TeamPlayedFine39

Much appreciated again. I can now stop reading the reviews/obituaries of Friday's match and focus on the positives - get the ball back in their hands, bring on round one!

I must say, if my workplace was going drug testing, I'd be curious to know if passive effects would trigger a positive result. If someone near me lights up a joint, am I going to lose my job??

'You've got the wrong twin!'

I believe it was in the interim report that Essendon themselves stated that they implemented the supplements regime as they were of the belief that 'everyone else was doing it.' It's a child's excuse; and not a very good one at that.

Love Salem! I still do a touble-take every time he gets the ball: the hairdo, the taped wrists, hairy legs and hairier arms and the big number three on his back - uncanny resemblance to great G.Lyon.

I'd agree with elements of this post. But at the end of the day, you can only play the game in front of you. The week before I think we matched, if not exceeded the intensity of one of the top teams in the comp in Freo.

I wonder what the coaches are thinking for Dawes' round one. Surely Pedo must play this week against Essendon if he's gonna be the man in round one.

I tend to agree - I avoid the merchandise that has the 'official' logo on it. I've bought plenty of the retro and monogram gear but the southercross, football, trident, flame, rules, shield, mongramed one is a little bit cluttered IMHO.

Love Salem and think he's going to be a gun for us. Not this year, maybe not next year, but when he bulks up, he's going to be a beast. I'm expecting steady improvement from him this year and am looking for him to get a bit more of the ball - both inside and out. One of the highlights from him last year (aside from the obvious Essendon heroics) was against GWS. He was cleaned up by Josh Hunt when he was going in for a loose ball, this laid him out flat. Salem immediately leapt to his feet and went after the contested ball again, only to be cleaned up and laid-out by Mumford. Salem took two huge hits by the two biggest players on the ground, and tenaciously leapt to his feet again after each one. He didn't win either contest but showed a desire to get in there after a very hot ball. When his frame fills out and he adds a few more kgs, he'll be a beast.

It's a real statement to leave out the highly fancied young guys. It's telling them that they're gonna have to work their behinds off to get a look in, even in the preseason cup. I imagine it would have gone for Petracca too. To have Gus Brayshaw chomping at the bit and running through walls to get a senior gig, will only serve him (and us) well in the long run.

I think every club has the retro VFL merchandise available.

I agree that the expansion teams have been given a huge leg-up in recent years with drafting and salary cap concessions, but I'm not so sold on the weaker clubs, who have had huge breaks since their last premiership, being inherantly incapable. That list would have been fleshed out with Geelong and Sydney if they were having this conversation ten years ago. StKilda went within a toe-poke and a rotten bounce of being back to back premiers a few years back. Bulldogs played three prelims in a row in the last decade and should have played off in at least one grand final in the late 90s. AFL is so unpredictable and no amount of concessions and leg-ups can guarantee success - MFC is proof of that.

KB and Ralph in particular are talking heads - they make outrageous statements, focus on the negative, get some talk-back callers all riled up - then it's forgotten by the next day... when they do it all over again! I agree with the above posters: North Melbourne were a 'destination club' for free agents last year, Brisbane and Port were 'bankrupt' 'irrelevant' and 'unsustainable' in the last one to three years. We go through peaks and troughs in football: Interstate domination / Victorian desolation Victorian domination / Interstate desolation Expansion teams to dominate the comp / Expansion teams to bankrupt the comp Media 'personalities' make these blanket statements and rightly assume that no one will remember that they had in fact stated the opposite the year before. I'm still waiting for the Inquiry into Victorian Football that was being called for in 2006... one year before Vic clubs went on to win seven of the next eight flags! Melbourne would be a destination club for Free Agents if we'd drafted and developed our players well in the last six years. Melbourne would also not have lost the Free Agents that we wanted to keep if we'd drafted and developed well in the last six years. If we have our house in order, players will come, players will stay.

I've been pondering this for the last couple of years and still don't know where I sit with it... Where does Jones sit on our all time list? Certainly not the most talented player to play for the Dees, but it's hard to recall one that played with more courage. Is Jones a name for the 'all time list' or is he a courageous and loyal player when we have been at our very worst?

Has SEN been broadcasting the non-televised matches?

Vomited in my mouth when I saw the thread title... Glad to hear he's cleared, but gee, we have all built this kid up pretty high.

Thanks for the report. Anyone know if Watt's is a chance to play against the Bullies?

I think I posted this when he was sacked by the Bullies. Was very impressed by this speech and very happy to have this man in our players' ears.

Very promising debut and preseason thus far. It'd be tough being a recruiter. Literally every person you talk to, from every club in the country has 'someone you've just gotta come and see.' Every recruiter had plenty of chances to see and recruit Barlow, Jetta, etc. Just as I have no doubt every recruiter would have a txt, email or anecdote about Vandenberg... here's hoping we got lucky this time.

JETTA FROST DUNN SALEM MCDONALD GARLAND LAMUMBA JONES WATTS HOWE HOGAN KENT GARLETT PEDERSEN GAWN JAMAR TYSON NEWTON VINEY CROSS TOUMPAS VANDENBERG Really keen to see how we go against the Doggies. The conditions yesterday I think were very difficult and if any team is going to make it difficult for you to execute your gameplan - it's Ross Lyon's Fremantle. Now that the cobwebs have been somewhat blown-out and the pressure from the opposition eased, I'm expecting us to push the Doggies and hopefully have a good win. I've included Frost, who I believe was the major positive out of yesterday, while I've excluded Grimes from a line-up for the first time in years. Not writing him off, but he needs to find some form and confidence in the next two practice matches to be a chance. Hopefully Watts and Howe are match fit for the first round, but I'm not holding my breath on Vince.

Currently GAJ, Pavlich, Mitchell, Barlow... Past-players: I had the utmost respect for Stephen Silvagni. I remember one match 1995/96 vs Carlton at the MCG. He and Garry Lyon were both running back with the flight of the ball, Lyon trying to mark a ball that was going through for a point. The ball went through for a behind and at the last moment, Lyon stumbled and was about to crash, head first, into the goal post. Silvagni, who had been close on his tail the whole day, reached down and grabbed him by the jumper and pulled him away before he collided with the post. Silvagni's day would have been a lot easier if Lyon had KO'd himself, but he did what a sportsman should. Small act that stuck in my head.

Great pics- really appreciated!

It's terrible but part of dealing with adversity is TRYING to find the 'silver lining'. This is the greatest challenge of rehab - if a player/person believes that their time out with injury is completely 'lost' or 'wasted' time, then the recovery, both physically and mentally is compromised.

Very happy to hear he has signed on! I think his position in the team for the start of the year is dependent on whether Kent is ready for midfield time yet. If Kent is being seen as a mid and not a half forward, JKH and Garlett could make a very dangerous small brigade.

Very sad for the kid, and the club. There is however no longer a savior mentality at the MFC and amongst its supporters. It's terrible for Christian, as it would be for any player, but he was not going to star for us this year as it was all going to be about his development and education. While obviously this will be impacted, it will not be an entirely wasted year for him. Lots of rehab, lots of cardio, lots of footage review with the coaches, gameday observations - the opportunities to improve his understanding of the game are immense. He can shed some pounds and be ready to hit the ground running next year with JT. Sunny-side-up view... perhaps.