DemonDave

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!

Wasnt Bate picked 'under-age'? ie.A year earlier than expected, from what I remember he was the youngest player drafted, and if he had've stayed in the U18's an extra year would've been considered a top 5 pick the next year but we took the risk and got him early.

63% TOG according to the Herald Sun stats...pretty close!

Its worth noting that Bate came 3rd in our best and fairest last year. From 19 games. I think that shows how important he is to the team. And I think at this stage he's flown under the radar as far as other clubs are concerned when they do their matchups. What type of player do you put on him? He's very uniquel in his size/athletic capabilites in that he marks like a key forward, but runs around like a midfielder collecting posessions up around the half forward line/wing. It seems the clubs decision to nurse him along with his hamstring injury has been vindicated.

I'm not 100% sure how the rookie list thing works, but Grimes was replaced on the list by Aussie. And Neitz was replaced by Valenti. So i think if he returns, he takes Aussies space. Again someone might be able to clarify better but thats the way I believe it works...

Grimes, along with Rivers, were the guests at the aftermatch function, so it was good to get a first listen to the kid who everyone at the club appears impressed with. He spoke fairly well, and mentioned that he'd started almost all of the training now, and would be back 'in a couple of weeks'. He was disappointed he didnt get a chance to play a game with David Neitz, given that his team he supported before being drafted was Melbourne, he said he was incredibly nervous walking into the locker room wiht all his boyhood idols. Said he was a midfielder and sometime half back player, so not sure where the club plans to try him out when he's fit. Can't wait to see him in action...

Add me to the list of people thinking he'd be delisted at years end. I've seen him play some decent games at Sandy, Without it being really obvious what his natural position was. But he read the play so well yesterday, is quick off the mark and countless times he and Warnock were able to get a fist away, due to their closing speed, rather than have it turn into a monotonous Buddy and Roughy goal fest. Jared Rivers at the aftermatch function last night said he was fit to play this week against the Saints. The question then is, does he come straight back into the side, or do the Saints not have enough talls to justify his and/or Carrolls selection and thus they both get a week at Sandy? On paper on the weekend, this looked our weakest backline in living memory, yet they held up rather well all things considered. Although it is still worrying the amountof goals Frawleys opponents continue to kick.

Hmm, so no Sylvia, Whelan or Wheatley all who may have been expected back? (Rivers and Carroll hopefully the week ater)...

Dr Turf, aka John Rothfield, is someone who has an opinion on everything. He was fired from 3AW about 18 months ago for being too opinionated. His brother, Mark, has been on the Melbourne board for some time, I'm not sure if he still is though. So they are undoubtedly passionate Melbourne fans, and its good that Turf is continually putting us in the spotlight whenever he has a mike thrust in front of him. However most of the time it's in the negative tense. Maybe he could invest some of the $32 Million he received for selling a CBD car park block he owned 2 years ago back into the club? Still, apart from Garry Lyon, which other 'Melbourne' media people are keeping us in the public eye nowadays, I say keep it up Doctor.

Seen him heaps at Sandy, and so know how he played there. Thought his defensive pressure was great, but off the ball struggled somewhat with keeping up with his opponents when they were rebounding up the ground, as the Crows do in numbers so quickly. This was my perspective from being at the game, so not just what you see on TV. Having said that, seemed to run out all 4 quarters reasonably well so looks like his motor will be big enough for AFL standard...

I spoke to Sean Wellman at the aftermatch function, and he said it was a knock on the hip, and he'd be out 'for a couple', and also that Carroll had a bit of a hamstring niggle and would miss next week most likely too...

Thaks Barry, I was in Brisbane at the time of the Bendigo game, surprisingly it wasnt on TV up there, so didnt see the Bendigo game. Sad to hear he doesnt play Jazz with a name like that! I thought McNamara showed a fair bit in the pre-season game against Geelong, despite his young age and small frame, surprised he hasnt pushed sooner for a Sandy seniors game. Finally, do you know how Gallagher and Hughes are progressing in their long-term injury recuperation?