joeboy

Let's make this a weekly column whereby all are invited to make 1 (and only 1) prediction for the Demons' upcoming match, and let's see who gets closest to the pin. I'll get things started by declaring that Jordie McKenzie will be nominated for this week's Rising Star Award.

Bell , Warnock , Rivers Bruce , Garland , Frawley Green , McDonald , Sylvia Bennell ,Watts , Jurrah Davey , Newton , Dunn Jamar , Trengove Moloney Scully , Bail , Bate , Jones OUT : Grimes ( inj ) ,Jetta , MacDonald , Cheney ,Bartram , Spencer , McKenzie IN : Sylvia , Jurrah , McDonald , Warnock , Bell , Newton , Bail

6 - Watts - played 4 solid quarters , unlike most others 5 - Trengove - always kept running and involving himself 4 - Bruce - excellent first half only 3 - Green - clasy when he could get it , which was probably not regularly enough 2 - Dunn - showed some zest though body language can be improved 1 - Frawley - lowered his colours to Milne , but kept at task

Bartram - has exhausted welcome Bate - had no influence Bennell - rarely gave whimper Bruce - excellent first half Cheney - little to enthuse Davey - rarely showed interest Dunn - lively and involved Frawley - kept at task Garland - was rarely noticed Green - still all class Grimes - injured and missed Jamar - had little influence Jetta - did almost nothing Jones - taught a lesson MacDonald - tough but slow Moloney - displays diminishing zest Rivers - milestone to forget Scully - was rarely noticed Trengove - a rare winner Watts - our best player McKenzie - overwhelmed by class Spencer - an underwhelming display

Yes Kevin Sheahan described him as ' a gun ' and said he was already playing reserves grade football in S.A. and is still under 16 .

Excellent interview this afternoon by Daniel Harford from Skilled Stadium. Tom spoke very eloquently and confidently about his experiences prior to and following his selection at #1 in the draft . He spoke of the constant enjoyment he gets in being handed a different assignment each week , and how doing the team things correctly was more significant to him than any personal achievment along the way . He noted that there was great cameraderie amongst the new breed at the club and how important it would be down the track because they were growing and bonding together both socially and on the field . There was quite of deal of disappointment at not having got over the line in a couple of matches , and he noted that people do not recall the losers over time , even when they deserved to win . He was asked about the difficulties he faced last year whilst trying to combine under 18 team football with school study , and was pleased with the way the MFC had managed his training requirements this year , noting that his body was feeling extremely good but with 9 more rounds to go anything could happen . There was nothing really new or enlightening in his comments but rest assured this modest and well spoken young man is made of the right stuff and will certainly be a leader at the club for a decade .

Jurrah has been training at full speed for a month and wouldn't have been played at Casey if his body wasn't ready ! In your mind he needs to kick 6 goals against weak opposition in the VFL to prove he is ready , but most people understand that high performances in this lower grade do not necessarily translate to success in the AFL . Just look at the regularly strong performances for the Scorpions by Newton ,Spencer, Johnson , Miller and Martin , all of whom were 'ready' to make the transition but failed miserably when given their chances on the big stage . Jurrah is fit and his shoulder is sound - play him ! Repeating my line from the first thread for emphasis - Jurrah is the only player on our list who can make a difference .

Almost certainly , Riewoldt will be selected by the Saints against us this weekend , after arguably overcoming as debilitating an injury as Liam Jurrah , who almost certainly will not be selected . The Saints have more to lose than us by rushing in their best and most valuable player , afterall they're in devestatingly good form , whilst we are almost certainly playing for peanuts . Bailey and his committee are not ones to make courageous selection decisions , but with Jurrah apparently burning the place down at training there seems no reason to hold back the only player on our list who can make a difference . Some will argue that he didn't exactly burn with Casey in their less than auspicious last hitout , but he could just as easily find form in an underperforming senior team than amongst and against less capable talent at Casey

6 - Bate 5 - Frawley 4 - Bruce 3 - Jones 2 - Trengove 1 - Scully

Bartram - season worst game Bate - only winning forward Bruce - tried all day Davey - probably on field Dunn - showed some endeavour Frawley - only winning defender Garland - tried but failed Green - may have played Grimes - many skill errors Jamar - overburdened and ineffective Jetta - not on field Jones - effective stopping game MacDonald - suspect under pressure Miller - not on field Moloney - untypically no zest Morton - looked painfully slow Rivers - had no idea Scully - disposal needs work Trengove - showed great heart Warnock - was towelled up Watts - showed little endeavour McKenzie - tried but failed

Watch the replay and see how rarely he seriously chased , manned up , or made a serious second effort . Age and inexperience are irrelevant when talking about a senior team player . I stand by my comments - he WAS a liability with his failure to adhere to basic principles !

Bartram - outstanding attacking defender Bate - only occasional cameos Bruce - please never kick Davey - inspiring link game Dunn - no Casey performance Frawley - rock and inspiring Garland - wonderful all day Green - uncharacteristically poor disposal Grimes - brave but loose Gysberts - had no impact Jamar - heroic and dominant Jetta - failed to impress Jones - had tough role Miller - actually provided strength Moloney - inspiring and prolific Morton - relished new role Rivers - kept at task Scully - disposal is worrying Trengove - was rarely sighted Warnock - tough and determined Watts - was a liability McKenzie - great in packs

Possible expats from our sister station. BTW has anyone considered that Jamar may not be so anxious to re sign because of the way he was slighted pre season when contracts were initially being negotiated and he was only offered a 12 month contract ?

Yes I regard Ross Dillon as my favourite ever player , but he certainly doesn't deserve prime CHF status because his kicking for goal was always woeful - I have an old Sun newspaper clipping of him missing a goal with the man on the mark standing on the goal line .To this day I regard that feat as a miracle .

6 - Bruce 5 - Grimes 4 - Gysberts 3 - Jamar 2 - Moloney 1 - Morton

Bartram - excellent holding job Bate - just occasional cameos Bennell - clever but limited Bruce - trojan and workhorse Davey - angry but effective Garland - did his job Green - classy as usual Grimes - confident and effective Gysberts - a revelation again Jamar - sublime palming again Jetta - creative second half Jones - one wonderful goal McDonald - 3 disciplined quarters Miller - provided a contest Moloney - regularly broke lines Morton - almost best form Rivers - continues to concern Scully - was well held Sylvia - enjoyed midfield freedom Trengove - was relatively quiet Warnock - took his chances Watts - must be dropped

Brock was interviewed last night on Fox 1 , 2 or 3 , and was incredibly positive about his time at Melbourne , commenting about the eternal fondness he'd feel for the club because it gave him his first chance . He was extremely forthcoming also about his admiration for the new blood at Melbourne , citing Gysbert's impressive debut , McKenzie ,and the Scullgoves ,as reason for great excitement amongst Demon fans . All in all Brock handled himself impressively and professionally . I had previously thought of him as a [censored] , but now he's only a half [censored]

On reflection , and after watching the replay ,I concede that I was probably too harsh on Frawley .

6 - Green - our only winner 5 - Gysberts - exciting debut 4 - Davey - lots of possessions , though rarely damaging 3 - Bartram - gave resting rovers no space 2 - MacDonald - only defender with aggression 1 - Bruce - consistent , and was used as a troubleshooter , mostly successfully

Bartram - not the worst Bennell - had no involvement Bruce - good under pressure Davey - prolific , not damaging Frawley - lowered his colours Garland - poor before injury Green - our only winner Grimes - needs a rest Gysberts- most impressive debutant Jamar - had no influence Jetta - seemed totally intimidated Jones - taught a lesson MacDonald - tough and useful McDonald - rarely near ball Miller - couldn't repeat heroics Moloney - needs a rest Morton - little to commend Rivers - game from hell Sylvia - made no impression Warnock - was not sighted Watts - nothing to excite Wonaeamirri - will be dropped

I think you'll find , and this is the reason he was not dragged , was that he was under instructions not to make any EXCESSIVE chases and stretches for the ball because of his suspect hamstrings . He is being taught to modify his running gait to ease his sinews back into ' steel springs '

6 - Jetta 5- McDonald 4- Jamar 3- Trengove 2- Miller 1- Bennell

Bartram - never appeared confident Bennell - great opportunist's game Davey - excellent stoppage game Frawley - strength and confidence Garland - worried by pace Green - experience was vital Grimes - was unusually quiet Jamar - true lionhearted effort Jetta - a significant return Jones - successful new role MacDonald - safe and important McDonald - Brownlow medal form Miller - silenced his critics Moloney - tough and relentless Morton - patchy but successful Rivers - didn't imbue confidence Scully - some important clearances Sylvia - terrific second half Trengove - dynamic and prolific Watts - classy and composed Wonaeamirri - needed the run McKenzie - important tagging role