titan_uranus

The way Bailey speaks is of no concern at the moment. What we should be caring about is the way Bailey coaches, and whether he can inspire improvement in players like Newton, Sylvia, Bell, Dunn, Bartram etc.

The problem with batting McDonald below Haddin is Haddin. I'm not sure he's good enough to bat at 6 in the test team. If he can transfer the confidence he gained from the ODI series into the Test arena, then maybe it would work, but I don't think Haddin is a long term prospect for number 6. Which strengthens the case for North to make his debut in South Africa. Whilst I think McDonald should start in the first test, North's batting in the practice match (52*, compared to McDonald's 24) suggests he's a better prospect for no. 6. But McDonald's bowling provides an extra alternative to Ponting should one of our seamers or McGain struggle.

Well I agree about dropping Newton and making him earn his spot in the team. Miller definitely plays at CHF. I'm not conviced with PJ at FF because his kicking for goal isn't very good. Then again, I can't propose a better alternative (Watts and Jurrah will be there over the next few years, but not this year). Maybe Bate out of the goal square? Anything but Newton.

That's correct. If Port lose today, we're the unlucky club that gets to go visit them next week. If Sydney loses, we play at Visy Park.

Hearing that he was laughing after the game worries me. Is his head in it? I can't see the funny side of yesterday, especially when Sylvia missed a set shot in the last quarter that would have provided us with a nicer lead and a bit more confidence. This must be Sylvia's last year at Melbourne if he doesn't step up and assert himself on games. We can't afford to keep players like him on the list who don't give enough in match situations.

For the first three quarters, there was something to like about Melbourne. But that last quarter was a lapse into 2008 territory, and makes me feel as though the real Demons showed up in the 4th quarter. Whilst Hawthorn's kicking for goal was good (if a bit fluky), ours was shocking at times. 9 scoring shots in the first quarter, only 4 goals. When you're a club like Melbourne, you cannot afford to miss your shots when you get it inside 50, especially when you're playing teams like Hawthorn. That is an area of our game that has to be attended to immediately. I would love someone at the club to justify signing Newton for another 2 years. I cannot stand him. He is a hack, has never played a good game, doesn't have a second effort, tries too often to take a speccie, doesn't present himself properly, can't mark, can't kick for goal, doesn't impose himself on the game, goes missing for too long, and above all, just isn't skilled enough. Upon what basis did he get a new contract?

6 - Green 5 - McLean 4 - Bate 3 - Davey 2 - Spencer 1 - Garland

Positives: Cheney, Spencer, Bate, McLean, Grimes, Davey, not getting thrashed Negatives: Newton, Sylvia, losing Simple as that.

Gee, I'm surprised at the amount of people who are on Maxwell's side on this one. Whilst I thought 4 weeks was probably more than necessary, I can't believe the appeals board let him off. As has been iterated and re-iterated, Maxwell had the choice between contesting the ball or laying a bump to allow his team mate to take clear possession. Choosing to bump isn't illegal, but you have an onus to avoid head contact. He failed to do that, and in the process, gave the opponent a serious injury. For mine, there was a suspension there, following the rules, because of the head contact. Having said all that, in a way I'm glad that he got off in that hopefully we won't see the bump phase out of football. If giving Maxwell a 4 week ban means less hip and shouldering in AFL, then I'm happy for him to get off. But what he did was worthy of a suspension.

That's how I see it. The white design is probably the better one, but I want to see Melbourne stick to the red and blue. Maybe a blue V like the one on the white jumper could be added to the red jumper?

Damn Newton, keeping Zomer out of the match.

Hey, Bail's in. The other thread on this topic suggested that no first year players were going to play, so it's good to see Bail in the squad. What's the word on Moloney?

It's been said over and over again: the AFL's priority is Western Sydney and Gold Coast because it wants residents there to make the switch from NRL to AFL, thus widening the support base and prospective talent pool for AFL football. It's a long run aim. Tasmania would, in the short run, provide a viable option thanks to the already existent support and sponsorship and stadium. But in the long run, a Tasmanian team would just be another team. A Gold Coast or Western Sydney team, in the long run, would be much more beneficial to the AFL. Exactly.

I have, and I reckon always will, dislike Newton. He's a waste of space. I still haven't got over the fact that we have him another 2 years... Anyway, I'm hoping Zomer and Jurrah come on nicely over the next couple of years so that we don't have to rely on Newton.

This first came up back in July last year: http://forums.demonland.com/index.php?show...amp;mode=linear I think it would be a good idea, but membership isn't as much of a problem at the moment as sponsorship is, so unless Hamish has corporate connections, I'd be concentrating more on getting a sponsor at the moment.

In the member's email, the club really tries to convince us that white is acceptable: Personally, though the white does look good as a jumper design, I would much prefer Melbourne to stick to the red and blue. By the way, the melbournefc.com.au poll currently has 858 votes, and the split is, surprise, 50-50. Just like the last poll...

Spencer seems to have a good body size, as does Zomer. Meesen looks awkward in that photo.

Exactly. Adelaide's clash strip is predominantly red, and they would have the exact same clash problems that Melbourne has. And despite anything to the contrary, we don't clash with Brisbane.

Geez, I was just providing some news.

I can't believe what I'm reading. After all this member backlash, the club has still conceded to the AFL and we still have a white strip. Now we have three jumpers! For Pete's sake! There aren't any clubs with whom our normal or red clash jumper will clash. I can't see the need for a white one, but the club has rolled over yet again. Sigh.

No spots left in this leage Gippy.

Big test (pun intended) for the Australian team coming up in South Africa. Should be a cracking series, just like the series here. My team for the first test: 1. Katich 2. Hughes 3. Ponting 4. Clarke 5. Hussey 6. McDonald 7. Haddin 8. Johnson 9. Siddle 10. McGain 11. Bollinger 12th man Hilfenhaus Despite his crap in the ODI series, Hilfenhaus should be ready for a call up should Bollinger not provide much in the first two tests. McGain obviously gets the nod over Hauritz, who really shouldn't be in the squad. McDonald gets the 'prized' number 6 spot in place of North due to his far superior bowling and the fact that it would be harsh to call his batting sub-par on the basis of one innings of 15 in which he was dismissed by a pearler.

3AW rumour file this morning: Ross Stevenson said that we are going to announce a sponsor 'soon' (I believe that's how he said it). His rumours are more often true than not. My prediction: Betfair.

We are a chance. There are so many reasons why winning would be beneficial to this club, the least of which is the money. And, of course, losing means travelling to far-flung locations where no one shows up.

Thanks for that WJ. I feel so much more optimistic at this time of the year than I did at this time of last year. Whether or not that translates to a better year remains to be seen, but I think there were plenty of good signs at the intra club match.