Gator

Why ?

I'm happy to see no preseason games as long as they don't reduce the length of games.

He'd be easier to understand if he wore one.

In a bad way. I saw every player you mentioned and there's not one great of the game other than Flower. There are greats of the MFC, but not greats of the VFL/AFL competition. There were great stories, like Stynes, who was a champion of the MFC, but wasn't a great of the game. Simon Madden and Dean Cox are greats of the game, but Stynes falls short of their lofty status. By the end of his career, if not now, Gawn will go down as a better player than Stynes. For me he's already better. In the midfield group you've listed there is not a single champion midfielder in the Voss, Black, Judd, Ablett, Riccuito, Williams, Buckley, Fyfe mould. There's no Matthews, Bartlett, Skilton. There's no Lockett, Dunstall, Carey, Lloyd, Riewoldt, Brown, Quinlan. Or Blight, Jezza, or Hudson. And I've missed many. In fact, I don't recall a single club with as little star power as Melbourne in the last 50 years. We're simply bereft of the ''greats''. In my opinion our best ''collective'' would be the worst in the league among the established clubs. I could not disagree with you more.

In 2018 we were second in contested marks behind West Coast.

Strange list. Wingers like Flower and Alves weren't really mids in the sense they are now. They weren't on-ballers. Woewodin in your top 10 ? Wow. Yze and Wilson were much better than Woewodin. Greg Wells was a much better player than Todd Viney. Anyway, we all see things differently.

Matthew Lloyd just said that to elevate his game and join the absolute best mids, like Patrick Cripps, he had to kick more goals. Cripps and Oliver average the same amount of goals across their career (.4) and averaged the same amount last year (.5). I don't necessarily disagree and think Oliver will kick more goals, but at least get your facts right.

JLT2 is a dress rehearsal for round one, so we'll pick the best 26 players possible. I doubt either will play on Saturday, but both were encouraging. I think Petty has a long-term future and I was surprised by Keilty's athleticism in the ruck.

That's probably the least controversial statement any Melbourne supporter could say. Leaving aside Flower, because wingmen were very different to on-ballers back in the day, Oliver is easily the best midfielder I've seen since Greg Wells. He's better than Wells, who's the second best midfielder I've seen at Melbourne. I can also see Oliver being hailed our greatest mid ever if he leads the side to some flags.

A week or two ago following the practice match against Collingwood I said Preuss was a very average footballer. I think it was in the best team for round 1 thread. You took offence at my comment. I'm sorry to have hurt your feelings.

The MFC is the oldest football club in the world still playing at their codes highest level.

McDonald made it clear that there were some ''rehab guys'' that he named who obviously wouldn't play on Sunday, plus he said there were a few guys who've done everything who'll be ''rested''. I'm expecting quite a few of the (perceived) best 22 won't be playing.

It's just an opinion.

Top 4: 18 of 22

Malthouse rates our list, but he doesn't rate the club. He also think we're too easily satisfied, as well as liking to drink our own bath water.

Most footy fans would agree with you re Brown, except me. He's most definitely a talent, but I find him quite one dimensional. What I like about McDonald is that he not only takes marks inside 50, but he also plays that important connector role from defence and can take a grab on the wing. Those connector marks are invaluable and often start scoring chains. I hardly see Brown leave the forward 50.

You really don't want your best player on indefinite leave 3 weeks before the season starts. Saints can't take a trick.

Hogan is a more talented footballer than McDonald, however, McDonald is just as effective as a forward, as his 76 goals from the last 31 games he's played as a forward attests. Note: there were a few games at the end of 2016 after his move forward where he went back and played as a defender. The Inside Football records are handy for showing this. By comparison, Hogan has 68 from his last 31 games. That said, many variables come into goals kicked, so I'm not reading anything into McDonald's slight lead.

All fair comments.

Cognitive bias is an amusing phenomenon. Most people have hardly seen Preuss play, but they're sure he's in Melbourne's best 22, because a) Melbourne decided to recruit him, b) training reports, c) he kicked two goals in a practice game against a team that had no decent key defenders, and d) West Coast play two rucks. Preuss was OK, but he's a bit of a lumberer and not a particularly good tap ruckman. He's aggressive, which is great, but right now he's a pretty average footballer.

Get well, Dieter. I'm hoping for the best.

That maxim is true when they're seasoned and established, but that's not the case for an 8 game player.

I agree re Lewis. My Brother made the observation that he's too slow, however, he didn't get caught with the ball and made good decisions with quality disposal. I haven't been including him in my best 22 to start the season, but I'm certain he'll be there.

I don't agree with your recollections of history.

I know. I edited 10 minutes ago.