The Great Pretender

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?

My Carlton sources tell me that Brock is absolutely training the house down and beating Judd in all of the long runs. They say he looks fit and refreshed and heading for a big season. Of course, he has several years of development over Gysberts so the answer to this riddle is still a long way off.

The problem is that Melbourne is very light on for ruckmen. We have only one on our primary list at the moment and that is Mark Jamar, two if you count PJ but I still regard him as a forward who can fill in as a second stringer in the ruck but can't match it with the best. Stef Martin is very much a tall defender who can pinch hit in the ruck while Jake Spencer is still on the rookie list. If someone takes Meesen in the draft we will be left vulnerable. He showed great promise in the few games he played with us so it's no surprise that some clubs are sniffing around.

Way too early to judge who wins at this point in time. Fevola could either blitz at Brizvegas or derail their entire campaign.

I'm wondering whether the fact that five of the first ten selections are with clubs outside Victoria is going to help or hinder our draft prospects.

It might be a bit late but there's a live feed here - http://www.justin.tv/nelliek9

A bit expensive for mine. Make it Dawes for Newton and you have a deal.

1. Cale 2. Mitch 3. Jaryd

Jetta Invited to Draft Camp Swan Districts speed machine Lewis Jetta has broken convention and had his draft prospects further strengthened as a result of being invited to the AFL draft camp. At 20 years of age, Jetta is the oldest of the 75 players invited to the camp, which will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport from September 30 to October 2. Jetta leapt into the spotlight with a breathtaking performance during West Coast's intraclub game in February. One of a number of WAFL players asked to make up the numbers, Jetta took on his high-profile Eagles opponents, kicked two goals and looked completely at home. The cousin of Melbourne midfielder Neville Jetta hasn't looked back. He was rewarded for his stunning WAFL form with Swan Districts in his debut season by earning a berth in the State game against South Australia, playing a pivotal role in WA's win with three goals. "It'll be interesting to see where Lewis ends up," WAFC high performance manager Jon Haines said. "He's attracted some attention at Swan Districts and in the State game. He's an exciting player and the exposure will be good for him. He should test well." The above snippets have been taken from WA media articles. West Coast are very interested.

Riveting stuff. I read once that Kevin Sheedy also was a Prahran boy who was residentially bound to Melbourne and we let him go to Richmond. Strange decision that one!

From the afl.com.au draft camp profiles: Allen Christensen (Geelong Falcons, VIC) Height: 176cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 19/05/91 Recruited from: Lara Prolific ball winner who amasses plenty of contested possessions. Sound decision-maker who is extremely clever around goals. Vic Country U18 representative in 2009. This kid was touted as an early selection at the start of the year but seems to have gone off the radar. He might be small but so is Cyril Rioli.

ROBERTSON DAMNS DEMONS Sorry Robbo but that's the club's direction and Dean Bailey was just being honest with you.

Dwayne Russell made the point that we interchanged 100 times against the Dockers compared with about 50 against Richmond and North and this made the difference. Does he have a point?