Deeoldfart

Late, but for the record: 6. Vince 5. N Jones 4. Viney 3. Tyson 2. Garlett 1. Garland

I'm sure that's true Pipe, but that doesn't change my view. Bennell, despite his obvious football talent, has a history of breaking team rules. Clearly he is a very 'high maintenance' player, and I don't want players of that ilk on our list.

No way! I understand the principle of high risk and high reward, but stupidity is never rewarded.

With so many possibilities, this week's selections are fascinating to say the leas! It's hard to imagine that just 12 months ago we wouldn't have been having this delightful dilemma ....... and what's more, we still have a handful of our best 22 on the sidelines. I know that the bye immediately after a great win has me starved for football, but I can't wait to see this week's team. Was anybody near Tullamarine when the boys flew out this arvo?.

No contest!

It seems like Roosy is almost as confident about the prospects of some of our players in the back half of the season as many Demonlanders. If he (we) are close to the money, we can look forward to an exciting ride. Bring it on!

I'm really enjoying the insight from Roosy in these reviews. For the most part I think he is being as honest and straight-forward as he can be in a public forum, and not papering over player weaknesses (which we would see through anyway). Good work coach!

Franklin decision is pizz poor. If his name wasn't Franklin, or if he played for anyone else (apart from the expansion clubs), he would have copped 3.

I'd be very, very disappointed if that happened. I thought his family moved from WA to Melbourne when he was drafted.

If we really turn up, we might even go a bit better than that (or maybe I'm still feeling warm n' fuzzy after the Geelong upset).

I agree with you Steve. I really like Garlo. He is a long serving player who consistently and capably plays his role, but perhaps to a lesser extent when the 'chips' are really 'down'. I think his record shows that he is not a player who will turn, or even slow the 'tide', when momentum is running hard against us. Further, he seems not have the leadership qualities that we probably should expect from a senior player in a young team (confirmed by his fairly recent demotion from the leadership group). I generally think loyalty is a very important quality, but (sadly) it now belongs more to a bygone era in the AFL. Unfortunately, we need to keep pace with this trend, or we will fall by the wayside. I would argue that our Footy Dept. should make what it deems as a reasonable offer to Garlo given what he brings to the team ......... and that offer may well be less than what he currently earns. I certainly would not 'up the anti' to keep him on our list. Tough but realistic call imo.

Demonland definitely needs a footy game this weekend.

I agree dazzle. It's not just a very long injury list that's affecting the GCS's performances on the field. In fact, there is a fair chance that there is a connection between the 'culture' discussed in the article and their long injury list.

You make some good points in your two posts immediately above Steve. Thanks. I would add however, that Garlo's versatility does extend beyond the defensive half, although I acknowledge, that his moves forward are more likely to be 'stop gap' measures. He is more likely to be a reliable 'role player' than a 'weapon'.

Agree ..... nice story though!

Come on James, don't be so sensitive .........

Great theatre!. I'm sure there's nothing in the rules which outlaws sledging about taking performance enhancing drugs.

Its a very, very slim hope I reckon Curry. Integrity is a key plank of the culture Roos is building at Melbourne, and I do't think there's any way he would undermine that (or his personal credibility) by staying on as senior coach beyond his tenure (unless doing so was dictated by extraordinary and transparent circumstances). My hope is that Roos will stay on in some sort of senior football capacity after 2016, where his influence will continue to be very important. I seem to recall hearing a while ago that this is a possibility, and if my recollection is correct, l expect that Peter Jackson will have it in hand.

..................... and Viney I reckon.

According to Misson, "Grimesy broke that thumb and he had an operation. He had plates and screws put in, rather than wires, so thats going to dictate that hes able to come back earlier."

Bugger the comparisons with Greig, Selwood, Harvey, Pendles and the like. Within two years supporters of other clubs will be using our Gus Brayshaw as the benchmark player for their newly drafted 'guns'. Their hopes will be forlorn!

My gut is telling me the timing is perfect. A short break for the players to refresh (both physically and mentally), and time for the coaching staff to make sure that the players 'come back to earth' but take some measured confidence and belief out of a great win, are absolute positives imo. Travelling to Darwin as a group won't do any harm either. Add to this that we will be playing the Weagles on a ground and in conditions that won't be familiar to them, and I reckon that the contest will be a lot closer than the respective ladder positions might suggest. Maybe we might even win, and really start to turn some heads in the wider competition.

Crossy has been outstanding for us, and a 'feather in the caps' of Roosy and our Recruiting Team. Moreover, I reckon he would still be adding significant value at Footscray, both on and off the field. Complete professionals like him add value wherever they go.

Gus does make every single touch count, but his presence on the field is much, much more than that. It's his pressure acts like chasing and tackling, his desperation, gut running and fearlessness and his never-say die attitude and will to get to the next contest, that make him such a standout. His leadership is also starting to show through. I clearly remember early in the season, Jonesy pointing out where he should stand at stoppages. Now it's Gus directing traffic as often as not. He is an absolute gem, and is learning so quickly.

Team selection vs the Eagles will probably the most difficult so far in 2015 for our Match Committee, and it's certainly making for a fascinating and enjoyable discussion on here. I can see merit in almost every point of view that has been raised. For mine, I would bring in Hogan and Garland for Bail and Riley, but like others, it would not be without some trepidation about team balance and lack of mobility in our forward half, particularly in the likely Darwin conditions. The (obvious) answer would be for our tall forwards to crash every pack and either mark the incoming ball or (more likely) create a spillage for the smaller forwards and mids, who would need to be in the right place at the foot of every pack, and make the most of scoring opportunities. With Garlett and the good goal-kicking form of ANB against Geelong, we might just be able to kick a winning score. But, of course, our defence will need to hold up (which I think they can) and we will need to at least halve the stoppages, which is why having both Gawn and Spencer in the side is important imo.