Bring-Back-Powell

The only advantage of a 15 game season is that every team will play each other once, and once only. Also, if you played West Coast is Subi in 2008, that same game would be at the MCG in 2009. However 15 games is just too small, and for those people like me who need their weekly footy fix- we would be sold short. I agree with you that we need a strong showing against Richmond. Hopefully we have a full squad in and play some decent footy. I know many people don't care about results of practice matches, but I believe it would be a disaster for our confidence if we were 0-4 coming into round 1.

They did exactly that last year with a Kangaroos V Collingwood practice match at Princes park. It was a really hot saturday arvo, and they bought the game forward to 11am. They might do this again?

Is that the best our website can come up with I reckon a year 10 student on work experience wrote that little gem.

Some bloke on Bigfooty reckons we play Richmond at Princes Park on Saturday. Would be good if true. We really should start to get fair dinkum as our pre-season had been a disgrace so far. Yes we've had our senior players out but so did Adelaide and Hawthron.

I agree. Could be a long year coming up. Having said that, we're missing our forward line - Robbo and Neitz. Love to know how Petterd is going?

The standard fade-out has come early today

You beauty! Green's my tip for AA this year

Does anyone know where we will be playing next weekend? Whispering Jack is usually on top of these things.

No Neitz or Robbo either. I wonder where our goals will come from?

Interesting that you have Frawley in the best 22, but I don't disagree. Watched the replay last night and I was far more impressed with his performance than watching it live. He's a no nonsence footballer- attacks the ball hard, hard to tackle and kicks the ball long just at the right time. Although his kicking technique is non-conventional, he didn't miss a target on the night. If he improves/sustains his performances during the next 3 trial games, he is not without a chance of a round 1 gig. Love to see players debut on opening round...like Bartram last year. BTW Green was our best player on the night. Didn't realise how good a game he had, his 2 goals were first class, is a great mark for his size, appears to have his lethal left foot back and I have a gut feeling that 2007 will be his best year yet. My early (outrageous) tip for All Australian. *Sorry Grenny for the pressure*

Will be served in the NAB Cup. I'm now actually upset we lost. Had we won, Brown would've missed the Melb V Haw game

I think Nathan Brown lead the side with 29 touches. Seems to be a ball magnet as he got high 20's last year V Freo final.

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.