CHF

Thanks deanox. Interesting that we are the highest uses of this rotation. I wonder where the stats are that support the 'elevated adrenalin' risk factor.

Mono, I don't agree. I think it is just that there has not been a position for him to play in recent games. I have been watching a few of our games from this season back to back. an early season game and then a later season game. It is an interesting way to see the development throughout the season. Last night I watched the bulldogs game and in that game Fitzy stood out as one of the impressive defencive unit. I would like to believe that he, along with all of the players are getting development coaching the whole time and the coaches would not put a line through anyone at this stage.

Looked at the Casey team just now and it looks like one Jake Lovett is playing as 23rd man. Will be interesting to see how he goes.

Seems like no one can give a convincing answer. Personally I think it is foolish to pull them off after a goal. The team is pumped after scoring a goal and the kicker is up and running. if anyone can get an answer for a coach, let me knwo. 

Independent AFL Comission... Now there is an oxymoron for you. it is a bit like " an intelligent Collingwood supporter" or " A balanced Essendon supporter".

I have been watching a few of our games over the last week or so and the measured way in which Jack has been playing has been great. He is developing into one of those players that seems to have a lot of time with the ball in his hands. He uses his burst of speed well. Not sure that we need to see it more often. He is using it well and at the right times. The step up in speed catches the opposition on the wrong foot. Have watched a bit of Toumpas' game as well and he will develop over the next couple of years into a good player. The coaches will get into him and I think he has great basic skills to work on.

Akum, Most likely right, But I am sure the Ned Kelly beards will last longer than this fad.

Skuit, I think I would have called BS on that.

Maybe, but it is not only the forwards that get pulled after kicking a goal. even the mids get a seat on the bench after kicking a goal.

Firstly, my apologies if this is addressed elsewhere. Can anyone please explain to me the rational behind benching a goal kicker after they have scored? Over the las few weeks I have been wat5ching replays of a number of games and I just cannot see the effectiveness of this. It is not just melbourne it is all clubs that are doing it. Last night I watched a replay of the St Kilda game and after Hogan had kicked a goal he wa benched and did not look happy about it. 

Loved this win. Very much a team win with our blue collar midfield beginning to look a force to be reckoned with. Loved the pressure all over the ground and they obviously we're told to play on quickly as much as possible. Feels damn good to beat this team.

Please.... Someone....anyone tell me why we always seem to get the worst of the umpiring decisions....

Looking at the team named and at our injury list i rhink that this team is just about the best we could muster this week. Given all the adversity and the fact that the game is at Kardinia Park (it is not a stadium in any way, shape or form) The team goes there with nothing to lose and I would expect them to concentrate on doing the small things right from minute to minute during the game regardless of the scores and the game situation. Not expecting a miracle, but will be disapointed if we drop our pants all together.

I do not have a problem with this team given the injuries we have at the moment. I can also see Roos looking through the list with his selections in recent weeks to see what we might have there. I have no problem with Terlich being given a run or two at this stage of the season for that very reason. It is a chance to see how he has developed if at all. Final bench for me would be Grimes, Terlich, Minchie with ANB as Sub. Would like to see ANB abd Stretch in the same side but I could see that one of them would need to be sub to replace the other in the second half. There is a lot of flexibilty in the team with a lot of playwers that could be given a run through the middle. Ruck to have Gawn backed up with Fitz in the back half and Pedersen in the front half. Watts sometime third man up.

how can the mark be out of bounds?

We will hold on for this one.

So? now do we kick Jones for that dreadful kick? Watts has no done that.

Who is this team wearing the red and blue?

Over the last few years the federal government has injected upwards of 2 billion dollars into major stadiums in all states. This has benefited not only AFL but also other sports. They have done so on the basis that any teams using these facilities are WADA compliant. If the AFL were to withdraw from WADA then they would also lose the ability to play on all the stadiums they presently play in. If they do take the decision to withdraw from WADA then the other 3 football codes will outstrip them within 5 years and football will become a quaint, backwater, suburban game. Blame Hird.......... or Watts, he gets blamed for most things.

As I understand the structure of the hearings by WADA, the dog ate my homework is no excuse and is why the 'comfortable satisfaction' clause is there. If all of the circumstantial evidence points to a very high probability that there was illegal PEDs used by the club and that reaches the threshold of 'comfortable satisfaction' for the arbitrators then it will be up to the defendants to prove that they did not take the drugs. I believe that the structure of the rules of the hearing are to make sure that ' the dog ate my homework' is a loophole that cannot be exercised. A misunderstanding of this may be the main plank of the appeal. The AFL tribunal may not have been comfortably satisfied that the players were injected with the PED but maybe the correct decision should have been ' the evidence heavily indicates that the PEDs, Dank and the players were all in the same places at the same time. The player's defence has failed to comfortably satisfy the panel that they did not take the drugs due to missing documentation, absence of supporting testimony and refusal of witnesses to appear before the tribunal. Therefore the panel has found the players guilty.' I believe that this will be the outcome of the CAS hearing.

I really do not understand the angst shown by some of the Essendon fans and Club in general with the case going to appeal at CAS. To my mind, no matter what the outcome of the AFL tribunal, it was always going to get there as the court of last appeal. The AFL and therefore Essendon signed up to the WADA rules and guidelines and have to abide by them. The time taken and the public debate have cemented 95% of the footballing public into their positions and understanding of the situation. the determination by CAS will be final but, whichever way it goes there are going to be some annoyed people. Personally, I am comfortably satisfied that the players were injected with an illegal PED. I will, however accept CAS's judgment.

After that load of rubbish I would tell the whole list, and I mean the whole list, to get out of their jumpers and out of the rooms as quick as possible. No showers no nothing. Just get out. Tell them to get out and not come back until Tuesday night for a training run. If they are going to play like amatuers then train them like amatures. Make sure they understand that they only come back to training if they are willing to play for the club and the team and put in for four quarters. The same goes for the coaches.

Might try The Australian NYC facebook page. it is an Australian Sports bar. Never been there but might be worth a try.

Jaded, AFL Global pass at this addy http://watchafl.afl.com.au/ . I use it and it a good live direct feed. I think you can get a 1 game subscription, a months subscription or, as I have done, a 1 year sub.

B: Colin Garland Tom McDonald Jeremy Howe HB: Christian Salem Lynden Dunn Heritier Lumumba C: Jimmy Toumpas Bernie Vince Daniel Cross HF: Jeff Garlett Jesse Hogan Jay Kennedy-Harris F: Cameron Pedersen Chris Dawes Angus Brayshaw FOLL: Jake Spencer Nathan Jones Dom Tyson I/C: Ben Newton Billy Stretch Aaron Vandenberg Jack Watts This is an interest team that the selectors have put together given that there are 3 or 4 that would normally be selected in the 22 out injured. I feel that is very much a 'look and see' team. lets have a look at a few players and see what they can do. On each line of that team as it is named there is interest. In the back line we can see if Tom can continue his form against Buddy. On the HB line I am enjoying watching Salem quietly progress and seemingly take big steps in his development. Toumpas on a wing against the Swans is something to watch. is he as good as people who drafted him thought? maybe this game will start to answer a few questions. The whole of the half forward line would be worth watching on it's own. Hogan and the kids. Brayshaw named in the forward line... well I assume he will play around the ground a bit and it will be look to look for his tackles. From the pine we have VdB and the new kid on the block. hope is a chip off the old one. And then there is Jack. Jack Watts. It will be a good game to watch. I am not too worried about the game score this season. I want to see the team develop and the players develop. it seems like it is a long time since we had a team that was actually enjoying playing football. Would love it if Roos told them that they have to play to the games structures but they have to go out there and enjoy their football.