Damo

Todays Age has a preview of the game between Melbourne and Hawthorn. Melbournes coach and personnel are not mentioned once. It is just about Clarko.

I see the Weid is doing rucking practice in the other thread. If Max is up against McEvoy maybe he will spend time helping out down back and sharing front half ruckwork with Weiderman. If we will be squeezing into 5 and 6 day layoffs between games, this may be a relief for Max.

There is always an argument for best position vs where best for the team. I personally believe we need more help in the Forward line this year. I also believe Joel is almost 2 years behind in preparation and may be juggled back and forward further into his career. At this point his best game when he got injured last year, he kicked 4 goals up front and looked a natural. Id like to see him as a fast defensive forward and allow his obvious leaping skills to progress. There was plenty of excitement about him that seems to have evaporated.

More suited up forward IMO

Dropping marks, taking up space instead of manning up and half volley kicks. Needs to be fixed. Coach is a rabbit in the headlights, never making a change or giving instructions. He looks scared.

Well they aint my friend ATM.

We drop marks, kick half volleys and dont man up.

Ive taken the draw at 51/1

Sorry to divert slightly but it may be that Dean Cox has not got a long time left working with John Longmire. That was the impression I had last night. I have always been impressed with Cox who was above the drug controversies at West Coast. A very good and smart footballer. Extremely focused and hard. What a coup it would be to have him as ruck/stoppage coach next year. I believe he will be a senior AFL coach.

I see Nicky Winmar is sueing Sam Newman for saying that the iconic photo of him by Wayne Lubdey was about a gutsy win and not of a proud black man. That was also my impression at the time and that "never let a good story get in the way of the truth", was the reason that, that was the chosen path. Mike Sheahan agrees with Sam too. I cant remember who told me that it makes a better story at the time but I thought he was a friend of Ludbey. I dont really care and maybe I have been wrong all these years. But it is interesting that either my recollection or the history of the world is wrong.

Im incredibly angry that the media doesnt GAF about our situation of missing playing pretty much our best side. All i hear is how lucky we were not to play Essendon.

Playing Essendon Tuesday or Wednesday is still possible going by the dodgy rules set out. If Wednesday then our game with Geelong would be probably next Monday night. 5 day break but possible which would leave our season on track. But it leaves Essendon moving the Blues match as well. Going by Jake Nialls BS story in todays Age he is more concerned about Ess-carl than any mention of our fixture. We are at full strength and I expect to beat Essendon but M Lloyd is a [censored] and is always looking for a Dons excuse.

Cats coming late. Glad I had Blues to be in front at the half.

Happy to have Pickett and vdB running hard into this mob. We still owe them for Snake and Greeny IMV.

I can see kozzie coming in and some change in positional movements to suit Bombers. But the strategy seems to be to let these 22 gel to be our best team available. So the tactic of changing unless critically needed would go against the overall plan. I think Jonesy and Jacko and Smith will have 2 or 3 weeks more. Id hope so or Goody will have been pressured out of his original overall plan.

If it is impossible for mids to drop their eyes and look to hit someone up, maybe we do need 3 talls in the forward line.

An unintended consequence of no AFL for the 1st part of the year was the rest of the family's disinterest in it becoming vocal. AFL in the past had always been unspoken priority, but Id lost my privileges. By yesterday i could sense a gritty losing battle. Enter a 70" Ultra HD 4K TV for the man cave. My barely used BetEasy account with $2 left (thanks Demons) has led to Kayo being added as a free App for 3 months. Just finished setup connecting with the LAN. Me and my new scarf are chafing at the bit. C'mon Demons!

Even if we dont do as well as I expect, we now have made sweeping changes that should only need slight adjustment going forward. We bit the bullet and just have to let the newbies show Goodies faith. Might take a couple of weeks.

Needs "ball"!, "Man!" and ironical jeering when 1. ex-player gets it or 2. expensive player finally gets it or a free kick is paid after one team hasnt been getting any.frees. And certainly needed "In the Back" last night.

I cant help but hold my breath as I want the best for Harley and the Demons but: His halcyon days are past He is possibly being told to not go 100% He may overdo it He could finish up if another calf injury occurs Lets just get through the Carlton game. Good Luck HB

Lever hasnt trained much lately and missed the inter-match game.

Thats a pretty good team. Bennell 1st game, Pickett 2nd game. Not too many changes. All those emergencies are 1st drop for me at this stage. I hope it isnt far from the team picked.

Joe Daniher is finished. If he wasn't, he would still not go to another inner Melbourne club. Thirdly you cant deal with Essendon.

I think Lever is on shaky ground and if he is injured even slightly they wont play him. He needs to be more than a modern Zac Dawson and go for marks rather than punching. Id play Smith instead if Jake is injured.

Not only did Barry Prendergast lie to Sloane and his folks, and overlooked him twice, he chose Sam Blease. This particular act of choosing a flakey winger instead of the Captain Rory Sloane of Eastern Ranges 2008 is unforgotten. Sloane never rated Blease at all. Wants to be a one club player but has close family ties in Melbourne.