TeamPlayedFine39

I agree. If we can win 2-3 of the next 3 matches we will hit the hit the season full of steam and full of confidence. If we drop these matches (which is also a real possibility) we are in danger of slipping into the general malaise that has consumed the last ten seasons.

Never thought seeing Essendon get smashed would make me feel so sad... don't think it'll last for too long though.

Didn't see this one coming - well done!

Good to see Oliver was in full traing; hopefully this means he'll be right to play this weekend after possibly being referred to as one of the 'tired players' on the weekend.

Doesn't sound too terrible... light jog afterwards.

I hope he matures and grows out of it too, but there are many champions who were cantankerous, dummy-spitters... Richardson J.Riewoldt Lockett Barry Hall Brereton Even our beloved Allen Jakovich. Flanboyant stars, full of flair and personality and passion.

Jesse is out of form, possibly for the first time in his life. He had concrete hands in the NAB challenge was towelled up by Davis Round one and was unable to hold the ball in contested marks against the Bombers. He's frustrated that he can't do the things that usually come very naturally to him. He's still very inexperienced; he didn't play under 18s as he was over here with the Dees, he sat out an entire year with a back injury. He's an immature player in a very mature body, many tend to forget this.

Most decent/semi-decent hotels and resorts around Asia seem to have the same basic cable, that includes Australia Plus. Afl live international can just be accessed through the AFL site.

Two very different players and both have made excellent starts to their AFL careers. If we were in a position to have both, I would have grabbed that with both hands!

When the Libs came in and revamped the Australia Channel there was a lot of talk about there being no more AFL. The only real difference is the Australia Network has been renamed Australia Plus. 1 Friday night game 2 Saturday day games 1 Saturday night game 2 Sunday games We're pretty well looked after in Asia and when the Melbourne matches aren't covered, the AFL Live app work well.

A few people have said this before me, but I'd hazard a guess that there will be very few, if any, changes for next week. Roos regularly espouses the value of continuity and sticking to the gameplan. In many respects this is what makes him such a stubborn (and in many opinions on this site, poor) gameday coach. He believes in the gameplan and the system that they have in place and he is unwilling to be reactionary and change it. In his first year at Melbourne he said it was pointless to swing massive changes at the selection table as the team didn't gel if there were five different players brought into it each week. Whilst I don't necessarily believe it's for the best, it's what I think will happen - one, maaaaaaaybe two changes. The coaching staff seem to have huge belief in Lamumba, Kent, Harmes, etc. who are at the tops of a lot of people's lists.

Inflammatory title, but a sound OP. I agree - bring on Round 3!

It's not so much a matter of ability for any of these players mentioned- they're simply not match fit. We'd have 4 Brayshaws out there huffing and puffing. Give them all time.

I was trying to add to your comment, not rebut it- I agree with you.

And that people try to draw too many conclusions from one or two games.

IMHO Jones is a very good captain of the side, for further proof of this, dig up the threads that follow many of our wins. When we're firing, Jones is praised, when we're playing poorly, he cops it. Which, to an extent, is fair enough; he's the Captain of the team and the buck for onfield leadership stops with him. The issue for me is that Jones, Vince and McDonald are terribly, terribly out of form. Great players, playing badly. Jones and Vince are not impacting off halfback and they are struggling to impose themselves when they are playing in the midfield. McDonald, another onfield leader, has some far more obvious and visible blunders. Until these three find form, following interrupted preseasons, we will struggle.

You've bumped 2 Jimmy Toumpas threads to give yourself a pat on the back... how's life under the bridge??

Great debut and looks like he'll be a great player. Staggering that a talent like that was almost missed!

Showdowns are great matches, nothing shocking about that being televised. Chanel 7 will unfortunately miss a record breaking game when we beat the Bombers by (literally) a buzzillion points. That'll be a shame.

I'd like to think we're above stunts, protests and symbolic gestures. We finally have a team that can do the talking out in the field; and that's the only talk that interests me next weekend. Were better than them on and off the field, if they wanna worship some sporting criminals and draw further attention to the most shameful chapter in their club's history. We're above them and, despite the professional era we're living in, we should uphold sportsmanship. Let them march and clap unhindered, I wanna see them smashed on the field.

So now when a player plays an off game with start a thread for him to be dropped?? Why couldn't this op just be added to any number of other friends devoted to preview and changes for next week?? Glad we didn't drop Tom McDonald after that atrocious thread.

Great thread! Thanks everyone who's reported. This has certainly put the Good in my Friday!

Players and coaches have been going on all preseason about the increased competition for spots and improved depth making us a better team. What's the point of having competition for spots if you're not going to pick and drop players the 'fans' like. The way Demonland has melted down you'd think we'd dropped Ablett and replaced him with Jason Daniels.

Port Adelaide Sydney West Coast Western Bulldogs Hawthorn Geelong Collingwood Fremantle Brownlow: Ablett Coleman: Kennedy Rising Star: Oliver Recruit of the Year: Dixon