Gator

Grant Thomas has been bleating about them on twitter over the last 24 hours. Says they're a waste of time and should be scrapped. Says all you need are intra-club matches. Many won't agree.

Considering there's been speculation that vandenBerg is taller than his listed height I'm surprised your confused. Let's move on...

While he indeed was a partner, he no longer works at Slater & Gordon and he's not the Gordon in the title.

I'm not sure why you feel this way. He used to regularly run with his Mum to improve his endurance: Elvira, who used to run marathons, played a part in helping him improve his endurance. The pair ran many times over summer around the 10-kilometre Beasley's Nursery track near their Warrandyte home in Melbourne's north-east. "She beats me in the longer distance but she's lost her sprint," Petracca says. He also watched vision post games with his Brothers: Every Monday after a game, Petracca brings home a DVD with his match edits, and sits around the dinner table with his brothers and studies the vision. Julian and Rob play for Mitcham in the Eastern Football League but are midfielders, which Christian also wants to be. He has an upbeat personality that suggests he'd never want to let his teammates down: "He's cheeky and fun-loving. His teammates next year are going to enjoy being around him. He reminds me of a young 'Dipper'. He's happy, he's fun, he's excitable and he'll do anything for his teammates. You'd go to war with him," the recruiter says. And the reports during the off-season suggested that while others were still on holiday Petracca was busy rehabbing at the club. He's only 20, so he's on a learning curve and no doubt will have his up and down times, but everything I've read about him paints a picture that is at odds with your assessment.

Yes, it would be one or the other. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm sure it would escape many. Based on your up close experience of vandenBerg and his size, what do you think is more likely ?

I couldn't disagree more.

Yes, I've seen Goodoil make that comparison. Clearly, I disagree. Edit: I should add ... Sylvia was very talented, but a poor mid. He wasn't creative and lacked footy smarts. There's also the matter of application. We've already seen how driven Petracca is. Why Petracca can't be evaluated on his own merits is beyond me. There will always be a "Sylvia" to compare to anyone. It's a pointless exercise. We all know nothing is guaranteed.

Conflicted. The humanitarian in me doesn't like seeing his disappointing plight and the Demon in me gets some satisfaction and hopes he never plays again. I'm a Demon first and foremost.

vandenBerg was noticeably taller when standing next to Broadbent on the weekend. Broadbent is listed at 189cm. Clearly vandenBerg is taller than 188cm.

It was a silly comment that I'd expect from a half-interested supporter who rarely attends games and certainly wouldn't post on a footy forum. And I know that's not the case. Petracca is a dynamic midfielder, who most experts had as pick one. He box squats 200kg. His next senior coach told Wayne Carey he's the best talent he's ever seen (albeit from the training track). He's quick, strong as a bull, a fantastic mark and kicks 60 metres with ease. Like Dustin Martin and Ollie Wines, Petracca will rag doll the "big boys" from day one. Subject to injury he's as safe a bet as there's going around. There's a reason we bid on Heeney, who will be a star, there's a reason we bid on Callum Mills, who showed in one game he'll be a star, there's a reason we drafted Brayshaw, who'll be a star, there's a reason we drafted Oliver, who will be a star, and there's a reason we drafted Petracca. There's a reason he's favourite to win the RS even after his knee and toe. Just like we knew Hogan would hit the ground running and become a star, many view Petracca in the same light. I know I do.

You're just advertising the fact that you have zero clue about this player. If you had any understanding of his history or talent you wouldn't post what you have.

2016

None. We'll lose matches we should win and get the odd spanking, but I don't reckon there will be a team in the AFL we won't be able to beat on our day.

Pick 19.

Just reported that he's suffered another calf injury.

Melbourne FC ‏@melbournefc 3m3 minutes ago We are awaiting further consultation regarding Angus Brayshaw's knee injury before making an exact diagnosis. http://mfcde.es/24y1KSf

Some supporters will remember that we beat Port at Renmark by a couple of points in 2013 when James Sellar kicked 5. Have a gander at some of the other names that played that day: Magner, Tapscott, Davis, Terlich, Evans, Davey, Strauss, Joel McDonald, Sylvia, Gillies, Couch, Tynan, Spencer, Taggert, Nicholson, Barry, Fitzpatrick and wait for it ... Nathan Stark. The five players that remained for last Saturday's game included a very young Jesse Hogan, Pedersen, Jetta, Matt Jones and Kent. The job of transforming our list in 3 years has been extraordinary.

I probably should have added "if they're in form". Whatever you think of Jones, it's been reported he's had a great summer. And he was also good against Port and in the intra-club. They're rewarding form.

I reckon the club will back the bigger more seasoned bodies. Stretch is a second year player that won't be rushed. If we had the current list (with fewer injuries) last year he wouldn't have got 11 games. Also, Matt Jones and Grimes got more than double the playing minutes than Stretch on the weekend. Stretch got 34% ground time compared to 72 & 77% respectively. The club has made it clear that it would be playing its best side where possible. Call it gut feeling, but I suspect the club has Grimes and Jones ahead at this early stage. As mentioned, Stretch has years on his side.

Underrated posted. While it wouldn't be the centreline I'd pick I agree with you. Many supporters may not like it, but Matt Jones and Grimes are leading the race for positions in round 1. I can't remember the last time it has been so tight for spots. Players like Harmes, Stretch, Bugg, Oliver, Kennedy, Frost (will they go with Pedersen and Frost ?), Grimes and Matt Jones are vying for about 4 spots.

Garland cops a bit (from me included), but I reckon he's a very good "defender". I doubt many opponents find it easy to get a kick on him. Notwithstanding his shortcomings, I reckon he'd be one of the first picked. And yes, I've changed my tune, because in a better team I reckon he becomes more valuable.

Preference: Stay (years of development put into him, devil you know and all that) Think: he'll stay Care factor: extremely low (I know he's important, but, as with others, he annoys me)

Oliver's not competing against Grimes or Stretch. They play an outside role and Oliver does his best work around the stoppages. If Brayshaw can't play round 1 Oliver is the perfect replacement. I'd have both in. EDIT: his tank is the query

Always love your insight. As reported, is it usually a 2-4 week injury ?

Cheers, mate.