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I must have seen a different game to you i thought he played a really good game.24 disposals 10 marks and 4 tackles. Some people will never be satisfied.

A more accurate Casey Scorpions win their first practice match of the season by 20 points - 10.2.62 to Box Hill Hawks 5.12.42. Cameron Pedersen the best for the Scorps.

Hogan is playing today - just confirmed with one of the staff.

What would Roos know about footy anyway?

Watts came on in the second half, and immediately had an impact. Two set shots for goal against a howling wind from 45 m out, nobody was kicking from there. In the last quarter he kicked one goal from one of the very few forward entries, I'm not sure there is more he could've done given the opportunities he had.

yep, it's an upper middle class county south east of london

Sorry nothing wrong with a Grimes game today. Agree with the others.

What's a bunch of sad sacks We are winning and winning well Regardless of the opposition, good teams always take an opportunity for a kill, and this is wonderful for our confidence. Stop worrying about the opposition and enjoy it. It might be the best win we have all year.

Story of the game - We had 400 disposals to less than 250. But about the same number of contested posessions, and clearances. 11 players with 8 or more marks, all of them along half-back or midfield. While the Bulldogs were in disarray and let us have time and space to work a precision-kicking game, it worked wonders. Once they got their tails up and started closing down our movement into half-forward, the rebounds really hurt us, and we clearly got complacent about fighting out the defensive side. Too many were caught running to where they hoped the ball would be. Very disappointing second half, for sure, but I really hope our players are coaches are a little bit more resilient than the Sookscapade Spectactular going on here!

Oscar McDonald playing up forward kicks a goal - Scorps with the wind lead 3.0.18 to 1.3.9 at the first break. Cam Pedersen doing well up forward. Spencer and Fitzpatrick sharing the ruck work and Fitzy had a brief stint forward. Angus Brayshaw looks a well balanced footballer, playing in the middle. Evan Panozza is defending well and Luke Walmsley looks a lively recruit with pace and goal kicking skills - should become a crowd favourite.

Was there today, thought I'd see the massive overreactions put up on here. Have not been disappointed, 25+ pages of whinge. The facts are we played very impressive footy in the first half, had the win in the bag and (whilst i'll be jumped on for this) put the cue in the rack in the second half. First half Mcdonald and Garland seemed to have license to run and make the play, then in the second half looked to be under instruction to stay back a lot more. Might have been to try and stop the doggies flood. Great signs from grimes, salem, toump, garland, garlett, jkh, lumumba, jamar and jetta. A little disappointed in gawn up forward today but ruck was ok, and dawes didn't have a big impact

A lot of things about today deserve to be criticised, but one of them isn't Toumpas.

Jesus wept. I know the second half sucked, but can we knock it off with the extremist conclusions? Anyway, you choose to selectively only recall the second half: I selectively only recall the first half, and have therefore concluded that we are flag favourites. After Richmond, of course.

Someone said to me during the week that MFC supporters are the biggest bunch of whiners in the AFL. Hard to dispute with some of the comments in this thread. Nate, Tyson, Grimes, Salem, Jetta, Toumpas are running and using the ball well. Our forward set up looks well balanced and dare I say it dangerous with JKH and Jeffy at the big fellas feet. You can only beat what's in front of you. Hoping we put our foot down on their throat in the second half.

Mate, stop defending him. You know how much better our club would be with Clark Hogan & Dawes I know some of the clubs most die hard supporters, people who have been supporting the club in every way possible for a very long time, even they are dirty with Clark and feel like he has let us down.Sure it's just a job, but when there is big money and supporters involved it is different!

Well I for one, having reviewed what happened am happy to think the master magician was experimenting/fact finding. He knows more now. Thats fine And on to Friday

Roos seems less concerned than people here: Melbourne coach Paul Roos said he wasn't too concerned by the change in momentum and didn't blame his side for taking their foot off the pedal. Roos said the Demons stopped competing as hard at the contest, but he was pleased with the way his side moved the ball in transition early on. "I think today what we saw in the first half was what we're trying to work on both defensively and offensively," he said.

Thought some good signs from the whipping boys Grimes, Garland and Toumpas. Dunn was a lot better than last week. Salem is a gun. Garlett and JKH benefited by being at the feet of Hogan and Dawes. McKenzie, Bail and M Jones have reached their used by dates. Hard to fathom Terlich being given a new contract but not deemed good enough to play in the pre- season. Love Neville Jetta.

I was watching the centre bounces with interest! Nathan Jones wasn't in the centre once in the last quarter. From this I can conclude the following: 1) We were experimenting 2) The experiment failed 3) We're farked if Jones gets injured

Although Toumpas was caught out a couple of times, it was the best game I have seen him play, simply because of the amount of ball he won. He was running to better positions on the ground and providing an option. I think he will take a lot of confidence out of the game, played like he was apart of the midfield, should take some confidence after that effort. Good on you Jimmy.

When we needed to play well, we did ... and when it didn't matter anywhere near as much, we didn't play well. We showed glimpses of what we were capable of in the first half. The kicking to position was quite good and our attack on the ball was excellent. We took our foot off the pedal in the 2nd half and to me it looked like the coaching dept. wanted to get the players out of the match without any major injuries. It's just a practice match - nothing more, nothing less. The standout positive for me was our distribution off half back - amongst others, Salem, Lumumba & Toumpas all did some nice work (all 3 are new to that area of the ground for us) The usual suspects again made the same type of errors but we're going to have to wear that until the list improves. We can't turf them out now as their replacements right now aren't any better. I do believe that there will be less of that type of player getting a guernsey this year though - Roos is almost certainly working out which ones to keep in the side.

Salem and Toumpas had 48 possessions between them, using the ball well and attacking man/ball hard. Those two, in combination with no major injuries, were the biggest positive from the day. Sick and tired of seeing the team go to sleep for an entire quarter, or more. But if we can work out how to play for four quarters, we will win a few this year. Pickering and Hutchison were the worst commentary duo I've ever had to listen to, in any sport, ever.

Our flag chances are over?

First comment in a gameday thread ever I think... This is good! Too bad nobody can see it!

Scared of Frost.

McDonald's has always used a clown as a front man.

Alright, I'm set up on the couch, fine Islay scotch at the ready. Let's get this thing started. Someone call ahead, we're good to go.

Half time: Casey Scorpions lead 5.2.32 to Box Hill Hawks 3.5.23. Better players for the Scorps are Pedersen, Brayshaw, Panozza and Walmsley. If I was a Melbourne selector, I would be revving up a helicopter to get Gus to Ballarat by 4.10pm.

Toumpas and Salem were awesome. Great signs.

Not a masterstroke yet but does anyone think he looks like a taller Sam Blease with his speed. Its ridiculous how quick he is for a big guy.

Salem brings attributes because he's playing off half-back. Very different to being in the thick of it where you have to find your own ball and create your own opportunities. I can see him learning the ropes and building up his engine down back for a season or two. Too often we've pushed younger players into positions they weren't ready for. This is the new Demons ...

You posts remind me of Bails game today..

not to try start a crap storm but I think calling someone a F*** head is a little overboard how old are we all here?

Toump was in the top 5-10 players. Did some very nice things, just needs to be quicker in doing them.

I agree. 2 poor kicks and caught once the other one very stiff. Ran hard all day as per his 10 marks also was a lot better defensively. So far from our worst it is laughable anyone would raise him.

No need to panic When the game was there to be won we slaughtered them After halftime we clearly weren't very interested in the scoreline which is completely understandable in a practice match I think a number of more important players did not get on the field much in the 2nd half The wind buggered us up a bit and the usual pathetic umpiring saw us get about 45 HTB decisions with no prior opp go against us I just don't put much stock at all in that game

Yep, and the idea he has been given is that Jones isn't good enough for our side.

You're a kn*b

Please?

Holding the ball is going to be putrid this year.

Thought Casey's style of play today was a huge improvement on the past couple of years which frankly, was very frustrating, indirect and hard to watch. Today there was a much greater emphasis on moving the ball quickly and a lot less pointless backwards movement. Guess credit must go to the new coach. Agreed with KC that Cam Pederson was probably our best player and 3 goals was good reward. Of the others, Brayshaw, although not a flashy type was good all match. Stretch had a couple of good runs along the wing. Considering Casey only had 7 Demons compared to Box Hill having about a dozen Hawthorn players it was quite a meritorious victory.

Brayshaw having a birthday in the middle. Pedersen playing strongly. 32-21.

Love Salem and think he's going to be a gun for us. Not this year, maybe not next year, but when he bulks up, he's going to be a beast. I'm expecting steady improvement from him this year and am looking for him to get a bit more of the ball - both inside and out. One of the highlights from him last year (aside from the obvious Essendon heroics) was against GWS. He was cleaned up by Josh Hunt when he was going in for a loose ball, this laid him out flat. Salem immediately leapt to his feet and went after the contested ball again, only to be cleaned up and laid-out by Mumford. Salem took two huge hits by the two biggest players on the ground, and tenaciously leapt to his feet again after each one. He didn't win either contest but showed a desire to get in there after a very hot ball. When his frame fills out and he adds a few more kgs, he'll be a beast.

You really need to get your priorities sorted. This is our grand final.

Guys, as being a local Ballarat Dees supporter I'm just giving you the heads up if you are attending the NAB Cup game v Doggies Saturday 4.10pm start in Ballarat. If travel by train check the VLine site for times etc then a short Taxi ride from the station. By car, turn off the freeway at North Ballarat and the ground is 5 mins away. Parking? They will try to slug you $5 to park next door at the Showgrounds...cheaper to turn East at the Subway/Servo and park down a side street then it's a short walk to the ground. Show this years membership card to get in for free. Last years game here Blues v North had 7850 crowd and I would think max would be mabye 9000? You will be standing! The small grandstand will be full of players families and officials etc. If you can't stand all day you would have to take a chair and get there EARLY! If disabled I'd assume contact the AFL as would be normal practice. The only tiered viewing is the Northern end near the scoreboard behind the goals. If watching from the east (highway side) expect the setting sun to be in your eyes. The ground will have a great atmosphere and the surface is exceptional, if the weather is nice pop into town early have some lunch and make your way to the match. Alternatively arrange to have a catch up for a bbq with friends at Lake Wendouree then off to the game pumped up for a Dees win! Enjoy the day! EDIT BY DEMONLAND: The Game will be LIVE on http://melbournefc.com.au

Salem needs to get involved a lot more than he did last year. I don't share the opinion as most here thinking he will be a really great player for us. Has he even cracked ten touches in a game yet? Id prefer to keep the expectations low and be pleasantly surprised. Cant go past hogan for a breakout star. Loved the way he smashed through the packs last game. He will be loved so much around here and I can't wait.

No way, he is such an exciting prospect.

No one, and I mean no one, with genuine depression has as miraculous a recovery as the lying greedy excuse for a human being that MC is.

LOL at this transparent clown with his #mightycats hashtags on twtter [censored] off Mitch you are loyal to nobody except your wallet what a dog of a bloke