DubDee

Not bad emergencies for GC! Matera out of favour I wonder? Good mid and defence but with a few kids in there I reckon we can win Cue the over the top expectations building!!! OLD COAST B Jarrod Harbrow, Rory Thompson, Kade Kolodjashnij HB Trent McKenzie, Steven May, Nick Malceski C Jack Martin, Dion Prestia, Alex Sexton HF Michael Rischitelli, Sam Day, Matt Shaw F Harley Bennell, Daniel Gorringe, Touk Miller Fol Zac Smith, Gary Ablett, David Swallow I/C Mitch Hallahan, Jarrod Garlett, Adam Saad, Greg Broughton Emg Tom Nicholls, Brandon Matera, Seb Tape New Nick Malceski, Touk Miller, Mitch Hallahan, Jarrod Garlett, Adam Saad

GC are not going in very tall so this might be the reason. No need for a 2nd ruck to drop back to mark their big fwds

Brayshaw for sure. Roos loves the kids coming in via sub

Gaz gets free kicks coz he is a gun and puts his head over the ball when his opponents ignore the ball and illegally try to stop him. he should get more support from the umps not less. then maybe the McKenzies of the world will try at least looking in the general direction of the ball

why has he not been upgraded already? two on the LTI list he has played NAB and at casey. whats the deal?

Just joined the coroner league. Thanks for setting it up mate. 'Kev's battlers'

good analysis. Ryder is a massive get for port and they will be top 4 id say. but i dont rate thyem as highly as most. Key position wise - I think the Hawks and Swans have them covered in general though, I reckon there usually is more of a vibe of there are ~6 teams in it and maybe one standout. I hope it is not a trend that 15 teams are playing for pride before the season has even staeted

why do you think Sydney will slide? I expect them to be better than last year. A fit Tippett and Franklin should get 150 goals alone they have no injuries and them young midfield is terrific. Maabe the ruck is their only weakness I have them significantly in front of Port. last year sydney were 5 spots and 12 pts ahead of them

With all the drug talk I thought getting back to footy would be nice Has there ever been a year where the top 2 is so far ahead of the rest? Watching the Swans and Hawks play against us or saints- its like we are playing a different game. Guys like Tom Mitchell not even getting a game at swans that would be in our top 3 mids. There could be sruprises but I think we can say: there is no chance either team will be out of the top 4 - even with multiple injuried which Hawks had last year they will most likely be the top 2 teams they will be able to rest players aganist poorer teams So my question is, am I right in thinking that this is unusually discrepant to other seasons? is it healthy to already know who is the top 2 teams will be at seasons end? I personally dont see Port getting in the top 2 and freo may fall Is there any chance these teams will fall down in the next few years - I honestly cant see the Swans being out of the top 2 for years, maybe the hawks a little with Mitchell/Hodge retiring soon Can anyone catch them? Should there be a trophy for 3rd place I dont particularly want this thread to be about equalisation and free agency (would prefer to talk footy rather than money - but knock yourselves out) but it so quickly becoming like the EPL it is disturbing Am I being irrational or other feel the same?

no guarentees ever but to me they have the best young list by far in the comp. quality all over the park with heaps of speed, skill and hardness - key fwds, depth in the midfield etc. from next year they will be in the top 4 for most of the next 5-6 years IMO. (if not starting this year)

I do expect him to have a big year. And in sure he does tooI'm just not writing him off like a lot on here But the comparison to Newton? C'mon mate. I'm trying to have an arguement here. Don't make it too easy!

you would have thought the stepping stone would have been playin in NAB challenge so I assume as he wasnt even in any of the 29 man squads he wil be no chance to play round one. also not sure he is fit enough to play a full AFL game, he was running out of steam in the VFL from all accounts give him 2-3 more weeks and then let him loose

I would be. I reckon he has enough credits in the bank after some good years and a couple of very good years that can excuse one bad year. he was clearly our best defender in 2013 and was pretty consistent for 6-7 years playing in a horrible team. He cant have lost that overnight I am always amazed how quickly we turn on our players when they are out of form

we are very close to full strength. Just missing one first year playter and JT who got dropped last year, and would not be automatic first 22 No excuses. we are in better shape that 80% of other teams regarding injuries

Ablett will play and I hope he does. Let GC come to us expecting an easy win and lets smash them.

just makes it clear that in 2013, we had...... one N jones. at least we know have Jones, Vince, Tyson, Cross and Lumumba = 5 (I'm including Tyson- similiar to how I reckon port would include Wines) any idea how this compares with others? you would think, comparison wise, it would be bottom 4 material

I agree with your email however I do think it is a good thing to have Roos under pressure. he should be under some pressure after a 4 win season regardless of what he inherited Roos has re-written coaching contracts by essentially being untouchable with this successor plan. Melb will not even consider sacking him as the successor plan is in place. very clever from Roosey to get a job that you cant be sacked from I think everyone performs better under real pressure

question: did you think we'd beat Adelaide, carlton, richmond, essendon this time last year? we are a better/fitter team now

Roos and PJ would not let the prediction of finals next year come out if they didn't think it was a fair chance Finals 13 wins We'd need to be pushing 10 wins this year. Anyone happy with 6-7 wins needs to look up happy in the dictionary

Damn. I agree with all that

please don't get me started on the raising the drafting age debate again we wouldnt have even seen Wines play if it was raised! there is some guess work in drafting. too bad sorry, had to jump on the soap box

I think every player on the Dees list is terrible and I will not give you any reasons why. put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Indeed. The scary part is when you review that 22 for seasoned, talented, senior players (ie. leaders) that have been with the Dees for a few years that the young guys can follow. you are left with Jones and Dunn That is why Cross and Lumumba are important. and why our youngsters dont come on at half the rate of other clubs, and why we are so so bad

wow I'll never get that 5 minutes back get a room lads

looks an OK team. although: - 2 guys playing their first ever AFL game - 6 guys with less than 20 AFL games cant expect much from those. hopefully the senior guys can stand up and lead the way