No16

It is a bidding system to stop teams getting a potential top ten pick in the 40's (Hawkins) For instance if Melbourne say that they will use pick 50 for Viney and Richmond come along and say well if he was in the Draft we would use our first round pick if he was available then Melbourne can either use their first round pick (Or next pick after Richmond?) to secure Viney or Richmond is obligated to take Viney if he is available at their selection. Pretty sure thats how it works.

All have under 51 games experience?

The main reasoning is the extra minutes of ad breaks and channel 7's ability to run the game into the primetime news at 6. The only thing that will change this is if the game actually starts at 3 (similar to the debate of live Friday night footy... live games but games that start later so that both the AFL and broadcaster are appeased)

Martin was serviceable down forward by bringing the ball to ground for a contest but until he can start to actually mark some of the long bombs he will only remain serviceable at best. Seems to be able to take the contested marks down back but not up forward....

Spot on

This is all part of the MFC re-claiming the MCG. The ground is OUR home ground. Not Collingwoods (Eddie refering to it as Magpies Collingwood Ground), not Richmonds, not anyone elses... Whilst a bit over the top at the moment when we are not overly successful, I want any team that comes to OUR ground to know that they we have the home ground advantage.

Has not had a great start to the season on the back of a great season last year. Will surely bounce back soon as he is an integral member of the team

Grimes - Watts - Jurrah

6. Rivers 5. Jurrah 4. Moloney 3. Jamar 2. Gysberts 1. Jones

Maybe something to do with the TV rights/player payment options that most players/managers have been waiting to see the result of... May be close to closing deals which will give a clear indication of what capacities are available....

I was lucky to be offered the opposite. Greater job and opportunities in Melbourne or stay in Brisbane for less pay and less opportunities. No-brainer really....

Would love to actually see fev line up on a half back flank...

Fantastic seating there!

You make some valid points but points one and two generally appear because of point three. We were killed in the stoppages in the third quarter against the hawks and any back line will look slow when all 36 player on the field are in one half. On numerous occasions we did break through the press but as our forwards had pressed up as well we had no-one to kick to up forward... Kicking high and long to a big bodied forward can have its positives but also creates a reliance on one player (Fevola at Carlton, Reiwoldt at Richmond). When we win the ball in the middle, our forward structure is very very dangerous as it is highly mobile with players that can mark, crumb and create pressure. If we lose the clearances against the Lions on the weekend we will struggle to win the game. Black and Rich will be their key on-ballers...

With more than 6000 members to sign up from last year, what would be stopping them from signing up? I wonder how many members signed after the big win against Brisbane last year??

Previous membership record beaten!! 33,359th member signs

Saw a couple of the shirts around the ground yesterday!! Looking fantastic

Lewis Johnston would be a better example at Sydney.... High draft pick (Same year as Watts) that was not expected to step straight into their forward structure... Hasn't played a game yet due to injuries and form Tom Lynch at StKilda is similar as well...

Fill be a fantstic effort to hit 40,000. Need some early success to persuade the fence sitters....

What should one refer to it as?

Slowly managing his OP. Will be a tough first half of the year for him.

Fast in a straight line....

Watts's pace was evident in a couple of passages against the Swans where it was a pure sprint to the ball in open play. On many occasions he started well behind the Swan's player and either got there at the same time or just after and tackled.

For those that missed it or want to see it again...

6 Moloney 5 Trengove 4 Tapscott 3 Jamar 2 Bennell 1 Martin