CHF

just so that all can feel comfortable on here that someone is upholding the proper traditions of Melbourne supporters, I watched the game at some ungodly hour of Saturday morning over here and there jumped in the car and drove to Switzerland to go skiing. Just right and proper for a Melbourne supporter. Have watched the game a couple of times and like the way the team responded. If we can do that when points are at stake I will be happy. All Iwant to do is enjoy watching my team play footy

We are not fielding our best side no matter what some may say. I will be interested to see how the following go under a bit of proper match intensity. would like to see all of these get a run. Clayton Oliver - New kid that has had some good training write ups, This is a chance to see what he might bring and for him to understand the AFL match pressures. Dean Kent - while we know a bit about him I want to see how he is shaping up after his Hammy problem. Sam Frost - only played a few games last season and He could be anything according to training reports. Where will he play? Cameron Pedersen - Want to see him in action. he has to compete for a spot and has the opportunity to take a step. Oscar McDonald - Mac The Younger. Like to see how he has developed. Jayden Hunt - Let him loose to see him burn a few.... if he can. Jack Grimes - New position? new man? Tomas Bugg - Know little about him and want to see him in action. Ben Kennedy - As above with the bug Josh Wagner - We had a big success with a mature aged VDB, will lightening strike twice? Dean Terlich - Want to know what is with this kid. lighter and more mobile? what has changed? Weed, Hulett and the Royal family (the Kings) to get a run next.

When is it expected that the side will be named?

Agree with that dee-luded. With the way the game is played these days the players get moved all over the shop looking for small advantages in a matchup. I would not be surprised to see Kent on the HBF at some stage as well as Vince back there. it will be interesting during the season to see how tactics develop around the restricted interchange. one thing I hope will get the chop is the goal kicker automatically going to the bench after kicking a goal.

A fair bit of water has flowed under the bridge since this thread started a month ago and there is still a bit more to go. The first intraclub threw up a few interesting players with Hunt and Wagner getting mentions. There are still a lot in the mix for mine. The locks to my mind are as follows: BACKS TMac, Garland, Jetta, Dunn, Salem. MIDS N. Jones, Viney, Vince, Brayshaw, Tyson, VDB, FORWARDS: Hogan, Watts, Garlett, Kent RUCK Gawn That is 16 of the starting 18 in place. Of the 2 we need a CHF/Ruck/#rd tall Forward. Frost looks a likely selection at the moment but it could be Pedo. at this stage whichever one misses on the starting 18 should be on the bench.Someone to put there hand up over the next three NAB games? The next needs to be a defender running off the HBF, Grimes rotating through the wing? Maybe this is where Hunt/White/Wagner will be able to press their claims for a position.. Maybe one of those will be on the bench. let see what happens over the next 3 games. For me at this stage: Frost and Grimes in the starting 18 with Pedo, Hunt, Hames and Kennedy on the bench.

If we do win R1 will that count as two in a row? it would of course be GWS two in a row, I think that both teams will have significantly stronger teams out on the G with up to 8 changes from the Dees team and most likely more from GWS.

From my original team in the OP Dawes is out so my team is looking for a CHF. For Dawes I would bring in Grimes to play in the defensive 6 freeing up Frost to move into CHF. Garland,TMac, Jetta Salem, Dunn, Grimes Vince, Jones, Stretch Kent, Frost, Brayshaw Watts, Hogan, Garlett Gawn, Viney, VDB I: Hames, Tyson, Kennedy, Pedo This team gives us flexibility in both defense and attack. Frost, Watts and Pedo can all play in defence. Dunn, Pedo and gawn can all play in the Attack. Watched the round 23 game from last season the other night and Dunn did a serviceable job up forward. There are also a lot of runners for the midfield.

A lot can happen in the next 6 weeks or so. I do not see Frost getting a R1 start in the forwards Dawes or Pedometer (spell check did this and I liked it so left it) for me with it being a toss up if both fit and an easy decision if there is any doubt on Dawes calf. Hogan, Pedometer and Watts as the main talls with Garlett, Kent and someone like Harmes at their feet.

I cannot see Lumumba in the R1 side. Petracca maybe depending on pre-season match form. The main points in contention seem to be the CHF position and how to incorporate a second ruck. Maybe Dawes at CHF and rucking in the forward zone with Watts coming over the top as third man? Watts was doing that a bit during last season and quite effectively. The selections and how we structure will be a week to week proposition depending on the opposition. Look at the job that Spence and Gawn did against Geelong last season.

Shuffle away all you like Dee. Not a lot of difference in the personnel of the 22 with you dropping Dawes and adding Bugg. I know next to nothing about Bugg. I live in Europe and have for the last 10 years or so and only watch the Demons games so anyone in other teams I know very little about. Not sure I like TMac as CHF. he can take a mark and reads the game well except when he has the ball in his hands and decides to set off on a run. TMac and frost could swap around. I would still like to see Dawes in the 22. swap him for Bugg or Kennedy on the bench? Bit of water to flow under the bridge with Intra club matches and the NAB games. Things will become a lot clearer at that time. Petracca, Grimes, ANB could all put in Belters during the pre-season games and demand a R1 start. A way behind this group are Oliver, Hunt, Hulett, and Spencer. Minchie and White off the rookie list might also step up. I do not see Lumumba coming up fit and in form by the time of R1

I agree that CHF is a position where there is going to be a few tried this season. Unless Dawes and/or Pedo really grab the spot and play well I could see a few others tried there. Frost, OMac might get a run there along with a couple of Cameos from the new kids. Weed or Hulett anyone? I would like to see Watts given a run there with a stay at home FF, maybe a resting Gawn or a Pedo in the square with both Hogan and Watts given a licence to roam up the ground splitting the position. I could see a setup like that giving a few defences headaches. Garlett, Kent and possibly a Petracca crumbing from a big target.

I could see Pedersen in for Dawes depending on form in the pre season games. What I do like is the fact that we do seem to have options. Kennedy, Bugg even Grimes, While and, from reports, Hulett is a big boy and may get a run. A lot of options. I think Petracca will need a run or two at Casey unless he burns it up in the pre season games.

It is starting to get towards the pointy end of the pre-season and it is about time we had a crack at the R1 team. We have images and reports from training and that is providing a lot of information of us to dwell on. Some of the players are walk up starts for R1 if they stay fit. T MacDonald at fullback Hogan at full forward Garlett at his feet Gawn in the ruck Jones in the center Viney, Vince, Brayshaw and VDB running through the middle CHB? could be a case of horses for courses Dunn slotted in there? Maybe Frost Salem and Jetta HBFs? Stretch on a wing Watts to get a run? Kent would have to be there abouts as would Hames, Tyson Kennedy and Bugg My R1 Team at the moment based upon training reports: FB: Garland. T Mac. Dunn HB: Salem. Frost. Jetta C: Vince. N. Jones. Stretch HF: Kent. Dawes. Brayshaw F: Watts. Hogan. Garlett FOL: Gawn. Viney. VDB INT: Hames. Kennedy, Tyson, Pedo. I would be pretty happy with a team like that. Some doubts... do we need both Dunn and Frost in defence when we have Garland and T Mac there? Watts can cover down there as can Pedo. Dawes? well in the later part of last season I liked how he and Hogan complimented each other with the way they ran and moved. Dawes I would give first opportunity to but he would be under pressure to perform with Pedo right there and a couple of young guys looking at that spot as well. I would also look at Watts having a run at CHF depending on matchups. Running through the midfield is going to be one of our strengths this year I feel with N Jones, Vince, Viney, Brayshaw, VDB, Kennedy, Tyson, Stretch and Kent and, in the team I have named, you could add Watts, Garlett, Salem, Hames and Jetta to the midfield rotations. A long way to go to the first bounce but I do admit to having a bit more pep in my step this pre-season than in the last few. The team actually looks like it has a purpose and is working to a plan. We may go close to making the finals this year with a bit of luck with injuries.

This is what I believe. I beilieve....... 1. Essendon set out to structure a drug based strategy that was illegal as shown by "whatever it takes" and Hirds pursuit of undetectable drugs to assist performance. 2. Hird is a liar and needs to take responsibility for his role in the whole affair. His 'defence' of the players is hypocritical as the only thing he continues to defend is his own tattered reputation. He was one of the prime drivers of this strategy. 3. The board and the Administration at the time is also responsible for the position the club and players are in. 4. The AFL also shares responsibility for this situation as they believed they could "control" the process and outcome. 5. Dank is a bit player who is a convenient patsy. Comes across to me as dumb as a post with just as much personality. 6. The strategy employed by Essendon to delay, delay, delay has been successful as there are only 12 of the original 34 left on the list. an earlier resolution of this would have had much more impact. 7. The players collectively have played this in a very dumb way. Right from the beginning they should have realised that the ultimate responsibility for what went into their bodies is theirs and theirs alone. 8. The AFL should, if they had any guts, punish the Essendon football club for running this drug strategy. To not do so now is to allow the 34 players to accept all of the blame for this fiasco. Dank the patsy gets a life ban, the club get punished for governance short comings (as they should) Hird gets a paid holiday in France... the club collectively is responsible for an illegal performance enhancing drug program that they appear to be going unpunished for. 9. Jobe Watson's Brownlow should have been removed as soon as the verdict was given. He has no defence to retain it. if he retains it in any way shape or form it devalues and tarnishes the award for the best and fairest. Would he have been the best had it not been for the drugs and would it be fair to the others in the competition if a convicted drug cheat is adjudged the fairest? If you cannot answer 'yes' to both these questions Jobe, then give the medal back and ask for your name to be struck from the records. 10. Tracey Holmes is a dill and not an interviewer's elbow. 11. Essendon are as guilty as hell and I am going to make sure I do all i can to ensure that not $1 of mine goes to benefit them. 12. I feel not sympathy for the club or the players. They chose the path they followed and have to accept the consequences. 13. Once the players have served their punishment, they should be free to continue their careers in any way they wish. 14. The architects of the program should be banned for life from any role in sport. That is what I believe and I am not about to change those beliefs.

And if he had been playing lawn bowls and accidentally dropped a bowl on his foot?? we do not allow him to play lawn bowls either?

I find the reaction on here to Toegate to be incredible. So he injured his toe playing basketball?? Some on here want him banned from doing anything outside Football in case he might, just might, put himself in a situation where he might get an injury that prevents him from training or playing for the Demons. Where do you draw the line? Not allowed to get up a ladder to change a light bulb? Not allowed to go to the shops in case an old man with a stick belts you? not allowed to go out for dinner at a restaurant in case dustin Martin is there having a drink? Accidents happen. this is minor compared to some of the things that could happen and have happened. Ban him from training after all he did his knee doing that. Get some perspective people.

Glass half full..... Glass half empty??? Wrong sized glass.....

One thing that I hope the interchange cap will get rid of is the goal scorer being sat on the bench immediately after scoring. I have never seen the sense in that move at all and will not be sorry to see the end of it.

Unfortunately I half expect that the AFL and/or RFC to come out and praise Martin for promoting so much discussion and debate with regard to violence against women. it would be consistent with some of the other rubbish they have dished up in recent times.

The trouble with Neeld was that instead of taking the players along with him he tried to drive them to a better culture and fitness by using the stick and the whip.

Bring back The Juice!!

I was not really surprised that we delisted Fitzpatrick. I look at it a little differently. With the introduction of the sub rule teams had only 3 interchange players for the bench and the sub. This lead to the demise of the second ruck as a role. There was a need for a standing to take the rucking duties when the No1 needed a rest. This lead to a lot of trial and error as to tactics. Ritzy at 200cms and able to play either end of the ground fitted the bill pretty well and was being developed as a versatile tall. With the axing of the sub and the lowering of the number of rotations I think the game will evolve in a different direction. With the sub rule the game changed, some of it for the better and I can see coaches realising that and adapting the use of the new situation to use what came out of the last couple of seasons. Hence the return of specialist big men to a degree and the need for well conditioned runners. Bad luck Pig-Dog. Bail was given a good run at it but could not make the step up. MacKenzie did his job when required but has a step behind the level required. All the best to all four of them. You are all,part of the rich history of the club.

I hope at least one of our coaches went with him to get some information on the work these guys are doing and why. I would like to see the notes Christian is taking. I hope he comes back with a whole bunch of them and there is a complete de-brief.

If what Jay Clarke said is correct, that we are looking for a forward partner for Hogan, would we look at Tomlinson from GWS? Good size, 22 and a Melbourne boy. I understand they have made some sort of a pact but if you are not getting game time then the pact would not be all that strong. With the players on our existing list I still think Pedersen and Fitzpatrick can fill a hole for a while. Dawes needs to have more impact on the scoreboard for the amount of games and time he gets. Patracca in the forward line for the next couple of years rotating into the middle and then after that reverse it with most time spent in the middle. Hogan to get a long term big bucks contract and then build around him. 

My god. This is like watching someone shoot puppies.