Doggo

Toughest week for selection this year. I never get the changes right, and again probably won't this week. But FWIW, my changes would be: IN: Robertson, Cheney, WATTS! OUT: Miller, Bell, McDonald (inj/rest) Miller has been poor the last 3 weeks (hasn't kicked a goal or laid a takcle in that time), and should be sent back to work on those aspects of his game at Casey, like Robbo last week. Robbo is the likely replacement, kicking 3.6 and taking 12 marks and improving his defensive game at Casey. Newton could be an outside chance to replace Miller ahead of Robbo, although that's highly unlikely. Cheney straight swap for Bell. Bell was solid last week, but Cheney has been knocking the the door off it's hinges for several weeks now and IMO was unlucky to be dropped in the first place. McDonalds knee hyperextension looked really nasty, and although he came back on against the Saints, he'll be really sore in that knee. Rested for mine. Jack Watts is the big (confirmed) in, can't wait to see him in the red & blue!

Hungry Jack's Whopper Debut Melbourne's No.1 draft pick Jack Watts kicks 5 as the Dee's bury the Pies. Or... Jacks of all Trades Melbourne young guns Jack Grimes and Jack Watts show that the future is bright down at Demonland.

As unfortunate as it is, you are right. It's a shame, because his work ethic makes him so endearing as a player and a leader at the club, yet his lack of ability and nous just take it all away. After winning the goalkicking last year and playing consistently, in a terrible side that couldn't kick goals, i'm sure most of us thought he had turned the corner and would become a dangerous forward this year as THE #1 go-to man. If anything, his form (and set shot kicking in particular) has regressed on 2008. Miller has 100+ games experience, being the most experienced key forward with the strongest body, as well as a known leader at the club, he no doubt would've set his personal goals for at least 40 goals this season. He has 11.13 from 10 matches so far this year, and has been kept goalless in 5 of those 10 games, including his last 3. He hasn't delievered, and at the rate he's going at, will be lucky to match his 26 goals from last year. Not sure if he'll get dropped this week (although if DB is true to his matra of 'picking players on form,' he should be), with Watts likely to be targeted by that dog Maxwell and others in front of a huge crowd, could be Miller's chance to take some of the heat off JW and bob up with a few goals.

Thanks for the write-up Dave, nice to see you back. Once again a very good, balanced preview. You're definitely the 1st (only) Pies supporter i know who's tipped Melbourne. Should be a good match and a fantastic day for footy! JACK WATTS!!!!!!!!!

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LMAO!

Good call Benny. Look forward to seeing Jack and having a few brews with yourself and the_russian (no not Jamar, the demonland poster ) on Monday!

Thats the problem with watching games on TV. You can never really tell who's playing on who because the camera angles are too close. Why can't they televise the game in a wider angle, instead of always close up's of the player in possession! I actually thought Moloney spent the majority on Hayes, with McLean on Ball?

Yeah good call. Those frees were just silly and unneccesary. I know it stabbed me in the heart, so you can only imagine what his teammates and coach were thinking. Can't question his effort or commitment though- just lacking that bit of polish and confidence in his own skills to really hurt the opposition. When he's up and about, he is capable of some exceptional passages of play (like the pass to Frawley), but he just needs to find that more consistently. Despite his turnovers and frees against, there were definitely some good signs as well. He wasn't "woeful, utterly woeful" as Jaded would have you believe, IMHO.

6. McLean 5. Green 4. Jamar 3. Grimes 2. Frawley 1. Sylvia Thought McLean was excellent today. His best game for the year IMO.

Jaded, your dislike of PJ is verging on Y_M 'Bruce-hate' proportions... IIRC, PJ setup Frawley's goal with a magnificent 50m+ pass from the far wing that cleared the traffic in the corridor and hit him on the [censored]. Was a pretty good hitup if u ask me. I'll admit his disposal wasn't crash hot today. But Jason Dunstall did make a good point during the call that we shouldn't be allowing PJ to be the distributor of the footy from the back half. Can't possibly blame PJ for making good position and winning the footy, so surely some of the onus must fall onto his teamates and the coaching staff? He's a ruckman. Yes he's quite agile and generally well skilled for a ruckman, but he's still a ruckman, and the times when he was playing loose in defence he definitely needed more support via a 'dish-off by hand' option. You wouldn't let Jamar take those kicks coming out of defensive 50 without providing a handball option, the same really should apply to PJ also.

Brad Miller - Can't kick goals...

Sounds like a great idea. As the article says, we've got 4 NT boys on our list, each being looked up to as heroes up north. A deal of this nature has a massive scope for the growth and development of our fan base. Especially considering AFL is the #1 sport in NT, yet they've no representation in the AFL. I'm all for it.

What an epic thread! I just read it for the first time from start to finish. Lots of good points brought up by both RR and 1858. After reading the entire thread, my brain is completely fried, so to keep it simple in response i'll say i agree with the majority of what 1858 has been saying, however RR does make some very strong and valid points. But really the whole debate seems to be just going around in circles. Think i may need to lie down now...

Robbo's brain-fade on the goal line was a disastrous mistake, but i fail to find any better forward options in better form at Casey, so he stays for now. But he must lift. I reckon Jamar will be close to selection after his BOG performance at Casey. I'm a self-confessed Jamar-basher, but i think against the Saints older ruckman in Gardiner and King, he'll be a handy inclusion playing 2nd ruck, allowing Stef Martin to play a full match deep in the forward line and not having to ruck (he's not a ruckman and his performances in the ruck thus far show this). So for me, just the one change: IN: Jamar OUT: Petterd

I'm with you, agree 100%. When he's ready, then lets play him. That said, a taste of AFL later this year wouldn't hurt, and would give him a good idea of what to expect come next year. IMO i don't see him being a regular player until 2011. But that's cool, he's got plenty of time, and will be well worth the wait once he's matured physically.

I went with McNamara. His form has been pretty good in recent weeks despite his limited pre-season, and being 2nd year, he is probably more likely to get a run than Watts or any other youngsters. In terms of physical development, his body looks to be coming along nicely, and his size, strong marking and versatility are aspects which could prove immediately useful at AFL level. I'd say Hughes would be next in line, with the rookie availability rule in place during the 2nd half of the year and with his spot on the list under scrutiny, with then Watts and Strauss next to make their debuts, although much later in the season (Round 18-22 tank matches). Although i'm extremely excited about seeing Watts in red and blue, i've no problem with the approach being taken by Bailey with regards to his development. Physically he's not ready, and with the huge expectations we've placed on his shoulders, i think it might be beneficial to leave him be until he really is ready to take the game on. That said, i do expect him to debut some time later this year, although to not become a regular in the side until at least next year or, more likely, the year after (2011).

Typical... If they don't wanna play us again because we're 'too good', says a lot about them then, doesn't it?? But if they're man enough to go around again, we'll be waiting! I don't remember seeing a review of the last forum game up on here or at demonology rollo, any way of posting one up, just for the few of us who played in it to relive the glory?!

Too true. All the best to him though, was a great servant to the club for many years, but his time was up...

He also had 3 clearances (more than Beamer and Junior) and 8 contested possies. Best big man on the ground IMO. As others have already said, a midfield with Mitchell, Sewell and Lewis was always going to make us look bad.

As good as he has been the last 3 weeks, in all honesty, probably not. But if he keeps improving at the rate he's going at right now, who knows? IMO you do need 2 ruckman at AFL level. Interestingly, since we've only been playing one, we seem to be running out games a lot better. Having the extra runner instead of a ruckman in the side has been beneficial to our rotations and allows the team to play an extra midfielder, and this has shown in recent weeks, with more run late in games. That said, a 2nd ruckman is vital for the longevity of said ruckman's career. If Johnson, or any of our other ruckman, had to play as lone ruck for 22 matches of each season, chances of them breaking down become massive. Ruck is one of the most physically demanding positions, and at least 5-10 mins respite for each quarter is crucial. Especially for someone like PJ who has had a lot of injuries in the past. Stefan plays that relief role ok at the moment, but he's no ruckman. Still i'd rather have Stef as the #2 over someone like Leigh Brown (Collingwood LOL). Of course there are exceptions to the rule- the elite ruckman in the league, Cox, Sandilands, Jolly, all play sole ruckman for their respective clubs. This allows them to rack up the huge hitouts numbers they do, and in Cox's case, huge disposal numbers too. White was a perfect example of a player who played better as a lone ruckman rather than as part of a ruck duo (in his peak anyway). Johnson seems like he is that way also, however his ruckwork and engine probably aren't strong enough at this stage to justify not selecting a 2nd ruckman when one is available. PJ's last 3 weeks have been sensational and showed a lot of doubters that he can cut it at AFL level. Averaging 21 disposals and 22 hitouts per game in the last 3 matches, against some pretty good opposition, is verging on elite numbers. But he needs help, and as soon as one of Jamar or Spencer are ready for selection, i'd imagine they'll come straight in. Jamar apparently got BOG for Casey, so he'll definitely come into consideration for the Saints clash.

Agree with that. They really did their homework and the three guys u named have been far and away our best all year, yet all 3 of them had probably their least influential games for the season.

The high highs and the low (loooooowwww) lows of Russell Robertson. In a nutshell.

6. Sylvia 5. Johnson 4. Green 3. Bruce 2. McLean 1. Martin