DemonDave

Barry has had a groin injury, so there is absolutely no chance he gets a game this week. 3 outs with injury are givens, and Dawes and Frawley regaining full fitness are both automatic ins as well. Outs: Strauss, Blease, Byrnes (all inj), Spencer, Tapscott, Davis Ins: Magner, Rodan, Taggert, Gawn, Dawes, Frawley 3 mids for the 3 mids, straight ruckman swap, swap of Frawley for Davis (despite Davis playing fwd in seniors), Tapscott useless as usual at least Dawes will offer us a target.

Jack Grimes was gifted a taste in the last round in his first year, and Fitzy was also given a token game in the last game one year, I think this is highly beneficial for a young players confidence that they will be able to make it. Contrast that with our Round 1 shenanigans every year where we always play at least one player from left field that completely underwhelms (see: Cockatoo-Collins x2, Weetra, Gillies etc)...

I think Couch is a certainty to be delisted. He doesnt have the required pace for AFL level, and the selectors have clearly made it be known he's not in future plans having not rewarded him once this year for solid VFL form, albeit he was never elevated at any stage.

You forgot Gysberts, Cheney and Scott Thompson as ex-Dees on others lists. Of course Thompson is now a bona-fide A-grader, every time Cheney plays my Hawks mate text me pleading for us to take him back, and Gysberts has played 0 games this year. Imagine our midfield with Jones, Thompson, Moloney and McLean?

He embarasses the others sometimes with his second and third efforts and pressure acts when chasing guys light years more athletically gifted than himself. Spencer has really worked hard to make it and I hope he does. He also averages more tackles per game this year than Watts and Blease, which is a travesty (and also a large reason that Blease is currently languishing for Casey) http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/tr-melbourne-demons?year=2013&rt=TA&st=TA

Blame Gerard Healy, more interested in his old mate Chris Connolys future, rather than asking a more relevant one about Craig. Disappointing and selfish by Healy.

I wouldve thought Peter Jacksons comments tonight on the couch regarding the Presidency, in so far as how the process will be undertaken and to what involvement the AFL will have in the decision means that the appointment is still some way off, yet another journo guessing to try and get a scoop is all I would call this...

i didnt see the show, but noted after the game that our rucks combo had 35 posessions, 16 marks and 3 goals between them. When is the last time we can say that?

Bell butchered the ball horribly in the first half, improved it a bit in the second half but I think people become too seduced by his physique rather than the actual effectiveness of his game (see also: Tapscott, L). When he can't get a game while the likes of Lucas, Armfield, White et al get games in front of him I don't think he'd be that desirable for us.

Anyone else notice the motivational banner in the rooms afterwards "hard to play against"? sounds like the promised mantra of a certain ex coach! Also Phil the dill Cleary's interview with Hogan was cringe worthy bad "so, you're just 18 years old how does that feel" etc. KC do you know why Nathan Page wasn't playing today? I've been quite impressed with him, Mitch Gent and Jake Best as casey listed players this year. After Hogan, thought Danny Nicholls was next best on ground today.

Welcome to the top banner David Neitz! Swift work mods....

It just makes it look more and more obvious that his only reason for being there is to bail us out on behalf of the AFL, he's not an MFC employee..

Matthew Bate I also used to call the Titanic due to his cumbersome turning circle...

Had to laugh when reading this story from the Herald Sun today, a ' cool secret things' of Melb town fluff piece. Check out the lazy guy using the concierge service (or is it that he's desk bound for 4 to 6 weeks with a mystery injury?) Heres the article: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/welcome-to-cool-melbourne/story-fni0fiyv-1226663359133 Anyone spotted any other ex-MFC players in obscure or unlikely scenarios lately?

Just saw the same! Thats a first. Add to the list: Joel MacDonald (dumbbell) Test

Didnt Joel McDonald also pull out of the squad this week with injury? Cant be a week go by without someone mysteriously being omitted from this list

Really? Wow Over his short career Jack hasnt had the chance to string together 2 games in a row yet. In his debut in 2011, albeit probably a 'gimme' game in the last game of the year he had 11 posessions and a goal. Last year, both of his games were as a part of a side that got demolished by 10 goals. Rnd 7 also against the Hawks he struggled and barely touched it. Rnd 23 last year, travelling to Freo he kicked 2 out of our paltry 5 goals, also in likely a 'taster' game. Why is it that we should give Max Gawn '4 or 5 games in a row' to get comfortable at the level, yet we should drop Fitz as he's a 'spud'? If you've seen any Casey games over the last 18 months other than those televised on the ABC, you would've seen a player who I consider has developed/improved his game the most over that period. He looked nervous and tentative when attempting to mark the ball at times, but with a run of games this will be rectified, he could easily have had a dozen marks last night as he was constantly running to the right spots and creating an option for his teammates, that was quite often ignored. If he gets 4 games in a row and still hasnt improved I'm happy to eat my words but from what I've seen I think he can cement a spot.

I think you'll be waiting for a long long time. Another 8 posessions last week and duck eggs on the scoreline. But oh no, we've got to keep him in the side as he is gives us good physicality apparently. A less scrutinised season for so little return I have not seen in a long time. Anyone care to defend him and tell me why he has jusitified his selection in any of his 8 games so far this year? Gawns omission was predictable and justified, he has barely touched the ball the last couple of weeks. Same with Jetta

John So wouldnt be able to name one Melbourne player without the prompting of one of his aides. He was as token a #1 ticketholder as we've had since Rupert Murdoch back in the 80s. While he may have been a 'popular' Lord Mayor, that doesnt mean he was good at his job. He managed to surround himself with many a sycophantic and canny Councillor (Gary Singer,Catherine Ng,Ken Ong et al), and they spent the best part of a decade feathering their collective nests with cushy deals with overseas developers, as well as raising the salary of City of Melbourne Councillors to all time record highs. John So? He may be your bro, but for me its a big no.

"Australia's Own" Patty Mills and Aron Baynes lifting weights with secret Spurs fan Sir Paul McCartney: http://ussportsdownunder.com/nba/read/aussies-in-the-nba/aussies-in-the-nba-2952013-patty-lifts-with-sir-paul-bogut-on-project Pacers are really impressing me this series they are good to watch

Good chance for our ageing vets to put the feet up for a few days. Duncan has really been playing well this playoff series. The Miami-Indiana series has been an enthralling one so far, lets hope the Pacers can level it back up again and extend the series.

For the posters that were at the game thanks for the updates. The only thing that has apparently been holding Fitzy back from getting a game has been his defensive work, how was that today? Did he chase, tackle and exert pressure noticeably?

In: Watts Blease Out: Toumpas Tapscott - Another 11 lousy posessions at a laughable 55% efficiency, and no goals as a permanent forward and people still talk this guy up as he 'gives a few good bumps'? Enough already Fitzy had his worst game in a month on Saturday, if he was anyway half decent I'd be picking him ahead of Gawn who has had two terrible games, but I dont think that will happen now...

Very few positives out of todays game, right from the start you could see Box Hill were more switched on than us. The second quarter with the stiffened breeze was predictably barren for Casey, we just got smashed out of the middle. Pederson after barely being sighted in the first half had a solid second half. Fitzpatrick took a few great contested grabs, but let himself down with his finishing. Had a much better game than Hogan who just didnt seem to present to the right spots anywhere near as well as Fitzy. Was easily Hogans quietest game of the year. Rodan non-existent, Blease showed why he's still at Casey, a few flashy runs but wasteful disposal and barely any defensive pressure (we know Welsh is obsessed with DI's) Gillies anonymous. Spencer showed exactly why he is so frustrating at times. He did a fantastic chase on a smaller more nimble BH opponent, forced him to run too far and won a tremendously well earned free, only to shank the resultant free kick directly to an opponent. Just a game today. Taggert barely sighted the ball but when he did looked good, not enough posessions today to excite. Barry absolutely butchered the ball the few times he got it, his disposal eff would have been below 50%. Couch, one of our most important players in the engine room was very well held until the 3rd quarter when his drive got us back into it for a bit. Joel McDonald was Joel McDonald, tough and hard at the contest but clumsy and dumb with many of his posessions.

So we continually allow Nicholson to miss his targets by 5 metres, and thats OK? His mediocre disposal and lack of awareness is appaling, he wouldnt get a game at GWS at the moment, yet we continually endorse his ordinariness with repeated selection. Tapscott had 7 posessions and didnt score playing as a forward last week, love to know how he figured anywhere near our best. And I agree that Bail should be dropped, 8 lousy disposals at 50% efficiency was a very poor outing