Vipercrunch

Done

They seem to entertain themselves more than listeners. The lack of news makes me think there is nothing going on.

1. Neitz 2. Wheatly (surprisingly), Rivers, Bruce. 3. Morton has the obvious potential. Very hopeful with Dunn, Bate, Jones and Brock. 4. Can only really comment on players from the late 80's therefore Jakovich, Stynes, Lyon and Schwarz (who unfortunately seems to be turning into a enourmous tool)

From Wikipedia Currently sits on 191 games played. As I said earlier, I can't help but think things may have been different over the last 5-10 years. Bishop played 150 games including a premiership..

Can anyone with a good memory for trades fill me in with the details of how and why these players left? They wanted to leave? We thought they were no good? I can't help but think how things over the last 5-10 years may have been very different if they were both in the Red and Blue.

Speculation and opinion is what football talk is all about.

Glad you filled in those blanks for us Woud love to see a Whelan special for Judd like he fixed up Hird in the final several years ago. For some reason it feels good to focus all my frustration over Melbournes season thus far on one bloke.

Give it to the money hungry merc.

Couldn't agree more Choko. He plays to his strengths, like all players should. Why should he try to deliver bone cruntching hip and shoulders when he can't? He seems to put his body on the line when required, but is a runner with good evasive skills that allow him to get the contested ball. He has been one of our better players this year despite his poor preseason preparation because of injury. The entire team is very low on confidence and seems to be second guessing themselves. Very interested to see if anyone can give examples of him being "soft"?

I remember walking away from the Richmond lose last year and predicting that Daniher had coached his last game for Melbourne. I walked away from the game on Saturday, this time predicting that maybe it was time for a mid-season retirement of one of Melbournes all time greats. The David Neitz I saw has lost the ability to compete. The mind seems willing, but his body no longer has the ability to take him where he needs to go. The amount of times I saw him attempt to get the ball, only for his body to leave him inches (sometimes feet) short, well it was sad. He has by far been my favourite player over the last 10 years. A true champion of Melbourne, but I can't see any point in him continiung. There will be no fairy tale finish to his career. We are too far from any real success to even dream that. Perhaps he still has a role to play off the field, especially if there is a problem between the coach and players as some are reporting, but on field, I think his time is up. The only drawback as far as I can see is who will take his spot as captain. As far as Full Forward goes, I would be happy to see Miller parked there for several games, or Newton if he can find the will to compete (if only we could put the competetive nature of Neitz into the body of Newton). But who should replace him as captain? The only names I could come up with were Cameron Bruce (I disagree with what many people around here are saying) or James MacDonald.

I wish our players had that sort of confidence.

Holland is my 5 year old son's favourite player and there is nothing I can do to change his mind. I cringe when people ask him and had to quickly retreat when he asked in a very loud voice at the quarter time huddle of the Zebra practice game at Casey "Why is Holland playing for the Zebras Daddy?" As for my choice, I would go for 6 (Bate) or 14 (Dunn). I still have high hopes for these two.

from injuryupdate.com.au Melbourne Demons Player Injury Onset Estimated Return Matthew Bate hamstring strain Pre-season Rnd 2 Jack Grimes groin injury Pre-season Rnd 8 Colin Sylvia Suspension Preseason games Rnd 2 Looks like only 3 players unavailable for Round 1 to me, with the possibilty of Neitz also. 1 serious Groin injury for a first year player. 1 with a one week suspension. 1 almost over a hammy. 5-10 men short? Wishful thinking on your behalf perhaps Schtacker?

B: Bell Carroll Bartram HB: Pettard Rivers Frawley C: Green McLean Dunn HF: Yze Miller Davey F: Robbo Neitz Newton R: White McDonald Jones IC: P Johnson Moloney Morton Bruce IMO.... - Miller to provide a solid target at CHF and take responsibilty for kicking it into the forward line himself. - Buckley not ready just yet (needs more poise). - Yze to surpise the football public by showing he still has much to offer. - P Johnston the pick of the bunch to play second fiddle to White currently. - Rivers, Bartram ready to play the full game. - Bruce to good to get match fit at Sandy - bring him in now. - Morton should be locked into play the first 3 rounds in the seniors. As a natural outside player, he will be fine.

I can't wait for Thursday night when the team list comes out. We only have 3 ruled out through injury or suspension, so I am very much looking forward to see who will be named in the side. Go Dees

... and some of you who have decided that PG is no good will find a way to [censored] and moan regardless.

My observations:- OPPOSITION:- The Roos will again be a good team for the simple reason that they put enourmous pressure on the oppisition and make them pay for turnovers. Top 6 again for them - no reason at all why they will drop too far from where they finished last year. BIGGEST PROBLEM:- The Demons disposal, especially by hand, needs improvement. I am all for moving the ball by hand and run as long as the execution of the handpass is up too scratch. Far too many handballs yesterday caused the players receiving to break stride or even change direction allowing the Roos players to apply immediate pressure. The were several Melbourne players in particular who panic when confronted by a opposition tackle and basically give the ball up. Unless the turnovers can be greatly reduced we must find a way to remain defensive through the midfield even while we are in posession. Once we lost possession yesterday, the rebound though the centre of the ground was like a training drill for the Roos. FORWARDLINE:- Our forward line seemed overcrowded. Maybe the ground is smalled than most AFL grounds. Maybe we took too long to get the ball there. Maybe the forwards weren't working for each other enough to make space. I don't know but down the other end, the Roos seem to have far more room and worked with each other to get away from their defenders. MILLER:- I would far prefer to see Miller to be leading out from half forward than chasing a man down back. He made a name for himself in that role and showed some very promising signs late last season playing CHF. THE ZEBRAS:- I stayed for the first half of the Zebra game and liked what I saw. Rivers seemd to go straight back to his best form, taking strong marks after zoning off his man within the first 10 minutes of the game. Hard to belive he was returning afte a long break from footy. Dunn looked super keen and I would have him in Rd1 ahead of several guys that played in the seniors yesterday. Holland moved very nicely and was dangerous. Wheels looked perhaps a little proppy but played well regardless. Number 36, (who I think was Zomer) played well up forward. I didn't know what number Bartam was so I cant't comment on him. SUMMARY:- I am actually not distressed about where the team is at. I look forward to seeing our best 22 on display at our home ground in a fortnights time. Perhaps the first half of the year will be a real slog, but as the players adapt to all the changes and improve on dealing with pressure, I expect a much stronger showing in the second half of the year.

I just head something very interesting and encourageing on SEN. Mark Doran was inteviewing a guy from the official stats keepers (can't rememeber their name) about a ladder based on stats from the last 3 years. If all players were uninjured and played to their past 3 year averages, Fremantle would be on top etc etc. When he got to Melbourne (which was surprisingly at 8th) he brought up the performance of Cale Morton on Friday night against Richmond. The stats people kept stats on all practice games, and had Morton down for 25 touches and one of the best on the ground. He played as an outside player and his disposal by foot was brilliant. Very encouraging.

Very curious to know what a "muff chain" is.....

Bottom 4 for me also unfortunately. The main reason for me is the new coach factor. Despite how good many people think/hope DB is, he will need to learn a lot, and the team will need to learn how to play under him. The example BBP gave about the Saints is a very good one.

This "future security" you speak of shouldn't even be part of the deal should it? Surely promises of off field employment for the player and family etc fall outside the rules and spirit of the salary cap? I know this sort of thing probably does happen, but is it against the rules? Can the AFL do anything about it? And if not, are we basically never going to be able to hold on to stars or lure them from other clubs if we can't compete in this area (assuming they are looking for "future security")? Money (that which falls inside the salary cap) should have been little factor given we pay very close to the cap (at least thats the last I heard). The facilites... - well thats what annoyed me - everyone knows our facilites are below par (currently) - don't use that as a deciding factor in the decision. PS - Nice to see the cranes in place and construction commencing on our new home.

The last two posts are fine, EXCEPT for the fact he played the MFC and its supporters for fools. He never had any intention of playing for us. We were used as either a PR stunt ("Oh, isn't he sweet! He's looking at going to the team he barracked for as a kid!"), to push up his price or to appease his family (rumours of promising a dying relative that he would join the Demons). Maybe all three. I hope his groin problems continues and that he never returns to the lofty heights he displayed at the Eagles. Moreover, I hope Carlton continue to suffer at the bottom of the ladder. Since the AFL are too spineless to act, it is left up to fate/karma/Footy God's to sort them out.

I just don't like how we were played. Judd NEVER had any intention of playing for us. NEVER. He used our training facilities as an excuse, something which everyone knows about. He didn't need to interview us to find that out that we trained at several locations and don't have the facilites of all other clubs. EVERYONE already knows that. He only spoke to us to satisfy his family. Period. I hope our players see him for what he is and give it to him when we meet him next year.

Some difficult descisions to make in the next couple of weeks:- PJ is listed as 'Test' in the injury lists. As it's a given he would have to play a few games with Sandy before even being considered, it is probably about 3 weeks away from being a issue. PJ for me though. Jamar has shown improvement, but I think the form PJ was showing in the games just before his injury were better than anything Jamar has shown. Very tight call though. Miller has now served his suspension and looks likely to have to earn his spot through Sandy. Assuming the backline holds up (with added pressure from Fergs and possibly Bizzell in the coming weeks) he will be fighting for a spot at CHF with Dunn, who has been somewhat of a revelation. I still think Miller is the better option though, but he must regain his form from 12 months ago (maybe longer). Dunn would be very stiff to miss, but hasn't really done all that much early on in games. When the fizz has gone out of the game after half time, he has been much more active. Come finals, the bigger bodied Miller would be much more useful. But, I actually think there is room for both. We have had sides with Neitz, Miller, Robbo and Holland before, so why not with Dunn instead of Holland? Miller further out and Dunn on the flanks. Finally, the small backmen. Who are our best three smalls down back? I maybe wrong, but I think Whelan is a given. With Brown and Wheatley set to return from injury it seems 6 players will be after 3 spots. This is a very hard choice, but I will have to settle with Wheels, Wheatley and CJ. The two W's are givens for mine (assuming Wheatley can hit his straps) and CJ becuase of pace, flexibilty to go forward and because his in my dreamteam.