Bring-Back-Powell

The crystal ball is awaiting the pending suspensions of Sylvia, Davey and Pickett, and also the injury clouds over Bruce and Petterd.

If Byron gets weeks, it wouldn't surprise me if he calls it a day. He'd figure that the AFL has conspired against him (twice) and effectively ended his career as one of the AFL's last hardmen of the game. The bump he did 2 years ago (6 week suspension) was fair enough but if this tackle gets him in strife...then why should he bother plying his trade anymore. Clearly, he is out of shape and is a shadow of his former self. An example being when he ran down the centre with the ball and got pinged for holding the ball yesterday. I doubt very much whether the desire is there either.

I'm sure McDonald would be up there too.

I think the authour of this thread wins the comp. 16,266 was the official figure.

I like that comparison. 24 touches and 14 marks in game number 2. Could be a NAB Rising Star nomination this week.

Sylvia will either get offered 1 week or reprimand. Can't defend that one. It was just plain reckless. Sylvia doesn't have an AFL record but copped 1 week in the VFL in 2004. Davey will also get either 1 week or a reprimand. Can't defend that one either. The main concern was that he left the ground and therefore that constitutes a charge. The impact was low so that will help him. Copped a reprimand in 2005, so has a record unfortunetly. If offered 1 week, I'd take it. Pickett is the one they really should contest, if the tribunal give him weeks. It was just a hard solid tackle. Its not Pickett's fault his one of the hardest players in the AFL. Unlike Headland, he didn't blantantly throw hay-makers towards the opposition. However I reckon if Pickett was still playing for Port and he did that to one of our blokes, Demonland would probably go into melt-down.

Why the hell are people suggesting dropping Bruce? Get off the grass. With Davey, Sylvia and Pickett all to be rubbed out this week (according the experts at channel 7), I don't think we have the luxury of dropping anyone.

This concerns me, as you seem to be in the know with the MFC. If Neitz doesn't play, its Geelong and Fremantle all over again - in other words another miserable Sunday arvo at the G'. However the fact that Garland or Jamar are not emergencies would suggest that the big man will play, as we have no other realistic tall men to play full foward - apart from PJ. Perhaps Ben Holland will be used as insurance should Neita pull out

Holland to take Tredrea?? Nathan Brown in the 18... <_<

Judging by people who went to the function last night, form and media reports: In - Neitz, Warnock, Jones, Out - Brown, Bate (inj) Garland B Warnock Carroll Bell HB Petterd Rivers Sylvia C Godfrey Moloney Johnstone HF Pickett** Miller Davey F Dunn Neitz Yze FOLL White Bruce McDonald Int C Johnson Jones P Johnson Jamar (think he will be needed to counter Lade/Brogan. Very last chance) **Pickett to have a blinder as he always plays well against the old boys. Key Matchups - Rivers on Tredrea (gets first crack, then give it to Carroll/Warnock) Carroll on Ebert Bruce on C Cornes Godfey on a Burgoyne J Mac on a Burgoyne Bell on Motlop

Brogan was a late exclusion last week. But reports say he'll be fit this week.

I would've thrown in Sylvia in the mix in return for a late draft pick. The kid's too injury prone and I have grave doubts that he'll justify his no 3 pick. This would've created outrage at the time, but consider this trade: Melb recieve Tarrant/Polak and round 4 draft pick Collingwood/Freo recieve round 3 draft pick and Sylvia. So in essence we've conceded a round 3 draft pick but possess two round 4 draft picks, while we've also acquired a talented and much needed defender/forward who would've been magic with all our injuries. The major rolling of the dice would be Sylvia. If he remains injury free and justifies his no 3 pick, then we lose.

My Cystal ball. Round 6 - Port. 26 L Round 7- WB 9 L Round 8 - WCE 45 L Round 9 - Roos 16 W (Finally!!!) ROund 10 - Adel 19 L Round 11 - Coll 6 W Round 12 - Rich 23 W Round 13 - Ess 9 L ROund 14 - Carlt 35 W Round 15 - Bris 14 L Round 16 - Roos 32 W Round 17 - Port 42 L Round 18 - Syd 24 L Round 19 - WB 16 W ROund 20 - Coll 23 L Round 21 - Freo - 30 L Round 22 - Carlt - 1 W 7 - 15 which means about 13th - 14th. Can't really expect much more given our injuries, MCG form and serious lack of confidence.

Fair enough mate. Some good inside information that you've provided to us re-Ferg/Sewell trade, if true. Polak should've been the one to go for. Not as expensive as Tarrant and would have provided invaluable service in defence as well as ocassional forays up foward (such as his 3 goal haul V Dogs in rd 4). I've seen Richmond 3 times live this year, and am convinced we should've gone for him. Our defence is a rabble and a shambles at the moment, but I can't think of anyone who is missing except for Whelan and Wheatley (who is not a regular). As for giving up a player, second round draft pick and Wheatley. But hopefully Petterd turns into a star and them my argument is moot.

I guess we've debated this one before. After the Freo final loss, it was obvious that our list wasn't premiership material. So without some clever trading, how would we get better? I thought teams that trade for players do so with the view of winning premierships. I just thought that by being inactive in the trading period, Melbourne were simply content with our 5th-8th mortgage on the competition. I firmly believe that Tarrant and Polak would've been great assets for the club, and I would've conceded a second round draft pick for either. Although I do take your point regarding Petterd/Frawley. Perhaps our list was/is nowhere near premiership material, and a re-build is required before we challenge again.

Well if Daniher said that then thats fine...but do I take your word for it? Appears to be two different versions of events. 1) Ferg refusing to go 2) Hawks demanding a draft pick and Ferg. So which is it? And as for ruthless, just look at our extrodinary activity last November Akermanis, Tarrant, Polak (who had been in Richmond's best 5 players)...but oh no, ND and gang were very content with our stocks and ready to contend for the flag.

Can you tip the crowd for Sunday's game V Port Adelaide. If the Freo game was anything to go by I think this one could get ugly. 12,000 MFC members 2,000 MFC supporters 300 Neutral 2,000 Ferals....err Port Supporters -------- 16,300 is my educated tip.

And how many of those 27K will turn up on Sunday. I'd say less than half. 12,000 members 2,000 non-members 300 neutral 2,000 Port fans 16,300 is my tip for the crowd on V Port.

I thought the trade made perfect sense at the time. Ferguson was in and out of the team in 2005 and was perpetully injured. Sewel was a promosing midfielder who knew how to get a hardball - and this was even before he became a tagging specialist. I can recall many fans bemoaning our lack of 'hard at it' players after 2005. Sewell would've fitted the bill perfectly. Melbourne aren't ruthless enough at trade time.

I suppose we'll never know the truth. I was under the impression Ferg told Melb no about the trade.

Travis Johnstone simply can't handle a tag. With McLean out, the opposition have targeted TJ as out key man. Sewell (who we stupidly refused to trade for Ferguson late 2005) rendered him useless. 10 touches from TJ McVeigh rendered him useless last week. 10 touches from TJ. There really isn't anything ND can do about the matter, until McLean comes in the side. ND has experimented with TJ in the foward line without success. Maybe try him at half back this week, or get him to tag a Burgoyne if he has any defensive skills. You could use TJ's mystery injury as an excuse, but since their playing him, we as supporters expect a 100% output from any player that takes the field....otherwise don't play him.

Actually in 2005 we lost 7 in a row between round 13 and 19. Perhaps thats a positive in itself.

He'll be fronting the tribunal tonight, Port contesting it. A little birdie told me that Port aren't challenging the guilty plea, but are trying to downgrade the charge from reckless to negligent, and hense 93.75 points = reprimand.

I've been really disappointed in this kid. Had a stellar NAB Cup V Hawthorn where he was everywhere and kicked a classy super goal, and then followed this up with a 9/10 performance against Richmond at Princes Park. I was convinced then and there that CJ's time had arrived. How wrong I was. CJ has been averaging about 10 touches a game, doesn't do any damage and gets caught too often (ie - V Sydney in our defensive when Micky O chased him down which resulted in a Swans goal) Like so many of our players at the moment, he's too good for Sandy but not good enough at AFL level.

We're paying $2.90. A little less insulting than last weeks $6.00 on offer V Sydney.