Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Which is pretty much what we have done the past several drafts with the two Kings and perhaps Hullet to a small extent.

Before seening your post, I suggested that we should play Spencer for Dawes against Hawthorn for these reasons. I also don't think it's good for Max's longevity for him to [censored] himself every week, usually against two opposition talls/rucks.

Yes, but it's one thing to love your own problem children and another altogether to adopt someone else's. Of all the recycled players we have recruited recently, pretty much the only ones we have got any value out of were already of established pedigree, with perhaps the only exception being Ben Ken. I'm sure I'll get hounded down for this, but I'd actually include Chris Dawes in the group of hand me downs that 'has' been useful for us.

The thing I like most about what his numbers showed about his performance, was that in a game where Casey clearly dominated and he could have stood back and collected lots of easy ball (like a few other seguls for us did), he was still in and under winning and effectly distributing the hard ball. Don't think anything else is in his DNA.

I like some your thinking, but don't think we can go quite so wholesale on those you are proposing to leave out, as we should still be trying to win this game. Still need to select on form, fittness and team ballance. We need Hunt too much for his line breaking ability and Harmes is exactly the sort of player we need against Hawthorn (did you see his effort running back against the flight in the second quarter last week?). Wagner's form has been well down over the past month at least I recon and he'd be one I would look to relegate. Do rest Hogan (no point in flogging him injured) and bring in one of Pedison or Dunn (does No.14 proud) to play as a human wrecking ball at full forward. I'd also consider playing Spencer to play CHF changing in the ruck to give big Max a bit more of a break (if anyone needs a rest it's him) and he's genuinely dangerous up forward as can be Spencer at times. Dawes could be chopped, or if he's not, he at least needs to find some moungrle - has been playing like a proverbial 'big girl' for someone of his physical stature (no slight on or women's team intended). I've already mentioned Grimes and Clarry as ins previous posts, but Ben Ken is another angry little man I think we should seriously consider. Gus and Track must remain in the side. I'd use Gus to tag team with Bernie and hassle the crap out of Hodge all day. Garlett is another one that could be in the firing line based on form, though I'd still have some reluctantance in dropping him. Beyond all that, I think the side in general should be given the instruction to be hard, physical, hunt and hurt Hawthorn. For a side that's pushed us and many others around over the years, they really didn't like it when we gave them a bit of niggle in our first game against them this year. Ture Demons supporter should show up and be vocal too, showing the likes of J.Dunstall that we are not all snow bunny yuppies!!

If there was one thing about last week's agonising win, was that we didn't lack effort and intensity. We just made a lot of stupid decisions and skill errors with the ball, a lack of confidence from successive losses perhaps? I'm hoping that if we can cut that crap out of our game, then perhaps we can put in a competitive effort and then, you never know. I don't have as much confidence in beating Hawthorn this time as I did earlier in the season, but would love to be surprised. Wonder if it could be worth playing Jack Grimes in a negating role on Mitchell? I do think we need a few bigger battle hardened bodies and some desperation against this mob.

37 disposals, 22 contested, 8 tackles and 11 clearances. That sounds to me like the sort of player we need in the side against Hawthorn.

OK, thanks. Forgot he was restricted. I do recall Danger wasn't just chasing big bucks that Adelaide couldn't have matched, so that one makes more sense now.

I'd love to see Essendon get pillaged this off season. I'm surprised no club has pushed the breach of contact line harder yet. Similarly, why Geelong didn't simply take Dangerfield as a FA. Guessing that these clubs still want to retain some relationship credits for any future trades, but I do wonder if that is really worth it when they could get more immediate returns by playing hard ball.

Big Billy fan also, but Re your point on mistakes, might I remind you that he also missed that challenging, but quite gettable goal against North earlier this season. Not that I pin that loss on Billy at all and generally speaking, I agree that if there was someone from our side that I wanted to kick that clutch goal from a set shot, I'd be most comfortable with it being in the hands of Jack Watts, Christian Salem or Billy. From a set shot Billy is exclent, soaks up the pressure and calmly slots it through as cool as a cucumber.

I also like his attack on the ball and the man for a player of his size. I think only thing he lacks to stay in our top 22 on a consistent basis is a mature hardened body. I've noticed that he tends to string together a few really good games, then seems to tire for a few and loose his impact in games. Not a criticism of his, as there are often just arn't shortcuts to reach the stage of physical development required at the elite level. I liken his progress to that of Jack Viney and look forward to what another solid preseason might bring.

I think Bernie kits a few nails on the head with his comments re umpiring, fowardline wastefulness, disappointment and the attitude our players need to have in his comments on the club web site. http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-07-23/bitterly-disappointing-loss-says-vince I also think WC did yesterday what we should have done when we lost the ascendancy Vs St Kildia and thrown more players behind the play, played a tight back line and clog up scoring some more. Hopefully all this and the issues Bernie raised in terms of lowering the eyes a bit more come with a bit more experience/maturity next year and we walk away winners in these games.

Yes, I did too, but probably not as much as WC supporters enjoyed watching some of the same from our blokes. I think I recall watching T Mac and Wagner turn over a few crucial kicks trying to switch across or back half which resulted in easy goals for them. I like the way both the aforementioned go about their footy, but if we are to be a good team and consistently beat top eight teams, then these kinds of sloppy skill errors are things that all our players need to get out of their games.

Many seem to have written off Lyndon Dunn, but I'm not sure I'd be so quick to lock that in. On the side of the againsts, he didn't seem to me to have the same impact last year as compared to what I think was his best year in 2014, his performances at AFL level in 2016 haven't been particularly convincing and he was pretty poor that last game we played against St Kilda. Probably the worst thing is that he looks to have slowed. On the side of the fors, he has shown his best footy can be pretty good, can be solid in defensively (particularly one on one) and has been capable of beating some of the games premiere forwards. He is a booming, reliable kick out from full back and has that thing which a lot of our list don't - experience. He did play pretty bad that game against St Kilda, but wasn't Robinson Crusoe there and it was only one game - everyone plays one every so often. His numbers for Casey last gamewere pretty reasonable, so I'm hoping it's a sign of a return to good form. Key defenders don't grow on trees.

Whilst I obviously don't have the inside connection or recollection that you do, what I was meaning by the Fitzroy and perhaps the Sydney relocations to some extent, was that these clubs were able to retain more of their identity than what we would have in the proposed merger with Hawthorn. I know many an older Roy boys and Bloods supporter who are able to still proudly support their respectively relocated teams than I think I'd be able to if we jettisoned the demon, threw yellow in there and added some stupid Hawk. I do recall how hard Fitzroy fought to keep their club afloat and that they did pretty much fight until the death. What I'm saying is that though I actually voted for the merger at the time (along with might I add the majority of MFC members), in retrospect I'd rather fight to the death for club survival or wait another decade to actually see us win a premiership (though I sincerely hope that's not the case) than to cave into a merger and try to buy our way to success that way, at the same time as selling out the soul of the club. Joe showed the sort of passion for the club that many at the time did not (including a number of former club champions) and put his money where his mouth was to boot. I don't forget that.

Perhaps something along the lines of Chef from South Park singing about chocolate!!? Haha

On a lighter note, perhaps the Demonland page sponsors could help?! Is it just me or is the internet becoming more pervasive than ever.

Melbourne supporters do owe old Joe and Don Scott some fair gratitude. Without these two guys, we'd all be following the Dorks or some other gastly almalgimation, not sitting on the cusp of a resurgent, competitive Demons team. At the time I was actually pro-merger because I was so desperate for that success, but in retrospect I think I'd rather the club go bankrupt and team be forcefully relocated to the Gold Coast or Tasmania or something similar to Fitzroy than merge with any other existing team. My view is that at the very least old Joe deserves some dignity and respect from Melbourne supporters from what he did and tried to do for the club. I don't recall the politics which resulted in his departure from the presidency, but I think at his core he's one of us - a die hard, heart beats true for the red and blue type of guy.

Fair call. I did notice him do a few good things on Saturday night and perhaps with a bit more fitness back he is spending more time back on the ball. But if you look at his figures for previous weeks (practically the rest of the season), they are well down and I think he has been given chances that others haven't. One thing he does do is give a big/strong physical presence. Hoping he has turned the corner and get's back to his 2015 form.

Not sure the outs (BenKen perhaps?), but I'd like to see both Oliver and Brayshaw back in the side, probably with Wagner and Bugg. Like their hardness. The coaches said they were going to bring in fresh legs against Port, then didn't and paid the price IMHO. So I defiantly agree with rotating players. I didn't notice Billy Stretch play particularly badly against Freo, like his attack on the man/ball and good foot skills, so not sure he'd nessasily be one I'd be thinking of leaving out of the side. As much as I like him as a player, I'm not sure that Vanders does enough to warrent his spot sometimes. But all in all I'm counting on the fitness department to monitor and make the right call on who needs the rest, advised also by who the coaches think they need for team balance. Also I have no idea why anyone would think that someone who has racked up their high jumper number in possessions at 90% efficiency along with a bunch of 1%ers after spending 11weeks knocking on the door and has a mature body is going anywhere close to getting left out of the side this week.

From what I understand, Casey had a bye when we played the Dockers, so you don't get much better rest than that. i.e. no slight intended. Despite the bye factor, VFL is still a fair step down from AFL intensity and even had they played,bringing in players from that level should still be fresher, particularly since the MFC would probably also make the call on Casey to manage gametime for any likely AFL inclusions.

I saw most of the same pros and cons in his game last night that many on this forum did. I think the real indicator of where he goes after this year will only be evident after he has strung together two, three or more games back at AFL level. Perhaps some who get the benefit of watching Casey play have a better insight into that, but I think it is pretty hard to otherwise. Many players need one or two games back at the highest level to build confidence and adjust to the faster pace of the game (Patraca being a prime, somewhat exadurated example), I will be keenly watching over the next few weeks to see if Jack can tidy up some of his disposal and do some better things with the ball. Thought that some of his recovery, second and third efforts were great and would have please Roos and Co no doubt.

Agree with everything stated above. I can not for the life of me see what would be wrong with bringing back a proper reserves team for every AFL listed club (make it national). Would even up the gap between the rich an poor clubs and give supporters the best opportunity to watch up and coming talent on their clubs list. With all the from the AFLPA about how the players should be getting a bigger slice of the new trillions, I can not understand why it would not be affordable.

Stoked with this news. Let's hope that we see a return to his best form in the next few weeks. I think he has been a bit off his A game of late; perhaps the contract talks were a distraction. Big job to do this week on his old mate Eddy.

Have defiantly been impressed with Wagner this year, but clearly Grimes is a better option this week! On my off the cuff account, we have had a pretty charmed year injury wise this year. All teams need depth and if we could retain Grimes on a modest contract, could he be worth retaining on that basis? Granted he would be taking a list spot with which we could be developing another player. Glad the club has been fairly good at the whole list management game over the last few years. Guess we will all see soon enough.