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Will we get to host it next year?

I’m concerned Petracca is going to come back out of shape from this mini break.

They had a very early morning training session before they left QLD, Wednesday off and country visits today, then training on Saturday, probably do indoor work tomorrow and then maybe another outdoor on Monday

Dangerfield was like a kid doing Fantasy Football for the first time and picking all the players from his own team.

Am I the only one who thinks thinks abomination/aberration....is some sort of total [censored] ? Just asking

Paul Amy on Twitter “Fair chance Melbourne Category B rookie Austin Bradtke will play some Under 18 football this year. Suggestions around that he’s been given permission from the AFL to turn out for Dandenong Stingrays.” Probably a good idea since it’s 4 or 5 years since he’s played a game of AFL.

Absolute rubbish

B: Jetta O. MacDonald Hore The best lockdown small defender in the leaghue, plus Oscar, who's traditionally played FB on the opposition's best tall. He should be better again after another preseason. Hore is a very good reader of the play and intercept mark. He takes Lever's role. HB: Hunt May Hibberd Having recently read an article on Salem and the measures he's going to to improve and have more midfield minutes means I'll slot him onto a wing and put a rejuvenated Hunt back to half-back. This line is as quick as it gets in the league. May is super fast for Dees supporters who may not be aware. C Salem Viney Brayshaw The silky Salem may just go to another level in 2019. Hopefully Viney can play 20 games in the H&A. And the all-round skills of Brayshaw should keep getting better. R: Gawn Oliver Harmes The best ruckman in the league, the best young midfielder in the league, and the best tagger in the league. HF: Petracca Weideman Neal-Bullen I didn't think Petracca was ready last year to elevate his game, but do this year. Just a hunch. I unashamedly (along with some others) think Weideman will be a star of the MFC. He'll improve again in 2019. Neal-Bullen is in the top 10 pressure forward/mids in the game, plus he hits the scoreboard. F: Melksham T. McDonald Spargo Melksham is the best user inside 50 in the game and great in a one-v-one contest. What can you say about Plugger McDonald ? A revelation, who's kicked 76 goals in his last 31 games. One of the best key forwards now in the game. And young Spargo is smart and tough, but will have to work hard to keep his position. I/C: Jones Fritsch vandenBerg Kolodjashnij This bench is about as good as it gets (so are the emergencies). I look forward to see Fitsch and Kolodjashnij rotate through the wings and half-back with Salem, while it's great that vandenBerg gets a shot at being injury free for a whole season. Jones may have to reinvent himself again. Let's hope he can. E: Lewis Hannan Frost Stretch Lewis may start round one, but the pressure is mounting even if he makes it out against Port. Hannan will play plenty of games. He just needs to get more touches. Frost is great back-up and may take the Hore or even Oscar role, but he doesn't quite make my team. Let's hope Stretch can show his worth. He's definitely handy depth at worst. And there's still Garlett, Preuss, Joel Smith, Sparrow, Baker and plenty of others who'll stake their claim. What I'm most excited about is the names that are starting to rotate through this midfield. Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney, Harmes, Salem, Petracca, Fritsch, and Kolodjashnij. Plus Jones and vandenBerg. It's about as exciting as it gets. No wonder Tyson got on his bike. Lever will only make this line-up stronger. And I really hope Hunt can also improve and be a player that can make a real difference. I think the coaching group have him firmly in their plans. Naturally, teams are subject to change post JLT 2.

I can see the benefits of trying Salem on ball again as we did to start last year. Sure would be nice to have Viney and Oliver handballing to Salem rather than more crash and bash types. It's the role Higgins plays beautifully for North just getting it fed to him by Cunnington. But particularly if we decide to move on from Lewis as a permanent fixture I think Salem has to inherit the leadership of the backline. Roos compared him to McVeigh last year and I want him in that role. Yeah to mix things up he could swap with the wingers to change match ups or get others in to the game but I wouldn't want a more consistent rotation if he's going to be the guy. Preuss' best chance involves only playing around 60% game time in a tight game I think. Pretty much covering Gawn, T Mc and Weid when they're on the bench and otherwise spending some solid time on the pine himself. Harmes, Fritsch and Oliver probably play a little forward and Vanders and Petracca have to cover some midfield minutes and you go in with one less mid/forward rotation player. I doubt we'll see it in round 1 because fitness and run is vital in round 1. Joel Smith - I thought he was building nicely as a backman even with the disposal/decision making faults. It seems for now anyway they've scrapped that idea. Maybe the Hawks influence that there's just no point having bad kicks in your backline, they cost you too much. Maybe a couple more years training as a forward and he could still end up down back to replace guys like Hibberd and Jetta in time. No one knows what he can do as a forward, but he might get an early chance due to his fitness. Athletic defenders as pressure words are popular across the comp, the Tigers do it very well with Castagna. Very different player but if Melksham isn't right I could see them using Smith as the extra height even as a pressure player and maybe freeing Spargo up to give a bit of skill. Keen to see if Spargo escapes the 2nd year blues.

Maybe , maybe not. Many of us still loved the Wiz, even after he left. He obviously still loves the club. And on a different note. I hold Jack and Todd Viney in the highest regard for their early commitment to the cause during the "basket-case level shyteness circa 1014/1014"

Why is Tmac nominating for this rubbish?

I wouldn't be surprised if both pulled out. TMac - Toe May - Hamstring tightness Well, I guess I can live in hope.

Give it a break mate...yep, Lewis is not my favourite player either but he did more last season than Jack did at Port. ...by the way I would rather have had Jack's replacement (Fritsch) out there than both of them.

That's a thousand year commitment from the Viney's. Pretty awesome indeed.

It's their grand final

If he'd gone to Hawthorn he would've only got a handful of games. If you don't put you're head over the ball and go when it's your turn, Clarko doesn't play you.

arrogance is not confidence smokey... and the tone spreads across the faithful, to form a snowball of tone, leading up to the game. Any disrespect of the opposition, that opposition will use to further fire up their emotional drive to beat us. It is simple, basic, and coaches use this all the time to pre-load their players, who are on the receiving end of the arrogance. ... getting excited is great, being arrogant is fools gold. .

Why is one of our key premiership opponents allowed to select/force our player (with a highly publicised foot issue) to play in an unusual position for him (that would put added stress on said foot), in a game that means nothing?

I was a cynic too Old Dee, until the last test match vs. India when at least four of the wickets were taken when I got up to fetch a beer or take a beer-related toilet break. Now I'm certain that the fate of Australian cricket revolves around my every move.

Gut feel tells me Melksham (hamstring issues) will be the only one from rehab to miss round 1. This is provided we don't have an inury in the JLT (ala T McDonald last year)

A gimmick. Meaning of the word is a trick or device designed to create attention or publicity. Synonyms include contrivance, stunt, ploy, novelty, dodge, ploy.

That Gaff is participating is a bad joke. Break a guys jaw - here Gaff, have a $2000 bonus for your good behavior. It's stupid without precedent (sorry I forgot this is the AFL, there is plenty of precident for stupid there) He should be loudly booed every time he gets the ball in this AFLX farce.

Only the Indigenous team can select Indigenous players? Goodbye inclusion. Welcome back racial segregation. Whose idea was that? Why not go all out and call the teams The Landowners, the First Fleet Floggers, the Botany Bay Burglars and the Port Jackson Pirates?

LOL! Jack Watts standing up in the pressure cooker of a Prelim in Perth..... are you having a laugh?

I fail to see how my post influences the performance of the team.

I watched this kid do some ball work with Daniel Cross the other week and when it came to the kicking, he was kicking low flat 30m bullets straight onto Crossy.. not only was his kicking hitting targets with ease, but he had such a fluent kicking action. They did one drill where he would have his back towards Cross and then whistle would blow and he would spin around and nail a 30m kick each time. Dont remember him missing a target at all. I know he's years away from being AFL ready, but he's definitely got the right tool set to succeed if he wants it. Very bullish, but quietly reckon we have a good prospect on our hands.

It's probably a month early but confirmation that Ollie Wines will be missing for the Round 1 clash.

Jayden Hunt vs 4. James Harmes 3. Clayton Oliver vs Bayley Fritsch 2. Max Gawn vs Michael Hibberd Christian Salem vs 7. Angus Brayshaw I'll bet my 2013 season members scarf that these picks win this bracket.

Yes, definitely a good look for the AFL if indeed Gaff receives boos during AFLX.

Whilst not a great stat against May it's hardly an indictment of the man and his abilities considering he was playing in a team that hardly put up a fight out of the middle.

I have a different feeling about this year than I have with all those previous rebuilds. Also words on a screen shouldn't affect the outcome unless you say something really blasphemous to upset the footy gods.

With his knack for getting suspended, I'd rather he didn't get too angry.

OMG I missed it all Devastated. Do the highlights appear on YouTube? ??? PS was this carp actually on live TV?

Watts after an at times distracting and turbulent off season will be coming in really hot, frothing one might say, eyes rolling back in his head looking to rack up and power Port into a 10 goal drubbing.

This motif looks like a Klingon "Bird Of Prey" Bulltish Idea by the brainiacs at AFGilligan Can you just imagine a Paddy Dangerfield or other "Star"suffering a season ending injury in this meaningless concept!?? Clubs will be ropeable.Happy if NONE of our players are involved. Rubbish concept!

Only 2 Dees. Good result.

Been saying it for years. Finally we see eye to eye!

Oh dear this is the kind of "getting ahead of ourselves" mentality that has brought this club to its knees over and over again Rest assured they will, like every other team come out firing and will be desperate to get a win in round 1 - it will not be easy #bookmarkit They have some quality players - if we are not 100% focused and committed a loss is definitely on the cards

FFS Comparing Jack Watts to a 4 time Premiership player. You never give up the chance to put the boot in. The whole team payed an absolute shocker against Meth Coke, something that i hope Goodwin is still mindful of. But your analogy is straight out of Clown ? School

Agree... perhaps 58er is talking seats.... only 320 or thereabouts at Casey. The capacity is around 10k which should make for a bonanza day for the egg and bacon roll sellers !!

And many who have polar opposite views now had the sane view at the start of the Jack Watts 'Journey' DZ. Starts off as eager anticipation and then either 'Can't let go' or 'Lash out' There are no winners

Consolation prize for you @Gorgoroth You're the winner of the post season tipping comp! Well played and good tipping. I'll post up the overall tallies sometime in the next day or so. 2nd goes to @Go the Biff & 3rd place goes to @DeeSpencer Well played gentlemen. Bad luck about the big one Gorg but Belichick, Brady & the Pats were just too good in a fairly forgettable game all round. We kept waiting for something to happen but the only real highlight was the Brady throw to Gronk. That play proved to be the most decisive play as well. Anyway, thanks to all for your participation. Final Tally - Post-Season Tipping Comp 12 - Gorgoroth 11 - Go the Biff 10 - DeeSpencer 9 - Dappa Dan 7 - JV7 6 - Clintosaurus, DemonDave 5 - Dee Zephyr, Macca

absolute rubbish. have you seen the size of glenferrie oval? not to mention what a mud heap it (any many suburban grounds) was in those days. Hudson got a lot of his goals from ground balls. he was a goal kicking machine in *all* conditions

In this enlightened day and age, where “inclusion” and racial tolerance is supposed to be the norm, why is the AFL engineering a competition where one team is solely based on race and none of the other teams are? Either all teams are based on ethnic background, or none are. How do the AFL expect to cut out racial taunts from spectators at games, when it’s the AFL who are promoting race as a point of difference with idiotic competitions like this? Just another example of how poorly run and how out of touch our AFL leaders are.

Another Fish Creek junior close to making the big league!

So which fans would possibly turn up to watch this rubbish?. You can't even support your team any more. Country teams are screaming out for financial support, teams are folding and Gil spends money on this?