godees

Pretty sure sylvia played for Sandy and i read somewhere that rivers said at an after match function he will play this week. Yze and CJ must be big chances also after a few good weeks at sandy.

Possible outs: Frawley, Valenti, Bell?, Bartram?...

That should be enough to bring Yze back next week. Maybe even CJ too. Did whelan play?

"one of the worst teams in the last decade"

It is absolutely true that the performances of the team in the first 6 rounds were that of one of the worst teams in the last decade. I have no issue with what he said

Miller's best game ever by far.

The boy loves playing freo that is for sure.

May bag the rising star nom this week.

Why is there a tendency on this board to want to trade a player (like Petterd) "for a handy pick" after spending 2-3 years developing them?

It's ridiculous. There's is not much that annoys me more than reading, "..... did well today. We could probably get a top 20 pick for him if he keeps it up"

Thankfully, I don't think the club thinks like that.

As someone has already said, the good thing about Frawley is he has the attributes. I think his kicking is nowhere near as bad as some make it out to be. I like him with the ball in his hands. Has some dash and backs himself. He is seriously fast and something I noticed last year was he was often right with his man on the lead he just struggled to get the spoil in - which is something relatively easy to teach with good coaching, and he did a few very good ones on the weekend. I was quite impressed with him on the weekend.

He also looks to have bulked up over summer (as would be expected for a 2nd year player).

He will be at least a good player for us. I wouldn't go talking Scarlett, but he'll be ok.

Well said

MELBOURNE v CARLTON

Sunday, 1:10pm AEST, MCG

MELBOURNE

B: Whelan, Carroll, Bell

HB: Wheatley, Rivers, Bruce

C: Green, McLean, Bartram

HF: Morton, Robertson, Sylvia

F: Davey, Neitz, Wonaeamirri

FOLL: White, McDonald, Jones

I/C from: Jamar, Johnson, Dunn, Frawley, Moloney, Garland, Warnock

IN: Frawley, Garland, Moloney, Warnock

OUT: Miller (suspended)

CARLTON

B: Jamison, Thornton, Russell

HB: Scotland, Waite, Bower

C: Carrazzo, Murphy, Gibbs

HF: Simpson, Fisher, Stevens

F: Betts, Fevola, Cloke

FOLL: Kreuzer, Hadley, Judd

I/C from: O'hAilpin, Pfeiffer, Bentick, Hartlett, Bannister, Armfield, Grigg

IN: Armfield, Bentick, Hartlett

OUT: -

NEW: Dennis Armfield, Selection No.46 in 2007 NAB AFL Draft, from Swan Districts

Wheatley is not accountable enough and has been effective as the loose man. Bruce is more likely to take Jones.

They would take Bruce to the goalsquare though and I don't think that would suit us. I'd rather Rivers on him if he's in the goalsqaure and Bruce further up the ground.

Possible match ups

Wheatley on Jones

Carrol on Thompson

Bell on Edwards

Rivers floating or on Petrie if Forward or Jones if Wheatley doesn't work

Jmac, Bruce or Bartram on Harvey

Miller at CHF

Roos

Ins - Ross, Smith, Lower

Outs - Hale (inj), Harding, Swallow

Hale out cancels PJ somewhat. Who will be their second ruck?

Cj may be lucky, but I'm ok with Bails giving him an extended run to see if he's got anything to offer. I'd love him to step and show something.

I agree.

Robbo on last chance

MELBOURNE

B: Matthew Whelan, Nathan Carroll, Jared Rivers

HB: Paul Wheatley, Brad Miller, Daniel Bell

C: Brad Green, Brock McLean, Clint Bartram

HF: Cameron Bruce, Russell Robertson, Colin Sylvia

F: Aaron Davey, David Neitz, Austin Wonaeamirri

Foll: Jeff White, James McDonald, Nathan Jones

I/C: Mark Jamar, Chris Johnson, Lynden Dunn, Cale Morton

EMG: Brent Moloney, Colin Garland, James Frawley

In: Whelan, Jamar

Out: Paul Johnson (hand), Colin Garland (omitted)

Ecstatic to see Whelan back. Has been a long time fav of mine and I'm looking forward to seeing him prove the doubters wrong. There is plenty left in him. It is such a relief to see the names RIVERS and WHELAN in the backline together. Would have liked to see moloney in for CJ but other than that, pretty happy.

I'm very confident this week. Can't wait!

I cannot believe Garland is in the team after last week. The only explanation is that we are already tanking but that is ridiculous. What is the point of playing someone who so out of his depth? I'm not big on bagging our players but I have never seen a fringe player play such an atrocious game and get picked again the following week. Garland isn't even our best youngster in his position (frawley). Just staggering. I'd be very interested to know how they justify this, as well as dropping Moloney and Buckley (who I can kind of understand but certainly don't support his omission). I simply don't understand what the coaching staff are trying to do. Incredibly frustrating.

Davey injured looks bad. knee

There is no point putting them in when they are nowhere near ready. It won't help him at all, just trash his confidence.

Bulldogs finally putting it together like a good afl side.

51 points *shakes head*

My main point is he shouldn't be playing. I have seen him play better but most of his work today has been ugly.

Neita finally goals and didn't we need it.

Disposal is equal to the umpiring. We are not being rewarded for our tackling and pressure, so many missed throws and holding the ball - and it has been very costly with many frees/missed frees resulting in dogs goals. Confidence is a big issue.

Garland = liability. I won't say never, but definately not now.

Better pressure than last week but similar problems when we have the ball. Bulldogs aren't very impressive except murphy who is, as usual against us, having a good one.

Cannot believe Moloney was dropped. What is the match committee on? (I can only hope this is some attempt to manage his OP by not pushing him too hard too early)

Rivers not in - are we tanking already...

How can you defend the players after their "effort" today? I wouldn't hesitate to tell them to their face what I think of them and they would take it because its the truth.

Bate, Rivers, Bartram, Dunn, Sylvia, Whelan - still got a fair few out.

Absolutely yes. He has played 2 games for Sandy which although a limited preparation is enough to justify him playing about 60% game time. He should be able to handle 60% game time, given his 2 previous practice matches, without over-doing it. And Rivers playing 60% game time is far far more valuable to the team than whoever would replace him if he didn't play (eg. Morton, Frawley, Buckley, etc).

I think both McDonald and White will go around again next year. Why should mcdonald retire? He's just come off back to back B&Fs!

And there is no way Wheatley will be delisted.

Kangas are missing only Jesse smith and sinclair from best lineup and are treating this as a warm up for round one. We wouldn't want to lose but a loss by under 2 goals wouldn't be tooo worrying