MadAsHell

Another possability for Melbourne if we did finish bottom would be landing a KPP through the pre-season draft. Say Thorpe, Dowler or Boyle from Hawthorn? All three are key forwards under 26 and are second fiddle to Franklin, Roughead and Birchall. If we could land one of them in the pre-season draft (assuming we come last again) and then draft say Scully and the best young ruckman with picks 1 & 2 (again assuming we win 4 games or less). This would then address all three areas of our weaknesses. The big question would be if one of those players would leave Hawthorn. This way we could potentially play 3 tall forwards by 2011, say Watts, Miller and Dowler with Jurrah also on our list all at once. BAck to the good old days when we played Neitz, Schwartz and Lyon all at once with Smith also on the list.

Agreed! Rivers when up and going is one of the best defenders in the comp. And I think he would be a good candidate for the captain but I think there will be a few others in the wings also. Be it Green, McLean or Moloney, or even further down the track Grimes or Watts? Think we will be well looked after in that department.

POTENTIAL MELBOURNE GRAND FINAL SIDE FOR 2012 FB: Rivers, Warnock, Cheney HB: Frawley, Martin, Garland C: Scully, Strauss, Bate HF: Maric, Watts, Davey FF: Jurrah, Butcher, Wonnameri Foll: Spencer, Morton, McLean © Int: Blease, Grimes, Jones, Petterd Emerg: Bartram, Buckley, Jetta Now that line up has potential if you ask me?? I will also make note that although I have only named the one ruckman in Spencer, by 2012 I'd like to think Martin could pinch hit in the ruck by then.

Completely agree! In the absence of Wonna at the moment Melbourne need to play Davey close to goal where he can potentially kick 2-3 goals a game and assist in a similar amount. Our forward line is struggling at the moment at that is where we need him most. Once Wonna returns then by all means move Davey to the half forward flank or onto the ball.

IN: Maric (Need someone with some polish crumbing in the forward line. After quarter time every time the ball hit the ground in our forward 50 Collingwood ran it out far to easily). Newton (Need someone in the goal square to make a contest, at least until Robertson or Watts are ready to go. OUT: Bennell & Jetta. (While both have shown glimpses that they will be good players, can't find a spot for them at the moment.)

Frawley had a decent game and I don't think he's done anything to deserve to be dropped. For me it's more an issue of match ups in Collingwood's forward line. Apart from Rocca (or Anthony if Rocca doesn't play) and Cloke Collingwood will be likely to play small, I don't see who there would be for Frawley to play on. Plus playing Martin off the bench instead of Frawley gives Melbourne more flexability. Martin could pinch hit in the ruck. Can't see Frawley doing that.

In: Newton (need the tall marking forward) and Sylvia and Martin Out: Jetta(had some good patches first up but will be good to go back to Casey), Frawley and Johnson FB: Garland, Warnock, Bennell HB: Cheney, Rivers, Bartram C: Morton, Moloney, Buckley HF: Sylvia, Miller, Green FF: Newton, Bate, Davey Foll: Spencer, Bruce, McLean Int: Jones, Martin, McDonald, Petterd Add Syliva, Newton and Green all to the forward line to add some goal scoring options. Garland can play on Medhurst, Bennell on Davis, Cheney on Thomas and Bartram on Didak.