beelzebub

Id rather we took slow and steady .. dont want to suffer from Premature Congratulations !!

the idea is to be firing and competitive come round 22.. !! its a long season

Fox also neglected any mention of a 'stretchered' Juice.. must have been playing the Xbox at time ?? lol

anywhere from 7th to abouth 10th.. depends on injuries and how quickly a couple of likely lads come on. Will depend upon the usualy mathematics of other teams also. I dont expect fireworks this year. Do expect a far more competive team with a bit of genuine electricity at times. This will be a swansong year for a couple of stalwarts.. and hopefully a few will step up to the plate and grasp opportunity and run with it. Thee is no dount there will be adjustment to new players and new methods but I think we'll be genuinely competitive after a 'wearing' in period. A solid stepping stone for 2009 Defintely NOT bottom 4 !!

oh this is easy in no particular alphabetical order .. COLLINGWOOD COLLINGWOOD COLLINGWOOD COLLINGWOOD and lastly COLLINGWOOD oh....a close sixth CARLTON !!!!!!!!!!

thanks for the running commentary of last night. This in hindsight seems somewhat hilarious http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...2-23211,00.html given by all accounts here NB was havig a night out...the article says he had a quiet one !! lol.. I wonder if Fox actually went to game?? lol This game is only more power to the argument that the NAB challenge is a crock of sh!t !! Let those not in cup to their own devices I think. Have no doubt we'll see an avalanche of "Woe is Melbourne " posts around the traps. Hopefully Juice will be as right as rain in a few weeks. Cant wait to see all the '[censored] a hoop' Toigers sprouting the second coming !! lol At least the kids are getting a taste of things. Would be very VERY interested to hear reports from next couple of training sessions to hear what Bails has taken out of these games. Go Dees

I think you might be missing my point.. youre looking at the NAB gamees in some sort of isolation ( it seems to me ) My whole point is they arent ...they are just a few stepping stones in a process. It not about winnig any of these games per se...good if you do ..who cares if you dont... There is far more to play for in tems of giving experience and getting live feedback on particular setups. You arent ( if sane ) going to be trying ad hoc experimenting in the middle of the H & A...but these games are free canvasses. The NAB games ( for mine ) have no value what so ever other than what you can learn of your team ...and in that under certain constraints. Bailey I have no doubt wil start bringing back the regular crew in smallers numbers as opposed to all in. He'll trial some newbies and some 2nd stringers alongside but in various roles to see how the 'plan(s) " go. just my view..all welcome to disagree

Not based on one nab game at all.. I have been listening to Bails ( SEN and elsewhere ) reading his interviews etc. watching his efforts as a whole thing. Yes he takes it as seriously as Roos... footy that is.. NAB ?? I think he is rather more concerned with getting the team right and set for the real stuff not based on one game.... more on 4-5 months observation

Lots of players have been wonderful at various times over careers. Right now it all means jack sh!t !! its all about NOW !! Its all about what they can and will contribute to us going forward...not what they may or may not have done in teh past.. All slates wiped clean...thats the whole point...all positions on merit only..We will see some quite different line ups for the dees this year Im sure !!!

afaic.... both ought to be aware there are kids coming up...with eyes on their spots.. probably hungrier too !! There are no favours I think this year... everyone needs to pull weight...or I think Bails will have no hesitation in letting them accumulate time on the pine !! is going to be an interesting year Go Dees

as an addendum Think outside the square folks.. think...not only is it about what our lads can show per se.. its about what playing against partiuclar types of players and play will show. That is to say.. our selction may result as much from potential match ups etc as giving any particular newby or such a run. Analogy...live testing of a system under a non detrimental overlay.

I may be alone in this..but Dean Bailey must like playing games.. not silly games.. but puzzle games. His approach to the make up and positioning of the team reminds me of many similarities to playing "mastermind" You put this colour here..and there...see what the result is.. change it...substitute this for that..see result.. swap out..ad infinitum until the answer manifests itself. On diference is he's in no particular rush to arrive at answer.. ( tha would give away too much !! ) He's a shrewd lad is our Bails !! probably likes chess too The team ?? its all still experimental really

First thing Carroll should do against Blues ...sidele up next to Fev " Not good enough huh !! " Its a bit of a bet really for the Bluebaggers.. could come terribly unstuck for them if Judd turns to Dudd and is sitting on the sidelines. Id be dark though if I were Stevens. bet Nick isnt listening to any Eagles' songs right now!! there's a new kid......... lmao

tell you at the end of the season.... a bit pointless now ??

I do seem to remember some comment of his that he just wanted to knuckle down and be regular player with input, that he didnt want the captaincy. yeah right !! Well Carlton have bought their bed lets watch them lay in it ( or is that lie in it ? lol ) So many eggs...just one basket!! ommelette anyone ?

dang keyboard.. essentially..if Melb was to play and fall during the year..Id become as pessemistic as some are already. The first H & A hasnt even been played. Some are somewhat premature ajudicators !!

In all seriousness..and not trying to take anything away from anyone...those who feel a little 'all at sea' at moment regarding , to them , a disppointing showing; what were you actually expecting ?

Given enough time and efort I could be as pesimistic as soe display here buthtta might only happen upon observations and he reports of prro performances..i.e we are losing games hand over fist in teh H & A !! At the moment I see nothing to get particularly down about , if anything a few things to get marginally excited over. I dont hink Bails thinks its cause for alarm either. For mine he's going about this in a rather different manner to that which many can grasp. He is 'field testing " under live conditions. I dont hink he ever remotely thought about the NAB cup as a motive or prize per se...i.e all well and good if we did progress, no harm done if we dont. There is more to learn and take away from this series by trialling personel and tactics... Just not maybe al in one time and place..As Jaded alluded, why give the enemy any thing to study before the real games commence. A lot of hot and bother about nothing so far I would suggest

quite possibly...but then again youd think theyd have an idea by now !! The Geelong game wasnt so much about 'today" as it was about "tomorows"

I'll ask you this in return.... why wouldn't you blood some kids when it doesnt matter..i.e no H&A prem points., with the opportunity of class opposition ? Wasnt easing our seniors...it was giving the kids a run with little downside. Our first fair dinkum game is March the 23rd.. Plenty of time to get up to speed. Practice matches always are practice matches.. yesterday in a manner it was fair dinkum....just what the newbies needed.

I missed this aspect in this post but it certainly has a ring about it...Taken with some of Bail's post game comments you sort of get the idea we were trialling...this bloke...that bloke and a few others ..in this position that poosition or on that opponent . We were going to use this and that aspect of the newly learned game segments. Basically its a contol experiement...put it out there and se what happens... Look at results and file it away.. Most likely different aspect and player combinations will be used over the next few NAB ( other comp , whateveits called..lol ) games. I agree Jaded...and good pick up...he's a bit cleverer than to show all his cards

people may wish to have a read of.............. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/Default.aspx...mp;newsId=55353 Here Bails explains the day !!

Baileys methode championshipe was to get some kids off the bench and onto class players. To see what they did. A babtism of fire ?? well we're Demons are we not!! lol Some took to the challenge and others were left a little shell ( stadium) shocked . There were no premiership points on offer despite it being what some see as a 'important' NAB outing. It was a test run against reigning premiers..everyone learnt something...and no one was carted off !! We live to fight another day.. a little wiser..a little more experienced. Some genuine talent was simmering near the surface today. Its February.. worry only if we are floundering come Sep !!

nice to see a bit of perspective amongst the all too ready doom and gloomers Melbourne mightnt have been showing their true colours today but some here on deeland are!! its going to be very long season for some !!

This is hilarious...my god...talk about getting carried away. It was their first hit out . It was against a pretty potent Geelong on their kitty litter. Our team hardly resembled full strength...So what !! Its not important in the great schme of things. It gives Bailey a mark on the wall now. Some of you are going to need lots of valium to get through the season at this rate. Interesting we won the premiership quarter. Not much to hang a haton I know..but they didnt capitulate..they just got beaten. Ive got some terrible news for some folk..... we will probably lose some more games this year..its terrible isnt it. Better go burn the memberships now huh!! geez grow some backbone.. learn some perspective. The only real losers today are the namby pamby ones prepared to chuck it in now..and call for blood!! FFS !! Go Dees