waynewussell

6. Davey (for hitting red & blue [censored]) 5. McDonald 4. Green 3. Scully 2. Jamar 1. Dunn

I'm looking forward to AK helping us hold on to the Ashes on Ricky's last trip abroad!

6. Moloney 5. Bate 4. Jamar 3. Trengove 2. Jones 1. Sylvia

6. McDonald 5. Jamar 4. Sylvia 3. Moloney 2. Green 1. Scully

Bennell was good today, particularly in the last. He has rare pace and can carry the lines. Don't get confused by the calls to drop him. They had nothing to do with skill or potential. The calls to drop him were about punishment for not going when he perceived a body coming hard the other way. I was very pleased for Bennell today, but I wasn't surprised. I rate him, always have. However, we felt that a point had to made about a few glaring examples of fear factor! I was happy in the end to go with the selection panel.

Yeah 'front and centre of the back of the head!!!!'

While on the bench they get to have a leg rub, a power drink, a chat to a specialist coach, a zone-out and a parade in front of adoring fans... beats going to a forward pocket and having to take a speccie or kick a banana!

I'm tipping "pressure" 11 times

Nostradamus has put it fairly and squarely and I'm finding I agree. I think Bennell offers heaps, but he has a fatal flaw and he needs to deal with it at the lower level... just a week or two to make the point firmly that he has to go when its his turn. It is my belief that no physical harm would have come to him in the two instances I have witnessed first hand. At least one of these incidents would have resulted in a goal for the Demons if he took the mark.

Joeboy is right... friendly fire from Joel Mac

6. Jamar 5. Petterd 4. McKenzie 3. Davey 2. Moloney 1. Green apologies to Grimes

Rohan and TimD are spot on... but leaving a game at half-time because you are facing an almighty drubbing is an indication of ticker IMO and equates with Miller not giving a whimper on the field!

IN: Martin, Garland, Sylvia OUT: Miller, Dunn, Bate

6 Jamar 5 Frawley 4 Trengove 3 Scully 2 Grimes 1 Green

Strauss was excellent in the Intra game. Bail impressed up to Weagles game. Gysberts could pass them both but my big smokey, given he looked like a whale out of water v Bombers, is Fitzpatrick

Bennell is small, lightly built... He is a bit concerned about getting crunched and I saw one example of a 'choke' yesterday which resulted in a turnover... flying with one hand and spilling it 'cause he was conscious of what might be coming from behind. He recovered to lay a tackle that was brushed aside and the Eagle kicked forward for a resultant goal... looked bad. But, his dashes forward through traffic are excellent. He is one of the few who can run and carry. His disposal is not exquisite, but he can improve on this. He is never going to be Leigh Matthews, but he has pace to burn and he is only a second year player. He is forgiven for the occassional blooper!

Saying Dunn isn't up to AFL standard is a bit silly since he has played well at this level as early as 2008... Consistency is his issue and finding the right spot where he can settle. He hasn't shown he is a class act yet but he has had an impact on occasions... as few and far as they might have been.

Titan, I'd definitely have Jetta in ahead of Maric, but I was under the impression that he may be injured. Jetta tackles hard and isn't afraid of body contact.

I've got B. Bennell Frawley Warnock HB. MacDonald Rivers Grimes C. Davey Moloney Trengove HF. Green Bate Bruce F. Miller Fitzpatrick Petterd Foll. Jamar McDonald Jones Int. Scully Dunn Martin Strauss

It took 20 seconds of the Casey v Frankston game for me to realise that Fitzpatrick is a 'must play' for us in round 1. I didn't know at the time, having just arrived, but it was in the final moments of that contest. I had been disappointed in what I saw of Fitzpatrick in the game v Bombers, and had agreed with everyone here that he was not ready. In those final moments yesterday he took a towering contested mark right against the behind post at the city end. I had just walked to that goalsquare with my son. Forget that he tried a check-side snap after looking uncertain about where to put the ball. Forget that he managed a behind with this kick. Forget that the umpire then paid him a 50 because the bloke on the mark had tried to smother the kick without the 'play-on' call being given. The memorable thing about that mark was that it was as clean as a whistle, in the middle of the pack which he rose head and shoulders above. In that one moment I saw a Melbourne forward stamp some authority on an aerial contest deep in our forward line. Fitzpatrick is a big unit, he will draw a big opponent. He has ball skills and athleticism. I would rather see him snag one goal a match for the entire season from less than five possessions a game than put up with the other re-cycled options that are available!

I thought the tackle bump was against Bail

Ok... I think we have to go back to 1942 before we touch greatness (Brett Lovett - next best), so I understand the tread lightly approach... Maybe Strauss... yep, I've made up my mind!

BENNELL FRAWLEY RIVERS MACDONALD WARNOCK GRIMES GREEN MOLONEY MORTON JETTA BATE PETTERD JURRAH SYLVIA MILLER MARTIN JONES JMAC JAMAR DUNN GYSBERTS STRAUSS TRENGOVE ??? Inj DAVEY BRUCE

I've been reading along re Petterd as this thread has developed and I reckon we should keep it simple. This is not a make or break year for Petterd (that was in 2009) and he is highly regarded at the club. The things to like about him are his dedication, his willingness to risk life and limb for the cause, his ability to make second, third and sometimes fourth efforts (doggedly competitive), his ability to take a contested mark, and the development in his ability to kick a pressure goal. His only weakness is his lack of blistering pace... he isn't slow, but he won't be a significant mid-field option going forward. His best position was found last season... lurking between the half-forward and half-back lines with an ability to run with defenders to our back half and then turn around running forward to present a marking option. Bottom line... He is a tough nut, he gives his all and he is a nuisance to the opposition. He aint going nowhere and he is in our starting 22.

Jamie Barham played on the wing for Gisborne (Riddell League) in the late seventies, possibly 1977/8