titan_uranus

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this but it seemed that a lot of people were waving the same red flags yesterday: I assume they were being handed out by the club outside the ground? Great idea if so, our blue and Collingwood's black mesh together so it's our red that we need to have dominating through the crowd.

Just wanted to canvas the opinions of Demonlanders. Personally I think the draw should stay as is. If neither team's good enough to win in the given time then so be it. Extra time and/or kick-offs are just too gimmicky to me.

The only way Cheney might get in is for Grimes to eventually move up the ground. Grimes' opponent yesterday was Dick. Not saying Grimes isn't any good in defence, but I think there's a net benefit to be gained by moving Grimes into the midfield and replacing him with Cheney. Why anyone would suggest moving Garland after his performance yesterday is beyond me.

Yesterday should confirm why those calling for Morton and/or Garland to be dropped were just flat out off the mark. These two are crucial to our future success. Both played brilliantly yesterday, and both are flexible enough to play in more than one position.

This. Green's leading and marking yesterday was first class. Something we've lacked of late. His kicking hasn't been great all year, and hasn't been as good as it was since he was pushed up onto the wing. Green has always been, and should remain, a forward.

I saw marked improvement in this area yesterday. In the first quarter it was embarrassing. We just couldn't get it right. But after quarter time we changed tactic. In the first quarter we took far too long to move the ball on, allowing Collingwood to zone up effectively, and we then resorted to a kick to the flank 50 metres out, which more often than not caused a turnover. After quarter time we either had Davey kicking out, in which case he would take the first option about 30-40 metres directly up the ground, or we'd have someone else, in which case we'd cluster numbers together in one area, outnumbering the Collingwood players in the zone. Both methods worked well (Davey's more so).

I can't wait for the week when there's no umpire-related thread on Demonland. In saying that, the holding the ball rule has become a farce. The one paid against Davey yesterday summed it up: it is now more appropriate to wait off until an opponent gets the contested ball, then tackle them, thereby winning a free. Too many players are being penalised for being first to the ball. This rule needs a complete overhaul.

Fraser = pathetic Thread = fail

He was 100% better this week compared to his last two weeks.

6 - Jamar 5 - Moloney 4 - Davey 3 - Garland 2 - Morton 1 - Bartram Warnock, Frawley, Jones all stiff to miss out.

When did he say that? Winning the spoon this year would be, not a disaster, but a terrible result nonetheless. From here that would involve Richmond winning either 2 games more than us and developing a healthy percentage, or 3 games more than us, as well as West Coast and Adelaide winning 1 more game than us. I just can't see that happening. Our draw is difficult, but I can see us winning 2-4 more gams, which makes Richmond's chances of going past us basically impossible.

A fit Hewitt at his best is good enough to beat anyone on grass. That's only Federer's second loss on grass since 2003, his first ever loss in Halle. He might be on the wane slightly but you've still got to produce good tennis to knock him off on grass, so well done Hewitt. He has to hope he gets a half-decent draw this year. How many times does he end up with Federer in the third or fourth round?

Correct, and he did a good job on Davis. Bolded players are missing: Replaced by Jetta, Miller, Morton, Watts, Bartram, Gysberts, Garland and Rivers.

Neitz kicked 8 or 9 against St Kilda in 2005 or so IIRC.

I think McNamara, Cheney and Strauss would be the three that are in contention to get a game soon. Maric still isn't doing enough for Casey.

So PJ and Cheney are playing, meaning Bennell will be the one who is ready to come in if Jones doesn't come up. Unless of course we decide to cop another $10,000 fine.

Poor guy. I wonder how many times he's been an emergency in 2010. Is PJ playing too? Surely he wouldn't be the one who is left to come if Jones doesn't get up. Edit: According to the Casey board PJ and Cheney are playing for Casey, which leaves Bennell as the match-day emergency I guess.

MELBOURNE v COLLINGWOOD Melbourne B: Clint Bartram, Matthew Warnock, James Frawley HB: Nathan Jones, Jared Rivers, Jack Grimes C: Cameron Bruce, Jack Trengove, Tom Scully HF: Neville Jetta, Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn F: Brad Green, Brad Miller, Aaron Davey Foll: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Jordie McKenzie I/C: Colin Garland, Cale Morton, Jordan Gysberts, Jack Watts EMG: Jamie Bennell, Paul Johnson, Kyle Cheney* In: Dunn, Frawley, McKenzie Out: James McDonald (hamstring), Colin Sylvia (toe), Jamie Bennell Cheney comes in for Sylvia but doesn't make the 22. I expect he will play if Jones is forced to withdraw. Watts and Miller both keep their spots. I wonder if this means Dunn will play a forward defensive role instead (e.g. shutting down Shaw or O'Brien, like Petterd did in Round 2)

Just like we all make jokes about Collingwood supporters having less than a full set of teeth, or having an IQ comparable to that of a tapeworm. Or Port Adelaide supporters wearing mocassins and stealing stuff. It's just a stereotypical thought process that's common in life. We here all know it's not true, and we all know that our supporters are actually some of the most vocal there are (36,000 at the Brisbane game sounded like 70,000).

When I turned it on at quarter time and they said he had 2 goals already, I was taken aback. Then I saw the replays. The first was a freebie running into an open goal, handpass over the top. Then he was pushed late and got gifted a second goal from the goalsquare. Less than 10 metres away both times. After that I didn't see him get another possession or take a mark or really do anything other than tackle or crash into other players. So he's a while off yet. And might have pulled his hamstring too.

I'll take your word for it then. You're right about comparing eras though.

Not that I would really know, but I would have thought those two would mix it with the best of the previous eras.

Paul Johnson, Dappa?

Disagree. We look like amateurs now for forgetting to put Warnock in the emergencies.

Maybe they received a suspended fine? We did in 2008 but I didn't know about it until today.