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Assuming Brayshaw with teeth and since he didn't train parts of week would make sense. You could also consider he was poor in JLT 1 and good in JLT 2. Does being half good get you in our team these days? Maynard over Tyson I think is more about providing us an option to play a defensive role on Selwood or GAJ if necessary without Viney. The only other option is Vince but you need multiple plans. A lot on here have questioned the quality of Tyson for a few years so you need to also expect that these decisions will occur as we get better. He is also one of our only mid options that really has no flexibility of role. Wagner is clearly the new whipping boy with Frost the player seen as what we want him to be not the player he performs as. Wagner provides a lot more flexibility, allows us to free up Hibberd and Hunt to attack as well as the ability for Vince or Lewis through the middle and is much better in execution than given credit. He may not be the best player but his role in the team gives us a more flexible 22. For where Frost is at go back and watch how our backline functioned when OMac went off and Frost came on in the JLT. Expect to see strong debate like this every week as people adjust hopefully to the decisions a quality team with quality depth need to make at match committee and the increased expectations to stay in the team. Final note. Great to see finally no one querying Melksham's inclusion and growing importance to the team. For those that question if the selectors know what they are doing go and visit some early threads from last year.

I see this as a sign of significant progress. No longer do we select a ‘best 22’ in general... we select a best 22 for the opposition on the weekend. It’s a clear indicator of the depth now within the list and a constant reminder to players that you’re not an automatic inclusion. The competitive nature of even getting a game is now becoming very evident to our list. This, as supporters, is what we’ve been waiting a long while for. Ego’s are out the door. Team first.

Maynard's last game was a final for Casey. Justin Plapp's report: Corey Maynard: Corey had 35 disposals, including 27 contested possessions, five marks, 18 clearances, nine inside 50s and five tackles. I can simply say that Corey’s game on the weekend was probably one of the best performances I’ve ever seen at VFL level – in any game. The way he willed himself to generate something from his team – and through critical contests – was outstanding. He also showed his ability to win the contested ball and get the ball going forward for us, highlighted by his clearance work. He had huge numbers – and he was huge for us. He’s a great young leader that’s finding his way. He dug in and did everything he could for his team. I thought he was best-on-ground by a mile. If anyone is wondering why Maynard has been selected I think hardness is one of his key attributes.

G'day all! For those who don't know, I edit and upload Demon highlight compilations! On the agenda this week, we have Christian Petracca kicking all of his 26 majors from the 2017 season! Also, (apologies for the shameless plug) be sure to LIKE The Mighty Demons Facebook page for more Demon videos! https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyDemons/

Fritsch will be better.

Coach picks his own team? Groundbreaking.

Norf and GC battling it out in JLT3.

Jeez there’s some very bitter fools here. Jack had a good game today. He had plenty of good games for us, and will have plenty of good games for the Power. He’s a good footballer, no superstar, but a good footballer. Everyone need to build and bridge and get over it. We shipped him off when he was trying to be loyal, and he’s not part of our club anymore. Why bother whining about him. Move on.

We did indeed pass. We picked Oliver instead, do you think Port would consider a straight swap?

That was 4 points Essendon can put in the medicine cabinet.

I'd love to see him run through Selwood. That's not really Maynard-specific though, I'd love to see anyone run through Selwood.

Wow Frost has become a gun defender capable of keeping Hawkins quiet in the past 48 hours! frost decision making and disposal is worse than wagners. Just because he is big and fast people tend to not see this?

6 disposals 2 goals in a losing team. Weideman in his debut game had 13 disposals 2 goals, was hampered by a corked thigh in the second half and we won... Now let me think a bit before I write a mindless statement. Yep, I got it... Weideman looked good and made an impact.

Pleased to see they've finally woken up to Tyson. Bit surprised by Brayshaw but he was poor in aflx and ordinary in jlt1. He just fumbled so much. It's naive to think they were left out because they are not quite 100% when they are listed as emergencies, meaning they're ready to play if something goes wrong. Suspect Wagner frees up Vince or Lewis to play midfield. Hopefully some of the stuff coaches must be seeing Wagner do at training starts appearing in games. I'm yet to see a single thing to suggest he's anything more than a neat VFL player.

I hope he makes us pay bigtime for the ridiculous decision to trade him for near on nothing. He deserves success after the [censored] he put up with for a decade.

I hope Jack meets the expectations of Port whatever they may be, and that he regains his self belief. He will not be a different player, just the same bloke in a different environment. He was expected to walk on water when our team was a raging torrent of mediocrity inside and out. The ferocious, sharp tongues of vocal so called Melbourne fans would never accept the club let him down, as much as him failing to get the best out of himself. For every game other than against us, l wish him well.

A typical Watts game. No physicality, but given some space will show his skills. Two goals from left foot snaps, which is his bread and butter, and a goal from a free after he dropped a mark he should have taken. To top it off he drops a chest mark that would have given him an easy shot at goal. Just a typical Watts game.

To nervous to even read all the posts, starting to feel a bit anxious, it's only a game what the hell is wrong with me..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Dee's!!

TBH, after our pathetic last round in 2017 and the Camp crap in the media, we should be extremely ruthless in our attack on the ball. That would bode well for a good start and result.

Frost may have the build (muscle) but he doesn't have the footy smarts to use it unfortunately. He's often out positioned in marking contests by smarter footballers. His build is worth Jack if he can't use it to advantage...

Selwood is the unbackable favourite with my bookmaker for the most free kicks of the round, slightly ahead of that jackass for Brisbane.

Tomorrow at the MCG at 3.20!

There are some plonkers on here but some really stand out from the pack...

Omac still holds that crown. Like Pedo, Tmac, and Gawn before them, both Wagner and Omac will come to be adored by the Melbourne faithful. Bookmark it.

If Michael Christian is a true Collingwood man, he’ll give Cox 12 weeks.

Has anyone mentioned Ben Stratton's mullet yet? Superb!

I was thinking of Weid on Friday night watching Essendon as I was focused on James Stewart up forward. Is big, presents well and has some good hands. He didn’t show any more than Weid other than some flashes last year as a 23 year old. He is finally starting to make an impact but it’s taken a long time. He’s playing in a role which is exactly what we want from Sam imo. I still have faith but it’s going to take another two years and then he will be a goer!!

take your blinkers off mate. Jack Watts played his normal game today. Difference being he is appreciated by coach and team mates. Don't forget more than 70% of our supporters wanted him to stay. Jack did not leave the Dees, he was sent packing. I enjoyed watching him today as I always have. We have to concentrate on our team now , so please don't bag jack

I don’t think it matters who we play anymore if we are not on our A game we will get beat, the comp is too tight now

He wasn’t the right pick, they way overrated their midfield. Petracca is a better forward too. So he would’ve filled 2 holes. The only hole McCartin fills is his mouth.

He looks ready to explode. Not in a good way.

Let's see what the human rights commission has to say about this!

Michael Christian explains the decision: "Oh look, we all got caught up in the romance and excitement of those brave Dons coming back from their awful victimisation. Gee, they're brave. It's like a movie. Actually, it's something biblical. The prodigal son. And how about that Joe Daniher! And Dyson. Ah, Dyson. And Michael, and Jade, and Jake ... and all the boys. They're like my second team, except it says in my contract they're my first team. So then ... when I saw that bloody animal coming in like that from the side, I just saw red. You're just not allowed to try to get the ball off a player who's so much braver than you are! I'd suspend the whole lot of them if I was allowed. That's what the new 12-man commission is going to-- oops, I think I may have said too much. Scrub that."

Think of the pressure to perform on Wags and Maynard. A hungry queue waiting behind them. Can only lead to good things...

Are the emergency’s a genuine next in line to play ? why would they be given a game if undedone or sore from a wisdom tooth extraction . Surely the emergency will be 100% ready to go .

Having Wagner may release Hunt to play on the ball

A "depth player" who played all the JLT and is named when we have 40 fit players. I think he is higher in those considered for selection than a lot on here understand. The best teams have role players who on their own you would not rate highly but are rated a lot higher due to their impact to the overall team structure. I think Wagner is clearly one of these but most focus on his alleged erratic execution and inability to defend well which seems to be limited in example over the preseason. I enjoy those that use the lost at selection crutch if we lose but will be silent if we win. Being he played all preseason when we were undefeated speaks more to if it ain't broke don't fix it. To be clear I would not have personally named him in my best 22 but I can read the bigger picture as to why.

Questioning a depth players inclusion at the expense of a best 22 player does not make him a "whipping boy" get a grip

Just a note on Maynard, Goodwin stated it is everything, training included, that is taken into consideration Thursday, last training before 1st gane, let's ease thru it and not get hurt Not Maynard, he attacked the whole session, including one contested possession followed by a flat out 70 metre sprint into the 50 to be on the end of the chain he started

Sorry Jako, l suspect this JW won't be on the park often enough to gain the mantle if whipping boy. I like Josh, but he was a mature age recruit taken as a depth player. That is probably what he is. A good 25th or 26th player to have on a list. Like all AFL listed players, he brings some genuine talent. Unfortunately his disposal skills very often let him down. I wish him well on Sunday, l hope he kills them. I hope we kill them. But not betting on it. A true whipping boy cops crap for everything they do whether it be good or bad. Josh will never come close to the previous JW.

Best 17 picked. Minus Viney t.mcd Tyson Brayshaw Frost. ANB and Pedersen cover well for mid and tall fwd due to Viney and Mcd not sure why Maynard Hannan Wagner are better than Brayshaw Tyson Frost Frost on Hawkins was obvious ... tomahawk could monster o.mcd or lever need Lever as floating defender not a full back on Hawkins

Good luck to Wagner and the boys. A lot of complaints and a bit of a surprise, but he's done nothing wrong in the preseason. Good to have competition for spos

A limited pre-season? I'm pretty sure he's done 90% of the pre-season and had a little hiccup before the first JLT game, that being a calf strain. He then played JLT 2 against the Saints and a full game for Casey the weekend afterward. Tyson was left out because of form, not because he's underdone. It's amusing that posters are trying to convince themselves otherwise.

I'll be at the G this Sunday for another great Demon triumph. Hope you are too! It's the emblem...

Totally agree, I can’t recall a single time where I thought Maynard was going to get a round 1 call up.

Apart from one scrubby goal, did not see Maynard do a thing in the JLT. Looked a long way away from being AFL standard. Wagner has some decent attributes but makes too many mistakes. Don't really like these ins. Prefer Bugg actually. Early in season the elite runners come to the fore.

G'day punters. Super tricky day at Rosehill tomorrow, a bit more straight forward at Mornington Best bet (and my best of the Autumn thus far): Gailo Chop- a ratings special if ever there was one. At 115 a full 6 points (and therefore 6 lengths) clear of the next best. Loves rain affected going with 3 wins and second from 5 starts on the slow and 3 from 3 in the heavy. 6 from 12 at the distance is not too shabby either. Has Zahra on board who is in hot form. Best value: Peribsen Best long shot: Ball of Muscle (with apologies to Fragonard) And if you want o make some some small change can't go wrong backing Kah in Adelaide for the jockey challenge. not sure what she is tomorrow as they don't put the market up until the morning, but i doubt will be much over 1.50. But she will win easing down. if she is much longer than 1.50 then good value

Christ I hate watching Wagner play, waiting for the inevitable turnover because of zero situational awareness. Mystified.

Brayshaw being left out is clearly to do with his emergency tooth situation during the week. There's no doubt it would have put him out from a preparation pov.

Big Calls, would 100% have preferred Gus and Dom to Wagner and maynard Wagner is ordinary IMO, and doesn't add much to our team.