titan_uranus

Yes, the article does mention that Jim Stynes wants to bring back the demon, so they're looking at a new demon logo I think. That will probably feature on a clash jumper.

I reckon we're a slight chance this week:

1) Essendon can't play as well as they did last week. They are a very topsy turvy side.

2) We welcome back Green, Wheatley and Aussie who have been in our best 6 players this years

3) Our perceived weak forward line could be out strength due to its unpredictability.

4) Have a good record over Essendon at the MCG over the last 4 years.

1) Where do you get that from? They've won 5 of their past 6, the loss coming when they had 1 on the bench compared to 4.

2) Useful inclusions, but we lose Miller who's been our only real forward for the past 10 weeks

3) I haven't got my hopes up

4) That's about all we've got going for us. By the luck of the fixturing of this round, this game's at the G, not Dome.

So how long is Miller out for? 1 week? More?

That article does also say that there will be 3 new designs submitted to the AFL, and the members will be involved. Let's just hope that this time they make some designs and give us a choice of designs, not a choice of horrible colours that none of us would ever have wanted.

They've got Michael, Fletcher and Ryder in their team, we've just lost Miller and dropped Newton. I think PJ/Jamar will play forward, and Ryder will play on them, and then I guess Fletcher might go forward. So maybe Garland will play on Fletcher, Warnock on Lloyd, Martin in the forward line?

Well I have to say Newton being dropped is no surprise. Goodbye Michael.

But I didn't expect Jones to get dropped. However I think it is a good move: let him work on his disposal at Sandy for a while.

3 great ins. Miller will be missed though.

Green should get it, Miller could get it, McLean doesn't deserve it.

Actually there's a much easier way to quote two posts. Each post has a 'quote' button on it. When you click it it turns red. Click that button for all the posts you want to quote, then scroll to the bottom or top of the screen and click 'Add reply'. If you do this right each post will be in your reply.

I can't decide whether to like or dislike this. On the one hand I love Junior and his work-ethic, and everything he's done for the MFC. On the other hand, seeing him play last weekend I think highlighted how much the game has passed him by; not just in his poor disposal but his speed as well. Sometimes I thought he got a bit lost on the ground. But overall I think 1 year might be the best for all involved.

we couldnt get his mate's girlfriend to don a Melbourne Jumper ( just the jumper !! and briefs..of course..lol )

When she was interviewed on the EJ Whitten Legend's game she said Andy had converted her from a Swans supporter to a... Carlton supporter. :angry:

He is coming 4th!

I will be discussing this in my next preview but it's interesting how, at the weekend, Melbourne had its two leading votegetters and four of the top six out through injury. Then you have the likes of Moloney, Rivers and Robertson injured as well as Petterd coming back through Sandy. We're also not playing some of our veterans nearing the end of the road. henever a commentator talks about Geelong recently they go on and on about Ablett and Ling being out but those blokes have only missed a couple of games. Melbourne has been stricken by injury for the past two years. Yet we lose to North by 28 points after gifting them a few through poor disposal. One day the worm will turn and, with everything going for us instead of against us, we expect rapid improvement in the next year or so.

A nice spin on things there Oracle. But even with the majority of those players playing, we failed to fire a shot in Rounds 1 and 2. But I have to agree that in the past 2 years we haven't been able to consistently field our best team, which always prevents success.

He said consultants The Slade Group were already seeking candidates for the chief executive role and that radio star Hamish Blake would spearhead the club's membership campaign next year

From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...3-19769,00.html

I first noticed the connection between Hamish and Melbourne on the footy show a few weeks back. I'm glad we got him on board. Someone with his popularity could really help attract people from younger demographics.

I don't beleive he holds any value in terms of a trade, but if we were going to persevere with him, i was thinking he should be offered a one year deal and told your on your last legs.

I think that's a good idea Jerry. Hopefully that would make him wake up and realise that if he doesn't do something about his crap form he won't be playing AFL for much longer. For the same reason I reckon he might get dropped this week.

Correct on both points.

I see nothing that Harvey should be proud of in that comment, most players would feel ashamed.

That's what I think. No need to attack a younger player for trying to follow his directions. In fact, I'm not sure how 'selfish' Dunn was. He was probably trying to execute his role in the team. He definitely should have pushed forward to exploit the height difference. But I'm sure he's been tagged by plenty of youngsters who've not done a good job.

As for McLaren he is the worst umpire in the AFL by a mile. His failure to pay holding the ball against Lochie H number 5 when he tried to beat five demons and was caught and then paid it against a demon who was grabbed as he got the ball at the resultant ball up with no prior opportunity was pathetic. The whole Southern stand obviously agreed as he was booed for the rest of the game.

By the way how many goals did McLaren give the Roos today, anybody know.

Horrible umpiring, but it wasn't just him.

Did you read the comment i was replying to?

Ah, quite obviously I didn't. Sorry Jerry.

If we pick up BP with a first or 2nd or even 3rd round pick, i'll be filthy. His reputation does not fit his game.

I wouldn't drop Valenti off the list for him.

I wasn't suggesting we should take him.

Well firstly can I say it will be pleasing to see the team on Thursday and see 4 players on the interchange for the first time in months....

Anyway:

IN: Petterd, Holland, Wonaeamirri, Green

OUT: Newton, Bell, Bartram, Sylvia,

If Green not fit then Sylvia stays. Davey's a possibility to get suspended.

Leave it to CJ, Wheatley and Whelan.

CJ can hit targets and Wheatley can go long. Topic covered.

Nah mate, there are plenty more problems.

1) Sure, Wheatley can kick long, but that's useless if there aren't any long options or decent marking players there.

2) Sure, CJ can hit targets, but he needs a decent target to kick to. And if that's someone on the boundary line, 20m away, what then does that player do?

3) It's not just us taking kicks, but the way we defend when we kick a behind. We let the ball out way too easily. Either work on a proper zone or a proper manning-up method, because most of the time North (and every other team we've played this year) gets the ball out of defense far too easily.

PJ's a good player, but not a terribly good ruckman. First off, being second to Jamar says something about his ruck ability. Secondly, he doesn't get enough hitouts. However, he definitely makes up for it by hard running, never giving up, and some actually half-decent skills. Like his goal.

18 (exactly the same age as Maric i.e. same birthday)

I'm really happy with Maric. Looks incredibly sure of himself when he has the ball. Let's just hope injury doesn't get him.

We definitely lacked some spark in the forward line yesterday. I guess it's a reflection on the state of the MFC that we are crying out for a first-year, 10-game rookie listed 19 year old to return to the team.

I thought the umpiring yesterday was really, really bad. Some decisions, made by all three umpires, were just crap. The 50 metre penalty paid against Bartram early on was not a 50 metre penalty IMO. Moreover, later in the game there were a couple of times when I thought, based on that 50, that we could have been given one (Firrito pushed Miller after his mark, someone else got tackled after marking). There was a situation that I and many of those around me thought was a clear holding the ball (against Corey Jones, 3rd quarter I think) that wasn't paid.

I'm not for a moment suggesting that this was the reason, or even a reason, for our loss. I am just commenting on an aspect of football.

Anyway I think I've ranted on enough here.

Incorrect. If he were playing for the Hawks or Cats, he would not be even getting a game.

Well duh: Brent Prismall can't get a game at Geelong, he would be a walk up start into many other teams, including us. Plenty of players, and good ones at that, can't get a game for those two teams.

Sylvia: a big disappointment. If he has anything going for him it is toughness and attack on the ball. I watched him pull out of 2 (admittedly tough) contests - 1 to provide a contest in a mark in 1st quarter in our backline, can't remember circumstances of 2nd. I noticed after that that before a contest, he has a look around. Unimpressed. He could take a few lessons from Valenti. Also, in the 3rd quarter, a lobbed kick to the goal square gave him a perfect sit on a kanga backman (remember the big fly, that put Ferguson in hospital, and probably stuffed his career) - today he didn't even get off the ground.

McDonald: sadly, seemed to lack awareness (slow?) and showed poor skills for a senior player. Seemed to be running up and down on the spot a bit.

Sylvia: there was one stage where Sylvia spoiled another of our players (Valenti maybe): couple that with the Ferguson incident and you see his lack of awareness and sometimes selfish nature.

McDonald: how both the HUN and Age put him in our best is beyond me. He was pretty poor yesterday. His motor is down, his kicking was awful (I think overall efficiency for him was 73% or something). Might have been carrying an injury, but I suspect he is coming to an unfortunate end faster than expected.

That's when I stood up and left. My feet were blue, the score was grim and Simon Buckley showed us once again that, contrary to his own firm belief that he is the fastest man in football and can take everyone on, HE GETS CAUGHT 9 TIMES OUT OF TEN.

Argh, this frustrates me more than anything. Someone needs to tell this boy that he's not Superman, that he is a human that other humans can, and often do, catch when you try to run around them.