titan_uranus

I think Yze or Sylvia could cover for Robbo. Add Bate and Miller one or both of whom could go deeper, and a resting ruckman and there's no need to play Newton. However I don't know much about St Kilda's defence, maybe playing Newton will stretch their defenders.

I agree: I've loved Bate his whole career, and he's now beginning to develop into a star player of the AFL. Lovely kicking action too... Jaded's right about FF though, we've no real prospects here unless Zomer comes through. I doubt Newton will make it. Hope he does though, for his sake and Melbourne's.

Oh yeah, my mistake.

That's a good point: for some getting to the ground can be expensive and difficult. Like the idea of cheaper Saturday tickets. I'm just glad we got recognised by the AFL.

Let's not forget that Hawthorn plays a specific zoning tactic whereby we're forced more often than not into going to the boundary first up. Still, Bell sholdn't be taking kick ins.

I remember his debut game vs Richmond, he played up forward and I remember thinking that we'd got onto a goal-kicking prospect. I think he needs to be tried as a forward.

It's amazing how things can change so quickly: now it seems as though its the forward line that is worse than the backline. I dunno about drafting Hurley as a forward when he's played in defence in his youth and he's getting such high appraisal down there. PJ could maybe play forward, more so if Meesen or Spencer develop into a proper ruckman, however I don't think that would be such a good idea.

I had the same thought: isn't it sometimes more important to be the better player when the team sucks? I mean, standing out when you lose is generally better than playing well when the team plays well. Sometimes we criticise players who only play well when everyone else plays well.

Garry Lyon has brought up the issue of Melbourne playing the majority of football this year on a Sunday. Every match from round 5 until round 18 is on a Sunday save for Queen's Birthday. Add to that rounds 1, 3 and 22, and we have a total of 15 Sunday matches. Also, of our 11 home matches, 7 are on a Sunday. What do you prefer? (Also only one night match this year (Round 19 vs Geelong), but that I guess stems from our performance last year)

That's how I saw it. He attacks the ball hard, but isn't blessed with the most extraordinary of skills. Should be persisted with.

No Warnock eh? Still, looks like a good defence on paper. We'll have to see how the current one goes over the remainder of the year, because I think at this stage Naitanui and/or Rich are more important for us than Hurley. I like the idea of releasing Petterd as well.

Can't go past this one: could watch it over and over and over again.

Looking forward to this, hope Hutchy gets slammed.

True, but let's not forget that Geelong is an entirely different city, and the club needs to satisfy members from both Geelong and Melbourne. I think Skilled Stadium is bigger than any suburban ground in Melbourne anyway (stand to be corrected on that one).

Ah yes, good point. Quite a dumb suggestion on my behalf.

Ahh yes, I think it was AFL games, like state of origin and pre-season comp.

Actually you're right here, it's not the fact that it wasn't a push in the back (because in all honesty, it probably was), it's the fact that Morton was ambling along, didn't dispose of the ball, and Davey ran hard to chase him down when he was spent, and this is making me and others angry. Maybe in situations where it could be both holding the ball and in the back, holding the ball could take priority?

Yeah I think that might have been Matthew James. Every time I think he was trying to increase the 'drama' of the situation or something. At least he can bounce the ball.

Someone said yesterday that it was his 200th game. Was it? If so, congratulations are in order.

Yeah, I shouldn't be bringing up trade talk. I was more trying to make the point that he doesn't seem to be going anywhere and probably should be more of a regular by now.

The first time I noticed it was last year vs Bulldogs when we lost by a goal or so. Daniel Cross was continually caught with the ball but always buckled his knees as he falls. I agree with the rucking issue, however Jamar still doesn't know how to time his jumps properly.

These days it seems umpires are more intent on paying holding the ball where someone 'drags it in' or 'dives on it' rather than the traditional way.

So I guess that he will eventually replace Valenti on the senior list.

Not getting a mention at all across the different threads, I get the feeling he may be one we may look to trade this year. He'll eventually make it back I guess, but I don't know what position he should be played in.

The 50m penalty to Davey was shocking: 60-70 metres, and was centred. The free kick was on the wing, Davey then stood almost on the goal square. Franklin's tackle on Wonna without the ball was an appalling miss, but only narrowly worse than the in the back that should have been holding the ball. Here's another one that was much harder to pay: Campbell Brown deliberately handballing out of bounds twice in the final quarter. Just thought that the umpires were too scared to pay it.