Whispering_Jack

Time for this ride to be turned around.

Even though Ben Brown has been cleared to play at the weekend, it’s still up in the air as to whether the club would take him on both upcoming interstate fixtures. We also have a couple potential Mystery Injuries of the Week. Track watcher kev martin has reported that Michael Hibberd has an Achilles and young ruckman Kyah Farris-White was also in the rehab group with him. Still prefer our list to that of our opponents this week.

The article turned up in today’s Herald Sun at p46.

Can’t do much about that but keep an eye out for something like this to eventually appear in the Herald Sun because the site belongs to Murdoch. Essentially, Lever talks about how he was constrained by the injury and how others were pretty well banged up. Nothing much else is new. The article mentions JvR’s debut and Chandler’s improvement but not Judd McVee who I would put in the same category.

Injuries are always in the footy news and everyone is loathe to raise them when the team loses. However, it’s part and parcel of the game. Melbourne star Jake Lever opens up on 2022 finals injury, and the rise of Jacob van Rooyen and Kade Chandler “The extent to which Melbourne’s premiership defence last season was compromised by injury keeps coming to light. “That superstar Christian Petracca played the semi-final loss to the Brisbane Lions with a hairline fracture in his right fibula was already known. So, too, was Max Gawn’s hip ailment, one that almost saw him miss that game. And Clayton Oliver had been carrying a thumb injury through the back end of the season.” Lever reveals that he played in the finals with a stress fracture in his foot.

Speaking from numerous unfortunate experiences involving Melbourne in the past several decades, let me caution those who are getting excited or carried away by West Coast’s injury woes. I know that we have a quality side these days but history tells us that often when teams have their backs to the wall in terms of injuries, they can still be hard to toss. The Saints of Rounds 1 to 3 are a good example and I remember a game against Hawthorn a few years back when they had a long injury list but still managed to give us a flogging. I hope we approach the game with a business as usual approach.

On this big day for our footballers, the Demons have some more silverware. Melbourne beat Carlton today in the grand final of Premier District Cricket. Congratulations lads and let’s make it a premiership double by taking the AFL silverware in late September!!!

Even at this early stage in the season, I don’t think it needs to be emphasized too much how important today’s game is against Sydney - it truly is an 8 point game. A win keeps us in close touch with the top teams in the competition and leaves us well in contention for a top four placing. And we really need to know whether last week’s form was an aberration after such a strong pre season and the big win over the Bulldogs in Round 1.

Melbourne played Sydney in Round 17, 2010 and did this:-

Fixed

Good point George. There is the possibility that a club which fares badly can apply for special assistance which has been provided in recent years to Gold Coast and North Melbourne after they had a terrible season but given that Hawthorn was so adamantly against giving additional draft assistance to Melbourne after about three poor seasons a decade ago, they wouldn’t think of applying for themselves off one poor year. Would they?

Okay death riders, here’s the bad news. Freo’s narrow 1 point loss was enough to lift it one spot on the ladder which means that Melbourne’s notional draft picks gleaned from the Dockers are now 6 & 24 instead of 5 & 23. Let’s just hope the Weagles win the Derby.

What we’re seeing at present is the advent of the elite young player coming in and playing well from the get go - Nick Daicos, Harry Sheezel, Will Ashcroft, Cam McKenzie and Mattaes Phillipou. They’re all medium sized midfield types (although not necessarily playing there yet at this level). Jacob van Rooyen is a key position player with a season of VFL behind him and before that, a few WAFL games. He has to be rewarded with an AFL debut very soon and if it’s true that Schache is out with concussion, next week against Sydney is the time to make it happen.

“every knee inj he’s had has felt different.” As I understand it, if it’s an ACL you hear or feel a pop. Perhaps this is a positive sign but even that’s not conclusive. Keep your fingers crossed.

A match preview here.

The worst 11 point loss ever.

Live from Brizvegas

Last week Brisbane led Port Adelaide by 12 points at half time. They lost by 54 points in the end. Just an observation.

This is already out because Adam Tomlinson is playing tonight.

After the first round of the 2023 season, the Fremantle death ride has Melbourne’s first pick at #5 and the third pick at #23.

Question is whether your teammate Mark Reid has a son called Harley?

A selection of team previews for teams taking part in the Coates Talent League Boys competition in 2023. Ranges “itching” to rip into season proper Jets starting to jell ahead of season 2023 Standouts setting the standard for Gippsland Fundamentals set to drive Knights north Stingrays set high standards in search of next step More to come if available.

That would also involve a flight out of Brisbane late tonight or early tomorrow morning.