Whispering_Jack

Back on the topic of Melbourne's midfield. If it ain't Boak, then don't fix it!

As far as I'm concerned the issue here isn't one that's about ensuring the survival of new franchises. It's about ethics - those of the AFL. The AFL sat back last year and not only condoned poaching but was actively involved in the GWS heist that procured Scully. It made damn sure that Melbourne couldn't match the GWS offer to Scully and didn't see fit to give Melbourne the proper restitution for the loss of a #1 draft selection. Now it's worried about poaching? Please give us all a break!

Yawn and goodnight to this thread.

That and the selection of both Spencer and Martin for the Demons this week indicates to me that the Russian is likely to join Aaron Davey as a Mystery Injury of The Week contender. Bail will probably bail out and hopefully come back next week (probably via the AFL now that he will have missed a large enough block of games) and we'll take up one emergency who will be a non player.

Mystery Injury of The Week: Aaron Davey. Pity because I had a feeling he was just starting to gain some confidence last week. Hope the injury's not too bad.

They created the monster with Judd, Ablett and then Scully last year and now they want to do something about it - League concerned over player poaching. Hypocrites!

And it's live on Foxtel Footy Channel @ 12.30pm!

Sadlly, it's true and we have another important player out for the season. Breaking news: Clark to miss rest of season

Great stuff Morgan and good luck in your budding photography career!!'

It's a funny time of the day to start the game (3:15pm) but I suppose the game now belongs to the Seven Network and not the people. Question marks on whether the two named emergencies who missed the Casey game, Sam Blease and Cale Morton will replace someone i.e do we have a mystery injury of the week? On the other hand, will Sheedy sneak his best player this year, Chad Cornes, back into the line up after telling all and sundry that the old codger needs a rest?

Ben-Hur has it right. Gysberts generally keeps his feet well even in poor conditions for football which is one of the things that suggests he has good core strength. Another game or two and he should be right to go and this time, hopefully, his place in the Melbourne team will be permanent. Similarly with Strauss although he needs more time at this level. I thought he was on his way to being one of our big improvers before he broke his leg last year and he's doubly important now that Clint Bartram is out for the year. He wasn't as effective as he can be with his disposal but I'm sure he will be once he's fully into the swing of things. A place in our defence should ensure that Jack Grimes can develop in the midfield so his presence in the team will add that dimension as well. I think Josh Tynan is underrated by many and I expect him to get some more opportunities before the year is out. Troy Davis had one of those days a backman has but I must say he wasn't a good match up for Wilkes. I'm not sure who else could have gone on him - Panozza was doing well further afield. Stefan Martin is going to have to work hard for opportunities while the rest are still very early in their development or will struggle to make it. And I wouldn't worry too much about the stats - the real ones are due to come out on the VFL site through Sporting Pulse in the middle of the week.

The world must seriously be in financial ruin if the ACB can't give Ed Cowan a contract.

Ah ... 22 from 22 ... that is exactly the dream I have for the Dees one day but they would of course, need to top that off with another three from three in September!

The main game's on live in an hour's time on ABC1.

I'll second that. I think the article has it wrong about Ricky Petterd who is actually coming back from injury and wasn't "dumped" after the QB game (and I don't think he'll line up at CHB either).

Perhaps you could ask because thanks to the invaluable demonwiki, I discovered this:- Brett Minchington DOB: 14 February 1969 Games: 0 Goals: 0 Listed player in 1987 wearing number 46 and Number 54 in 1988. Didn't play seniors. The next year he played for Central Districts in the SANFL.

I may be wrong but didn't somebody with that surname play for our under 19s some time ago?

Oh, and it's going to be harder on Cale because I think he'll be the non playing emergency this weekend so he won't even get a chance at Casey.

I suspect that both Blease and Morton might be out because they infringed team rules in their last game. If that's the case then the omissions are warranted and what the club needs from them is to demonstrate back at Casey a more disciplined team approach. I know that's a difficult pill to swallow for players and supporters alike when you're 1 and 10 but that's what you need to succeed in the big league. Let's get used to it.

He's back:- Viney back after busted jaw

Am I the only one around here who doesn't want to see Voldemort ironed out on Sunday? I mean it would be far more satisfying for me to see someone like Jordie McKenzie tag him so closely that he barely gets a touch.

Sheeds is really such a delightful little man. I love the way he's spruiking up this game to help us draw a big crowd. Hopefully, the extra $ generated by the publicity will help us spirit away a couple of their young players when they come out of contract and want to go home.

Please. It's supposed to be a secret.

Thanks Jumping Jack - I think you might have something there. I seem to recall reading a story about Ian Huntington when he played for Victoria and it mentioned the family history had strong connections with both the cricket and football clubs (which were one and and the same thing at the time) so there's a definite possibility that Jack and Stan Huntington were related to Ian who, along with "Froggy" Crompton, was stiff not to represent his country at cricket. Another interesting family relationship was that of Herb Matthews whose grandson Herb played a few games with the Demons in the early 60s. In between, Herb Senior's son was a South Melbourne champion who won a Brownlow.