Bring-Back-Powell

Yes but isn't winning form good form? It's very dangerous to simply focus on round 1 and say bugger it, "we'll go and lose all pre-season games and round 1 will take care of itself. There has to be a compromise between the two. I knew we'd lose V the Hawks as they played 2 faredinkum intra club games while we were severely under-prepared. Hopefully the last 2 weeks of the pre-season series will see all our top shelf return. If they don't we'll be under-done and will subsequently lose to St.Kilda.

Well we've got to make something work at TD. We play 4 games there, and if we lose most of those we won't make top 4.

Lets hope not. That game plan was garbage last night. Just kick the bloody thing. Neitz and Robbo would've got a hell of a lot more opportunites. I've never been more frustrated at a NAB cup game than last night.

Adem Yze betrayed me last night. I've been sticking up for him all off-season when all the high profile Demonlanders have been advocating a demotion from our best 22. Unfortunetly I think they may be right, as his performance last night was terrible. A round 1 spot at Sandringham looks highly likely if he doesn't improve. Also may I apologise to Chris Johnson. Before tonight I didn't consider him AFL standard. He was clearly our best last night (capped off by a ripper Super Goal and another nice set shot of a goal). I know 1 NAB Cup game doesn't make a summer, but gee he did everything right alst night. OTHER POSITIVES Brad Green was super also with 2 goals (1 super goal) and his lethal foot is back (Thank God!!!) Cam Bruce floated in and out of the game, but kicked a classy goal and a nice mark on the Docklands wing. Daniel Bell looks like he's got a defence role stiched up. Still gives you heart attacks but was very pleased. Nathan Jones had an awesome 1st qtr, but faded badly. Needed McLean to help out. He couldn't do it all. Mark Jamar was good in the ruck but did bugger all around the ground. Didn't take any trademark contested marks. Robbo was back to his 2005 form marking everything and causing a menace to the opposition. However only ended up with 2 goals. Neita did some inspirational chases and ended up with 2 goals. Will benefit more with better delivery from our A-Grade midfield. Simon Buckley looked ok. Knows how to get the pill but has a bit of the "Daniel Bell disease" in that your nervous he'll get caught. Nathan Brown was solid all game. Nothing specatular but always gets a heap of the ball, kicked a goal and missed another easy one. Should play round 1 and would be ahead of Bizzel, Godfrey and Ward in the veteran que. Off to Mt Gambier next Saturday to take on Adelaide.

My 4 omissions are: Hughes Warnock Buckley Chris Johnson This match is eerily similar to last years NAB cup game V the Dogs. Bulldogs wanted to make a statement in early 06, while Melbourne were "easycome -easygo", but the Dees (with all the kids) pulled off a miracle. Likewise this year Hawthorn are keen to make a statement by winning the NAB Cup and are playing close to a full team, while Melbourne have round 1 on their mind. I'm tipping a 7 goal loss, due to lack of match practice, interest and injuries.

I hereby nominate this as statement of the week. It can't reflect Chris Johnson any better.

Gee sounds like a real successful morning at the dome <_< Hope White's injury isn't too bad. Ie- round 1 availability

I'm tipping he put money against us when he worked out Sandilands would dominate that match. I wonder if the AFL would actually go to the exent of banning Ward from playing?

One would hope that beautiful blonde is his wife . They got married in the off season. Agree that he is a champion bloke. Played a few numbers at my cousins wedding (The Russell Robertson trio) and had a smile on his face from start to finish. He seems to be a very warm and accomodationg sort of chap. Good luck for a better 07 Robbo!!!

Friday 7:30 - Adelaide v Port Adelaide - Live Friday 11:30 - Kangaroos V Collingwood - Replay Saturday 3:40 - W Bulldogs V Sydney - Live Thats all I know for now.

Can I put $10 on Brock. What a bombshell that would be!

Hmmmm.....Bizzel V Chris Johnson. Thats a tough one.......not!!!! (as Borat would say) Would you prefer a player who was pretty much deemed our top 3 player in 2003-2004. Was and will be a general in our defence. A guy that can be transferred into the foward line (under-experimented I believe) and kick his 4 or 5 goals a game like he did at Geelong. A guy thats courageous. A guy that can take the spectacular mark. A guy that you had faith in every time he lined up for the Red & Blue. Or would you prefer a kid thats played 13 un-proven games. They didn't ask the Biz to retire for no reason (like they did with Nicho who was also still contracted)

I'm predicting and hoping the first to debut is Ricky Petterd. Apparently he was a steal at pick 30, and from all reports looks like something special.

10:30 according to AFL.com. They have an article there.

Great timing for those who work 9-5 Hopefully the usual suspects around here can wag work again and give us a comprehensive report on each and every player. If channel 7 telecast the game they'd rate about 0.00001. I think it's just a full dress rehearsal for the commentary and TV crew.

Those people who have left out Yze in their best 22 are obviously quite happy for talent that high above the norm to be wasted at a beach side reserve down South. Whats next....Robbo's spot to be in doubt (and don't laugh, some have suggested it.) I suppose their pinning their hopes on unproven quantities such as Chris Johnson (no disrespect to him, but you get my drift) to take us to a premiership rather than proven class acts.

He was also a monty to go to Adelaide or Port in the Pre-Season Draft. Therefore I remember this site was going into raptures when we landed him in the rookie draft.

The only thing Bode achieved last year was getting rubbed out for a week for Sandringham. Looked like a fish out of water in that Darwin NAB Cup game and haven't heard any positive feedback about him at training or in the VFL. Would have to turn it around something chronic to get elevated on the senior list you'd think.

I'd like to see Adem Yze step up big time in 2007 and make a few people around here (who think Yze is not worthy of being in our best 22) return on his bandwagon

At least they've won 2 flags in the last 10 years.

Hey Hards, Would this mean that the game would be shown live on Channel 7 into Melbourne? If so don't you think it would influence the lazy footy fan to stay home and watch it live on channel 7, therefore potentially turning away a few thousand fans.

Totally agree, but it would be a bloody tough ask. Last year we only won 2/6 which is pretty poor. A realistic aim would be to win 4/6 this year. That would just about put us in the top 4. Beat one of WCE or Freo at Subiaco Beat Brisbane at the GABBA Beat Port at AAMI Beat Sydney at either SCG or Canberra

This would be a very intriguing situation and probably the biggest call an MFC board has had to make in decades. What if the board re-signs ND after round 16 and we're sitting around 10-6 and 5th on the ladder. They roll the dice and show faith in the coach for another 2 or 3 more years. And then the same old occurs and the Dees just sneak into the 8 and do not progress past week 1 or 2 of the finals. I'd personally wait till after the season. The unpredictabilty of the MFC is too much to ignore. If the Dees make is as far as the Prelim finals, then re-sign him as it shows ND's taking his team that one step closer to the holy grail. If they don't, then release him and chase after a Harvey or a Longmire. 10 years is getting a little too long to coach a team without a premiership. However I can see the merit in signing him mid season to eliminate any uncertianty and anxiety that ND would be under, and let his sole focus be on winning a flag rather than worrying about a contract. On a side note, it looks like the Dees may be short of match practice for our NAB Cup game V's Hawthorn as I haven't heard one bit of match practice news from the side, while plenty of other clubs have commenced their trials.

Tingay wore this jumper in the early 90's And what about Paul Hopgood! ......yeah a dud jumper otherwise.

If we lose the NAB Cup opener against Hawthorn we'll be playing a practice match against the loser of Adelaide and Port on Sat Mar 3 in Mount Gambier. Ofcourse if we win, we play the winner of Essendon and Carlton in Launceston the same night.