H_T

Preview by High Tower: - Melbourne take on league leaders St.Kilda at the Gold Coast this Saturday night, Round 10. St.Kilda 9-0 184% Melbourne 1-8 75% Every man and his dog would expect St.Kilda to take the 4 points this week. So too St.Kilda just 'quietly'. However this game takes on some significance despite top vs bottom. St.Kilda defeated Brisbane yesterday in a bruising encounter at Etihad in a good solid last quarter. It must be noted that Brisbane matched them at the base of the packs where St.Kilda pride themselves on. With Simon Black having one of his better games and the Brisbane Lions amassing a massive 85 tackles! I'd imagine there would be a few sore bodies down at Moorabbin. For a young group like Melbourne, it's good for them to get away and travel together with a sole focus of obtaining the four points. Melbourne desperate for a win, showed enough against West Coast at Subiaco for me to think they are a definite chance of toppling the league leaders in 'not so sunny' queensland on a heavy track, on the back of their perfomances against Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs. Having out scored the reigning Premiers 9 goals to Hawthorn's 6 in the second half can only do Melbourne's confidence good leading into Round 10. Some impressive performances by Colin Sylvia with 4 goals, Stefan Martin pinch hitting up forward and the positive return of Brad Green from a broken jaw, against a strong Hawthorn line-up are further good news for Melbourne supporters who are just waiting to dine out for a win. St.Kilda better be careful and on their game, because Melbourne are coming! Any good packages going for a trip to the Gold Coast? My Line-up including recommended change(s) for clash. My starting line -up for Round 10 v St.kilda: - Backs: Whelan Warnock Rivers H-Backs: Grimes Frawley Davey Centres: Morton Sylvia Moloney H-Fwds: Green Martin Bruce Fwds: Robertson Miller Maric Foll: Johnson McDonald Jones Int'change: Cheney Bate McLean Bennell Emerg: Jetta Jamar Petterd In: Cheney Out: Petterd Warnock to take Kosi, Frawley for Riewoldt. Bailey to keep adjusting the forward line to suit. Martin to ruck when required. Last time they met: - St Kilda defeated Melbourne Round 10, Etihad Stadium, Attendance: 27854 Sunday, 1st June 2008. Brownlow Votes: 3: L Ball, 2: N Dal Santo, 1: N Riewoldt Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final St Kilda Saints 5.4 10.6 12.12 19.15 129 Melbourne Demons 2.2 3.4 3.6 7.8 50 Better players for Melbourne: - McDonald, Bruce, Sylvia, McLean, Yze, Wheatley. *FootyWire AFL Stats. Timewarp: - Who could forget the disappointment as a Melbourne supporter when Melbourne took to the field in that horrid clash strip, which actually clashed with St.Kilda's strip. With Telstra Dome bathed in sunshine, as a spectator you needed to be a member/supporter to identify which team was which and even that was hard enough! Demonland (& Demonology) posters went berserk in the week that followed, with threads devoted to new designs for the following year - good work Demon4Life, Clint Bizkit & belzebub - your work hadn't gone unnoticed. What was also significant in that game between the two combatants, was not just the margin of which St.Kilda won by, but the significant loss to Melbourne in respect to Russell Robertson's achilles injury in the centre of the ground. It was a 'searching' kick from the backline by Brad Green to Robertson who was out numbered 3-1 in the centre circle of the Dome, who was forced to contest by using his leap. unbalanced in the air Robbo ruptured his achilles on the way down putting him out for the year. Significant enough in an already horrid run with injuries in the 2008 season and enough to ensure favouritism for the dreaded 'Wooden Spoon'. Conclusions/Predictions for this Saturday: St.Kilda by 4 points in a hard slog. Quote by St.Kilda coach Ross Lyon after the game, "Credit to Melbourne, they're a good side, they will trouble teams this year and a win, I'm sure, is just around the corner for them if they keep persisting."

Green seems the ever reliable kind on our list now....he's kicks from half back line or centre to up forward are that much more important to the side.....before the injury I guess supporters like me just took it for granted. Well done Greeny, welcome back to the fold.

I wouldn't say Petterd has played plenty of good footy. But that's my opinion. He's played 20 games now. Last night he was disappointing and went missing again. I hope he doesn't make a fool of you. Doesn't look like he'd fit in down back with the current line-up. He's a utility that can be used down back, or he can go forward and kick occassionally the odd checkside goal running in from 10 metres out. Agree.

Rubbish. Ridiculous. He is part of our best 22. Who would you replace him with anyway? Remarkable......and pathetic comment. Jaded. Miller has a problem with set shots for goal 35m+. He has consistently missed this season. He can rectify it, let's hope he turns it around asap. Sylvia on the other hand, kicks them. Set shot or on the run. Note: To be fair to you, he did miss one last night.

Spiritual leader on the ground last night. I agree. He hit hard. Probably was his best game too. Opening post is nonsense.

No, he's not making people around here look stupid. As much as I am a fan of his ability, previous to this season he has frustrated me too with the ever inconsistent good games/bad games, so too the many posters who think he should be 'elite' having been selected at No.3 in the 2003 draft. The bottom line he is what I call a footballer's footballer. One whom commands respect on the field when on song. He's finally fit right now, and Colin now, whilst fit is proving to be a very handy utility for Dean Bailey. I think you know who the current spuds are....Col is not a spud. How many years has Dunn, Newton played now? Some guys haven't even played a handful of good games yet. Before this season started, Davey was one of those in the frustrating category. Hasn't Bailey done wonders for some of the players belief and improvement. Don't you think? I think you mean "one good game doesn't make a great player." How true. Lucky for Col he's not a great player. Just because he was selected at pick 3, didn't guarantee he was going to be a great player either! Dappa, I suggest you look at the greater picture and see what Sylvia offers, then look at what each individual of the team offers at present and then weigh up who takes on more importance. Forget about how they arrived to the club and what pick they came at, or how long ago for that matter. Just out of interest, where do you see Ricky Petterd? Bingo!

Agree with Dappas post. Robbo's footy has been disappointing. Being unselfish is not good for the team and no longer part of team rules.

37 possessions, majority effective. 4 goals. Contested marks...Yeh his game wasn't bad. Among one of his better games. Like I've said before, I've never seen him this fit. I hope he can continue in this vein.

6.SYLVIA 5.GREEN 4.JOHNSON 3.BRUCE 2.RIVERS 1.McDONALD

Hopefully they can rectify the colours as Schwab had indicated along with a sharper looking V red yolk - like of old - for next production

Now I've heard it all. So Freak, if Ablett doesn't make your top 3 most skillful players in the AFL, where DO you rate Ablett?

That's going right out on a limb!

Ahhh yesss Bruuccceeee, that'sss sspecccciallllllll.......!!!! Bruce McAvaney Buddy Franklin

Hodge is out injured: - HAWTHORN Backs Brendan Whitecross Thomas Murphy Brent Guerra Half backs Beau Dowler Campbell Brown Grant Birchall Centreline Jordan Lewis Sam Mitchell Beau Muston Half forwards Mark Williams Lance Franklin Michael Osborne Forwards Cyril Rioli Jarryd Roughead Garry Moss Followers Simon Taylor Brad Sewell Chance Bateman Interchange (from) Robert Campbell Stuart Dew Ben McGlynn Jarryd Morton Brent Renouf Cameron Stokes Travis Tuck In Beau Muston Brent Renouf Cameron Stokes Out Nil New Beau Muston (Murray U18)

Thanks for the write up Sam. Would be nice to win this one.

I can relate to that. Try singing the theme song to him next time. He'll forget about Cheese/Go Dees and will focus on the colours "red&blue". Works for me. I've almost got two Bulldog nephews.....just waiting for a few wins now by the Dees, to really ram it home...they like winners. Next year. Don't you just hate that!....I reckon I got that 19 times last year... <_<

In a word, No. Happy with Cale. Despite Rioli's brilliance. Might want to re-visit this in 3-4 years time. They play diffrerent positions. TBH I'm happy to have Morton with the likes of Davey, Bennell at present, if we didn't have a Davey, Bennell, Jetta and/or Wonaeamirri, you might have got a different response, because of a need for a speedy small forward such as Rioli. Very happy with Grimes so far. So far haven't seen anything to suggest otherwise for Maric either.

jikajika, have you bugged the match selection committee room?... :D

Geddy, if she hates Hawthorn, take her Sunday night. Could be the start of something.

No Derek Kickett or Gilbert McAdam?

No, it's just not you. I thought the same. It's certainly the strongest I've seen this year. Squeezing Valenti out with the inclusion of some "guns", against last years Premiers is a clear sign to me. TBH I thought Valenti was first 'cab off the rank.' Looking at the greater picture, why not give everything against Hawthorn....the footy department & coaches will certainly learn a few things with match-ups, etc... because we will no doubt be crossing paths with the Hawks at the business end of the season, maybe not this season, but in the next few years.

To give you some idea, in terms of 'build' Flower was much like Cale Morton is today. Although not as tall. Very skillful player. The best footballer I've seen with a Melbourne jumper on, in my time. I used to love getting home from school as quick as I could to see the State Of Origin clashes with Flower playing for the mighty VICS alongside other great players of his era. I was proud that he was Captain. He was so evasive and elusive with the ball in hand, deceptively quick. Alot of people used to come to the footy just to watch him play. I know my dad did. A good mark. Took some pearlers in his time. I recall on an April Fools Day, in the 80's, dad told me Robbie was leaving Melbourne and going to play at St.Kilda. I was probably only 10yo at the time. I was shattered. I don't know what possessed him to tell me an untruth, perhaps it was him educating me of 'April Fools'. But once he saw my 'displeasure' and my 'reaction', he soon enough came clean on the matter. It's fair to say I've been paying him back every April Fools Day since! :angry: Flower's ability to play at the level he did during late 1987, at his age (including home&away + finals) was 'something extraordinary.' PS. There can never be enough R.Flower threads. edit: - He implemented the best blind-turn baulks you'd ever see.

You haven't succeeded?

It's not a 'final' decision CB. Hence the word 'might'. I'm not writing Valenti off.

Might not be a final decision Jarka. Maybe Interim decision. How tall is he? Maric is a much better kick than Valenti. We have Moloney, McLean & Jones to do the grunt work. Valenti was on the outer, he had to go back to Casey.