TeamPlayedFine39

My recollection of this trade period was Essendon was all over Oliver. We needed to get a pick ahead of them when we realised he wouldn't bet there by the time our first pick came along.

Scared of the ball, scared of the opposition, scared of getting hurt, scared of hurting others... otherwise pretty handy.

Hurley is an out-and-out gun. If he were even slightly interested in coming to Melbourne, you'd just have to find a way to make it work. However I see great potential in both JrMac and Frost and can see them, along with a cohesive defensive unit and two way running in the midfield, as being a good core of talls going forward.

I believe we've tried to get Jr back to the club in a coaching capacity the past, but haven't been able to persuade him. I wonder if Daniel Cross has assistant coaching ambitions? Would think he'd have a very good grasp of what's required.

I think we'd be helped by everyone getting out and doing a rain dance Sunday morning. Bulldogs are a very good, but young team; the venue is the biggest advantage we have.

Two things that stood out for me in the match: 1) The amount of goals that were given-off / given away by players to their team mates. Very often during the game players were taking possession of the ball in poitions where the goal was kick-able. Instead they were giving off to team mates in better positions and making a certainty of it. This is a sign of a team playing for each other and not for themselves. 2) I don't mind our 'clash socks'

The sad reality is, now that this thread exists, people are actually going to use it anytime he has a bad game in his first 50. (I could have even written 'bad kick in his first 50 games)

Agreed. It's almost as though people are angry at him for not being more talented. I'll gladly pot a player for not putting in effort, but this has never been a criticism of Dawes. He is an exemplary trainer, takes younger players under his wing and puts in on match day; it's just that he wasn't as blessed as some on our list with huge talent.

That's a fantastic effort - hopefully Jetta mrk 2.

It's interesting that most clubs (Melbourne, Adelaide, Richmond, Port) have the 'R' for Recognise, while it appears that Hawthorn and Essendon don't.

Have been checking in daily to see if they're stocking shoes for my over-sized joke of feet. They give members very good deals every year.

Yes, I suppose he's tradable... and we'd get something pretty good for him as he is a very, very good player. I'd prefer to keep the developed, seasoned, 23yo, 100 odd game, center-half-back, who is consistently the leading aerobic runner at the club and a member of the leadership group.

Looks great! I was a big wrap for last years as well, but this one is a little more bold, yet still distinctly Melbourne.

Defense is never about the 'defenders', it's about how well the team can defend. The people delivering the ball into our defensive 50 had no pressure on them, they were moving into space and had space in front of them to put the ball where the opposition forwards wanted it. The games where our defense has looked sound were the games where our midfield worked harder to defend. You could put Bruce Doull down there in our defensive arc and he'd be made to look foolish by our collective lack of pressure.

I grew up in the 80s and only started to pay close attention to football in the early 90s. I missed the Richmond dominant years and have only ever known them to be a complete basket-case. Therefore, I don't have the 'hatred' for them that many other posters feels. I don't feel sympathy for them however as, like us, they've had plenty of opportunities through the draft to rebuild and develop their list and, like us for the first three rebuilds, they stuffed it up.

Bernie wanted to reject the trade and stay at the Crows until he spoke to the Coach and list manager. Was told that no matter how well he played in 2014, he wouldn't be offered a contract at Adelaide for 2015.

Bernie was thrown.

So far above and beyond.

He just keeps getting in the bests for Casey and all the match reports seem to be singing the same tune: good ball use, attack on the footy, poise, and kicking goals. For me, Trengove's return is the big story for 2016. He represented so much hope for this club when we were floundering and he deserves to be there when it all finally comes back together for us. My guess... Round 8 vs Bulldogs.

I was wondering that too - seems to say it at stoppages. Was thinking it might be breaking the contest into tiny units, like: 'Win the next three seconds...'??

Has played 27 games.

Love 'im and it's great to hear him encouraging and teaching out there. Was a little surprised to hear how quiet the other players were out there though. Loved his comment to Jeffy: "This is why you play"

Exactly - it's network television and there's always going to be more independent viewers than alligned viewers watching- they need to be given a reason to stay tuned in. They try to sell every match as a great and exciting encounter and always look to sell an underdog narrative. If the commentators were actually honest they'd say 'rubbish game, you may as well change over and catch the end of Midsummer Murders.'

IMHO Rance will get two, with a likely plea down to one. Viney won't get anything; it was forceful and aggressive, but there's no way that can be construed as striking.

I'd support no changes after a win like that. The week before we had two unlucky players miss out after a great win, but I don't see any 'must haves' in the mold of Vince and Gartlett sitting in the twos at the moment. Let them keep beating down the door while the team is performing so well.