titan_uranus

I don't think West Coast will want/can afford to trade McKinley: he's their only decent forward (especially now that Lynch rucks as well), is young and can kick goals in a team that struggles to score. Despite that, if they are looking to trade him, we should definitely go for him.

I really like the look of Prismall: we should go for him. Geelong are likely to have to offload players come the end of the year due to the salary cap and so if Prismall isn't getting a game he could be one of them.

Yeah I remember 2004: the only year not to draw 60,000+. Rainy, cold, MFC had been thrashed the previous 3 QB matches, and, if I remember correctly, it was right in the middle of the construction of the new stand so numbers were down all of that year. Hopefully enough filth supporters will show up to make a healthy crowd.

Yeah, just read other thread re: Frawley's injury.

Ahh, well that explains it then. Poor Frawley. Is there a penalty for bringing in someone outside the squad of 25? We've done it 3 times now, so I'm hoping we're not forking out money each time.

There must have been a mistake or something because both The Age and the HUN have Bell listed in the back pocket on Medhurst and Frawley is an out. I cannot believe Bell is still in the team...

I think the issue behind all this is Demetriou looking at how to get the currently strong teams (Geelong, Bulldogs, Hawthorn) who don't have big matches into a blockbuster without having too many 'blockbusters' per year, and he sees QB as an opportunity to have, say, Hawthorn vs Collingwood, which this year in round 7 drew 76,048 without being a 'blockbuster'. However I think this could do us a favour of sorts: getting people to turn up on Monday to prove him wrong. I guess it's possible that he came out and said this to purposely boost the crowd numbers on Monday.

That's how he should be played: gives us an extra midfielder. Maybe could also go forward.

Second round would do me

Good idea: considering Dunn isn't even on the bench (which I guess means he's most likely going to play), maybe he's gonna run with Shaw. Hopefully fast enough, definitely should be strong enough. I originally thought Bartram to Shaw, but maybe Bartram will run with Thomas.

If I can remember correctly, one of the options for the predominant colour of the new clash strip was teal...

Good question DemonDave. Well you'd hope that Miller or Bate kicks enough to get past 20. Maybe even Newton if he gets a spot.

Urged all Melbourne supporters to go to Queens Birthday because, in his words, if it doesn't draw a crowd of at least 60,000-65,000, we may not be in Queens Birthday again. Said that the match is a fixture but the clubs who play in it are not 'set in stone' i.e. if Melbourne can't draw big enough crowds we won't be in it anymore and other clubs who would draw bigger crowds would get the spot.

Well get a bucket ready for rounds 16 and 18 Doggo: according to the article, there isn't enough time to come up with a suitable idea and make it into a jumper by round 16 when we play Freo.

I like this one, but yeah, probably needs more red on it.

Just had a look at that post Pates: I have no idea where the AFL sees the clashes there. Essendon is the only concern, but from a distance it would be a predominantly black jumper against a predominantly red jumper. Add to that white shorts and fully red socks vs red and black socks, and there shouldn't be any problems.

Yes, I agree, Bruce and Green (and White, and Whelan, and McDonald) are most likely not to be playing great footy when we're next ready to contest for the flag. However, with Neitz gone, Robbo out for 12 months, Yze and Holland going, culling all those players makes our list devoid of any experience or leadership. To win 16 games in a year doesn't just rely on that year's performances. There's the build-up to a premiership: the years before winning a flag are just as important. We can't just expect to draft a bunch of quality youth over the next couple of years, scrap the older players, and then be a genuine premiership contender. Players like Bruce and Green need to hang around if only to guide the younger players over the next 3 years.

The article in The Age says that we must still wear the strip against Freo in round 16 and Essendon in round 18. That means we will have worn it agains Fremantle, Essendon, St. Kilda and Brisbane, with Carlton wearing their white jumper when we played them. Of these teams, which, if any, does a mainly red jumper like the ones proposed here clash with? For me, Essendon comes the closest, but they're predominantly black. I can think of no team in the AFL where either our regular jumper or a mainly red jumper clashes.

I think Bartram is being too heavily criticised, plus I think he's the perfect player for Heath Shaw: other teams have shown that Shaw's influence on the game is massively reduced when you tag him, so I think Bartram should stay. You make a good point about Jeff White. The main problem is neither Jamar nor PJ have shown consistently that they can take on full ruck responsibilities: White has, even if his best form is behind him. An average game from White still beats a good game from Jamar.

I don't think Frawley should go just yet. What's he played, 10 games or so? He showed some promise vs Carlton earlier this year, and he should be learning each week.

Yeah I know, I was just saying look how long its taken Cooney to develop, maybe Brock and Sylvia will have vast improvements over the next couple of years. I agree: gotta be in the top 10 to let Rivers go. Even then, I would still feel bad doing it. He could well be the most experienced defender on our list considering what people think may happen to Carroll, Whelan etc.

That's a great alternative strip Demon4Life. It should be that or the inverted colours strip for sure.

When (and I know it's not often) Rivers plays, we almost invariably play better. He is a crucial part of our defence going forward. I know this draft is very important, but I don't think Rivers should go. You're right about the 2003 draft, but wasn't Cooney pick 1?

There are plenty of other clubs out there who have plenty of money without having to have sold sponsorship rights to their jumper. We should be looking at long-term ways of securing finances so that we don't need to wear bright green. Don't know that I'd want our club to sacrifice its identity for money, if only for one or two matches.

I see where you're coming from, but the examples you've provided are also examples of failed designs. Members of each of those clubs hated those jumpers. I for one would detest seeing the Melbourne football club run out in bright green. We need to remain true to our colours, especially in a year that recognises our history more than any other. Red and blue: that's it.