titan_uranus

Great points WJ. Going for Brown at all cost is most certainly not something that fits in with the club at the moment, and it just goes to show how separate McNamee was from the on-field aspects of the club. I also heard him last night on the news saying that, under Steve Harris, we failed in signing Chris Judd. He had his priorities all wrong, and was out of touch with the club.

I have to agree with you there. I'd reckon some of the younger players in the team could use a break. Well I guess we know DB isn't going to pick them for any reason other than their form, so I'd say if they were ever going to get a game, now would be the most likely.

I was never happy with the choice of McNamee, and this decision only confirms my suspicions that he wasn't the right fit to an AFL club. His decision to stay an extra week in Paris, if true, sums up his lack of commitment to Melbourne. I guess this makes Cameron Schwab a possibility to return?

I reckon CJ's also a chance if he keeps this form up.

Well I don't think they've been watching recently. Miller I think is now off the 'trade potential' list and heading towards the 'untouchables' list. Sylvia on the other hand...

I believe that it was Davey that started the idea of having small, fast forwards who placed pressure on the opposition's defence. He is our X-factor. He played well in the 4th quarter vs Brisbane (we won), he played really well Round 7 vs Freo (we won), he played well vs Hawthorn Round 9 (we led for more than 50% of the match). When he plays well he has the ability to lift the team. Not to mention the crowd. I remember in his first few years people came to the MCG just to see Davey play. He's one of the few players we have that has a little bit of class.

Yeah I remember it too. We'd just beaten the Hawks, taken top spot on the ladder and were I guess considered genuine premiership material. I don't think we won again until Round 4 the next year. I miss being good...

He's said he's staying with 3AW and Channel 7 next year, after that something tells me he'll become assistant coach at Collingwood.

Ah OK then HT, well considering it's more of a team for the future I guess it doesn't really matter.

I have, and now always will, defend Miller. But no longer will I defend Sylvia.

Where's Wheatley??? Grimes makes emergency, Wheatly is overlooked? Other than that, good effort HT.

Simmonds didn't play that well, I was there and he only did well when a) Richmond were on top and b ) when Hille tried to be a star and didn't pay him any respect. He only had a major influence in the last quarter (where he set up 3 goals and kicked another), but wasn't a dominant force otherwise.

I'd like this: Out Newton In Holland

I would have to agree that this is the most likely scenario. However I reckon there's a chance WC could beat us, but that wouldn't affect the choices in the draft.

Sylvia - junk time specialist? Has anyone ever seen him do something when a game is in the balance? Maybe against Brisbane, but on the whole he's nowhere to be seen until the result is out of doubt.

I feel as though I am right on the fence on this one. On the one hand I believe, at 20/21 with only 10-15 games under his belt there is a large room for improvement. I also think it is tough, almost impossible, to judge the performance of a FF when the supply is pathetic and/or non-existent. You can't be expected to dominate at FF unless you have the opportunity to do so. On the other hand, at no stage in his career have I seen Newton play and thought to myself: 'He could be a good FF for us for the next few years'. I have not once seen him play a great game, only a few kind of good ones. This year, though he's only had 3 tries at it, he has not done anything to suggest he is capable of holding down FF, and to me, there are many deep flaws in his game, such as his speed, second efforts and workrate when he doesn't have the ball. His marking, supposedly his best weapon, is not exactly fantastic either. So overall I feel as though we're going to see him given more time to unimpress, but never really do anything for the MFC.

Well I have to agree that Jarryd Morton had a shocker for the Hawks, but concerns about genetic links between him and Cale are ridiculous. By the way, I didn't notice Mitch Morton dropping and fumbling the ball for Richmond on Saturday. Cale showed in the first quarter what he is capable of, but his youth, inexperience, and small stature mean he's not able to play 4 consecutive good quarters. End of discussion.

I'm just enjoying reading about our players, and seeing MFC players in the media. Could use someone who can present well on TV.

What you've written there is the exact same thing I would have written. Completely agree on all fronts. The go-home factor means Watts beats Rich out as first priority. Hopefully we get Warnock so that we can eliminate Naitanui from the equation.

Well fair enough, but why then is he named an emergency? Why not name someone who's fit, like Bode for example (not that I want to see Bode play, but at least he's fit).

We are definitely wearing the clash strip today, I remember reading it in an article from around the time of the St. Kilda game where this whole issue was big. We have to wear it against Freo and Essendon I think, but those are the last 2 times ever.

Damn West Coast. Anyway, a win today puts the two west australian teams in the bottom two spots on the ladder, which should be enough reason to go for a win.

F: Davey Miller Sylvia HF: Wonna Bate Robertson Davey rotates through the midfield though. Probably only need a forward 5, the sixth one will be a mixture of midfielders/ruckman rotating through.

At least he's at peace (seemingly) with why he's not in the team.

Mooney, Fevola, O'Loughlin, Dal Santo, Waite I agree with. Murphy is borderline. Brown's injury has ruined him, if it hadn't have happened he would be a much better player. Riewoldt - similar story to Brown, but I wouldn't call him overrated. Johnson is a star, and is most definitely not overrated. And I just thought of one of the most underrated players in the AFL: Dane Swan.