titan_uranus

I don't think Rivers is in danger of being delisted at the end of this year. Far from it actually.

Have to agree with you here. If he wasn't captain, he wouldn't be playing, and there would be a lot less hesitation in admitting that. It looked like he was hampered by his knee yesterday. If he was, then he shouldn't have played. If he wasn't, then it just futher enhances the argument that he's no longer up to AFL football. None of that changes the fact that he's been a fantastic servant of the club and that his off-field leadership is probably top notch. But at the moment, his on-field leadership is being reduced by his inability to influence matches. Hmm. Not sure Dunn for McDonald is that much of an improvement HT...

I'm happy to admit I went OTT calling for him to be dropped. I guess I was just hoping for more from him by now. It's not harsh for me to say I've been disappointed by Maric though, because I have been. I thought he played just as well, if not better, last year. But I guess things can be attributed to the rest of the team too.

I didn't see much footage of the Saints game, and other than that, I've not really seen Maric use his 'football brain'. I'm sure it's there, but I'm yet to see him really look comfortable at AFL level. Granted, he is a veteran of about 10 games, and there were plenty of more senior players who gave us nothing yesterday who could (and should) shoulder the blame.

Am I the only one who thought Maric played like crap? I know he wasn't the only one, but I don't think Maric has shown enough in the time he's been in the team and I think it's time he went back to Casey to regain some confidence.

In: Miller, Martin, Bennell Out: Maric, Bell, PJ Essendon have 0 rucks (1 if Ryder challenges). Martin can help out Jamar. Maric has given almost nothing to the team since he was included. I think he needs to regain some confidence at Casey. Watts probably shouldn't play but I think it's fair to give him another week.

This is surely a joke, right? Cheney wasn't in our top 6 (but he wasn't terrible either). Maric played shockingly, and really should be dropped. I can't see any justification for giving him votes. And there's no way Watts was in our top 6. FWIW: 6 - Sylvia 5 - Grimes 4 - Warnock 3 - Jamar 2 - Bate 1 - Davey

I am god-damn sick of this tendency for our forwards to push up the ground. It is the reason why we are overpossessing and over-handpassing. There isn't anything to kick to up the ground. This choice of game plan does not suit the team. We don't have the skill to handpass and run the ball through a zone. We need to have 3 or 4 forwards who stay forward of the centre (preferably in the forward 50) so that there is always someone to kick to. I am sick of hearing people yell 'kick the ball' at the players when there is no one to kick to. End rant.

Sylvia Jamar's ruckwork (and can we please limit it to his ruckwork. I thought his around the ground efforts were nothing special) No injuries McDonald's hip and shoulder on Swan Sylvia flattening Maxwell

I reckon he carried a knee injury into the game. If he wasn't captain he probably would have been rested. Showed some good leadership and absolutely loved the hip and shoulder on Swan, but overall had a very poor game.

Bate - gave us something Bell - not AFL standard Bruce - still can't kick Cheney - must keep playing Davey - not his best Frawley - not our worst Green - wasn't at best Grimes - good but loose Jamar - great ruck effort Johnson - absolutely abysmal handballing Jones - stop kicking sideways Maric - really, really disappointing McDonald - probably carried injury McLean - going nowhere fast Moloney - wasn't his best Morton - was hardly sighted Rivers - just did OK Robertson - an improvement defensively Sylvia - another great performance Warnock - good yet again Watts - unfortunately did nothing Whelan - far too loose Same here. He definitely was on Didak for portions of the game and seemed far too loose to me, but it's a good learning experience for him. He has showed a lot in not many games. Certainly not our worst, and up there as being one of our better players, despite some mistakes.

Deesgraceful Deemoralising Deeflating

As a number, a little disappointing. We build this game up as our grand final of 2009, it's talked about all year, it got even more publicity this year with Watts as well. However, for the first time in my short memory I felt as though there was an equal amount of Melbourne supporters to Collingwood supporters. Which was brilliant. The roar when Watts got that free kick was really quite loud (from the MCC anyway). Overall, I felt pleased with the MFC turnout, but I was hoping for closer to 70,000.

Hindsight is definitely a wonderful thing. But your suggestions are good anyway. Bennell should have played over Whelan or Bell. Martin should have played over PJ.

Huge article. Fills most of a two-page spread in the print edition. I think he's finally turned the corner off the field, and no doubt that's driving his improvement on the field. Hopefully he's fully over the OP too.

Agree. The potential with Martin is so big. But if a club came to us and offered a high draft pick then you'd have to look at it. Me too. I'd heard good things about Bail, but I was disappointed with him yesterday. His kicking was crap (especially when he kicked for goal). He didn't seem to get a lot of the ball and didn't look comfortable when he did get it. Seems a lot further off than I thought he was. But I've only seen one game, so hopefully yesterday wasn't fully indicative of Bail's game. Really? I hardly noticed him. I did notice that he looked composed and assured when he had it. But I hardly saw him get it, and would have thought that he was still a while away.

Bennell out? Don't like that, especially when Bell's still in the team. But good to see Cheney. Medhurst didn't make it. What a pity.

Sure has been good so far. Add the Casey deal to that, and it's even better.

I agree that his attitude is so much better than it has been. It's a good sign.

Watched most of it (missed half of the 2nd and half of the 3rd). This was the first time I'd seen Jurrah play. This guy really excites me. Loved that set up in the 4th quarter where he picked the ball up off the ground and passed nicely to Miller. Plus 4 goals. If he keeps that up we might see him some time later this year. Miller was outstanding. Did everything you would assume Bailey and co. would have wanted him to do. 3 goals 4 is a bit of a letdown, but he absolutely dominated, took 15 marks and was far too much for the Werribee defence. Should be in line for a recall. I thought Dunn was pretty good. Seemed to go harder than I'm used to from him. Jetta was also impressive with his constant harassment of defenders. I also thought Petterd had a good game both in the forward line and up the ground. Spencer is still the most awkward and fumbly player I've seen in years, but he does well in ruck contests and knows how to use his height. At least he's not afraid of getting a possession either. Bail did little, and I forgot Strauss was playing until I heard his name late in the 4th. Bartram was OK but not great. Wheatley kicked a superb goal in the 3rd from about 55, but he looks like he needs a few more games at VFL level to regain his fitness. Seemed to be really out of puff. Jordie McKenzie looks promising. Seems to do his best work in the clearances. Not based on today AJ. He might have got a lot of the ball but wasn't damaging and didn't impact on the scoreboard. Miller and Jurrah had better games than Newton.

Moloney for sure. Whelan and Sylvia to join in later. Fines to be awarded for wrestling.

I have no idea. On the one hand, it could have been a factual error (i.e. he actually passed the fitness test or, like you said, he hasn't had the fitness test yet). On the other hand, it might have been true, but mistakenly put in the article (possibly because they want to give Macca up until tomorrow evening to see if he can make it or not). If he does miss, Cheney is the obvious inclusion (assuming that Cheney, Dunn and Newton miss out on the final cut).

Have a look at this quote from this article: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsart...51/default.aspx "Captain James McDonald has been unable to prove his fitness after hurting his knee in last week’s loss to St Kilda, and will miss this week. " ???

Oh, unfair on Martin. This extended bench sucks. I want all of PJ, Maric, Jones, Bennell and Cheney to play. I think Cheney will miss, meaning final changes are Robbo and Watts in, Miller and Martin out. Edit: Bell is lucky. And it would be a step backwards to play Dunn.

Collingwood B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Shannon Cox HB: Nick Maxwell, Leigh Brown, Sharrod Wellingham C: Brad Dick, Tarkyn Lockyer, Dale Thomas HF: Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Leon Davis F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Heath Shaw Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree I/C (from): Nathan Brown, Martin Clarke, Paul Medhurst, Ben Reid, Steele Sidebottom, Alan Toovey, Cameron Wood In: Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst, Ben Reid Out: -