Blistering

I think they need more than just inspiration to manage a win tomorrow night.

The situation this week is interesting. We have Trengove and Dunn available at Melbourne after Tribunal imposed holidays. Tom Scully must surely return to the side after a good first up hit out. Gawn is a must and Howe must be close. Five changes? Who goes out?

There's a time and a place for everything but I felt that it was wrong to open up with a spare man in defence. We have a lot of players who are introverted and I don't believe it was appropriate to thrust our youngsters into a situation that simply didn't suit their style of play. This is particularly so because they didn't have the benefit of some of their better players around them.

28 touches, significant contribution in the midfield and a major player in close to a 10 goal turnaround. Oh my!

No official injury list this week but if you read the match preview on afl.com.au you will notice the injury list and the confusion continues: Match Preview - West Coast v Melbourne Injury list Melbourne: Robert Campbell (achilles) - 5 weeks, Jordie McKenzie (groin) - 4 weeks, Tom Scully (knee) - 6 weeks

You missed the point. If a small forward line is the order of the day then you don't have to play a tall forward. Carlton beat the Gold Coast in the Suns' first game using small forwards to create the attacking moves. Good coaching by Dean Bailey IMO.

The full squad of 30 players leaves on Saturday for a 12-day tour of Europe culminating with the Anzac Day dawn service at Anzac Cove in Turkey. The team will be playing against a European Under 23 side in London. The 2010 AIS-AFL Academy Squad is as follows: Vic Country: Devon Smith (Geelong / Lara), Lachie Whitfield (Dandenong / Mt Martha), Matthew Buntine (Dandenong / Berwick), Jake Stringer (Bendigo / Eaglehawk), Jeremy Cameron (Nth Ballarat / Dartmoor), Todd Elton (Dandenong / Somerville) Vic Metro: Jonathan O’Rourke (Calder Cannons/ Gisborne), Rory Atkins (Calder Cannons/Maribyrnong Park), Will Hoskin-Elliot (Western Jets) Nick Vlastuin (Northern Knights/Eltham), Matthew Haynes (Northern Knights/Yarrambat), Adam Tomlinson (Oakleigh Chargers / Trinity), Liam McBean (Calder Cannons/Aberfeldie), Joe Daniher (Calder Cannons/Aberfeldie), Elliot Kavanagh (Western Jets / PEGS) NSW/ACT: Jacob Townsend (Leeton-Whitton) South Australia: Jack Viney (North Adelaide/PAC), Sam Mayes (North Adelaide/Port FC), Joshua Growden (WWT/Snowtown), Brodie Grundy (Sturt/Unley FC) Western Australia: Shannon Taylor (Claremont), Chris Yarran (Perth), Stephen Coniglio (Swan Districts / Upper Swan JFC), Jaeger O’Meara (Perth), Nathan Wilson (Peel Thunder) Tasmania: Jimmy Webster (Glenorchy) Northern Territory: Shaun Edwards (Saint Mary's) Queensland: Brian Coleman-Broome (Morningside FC), Alex Sexton (Springwood FC), Sam Michael (Redland) Since being selected into the AIS-AFL intake, Jack Viney has moved with his family back to Victoria. He is on the Oakleigh Chargers' list where he is shown as being 178cm 77kg. He will wear # 20 for that team this year.

According to melbournefc.com.au, Melbourne will have 13-listed players lining up for Casey in a VFL practice match this weekend – Casey Scorpions: round three teams. If that’s right, a few more than 5 will come out of the squad of 30 players.

So far we've been completely outcoached. Can Bailey do something to switch the team on?

It's all well and good for Bailey to praise Hawthorn for their great play but all that really does is mask the fact that we were pathetic and meek.

Seems to me that he can't hack it at Casey so now he's off to Narre Warren. Fast running out of options as far as I'm concerned.

While travelling to Adelaide, I once met the family of a Melbourne born player who had been drafted to play for the Crows. They spoke of what it cost the family to visit their son and brother during a footy season. This included travel, accommodation, time off work etc. Probably wouldn't matter when a player is earning top dollar but it still adds up and this family wasn't very happy about the situation.

Divisions in the ranks cost Saints The area known as St. Kilda was named after a schooner, "The Lady of St Kilda" which was moored off the beach (near where Luna Park is today) in 1841. It was shipwrecked at Tahiti after sailing from Sydney sometime shortly after 1843. How fitting?

Nathan Jones on Twitter: Great turn out @ Casey with the supporter group Xmas party & to see the boys train! Super sess, boys were up & about, I'm knackered!!

Already suggested - http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22747&st=40 Post # 79

It doesn't make a difference because you can't be taken as a mature age rookie in the national draft. Nobody was ever going to take him in the national draft.

Like nearly every other delisted player in this draft, Hansen would have found out the truth which is that not a single club would have touched him. At least now, with WCE paying out the bulk of his contract, he has an outside chance of being drafted.

According to the club's Twitter:- Appreciate reports from those going to what will be the first open session with the four new recruits.

Seems to me that everybody's playing ducks and drakes to put each other off. Should be an interesting draft night.

DARLING A BARGAIN OR BUST

At the moment, the poll says 36 members have cast their votes but the tally is 22 good and 11 bad. I don't get it. How did three people vote informal?

You call that easy? It was easier when we had first pick in 2008 & 2009!

Just out of interest, how many games of AFL footy did Howard and Grimley play last year?

No luck for you on that score. Gold Coast reserves and the GWS team are taking part in a new competition that will incorporate the Brisbane and Sydney reserves, NT Thunder and some of the stronger clubs from the Qld & Sydney comps. They might play in a north and south division.

Feel sorry for Damien Carroll (former Springvale and Casey player and brother of Demons' supp. list player John) who was just appointed coach of Box Hill Hawks. Many of the players delisted formed the backbone of the Box Hill team last year and now it look like he's going to have to rely heavily on Kyle Cheney and David Hale.