

Love the lead up to this game. We look rubbish on paper, especially in the forward line. Tigers re-read their own press from a month ago and think we're gonna be an easy beat... ... then BANG! the Stefan Martin Experience explodes on their smirking whiskered faces. Just like with the Bombers, lull them, then smack them. Better go and do my vocal exercises, cause there's gonna be sing'n this weekend...

One thing forgotten about with the draftees, in respect to Viney's value in particular, is that it's often said that at the pointy end of the draft, you choose based on character just as much as talent. Most recently I recall hearing Malthouse say it. Viney simply has A grade character.

We should get him while our premiership window is still open.

Yarrawonga was a giveaway - I had a chuckle but I must admit, he's still an amazing kick!!

Even if the bombers had pick 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 they couldn't get a deal done at trade week.

Actually, I loved him because he kicked lots of goals for the Melbourne Football Club. He could have beaten baby seals in his free time and I still would have loved him.

Oh man, oh man. I thought the sentence "perhaps offer Yarrawonga pick 4 for him" would have made it clear that I was taking the urine! It really has been a tough year for the MFC and consequently the Demonland faithful...

I see Lynch every week (unfortunately) and I think he's a hell of a footballer. He cops it from Victorians because he's a neanderthal. But the guys played 200 games at Full Forward, Centre Half Forward, the ruck and on a wing after starting in the backline. He's a great spare parts man. Can take a strong mark and is the biggest kick in the game. That said, he's too old for us. He's more of the Leigh Brown to Collingwood sort of recruit.

What the hell is a "mid pick"? If it means mid-1st round compensation pick, then it stands as a relatively fair return for Boak.

Davey is contracted for another year IIRC, Gysberts is coming back from a broken jaw which last time I looked is a hell of an injury to get over. Last week he appeared short of a run and was more involved in the last qtr. He needs more game time to regain confidence and importantly form before being considered. My guess is Gysberts will be considered soon enough. As for the others I do wonder about Petterd, I see others in front of him for the time being. What's disappointing for me is he hasn't progressed as I'd hoped for, to me he showed signs of being a dangerous forward/half forward. He has put it together on occassions but they're as rare as hens teeth. I feel Green's career is coming to a close at year's end. For Morton, I think it's up to him for the remainder of the season re: his future. He must take on board what is required; if he is left at Casey for the next several weeks, they may be stamped. Couch I wouldn't have thought would be going anywhere just yet.

I'd be thinking about a mid pick and maybe Dunn,Bate or beamer I'd keep tappy and I still like Petterd. He has literally done nothing this year but we have seen the full potential of the players I mentioned and I don't think we have seen the best of Ricky P yet.

Putting the time in doesn't guarantee success - you keep putting time in to Williams if you think he'll make it and that would be independent of any decision around Lynch.

He's going the way of Newton. If their best career highlights were condensed into 30 minute videos, watching the first ten minutes would give the impression they are superstars but the following 20 minutes confirms the total opposite.

I love Junior but I'd rather a coach who has come from a successful club with a successful midfield.

Too old forvus

Easy, JW of course

Not for me, doesn't really offer us anything.

Would he be valued on his own merits to the equal of him as part of the West Coast structure? Don't think so. Tread carefully with FAs. I don't think Wellingham or Beams are half the players without the well-oiled machine @ Collingwood telling them where to go.

Bradley...... Seriously....... I'd rather miller back if we are going down the path of recruiting hack forwards, at least he brings Mia along with him.

Monky shed 10 kilos for the match! He's now down to a trim 140kgs - the guy looks like he's been eating furniture.

You often rabbit (not sure if that's the right word/spelling for this context, but regardless) on about posters setting up a blog and turning the comments off. I'd love to read your blog.

Jack Trengove board.

DB meant to say a Melbourne club was interested in the big Q - he did try to correct himself. Very unlikely we would be into the big spud, we have enough I wouldve thought.

Just priority draft him WHATEVER IT TAKES !. Judging by the 100k+ hits on this topic if the club is too clever by half in its machinations and some other club snaps him up , the blow to supporters' morale would be devastating.

Don't know if it is 'rubbish'... But I think we pigeon-hole players with far too much impunity and I don't think your characterisation of Viney as a 'Jones' is helpful at all. You don't know Viney's ceiling. Hell, I am surprised by Jones' ceiling yearly as he pushes it skyward.

Rubbish! His name being Viney, has nothing to do with it. I'd say some have got the goggles on, he's not top 5 in class. No matter how you want to dress it up. We need the quality players to feed/get the ball & run & do something classy with it. We need the Pendlebury's & Thomas's & Mark Murphy's, Much more than the Jonses we already have.

He was brilliant in the NAB cup v Collingwood, not sure what happened since.

Ricky is one of my sons and I best players, Infact my son wears no.15 on his back. Rick is an ultra talented player, who seems a little heavy to me this year,not running on top of the ground like he can. Maybe he is getting over some niggling injuries, and hasn't gained full fitness as a result. When he first started with us he was a half back and read the play really well. I'd love to see him tried in this role again.

Brereton calling Petterd "ultra-talented" just shows how full of hyperbole he is.

the fact our list is pretty awful to begin with and it has 13 injured blokes taken out of it not really sure what they can do on selection night ps the only club with a longer injury list is GC who have 14 on theirs.

NO, I'm interested in Stringer as a mid.. A topshelf Goddard type with better skills & a better mark. I don't know if he'll have the same tank, but testing should tell. A solid 6' 3" player with smarts, who can play Mids, & mark & kick goals, or drift or be pushed forward as a 3rd tall. Kouta, or Goodes, a replacement for Morton.

With no Green or Mitch how the hell are we going to kick goals? Our midfield doesn't so Ricky P or Cook HAS TO come in. No mucking around with Ricky P either if he comes in. Play him forward Mr.Neeld not off a back flank no tricks this week against a dusty tigers. I know they have speed on their side and when they are playing well it sends the tigers fans into a state of ecstasy. Lets just hope all our players hear their alarm clocks and they come to play.

Jamar has ruined the fun of writing off ruckmen before their mid 20's for everyone.

We need highly skilled Mid players, with the best pace we can find in those in that group. Surely we have to take the best & most skilled mids available. Tough in/under isn't our biggest weakness. We have Jones, Magner, Couch yet to show his wares. IMO we need Hard & Classy inside/outside players who can pinpoint the ball with both hands & both feet. Toumpas/Wines/Stringer. Or a point of difference re height or outright speed etc. Stringer, or Mayes with great skills &/or pace/height. In this regard I just don't see Viney in top 5. I reckon from his skillsets he should be high, but around 5 - 10ish... He's not in the A class of Whitfield or Toumpas, Grundy, Stringer, or even Wines. Many are rating him on elite hardness alone & footy maturity, great against the U-18's & VFL, but when he has to play against AFL every week he won't be A1 Top 5. All the players he comes up against will be stronger or as strong, & many as aggressive. It' lt'll still take him a year or more to adjust to AFL intensity. We are short on, for genuine "A Grade CLASS"...

that kid second from the back looks happy to be there

It's pretty simple from where I sit. It's a professional sport, act like a professional. There are members paying money to hopefully one day witness the ultimate success. There are coaches putting in countless hours to try and develop these guys into the best athletes they can be. Drinking, taking unnecessary drugs and missing training sessions is letting every down, and you deserve all you get. These guys get all sorts of sh/t for free on top of the huge salary they earn, glamours hanging off them that wouldn't look twice at them if they were elbow deep fixing your dunny... So they have to give up the typical Aussie larrikin lifestyle for 10 or so years. That's probably a good thing.

Seriously? Robbo is great to listen and watch on DeeTV stuff. The interviews he does with Neeld in the Coaches Room show a side of Neeld that is refreshing and relaxed and I actually like seeing that side of the coach. Neeld has a very dry sense of humour and the banter between the two is good to watch. The Robbo show is light hearted and amusing.... it's not supposed to be anything but this. Matt Burgan whilst I appreciate all the media work that he does, still comes across as stiff and almost nervous in front of the camera... Just see Robbo's stuff for what it is... sheesh

Back on the topic of Melbourne's midfield. If it ain't Boak, then don't fix it!

Wines and Viney has a nice ring to it. Could be a good vintage.