Whispering_Jack

Apparently DB has gone on record as saying that players like Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram and Matthew Whelan won't start in Round 1 and I presume that's on the strongest medical advice. I would play Rivers myself if there was any chance medically that he would be fit to see out a game without damage to his prospects of playing out a full season. Hopefully, a medical opinion will be sought this week and that he will be given the all clear but if not then we'll see him in Round 2 or 3. As long as they don't list him in the injuries with the numbers 4 to 6 at the end.

The only MFC players permitted to play were those who might have had their pre seasons interrupted by injury etc. so Messen wouldn't have been eligible. The condtions were oppressive for those watching (even super fit blokes like myself ) so I wouldn't read too much into itt as far as an older player like Whelan was concerned. He's still short of a gallop or two and I suspect the club will take a conservative line with him and with Bartram and also probably with Rivers. Cameron Bruce looked the goods and I think that Dunn and Wheatley will join him in the Melbourne team in a week's time. CJ and Frawley would be line ball depending on what positions need to be covered. There was talk at the ground that Austin Wonaeamirri might get promoted off the rookie list and Jack Grimes included as a long term injury listed player but there's nothing to really substantiate this. I agree about Cale Morton - he looks like a player of the future but probably not in the immediate short term.

OK. I confess. It's also too bloody hot and I'm very lazy.

The sooner we appoint our CEO the better. We need a firm hand at the head of the organisation taking a stand as otherwise, we'll sink faster than the Titanic. BTW, Sylvia should have been suspended for three weeks and barred from playing AFL for nother three IMO.

While it was a lacklustre performance overall and North Melbourne beat us comfortably I think they were far more advanced and ready for the season than we were. We had quite a few players in their first or second practice match who appeared a little rusty especially in the hot conditions. Nathan Jones was fantastic in the midfied in the first quarter and Aaron Davey played well through the middle as well. But after quarter time there were used sparingly there and Jones seemed to be playing off half back. There was a fair bit of experimentation and changing that you wouldn't expect in a normal game. That's not an excuse for a fairly ordinary efort but as long as the four points aren't at stake, you can read what you will from performances like today. And we did at times look like a rabble. I'll try to do a report over the long weekend but let me add the real good news - Paul Wheatley, Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram and Matthew Whelan played their first practice games for Sandringham today and as at half time I was pleased by what I saw. Lynden Dunn, Mark Jamar and Dutchy will also put pressure on the selectors for round one. On what I saw a few of thiose blokes are certain to be selected and to add an extra dimension to the team. Most of the above, can play in defence and the impact of Rivers as a tall marking, spoiling defender will make a world of difference. So will Bartram and Whelan although I'm not sure that the club can bring in a lot of players who have had little game time in the practice matches so far. Robbo's report was pathetic. The umpire wasn't familiar to me and could be from the VFL. He showed inexperience in the way he handled the incident - there was absolutely nothing in it. t least it stirred Robbo into action because he kicked three goals in the space of about five minutes.

Still waiting for a PM!

Actually, I'd prefer to watch the game rather than spend all afternoon sending SMS's to 100 different people. If one of the mods who isn't going but is nearby their computers can PM me before 12 noon, I'll send an SMS to them on a reasonably regular basis (subject to me being able to work the mobile but NB - I'm not good at this 21st century technology)

I will try to have some team sheets available for MFC supporters today. They'll be free but I would ask supporters who take them to consider joining the Demonland/Demonology Sponsorship for 2008. Our 2008 player is ... Clint Bartram ... once again.

It's a tough gig compling any such list of footballers but if Robbie Flower was downgraded in Sheahan's estimation for what he might not have achieved during his career (due to playing in a dud side) then he had Ron Barassi far too low down on his list. I would have him top 5 any day on those criteria. Six flags in ten years, a couple as captain and an inspirational player during all those years who was rarely beaten. Of course, if I had my way, he'd still be playing now.

Daryl Timms reports in today's Herald Sun Pulse column that Melbourne is trying to make contact with all of its 250,000 supporters in Australia and overseas. The Demons also want to track down every former player and official. There's no money involved, the club wants people to enlist in the Red and Blue Army which is free to join in Melbourne's 150th year. All 2008 club members are automatically enlisted and members will receive a welcoming letter from David Neitz and free news updates throughout the year. To join the army log on to melbournefc.com.au. And let's try to build that 250,000 number up because it pales into insignificance compared to the Eddie Army of about 700,000. In this clash of civilizations, we need to be resolute and strive to strike a blow for humanity, freedom, truth, justice and the Melbourne way!

Did he wear his pants this week?

While the basic premise of the article is sound in that it explains in part what went wrong with Melbourne in 2007, it worries me that this sort of thing is being said about the club in terms of its prospects for 2008. The injuries and other excuses tend to become a convenient crutch to mask other areas that need to be improved upon massively for the club to prosper this year. Let's hope that Dean Bailey, the coaching panel and the players are on top of this because we've seen little evidence of anything new and dramatic so far in the pre season.

I think you mean 0%.

To be fair, how do we know what ND did at times when he thought team discipline was lax?

I wonder how many times it must be said that the scoreboard in practice matches is totally irrelevant. If the intention last night was to win the [non-existent] four points we would probably not have rested players like Brad Green and James McDonald and we would probably not have played some of the younger players or rotated others off for long periods of time. Of course there are concerns about some players recovering or not recovering from injuries and about the form of some others. However, today is just the first day of autumn and our game is a winter sport so until you get to the real thing where both sides pit their best sides available against each other, there's no need for people to get their knickers into knots.

Carroll to come in from cold

The Melbourne Action Faction thanks club chairman Paul Gardner for highlighting the fact that the AFL has been shunting us off to all parts of the world and finally getting a home pre season game albeit in the wilds of outer Cranbourne at Casey Fields - HOMESICK DEMONS "MELBOURNE chairman Paul Gardner yesterday playfully suggested it was time the club stepped off the Leyland Brothers tour."

No way, Casey Fields is virtually part of our great metropolis and thanks to those governments that constructed freeways I can make it there from my place in quicker time than I can to Princes Park (well, almost). I'll take that over Narrandera any day (or night). [For and on behalf of the Melbourne Action Faction] Yes, yes and yes (this has been answered in slightly more detail on the Cale Morton thread).

He certainly played and here's some pictorial evidence - PICTURES FROM CAIRNS According to a report on 'ology from twodogs:- "Cale Morton - Pushed aside at times (understandably) but perservered, was involved in some of our better plays, will be a player, looked spent in the last."

I have to endorse what George wrote about Alwyn Davey when he did his pre season with us. He simply didn't show enough to warrant selection on one of our lists. He must have received some good advice as to what was needed to make it to the big stage because he knuckled down, worked on his weakenesses and a year later made an AFL list. I think the same thing happened with his brother who failed to attract any interest after his time in the NT Under 18's team. Those who knock some our youngsters who have struggled a bit in the pre season matches should consider the journey taken by the Davey brothers. There's been some criticism levelled at the likes of Isaac Weetra and Austin Wonaeamirri because they're not instant stars at AFL level but they're both still teenagers and need a year or two at a club before we can assess their real worth.

I noticed that too so I posted a question to twodogs as follows:- "Lynden Dunn--quiet, no impact on game. " It's interesting that Dunn played in this game because he wasn't listed in the squad when it was announced. Did he show any signs of discomfort from the injury (groin?) he's been carrying? Twodogs hasn't answered yet (probably on the way home from Cairns) but I also noticed he posted 27 player profiles for the game and clubs usually play only 26 in these games. Dunn also trained on Thursday at Junction Oval but I understand the team flew up to Cairns on Thursday. I'll make some enquiries with Bananabender who did the report for us and didn't mention Dunn at all tomorrow and see what I can find out.

The Kangaroos (v Brisbane last Friday) and Richmond (v St. Kilda in Nab Cup Rd 1) have already played once in Melbourne while Geelong played against us at its home ground, Skilled Stadium. Collingwood, the only other team not yet to have played in Melbourne (their Rd1. game was played at their request in Dubai), are scheduled to play Port Adelaide next Saturday at Princes Park. That will leave Melbourne as the only Victorian team not to have played in front of its local crowds. If we don't get a game in Melbourne the following week, we will have been hard done by and it's up to our Board to make the appropriate representations on behalf of its supporters to see that justice is done. [For and on behalf of the Melbourne Action Faction]

There are not many things that get me fired up these days but as far as I'm concerned the contempt the AFL is showing for our football club is really pissing me off. We are the oldest football club in the world, this is our 150th year and what do they do to us? They steal the 150th year idea and then they shunt us off to play pre season games anywhere but MELBOURNE. No matter what happens on Friday night I expect our Board to have something to say if our fans can see their team at least once in the pre season in their own home town where the game was born and where this special anniversary can be properly promoted. [For and on behalf of the Melbourne Action Faction]

My suggested nickname, which might be popular with some of the older ladies is "Rudolph" Valenti.

Bode is too one sided for mine. He'll struggle at AFL level if he can't do anything about this part of his game.