The Backyard Charizard

If Essendon lose to the Crows on Friday night (should I say WHEN they do) it will mean that Michael Hurley is still eligable to win Rising Star next year..... Get on board that bet!!

One thing that I did notice in those comparisons, was how little games Newton has actually played.... I admit, I am not a fan of his.... But If all he needs is a decent run of games with a decent set of midfielders delivering the ball in, then give the kid a go next season! First half of the year.... Every game! THose numbers are quite shocking to me.... I cannot believe he has only played 2 more games that Jay Neagle?!?!?! And Juice's numbers are pretty good stacked up against those other guys.... Maybe he is still a diamond in the rough.... We will only know once we sort our gameplan, midfield and forward line out!!

It was the first 30 seconds of the match and Liam had just been rewarded with a free kick for a solid tackle.... The pass to Miller was amazing!! He threaded it between about 4-5 Saints defenders and hit Miller lace out on the [censored].... That was the moment the commentators started to get moist!!!

Memories..... Too many.... Thanks so much Matty.... Your service has given us many smiles.... Let's have one last look at an absolute cracker..... God, I love that footage!! And another..... Whelan smashes Luke Ball What a bloke!!

I try to hold my excitement for the bloke, but it's just impossible! While I was giving updates on todays game, I couldn't help but praise him! His efforts are unbelievable and at half time he was even with Hayes, Dal Santo and Montagna for contested possessions!! A bit of a break to go home and see his family and friends, throw a few hundred dees jumpers around central australia, a solid pre-season and a full season of forward line action..... OMG! Liam I thank you! I have not been this excited since, dare I say it, Allen Jakovich!!!

The 3 boys just interviewed on Channel 7..... Geez they love the jumper.... Well done boys!

And it's all over.... The picks are ours..... Congrats to Robbo, Whelan and Wheatley.... Emotional day for the boys

Morton is a magnet..... Dennis Cometti just commented on the picks Melbourne has in the draft and said "Geez, they will be a contender in 3 years time!" Hell yes we will Dennis.... Ox just asked Dennis if you would give up pick 2 for Sandilands?? The answer was yes.... I am not so sure...

Blowing out a little now.... 102 - 67 Rivers just outmarked by Kozzie... Rivers is an interesting one at the moment.... Do you throw his name around at the end of the season??? I am 50/50 on this....

Riewoldt kicks his 6th.... If he had've kicked like this in Rounds 20-21 then the Saints would be 22-0 for the year..... I like the way Frawley has played on him today though.... He can definately walk off with his head held high....

Wheatley just kicked a great goal.... Melbourne are really enjoying this game I reckon.... Signs are great.... IMHO this is a great way to finish the season.... Saying goodbye to mates and playing some good footy!!

Robbo kicks a goal..... He is enjoying it like he always does..... This is quite an emotional day for the club.... Losing some real gems!! Well done boys....

This match is just going through the motions now.... All eyes are on Riewoldt, who looks to be struggling with a right knee.... There is something wrong there.... no doubt.... Wheatley is bombing some long ones in from the goal square..... Enjoying his last few kick ins I reckon!!

Actually said if we had only won 3 this year, but it is the same as winning more than 4.... We are being fooled by the Melbourne coaching staff into thinking this side is the worst side in the competition! Melbourne are better than we are being shown!

Ox just made the most honest statement I have heard all year..... "If Melbourne had only won 3 matches this year, they would be in front!" Never a more honest word has been spoken..... This Melbourne side is a lot better than we are being made to believe!!

Robbo, Whelan and Wheatley..... Enjoy the last quarter..... Thanks for everything you have done for the Melbourne Football Club.....

Liam is having an amazing match!! Whenever he is up forward he makes things happen.... That is why he is spending time off the ground and time on the wing.... Liam is doing nothing wrong.... He would know this!

Credit must go to Lynden Dunn on his efforts so far today..... One of the hardest working blokes on the ground....

Jurrah just kicked his 4th.... Melbourne back within 15 points....

If this season is anything to go by, then we only need to win another 6 games to make the eight.... Essendon only won 10.... Bring in Maric, Wonna, Grimes, Watts, Green, Petterd and Bate..... Throw in Pick 1 and 2, and Pick 1 in the PSD..... You think about it!! I am pretty sure we will be pushing the eight....

Commentators have just made an interesting observation.... Whelan is now playing in the forward line... He has kicked 15 goals in his 149 games so far.... They said "Maybe Bailey is trying him up forward.... If it works, he may ask him to continue on next year!"

Jurrah playing off the wing for the start of this quarter...... Interesting.....

Frawley back on Reiwoldt.... Goal to the Saints.... Can't do much about delivery like that!!

2nd half starting now....

So half time it is.... Saints 7.5. 47 Dees 6.5. 41 A first qtr that would have pleased every Melbourne follower no end!! Some great signs for the future..... Jurrah nearly caused me to have to change my jocks! The bloke has something extremely special about him.... Has everyone talking about him..... The commentators (Bruce, Dennis and Ox) are saying how exciting this Melbourne side is and how well drilled they are.... They are saying that Dean Bailey is obviously the right man for the rebuilding job.... Jurrah has 8 posessions and 2 goals for the first half (basically the 1st qtr) and surprisingly he leads the contested posessions on the ground with 6, equal with Dal Santo, Hayes and Montagna!!!! Colin Sylvia has gone from strength to strength this season.... He has had a first half of pure class.... Running his backside off and getting to space.... With the damaging kick on him, he has been hurting the Saints.... 16 touches, 10 marks, 5 tackles and 1 goal.... He has 102 dreamteam points to half time (for those interested) Morton has 22 touches to half time.... 19 of them are uncontested, but he is definately controlling the rebound 50's.... His kicking has improved IMO... As I have said earlier, the backline has been working well.... Rivers on Kosi, Frawley on Reiwoldt, with run coming from Bennell, Whelan, Cheney and McKenzie... Dunn and Bartram are busting their arses on the ground.... But poor decision making under pressure lets them down.... And Dunn has also proven that he has no hope of stopping Reiwoldt All in all, I would say that we have shown in the first half that we are on the way to building a side who will win a lot more than 4 games next season!! The run out of the backline has been the most impressive thing for me.... It looks really good 90% of the time.... The other 10% it just looks like we are handballing into trouble (something we are all fairly familiar with over the past 3 seasons) And Jurrah is worth his weight in gold.... This guy will bring $hitloads of people through the gates after a pre-season.... If he is doing the stuff he is doing now when we are winning games, then look out!