Je Roos Salem

Everyone needs to stop saying all this crap about "developing young kids", "not good for the playing group", Just face that we would be better off with Fevola at full forward than not. He is a champion full forward, he'd kick goals for us and he'd win games for us. At a footy club that is the most important thing. Yeah he's a character, yeah he's been in trouble many times but he's a man who can kick goals and we can build a forward line around. That's our missing piece as far as I'm concerned, I was upset when we didn't get Hale (although obviously Fev is way better than Hale). For Brisbane he played some great games even with Brown next to him,he was lazy sometimes but I think he was hard done by by giving the sack and he has a couple of good seasons left in him so i think we should at least give him a go at Casey and see what eventuates from that. Think about the Bulldogs and Barry Hall.

I think Michael Voss would be better off coaching a team of cardboard bins, i mean, imagine the stress-free lifestyle! Bins aren't going to have a bad impact on each other or spend several nights drinking

Reserves? Gee then that says a lot about Jobe Watson

by the way, was the 'Demos' done on purpose or is it a typo. If not a typo, I commend you on that, funny.

serious? YESSSS! Now I can see them! Can't wait. Time to pummell the Lions by 100!

I agree about Martin, won't make it. Showed plenty of signs in 08-09 but just doesn't really fit into our future. We certainly don't need him in defence, Jamar is WAY more efficient in the ruck. His best chance is probably in the forward line. Not sure about Spencer, I noticed in our last game he was much more bulked up than I'm used to. (this year hes listed as 105kg!) I'm hoping Strauss will become a good half back player

I'm not sure about this call, Jones can certainly be used as a tagger much more effectively than Moloney and Moloney is an in and under ball winner. So they are different in that sense. What I'm more worried about is where potential midfielders like Bennell, Morton, Tapscott, Gsyberts, Strauss, Blease, Bail, Evans etc. and where they will fit in. I really do think a midfield of Moloney, Jones, Sylvia, Scully, Trengove and perhaps Davey is good enough

1. Jack Watts has a long way to go before consistently performing well. 2. Matthew Warnock shouldn't be in the side 3. Maric to be the most improved player of 2011

I think all the 4 players do have a relevant link- they all pick up plenty of the ball but at times had their efficiency questioned. I remember last year against the Roos, MacDonald had 30 disposals but used them so attrociously he didnt stay in the team

I kept a close eye on kickouts at Etihad on Thursday too. Garland isn't a very good kick or decision maker, as is Warnock, and that proved costly (and to add to that, the Essendon cheersquad were doing annoying chanting when we were about to kick it in, I was sitting right near them). Green took one at one stage, IMO opinion Green is the best kick on our team. Davey used to be but his unique kicking style and ball drop can sometimes cause the ball to go far too low and skid along the ground. I remember in our intra club game, Strauss implemented the torpedo, that could certainly be good use, maybe we should just give strauss a place in our team as a designated torpedo man?

And to add to that, when I think of an ideal melbourne defence, I picture them lined up like this: HB- Bartram Rivers Grimes FB- Garland Frawley MacDonald

I see Garland as our third key defender, meaning he is less a key defender than Frawley and Rivers. Garland can certainly be used more as a half back while the other two could not. Joel MacDonald is similiar, although a bit less of a key defender and more of a half back. Warnock is the most typical key defender in our side, he is a fantastic spoiler and leaves a physical presence but the modern game isn't kind to him as these days key defenders are recruited for their ability to run the ball out of defence and pick up disposals in their backline and be patient to break through the zone.

Nup, sorry it wouldn't work. Watts is far too slim to be a key defender although playing Watts across half back may be an option since he has good running capability and is able to pick up possession. Frawley, however, he's built to be a key defender, strong, quick on his feet, excellent at spoiling and has already shown has capibility against Brown. And I see no link between Tarrant and Watts, and since when has Tarrant been an excellent defender? I'm not 100% sure but as far as I know, Frawley wouldn't be a very good set shot on goal. Nor would Garland, those two are much better kicks on the run. I think Garland, Frawley and Rivers should be kept in defence (and Warnock kept out of the team) and we will be fine

Oh thats a shame! I was hoping they would play at Visy Park again so I'd able to watch them. I think we should rest quite a few players like Green, Jamar, Moloney, RIvers and play Gawn, Nicholson, Johnston, Lawrence and others

If you think that they clash you must have a problem. For years we've played Essendon without having to worry about clash strips. WE WORE WHITE SHORTS AS WELL. And we weren't able to wear our white one cos it still wasn't fixed to teh proper red

Any team is better with Fev in the forward 50. Enough said.

Nothing wrong with that, unless of course the merger ends up with us being called the Bentleigh Demons

I love the headline in the Age today "Nixon Must fall on his sword". HAHAHAHAHA his sword has already gotten into enough trouble

Essendon aren't really all that attractive for picking up talent anyway. Maybe Michael Hurley or Paddy Ryder, but thats it

From AFL Website: Melbourne Robert Campbell (achilles) - 4-6 weeks Jack Fitzpatrick (foot) - 4 weeks James Frawley (pectoral muscle) - 6-8 weeks Jordie McKenzie (groin soreness) - 1 week Cale Morton (finger) - 4-6 weeks Michael Newton (broken wrist) -4 -6 weeks Ricky Petterd (hamstring/back)— 1-2 weeks Frawley still 6-8 and Morton 4-6, quite sad to see.

Don't we all? However, I've heard Hird's herd is up for the challenge

MacDonald is a great, rare breed of player. He has the build and muscle to compete against key forwards and outmark them, but he is also quick and has a fantastic knack for picking up possessions. He is really a crucial part of our line up I reckon

I've got another one- we need to clock up our highest score in our history. Our highest score ever is just 28.14 182, comparitively much smaller to other clubs' highest

Completely agree. If anyone boo's Scully they are not a real Melbourne supporter- they are just an [censored]. And I love the guy to pieces.

I just can't wait to see the Dees live in action in a semi-important game. I really hope we (dees fans) come to Etihad in full force. It pains me when i cast my mind back to '08 when we played the Dogs and the Saints at the same venue- and it was like we were an interstate team!