drdrake

We will hit 30,000 before next Saturday, but we need some early form to push above 35,000 and some amazing form to even get close to 40,000 IMO we would need to win 4 out of our first 5 to give us any chance.

6 of those 13 are top 20 draft picks from 2007-2009, these 6 need to get their form up and claim a spot in our best 22. Grimes is the only player that is walk up starter if he gets through the game, Watts is the other that needs a good game to get a spot next week. The others are a few good games away.

It's not the MFC any media conference is usually covered by the AFL and any club related article on the AFL website also goes onto that clubs website. The media love to talk about Jack Watts every interview recently he is brought up. There are a number of players that will be considered for round 1 but we aren't going to commit to selecting them 9 days out. It wouldn't supprise me if Jack gets a run with Casey on Saturday night.

If you get a chance watch the interview with the two Jacks. I dare to say if Jack Grimes didn't have the injury issues he would be our soie captian, he is a very impressive young man. Our players shouldn't need a reason to lift their performance it has to be a none negotiable that the club has been talking about.

Agree with this, the lack of development that has come from our early picks is unacceptable. We haven't been able to keep most fit and playing or the ones that have played haven't showed enough to warrent there draft pick. Trengove is the exception but he still hasn't torn a game apart like Dustin Martin. I posted before only Grimes and Trengove are automatic selections for round 1 if fit, considering we had 9 first round picks since 2007 draft that is a poor reflection on the development of these players.

With the AFL season 1 week away and Casey playing Saturday Night, it will be interesting who gets a run with Casey. We could see the four Jacks, Grimes, Trengove, Viney and Watts. Watts if fit needs the run, he needs to play 2 weeks off isn't ideal lead in. Others pressing for round 1 selection McKenzie, Strauss, Blease need a run. With some luck we will be able to see all our early picks from 2007-2010 plus our 2012 pick. It will be great to see Morton, Grimes, Watts, Blease, Strauss, Trengove, Gysberts, Tapscott, Cook plus Viney play in the same team.

I like Moloney but he has to start playing well against the good teams, and with out Jamar feeding him the ball. He has the ability to make the top 50 but doesn't deserve to be in it at this time.

Mike has it right, Frawley at 48 our only player in the top 50 at the moment is spot on. Our club is the great unknown at the moment, you look at our list and get excited then you watch them put in a performance like last week and you start thinking more of the same. We have players that by seasons end could find their way into the top 50, Clark, Jamar, Grimes, Trengove, Sylvia , Moloney but they have to start performing at there best on a consistant basis

I think we will line up as per below, I have gone for the most defensive back 6, we need to lock down and stop teams scoring against us, the midfield picks itself and the forward line we have the speed on I would like to see both Davey and Blease in our starting forward 6 but I have a feeling either Petterd or McDonald will start with Davey on the bench. Bartram Frawley Sellar Garland Rivers MacDonald Trengove McKenzie Sylvia Blease Martin Howe Davey Clark Green Jamar Moloney Jones Petterd Couch Bate McDonald

I remember walking away from the B&F night when Bailey was first appointed thinking this guy will be great has the hard edge and if I was a player he was going to get the best out of me. 4 years on Mark Neeld is making the right noises but our playing group needs to respond to him.

Because Watts is in the mix for round one Fitzpatrick is a back up ruckman that hopefully we don't see at AFL level this year, he has a rest then resumes his VFL preparation, hopefully Watts is on fire and gets on track for round 1

I saw a post last week listing the players that we have selected with our early picks over the past 5 drafts that are not playing for Melbourne you add Watts to the list of Morton, Grimes, Maric, Strauss, Scully, Tapscott, Gysberts, Cook, the only two playing Friday are Blease and Trengove. From 11 picks 2 have left the club, Grimes, Strauss, Morton, Tapscott and Gysberts have injury issues Watts is struggling and Cook is a mile away from playing AFL. The nine that remain onour list only 2 would be considered automatic selects when fit Grimes and Trengove. Over improvement as a club has to come mainly from these players. Watts is in the gun now, wait till the media realize that is is only one piece of our under performing first round picks.

Our players should enrol in the second semester by the time this starts our year is usually over. Some could say our players have had a 4 year gap from playing football

His form has been poor but we also need to look at different forward set ups. We have played with three talls for the past three weeks, we might look at having both Davey and Blease for a bit more speed and pressure in our forward half. We also have Petterd, Green, Howe, Dunn, Sylvia playing. Jack is going have to earn his spot which is great.

We have stalled, we have no chance for 40,000 and will be lucky to pass 35,000

I have been on the optimistic wagon but I jumped off, not pessimistic just yet but concerned.

What has happened will play out over the next 4 months, you can see from the terms of Bail the judge wants Liam out of Alice Springs, this is for his own safety. The clubs role now is to support Liam and protect him whether he plays footy or not. Football is a game, what is going on is bigger than any game and fortunately for most people we will never be exposed to the conflict that is effected Liam.

With the new format the AFL can charge at every round, the old system once you get knocked out Members go for free. I wonder if next week will be free for Members if your team doesn't make the Grand Final

You might find with Gysberts and Blease they want to get a full game into them at Casey where they may of had limited time with Melbourne. Blease especially he seems to be in direct competition with Aaron Davey for the small forward roll, Aaron hasn't played a full game yet but has shown some positive signs in the two halves he has played hopefully he gets a full game and hits the scoreboard

I don't think we will be to concerened with midfield match ups, you want to focus on your own set ups the big one is how plays on Buddy and I think Frawley will start on him if he lines up deep forward with Sellar picking up Hail. I would like to see Bartram on Cyril when he goes forward. It is starting to bring our best 22 together preparing them for round 1 but also being mindful of the game time each have had. That is why I'm suggesting the half time changes the first four have played in all the games so far and McKenzie has had a limited pre-season. Green IMO is the only certain round 1 starter that won't be playing this week. On the Game style yes it will benefit we adding better players around the footy in Moloney, Trengove and McKenzie the first two are very clean by foot and the addition defensive player in Bartram that might allow Bennell to be more attacking of Half Back.

This is going to be a cracker of a match, both teams will field pretty close to full strength teams. Are the interchange and changes are half time the same for this round? I think we will line up Bartram Frawley Garland Bennell Sellar Davis Trengove Jones Bate Sylvia Watts Howe Martin Clark Davey Jamar Moloney Magner McKenzie Bail Sub Rivers Couch Half Time changes Out Watts Martin Jones Frawley McKenzie In Fitzpatrick McDonald Nicholson Tynan Dunn

Have you watched the games live at the venue? This comment couldn't be more wrong, Jack's work of the ball and his ability to contest has been very good. Last week he didn't take many marks but he wasn't beaten in the air and always brought the ball to ground. Our plan last week was kicking long to a contest and he contested and did the team things when out of position like spoiling and blocking.

Billy, I think you have a point, I have a little twist on it. I don't think it has come from Neeld, but what I do think it is assisting Neeld. Neeld may have mentioned to Mick, this boy Jack is one of the most talented footballers I've seen, Mick watches a couple of games and to assist Mark to fire this bloke up starts to get in to him. It is not hard to agree with Mick that Jack has to show more intensity. His best string of games came after the media went him, then him being the sub against Gold Coast, then we had 8-10 games starting with West Coast which in my opiniion is the best Jack has played for the club. I guarentee you one think Jack will be having a red hot crack this week, he will leave nothing in the tank, I hope he gets a bit of luck and rewarded for his efforts.

If Col is in our top three we make the finals. My reasoning for this is Col will mainly play that high HFF midfielder role it is more like the old centres role working between the 50m arcs. If he is getting enough footy to be third in our B&F that means our forwards will be getting more high quality supply.

A 28yo Colin Sylvia, closely followed by Mitch Clark, Jack Watts, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes and add the Collingwood gun midfielder that is out of contact this year