DemonDave

I blame CAC for the fact that Garland and Warnock have kicked on, thank goodness we got rid of him!

CJ was BOG by a mile, one of the best games I have seen from him, and clearly its a continuation of previous weeks efforts. If he isnt rewarded with a senior tilt next week there's something seriously wrong. Was very impressed with the first halves of Zomer and Maric, however both need to work on playing 4 quarters as I thought Maric was hardly sighted after half time. Weetra I think I counted have 2 kicks for the entire game, he will be dropped back down to Sandy 2nds. Great to see both Valenti and Summers work exceptionally hard to break their tags, although Iles got 2 goals, Summers was still very effective. Spoke to the Sandy assistant coach who hapened to make the Melbourne FC's 150 Heroes list at Fed Square on the Monday, and he said that until Buckley improves the defensive side of his game, he won't be back in the seniors, and Sundays efforts did little to dispel that. He also mentioned that Sauntner wants to play this week, despite being plastered up on Sunday, and that Newton would be back this week most likely in Sandy seniors.

But there were heaps of spare seats in the top decks of both Nortern and Southern Stands! They should be made to sit up there. We had a couple of feral Pies supporters near us in M15, and it ruined the atmosphere in there amongst all our supporters. There would be no such membership that guarantees them a seat for away games where the area is reserved for opposition fans.

Perhaps they should give up Anzac Day too, as Essendon always pump themselves up to beat the whinging pack of ferals that they are? I can see his point about us only firing up when there's an emotional motivation, but seriously the rest of his comments are pure arrogant tripe. Let them travel interstate 6 times a year, play home games at Telstra Dome, and play 15 or so of their games on a Sunday (and have half of them awful twilight start times) and we'll see how he feels then about Queens Birthday....

I agree that he has from all you read been working very hard behind the scenes with Greg Healy and Stynes, however it is only Jimmy that is the 'face' of this push for President. Make no mistake Garry puts us out there in the media more than most too, certainly more than guys like Schwarz et al.

The other 3 will be Green, Bruce and Robertson. C'mon you know its gonna be Bruce and aren't game to say it! Or wait, maybe it'll be Colin Sylvia?

Well I have been a subscriber to Crikey in the past so i do know the gist of why I couldnt read it, but figured the author could at least summarise if we cant read it rather than sending us to a dead link. I stopped Crikey as it was just too expensive and I dont have enough time in the day to read it..

But you have to be a subscriber to Crikey to be able to read the story, otherwise you only get the first line!

if I was a betting man, I'd be betting you wouldnt stay true to your word, and I'm amazed you didnt have a dig at Nick Sauntner in this post as you do every other. It has nothing to do with Dean Bailey, you imbecile.

Have you people learnt nothing? If Newton was good enough, he'd be playing seniors, as is he cant even beat the Sandy FF to a spot in the team because he's not good enough!

Surely Bartram will be retained to play a tagging role on Heath Shaw? He starts all of Collingwoods attacks with his drive, and I went to the Collingwood-West Coast game last week (call it forward scouting), and Wet Toast played Selwood on Shaw as a forward-pocket tagger, kept him to 4 posessions in the first 3 qtrs before being shifted down back to his more natural position. While it didnt affect the result, it made the Pies clearances from their defensive half more unorthodox than normal. You'd think we'd learn after last weeks debacle in the first half of Gram and Fisher roaming free that dominant attacking half-back flankers need to be accounted for. Bartram had a go for a short while last week, but it was too late, the Saints defenders already had a full head of steam up. So no Davey, Valenti, Holland, Whelan or Newton = easily our worst side on paper for the year. Lucky for us Weetra wasnt picked as well.

For Sale: 1 x Sandringham scarf 1 x Sandringham '3 peat' stubby holder 1 x Sandringham car sticker (peeled off but still in OK nick) Its been an amazing ride, the joy of the 4 Premierships (was there for all of them), the grand final aftermatchs at the Social Club, drinking from the Premiership Cup (something I'd never get to do even if Melbourne won), watching the young Melbourne listed players coming through and becoming senior AFL players. The thing I wont miss is the bitter cold wind that swept across TBO, brrr! Thanks to Sandy for some great memories, next year will be a whole new and strange scenario. I guess when Sandy play Casey next year, it'll be like being out on a date with your new girlfriend, and bumping into your ex. There will be many mixed emotions.

So it begs the question, who will win our goalkicking this year? So far, Robbo is on 20 and gone for the rest of the year. Next best are Aussie on 12, Green on 11 and Jones on 8. With Green nowadays playing as a sweeper/wingman, Aussie still a rookie who will have his inconsistencies (like last Sunday at the Dome), and Jones is a midfielder. Will Robbo end up our leading goalkicker on a paltry 20?

Agreement with the Saints is for the next 5 years apparently. So I assume we'll sign a similar agreement with Casey now?

While I agree Jakovich was the most freakish footballer I've seen play for us over my lifetime, his brilliance only lasted 3 years. Thus over there respective careers, I'd choose Lyon or others as the best I've seen. And to compare those 5 goalkicking greats, you've got to look at the big picture, not just average goals per game as a standalone figure. If you do that, then there'd be an argument to say Darrren Cuthbertson was our best ever player after his first 2 league games, and should be in the Top 150. Norm Smith: 210 games, 546 goals Garry Lyon: 223 games, 423 goals David Neitz: 306 games, 631 goals Fred Fanning: 104 games, 411 goals Allen Jakovich: 47 games, 201 goals If he'd played 200 games, and kept that rate up, then he'd be a shoe-in to be in our top 150, but sadly Jaka's brilliance was a mere fleeting one, and thus doesnt deserve a slot in the Top 150 of all time

Here's the article from the Australian announcing his appointment, it merely states he'll be 'working alongside' Prendergast, whatever that means: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...from=public_rss "Stibbard, who was the North Melbourne recruiting manager for the best part of the past two decades before being sacked last month, will work alongside Melbourne's new recruiting manager Barry Prendergast. Melbourne general manager of football operations Chris Connolly yesterday said Stibbard would be one of five staff members who will comprise a "futures development committee" in an endeavour to regain on-field strength"

And the club has also bought on board Neville Stibbard, the long time Kangaroos recruiting chief. Mystery still surrounds him being let go at the Kangas, but we're glad to have him on board as he's very well respected in the industry.

It clearly states in the article he has been omitted: "Shane Valenti, Ben Holland and Mark Jamar have all been omitted." So he is not injured. An unbelievable selection gaffe for mine..

Hmm, the website specifically says Holland has been omitted. Which is very strange. He wasnt even on the 'froms' bench. Surely he will come in as a late change for Robbo? There's no way he would be dropped on form from last week.

West Coast were pretty upfront with the omission of their main young gun, Chris Masten, leaving him out because of 'general soreness'. Theres no shame in simply saying you're giving a young kid a rest.

Would you rather White playing as a loose midfielder racking them up, and ranked 8th in effective hitouts, or Mark Jamar who averages 2 posessions a game?

Personally I have not heard Jeff White saying he will retire, and he's averaging career highs in stats, and is ranked 8th in hitouts per game in the league. So I dont see why everyone is in such a rush to pension him off. If we can get Warnock for a decent price, he'll be a great number 2 for a year or so to White before taking over the #1 spot.

Lets hope the bench is: Paul Johnson (won't get dropped) Sylvia (form before injury says so), Dunn (to play full forward with Robbos late withdrawal) Yze (time to give him a crack, he's earned it with his Sandy form) Cant see Bode or CJ being on our list next year, and Wheats needs a run for fitness after injury as seems to be our policy this year...

4 Outs and 7 Ins! This is not good for our team stability. If you'd asked me immediately after the Hawks game if we'd win this week I wouldve said we're a huge chance, now I'm not so sure, as surely Robbo wont play either, and Holland has to have a big question mark as well. No Rivers or Carroll or Whelan?

Thanks for the inside word Mordja!