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Titus O'Reilly's look at the game: Melbourne vs. West Coast (TIO) 7.40pm As a Dees supporter, I couldn’t be less interested in playing games in Darwin. Any Melbourne supporter worth their family’s inheritance thinks Etihad Stadium is too far to go for a game. Still, like the aftershocks following a devastating earthquake, the Cameron Schwab era still impacts the Demons every day. Melbourne are riding high following their exciting win against Geelong, and so they should be. No one was more surprised than every single person on Earth. The problem for Melbourne is every time they seem poised to win two in a row, they don’t. It’s a real shame too. A friend told me winning two games in a row is a really worthwhile experience. West Coast have proven the doubters wrong in the past few weeks and good on them, considering the injuries they started the year with. They’ve been so good that even Victorians have mentioned them a few times in the past few weeks. I met up with a couple of Eagles fans in Perth just last night and they tell me that a young guy by the name of Matthew Priddis is worth keeping an eye on. Remember, you heard it here first. I can’t see Melbourne beating West Coast in this one, although I tipped them to lose against Geelong and if I thought that would help here I’d do it again. Not that that is what I’m doing, eight years of pure hell have taught me to tip against the Demons every time. If you think that’s disloyal, all I can say is “You weren’t there, man.”

Misson injury interview: - Newton, Garland & Hogan available. (Hogan was ok just being conservative with back and hamstring tightness) - Kent 3 weeks, starts training next week - Vand 2 weeks, did fast running yesterday - Salem 3 weeks, they are being cautious with him - Frost 6 weeks, first run tomorrow. Bursting to get back - Trengove has next scan July 24 which will determine if he can run - Petracca. been running for a week, no sign of a limp. I wouldn't be surprised to see those not available now, come back via Casey given that they would have lost match fitness. Forgot to mention they fly up today to train tomorrow and adjust to the heat.

I watched Stretch closely and really liked his game. May not accumulate great numbers yet but he knows how to use the ball well by hand and foot, makes good decisions and is composed under pressure. Brayshaw and ANB are getting all the raps but Billy is right up there as well.

For those asking how Goodwin might go here is a take from Bernie and Jack Watts :http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/simon-goodwin-shows-similar-traits-to-melbourne-coach-paul-roos-says-bernie-vince/story-e6frf3e3-1227422365467 Goodwin seems to be the yin to the Roos yan introducing a more attacking game to complement Roos defensive game. And Goodwin is doing great work with player development. This is exactly how year 1 of Goodwin's development as a coach was described when he joined the club. As Roos stated when Goodwin joined and again last week, he will do more as time goes on. But Roos is smart enough not to rush it. A big job for Roos is to take the heat from the press when we go thru a loosing patch, which we will. Roos will stick to the original plan when he signed up for the 3rd year: he will be our senior coach thru 2016. And, he will continue to give more to Goodwin behind the scenes and on game day. That is as it should be.

14th in the AFL for goal assists despite being affected by the sub vest 3 times. Not bad for a first-year player that didn't play any NAB Challenge.

For those questioning of Roos: "Assessing the performance of Paul Roos must be made in the context of his main objective which is to hand over a strong list, culture and team in 2017 to his successor Simon Goodwin. On that basis Roos is performing well. The side is more competitive, the players are being developed steadily and performing well when stepping up to the seniors and the team is functioning as a unit more often than not. There have been lapses – such as the last minute of the St Kilda game or the second half against the Magpies – but these can merely be filed into the valuable lessons category, particularly on the back of the win against Geelong. Roos is unlikely to mention the past again as the team has steadily built respect and is now a formidable opponent capable of kicking a winning score". http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-01/midyear-coach-ratings?utm_medium=RSS At the risk of sounding like a 'broken record'...Roos is doing exactly what he said he would do: Build the team and develop his successor! When he goes, at the end of 2016 it will be a shame to see him go but we will not be disappointed in the legacy he leaves.

I have found it interesting that Roos has shifted him back to the forward line. What's his (PR) number 1 mantra? Defence. Where did he play Frawley, a known defender, for most of the year when there were serious questions about him staying? Forward. Why? So he can get his defence settled and learning to play with each other. For the past 12-18 months, Howe has been playing in defence. Over the past few weeks, he has shifted him back forward. Why? So he can again get his back line settled so that they play bulk games with each other, setting them up for a big 2016. Roos wants his backline settled as quickly as possible. We have McDonald, Dunn and Jetta as locks. When fit, he will add Frost to that. We have two vacant spots. His sheer disappointment with the injuries of Garland and Salem is telling me that they are his preferred two. Because of those injuries, he's had to play H there, which is not where he wants him (wants him in the midfield). If Howe was part of Roosy's future, he'd be playing in the backline. For those that don't agree, let's look at the forward line. Lock in Hogan, Dawes, Garlett, Watts and Kent, we have one main position to fill. With Petracca coming in next year, and JKH returning from injury soon, where does Howe fit in? I've said for a long time, Howe has the greatest trade value for us, especially when comparing it to onfield output. We have the potential of bringing in another role player and/or a young midfielder, all from a bloke that hasn't cemented a position, and someone that I would consider "depth". In a few months, it may be proven that I am way off the mark, and will happily admit that I was wrong if this transpires. However, I don't think I'm far off the mark at all.

Was told yesterday the club has already started looking at tying dom tyson up on a two year extension. Not sure how long that may take but wheels are moving.

I wouldn't be surprised if Dion Prestia is on that list at the end of the year.

Stretch is a really good example of a young player who is clearly being 'taught' well by coaches. He takes the first option, which is more often than not the right one. If you compare this to someone like Jimmy Toumpas (originally coached by Neeld's regime), you can see he is still struggling to eradicate errors from his game, because he fails to take that first option. This is down to the early poor coaching in his career. I think Jimmy will get there though. It might take a season or two to completely erase those decision making blues, but time is on his side at 21.

The only time an oxymoron can be a tautology is when it is the Oxley Moron (Pauline)

This extract form rfpc's 'contract tracking' shows Tyson's contract to expire end of 2016 so 2 years takes him out to end 2018. 2019 Jones 27, 2018 Brayshaw 19, Petracca 19, 2017 Dunn 27, Hogan 20, Viney 20, Lumumba 28, Kennedy-Harris20, Salem 19, 2016 Trengove 22, Dawes 26, Grimes 25 (RFA), Watts 24 (RFA), Michie* 23, Vince 29, Tyson* 21, Kent 21, M Jones 27, Spencer 25 (UFA), T McDonald 22, Terlich 25, Jetta 25, Garlett 25, Stretch 18, Frost 21, Newton 22, Neal-Bullen 19, O McDonald 19 2015 Jamar 31 (UFA), Garland 26 (RFA), McKenzie 24, Howe 24, Gawn 23, Fitzpatrick 23, Toumpas 21, Pedersen 28, Hunt 19, Cross 32, Bail 26, Riley 23, Harmes ® 19, King ® 19, Vandenberg ® 23, White ® 18 The great thing about this is that most of our high end talent will be locked away for at least 2 or 3 years. A few more of our new kids and other talented players to sign up and the core team will be there for some years. It will be great when they get a full season to play together and really start to gel as a team!

If he's worth 700K a year to them it should be a straight swap with Treloar

There are some very strange reactions on this thread.

I believe he's going to be a regular contributor to Demonland whilst based in Hawaii.

I don't think anyone cares whether you believe him or not, Stu.

What exactly do you base this from? It wasn't pretty but the ball control game plan from last year stemmed the bleeding. There have been a number of solid tactical moves within games this year. The last 40 seconds against the Saints was everyones fault and I think people are reading too much in to the Oxley QB'day thing. I'm happy to be guided by Roos if he wants to handover faster than anticipated then I back his judgement. But I wouldn't be pushing him out.

Send him a tape of the Dees vs. Cats match and then remind him that Salem, Hogan, Petracca, Trengrove, Vanders, Kent & JKH still have to come into the team!

Interestingly enough, I'm well informed he's having an extended period of time in Melbourne at the moment. Recovery related I wonder? Or...

pffft, both rank amateurs with pathetic post counts reflecting lack of content

Get a room fellas.

As opposed to posting 7000 times on an Internet forum?

Now I get it, the players were injected with propaganda all along.

nice one.....no need for a ploise exploin

Could one of you kindly elaborate for those of us who couldn't watch? Many thanks

Wrong. For us to still have 35,500 Members after the previous decade of absolute putrid football is a revelation 1964 was a very long time ago for any return

Couldn't think of a more worse thing to do.

Fast becoming one of my favourite posters. Agreed.

In what universe is Brynne Edelstone "supposed to be a role-model"?

That asterisk next to Tyson means I couldn't find confirmation - but it made sense that it was a 3 year deal.

I take it Robbo still likes to flip around on the ground after marking attempts to avoid chasing.

I think you're drawing a long bow. Howe has been moved forward out of necessity. Initially Dawes was out, then Hogan and Pedersen. Roos is all about the forwards making a contest to at least bring the ball to ground. An additional ruckman was brought in last week to assist with this in the absence of Hogan and Pedersen. Howe is the only natural forward left on our list. He had to play forward.

I would almost do Howe and our first round pick just for Treloar.

Healy's analysis comes from his contacts at clubland. He's very good at making it seem as though he has a deep analytic understanding of the game. Roos would know what is going on with WC defence but in my limited view, having watched them beat the Tiges when Richmond moved the ball in quickly the WC defence didn't stand up. They can be easily scored against. If we beat them through the middle, which Richmond couldn't do, then we will win the game.

I'm thoroughly underwhelmed by Tucker. Surely for a pick as early as we'll have, in a weak draft no less, you want a pure mid, not a bloke who plays off the HBF. Sure, he's learning to go into the middle, but why hasn't he been playing as a mid at some level all along? It worries me, and I don't see any exceptional attributes in the kid - just a solid all-rounder that has limited midfield experience. Having said that, I'm underwhelmed by Schache too. Looks a lot like David Hale to me. Not a great deal of aggression or competitiveness and looks a bit slow tbh. I'd have Parish, Weidemann or Kieran Collins before both.

If he's still around the club afterwards, it kind of makes Goodwin's job pretty tough. Every time there's a loss, people'd be saying get Roos. If PR moves on, I'm not sure that's then an option. For me, it's absolutely vital that we retain Peter Jackson beyond 2017. We need that off field stability and sound, unbiased, professional decision making.

Lighten up a bit mate. Once you realise that it's not meant to be a serious game with fast ball movement and good skills, it's actually pretty enjoyable to watch. All just a bit of fun for a good cause

Would be better if they all dressed in clown suits and ran around throwing cream pies and pulling each other's pants down. Terrible match, embarrassing. Just needs canned laughter to complete the cringeworthness. Sorry to rain on your parade Dazz.

Don't be too concerned about where he finished in the B&F last year. He is a prime mover and with Priddis sets up their mids, if we don't allow them first touch then we are a long way towards winning the game.

This.I think people need to stop believing the conspiracy theories and just take Roos on face value. He will do out as plan to coach right up till the end off 2016 and gracefully hand the job over to Goodwin. He is training and mentoring Goodwin like an apprentice. Next year yes he will give him more responsibility but Roos is smart enough to know he still needs to do alot of off field stuff as well Membership promotion, sponsers meeting etc.. Paul Roos will not back down from his plan and rush Goodwin in. There is no need to. This was the plan right from the day Roosy signed on the dotted line and he will continue to do what he has promised. We have all seen he is true to his word. As moon mentioned cheers for stating the obvious. Nothing new here.

This is not part of the plan, goody is going to slowly do more over the course of the year but paul roos is our coach in 2016. This plan has been in place since roosy signed and has not changed.

If he doesn't sign can we send him back to Port Arthur in chains or has that rule been removed?

Yeah only won a premiership with it but anyways...

Jake Spencer as a small forward?

Anyone can be right 5 days after the club puts the story on the website!! Maybe 'partyboy' has been on vacation, heard the news and thought it was a scoop. The transition will probably be: - Goodwin to do less player development and take more training/coaching sessions this year. - Goodwin to play a big role in the 2015a trade/draft process - Goodwin takes a chunk of the pre-season coaching work. - Goodwin to probably coach the NAB games in his own right, without Roos in the box (or even at the game). - Roos starts coaching from the boundary for part/all of some games towards the middle of 2016 (depending on our wins/losses) - Goodwin does more work with the board, sponsors and the press in 2016. - In Sept 2016 Roos walks away. Roos has made it clear he will not be at the Demons when his contract expires. He will make damn sure he leaves the players, the list and the coaches in the best possible situation he can. He will have done the job he was recruited for. No crystal ball, grapevine contacts are needed when posters read our website regularly.

How would you know? Do you sit in the box with him? Have you heard it from a current player or one of the assistants? Do you have an elite understanding of modern AFL tactics and structures (if yes then why aren't you employed at an AFL club). There's no way you can make such a sweeping statement like that. I was hoping Roos would coach us in 2016 and then take on some sort of mentoring role in 2017 onwards. I hope he can hang around the club in some capacity after his time is up.

Howe did play a good game for the team against Geelong He also kicked straight. That was my highlight.

Only one player from the GCS that interests me and that is Dion Prestia because he's really one of us. Family steeped in the Melbourne tradition making us honour bound to extricate him from the mess up there.

I'm opting to take a deep breath and see how we go this weekend. Let's not forget this club's history of ripping hearts out of chests.

I'm confused. I'm certain Dawes won't be dropped. I'm certain Hogan will be included. I'm very confident Garland will be included. I'm almost as confident that the Footy Dept will want to reward the Gawn/Spencer combo with a place against West Coast. But everything I know about footy tells me that if all of these things happen we'll be too tall. Add the Darwin factor and we're definitely too tall. Most interesting selection of the year.