MadAsHell

I reckon we'd use pick 29 for sure, think about it. McDonald retired = Green goes to vets list & McKenzie is promoted off rookie list. Miller delisted = Pick 12 Maric (potential trade) = Pick 29 Bell delisted = Pick 32. And there's our 3 picks we need to use in the National Draft.

Key Position forwards and backs would be their biggest weakness IMO. Also I think they still rely on Harvey a bit to much to win them games. I'll be interested to see how they go around 2012/2013 post Harvey.

I was just furious that the arrogant Essendon FC had their press confrence during Melbourne's match meaning that several of the radio stations didn't start covering the match until the 2nd half. Just like Essendon to think they're more important then anyone else even though they haven't been relevant since 2005. I hope they stay down the bottom for several more years and we can inflict a lot of pain on them for years to come.

B&F: Brad Green from Mark Jamar MI: James Frawley from Lynden Dunn BFYP: Tom Scully from Jack Trengove

The stars are alingned!

He's a difficult one Watts, I want him in the 22, and he probably should be for his development but it will be interesting to see who misses out? Maybe Morton allowing Sylvia to play more midfield and Watts at HF? PJ's obvioulsy the weak link in the 22 I listed. Hopefully a big pre-season from Fitzpatrick and or Martin will see them play a lot more senior footy this year. Bail's a little gun who gives a lot of run. I think he could be quite useful off half back but can be equally as damaging with his run off a wing or even half forward. Poor old Jetta will need a big pre-season also.

Supercoach doesn't take into account getting outmarked by 2nd year kids. And if you turnover 12% of your possessions that's fine as long as they don't severley hurt you which is what happened with Bruce. He'd played a decent first 3 quarters but his last was a shocker, as I said he was involved in 4 of North's 5 last quarter goals, could excuse him for maybe 1, 2 at absolute most.

Petterd would also be a certain starter IMO. Here's my predicted best 22 for 2011 with a list of the players who will be right on the cusp of selection. FB: Garland, Frawley, Bartram HB: MacDonald, Rivers, Grimes C: Morton, McKenzie, Davey HF: Sylvia, Dunn, Petterd FF: Jurrah, Green, Wonaemirri FOLL: Jamar, Moloney, Scully INT: Bruce, Johnson, Jones, Trengove CLOSE TO 22: Fitzpatrick Martin: these 2 players will be gunning for PJ's no 2 ruck role, fingers crossed Fitzpatrick or Martin can make it their own. Bail Blease Gysberts Jetta: These 4 will be battling it out for places in Melbourne's midfield next year. Cheney Strauss: These two will be gunning for Bartram's spot and Grimes if he becomes injured. McNamara Warnock: Warnock you'd imagine will come straight into the side the moment any of Frawley, Rivers, Garland or MacDonald miss. McNamara (who I rate) will need some injuries to fall on other players to get a game. Bate Watts: Dunn has taken Bate's spot and with a fit Petterd to come into the team I can't find a spot for Watts in the 22. If any of the 6 forwards were to go down injured however you'd expect Watts to be first cab off the rank unless it was the small forward role. Bennell Tapscott: medium/small forwrds but both are capable of playing other roles also. Could fit into the team when given the opportunity anywhere. Gawn 3 new draft recruits: Would suspect 2011 would be purely a development year with little chance of playing senior football unless the club are cut down with injury.

Trengove will be a gun and until he got injured against the Bombers in round 15 I'd of had him ahead of Scully. The injury probabaly set him back a bit, and throw intop of that it's a very long year for the 18 year old. Absolutely nothing to be concerned about. Very alarmist post IMO.

Don't get me wrong Sylvinator, I rate Bruce and think he's had a very good year, however I just thought that when the team needed him and the match was in the balance yesterday he made a few crucial errors that you'd hope your more senior players wouldn't make. Come to think of it he also gave away a free kick to Warren (in Bruce's defence it wasn't there) in front of goal in the last quarter which he kicked. As I mentioned in my previous post I'm not saying Bruce was the only reason we lost, we had some silly turovers, Wonna, Juice & Moloney all missed shots on goal late in the 3rd and early in the last which had they kicked we would have probably had the Roos. Bruce just seemed to stand out a lot more because he was involved in 4 of North's 5 last quarter goals. I'm not bashing Bruce, I'm just saying it's a shame probably his worst game for the year was Juniors last. And for the record I hope Melbourne hold onto Bruce for 2011 and would be quite upset to see him go to GC17.

Would be purely to open up another spot on the list which we need to do. Don't know if we'd be able to get much more then pick 29 for Maric. We'd still be relying on his reputation as a junior to get that much I suspect.

IMO we need another KP forward, a small running defender in the Matthew Whelan model and 1 more line breaking midfielder, ala Jason Winderlich type player.

Maric & Pick 49 to Richmond for pick 29. Maric will struggle to get a game at Melbourne with Bennell, Jetta, Wonna & Tappy on the list while he'd probably get staright into Richmonds best 22. This trade's a win win as our three national draft picks will then be: 12. 29. 32.

All 3 will remain on the list assuming they want to stay at Melbourne. All 3 will face crunch years in season 2011. Bate potential GWS player IMO.

Bruce made 3 crucial mistakes in the last quarter today that cost us goals. He missed a spoil on Warren at half forward that he should of got to which Warren passed off to Edwards for a goal. Couldn't make body contact on Wright in the goal square and was out marked which he kicked a goal from and then he hand balled to the opposition at half back which resulted in a goal to Jones. He had a shocker, Bruce along with some missed opportunities in the 3rd quarter and start of 4th and some shocking umpiring decisions were enough to gift North a game we could and should have won.

Green or Bruce if they're looking for Grimes to take on the role in a few years. If they're after a more long term skipper then Moloney or Rivers.

I'm going to stir the pot and say while I think it will be one of Bruce, Green & Moloney, I also reckon Rivers is a real dark horse!

I must say I'm in the conservative camp where I like having Warnock ther as insurance for our already impressive backline. Then again it may become better for the development of McNamara & Martin if they're the first ones called upon if any of our tall defenders are injured rather then Warnock getting first crack?

Fair point you make on both RR. I would of thought that that if Spencer is elevated and PJ is still kept on the list we may be a bit top heavy when we have Jamar Johnson Gawn Fitzpatrick Spencer & Martin (has rucked occasionaly) All on our seniour list?

Now that Junior's retired. RETIRED: McDonald PROMOTE TO VETRANS LIST: Green PROMOTE FROM ROOKIE LIST: McKenzie DELIST: Bell Miller TRADE: Maric to Richmond maybe throw in pick 51 and we could get pick 28 in return for the talented junior.* (Trade picks based off likely ladder position finish.) This gives three draft picks, the only other list managment issue will be the Johnson v Spencer issue. If MFC decide to give Johnson a 1 year deal then I say Spencer goes, if they want to promote Spencer then Johnson will be the man who needs to make way. Personally I'd keep Johnson. *For those of you who doubt Richmond would trade pick 28 for someone like Maric who hasn't proven himself it has been done before. In the early 2000's St Kilda traded draft pick no 8 to Port Adelaide for Barry Brooks who was a promising junior ruckman. The trade didn't work out that well for the Saints but it has been done.

A sad day and the end of an era at the Melbourne Football Club. James McDonald was the last player on our list who played along side Gary Lyon, Jim Stynes, Todd Viney, Stephen Tingay and the like. A true Melbourne champion and one of the most underated players to have gone around in the last 20 years of the competition. The right decision has been made, I now hope that the club makes sure Bruce is held onto for next year and is able to end those GC17 rumors.

McDonald - retire (allows McKenzie to be promoted) Miller - delisted (allows our 1st round pick in draft) Bell - delisted (allows our 2nd round pick in draft) Edit: Removed Martin forgetting only have to use 2 draft selections now and not 3.

The only thing that I was disapointed with about yetserday is that Morton didn't play. If he had of played Casey's last 3 home & away matches he would of been eligable to play VFL finals which would be handy for Casey come September. A great effort by the Scorpions though still no doubt.

I see where your coming from RR, I'm just saying that IMO the club will most likely be looking to stagger McDonald's, Bruce's and Green's eventual departure from the club. I believe they wont want to loose anymore then 1 at most at a time, so if Bruce does head North then the club would be more then happy for McDonald to go on next year I believe. As far as Bruce and McDonald both being on the vets list, Green will also be eligable to go on the list next season, so if one of Junior or Bruce leave, Green can take their spot and Green's spot on the normal list will become 1 of 5 spots that becomes available.

If the rumors of Bruce going to GC17 are true then McDonald should get one more year. If Bruce stays a demon and we don't loose any players then I hate to say it but I think it would be time for Junior to pull up stumps.