MadAsHell

I remember the first time I saw him play was early in 2000. He was doing a tagging job on Woewodin who had approx 29 touches and kicked a goal on Lenny in our 90 odd point win and I thought who on earth is this [censored]??? How far off the mark was I! An absolute champion, and one of many great players who unfortunatly never got to taste ultimate success.

In light of the recent news of us playing 2 games a year in NT until the end of 2016. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-07-03/dees-in-the-nt-for-two-more-years And at the same time producing our annual flat as a tack performance following our Darwin game, surely something needs to be done going forward from 2017. I see four options: 1) We campaign the AFL to fixture our 2 NT games the week before our byes as 2 byes is now to become a permanent thing during the season. This will allow extra time for recovery and hopefully would become a non issue. 2) We put our hand up to become a team playing 6 games a year out of Tassie instead and try and broker some sort of deal that would still give us 10 games at the G minimum so Victorian members don't miss out to much. 3) We play all games in Victoria and try and ride the whole thing out and hope our on field performances turn around allowing our off field financials to improve. 4) Nothing at all and just chalk the following week from NT down as a loss at the start of each year? Thoughts?

While I don't disagree with your last sentence, to be fair he was played forward in those 2 games he played, where as at Casey 99% of the time he was played back.

Been nearly 15 years since I had those! So no seems to be the line of thinking, which is fair enough. Just thought I'd float it out there given his decision to play at Casey, still being seen around the club and our need for more talls, especially if Chip does pack his bags.

BUMP Just wondering what people's thoughts are on the likelihood of us potentially re-drafting Davis maybe in the rookie draft? With Chip likely to leave and our lack of talls at either end, Davis does fit the bill as a replacement for Frawley. Aggresive, qucik tall defender who can't kick! I've wondered if Davis was told by the club when delisted that if he spent the year with Casey that they'd keep a close eye on him? I've also noticed on two occasions when attending games this year, Davis crossing the road towards the G from Olympic Blvd. He's been named in Casey's best a few times this year, so his form's been decent. the 2 games he played last year were as a forward, which isn't his best position, and of all the players we delisted last year, I thought he was the most stiff of the lot. Will be curious to see if everyone still has the same optimistic views that this thread started off with. I still think he could be a handy rookie selection.

Would have loved to see McDonald signed up for 4 years, although with the TV rights up at the end of 2016, it's not suprising they'll see what monies around then. As far as Barry goes, happy to see him kept on, although I thought he may just get 1 extra year for now, but 2 works. Important thing is they're both locked in. The only one remaining now is Chip, and whatever his decision is, I don't think it will effect us to much.

I'd be thrilled with Boyd, fills that need of the third tall forward who can chop out in the ruck currently being filled by Pedersen that was to be Clark's role. Obviously the cost would be high, but if getting Dangerfield isn't any chance I'd be more then happy to go for Boyd.

With all that talk of team from Billy, it had me thinking I was reading a transcript of The IT Crowd!

I refer to posts 23 & 24 of the below thread. http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/36069-wafl-2014-players-to-watch/ Just so it's know that you're not the only one who's been looking at him. An exciting prospect indeed!

Given Clark has retired, let's assume Byrnes also retires and we delist Nicholson, Strauss & Tapscott Chip leaves and we get Pick 5(ish) as compo Trade Picks 4 & 5 to Adelaide for Dangerfield, we can possibly throw in Tapscoot also if it helps. Trade Fitzpatrick to Bulldogs & Evans to Eagles Eagles trade Ash Smith to Bulldogs Bulldogs trade Talia & 4th round pick to us Trade Blease to Richmond for McBean Sign O'Keefe & Lisle as delisted free agents. Gives us 4 picks at the draft (including pick to promote Jetta) and then 1 pick in the rookie draft. Draft a mid with our 1st pick (hopefully Maynard will still be there at pick 23 or whenever our 2nd round pick is), Stretch F/S in 3rd round any luck and then with our last pick in the national draft and 1st pick in the rookie draft find the best young small forward & KPD available.

My list of 25 players we should seriously be looking at. All very much gettable for differnt reasons from the go home factor, not getting a game, could be delisted free agents and more money, and with Adelaide I think some of their players are more gettable given their want to get back into the draft after the sanctions they'd previously had. The cost could be anywhere from two frist round picks (if Frawley leaves) to bargin basement buys. The type of players I'm targetting are: *Line breaking midfielders *Rebounding Half Backs/Wingmam *Key position players, can play back & forward *Another forward/ruckman due to Fitzpatrick's backwards step Adelaide: Patrick Dangerfield http://www.afc.com.au/player-profile/patrick-dangerfield David MacKay http://www.afc.com.au/player-profile/david-mackay Shaun McKernan http://www.afc.com.au/player-profile/shaun-mckernan Andy Otten http://www.afc.com.au/player-profile/andy-otten Brisbane: Jordan Lisle http://www.lions.com.au/player-profile/jordan-lisle Carlton: Matthew Watson http://www.carltonfc.com.au/player-profile/matthew-watson Geelong: Billie Smedts http://www.geelongcats.com.au/player-profile/billie-smedts Gold Coast: Daniel Gorringe http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/player-profile/daniel-gorringe Seb Tape http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/player-profile/seb-tape GWS: Kristian Jaksch http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/player-profile/kristian-jaksch Dylan Shiel http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/player-profile/dylan-shiel James Stewart http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/player-profile/james-stewart Adam Tomlinson http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/player-profile/adam-tomlinson Adam Treloar http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/player-profile/adam-treloar North Melbourne: Kieran Harper http://www.nmfc.com.au/player-profile/kieran-harper Richmond: Dylan Grimes http://www.richmondfc.com.au/player-profile/dylan-grimes Liam McBean http://www.richmondfc.com.au/player-profile/liam-mcbean Sydney: Tim Membrey http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/player-profile/tim-membrey Tom Mitchell http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/player-profile/tom-mitchell Garry Rohan http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/player-profile/gary-rohan Dean Towers http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/player-profile/dean-towers Tommy Walsh http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/player-profile/tommy-walsh West Coast: Ash Smith http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/player-profile/ashley-smith Western Bulldogs: Tom Campbell http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/player-profile/tom-campbell Michael Talia http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/player-profile/michael-talia

At the risk of being accused of tanking I'd use this game as an opportunity to rest some of our young players who need a break so that they're not cooked for the rest of the season and I'd also not risk any of our injured players. Having said that the young players I'd drop for a rest I'd still play in the VFL, look at this as a chance to look at some of our players on the edge before making a final decision on them at seasons end. OUT: Terlich (inj), Jetta (susp), Gawn (omit), Viney, Tyson, Kent, Salem (all rested) IN: McKenzie, Michie, Georgiou, Tapscott, Blease, Toumpas, Kennedy-Harris FB: Georgiou, Dunn, Nicholson HB: Grimes, Garland, Barry C: M. Jones, N. Jones, Bail HF: Watts, Frawley, Tapscott FF: Pedersen, Dawes, Kennedy-Harris FOLL: Jamar, Vince, McKenzie INT: Blease, Howe, Michie SUB: Toumpas EMERG: Evans, Gawn, Riley (all to travel)

I don't mind the sound of this. We could then potentially have the Melbourne Uni Blues as our 2nd's team in the VFL and still keep an association with Casey by using it as a sumemr base while the cricket ground is in use at the university, allowing us to have a presence in Casey still, whiel still finally establishing ourselves in the city!

Reckon both Evans & Fitzpatrick will be offered as trade with draft picks for upgrades. Example Evans & our 4th rounder to St Kilda for their 4th rounder, even if it only improves our position by 1 or 2 it will still get him off the list. Fitzpatrick may get us a little more.

I'm amazed at the negativity on this board. Yeah, very annoying loss on Sunday, and we should be dissapointed as Bulldogs had a few out, but we had Trengove, Cross, McDonald, Hogan & Clark all out of the team who were all in our 22 at seasons start and we also had McKenzie out who would be the first to play Cross' role, so it's not like we were full strength. We may loose all 8 of our last games, but at the same time I reckon we're capable of winning 5 of them so I think we should sit back and enjoy the ride. Demand more of the team absolutely, but considering where we've come from, 2-20 with a 54% to now 4-10 with a percentage close to 80% and we should probably be 6-8 in all fairness (should of beaten Dogs twice & St Kilda, we pinched Essendon though must be said). This season was never about games won, but getting back to being a football team, being in matches and restoring belief. As annoyed as I was, I'm still enjoying the season compared to our last 2 and a half and am confident we can run out the season in as decent and competative a fashion as we've seen so far.

Haha, oh I love schadenfreude. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of blokes. Serves them right for their arrogance at their 3-0 victory last year when they thought all was still well despite the fact the series was much closer then the score line suggested. Cook's a great player, but he's far to conservative to be captain. They'd be better off bringing in someone like Morgan to bat in the middle order and be captain. He may not have the best first class record, but they need someone with some direction and positivity at the helm, let Cook worry about his batting.

How's this for an upcoming summer of cricket! http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/hectic-home-international-cricket-season-20140623-zsidi.html And South Africa, India & England all out here, the three top drawing nations you can get, and to think this is all followed by the World Cup also is just making for an epic summer of cricket. First international of the summer a T20 v RSA on November 5 in Adelaide and the final international is the ODI World Cup final in Melbourne on March 29. FIve months worth thankyou very much! A couple of things caught my eye. No Perth Test is a shame, would rathered ditch Brisbane myself, no ODI's outside the World Cup being played in Adelaide and Australia not playing any in Brisbane all made for curious reading.

Yeah just finished reading it myself. Even guys who I'd of thought would be certain starters like Michie & Blease don't sound like they're sure things to come in. So Terlich & someone else... As another poster mentoned, potentially Barry to play a run with role on Macrae possibly?

This could also work instead of my suggestion of Nicholson, possibly even a better option.

Given the news of the Cross injury I'd need to make a further change. IN: Blease, Michie, Nicholson, Terlich OUT: Cross (inj), McKenzie (susp), Riley, Salem FB: Garland, Dunn, Jetta HB: Grimes, McDonald, Terlich C: M. Jones, Michie, Nicholson HF: Watts, Frawley, Bail FF: Pedersen, Dawes, Kent FOLL: Jamar, Tyson, N. Jones INT: Howe, Vince, Viney SUB: Blease EMERG: Gawn, Riley, Toumpas With Cross injured and McKenzie rubbed out with his carless act we suddenly don't have anyone to use as a tagger if the situation calls for it. This is where I think Nicholson could grab an opportunity. Think he's had stints in this role before with limited success, but now under Roos who knows how he could go? He'll also help give us a bit more run and he's had solid form at Casey all year so probably deserves the chance.

Watch port adelaide bid their first rounder on him.As for coniglio, I reckon we could get him with pick 5, but don't know if they'd give 24 back?

This week the demons and the bulldogs go head to head in a match that both clubs would fancy their chances in. With both teams coming off disapointing performances on the weekend, sunday presents itself as a chance to right the wrongs of the previous week. The bulldogs took the chocolates in controversial circumstances when these two teams last met back in round 8 when stewart crameri was awarded a dubious free kick in the final minutes to put the doggies two kicks clear of a wasteful melbourne and eventually run out 16 point victors 15.9.99 to the demons 12.11.83. This time the bulldogs are likely to be effected by the loss of players due to both suspension and injuries in the likes of Giansiricusa, Griffen, Roughead and fitness clouds still over Boyd & Cooney possibly presenting melbourne with their best chance yet of registering a victory at etihad stadium for the first time since May 2007 during the home & away season. Melbourne to will have soms selection decisions to make during the week with Jordie McKenzie to miss due to suspension and coach Paul Roos making comment of a few players starting to look tired. With the bulldogs light on for key position players and the loss of some key midfielders, assuming melbourne can get on top in the middle, this is a game Melbourne should win and win in as comfortable a manner that they are capable of mustering at this time of their development. Prediction: Melbourne by 33 points Leading goal kicker: Chris Dawes 4 BOG: Nathan Jones

Agreed, don't see where he'd fit in the grand scheme of things. But hey if cross calls an early retirement and one or two midfielders want out then who knows?

No thankyou, not necessary. There's some better prospects out there for a key forward. Brett Eddy in the SANFL and Lech Featherstone from Coburg in the VFL for starters.

IN: Blease, Michie, Terlich OUT: McKenzie (susp), Riley, Salem FB: Garland, Dunn, Jetta HB: Grimes, McDonald, Terlich C: M. Jones, Michie, Tyson HF: Watts, Frawley, Bail FF: Pedersen, Dawes, Kent FOLL: Jamar, Cross, N. Jones INT: Howe, Vince, Viney SUB: Blease EMERG: Gawn, Riley, Toumpas