godees

Exactly Mick.

I saw some very good signs (watched on TV in syd so missed 1st quarter and half of 2nd - blood V8s supercars)

Dunn - very impressive. The way he played was so smart. Always seemed to keep his feet and held his own several times alone against multiple Freo players.

Miller

YZE - what a goal!

Davey

McDonald

Bate

Green

Bruce (9 tackles)

etc put in good efforts today.

We just lacked class - A grade players.

Carrol was poor IMO. Sylvia and Pickett needed the run but were ok. And we were very scrappy. Forwardline didn't function well. Too many lose Freo players on the counterattack etc

At least we are improving.

I agree 100%

Take the 2 best midfielders, forwards and defenders (McLean, Johnstone, Neitz, Robbo, Whelan, Rivers) out of any side and they will look crap. Plus moloney, Bartram, Bell and Jones.

I thought we at least fought hard today. And anyone who bags the players should get some perspective.

And WELCOME BACK YZE!

the game plan does not suit the players being picked.

That is exactly what has been frustrating me recently. I couldn't believe that he tried going with geelong in an open free-flowing game even though he didn't think we were good enough to do that. Then the media said he was almost apoligising for shutting the game down in the second half. You play to WIN, you don't play to look pretty! When we have a near full team on the park you can play to look pretty (and win) but with the team we have at the moment only an idiot would try a free-flowing game.

Plus he has been wasting Bruce who is just about our only in-form player --> Put him ON THE BALL and rest him at full forward. Not flanks, not wing (although this week I suspect he may play on Tarrant or Pav at CHB which is ok given we don't have a CHB this week - why did we drop both holland AND Ferg???)

He has to go.

If Sylvia is not injured and plays for Sandy, that is the last straw straw for ND as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks to the clearance of Whelan and Davey at the MRP, I'm feeling much more confident about this game.

My team:

Whelan Carroll Holland

Brown Rivers Bell

Johnstone Jones Moloney

Pickett Miller Green

Davey Neitz Robbo

White McDonald Bruce

Inter: Bate CJ Bartram Jamar

In - Rivers Brown Pickett

Out - McLean Ward Yze

Possibly Bizzell for Holland if no match up but I can't see ND dropping Holland.

This is what I want to see:

Davey played in and around the forward 50 for 75% of his game time, with some SHORT bursts further up the ground.

ND to put Bruce where he should be - ON THE BALL. No flanks. And rest him in the forward pocket (not the bench).

Bate played on the wings or flanks - he should not be in for the centre bounces.

If Holland has no match-up try him up forward.

I'll definately back you up about his defense. He is particularly lazy when the opposition has the ball, and rarely, if ever, puts enough into a chase. It has been annoying me for quite some time.

I think Holland, McLean etc and possibly Pickett might not be playing because it is such a short turn around (ie. Sunday to Friday) but I guess we will see on thursday when the team is named.

Can someone post Mike Sheahan's team

2002:

Pre-season Rd 1

St Kilda Saints (16.13 109)

Melbourne Demons (5.11 41)

Pre-season Rd 2

Brisbane Lions (12.8 80)

Melbourne Demons (10.11 71)

Pre-season Rd 3

Adelaide Crows (22.10 142)

Melbourne Demons (4.11 35)

Rd 1 Real season

Hawthorn Hawks (15.13 103)

Melbourne Demons (20.9 129)

Yep, pre-season results are indicative of where a team is at.

Losing tomorrow won't mean our season is ruined obviously, but surely you will concede that with nearly a full strength line up losing to a Richmond side missing the quality of players they are missing, would not be a good sign.

I'm not at all concerned about being thrashed by Adelaide because that side was nothing like the one that will line up in round 1, BUT the side we will be fielding tomorrow is. I expect us to win. And if we lose because of overuse of the handball, or any other reason, I will be worried.

If we lose by a fair bit tomorrow, I'll be on the war path.

If we don't win by at least 6 goals I will be on the war path

That leaves...

Davey

Johnstone

McLean

Bartram

Moloney

Petterd

Sylvia

Wheatley

White...either injured or rested.

Of the Hawks better players they are missing: Croad, Dixon, Jacobs, Osborne, Smith

I think we look better on paper (certainly more experienced) but I wouldn't be worried if we lose.

BTW, aren't we lucky to have such well behaved little angels at the Dees?!

I wouldn't be so sure...

Freak, how unlike you to look at everything negatively.

From a more positive perspective:

7 people in the rehab group is not too bad. According to Saintsational Stk has 18, yes 18!

And Hughes, Petterd and PJ (arguably) aren't best 22 anyway.

Also, who cares if we don't unearth another Bartram. As good as Bartram was, we shouldn't be relying on first year players to win us premierships.

For those of you who are happy foxtel is not getting the rights, spare a thought for those of us (including me) who live interstate - this will absolutely screw us over.

I'd be happy to pay for the chance to watch us live but it looks like for half the games next year I'm not even going to get the opportunity.