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Will look great in a Melbourne jumper. Gawn, Viney, Prestia and Tyson, with support from Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Jones and Vince. Add an Andrew Gaff type and that's an A grade midfield.

Errrrrr............... No!

H is listed as King Lamumba. Has there been an a ascension we should know about?

The AFL is a sport of bogans, run by glorified bogans. Nobody ever has or ever will take them seriously on social issues. They should stick to what they do best - Americanising the game of Aussie Rules

Any doubters re Prestia just watch his game today vs the Saints. 11 touches in the first quarter.

So who reckons st kilda have gone past us now ?!

I think that has not been the case this year, with the side being picked for the future. Players with poor form but future potential, have clearly got games ahead of players with good form and perhaps limited long future potential.

I'm impressed with how well he chucked the "add an Andrew Gaff type" into the discussion as well, as if they grow on trees. We haven't even gotten Prestia yet.

Oh no, we are going to have 10 pages arguing about what an A grade midfield is.

But our woes are self inflicted A dumb game that looks a dumber move each year Imagine if our finals aspirations were riding on the next two weeks

It's more like we refuse to go past them....

Now that is something where the AFL (not to mention Channel 7 commentators) lead on social issues ... I agree that there is a tendency to trivialise ANZAC Day, along the lines of "They died so that we can be obsessed with our smartphones". For me, the whole point is to have an annual reminder of the horrors of war, and the human cost involved, so it should be more like "Never let this [censored] happen again". Linking that to a footy match can be quite a good thing, if done in the right way. But it seems to be becoming just another themed round. FWIW I do like the evening game, with the torch and the Light Horse, but maybe that is just my Demon bias showing through.

The part about having a fist. Either you've got one or you don't.

The AFL has so many themed rounds these day that they all merge into one. There is Aboriginal Rd, Breast Cancer round, Ice bath Rd, Multi cultural Rd. Womens Rd. Maddies Rd ect, ect, ect We seem to change our jumpers (all teams) to suit the particular rd. I am aware of the causes these themes represent but I go to the footy to forget about life's troubles for a couple of hours yet I can't even then, escape peoples woes. I do like the respect of ANZAC day. The youth of today should see what men and women of this country went through. The AFL is not my consious. I will decide what charities and causes I follow

They commentate as if viewers are completely braindead morons with zero knowledge of the game, not even how many points a goal is worth.

This is a godawful game of football. Jesus Christ, how did this get fixtured on a Saturday night over Melbourne vs Adelaide? Compare where the 4 teams were at the end of last year and it's mindboggling that this was considered the premium fixture. Thanks Channel 7, you knobs! Same bloody teams getting the premium games week in, week out.

Snog or snore DC?

In breaking news, Jack Silvani is the only person playing tonight.

Dwayne Russell is the biggest [censored] in media by a long way. I stopped listening 2 Gérard Healey's sports show 3AW when he came on board.

To stay in the finals hunt we must win to peg a game back on the Crows, and it would also help if the Sydney beat the Doggies.

Yeah, Saint's percentage kind of makes it hard. Even before today, which looks to have sealed that question. Good job Warnie. That said, West Coast have a tough final half-dozen rounds and may flater severely, it is conceivable that either of the chasers - Port and Melbourne - could pick up two wins and a chunk of percentage to slip ahead of them. Aaaaand.... North.... faltering... now only 3 games ahead of the chasers and with the worst % of the top 8, with a toughish draw coming up. It's conceivable that 12 wins with good percentage will let a team slip into 8th, if either of West Coast or North really falter.

Cheer up Ernest. I hope you regain your health soon. Nothing life threatening we all hope.

Dermott is a pure redhead passing himself off as a blonde. It's sad.

precisely. that's what demonland is for

the proverbial "little man in the boat" eh, biffo? i can think of worse things to struggle with.

Well said. I have no interest in the AFL being my moral compass.

Two more years. Great news obviously.

I love grimes and trenners. I think we all do. They stood up and led during some horrible years when they shouldn't have had to. I can't argue with the ins and outs. Fact is, we need pace and line breaking. They must think Garlett and harmes have done enough. Garlett is an interesting one, I think the normal rules don't apply to him. He has enough runs on the board to come back in. He better chase and tackle though or he'll be dropped. And now he knows that is no empty threat

Rance spoils footy. Cometti : You can't teach that can you? Got his fist exactly to where the ball is. What part of that can't be taught?

Back in 2005 I went to a mates house to watch the Grand Final. I took a Sydney Swans flag to show support for the East, as you could imagine, everyone else went for the Eagles. The only time anyone spoke to me was when one person asked if I was "Some kinda poofta?" I left shortly after the game finished, and decided to sticky tape the flag to the back of my pushbike. The ride home was only about 2km's. In that time I had a bottle thrown at my back from a passing motorist, a car stop next to me and the driver and passenger get out and try to steal my bike and a car chase me for about 1km. Although this was 11 years ago, times don't change so fast over here, so to answer your question bitters, never.

The Jack Grimes pity train is starting to get abit over the top, it's Chris Lamb all over again. The selectors pick the best side to win the match, emotion does not come in to it. How can people here honestly get so [censored], believe me, Roos leaves us in the dust when it comes to knowing what his players are capable of. Be disappointed because you like Grimes, i understand that but starting to dislike Roos because Grimes isnt getting a game is rediculous

They were 3 ordinary games Dazzle, take the emotion out of it, neither Grimes or Trengove in the team is a good thing. Roos is there every training session, he knows what they can and can't do, Roos is certainly not losing me, i like the changes, the ins have pace and we are in dire need of some

I am on record as not rating him all that highly early on. Seemed like the sort of bloke you would love to have a quiet beer with while having a BBQ in the back yard and watching the rug rats run around, but only a Meh player. No real turn of speed to use up forward (if fact i thought he was fairly slow for a small fwd). I thought it smacked of desperation when the club rookied him and tried the whole "reinvention as a backman thing" He turned it all around through a mountain of hard work and never-give-up attitude that a few other AFL players could take note of. I got this one wrong. Great signing.

Huge Nev fan - I am rapt with the news of his re-signing. I know he doesn't have the flash and brilliance of a Betts or Bontempelli but in terns of effectiveness during game play I consider him one of our classier players. Good kick, often initiates run and carry out of defence, a decent side step, brutal tackler. A lot to like.

Great story of opportunity, persistence and hard work. Nev has become our most reliable defender, and l'm thrilled for him and his family, the footy club and all of us supporters who have grown to love him.

Great post. Amazing how many people haven't grasped the implications of the shift to a zone defense and high press. Reminds me going to games when teams started chipping the ball around and crossing across goals and fans screaming to kick it long. To you're well made points id add that it is critical defensive units develop a synergy, particularly wirh a zone defense. The only way to build that synergy ito play lots of games together as a unit.

Parking inspector?

Unfortunately not mate, says he has no idea. He reckons we've gone from a place nobody wants to go to one of the most desirable clubs in Victoria, which isn't exactly groundbreaking but still good to hear. He also swears black and blue that Clark is a good bloke, which I can't have.

For Adelaide? Yes.

Miss the Tigs fame, fark! Wish I had of watched it. Hardwick hahahahahha how many more years has he got?!

Remember a few months ago when we keen to spend big bucks on A grade Hartlett? Fark me. Average of 18 touches this year. Goes missing when it counts. Big reason why port are soft when it matters dodged a bullet

I agree with you rarely Saty, but on this one I do. For a long time many have, rightly, said that Grimes was not part of our team going forward. He's been a great foot soldier and someone who put his hand up to captain a side that lacked serious leadership. He isn't part of our future though and Roos is treating it as such. He may get some games later in the year but I'd be surprised to see him on our list in 2017.

The bottom line is that the team is now full of players deemed by the coaching staff to be the future of the Melbourne Football Club. I've got no problem with that. Also, bottom line, is that for the past 9 years there's been a rotation of players dropped and being replaced by stop gap players, too many to mention. In the end, I feel as sick as a dog looking at poor Jack Grimes because I know he's bled for us. I also know he's not the future of the footy club.

Thanks for your service Grimes.. You were the face of a dark period for the club.

Coaches talking with Jack after training today. Picture says it all - no one looks happy. Jack looks shattered. Feel for him.

Stats for the full 25 named for this week MFC AFC Diff Average Age 23.5 24.9 -1.4 Average Games 68.1 91.0 -22.9 Back Line Ave Age 22.5 22.8 -0.3 Ave Games 51.3 72.3 -21.0 Fol (includes wing) Ave Age 25.2 26.3 -1.2 Ave Games 98.8 131.0 -32.2 Fwd Ave Age 24.4 23.1 1.3 Ave Games 58.3 118.8 -60.5 Int Ave Age 24.4 23.1 1.3 Ave Games 64.6 49.0 15.6 Melbourne Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 3 1 4 3 11 51-100 3 3 0 3 9 101-150 0 0 2 1 3 151-200 0 1 0 0 1 200+ 0 1 0 0 1 25 AFC Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 2 2 1 4 9 51-100 2 0 2 3 7 101-150 2 2 1 0 5 151-200 0 1 1 0 2 200+ 0 1 1 0 2 25 MFC Back AFC Fwd Diff Age 22.5 23.1 -0.6 Games 51.3 118.8 -67.5 MFC Fwd AFC Back Age 24.4 22.8 1.6 Games 58.3 72.3 -14.0 This has to be one of the more experienced teams we have listed in a while yet we are still a year behind in age and experience pretty much across the board. With Trangove, Grimes, and Garlett on the bench it does put us in front in that department though. Our backline, which some on here detest, some dislike, and a few don't mind, goes in against one of the best forward 6 in the comp being behind my 60 games experience on average! Could get ugly fast but I am one of the few don't mind our defence (with the qualifier that they do fall apart when the pressure up the ground fails). My prediction - 6-7 goal loss, most of that margin being dealt out in a couple of 10 minute patches.

No direct club source but his illness was mentioned several times on the Dees website and here on DL. I think he may have played his first game 2 weeks ago at Casey in the worst conditions possible for a big man, then the bye, so he has zero match fitness.

I reckon VDB has a bit of golden ticket in this side.

Really??? Oliver has played what 9 games & was a rising star & played so well & your having a crack @ the club development .. Honestly people our expectation of our 1st yr players is over the top.. I scratch my head & wonder that some people have no idea