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I completely disagree. And clearly the coaching panel does (and Plapp for that matter). I am constantly amazed that a small minority of posters on DL seem to think their judgments on the relative skill of players is more accurate that that of the coaching panel, I mean come on. A good user of the ball and works hard up and down the ground. With his stellar VFL form deserves his call up and will give all the grunt of Harmes and less damaging turnovers

Amazing how fans can turn on their favourite player after a few games below his best. A young player in his second season playing the hardest position on the ground against the oppositions best defender, often drawing a second player, now becomes the target because the punters are disappointed. Yes, he's missed a few goals - go look at Gunston against us - yes he's still learning and yes his body language is not ideal but those close to him say it's his disappointment in himself, not his team mates, that this reflects. Look at the replay last week and the thumbs up to players who looked for him and he failed to mark. The kids a gun, the punters are sadly misguided and calls for his demotion laughable.

I prefer the "GoDees" put down. Can hardly call us Shemons when we belted the snot out of them last time. Even their lame duck coach said as much. I guess that makes them our Bitchmond......

So we beat Geelong in Geelong this week. Beat Geelong in Geelong next week. Then beat Geelong at the MCG the next game and all is good in the world.

And replace them with who exactly ? All fair and easy to say lets just get rid of them but atm they are depth that we need in our defence stock. It only takes Frost or Oscar to go down with injury and before you know it Garland and Dunn will suddenly be important playing memebers that will have to step. They deserve to remain on our list and honour their contracts. And right now they are important depth players.

Not having a go at u Rod but I really hate that term "spud". Any player on an AFL list has done more than us keyboard warriors. I would also be very proud of them if they were my sons Please show some respect.

Someone on the Richmond bigfooty board alluded to the fact the "Shemons" supporters are crying today that we missed out out Prestia. I agreed with him and wrote that we'll have to unfortunately settle with a crappy midfield of Gawn, Tyson, Jones, Viney, Petracca, Brayshaw and Oliver over the next 3-5 years.

Prestia is a good player and will add something to the Tiges...but they still don't really understand their own list. They may well push back into finals contention next year but if they're reliant on the likes of Prestia and surely not Cloke then they are going no further and just delaying the rebuild another few years. The outside noise is rattling their cage. You shouldn't make list decisions on this basis but they had to get him, the media and fan noise was just too great for them. After missing Treloar they had to get a name player over the line. We are lucky we have Roos in charge of the FD. PJ made a statement early on about him along the lines that he'd never met anyone who went about his business without any care for the outside noise. I would say PJ is similar. They set a direction and make decisions to make sure they reach their destination.

Must be impossible for the umpires tonight. Eagles over there must get lots of free kicks but that means not giving free kicks to hawthorn! It's a wonder they aren't all in the fetal position repeating that they don't know who to favour...

A few stats MFC CFC Diff Average Age 23.3 25.5 -2.2 Average Games 62.1 82.8 -20.6 Back Line Ave Age 22.5 23.0 -0.5 Ave Games 57.5 58.0 -0.5 Fol (includes wing) Ave Age 24.5 28.8 -4.3 Ave Games 103.8 116.7 -12.8 Fwd Ave Age 21.4 25.7 -4.3 Ave Games 70.8 68.5 2.3 Int Ave Age 21.4 25.7 -4.3 Ave Games 22.9 87.1 -64.3 Melbourne Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 3 1 3 6 13 51-100 2 3 1 1 7 101-150 1 0 2 0 3 151-200 0 1 0 0 1 200+ 0 1 0 0 1 25 CFC Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 3 3 2 3 11 51-100 2 0 2 1 5 101-150 1 1 2 2 6 151-200 0 0 0 1 1 200+ 0 2 0 0 2 25 MFC Back CFC Fwd Diff Age 22.5 25.7 -3.2 Games 57.5 68.5 -11.0 MFC Fwd CFC Back Age 21.4 23.0 -1.6 Games 70.8 58.0 12.8 Once again we go in as the younger and less experienced side. Can't remember saying the opposite in a game this year although I am confident there must have been at least 1 or 2. This is a game we must win. We have a clear incentive to do so, they don't, we are in good form, they aren't. If we lose I will be disappointed as it will truly be the end of the season. I will find some solace in the fact we are still in the finals hunt in the second last round though. We win by plenty after a tight first half.

I'm not saying he should be dropped, I'm just saying if he ends up going back to the VFL for a game or two to work on certain things, it's not the end of the world, but rather it's just a normal part of development. It's not his talent that he needs to work on, but rather his attitude, work rate and defensive pressure. It's not all about him, it's not just about the rest of the team having to adjust to him, he's a part of the team and should be treated no differently to anyone else.

Well hopefully the players don't read the venomous crap that comes out on these pages. He is a Melbourne player show a little civility and support.

I reckon it's pretty obvious that Melbourne cooled on him. There's no first round draft pick to trade and with a midfield of Viney, Tyson, Jones, Oliver, Brayshaw, Stretch and Petracca coming through I don't think the 175cm Prestia was a priority.

BRING OUT JACK FITZPATRICK

Totally agree - in any field of endeavor there are some who succeed and others that don't, but spud and dud just do not give respect to those who have got where most of us could only dream.

On form, Watts. Easily.

One thing's for sure and that is Freo footy club has a bad smell coming out of it right now. I think 'Ross the Boss' might infact be 'Ross the toss'. Ed: Oh, and by the way, after years of torment from Freo supporters I'm making every second of their shitty season count.

I still think there is a lot of life left in Hawthorn. Low-life!!

Luke 'Old Mangy Dog' Hodge just waddles around kicking mongrel torps these days. Retire you thug.

Hawthorn are allowed 1 free head punch per game.

Watching hawthorn get beaten is never boring for me. I'm loving it!

King and Healy heaping praise on Melbourne tonight, essentially crediting our team for setting the blueprint on how to defeat Hawthorn. Provided identical examples of clearances the Eagles have taken directly from our win. Once again we were ahead of the game and our footy department has worked out an opposition team that others haven't. A bit like Roos working out how to destroy Hardwick's systems from the very first match.

I played sub-district cricket there in 1968, made a few runs, got called for 'chucking' for a ball I didn't 'chuck', chucked the next ball, got a clean bill of health and turned to the square leg umpire and begged the question, well why not that one? I made the Geelong Advertiser that week, one of my workmates at the Taxation Office brought me the clipping.

Though I have doubts about his inclusion, it is a bit much to be calling Michie a 'spud'. That's a term best reserved for senior public servants. "Head of Census and change management at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Chris Libreri, is a spud", that would be fair.

I am on a losing streak in this thread.

Maybe the group think on Harmes was right after all. That has caught me off guard, I've got to confess. Best of luck to Michie and ANB. Say what you will about them as players, one thing you can definitely say is that they've had to go down the hard road this year to get their chances, and have sustained high quality VFL performances all year.

The real question SWYL is what has he not done! Dermott Brereton was scathing: “He is plenty big to rough it up with anyone … (Instead) he runs to the drop of the ball and within two seconds of the ball on its flight path being about to drop, he pulls out of the contest and wants to crumb it...“He’s a powerful beast but to me he’s looking for maximum reward from minimum effort and minimum contact to him...“He’s brave but at the moment he is wanting to play his footy without suffering any body punishment.” When given the opportunity Beveridge didn't disagree with Dermott's comments. From AA to VFL - some fall from grace! Albeit temporary I'm sure. Got to give it to the Bulldogs to have the courage to make that call.

Given how well the team is going and how well the club is presenting itself I'm frankly astounded at the venom being directed to Lumumba. Read through my posts earlier in the year and you will see I was not a fan of his, I saw him improving with the team but then he started getting his concussion issues. But ultimately that is totally beside the point. All you can take on this issue (unless you have inside knowledge) is what the club is presenting at face value and that's that his concussion related symptoms are ongoing. Logically that means retirement must be on the cards. Whatever you feel towards him think about this: he got those concussions representing Melbourne.

Michie is a surprise - not sure he can maintain AFL standard football across 4 quarters. I would have probably included Trenners over Michie but Michie has been very good in the VFL. The Weideman inclusion is a huge statement from selectors about their preferences and direction.

Really dumb changes. Why mess with a winning side? The forward line works better with Pedersen there. Good luck to Sam, but I don't think he offers as much as Pedo presently. I can't believe that Michie and Neal-Bullen are the next in line given their senior efforts so far this year. Play one maybe, but two is asking for trouble. Would much prefer Salem.

I think it's pretty unfair on the Brisbane Lions that Essendon get pick 1 this year, they're going to welcome back several very good AFL players from suspension, the Lions get a couple back from injury, but they've been genuinely awful this year, where as the Bombers have hamstrung themselves by attempting to cheat, if the AFL were set on giving Essendon a pick this year, they should have set it before the season started at say pick 5,6 or 7 and not allowed it to compromise the pointy end of the draft, I haven't been a huge fan of the Brisbane Lions playing the victim like they have and sooking it up when we applied for a priority pick, but geez it's a big oversight on the AFL's part to allow Essendon pick 1, i reckon they nearly have to grant the Lions a PP on this basis because the difference between pick 1 and 2 can be huge, and they are genuinely the worst team/list in the AFL. People will celebrate if the Bombers come back and play finals next year but i personally will mark it as one of the most transparent and disappointing acts of a league putting $$ ahead of the integrity of the sport, clean sport and the integrity of the contest that i can remember in Australian sporting history. I am sure they've had their part to play in retaining Hurley and Hooker, both looked certain to leave

Compare us to no one as everyone's journey is different. The Dogs list runs pretty deep, The Saints have high class and pace and GWS and The Giants are well placed. We need to keep bringing in talent. That can never stop. Your mid tier must keep improving or you fall behind. I can see Stretch, Hunt, Weideman, Hogan, Petracca, Brayshaw, Salem, Tyson, Omac, and Gawn all improving again next year. That' makes us look very strong. Our best is probably still 3 years away though. It's then that we'll need everything to fall our way

It's a typical Melbourne day. Most livable city I hear some of you say!? It all started off looking so bright. The sun shone through distant clouds , twas a heavenly sight. Yet within a few hours the heavens did open. The eddy circling, umbrellas were carried and dogs started mopin'! But there's nothing, nothing, nothing as dark or as doomish than a radio tuned in to good old Neil Mitchell ...AKA Mr. Gloomish!

I doubt anyone is against dropping a player in the right circumstances, but it's folly to even consider dropping our best forward, who takes the opposition's best defender, is virtually never out-marked and creates opportunities to either crumb goals, reset with the ball locked in our forward 50 or clunk a mark and line-up for goal. Hogan isn't in great form, but he's performing a valuable role. Sometimes you support your best forward rather than undervalue what they're bringing to the table.

I'm worried we won't have the same charmed injury list next year. It seriously has been a once in 20 year injury free run which has aided us in climbing the ladder.

I'm not sure The Age is right saying Lumumba is contracted for two more years...'Rfpc' in the Contracts thread has him listed as OOC in 2017 and Wikipedia has him on a 3 year contract ie OOC 2017. I don't know who is right but would be leaning to one more year. Whatever the issues are with H I'm glad the club is doing what it can to support him. It sets a good example to our list that player welfare is important. If he sees out his contract and gets back into the seniors all kudos to him. If he plays it out at Casey so be it - he will be a good mentor there. If all agree to part ways, well and good. I don't see a downside here and am very confident the club will make a decision that is fair for all. Edit: Correction of Wikipedia reference.

Yes, his info was correct. Kudos to him/her Most of us got stuck in, because we could clearly see he was an essedon supporter posing as one of us, and we take exception to that in whatever way we see fit.

3 years ago, Misson stated that it would take 3 years to get this team to AFL fitness, a lot of posters had a go at him and some very nasty comments have been made over the three years This year has been the least amount of injuries that the club has had for as long as I can remember. Misson was right.

Health aside... I can't believe so many think he's been a valuable player for us. You've got to be kidding.

Yeh, and at the end of season 2, Watts wasn't in the best 22; clearly, his career hadn't been salvaged at that point. Are people really arguing that 2016 isn't the year it's clicked for him?

As long as it's not a delicious nacho hat.

A few people have commented that we are on the up and seem to be like the dogs a couple years back, so I had a look and there are some similarities Dogs: they killed it at the draft from 2010 to 2013 - especially 2012 and 2013 2012 5 wins 2013 8 wins 2014 7 wins 2015 14 wins 2016 most likely 16 wins were very poor at time from 2012-2014, but from memory at the end of 2014 starting showing signs and their young players stood up (is that right?) Dees: did well at the draft from 2012 -2015 - especially 2014 (for those with a weak stomach do not look at our 2011 draft!) we all know our pathetic ladder position but now after 7 wins last year and likely 11 this year we are starting to beat good teams and are showing signs with our gun draft picks kicking on What does 2017 hold? for the first time in a decade, we have the capacity to make a decent assault on the finals and win more games than we lose. f-k i cant wait for next year anyway, back to 2016 and trying to sneaky into 8th spot! umm... feel free to comment. cheers. :-)

I think he got a 3 year contract with triggers for a 4th year LH

I dont understand some being so defensive of players who are clearly struggling But all have a view that's what makes this site work

Basically the League has no intestinal fortitude and panics.

Agree but impersonating a Demon's supporter is a banable offence.

I dare say the Dawe has shut on his time at Melbourne

I was a big fan of this recruitment 2 years ago, but it's not looking great at all. I can't believe it was a 4 year deal.

I reckon it was us that went cold on him.

My greatest hope for Essendon is that they get these players back and are still just really average. That will really upset the playing group. Why you would want to stay at a club that still tries to insinuate that it did nothing wrong when they jabbed you every day for 8 months with unknown substances supplied by a guy that now even the bikies have turned on is beyond me. I wouldnt stay in that work environment. Would you?