hells bells

We couldn't be this lucky could we Backs: M.Whelan, N.Carroll, A.Yze Half backs: R.Petterd, R.Ferguson, D.Bell Centreline: M.Bate, J.McDonald, A.Davey Half forwards: B.Green, B.Miller, C.Bruce Forwards: C.Sylvia, D.Neitz, L.Dunn Followers: J.White, B.McLean, T.Johnstone I/C: P.Johnson, N.Jones, S.Godfrey, M.Warnock In: M.Whelan, R.Petterd, R.Ferguson, B.McLean Out: B.Moloney [groin], N.Brown, D.Ward, B.Holland Not a bad team IMO...

At the start of the season I thought he was in for a great year (had him in my Dream Team) but now I'm beginning to think maybe he doesn't have "IT" and isn't going to make the grade... If he was going to make it I would thought he would've walked into a Half Back Flank position this year, instead we've seen Brown, Ward and even Petterd stake solid claims for these spots. Considering the injuries and poor form we've had and the fact that he hasn't been able to consolidate a position in the team I'm not sure he's got what it takes. From all reports the game he played at Sandy after his ordinary in Sydney was poor also. I've seen him a few times at Sandy and I can’t decide if he's either lazy or just looks lackadaisical. Either way I’ve got a feeling he’s at the cross-roads. He’s got time on his side I suppose but I hope he doesn't go the way of the Steve Armstrong, Scott Thompson ilk. Something needs to change for him. Maybe he needs a change in role, maybe a run-with role in the midfield might be what he needs to get some confidence, something. Any opinions, anyone else share my concerns? Hells

Any word on Buckley or any of the others?

I think it would be fair to say that the protected species may have influenced the game today. Shattering result...

I count 11? B Biddlecombe Warnock Lamb HB C. Liddell Holland M. Newton C Hughes Ward Poyas HF Gallagher Crowe Buckley F Bizzell Sautner Ferguson R Neaves Summers Valenti Int McGettigan M. Johnston Bode Gribbin S. Martin T. Johnston Paterakis Neville

I reckon had they made those changes last week, i.e. young blokes compared to dead wood there would've been more than 16k there. At least it will be worth watching on Sat now. Hope C. Johnson pulls his finger out, has got a lot of talent but is lazy in my opinion. Good luck to Petterd and Garland... Rivers, TJ and Rivers are handy, Green, Jones and Whelan not so handy...

O'Keefe would have a field day, Bate looks so slow it looks like he's running through wet concrete. I'm sure he's lost a couple of yards of pace over the pre-season. I hope he comes good, last year I thought he looked like he was going to be a good player but imo he has gone backwards a long way.

This maybe stating the bleeding obvious but I beleive the major problems we've got at the moment are. 1. Horribly slow and predictable movement out of the backline from kick-ins. It's been ordinary for as long as I can remember and it is worse this year than previous years. We actually didn't look too bad after Geelong kicked a goal because the ball was in the middle, on the contrary once they kicked a point it was bottled up until they did kick a goal. 2. Complete refusal to go down the corridor. I almost reckon using the corridor is like a game of chicken, whoever blinks first uses the long way around the wings and then any turnover comes straight through the corridor at speed. At the moment we don't even want to play chicken. Surely when you've got a less skilled forward line, to give them the best chance of taking a mark you get the ball down there as fast as possible so that the opposition doesn't have time to drop back. Instead we've gone the unproven way of the tortoise, slow and steady WINS the race. (everyone knows the hare would've won if he didn't stop for a rest) 3. Rucks are majorly underperforming and getting smashed in the air. To make matters worse White isn't getting enough of it around the ground. It is a miracle we were ahead in the clearances. 4. Our... (cough) less skilled (kicking) players are taking the final kicks into the forward line, Ward, Godfrey, Miller etc... Whether this is because Johnstone, Davey, Bruce (sad to say is now leaning toward a less skilled pleyer), Green are out of form or other teams have worked out that you can let the first group take possession because there is a greater than 50% chance they'll turn it over is one for debate. 5. Other teams have worked out that Johnstone and Davey are the barometers of the side and that if they put a heavy tag on them, it's hard for us to get any run through the middle. Like others I think it's time to throw some of the youngsters in, see how they go, sink or swim. They can't do much worse than those on the list who are treading water (career wise). Give Pettard a go, give Newton a go, bring Dunn and Johnson back in. We're not going to move forward with Brown, Godfrey, etc. and if you're not going forward you're going backwards which is what is happening at the moment. Regards, Hells

If we start at noon... On Friday...

Thanks Finks...

Is today's game one of the designated away games which we can get into with our Melbournefc membership?

Lets hope every cloud has a silver lining. If we play a decent brand of footy not like the tripe that was dished up on friday night we could be 6 wins 1 loss with Brock coming back for the big match against the Eagles. Fingers Crossed... Just trying to remain posistive

Melbourne Team Backs: N.Carroll, B.Holland, M.Whelan Half backs: D.Ward, B.Miller, D.Bell Centreline: T.Johnstone, J.McDonald, M.Bate Half forwards: C.Bruce, R.Robertson, A.Yze Forwards: C.Johnson, D.Neitz, A.Davey Followers: J.White, B.Green, B.McLean I/C: M.Jamar, N.Jones, B.Moloney, C.Bartram

For what it's worth here's Mike's prediction for the Dees this year. http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/com...5E19742,00.html To be honest I have to agree with this statement. "James McDonald, like Neitz, gives all he has to offer week after week. He is an invaluable soldier, but coach Daniher would prefer him to finish fourth or fifth in the best-and-fairest, not be the runaway winner he was last year. McDonald polled 464 votes to finish 124 in front of Bruce. If Bruce, White, Johnstone, Green and Yze were to fight out the award, Melbourne probably wins the flag." Here's hoping for a great year. Hells

Try this one... http://www.melbournefc.com.au/Default.aspx...mp;newsId=39049 Have it on good authority that the bulldogs were going to pick him up one draft place after us at 54. Hope he does well, he looked like he had something in the Hawks game. Hells

I was watching the cricket over the last couple of days and thought that England bowled James Anderson looked quite a lot like Cameron Bruce...