hells bells

I was at this game and I have reflected on it a number of times in the past few years. Leading into this game Melbourne had a win-loss record of 13-7 and were well placed to make a charge deep into September. Geelong were on the improve after starting the year terribly and Thompson nearly getting the sack. The first half of the game we were killing them, but after half time we just stopped. We had a top 4 spot to play for but it didn't matter we disintegrated and in the end were lucky to come away with a draw. I don't know what happened during the game but I've since felt it was a turning point in the paths of both clubs. The trajectory of both teams went in completely opposite directions. Geelong went on to finish 10th behind who else but Richmond. I think we ended limping into the finals after being smashed by Adeliade in round 22, finishing 6th or 7th. We had a great comeback win against an injury depleted St Kilda in the first final then got smashed by Freo at Subiaco. We came into 2007 with most expecting a real tilt at the flag, we lost the first 9 games and the coach was sacked by round 13. We finished with 5 wins (one a gift from Carlton). Geelong won the flag by over 100points. 2008: Melbourne 3 wins and a wooden spoon, Geelong were runners up to Hawthorn 2009: Melbourne 4 wins and a wooden spoon, Geelong another premiership. If you had've told me after that game that Melbourne would win 12 games in the next 3 years and Geelong would contest the next 3 grand finals winning two I'd have called for the straight jacket and a padded cell. Funny how things turn out.

You think you're excited heartbeatsture... I've been living overseas for two years and haven't seen most of young guns in the flesh yet. I'm so pumped to see Trengove, Scully, McKenzie, Bennell, Watts, Grimes live. I also have to pick a number for my newborn son. He's a member already, isn't coming today (4 months old) but I hope to take him before the end of the year. Tossing up between 16, 31, 9 and 13. Have to admit I'm leaning towards 16. So excited, hope we have a good win. ;) ;) ;) ;)

I´m so damn proud of what is going on at our club at the moment. Long may it continue. Go the Demons!!

After the depression of recent losses in the pre-season not just in matches but moreso in players to injuries. I was wondering whether we'll ever see all these players in the one team this year. 4 Watts, Jack 6 Bate, Matthew 8 Frawley, James 9 Trengove, Jack 10 Morton, Cale 12 Sylvia, Colin 15 Petterd, Ricky 16 Grimes, Jack 18 Green, Brad 20 Garland, Colin 22 Moloney, Brent 24 Jurrah, Liam 27 Rivers, Jared 31 Scully, Tom 33 Wonaeamirri, Austin 36 Davey, Aaron Based on a spectacularly unsuccessful pre-season comp a few of these are out till mid year. After today another are out for at least 4 weeks. Wouldn't it be nice that for at least a few games, in the second half of the season, arguably our most talented players are all on the park at the same time. Fingers crossed.

I have to agree, i'm very suprised that he hasn't been earmarked for the fwd line. It is our obvious weakness. The backline is fairly settled, Warnock, Frawley, Rivers, i cant see the need for another tall defender. I expect Martin and Jamar will share the ruck duties, and i cant see Martin being a solution to our fwd line issues. I say throw Col fwd for at least a few matches and see what he can offer.

Have to admit I've been thinking about this for the past few weeks also. I think it's a logical place for him playing a similar role to Brad Johnson at the Bulldogs. The back line and midfield are going to be crowded. I could see him alternating with Davey, could make it a difficult match-up.

Has shown some serious potential at Williamstown over the year, couldn't crack it in the Bulldogs Seniors side. Only 20 next year I think. 185cm half forward who could pinch hit in the midfield, good skills, not lightening but moves a little like Lenny Hayes. Saw him as a junior and have followed him since being drafted by the bulldogs. Was in the best for Williamstown plenty of times and kicked a bag of 5 and 2-3 goals in several other games. Worth a look and should be able to get the good oil from Brad Gotch whether he is worth looking at.

You would suspect that he wouldn´t be in our sights. But agreed, he´s been a great player.

Blood pressure and heart rate reduce to a manageable level... Phew!

Does anyone know where the actual land they are talking about is? Where in Docklands?

You think it would be hard for them not to select Trengrove, it´s not very often you get the chance to take Picks 1 & 2, it would be a shame to get players rated by most experts as 1 and 5/6. Best available thanks.

IMO, he should have shown more by now, 4ish years in the system and can barely crack a game in the seniors and isn´t dominating the VFL. History books will be marked as Michael Newton No. 29 BIO 2007 mark of the year .. .. .. Not much else I think he´s got 1 more year on his contract. Needs to get his head read to work out his kicking for goal problem if he´s to be any chance. Would love to see him make it but I don´t hold great hopes for him.

Apart from Green, I wouldn't have thought these changes are that strange. I think it's only because of the quantity of changes, remember they are only squads and we've named 7 on the bench. Grimes - Back Issue, mentioned during the week Jamar - Likewise, thigh issue, mentioned during the week Mclean - Been struggling, people have been calling for him to be dropped for the past couple of months. Robbo - Had a shocker last week, many would have been outraged had he kept his spot. Green is the only one which is a suprise... As for the ins. Cheney - like for like for Grimes Johnson - like for like for Jamar Miller or Newton - like for like for Robbo Valenti - like for like for Mclean (been called for for weeks) Would expect Whelan, McKenzie or Bail will fight it out for the last spot with one of Newton or Miller also not to play (probably Miller). I don't know why everyone's assuming tanking, I think they are legitimate changes

Demons had a good win (please only one more for the year though) Webber won his first Grand Prix Now if the Aussies can collect the last 5 wickets just to top it off.

I agree completely with your point Hannabal, one important point you are missing is that another talented player on the list provides us with better trading options for the next 5 years. Who's to say we couldn't trade a Morabito or Trengrove in 3 years time to the Gold Coast for a couple of sub 10 picks... As has been said, the short term pain will be forgotten in 3 years time. We would be incredibly foolish to throw away this opportunity to stockpile some serious talent.

I felt all others on your list were still trying to crack into the side and haven't really proven that they'll be good or even solid AFL players. You'd have to say that Paul Wheatley for most of his career has been a good AFL footballer. Anyone that plays over 130 games is doing something right. It's just that he's on the otherside of the hill, being overtaken by younger better players. I think he's 28 so he could stay on the list for another couple of years but I doubt he will. But he'll have to go so they can give No. 31 to Scully, simple as that!!!

Couldn't agree more.

Wouldn't be particularly fussed if none of them were on the list next year... I also think Wheatley doesn't belong in this group. He may not be on the list next year, but it'll be for different reasons. If I had to pick 3 to stay on the list it would be Johnson, Dunn and probably Buckley. I'm still not convinced as to whether Dunn's an ordinary player or a reasonable player played out of position. Johnson, provides some level of back-up if everything else goes horribly pear shaped. Buckley's been stiff with injuries this year, but i've got the feeling other players (Grimes, Cheney and Bennell) may have surpassed him. I'd also like to see Vanenti get 4-6 games towards the end of the year to have another crack before stamping his papers. Hells

My question is, at the end of his career will he be rated as a better or worse player than Peter Walsh?

Two Sheds, Thanks for including my serious suggestion on the list of ´completely ridiculous´ posts listed above. I didn´t think it was so outrageous but you obviously disagreed. Time will tell how crazy it is or I am. Cheers, Hells

I´ve been thinking in the past few weeks about what we should do if we get picks 1 & 2. Everybody says we´ve got wealth of promising tall defenders at the moment and no decent forwards coming through so we need to get a gun forward. This on paper appears to be true. Rivers Garland Warnock Martin Frawley In a purely speculative sense you could add McNamara Bailey has already thrown Martin to the forward line to see what he could offer, which from all reports was a target but not much more. I think had Garland not been injured this year he would have been the obvious ¨defender¨ to be thrown forward. It´s a damn shame that he´s injured because it rids us of the opportunity to see whether he could be used effectively as a forward. But based on his ability, good kick, natural football smarts, good mark, quick he has all the attributes. From memory I think in his junior days he was a forward and has kicked bags of 8 in a seniors game in Tasmania. I also remember that when he first debuted it was unsuccessfully as a forward. But I´ve also read that he now sees himself as an AFL footballer and that when he began he thought he didn´t belong. Our midfield is one-paced at best, Mclean, Moloney, Jones, McDonald, Bartram, Bruce. Davey is the only quick midfielder and he´s been playing loose in defence. Blease is said to be quick and Strauss isn´t slow, but I still see the need for some more pace. That´s why I think that if we get picks 1 & 2 we should seriously consider throwing them at the two best, fastest, most skilled midfielders in the draft. Scully seems to be everyone´s pick 1 I don´t know who the next best is. If Garland was to be as effective as a forward as the promise he´s shown as a defender the forward line in a couple of years doesn´t look that bad. HF: Morton Garland Maric FF: Wonna Watts Jurrah With back up talls(ish), Miller, Green, Bate, Dunn?, Newton? and smalls(ish): Jetta, Davey, Petterd Obviously there´s a couple of huge IFS and a decent spread of the dreaded POTENTIAL in there, and if we end up with a Scully/Butcher combination or something similar I wont be complaining, but I think it is something worth contemplating.

9 is the obvious one... Wouldn´t be at all surprised if 1, 21 and 31 were available at the end of the year... Number 3 is another possibility, while i´d never question his application I´m not sure if Melbourne´s future has Clint in it. Scully running around in 31 and Butcher running around in 9 probably excite a few people. If Jurrah turns it on in the next month or so and displays freaky skills he could stake a claim to ¨inherit¨ No. 13.

1987 was the beginning of my love affair with the demons. I'm from a casual football family where nobody really had a team. My cousins followed Essendon and I remember going with them to the Night Grand Final and for some reason decided that the Demons were going to be my team. My interest continued to grow through the year... By the end of the semi final I was in love with Robbie Flower, and at the end of the Preliminary Final I was crying. I've been hooked ever since. Great article.

Beautifully written WJ. Hells

On the money GTB based on this article. Sounds promising... http://eastern-courier-messenger.whereiliv...n-son-of-a-gun/ B)