Je Roos Salem

B:McDonald, MacDonald, Anthony McDonald disguised as a runner HB: HUNGRY JACKS (Grimes, Watts, Viney) C: Fitzpatrick, FitzSpencer, ToobigonJones HF: Dawes, Windows, Dog Flaps F: Byrnes, Flares, Chars Fol: Gawn, Bate, Petterd Int: Wines, Beers, Spirits, Ciders EMG: Robbo's music and acting career,Etihad Stadium, Statue of Norm Smith

Friday nights are a bit overrated, I'd rather have more saturday afternoon matches than 7 friday nights like the Pies have. But 1-2 a year would be perfect. I agree that every club should have at least one friday night game, except Gold Coast and GWS because they aren't clubs with real supporters who care about the game and have a culture. And I'm really not fussed about who sees us on tv or not, unless the game's interstate and I can't go. Footy isn't about TV anyway, let those morons in suits play their games while some of us enjoy the footy. Footy isn't played to impress the public so if 30% of people press buttons on their TV's halfway through a game to watch a rerun or an infomerical then it's their problem or they just don't like footy that much.

B Grimes Frawley Garland HB Watts McDonald Davey C Sylvia Jones Trengove HF Howe Clark Rodan F Byrnes Dawes Pedersen Fol- Jamar, Viney, McKenzie Int- Barry, Mr.Pick 4, Blease, Sub: Tapscott Emg: Nicholson, Bail, MacDonald

Well done Neeld. This attitude with players is the highlight of his coaching career so far. We now have the right experience in all areas of the ground. Gysberts leaving was disappointing I must admit, but it didn't come out of the blue. When he was dropped after one game it became pretty clear. Martin would really struggle to get a game with all our ruckmen and KPP players we have now and has gone backwards since 2008. And how much longer did we want to have a crack at Morton? A lot of people wanted him gone after 2011 when he got the 2-year deal. Neeld's attitude is good, he's much less keen with underdeveloped "project players", an obsession Bailey had. These "skilled freaks" drafted in the first round who weigh 60kg but will suddenly wake up when they're 25 and be 90kg and the best thing on this planet and lead us to a premiership, according to fortune tellers. Well I don't think our draft decisions have been right of late, or our player development. I'm over obsessing over draft picks anyway. We'll have a great side to field in Round 1 and this is the biggest indication I've seen that we are serious about winning, so I'm happy about that

I really hate these conversations, because I think we need to accept that we are in a yearly competition where 18 teams start equally. 13 wins is my minimum. But i'll be expecting a premiership like I do every year

Jurrah and Rivers leaving have made me feel cut. I mean in one game this season I shouted from over the fence at Rivers and he gave me the thumbs up. And the way Jurrah has fallen apart and Port just want to pounce on what's left of him doesn't sit well with me

He can be erratic and soft in recent times..but we should play him each week, he knows the game and he's experienced and still quite quick. 19 games in 2 years hasn't been good for him and I saw enough last season to suggest he should be important for 1-3 years to come. Good experience and a face for the club and even though he's not the fan favourite he used to be i still rate him in our best few players

We HAVE to play him this year if he's fit. His debut, Round 9 2011 V STK- 27 possessions, 9 marks and 6 tackles. For an 18 year old rookie wearing number 50 that was fantastic. I remember seeing star potential in that opening game

Can't wait. For all you complaining, I usually have an easter dinner so this is perfect for me. 1:10 games at the G are great when it's nice and sunny. Would be gutted if it were twilight. I'm glad the AFL are kind to us with Round 1's, now it'll be 5 seasons in a row we've played home afternoon games at the G (hopefully our first win out of these). And best of all, we aren't playing Port in Darwin. I reckon we'll win by 9 points

I'm sure many fans are barbecuing their no.21 jumpers as we speak

Eureka!

I saw Petterd at the beach a week ago, so I hope he's not leaving

Wellingham would easily slot into our midfield, could easily be our 2nd best midfielder as long as he has the passion he had at Collingwood. However I can just picture Dawes being even worse than this year. I'd much rather see a young, fresh READY MADE pick 4 playing in 2012

In my opinion the game has gone downhill with the inclusion of the sub rule, there seem to be more injuries than ever and it's not right to have a player who plays 20 minutes a game and gets 2 or 3 possessions, it's never gonna help develop them. All 22 players who are selected should have equal rights to prove themselves, usually if a player plays well as sub they'll be picked again as sub, otherwise they'll be dropped. Bring 4 interchange back, perhaps with a rotation cap. That should be an option on this poll anyway

If we got Young i'd be very happy, I'd say if Hawthorn were 100% fit he'd more likely be an emergency with them. Moloney should go to Hawthorn because they seem to love Melbourne rejects (Cheney, Bruce, Paul Johnson)

I just find it cringeworthy when people get excited about picks every year and then say how good these players are gonna be, then bag them eventually and then they move on to the same game each year. I'm finding it hard to get as excited about high picks knowing the choices we've made in the past. I have very little interest in who we pick until they are actually picked, for now they are just no names. It'd be great to get Viney of course but there more than likely will be 2 other players who will go on to be champions far better than him

Oh so he looks better the second time around and the emotion of the game is out of it...I concur that we should keep him though, I saw enough in the Adelaide match in Round 22

He went from a ball winning machine in the first 2 rounds (and the preseason) to a defensive midfielder/forward to a sub and then to out of the team. I think Neeld definitely made a mistake in where he placed him. Should've freed him up a lot more

Pretty average year, I rarely saw flashes of brilliance from him and not many particularly good bits of play. Averaged a modest amount of possessions. Maybe a couple of good marks or tackles here and there, but nothing in terms of kicking and speed. Note to coaches: Don't set the bar so low for our key players

The AFL can't have it both ways, trying to attract more viewers on television by shifting games around and showing them live is never going to make attendances bigger. It's really sad that they care more about people watching on a glass box at home with mostly [censored] production rather than getting out of your house and seeing and feeling the atmosphere. The 1:45 and 3:15 starts are a pain (and obviously made for TV). No one wants to see their team play GWS or Gold Coast either. Finals prices are too high, plus there's always odd patches of seats empty, so I don't think they do the ticketing right

I'd take him back providing he worked hard. I liked him in 08 and i think his injury in 09 was a big part of why he left. We need a running half back and id rather use a pick on him than someone who is never in contention to get a game. I thought he was pretty good at collingwood, maybe his off-field incidents are a factor

I'd love to see Watts at CHF along Clark at FF next year. He is an ideal loose defender, or 3rd man up as his disposal and composure stands out, but I don't think we should play him on key forwards. We have Frawley, Garland, McDonald and Rivers for that (Well maybe not Rivers now)

It's a matter of getting what we can, some clubs (most perceived to be a big finals chance next year) are going to benefit greatly from FA, I mean these players still have to want to go to Melbourne and it's a matter of making our club and our culture appeal to them. Some people here have sat and complained about all these players won't fit and won't send the right message etc., it's not about that. Look at what Mitch Clark showed, and how he played. If David Rodan had that attitude and gave his heart out at Melbourne, I'd be happy, because he's shown to be a good player in the past, as has Shannon Byrnes

The way they talk about the players is cringe-worthy, like they're all equal. "Gysberts worked hard etc" "Gysberts was rewarded with a game in Round 19" Oh really? A promising high draft pick who's had 30 possessions in games, plays one game in a season, how about telling us what he did wrong to get dropped and why he is on the brink of leaving. I wouldn't say Frawley had a solid season either, seems to have gone a little backwards since his 2010 AA season

When a team doesn't perform well it's always "Too young" or "Too old". When the Eagles got the spoon 2 years ago I'm sure they were labelled old but now they're experienced. I think age is very over-analysed in footy. Our club's had a culture of ganging up on the oldies such as the names you mentioned, and the fact that some of these players are extremely talented has been overlooked because of a "youth policy". Sometimes I stare at the field and wish I was seeing a 2010 Cameron Bruce, or a 2010 James McDonald, or even a 2008 Adem Yze