The Great Pretender

Yes, but what I think WJ is also saying is that the new look fined down Campbell might also be used in attack to help out our young forwards and change with the Russian when he needs a rest. Could work out well if he can stay fit.

Not impressed. The fact that he produces a great amount of verbiage in describing players I'm not sure if he's describing them directly from his own observations. He seems to be drawing a lot on Kevin Sheehan's descriptions when he goes on about Lucas Cook and his reading of the ball in flight when going for his marks. I'm not sure if it matches the reality based on what I've seen of Cook whi is a good mark.

Is that the Demonland record for length of time for response to a question?

Scene from a laneway ... after my gym class this afternoon ...

I'll just be hoping that he does the usual thing - handball or kick to the opposition.

Bloody good footballer - pity about the knees.

It's been a big week for conspiracy theories with some mongrel from the Maritime Workers Union going on about 9/11 being an American plot against its own citizens so FWIW, here's my conspiracy theory. GWS will field a team of rookie listers, Israel Folau, hacks and pimply faced 17 year olds coached by a showman who is out of touch with the modern game. They will be decimated by both the Swans and the Suns by a large margin. Irrespective of the result of the Swans v Suns game, that should be enough to ensure that two clubs from this pool of three progress to the next round, one as winner of the pool and the other other as one of the two best performed runners up. In other words, the grouping virtually assures the Suns of some initial short term success in the AFL competition, which is exactly what the AFL wants.

We could do better with what we've got and with the young kid we might pick up in the draft with the pick he costs us.

A mate played in the Under 19s at Essendon against Garry Lyon and he tells me that he would have grown at least 10cm from when he came down to play for the MFC U19's to his final height. Used to play against him on a wing in those days.

If the AFL doesn't nominate him for this week's rising star there will be hell to pay!

The AFL site is one of the least user friendly sites on the web. Demetriou should spend a bit of time looking at some of the little things to do with his organisation and he might get some of the bigger picture items right too.

Michael - named on the extended interchange bench. Bert - getting fitted out for a new wig.

True - Heart boots Casey Fields I'll continue to go for the Victory.

Not quite sure what you're getting at here but I would have thought "lack of fight" was completely relevant to this article. After all, it's all about Melbourne's "mild side" and the need to develop a bit of a wild side. Disagree totally with that sentiment. I could have pointed to some of the senior players but the selection of Bennell over Cheney in a game against a strong hard bodied teamlike Hawthorn is a decent example of what I'm saying and certainly not "here or there" in the context of Melbourne's problem as highlighted in the article. I am not questioning the overall recruiting but in the context of this issue it's fair to say that one or two extra tall strong bodied players over the past few years would have helped.

Long on padding but the article does make a good point about the lack of fight in the team not just last week but over the past couple of seasons. It's not only reflected on the ground but in our team selection (Bennell over Cheney) and in our recruiting. Harden up Demons FCS.

I don't see the problem Frank. Our forward line is non-existent and we can't buy goals in a chook raffle. We really don't need goalposts at all for training.

Loved it. Loved Doctor Who when I was a kid and I still watch it now. Who would have thought he was going to help save the Demons!

Wasn't Johncock involved in one of the shoulder injuries to either Belly or Liam when we played them in a NAB Challenge a few weeks ago?

Is Rioli out of the game for sure?

Enjot your approach. Well done!

That's based on our recruiting from 2004/7 and doesn't include 2008 & 2009 which means the picture will just keep on getting better and better.

Doesn't the AFL have an agreement with the Etihad Stadium people not to develop any new grounds for playing AFL?

I suppose everything's relative but there's nothing shabby about beating Fremantle with more than a dozen players (some of them your best) missing. The game against West Coast wasn't too bad either considering how they finished the season and Port Adelaide were in the running for a place in the eight. Considering everything I wouldn't worry about looking back at our wins or our losses. This year's a whole new ball game.

I've just been reading an interesting post on BomberBlitz under the thread title of "Lies, Damn Lies and statistics, 2010". According to the poster who has analysed the ages and experience of the various club lists, there is virtually no difference statistically in this area between Essendon and Melbourne after taking into consideration the primary, veterans and rookie lists. The Bombers' median age and median number of games is only slightly greater than that of the Demons. In terms of games played, the bottom four averages are: Essendon: 44.73 Melbourne: 43.65 North 43.00 Richmond 42.28 At the other end of the scale, the Western Bulldogs are the most experienced at 72 games. The Bombers made the finals in 2009 and, despite losing Lloyd, Lucas, McPhee and Lovett (a large slice of experience but not so influential relatively to the team's finals effort), most Essendon fans are expecting their team to perform as well, if not better than it did last year. There isn't the same caution or negativity as I am sensing here. I don't expect that we will make the finals this year but, without the distractions of tanking and with a better draw and a decent run with injuries, I can see us making positive strides and you never know your luck. I'm hoping for 10 wins but if a couple of teams above us fall over we might do a "Bradbury" and end up in the 8. Call it wishful thinking or relying on damned lies and statistics but why do Bomber fans have reason to be more optimistic with their inexperienced line up than us?