Bring-Back-Powell

St.Kilda 12th??? To low IMO That will give them some added motivation tomorrow night.

Great Looks like Godfrey's the perfect replacement for McDonald.

Yep for sure. The first thing I read after the match. It also would be good if that bloke (I think he was called Good Oil) brings back the Player Ratings out of 10. That was good reading! It went missing after 2005.

9/10. Absolutely pumped for the season opener. However if we were playing Freo away my excitement levels would dip down to a 6. Very excited about the first 4 weeks as all our games are at the MCG, albeit against finals contenders (St.K, Freo and Geel). I believe the only way we can make top 4 this year is if we're 4-0 after round 4 and 6-1 after round 7. This means we can only afford to lose to Sydney in round 5 or Dogs at Telstra Dome in round 7.....before we head off to West Coast. We also play 1 more game at the MCG than last year...due to finally playing Collingwood twice in the one season!!! We also play Carlton twice at the MCG...surely we'll take care of them this time. On the flip side, my excitement levels dip down a bit after I think about our pre-season performance where there was very little improvement shown and very few highlights....bar Jones, Moloney's comeback and Jeff White's 3 goal haul against Richmond. Could go either way for the Dees and Daniher. Traditionally 2 teams come into the 8 and 2 team drop out. Could very well be us??

I wouldn't go. Season opener is way more important than an engagement party. At worst, your better half won't talk to you for a month, but its all worth it

Just wondering whether anyone knows or thinks that Pickett will play this week against St.Kilda. I'd love to see him out there for the season opener. He just provides that X-factor in big games at the MCG. Can he play with just 1 VFL game as preparation? Were they resting him yesterday (5 day break) with the view of playing him this week? Has he a hidden injury which the MFC are refusing to reveal? Thoughts?

No Pickett?? He would be in serious doubt for round 1, me thinks.

He's playing round 1. Love it or lump it!! I'm more than comfortable having Yze in the lineup than take the speculative punt on a kid (ie-Buckley). We're here to win games of footy, and there is an 80% chance that Ooze will contribute against St.Kilda, kick 2 or 3 goals and hit Neita and Robbo dead on the chest from the Northen Wing - which he has done countless times at the MCG. Lets focus on how Yze can contribute to the team. You may be pleasantly surprised come round 1.

Should get 6 weeks if it was intentional. The same amount of weeks as Dunn will be out for.

Whats all the fuss about? So what if Ox tips us outside of the 8? Maybe he's right. On average 2 teams will jump into the 8, and 2 teams will fall out. It could unfortunetly be our year to miss the finals...who knows. All I know is our pre-season form has been terrible. (The only thing I can hold my hat on is that we've never had a full team in). I've seen 3 out of the 4 games. Not much has impressed me. The Geelong game last week was awful, I'm not sure why people are putting a positive spin on it. Except for positive cameos from Moloney, Miller and Jones we were just plain insipid. We've got a hell of a lot of work to do to turn around our pre-season form if we're going to be competitive this year. I don't think 10th is an insane prediction, from what I've seen so far.

Moloney will play round 1. Played about 80-90% of the game in the centre square and was not far off his best, and was certainly in the club's best players in an overall woeful perfomance against Geelong. Certainly has had sufficent preparation for a round 1 birth.

I'm a bit the opposite on this issue. Yes, its great for the spirit and comaraderie of the group. However, as soon as I saw Beamer, Jones and Co join in to remonstrate, all I was thinking was "PLEASE NO REPORTS, PLEASE DON'T THROW ANY PUNCHES"- Round 1 is just around the corner. I didn't get any satisfaction out of it. All I was thinking is get the hell out of there boys, don't risk a suspension. I'd rather our guys play round 1, then thowing a punch and costing their team dearly. No one threw a punch this time, but a fiery bloke like Moloney might not resist the temptation next time.

On the basis that he'll finally wake up from his slumber, turn on the magic and play a blinder in round 1. We know his capable of brilliance, we just don't know when he'll turn it on. We only have to go back to round 17 last year when he kicked 5 goals against the Doggies. That was July 2006. Why can't he do that again in March 2007? He had the worst game of his career last weekend against Richmond (highlighted by pulling out of a marking contest), and if he fails again tomorrow down at [censored] Cat Park, then some serious questions must be asked....maybe even retirement if he's lost the motivation. However, I have him in my round 1 team, as he has the runs on the board and can step up in big games. If there is no improvement, then he must be dropped in round 2 as he's proving a liability.

BBP's Lofty Prediction for Saturday. Adem Yze to kick 5 goals, 11 marks, 28 possessions, 6 tackles, 11 'one' percenters, and be everyone's best friend again!!! PS - Anyone making the trip down the highway? I'll be there.

Nothing wrong with TJ starting on the bench in most games. He can assess how the games going, and then give us some creative drive off half back/wing midway through the first quarter and hopefully set up some goals as a fresh player.

How often in footy does the wounded under-dog snatch a win under adversity. Hopefully we come out firing on all cylinders and not take them easy. However I agree that out of all the teams, St.Kilda is the perfect round 1 opponent in terms of lack of preparation.

He was a pedestrian on the weekend against Richmond. Apart from a couple of marks from around 60 metres out, he was barely sighted. Add that with an almost donut like game in the NAB game V Hawthorn and the signs are concerning. Having said that I'd play him Rd 1 V Saints, as he plays his best footy at the MCG (he was very good against Roos and St.K late last year at the G)

No probs. Enjoyed doing it. I actually found it hard assessing the games of Rivers, Bell and Carroll.

Melbourne 15.13.103 Richmond 10.15.75 Goals - Neitz 3, White 3, Jones 2, Davey 2, Green 1, C Johnson 1, Whelan 1, Bruce 1 Best - Jones, Bizell, C Johnson, Johnstone, J McDonald, Whelan, White Please be aware that player rotations on and off the bench were going at a million knots an hour so many players only played half a game. I'll base my scores on playing time only. Simon Buckley - 3/10. Very quiet game. Spent most of the game on the bench. Picked up a couple of kicks/marks on the wing, but didn't show the promise of the Hawks NAB Cup game. Not ready for AFL. Nathan Jones - 8/10. BOG. Amazing first half. His tackling was ferocius as he was awarded 3 holding the balls. Truly inspirational!!! Kicked a couple of gem goals in the first half, including a set shot from 50 (which he was awarded for a holding the ball). Best game in the red and blue thus far. AND HE'S ONLY GETTING BETTER. Finished with 2 goals 2, but his misses were not easy shots and hit the post with once. If Jones adds goal kicking to his package....look out. He tired a little in the second half, but was still in amongst it at the centre squre. I salivate at the thought of Jones, Moloney and Mclean in the centre at the same time. Clint Bizzel - 7/10. Welcome back Biz. Was as stiff as nails in defence. Didn't allow his opponent anything but more importantly created run and drive out of defence, including an inspirational run from half back to the centre, en route to a Neitz goal. Pace of the game is his only issue. Picked up 10-12 touches in the 1st qtr alone. Will play round 1 on this effort. Matthew Bate - 5/10. A reasonable performance after starting on the bench. He played mostly midfield. Got better as the game progressed, but nothing to write home about. Kicked a behind in the third qtr. Passable performance. 75/25 for round 1 IMO. Brad Miller - 4/10. Not a commanding game from our CHF. Took a handful of marks, gave away 3 frees but at least presented. Just simply isn't in the class of Pavlich, Brown and other top shelf CHF's. His marks were taken mainly 60 mtrs out, so goals were impossible for Brad. James Frawley - 6/10. Like his game from half back. Played the entire second half and looks more than comfortable at this level. Highlight of his day was a one-on-one contest with his opponent and CHB - Not only did he beat him in the contest, but ended up having a gallop with the ball and setting up a beautiful foward thrust. Not sure for rd 1 - but hey he's not doing his chances any harm. David Neitz - 6/10. Solid game from the skipper with 3 goals 1. Took his trademark marks mostly around 35 mtrs out, and had the kicking boot on. Was rested for the entire second half. There was a while in the second half when we were getting nothing from our forwards...which means Neita is so important to our makeup. Would've probably ended up with 4 for the game had he stayed on. 4 * 22 = 88 goals. He can do it. Daniel Ward - 5/10. Not a bad game from half-back. Love his pace and his willingness to charge out of defence but caused a couple of turnovers with his non-precise kicking. Needs to address this if he wants to be a permanent senior player. Adem Yze - 2/10. The story of the day IMO. After having a 1 kick 1st qtr (which he messed up in a promising foward thurst) in the second qtr he accepted a pass in the forward pocket, only to hear 'footsteps' and more or less pulled out of the contest. Should of heard the throng of Richmond fans (and even some dees) giving it to him. To his credit he laid an important tackle just after that to make amends. Had a few cheap kicks/marks in the second half where he at least looked more comfortable at wing/half back. Needs a corker of a game next week to even gurantee him a rd 1 game. very concerning signs from the OOZe. Lynden Dunn - 3/10. Very quiet game from Lynden. Probably spent half the game on the bench, but had very few possessions and no goal opportunities from his half forward position. Barely notice him to be honest. Rd 1 no certainty. (How an SEN reporter could put him in our best players is beyond me) Travis Johnstone - 6/10. Got better as the game wore on. Was our general in midfield and never wasted a kick....Very Tigger like. Certainly not a top-shelf performance but was great to see him have his first solid run. Played lots of minutes. Capped off a reasonable afternoon with a 50 metre set shot goal at the Heatley end. Chris Johnson - 7/10. Had a steller first half and was in everything on a wing. Doesn't waste a disposal. Capped off an awesome first half with a classy goal. I'm really warming to CJ and his pre-season thus far has been superb. Spent some well deserved minutes on the pine in the second half. Should've kicked a second late in the game. Rd 1 certainty. Brad Green - 5/10. Fairly quiet game from Brad, as opposed to his big game V Hawks. Played the utitility role. Kicked a ripper 50 metre goal on the run at the Legends Stand end in the 1st qtr, so great to see his lethal left foot is back. Rested in the foward pocket in the last term for little return. Daniel Bell - 4/10. Not a particularly great game from Belly. Missing was his tardemark runs out of defence and got caught a couple of times. However he laid a corker of a tackle himself in the first term. Not entierly sure if his opponent beat him. (sorry about that) Brent Moloney - 5/10 - I'll be generous here as his on the comeback. But fantastic to see him out there, make no mistake about that. Spent about 60% on the bench but when he was on he did contribute. A few of his trademark long bombs into our forward 50 were good to see. Did a little of the hard stuff too. Promising build-up from Beamer. J McDonald - 6/10 - A very J-Mac like performance today. Nothing sensational but gets the job done and chimes in for some handy possessions. A true-work horse and is getting better with age. Played heaps of minutes. Robbo - 2/10 - Had a dog of a day. Just couldn't get into it, but he tried. The ball never really came to him. Kicked 2 behinds. Best to get those game out of the way in the pre-season. Nathan Brown - 6/10. Really solid game from half-back. Got heaps of touches and didn't waste the pill. Very similar performance to the Hawks game. Deserves to start in rd 1 IMO. Jared Rivers - 5/10. Did his job. Nothing outstanding. No courageous marks. Solid though. Cameron Bruce - 5/10. Some would give him a 3. Others would give him a 7. Did some great things, but his kicking was a little concerning at times. To be honest it wasn't one of his better ones. However he hit a purple patch in the last qtr when moved forward jagging 1.2 and looked super dangerous. He's our Mr Fixit. Jeff White - 7/10. Now people will think I'm being super generous but he deserves it IMO. 3 magnificent goals in the second half where he played up forward is an awesome effort in my book. The first one was a snap in the foward pocket that rolled through, the second was a mark and play on from the 50 metre line on a 45 degree angle, and the third was a 50 metre set shot in the last qtr. If only he could do these cameos in the real stuff. Ryan Ferguson - 5/10. Very limited game time. However you have to give him a pass mark as his disposals were faultless and I doubt he conceded a goal. Probably won't play rd 1 but he's food for thought. I think he's reliable, as long as he's not playing on the No 1 forward. Aaron Davey - 6/10. Set Princes Park alight with 2 ripping goals, including a wizardry snap on the boundary in the third qtr at the Legends Stand end. A very Davey like performance, and some of his tackling and chasing was first class. Should kick 40 goals this year. Mark Jamar - 2/10. Decent ruckwork, Donuts elsewhere. Was tried in the goal square quite a bit but didn't take any pack marks. Nathan Carroll - 5/10. OK performance. Provided occasional drive out of defence and kept Schulz fairly quiet until late in the game. As long as he doesn't conced a bag of goals, he'll be fine for us. Matthew Whelan - 7/10. Provided constant drive out of defence. Loved a few gallops today and displayed his usual hardness at the pill. Very happy with his game and I pray that he stays inury free! Capped off a fince afternoon with a belter of a goal in the last qtr - a 45 metre goal in the pocket on the run. I hope I included everyone. Would be great if people at the game today can respond and argue with my ratings, Cheers, BBP

Yeah but you forgot the win we had just before round 1 in a practice match which was the catalyst to the Hawks victory.

Totally agree with you here. I have no interest in making excuses for 58 point losses (particuarly in a state where our average losing margin is 10 goals) like others around here are. I know the Adelaide game was just a practice match but they had as much talent out as we had. A 58 point loss is a 58 point loss. Cause for concern? Maybe? Well lets see if the MFC bring a winning mentality tomorrow afternoon to Princes Park. If they put in another sub-standard performance, then we have something to think about it.

If the score ebbs and flows all day and Richmond end up on top, then we live with it. Who cares. But if we lose by the same amount as we did to Adelaide last week, with a far stronger squad, then yes we do have cause for concern. You can't expect us to magically flick on a switch and beat the Saints in round 1 after 4 pathetic weeks of pre-season games. Season 2007 preperation begins tomorrow. Forget about the last 2 games. Half our team was out.

So you won't be the slightest bit concerned if we get done tomorrow with a stronger squad then Richmond?

Nar he's not. Sorry I forgot to list him in the absentee list.

Hmmm. I don't believe we can afford a mediocre start. 5-5 after round 10 seems a bit dicey considering we play 7 MCG games. I'd aim for 7-3 with the aim of sneaking a win at either Subi, SCG or Telstra Dome (V Dogs) and budget losing 1 MCG game against either St.Kilda, Geelong or Adelaide. We need heaps of wins in the bank before we hit a horror 5 week patch between rounds 17-21 where we play Port (AAMI), Sydney (Canberra), Bulldogs (Dome) and Freo (Subi), with Collingwood in between. On previous history we'd probably only win one of those games.