Tim

One player not mentioned (I don’t think) would be the first picked for mine. Alistair Clarkson (position: captain coach). Don’t worry about the stats count, will do his best work on the bench.

Is that the same brand that beat WCE in Perth at the 2 previous outings, and got hold of Adelaide the last 2 times at Adelaide Oval? Tough and memorable wins all of them. No doubt WCE were just foxing....

Played well, building a body of work. The back line was a well-organised unit and he was a key part of that.

Congrats, Big Fella! Enjoy, and have a great one!

If that’s the case, why was it that our best wins over the previous 2 seasons were when Hogan was out injured?

Gawn Oliver Jones Petracca Fritsch Salem

Nail on head!

Agree, and they’re an interesting pair. As I posted in the Casey thread they have some nice attributes, incl. competitiveness, skills and speed (esp Bedford). Looking forward to watching their development, and they will bring some needed qualities if they can proof up at AFL level.

Thought Stretch was good. Liked Declan Keilty’s game, also. Both looked like they could handle a call up if needed. The 2 smalls were interesting - Chandler and Bedford. Perhaps a little slow to start, but both showed quite a bit as the game progressed. Kade’s got a competitive, hard-working approach to the game and Toby has pace and intensity. Works in progress, but I like their skills sets. Kade likes to fly at times, and will snag a ripper at some point if he’s allowed the license to fly from time to time. It was good to see Oskar Baker getting through the game after the soft tissue issues he’s been having. He was probably even showing a fraction more toe today - his hair stylist has given him a ‘do with less air resistance (and a slightly different colour?). Took me a while to realise who it was in the #56! KK worked into the game, and agree with Drunken that he looks not far off. Can’t wait to see him in the seniors. Wonder if it’s a question of match fitness and conditioning as to when he plays for MFC. (Although the lack of such didn’t seem to stop several getting games yesterday!?) Preuss was a mixed bag. Was quite good in the ruck, didn’t offer much around the ground and was not bad using his strength in clearances after ball ups - although I’m not sure how well he’d get away with that in the AFL. Amid calls to get him in to give assistance to Max, I’m not quite sure how well the twin towers strategy would work. James Jordon was effective in the backline, and took the kick-ins. A beautiful user of the ball.

Reckon it was Tim Mohr, fwiw.

The blond-haired one wearing #9? You’ve gotta be kidding!

Just listening to Jade Rawlings on SEN, and he mentioned the new recruits who’ll be stepping out for Casey on Sunday. If I heard correctly Tom Sparrow’s name wasn’t one of them, suggesting he’ll play against Port. Or Twig had a moment of forgetfulness...

Currently on now.

Fantastic report, BB. I have been a casual dropper-in at training, as I pass through that area from time to time, and see the odd 10-15 minutes. I couldn't get to Casey on Saturday, but your comments on 3 of the youngsters resonated with me in terms of the bits of training I've seen this pre-season. Toby Bedford and Kade Chandler have impressed me with their intensity and skills, as well as Toby showing some real toe. They are obviously very early in their development, and it's good to see them showing something in a game, even though Toby's was more cameo by your account. I can't get out of my mind the tackle he did on Gawn in a session before Christmas where he hung on with intensity, swinging like clothes on a clothesline on a windy day - I was worried that Gawny would cop an injury so intense was the prolonged tackle! Young Bradtke looks several pre-seasons away from having a body that can compete at the highest level, but I do like his skill level. Doesn't look like the lumbering tall type, and he moves well and executes neatly. Just shows how tricky it is with ruck types in being able to bring together physical presence with good footy attributes. Hell, Max Gawn's 27, a star of the game, and a 10 season veteran. And he still hasn't played 100 games!

Agree. Can't believe what some other posters are talking about here.

Isn’t it played on the Sunday of the October long weekend?

In ancient history, my grandad used to say that the importation of Percy Page and Checker Hughes from Richmond was the key element in setting up sustained success and 10 flags for Melbourne from the late 1930s till 1964. In the current era Jackson/Goodwin have been the most important imports we’ve brought in, together with Roos - “the recession-buster we had to have” to paraphrase Paul Keating. Goody looks as though he’s a star in the making as a coach ?, but we did need Roos to get our moribund club through ICU and out of being on life support. I know they’re not players, but they are likely to be the most important imports we’ve had for a long, long time.

He’s entitled to his opinion, and he may be proved right. Only time will tell, as the cliche goes. However, I have heard him describe the events of 19 September 1964, when he cried all the way back on the drive to Ballarat from seeing his Magpies pipped by the MFC in the Granny. Could be a clue.

If memory serves me...this incident was followed by Justin Murphy at the other end kicking the “sealer” goal, but signalled as a point. I was right behind his kick, and grumpily looked down at my Record as I watched it sail through with Murphy standing triumphant just in front of me, with the Carlton stands rockin’; I looked up to watch the centre bounce, and was shocked to see a kick out happening. It should have been a goal! Murphy’s (justified!) reaction was priceless, and almost as enjoyable as the overall win. I reckon it was the game where Jimmy Stynes’s monumental consecutive games record came to an end; a hand injury incurred on the day, as I recall. Boy, a busy and memorable afternoon!

Track watchers might say our form lines are starting to take a bit of an uptick atm, given the 2-0 shellacking Sri Lanka’s just handed out to the home team in the Test series in South Africa.

Coincidentally a double acronym: This is Melbourne (in English) Want a Flag (in Transylvanian). Obvious, really.

Apparently after 11 this morning, Zeph.

Thanks for the link, Andy. Good story!

Not necessarily. Unwarranted comment.

I dunno....186 has a certain ring about it for a Demon board.