Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Not so sure of all the talk of Viney being an almost certain inclusion. If his injury is only 75% healed, personaly I'd almost rather he missed another week or two than play out the season carrying a niggle which didn't properly heal and his form and devlopment suffer as a result. I'm sure that the club medicos are on top of it and will make the right call, just saying having him for this game doesn't mean as much as having him full fit for the rest of the season and I think the teams depth is at a point where the longer term perspective is more paramount.

Interesting that you have Grimes in your side, when many of the punters on this forum have written him off. What's your rationale there? Personally I thought Kent had a good physical presence last week, did a few other good things and I'd still have him in my side, though Harmes was no better than Kennedy got dropped for the week before and so I think he'd be the similar sized/type player to make way for Grimes.

Nervous yes, but seemed to have a pretty screwed on, down to earth and in for hard work kind of attitude about him, that kind of attitude could take him far. I know that most AFL recruits these days seem to talk the coaching propaganda babble, but I thought he came across as pretty genuine. Watching him play, I think he certainly puts in effort. Melbourne has recruited and reaped the just reward for it's fair share of talented show ponies in the recent past, so to me, there is something encouraging about where this guy is coming from. Will be interesting to see how he goes in a few years time if he can develop Tommy's kind of strength and endurance.

Any thoughts on key back line match ups? It's really the Hawks smalls we need to worry about more than their talls. I recon Hunt could be the guy to curtail Rioli as he should have the pace and agility to go with him. I'd be a bit concerned that he doesn't have experience, though playing on one of the guns of the comp could also be a good learning experience for Hunt. Jetta to play in their other very dangerous small forward Poppy.

True, but we don't have such an abundance of tall backs. It could be argued that Dunn or even Peddo could fill in down back, but I'm not sure their leg speed is up to it these days. I hate to say it and I hope I'm wrong, but Lynden looked past AFL standard in his appearances this season.

As one who started attending the footy inin earnest as a 9 yo in 86, amoungst my most favourably remembered wins are last Rd 87 Vs Footscray at the 'Western Oval' and 88 Prelim Vs Carlton 88. My memories of the Carlton game pretty much only amount to the celrbrations after the siren, after which it was almost as if we had won the GF to many of the battle hardened supporter of old around me. I fairly clearly remember the words "And what's even better is that it's against Carlton!!" being said around me more than once. Whilst some have played down this latter statement, in retrospect it should be remembered that 1. Carlton were the last years premier's and 2. We had also come within a whisker of beating the Hawks in a premlim the year before and most importantly 3. They were 'F***ing Carlton'. Still the glory days in my time were early/mid 90s. Just needed a bit more of a harder edge leadership/coaching wise to get us to a double chance ladder position and we would have broken the drought then and there.

Michie: yes - done. Doesn't do anything for me defensively or offensively. Probably a waste of a rookie list spot, although may do something for team morale to give a guy willing to put in effort a go. Good VFL player but like doggie boy, can't see him making it. Newton: could still come good/prove worth. Finds the ball in dangerous spots and generally makes the most of his opertunities - kicks goals!! (Reliably under pressure). If we can keep him for nothing (which you'd think we could given he's in his second club he can't get a regular gig for), then worth persevering with.

I remember watching Jonesy in his first couple of years at the club and cringing every time he got the footy like I do a few of our current potential up and commers. Hope they can all turn into Chunks!!

Frirstly, whilst I hardly consider myself a blue blood who can throw money around like confetti, the obvious point is don't bet what you can't afford to loose. But if I can elaborate further, I'm not sure that I'd be backing us as hard against the Swans or GWS right at the moment, but right now Hawthorn are 'gettable' and we could be competitive against them. If you also consider that the team we put on the park this week is probably better than last week, then I think we are in with a much better chancr than the current conventional thinking suggests.

Slight change of toppic from all the Oscar bashing/selection bemoaning... I'm not much of a punter and don't really want to be seen to encouraging gambling, but IMHO the $5 being offered for a Melbourne win this week is pretty darn good based on respective form to date and I'm very tempted to put $50 on us. I know recient past record against would suggest I'm a fool, but Hawthorn weren't all that good against the lions and neither have we been the past two, so I think it will come down to who wants it more. I'm happy that we've selected a team of goers and we are about due for another breakthrough game like Geelong last year. Any thoughts?

I actually think Harmes is one of our better disposers of the footy. Seen him hit big Jessy and others with beautiful passes which hit them laces out a number of times this year. I think the thing is he needs to get better at doing it consistently (like many of our young players), but to me he has shown he has a good basic foot skills as something to work with... not sure that all of our players have that. Also one thing we need to be mindful of with the likes of Harmes, ANB, Billy, Gus, Trac and the like is that they are still only 1st to 2nd/3rd year players at best. In years gone by, these guys wouldn't even be getting games at Hawthorn or the Swans and not all players develop at the same rate, so way too early to put too much judgement into their ultimate potential at this point. Also worth noting that whilst the trend has been for players of all positions to have mid fielder type athletic ability, there is still room for players with good football ability to play a role (I.e. Nev Jetta). Whist all teams strive to fill their lists with A grade midfields, that is not to say that every player on their list is an A grader. The good teams also value solid, disiplined no frills players who can use their abilities to 'play a role' for the team. That all said, I think we have several talented young guys that should hopefully develop into A graders.

The main one we have let slip (and I can understand some of the reasoning) was big Steff Martin and to a small degree Cheeny. While in some respects I'd like to see him do well, I also hope that Fitzy isn't another who could yet burn us given the opportunity and if he can get his body right.