Sydney_Demon

I like this suggestion. Bowey has great foot skills and potentially could be another Caleb Daniel long term. Half-back flank is ideal.

Yes, I read that: 'Jones was dropped for the Demons' win over Sydney in round eight but was expected to be in line for a spot against Carlton.' This makes no sense to me. We have at least 2 players, Sparrow and Chandler, that deserve to be in the side ahead of Jones and represent the future of the club, but Jones was expected to be in line for a spot!

Let's hope he never does! (assuming he stays a Melbourne player)

It's totally implausible.... Jackson will be back as soon as he is fit. As to who goes out, I'd say in will be dependent on form but either Brown or Weideman.

I think it's actually the week after (Round 5). Quite fortuitous really. No non-hotel quarantine cases in Sydney today so hopefully restrictions will be short-term.

To be fair, the change back to Thursday night teams would require the Clubs' buy-in. None of the coaches would like this. They'd all like to announce the teams as they run out. So I would suggest this would need a little lead-in time and consultation. It's not as easy as the AFL making a change with no meaningful notice.

I largely agree with you except the last bit. So many women (not all) in sports coverage are there at least partly because of their looks. You can look like the back of a bus and be male and you still get a gig (which is fine. You should get a job based on your sports knowledge and communication skills). We really don't need flirting with co-hosts, especially between young women and old men, which is demeaning (and I speak as a 61 yo male).

The best chance of that not happening is Melbourne having prolonged success. It's not al about money or heading home (look at Richmond. Nearly all their players are on less money that they could get elsewhere). We've been pillaged in the past because players have wanted top leave to get a premiership (you can't blame them). Similarly, free agents haven't wanted to come to us because they have seen our losing culture. Hopefully, that's in the process of changing.

If it was my choice she would be back on Footy Classified ASAP and they would boot Eddie McGuire (not that that's going to happen). I just watched Wednesday's edition and the man has such an ego, talks all over everyone else, is patronising... I wouldn't mind if he had the expertise to match the bravado.

Harmes needs to play. No point in putting him in the team and having him as sub. Either he's good to play or you give him another game at Casey for more match practice. Also, I'd like to see Sparrow playing so I'd go: Out: Tomlinson (inj), Baker, Melksham, Jones (sub) In: Petty, Sparrow, Harmes, Melksham (sub)

I'm guessing the round 1 - 7 is based on 2020 ladder position of the opp, maybe the 2021 ladder position of opp and possibly travel. Looking at us and Bulldogs I just can't see 18th and 14th given the minimal travel and the very few top teams the bulldogs have played. I can see how we would have the hardest fixture going forward as we play Port, Bulldogs twice, Eagles at Optus, Cats again, Lions (all 2020 finalists) and we have lots of interstate travel. But who knows. Could well be HS don't know how it was compiled... I think this assessment is pretty fair for the rest of the year, although I can't see how we can possibly be ranked as having had the easiest draw so far. Using current ladder positions we've played (and beaten) the 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 16th & 18th teams. An above-average draw for sure, but it can't have been the easiest of all teams. In any case it is misleading because the positions of those teams partially reflects that they have lost to us. And I would argue that at least 4 of those teams (Richmond. Geelong, GWS & St. Kilda) are likely to finish higher up the ladder than where they are currently. Going forwards I agree we have a generally tough. The teams we play twice this year are Adelaide, Geelong, GWS, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs. I thought was pretty favourable on balance at the start of the season (not quite so great now with the Bulldogs playing so well). One thing that does work against us is that we play Port & West Coast once only but Interstate. Also, we are always matched against non-Victorian teams in Alice Springs (at least we are not playing in Darwin in 2021) and it would be much fairer if we hosted interstate teams (Brisbane this year) in Melbourne and hosted Melbourne teams in Alice Springs.

I can't pretend to have any real knowledge in this area but I think we should be looking at Casey players first. They know our playing system. Maybe Jimmy Munro. I think we did pretty well in the pre-season draft with Majak Daw and Deakyn Smith.

Regardless of Jack Viney being a late withdrawal, it's hard to understand why Melbourne held over Jones, Petty, Mitch Brown and Baker for Sunday after Casey played on Thursday night (which was a ridiculous piece of Foxtel scheduling in the first place). Jones was dropped this week, and is no longer a midfielder, so why have him as a reserve for the North game? You clearly want to rotate your subs so they get some game time for Casey to maintain fitness but Sparrow played Round 2 for Casey so should have been one of the reserves on the weekend, rather than Jones. Then Sparrow would have come into the side, with Baker remaining sub. I don't think Baker deserves to be dropped but agree that now Viney is out we need someone with midfield grunt. Harmes has to come in, but maybe he cones in for Melksham and Sparrow comes in for Baker, and Baker goes back to sub. Watching the Casey game, I'd love to have Kade Chandler in the side as well, a great ball user.

I think there was a fair argument that Weideman should have been picked ahead of Brown last week, but you can't pick a player for one week, he kicks 2 goals, and then you drop him. Give the bloke a chance! He needs to be given at least 4 weeks to settle into the team. The problem may be solved for this week anyway if Fritsch gets suspended. If that happens, Weideman comes in and Brown stays in.

I agree Melksham wasn't bad. 17 disposals from the half-forward flank. Melksham is just one of those players supporters love to hate. Don't expect any rationality. Having said that, someone has to be dropped from the side to accommodate Harmes who has to come in this week, especially if Viney isn't fit. If Fritsch gets suspended, then surely Weideman has to come in. This might have repercussions for the rest of the team make-up as we could then be too tall if Petty comes in. I think there's a risk bringing Petty in this week anyway. He didn't play last weekend as he. Jones, Mitch Brown, and Baker were all held over from Casey's team to cover potential injuries etc. I don't know how you can possibly keep Jones in given he had a mediocre game, and only played as sub because Viney was a late withdrawal. And I don't think Baker deserves to be dropped after a pretty good game, including 4 tackles. So, in a nutshell: Weideman for Fritsch (If Fritsch is suspended) Harmes for Melksham Tmac down back, Baker stays in.

Well, Petty did get a crack when May was out for a week, but I agree once the decision has been made we need to stick with whoever is chosen medium to long-term.

Agreed. Or West Coast in Perth like 2018. Basically, notwithstanding what the Doggies did in 2016, we need to finish Top 4, and above any non-Melbourne clubs so we always play at the MCG (this would be the year the AFL gave Geelong a home finals game).

We've got one of the best mid-fields in the AFL. Harmes is now back. Kozzie can play midfield. Sparrow, Jordon, Brayshaw could move there. I can't believe the negativity in these posts. We're 7 zip and we actually beat North Melbourne by 5 goals in Tassie despite playing fairly ordinarily for most of the game. North played by far their best game this year and in this comp if you're slightly off your game you're in trouble. Even the best sides have the odd bad game. For God's sake let's jump on rather than off. Go Dees!

Now Tomlinson has gone down long-term we need a ling-term replacement. Harry Petty or should we bite the bullet and keep T-Mac down there so we can bring Weideman in?

Your last point is a good one. I hadn't really thought about that aspect. Someone else mentioned that it's tough programming Thursday (or even Friday) night games for non-professionals for the same reason. Another tough thing for VFL players affiliated with AFL clubs is not being able to play regularly. There's 43 players on Melbourne's AFL list and 30 in Casey's VFL squad but, even with 6 Melbourne players injured and 3 kept in reserve for Sunday in case of injuries and/or as a potential Melbourne sub, 12 AFL-listed players played for Casey. Doesn't leave much space for Casey players.

Tom McDonald won't we going back unless we have major backline injuries. When Steven May was out injured/concussed they brought Harry Petty in which they'll do again if needed. Unless 2 out of May/Lever/Tomlinson are out TMac won't be going back and probably not even then. He could go on the wing with Brayshaw replacing James Jordon or Nathan Jones.

I'm not overly concerned right now. We're 30% into the season. What we need to do is just keep winning. It's important especially to make sure we beat the teams we should beat like North Melbourne We can worry about form heading into the finals, once we've made it.

He's playing well for Casey but I agree we need to give him some time. Same with Laurie (currently injured) and Rosman. I reckon we've nailed the draft the last couple of years. All 3 2019 draftees (admittedly Jackson & Pickett were Picks 3 & 12) in the best 22. We can't expect the same results with lower picks in 2020, especially with the lack of revealed form because of COVID, but I like the fact we're picking the best available players with an emphasis on skills and with upsides. Fraser Rosman could be anything in a few years and we got him at Pick 34.

No. I'm with Simon Goodwin. We should always be looking at ways of improving the team. Richmond won the premiership in 2017 and were the best side in 2018 but they still got Tom Lynch in with obvious positive results. I agree you don't take risks with a winning team against a proven opponent (like Richmond) so once Bayley Fritsch and Stephen May proved their fitness we were right not to make any further change. But, basically it's now or never. We didn't recruit Ben Brown to play for Casey. And if we operate at 80% because he doesn't gel first week in then we should still win comfortably. I reckon Casey could beat the North Melbourne senior team at the moment with the latter's injuries and lack of form.

Are you serious? The current weather forecast is: Min 12 Max 21 Possible late shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1 mm Chance of any rain: 40% http://www.bom.gov.au/images/ui/weather/rain_40.gif I agree I wouldn't be backing Melbourne at $1.02, but I wouldn''t be backing North at $13 either. If Sportsbet has the odds correct, to achieve a $100 return by backing both teams you would need to gamble $106 (roughly). Break even is something like $1.05 Melbourne and $20 North.