Grand New Flag

Interesting, I was talking to Chris Judd (a friend) about this last Friday and he said that he thought it was a very good idea to rest the kids during the season but that we should have rested them on different weeks. I told him that we rested them together because we had just played a hard game in Darwin and because we were setting ourselves for you blokes followed by QB. He replyed "obviously".

Ricky would be mad not to entertain the GC offer, but this does not mean he will go. I think its a 50/50. As for Ablett. I think he is almost certainly leaving Geelong and going to play with his brother at GC next year. If Ablett was not going surely he would have told Geelong and neutralised the situation. Remember we are talking about a bloke who tries to stay out of the media spot light. I think Ablett to GC is about 90/10 to move North.

I am certain Wonna will be given some very tough training sessions later in the week and the weekend.

Scarlett will take Miller you would think. This leaves Watts with the second defender rather than Scarlett (double premiership, best FB in the game). Even if Miller does little except make a contest against Scarlett this is a win for the Dees.

We will not make the 8 this year. We were never going to. I would suggest that if you think we will you have dangerously high expectations and suggest you water them down know rather than make unreasonable dummy spits on this sight when our team links together a few bad performances. Fairies don't exist at the bottom of the garden.

Very exciting indeed! Wonna was some way off full fitness and also some way off an exceptable AFL level of fitness. I think he is about a month away from being fit enough to make a four quarter impact. Nevertheless I was very impressed with Wonnas game. He did not get much of it but every touch was clean, his kicking sublime and great to see he had not lost a yard. I had forgotten how good he was. I expect him to play the next two/three games at Casey to regain match fitness, hopefull he will be back for QB.

Jay: steady on. Few demonlanders read every post, I as one had not yet heard this rumour...... and I am on here everyday. There is no point in being critical of such posts as this would only discourage people with information from posting it in fear they will get slapped by people like you. This in turn will slow the information flow on demonland and thus in time reduce its value and in turn readership. Not a smart post Jay.

Would be awesome if true! Ricky is far infront of Robbo weight for age (who at 21 struggled to get a game, had no second effort and was a C Grade set shot for goal). I think Pettard could end up being a 500+ goal kicker in his career. Further in a forwardline with Jurrah, Watts & Green, he is unlikely to get the same defender attention as he did this year as our prime go to man.

Its great to hear some logic thought process. I agree, well done!

He is certain to play seniors this week. Expect to see a few players being rested. Melbourne looked tired last week. No run, no spark. There is no doubt some of our young boys are tiring both physically and mentally. No upside in sending them to the other side of Australia to play in the most taxing conditions when there ready made replacements that need to be given opportunity.

Hear, Hear! I am a good conservative voter, don't mind a punt, but I am disgusted in this sort of gambling and appalled with both sides of politics for letting this life destroying, pub and social killing thing to continue. Pokies are a black mark on society with those who can least afford falling into its trap. Saying that if its going to happen I would prefer the money in MFCs pockets over any other organisation.

A likley outcome.

Agreed pm24. Dunn should not be dropped, nor should Hughes. Simply the team would not be as good without Dunn in the team (some posters will disagree). This makes for a very interesting time come selection. Although I hear from inside the club Watts will play, my information has proven to be wrong before and can't be taken as 100%. Strong cases can be made for and against his selection...... but someone has to go.

Yes, but statistically speaking nominations go to players on winning teams. Same as brownlow votes.

Perfect Yokozuna 100% agree

Back to the topic...... Gysberts form has been nothing short of outstanding at Casey. Gysberts has more than earned a place in the senior side. If he had of come to the club in any of the last 3 years he would have played 7 senior games by now. The problem is that we literally have no similar sort of player that deserves dropping and no midfield injuries. Gysberts (assuming no injury) will get his opportunity and will get a rising star nomination this season (will be our 4th behind McKenzie). If Watts gets his act together he could also get a nomination. Thats a potential 5 nominations. However, you would think that Melbourne would have to make the finals to get this number.

This is interesting. I am hearing the same thing from my sources inside the club. "Watts will play this week". What ever the case it is certain he will be seriously considered by the selection commitee.

I know (as a fact) the blues would have been much happier if they traded Fev to West Coke instead of Kennedy. They regreted this error almost immediatly.

I think young Jack's confidence is the key. I would much prefer him to debut for the season this week against a significantly weaker opposition at the MCG rather than against Port in Darwin or taking Scarlet on at the Catery. Further, our forward line is desperate for some talent. Not sure who to dropped but it should not be Hughes, be deserves a go in dry conditions.

Our forward line is obviously needing a revamp after the long term injury to Pettard. I hate to say it but with Pettard in GCs sights we may never see him play for the red and blue again! So what do people think? Who should be selected? Personally I would like to see Garland moved forward and Addam Maric given a gurnsey as a small forward. If this does not work other combinations should be tried. I would love to see Watts get a gig but I see him playing off the wing rather than forward.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/in-the-wake-of-wooden-spoons-the-silver-spoons-are-back-at-melbourne-20100427-tq2d.html Hard to beleive stuff like this is being writen after the smacking the media gave us just 4 weeks ago.

Don't be so sure. What worries me about North is the pressure they put on the ball carrier (similar to our own). Adelaide, Richmond, Brisbane and certainly Collingwood were all very poor with this. The only team that put this sort of pressure on was Hawthorn and we buckled. Now we are a far better team with significantly higher confidence than round 1, however, its defensive pressure that will bring us unstuck, force mid-field turnovers and force us to play wide. How to beat the demons: 1. Defensive Pressure 2. Zone the corridor Also we are not playing at the MCG. I think I might tip North.

Glad I am not on the selection commitee this week. Talk about a difficult decision! 5 weeks and no new injuries...... Wow!

Very true Jaded, Collingwood would have been the place to go for a flag. However, there were other influences. Firstly Collingwood was unable or unwilling to satisfy West Coasts demands of 2 very young top ten draft picks. Secondly, West Coast simply refused to negotiate with the woods. Finally Richard Pratt connected with Juddy in a way that Eddy could not. In fact the late Pratt turned into a close mentor of Juddy.

NNo chance of this. Cale will be playing forward this year. Bruce = experience and is thus very important to the current balance of the team.