Go the Biff

Just gone over the tape RI. None of those suggested ins did enough to warrant selection for Melbourne. The only ones you'd consider were Bate, not so much for the 6 goals but for the work he did up the ground Warnock - Crows have some tall timber up forward. Don't want to see Grimes spotting about 10cm again. Of the others Maric - ok second half Nev - uses it reasonably but just doesn't get the pill enough Petterd - shite kick & only pressures the opposition when he feels like it. Front runner Younger blokes were ok. Cook - just looks & moves like a footballer. Promising Nicholson - terrific 1st half in particular, Quick, good user McDonald - composed, backs himself. Lawrence - again, not a lot of ball but found it in dangerous places. Nice kick Howe - goes the hanger but like his recovery & chasing as well Blease - sadly, was pox today. He's better than that but needs to be on the wing. Not a defenders backside

It's no Specky McGee

Looks like Bhima got sprung playing on the internet !

Dale Thomas. Plays that role at the Pies. Thomas works his arse off up & down the ground every minute of the game that he's on the ground. If he's not directly involved he is running hard to a spot where he becomes an option for his team-mates with the ball. When it's his turn to go in & get the ball, he goes. Didn't when he started out but certainly does now. When the opposition have the ball, he works hard defensively. Morton should be studying him as Thomas puts in the effort needed to succeed in that position. At the moment he looks like that #17 bloke from Hawthorn.

Why do so many on this site insist on nominating "future captains". It is like a freaking curse. As soon as a player is crowned "future captain" they immediately lose their capacity to kick the footy. We are now guaranteed that J. Viney will dispose of the pill by foot in the same scattergun fashion as his old man. I was hoping for better. I hereby nominate Jack Grimes & Aaron Davey to never assume the ultimate leadership mantle. I will be satisfied if they consistently hit the target they're actually aiming for.

I disagree - I think the bye is a perfect matchup for Newton

Not to mention the fact that their final training session is often after the teams are submitted for publication

what's a maco ?

Good thread (for a change). The OP is probably your best post Rhino, although as someone else pointed out, it's off a helluva long run-up. Grazman's reference to the Geelong experience & the time it took is well worth keeping in mind. We have come off a lower base than they did. It has been a savage cull to the list & I struggle to think of any other club that has cut as hard in as short a time frame. And the aim has been singular from day 1. Build a premiership side. Not one that farts about on the fringes of the eight. Those that expect finals merely because we improved last year are dreaming. Don't forget when the rebuild started. We may have been [censored] for four years but we entered 2007 with most of us expecting to make finals. We had a year of harsh truths shoved down our throats before we gutted the joint & started again.

Didn't think there was much in it. He must have got Jones in just the right spot

All the other rubbish aside, it was a bloody good goal

It was Bate

Got to see him working with the defensive group a few times at Casey, mainly in pre-seasons. Close enough to hear what he was saying. Pretty impressive, particularly with one on one stuff. Things like positioning yourself in relation to your opponent, how to turn a contest into an intercept, how to prevent your opponent getting goal side of you. Really interesting. I think he's done a great job with some good cattle. That said, I also agree that you need to turn over your assistants to gain fresh perspectives. Defense these days is heavily slanted to zoning, defending space & transition. I'd think Milburn would have a lot to offer from that perspective. While I can't wish Wellman good luck - he's going to Essendon FFS - I can understand why he's going & thank him for his contribution to our rebuild. He should leave Melbourne very proud of what he's done here.

It appears Fat Eddie has turned Scull's supposed date with our Miss Universe contestant Jasinta Campbell into something of a competition. He is running second to that kid from Sydney so go here MMM poll and vote to get Tom over the line

I read in one of those "ladders with the lot" that we've used 38 players this season which I think is the equal highest

Again the folly of using stats as a sole basis of comparison. Jordie plays in the midfield. Davis is a young key defender - and is doing a pretty good job

Quick, go back & do them again when this quarter starts

Matt Burgan has certainly invigorated that site. There is a Q&A with Luke after his return with Casey magoos, plus a picture of the young fella. He is built like a brick shithouse Link thingy

Agreed, I'm not too happy with the papers at the moment. They are turning this into a statement game for Essendon. Good to see you on the board Ash !

I'm just going to echo the thoughts of a few earlier posters such as Axis of Bob & Jaded. I also think Spencer is ahead of Jamar at the same stage of their careers. His ruckwork is good to watch - he is not just a bash it forward type, he tries to spoon feed his midfielders with directed taps. His kicking is inconsistent but more than once I have seen him hit a leading player lace out on the [censored]. He has an awkward looking low ball drop (not unlike Frawley) but when he gets it right, it's very effective. That said, I've also seen him miss the ball completely. He's also brave & relishes body contact, something that Jolly could never have been accused of at the same age. He will make mistakes (e.g. spilled chest mark on the wing), he is probably a liability at the moment in that he costs us a running mid when he's in the side but for a 19-20 yo ruckman, I think he shows a bit. And as I recall he lost a chunk of the season along with a bit of weight when he was crook earlier on.

Doubt it will happen but it's an interesting choice. If only because Grimes is pretty much the type of player that I'd hoped a young Bell would develop into. Alas I fear that ship has long sailed - Bell lost too much of his "development time" to injury.

Jaded I also have my misgivings about Dunn but to say he will never be good enough to be a premiership player is not a great argument. Our own Stevie Armstrong is not good enough to be a premiership player but guess what, he is one ! Clay Sampson - who'd a thunk it ! Footy history is littered with 'em. Sometimes it's about playing a role & being in the right place at the right time. Mario Bortolotto from Carlton can write a thesis on the subject. Go your hardest on Dunn but give us something a bit more tangible.

Let's have a go. Ins : McDonald, Sylvia, Warnock (assuming Gumbleton & Hurley are up forward), Bail (reckon we need his run). Jurrah would be a chance as I'm not sure who Essendon would have to match up on him but I've left him at Casey for another week or two. Out : Grimes (inj), Cheney (susp or omitted), Spencer, Jetta. Bartram, who's form has tapered off, hangs on by the skin of his teeth as cover for Essendon's small forwards Davey, Melksham/Zaka etc. Jetta just doesn't do enough yet. Dunn to resume pinch-hitting in the ruck to relieve Jamar. B : Bartram, Frawley, Garland HB : Bruce, Warnock, Rivers C : Bail, Trengove, Green HF : Sylvia, Bate, Dunn F : Davey, Watts, Bennell FOLL : Jamar, Moloney, McDonald I/C : MacDonald, McKenzie, Scully, Jones

I believe Strauss and Grimes will be going rehab on their hamstring injuries together

Not a bad wishlist Jaded. I wouldn't mind a decent scalp in one of those wins. Maybe St Kilda or Hawthorn if they are getting busy towards the end of the year.