Hellaintabadplacetobe

In: Maric, Spencer, Junior

Out: Sylvia, Meesen/Johnson, Jetta

Spot on. But leave Meese in. He was commendable against a good ruck duo. I`m a PJ fan but he is very ordinary this year bordering lazy or extremely unfit. Jet unlucky but he has had a taste and needs a couple of weeks in the magoos and Maric is a must next week. Junior a good swap for Sylvia who is a waste of space and I could not be arsed typing the reasons why he should not play seniors for a month.

Cale Morton

This was a great game of footy! Even sweeter that Carlton lost, not that I like Essendon all that much

A couple of times when Morton has shown some pretty fine close-in evasion skills, coupled with an uncanny ability to work free even when someone is supposed to be on him, his role as an attacking winger and reasonable flow of goals...

I never got to se Robbie Flower at the time, but everything I'm told and all the footage I've seen makes me think that is the style of play we should be hoping for from Morton. Except taller.

I can dream.

I spent my childhood going to the `G` and idolising Robbie Flower DD. There are many similarities between these 2 and it is not just their pencil thin arms. Flower was rarely tackled and always had time and poise as does Cale although he will get caught occasionally. The one area where I think Cale will lack compared to Robbie will be his left side. Robbie could kick , handball and even bounce the ball with his left hand just as well as his right.

The first time I saw Cale play I came home thinking we just might have our next Robbie Flower. He will be bigger than Robbie though and he is going to get far better than what we are watching now. He is still a kid and I think too many posters on here are expecting him to perform miracles way too soon.... He will though!!

The North Melbourne players mini movie was in poor taste, but that's all.

I suppose the club had to come clean in the way it did, but I think their cleansing outrage is a bit over the top.

I'm not particularly young, but I got my wife to view the Youtube video and give me feed back, unprepared by me.

She felt is was in poor taste, typically testosterone laced and based .... but not overly denigrating to women. She believed it was typical male adonis sturtting peacock ritual. She felt the music, which was not recorded by the Nth Melb players was probably the most denigrating part of the whole show. Can the players be blamed for that, other than for airing it?

Also we all know Adam Simpson, for one, is a genuine nice guy and family guy, and not one to denigrate women.... or chickens.

Anyway, the whole thing is an over-reaction in this day and age. Compared to some AFL and NFL player acts, this is extremely low on the Richter scale. We hope the AFL and Nth Melb footy club do not run this issue harder than it needs to.

Agree!

Your avatar is far more offensive!

But I like it

I thought it was partly typical Collingwood arrogance, but I don't hear him say the same about North supporters (for example).

I have to say, he did expand on it slightly though, not sure how you missed it cos it was part of the conversation - he said "the supporters don't turn out to support their team". He said something else to that affect but i can't remember. "They don't care" or something like that. I tuned out cos he was being typical moody BT.

The sad fact of the matter is...he is right! Apart from ``die hards`` like a lot of us on this forum, we don`t turn up to support our team. Yesterday was a perfect example. Looking across from the Olympic stand was just a sea of black n white. In fact apart from the members and behind the Punt Rd goals we were horribly outnumbered.

I listen to MMM whenever I am at the game as I cant pick up am radio, otherwise I`d listen to SEN. I have heard BT`s rants about our [censored] poor turnouts every time he calls one of our games. I don`t get offended by it because he is right. He does not bag our players and calls it as he sees it. Wonna is his favourite player in the comp other than his Lovechild Leon Davis. I don`t think he has a grudge against MFC at all, just our fair weathered fans which unfortunately, many are!

Good post Dandeeman:

I expect most games that we will start well and show good fluency and structure. I also expect as the game wears on the structure, skills and defensive pressyre will deteriorate as immature bodies tire.

Yeah Dandee excellent post. I had all the same thoughts coming home from the `g`. Last year i was frustrated as hell but we have improved markedly even taking into consideration y`days capitulation. What cost us more than anything was the amount of goals the Pies scored in the 1st half due to poor turnovers. That will disappear as the group play together more often and gain confidence of each others game. We need to keep in mind how young and inexperienced this team is. wait until the last few rounds of footy this year. This team will be gelling very well by then and may even cost us a priority pick!

A hanger and goal to Robbo one of the few highlights at a wet and windy Casey Fields. Casey 2.2.14 to Coburg 4.2.26. Newton has the other goal.

That is very refreshing to hear. If he kicks 4 or more, will we risk bringing him in next week or does he need 2 or 3 weeks in the magoos??

6. Warnock

5. Davey

4. Green

3. Morton

2. Miller

1. Martin

Frawley unlucky!

Maybe I am just so used to losing these last few years but for whatever reason I don`t come home and sulk after very ordinary performances like the last 3 quarters today. I think we just have to expect that with such an inexperienced side we are going to get well beaten by top 4 or 5 sides. We were very good in the 1st Q and made the pies looked rattled. We should have been 7.0 as both points to Miller and Sylvia were easy shots!

Positives today -

Miller - good leads throughout the day. Went quiet for a quarter after being knocked senseless by Ricky. (He was out cold for 5 secs and fell over trying to get up!) Still presented later on in the game.

Davey - Best game in a long while and willed himself to the contest all day.

Warnock - Best game he has played.

Martin - Will take advantage of Garlo`s injury and keep his spot for the year

Morton - Yes, a couple of poor disposals but seems to have more time than anyone on our list when he has the ball.

Rivers - Another game under the belt and this bloke has lost none of his courage. He is not setting the world on fire but it is great to have him in the team.

Worries -

Rucks - I will not be surprised if Meeson gets a game by default next week.

Chooka - Surely he is playing injured?

Sylvia - I`m speechless

50,025

We are dead set cursed. Supposedly an injury free pre-season, but look at our current injury list!!!

FWIW, I would promote Zomer and see if he has te ability to create a contest up at FF. Couldn't do much worse than Newton, and since seeing him in a TAC cup GF, I always thought he had potential. Worth a shot...

But this is devastating news for the club. The only beneficial effect it could have is helping us get higher draft picks. He is an important player and this will hinder his development, as has been the case with Rivers and his injuries. rotten news for the club and a black day.

We do seem to be cursed. Only the saints would have had a worse run with injuries than us over the last 3 or 4 years. It really is a shame for Col, he`s gone from being scorned by most fans(myself included) to one of the first pencilled in the lineup each week. We have to take the positives out of this. We know this kid is part of our future now and is looking like a 10 year player. This will give another youngster the chance to cement a spot in the backline this year and secure his future on the playing list. I was impressed with Martin last year and I think he will be the man to benefit out of Col`s misfortune.

That said, this is a big loss for the team as a whole as it will probably mean an extra 3 or 4 goals a week kicked against us such is the vein of form that Garland has been in for the past 12 months

Robbo playing? Wow, that was quick.

Good luck Robbo. We need you back badly to give our midfielders 1 leading forward to kick to as opposed to the zero at the moment and someone to show Bate , Miller n co how to lead. Kick 3 in the first half and have a rest mate. And please, no junk time goals if they are down by 115.

I thought of Hazy Today! One of the reasons i put this thread up! Very Quiet aern't they

I wonder if we will get a John Howard ``sorry`` or a Kevin Rudd ``sorry``. Probably neither!

I`d be very happy with an unchanged team.

I think Sylvia and Newton should be left out at least one more week to make them hurt enough that they actually realise that they are not a walk up start. I think Bailey will be loathe to make any changes unless there are some injuries from Round 1 that we are unaware of.

I literally cannot believe the changes that have taken place in this club in the past 12 months, seriously, think back to some of the threads from last year. This is amazing

What about that fool Hazy and his co-hort Flowerwing. Very quiet from those 2 of late.

Agree with all your sentiments on this thread. It is a pretty amazing string of events after being seriously on the brink the past 12 months or more. We were a basket case to say the least and the confidence the past 3 or 4 weeks has given all of us to realise we do have a future in the competition is a huge relief and a bloody good feeling. Being welcomed with open arms as an entity of the MCC is another massive step for our club.

Now that we have a far more secure future, watching our young list develop into a force in the next 2 to 3 years is going to be as sweet as it gets!

And by news he means, has he broken anything yet?

Thank J, I wasnt quite sure how to word it without sounding pessimistic!

Half Time: Casey Scorpions 8.5.53 to Box Hill 4.6.30

Addam Maric with three goals has been exceptional in his decision making and ball use. Aussie and Shane Valenti have done well while the Casey players to stand out were Wall, Matthews and Silvagni.

Goalkickers: Maric 3, Hillberge, Jurrah, Sykes, Zomer

Nice work KC. Any news on Riv??

Excellent news! $5m/3years is a very good package which should help mitigate some of the damage done over the last few months

It is paticularly gratifying that it adds up to more than the misson deal.

Special thanks to Andrew Mamonitis - 2009's best supporter.

Still have to have a bit of a dig don`t ya hazy!

Deep down, we know you must be really hurting after todays announcement. Your credibility(what little you had) has been torn to shreds.

Currently, you are 2009`s worst poster!! I`m sure someone will take it off you at some stage though!

Would be nice if you can now take some of your ire of Jimmy and the board and put it towards hating the opposition and not your own!

Sorry, I know I claimed I would never read your posts after the rot you were throwing our way, but I just couldnt resist.

I thought that Grimes missed a fair chunk of his last season in the TAC Cup, which wasn't back related.

Jack Grimes was considered by many scouts to be a top 5 or 6 pick. The reason he got to 14 was because most clubs were loathe to pick him up because of what I heard to be a history of back complaints. I hope this is not related to the same injury or we may have another J Rivers on our hands. Grimer is my greatest excitement about this year, I just hope we see him play at least half a season.

Good luck Liam. A massive challenge for a young bloke but gee I hope he makes it. He will be a cult figure at Melbourne. I am very excited to watch his journey.

Just found this on Foxsports.

``Meanwhile, Melbourne Demons will know in the next day or so whether Daniel Bell needs a pin inserted in his broken thumb.

He is out for at least round one after suffering the injury on Saturday against the Western Bulldogs. ``

Doesnt sound good at all. I would have thought a pin insert would mean he would be out for more than just a few weeks! Be a real shame for Belly, he is starting to show some good signs IMO. I`m loving his attack on the ball.

I'll probably get done for this comment, but I want two first-round priority picks.

This is our last chance in a long long time to take full advantage of the draft system, and therefore we should.

Of course I don't want to get these draft picks by deliberately losing games, and I definitely don't want us to get smashed week in week out.

In an ideal world, we'll be competitive in most games (yes, the word competitive is back), beat Collingwood twice and Carlton too, but still qualify for picks 1 & 2 (or 1 & 3).

We are not going to win a flag this year, or even get close to making the finals. And if you're not first, you are better off coming last.

One more year of pain could pay up big for the next 10 years.

However above all else, what I want to see this year is Buckley finally learning how to use his tricks for good instead of evil, for McLean and Rivers to remain injury free, for Jones to improve his disposal, for Bell to establish himself as a midfielder, for us to establish a semi-useful forwardline and for our backline to establish itself as the best up-and-coming defence in the game.

Oh and did I mention that I want to hear the roar of the crowd when one Jack Watts steps onto the field for the first time...

You make some very good points Jaded. No you won`t get ``done`` for wanting 2x 1st round picks because the majority feel the same way but just don`t want to say it out loud. The other point about Bell is spot on. He is a midfielder waiting to happen and sadly he is not good enough to be in our best 7 or 8 defenders. I think his attack on the footy is as good as any on our list with only Wheels and Jmac ahead of him. He could be a revealation in the midfield where he can rely on his hardness, good quick hands, and not so much on his kicking skills which we know can be dodgy at times. I have been super impressed with what I saw of him at Visy park and from reports from other Nab challenge matches. Gee the boy is injury prone though, I would like to see him get a good run this year without injuries.

Thanks WJ and twist for the updates.

I am not concerned at all. As the guys at the game said, the conditions were in the Dogs favour in the last 1/4. Remember, they were full strength and we had a half dozen out, Grimes a late exclusion on top of that. You would expect the dogs to be at least a 4 or 5 goal better team than us and they probably are! Interested to hear a report on who was in form and who wasnt!

Bring on the real stuff!

love it! def gunna be my sig!

I`m honoured Dazzler! We`ll discuss royalties for your sig later