Bring-Back-Powell

hmmm.... I haven't heard one positive report about Jurrah this summer. I wonder if he's recovering from an injury or can't cope with the heavy demands of a pre season or a combo of both?? Thanks heaps for the report mate! Much appreciated.

We were warned of his reputation off the field, but amazing to hear of an incident so soon after the draft. Not surprised he lasted till pick 50.

A very rough stab in the dark, which includes a couple of (non tanking) experiments: B McNamara Warnock Bennell HB Bell Frawley MacDonald C Davey Sylvia Trengove HF Tapscott Morton Bate F Maric Jurrah Martin Foll Jamar Grimes Jetta INT Bail Jones Green Cheney Moloney Petterd Dunn Rivers I'm giving Sylvia a full game in the middle to put his solid pre season to the test and to find out whether he has what it takes to be a quality midfielder. I'd like to see Jetta have a decent run on the ball, he looked good V's Carlton and I'm not convinced he'll make it as a goal sneak. The next phase of Cale Morton's education is to play him as a key forward, so I'm expecting him to play the entire pre season in the forward line. Grimes will obviously be experimented in the midfield with the departure of our clanger king to Carlton, I hope he impresses! Finally Daniel Bell is in a contract year so we might get a bit of value out of him this year if injury free...see how he goes in the NAB CUP. Rested/recovering/omitted/not ready - Woneamirri, Bruce, McDonald, Watts, Scully, Garland, Gawn, Fitzgerald, Gysberts, Johnson, Miller, Bartram, Blease, Strauss, Spencer, McKenzie, Hughes, Meeson, Newton.

I'm stunned we picked Gysberts. Hasn't Prendergast been banging on about picking blokes that can kick the ball. From what I hear Gysberts kicking needs dramatic improvement. Very interesting selection.

Agree with the above. In 2005/2006 we got these type of crowds at the MCG: Melbourne V Adelaide -39,000 (2005) Melbourne V West Coast - 35,000 (2005) Melbourne V Collingwood - 78,000 (2006) Richmond V Melbourne - 60,000 (2006) Melbourne V Sydney - 43,000 (2006) Hard to believe we were getting above 30,000 against interstate teams. Combine the above crowds with increased membership and this should see our financial position improve.

Cheney doesn't have the skill or class required of AFL football. I don't see a long term future for him.

I think the OP has some merit. I'm not convinced that the Stefan Martin project will be a success and I don't have him in my best 22 for next year. I only see him as depth for our ruck and defence departments. Needs to dramatically improve his kicking skills if he wants to make it as a forward.

But similar in that we've lost a proven commodity for a first round draft pick.

This trade seems very similar to the TJ - Grimes situation in 2008. Although I understand McLean wanted out while TJ was forced out. TJ was on fire for most of 2008 and appeared to make the Dees look stupid with regards to the trade. While TJ was jagging 35 possession games we were stuck with an injured rookie who was nowhere near an AFL debut. However a year later I think the trade has equalised. While Travis Johnstone will be a handy player off the bench in 2010 for the Lions, we have a young Jack Grimes, a very exciting talent who has already polled 3 votes in a game and ready to be unleashed in the midfield. I can see McLean having a good season next year for Carlton, perhaps polling between 5 and 10 brownlow votes. Meanwhile Gysberts will switch between Casey 1sts and 2nds. So for next year, the trade won't seem worth it, but hopefully by 2012 we'll start to see the benefits and the rationale behind the trade.

Apart from Ezra Poyas (who Gutnick demanded he not be a Demon), anyone know of any recent or current jewish players in the AFL? EDIT - Todd Goldstein (the ruckman who kicked 5 goals against us this year) is the only listed according to wiki.

Just watch Collingwood's clanger count rise next year if Buckley gets a game for them.

Our best fwd line looks like: HF Sylvia Miller Bate F Green Jurrah Woneamirri Martin, Petterd, Watts and Maric will also feature down there. This combined with a poor midfied (compared to most other clubs) leads me to believe that we'll struggle to finish higher than 13th. 2011 is when we should start to expect the Dees to finish closer to the top 8. My goal kicking predictions: Jurrah - 43 (i'm concerned that he may attract the No 1 defender which could decrease output) Bate - 29 Miller - 24 Green - 22 Woneamirri - 21

The scandalous reason I heard (via Brisbane's bigfooty forum) was that MacDonald craves a more rounded lifestyle and prefers to have a life outside of footy. Therefore he didn't fit into Voss's AFL football philosophy. Probably a load of crap.

One wonders why Danny Hughes is still on the rookie list?? He could've enabled us another selection.

Disagree. When I compare our forward line with the rest of the league, it really looks impotent. Jurrah is the only player capable of kicking 4+ goals. Bate spends most of his time as a high HF while Miller isn't good enough, Aussie can't get on the park and Watts isn't ready. Bradshaw may have been the difference between winning 4-6 games and winning 9-11 games next year.

I think a decline in form over the last month cost him dearly. He went from getting consistent 20 touches, to barely double figures.

It was only Whelan that wore the t-shirt version, in 2002. The only players on the list that I've seen wear a long sleeve jumper are Bruce, Green, Rivers and James McDonald. I reckon the long sleeve jumper has become an endagered specie.

Probably the funniest/bizzare selection since the 1986 inception of the draft. Can anyone think of any funnier?

The only positive in retaining Meeson is that he increases our ruck department depth. Will be interesting to see who gets promoted first out of all our rookies.

Looks like a good selection on paper. Been a little while since we picked up a decent player from another club. Hope it works out.

Pick 6 in the rookie draft! Last chance you'd think

Geez Wonna can't take a trick

I'm nominating A. Maric. I reckon it will be time that Maric confirms his reputation as a junior star/dead eye dick. We have seen glimpses of his talent in many of his games, a lovely user of the ball but just needs to eliminate those clangers. Was a pity he got injured mid year as he could've used some valuable experince late in the year. Has 2 years on his side so 2010 is not a make or break year for him.

Probably Melbourne's best hope for a win in 2009: B Frawley Warnock Bennell HB Grimes Rivers Morton C Davey Moloney Bruce HF Bate Miller Sylvia F Petterd Jurrah Green Foll Jamar McLean Jones INT Martin Dunn McDonald P Johnson EMERG - Bartram, Jetta, Cheney. - Bruce played his best footy off half back, so I probably should've pushed him in the back 6 - P Johnson lucky to be in the side, as he only featured in 2 of our wins but he rucked successfully by himself (V Freo, WCE and WB). Must recapture 2008 form to save career. - Jetta very stiff to miss as he came good late. But he seemed to get a game early because he was the only option. - Bartram and Cheney played plenty of games but you can't count on the skill level of these 2. I'd expect to see these gradual changes to the best '22' in 2010: Ins - Scully, Trengove, MacDonald, Watts, Aussie. Outs - McLean, Dunn, P Johnson, Miller and maybe a veteran if their body fails (Rivers, Bruce, Jmac???)

Sounds like they just chose the 7 oldest players on the list, nothing amazing about next years group.