TeamPlayedFine39

I didn’t like it. I understand they wanted to do something in solidarity, but it looked tacky and staged; like a Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad. They were safe and risking nothing. Do it during the finals when the national anthem plays... then that’d be a real statement.

Not sure how I feel about this... the team is very, very green. Not as confident as I was yesterday. Great to see some kids get a run and hopefully it’s a sign that form and effort are being rewarded. Feel for Lockhart; thought his preseason form was excellent. Shocked to see Hunt; not that I don’t rate him, just haven’t seen or heard anything about him in months. Checked in for the zoom call with Simon Goodwin on Tuesday. From what he said about the kids and the need for speed, I don’t think any of these changes should come as a massive shock.

Have heard the same. Imagine losing Scully and NicNat in consecutive years...

Hard to imagine a culture of casual racism at Collingwood...

Carlton were garbage and the game was over after 12 minutes. (5 goals down at the 12 minute mark) Agree to disagree I suppose.

That kind of statement is at the very heart of what Natanui is talking about.

Yep. The vitriol against Watts from day one was bizarre and I don’t think it’s happened since. For some reason, he was in the gun from the moment he was drafted.

RICHMOND V CARLTON Margins Qrt Time: 31 Half Time: 46 3Qrt Time: 34 Final: 24 WEST COAST V MELBOURNE Margins Qrt Time: 27 Half Time: 21 3Qrt Time: 33 Final: 27 Carlton were garbage and what the media sells as a 'comeback' was just junk-time goals. With that said, I don't mind us being held to a higher standard, but the back patting from Carlton does not reflect the reality of their round one effort.

Good for them. It's been absurd the amount of good press Carlton has got following a four goal loss in Round one.

It's also all but guaranteed that if we had of taken NicNat, he would have been on the first plane back to Perth when his contract expired.

Meh, 12 years ago. It is funny though that we've spent the better part of a decade hearing that we shpuld have taken NicNat at number one and he's now rated at 4. Journos can't even get the draft right with hindsight.

I agree. Please prove us wrong Joel; but for a guy who has never played a particularly good game in his entire AFL career, he’s held in very high esteem on demonland.

Isn't that what we have now..?

Yep - the red circle on the right is the VFL ground and the center one if the Reserve.

There is the current Port Melbourne oval, which we could conceivably look to enter into a partnership with. Probably not their preferred option 12 months ago, but as we know, the world is a very different place now. There is JL Murphy reserve in the center. Large green space with ovals, soccer and baseball. However it is missing shared community facilities that football club's PR depts use when entering into a partnership with governments. Blue circle is the Melbourne Grammar Sports Fields, showing that a sports redevelopment of the area is possible. If a high school is able to get it done, we have no excuses. The Fisherman's Bend precinct is 480 hectares and is expected to hold 80,000 residents by 2050. At this stage, much of the vacant and warehouse spaces have not been purchased for residential development and, with the current state of financing, there could be an opportunity there.

I'd say it's because people, including myself, think the board is wrong. It's a discussion of the other possibilities that are out there. If we're looking at what other clubs are doing, they're mostly moving away from over developed areas in search of more space. If we are determined to stay in the MCG precinct, we have zero chance of anything resembling what Essendon, West Coast, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Fremantle, Hawthorn, GWS, Gold Coast and Adelaide have or will soon have built. If we want a mostly symbolic presence, stay at MCG precinct; if we want to grow and build a base that can last for decades to come, drop the symbolism and move.

I'm thinking he might be in line to replace Bedford, who was quite good in Round 1. On talent, Bennell could replace anyone in the team, it's more a matter of whether he is fit and match conditioned.

Thanks Lever08. I understand that Bennell played first half in the reserves and second in the seniors... From what you saw today, do you think he'll play round two, or still a little off?

Just got excited about footy for the first time in a long time (feels like years anyway). Bring on Saturday!

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/701806/who-starts-round-2-pick-your-best-22 Fun little app for selecting your 22.

I’m not sure it really matters... where does the money come from? I don’t know what sort of money he’s on, but where does the $1 million + come from to pay him out? How do we then pay a new coach? Would the AFL give us further assistance if we’re throwing that sort of money away? As is said, I see contracts being honoured as very few clubs will be able to pay anyone out. FWIW I still believe Goody will be a very good AFL coach and we’ll perform well this year, so for me, it’s a moot point.

It’s one thing to bring the knives out, it’s another thing altogether to pay out 2.5 years of his contract in this current financial climate. Id say anyone with a contract is very, very safe to the foreseeable time-being.

I'm quite confident that Jones can make a contribution, especially with shortened quarters/season. He's got some real potential forward of centre with short stints in the middle. Hibberd is a big worry for me and could come under real pressure if they persist with Harmes at half back. It seems that they want Harmes to be playing the role that Hibberd was traded in for. Strong body, accountable and long, accurate kick. Hibberd has been battling for the last two years, but injuries in the back half have kept the pressure off. I too would be surprised if Bennell plays, but could easily see Sparrow, Bedford, AVB or ANB filling that position. Sparrow and Bedford in particular were showing some very promising signs this year.

Couple of weeks out, but what the hay! FB: JETTA. MAY. LEVER. HB: HIBBERD. MCDONALD. SALEM. ?LANGDON. OLIVER. TOMLINSON. HF: BENNELL.MCDONALD.MELKSHAM. FF: FRITSCH. WEIDEMAN. PICKETT. Fol: GAWN. VINEY. PETRACCA. Bench: JONES. HARMES. BRAYSHAW. LOCKHART. EMERGENCIES: ANB, AVB, SPARROW, BEDFORD, SMITH, JACKSON.

Again, it's completely subjective and suseptible to too many variables, especially the rose-colorued glasses. It's very difficult to say that there were more good games, when most games weren't filmed and televised in full. The best look you'd get is Drew Morphett offering highlights on Saturday at 6:30 or the 5 minute reel on the evening news. I don't agree or disagree really. I loved football in the 90s, but who didn't love things when they're reminiscing back to when they were young?