ickey_11

It is the Hawthorn game all over again. The game plan to swarm back just leaks goals when they are under pressure. Geelong showed how a well coached side can absorb this pressure and not get the score board damage.

I am pretty confident Melbourne will make the eight this year. Even without improvement from last year the friendly draw is going to be the difference from last year. Like Geelong before their premiership Melbourne are going to lose games that they shouldn't but they will start getting fewer. But like everyone here I want a consistent top four side. For that they will need to develop the list, recruit wisely and trade in wisely (eg like Geelong did with Ottens, Collingwood with Jolly and Leigh Brown - St Kilda have shown how you can do this very badly and nearly still get there because of adding Gardiner). Trading will become easier when players start to see Melbourne as a serious flag chance.

I am pretty sure that this does not count because Melbourne never turned up to play.

Jonesy is not quick, but he has quick reactions and the limited bench will really help his career. He is also the sort of player that you do not need to bench and he is also capable of taking a mark in the forward line.

the irony is that was one of the few times the team managed to move the ball from deep in the defense into the forward line

Brad Green didn't vote? No Melbourne player listed as a Brownlow winner and no votes for making the eight. Interesting that Brown doesn't think that Brisbane can make the finals this year.

Same difference, just give it a few more years.

Not necessarily, Campbell is backup for Jamar (or potentially the second ruckman if the Substitute rule is ditched). I see Juice and StefM competing for the same spot and I think the elevation of Juice maybe shows either a lack of confidence in StefM or a need for some redundancy in the relieving ruckman spot.

My 4yo chose 24 himself for his jumper. He goes to a lot of games and noticed that 48 last year and 24 this year "kicks all the goals". If it was my jumper I would choose 18, but it was his choice.

I am wondering if the "Elite Tank" pushed Lucas Cook up the list as the new interchange rule will mean more time on the ground for all players.

One thing I don't understand is why Meesen would get delisted from the rookie list when he was never was going to play last year? Was this to do with the fact he still had a contract? Pretty hard luck for him to loose his last chance at a long AFL career because of a drought. Although ruckmen who can't play forward will become a rarity. On a related note I think that we will see less stress fractures with this great winter / spring rain. The grounds will be a lot softer this summer. I also expect to see more speculative rookies like: NQR forwards who can ruck; NQR midfielders who have exceptional endurance (think like Woewodin); NQR ruckmen who can take a contested mark; NQR backmen who can play forward; NQR forwards who can play back or midfield and have good endurance. There will be less emphasis on speed as the game will slow (somewhat).

Brad Fisher could be a good pick-up; but would not get a game in the MFC defence (would be behind a few too many).

Miller would only get to the Tigers if GCS does not want him. If GCS wants him, then the Tigers would need to trade for him and put him on their primary list. Depends on how bad they want him.

My 4 yo son wants Liam Jurrah as the next captain; and I am not sure that he is that crazy. Liam has a way of going about his football that just brings in other player into the game, a bit like Robert Flower.

Bruce, Jamar, Rivers

I remember noting that LJ looked an inch taller than Dempsey who is listed 186. How much height is Dempsey's afro adding?

I like this, but I would be tempted to leave McKenzie or Jetta in for another chance and not bring in Warnock; I am worried about Essendon's smalls. Also with Garland, Frawley and Rivers, Warnock could be left out. thus my team would be: Bell , Garland , Rivers Bruce , Frawley , McKenzie or Jetta Green , McDonald , Sylvia Bennell ,Watts , Jurrah Davey , Newton (2nd Ruck) , Dunn Jamar , Trengove Moloney Scully , Bail , Bate , Jones

There is no split round after GC joins. Each week will be a bye for a different team. After GWS joins the split round MAY be back but don't count on it.

One point missing from this thread is that Brock is likely to play finals this year (if he doesn't have that season ending operation). Although Melbourne may make the 8 this year, I think that Brock will be happy he made the move. I think that there is a spot for a quality player like Brock at both clubs and if a guy makes a decision about a club based on recovery plans from injury it shows where his head is at.

Jeff Farmer was better than most on that unlucky list.

This team is missing a second ruck. And from what I have seen during pre-season, Jurrah cannot play full forward (maybe swap him with Sylvia or Petterd).

It will be interesting to see who will be the better deal: McLean or Ball; both are having their issues and I have no doubt Carlton would have preferred Ball if they didn't jump the gun with McLean.

we should have a final 16 so that Richmond can play in September.

Under the free agency if the 'Judd deal' repeated this would be worst for WCE because they would probably only get a 1 first round pick (prob to be judged as pick 1) instead of Josh Kennedy and two other picks. The 'Ball deal' would have been better for St. Kilda because I believe the AFL would have judged him to be worthy of a top 10 compensation and that is what St. Kilda wanted from Collingwood not pick 30 and another slow midfielder. All in all I believe that free agency will take the desperation out of the market at trade week; a team desperate for a KPP will able to make offers and that will be that. The posturing that some clubs do about what they think that player is worth or what they think their trades are worth will be negated.

Even then he Liam would have had to be drafted by Collingwood ahead of 15 other teams. This thread is all about kicking Collingwood and nothing about what really happened. Although it is allways fun to kick Collingwood.