DV8

Agreed... but I would look to kick to a pack where Frost was lurking, rather than OMc say. IMO Frost offers so much more than OMc... winning the footy in contests. OMc kills contests, rather than changing them to advantage. I still would keep OMc, but hasten his maturity more at VFL level, hopefully for the remainder of 2019. Frost can be trusted to go with players and contest and rebound as well. I've never seen OMc run and carry the footy, with any offensive haste. I think Frost at this stage, can become a weapon... Not saying forever, maybe for a couple of years, until he is overtaken by another.

ANB has probably peaked to his limit... and imo, Stretch is catching up to him with endurance... and might be ahead of ANB on footy.? So maybe Stretch still has some improvement in him, as he builds. But I'm starting to agree that nibbler might be nearing his end, as others like JKH and Stretch near his running power. We cannot lose all these strong runners together... But, I see some overtaking others. JKH is now a better footballer all-round, imo... than ANB. Maybe ANB follows Bugg, to some other team ? And we replace him with a more skilled young player. Agree with Garlett & Lew as obvious outs.

Looking past him... and looking at the roles he plays, I think might show the reasons of his selection.? Does it point to our limited players as half-forwards... see AVB (injury) Hannan (injury) And Petracca (fitness/desire) ??? Melksham (already 27Yrs old) I think our Mid Section Lacks... good drivers in heavy traffic. Being able to step thru the traffic with the ball, before releasing it to better options, for delivery. Most of our mids, when under-pressure, play Hot-Potato from one to the other whilst being corralled. We need some who can step-thru close attention. As much as we need Wingers.

It wouldn't surprise if he measures what he needs, to get the job done. Time will tell what he brings. But he has already brought some excitement to our dull season.

He looked naturally intuitive, and composed, thru close traffic.. Also looks to have sure hands, and strong overhead, Re marking. Judgement looked good, and paced himself well. How will he pick-up the tempo, at AFL level ????? I, so far, like what I see. Lets try to be a bit understated, with the boy. .

Yeah... that's right. I'd forgotten with all the injury news... this went under radar. I wonder if that's still a problem for him. He's a gatherer of possessions... but his kicks to advantage I think need much work. Who is better ? Langdon or Gus ? .

We wouldn't have got Lewis for 2 yrs... and we had to put salary-cap space somewhere... rather than overpaying kids that hadn't deserved it then. He was brought in to teach and direct, and since he's been in the side, we've improved... and then got to the Prelim final, in his time with us. He has definitely helped us on-field, and off.... but many people are just looking to hang their Angry-Hat on someone... and preferably someone who came in from outside. ... cannibalistic fair-weather supporters, looking to cook someone for no good reason. Just because we're having a poor year, and he's getting past it... some think they can strip his flesh. He's getting older, and less needed. Lew deserves much more respect from the legion, than he's receiving.

I think its a game for players who love physicality, because there should be plenty of loose ball to win, and body on body imv, is a must. I think tSmith should do well with his low centre of gravity... I'm concerned for any who don't want to lay some body on opponents. I think we need players good below knees... and as many good kicks, as we can find.

Does he really... or is it more he has an issue with composure, maybe more-so, which can cause him to make mistakes, and do the occasional wrong thing, out of mild panic. They both panic, imv... but OMc's panic area is hidden undercover and he equally, makes mistakes. One is the Energizer battery man, the other is an AFL Sloth, to this point. Frost creates more on offense, imo. I think they will both improve in time, with better players supporting. .

I think worse/slipperier... and with all the sweat and oils on the footy, its not really a game for overhead marking. The ball will be on the deck, much more often.... and the conditions sapping for the running players. So more running players to lessen the load, on them. Remembering that this game will effect the legs, for at least a week, following the match. And definitely NOT the game to have our long-term injured play in, on the way back. I would want Lever to play in regular games... whilst his body is adjusting and building match condition strength, back into his weakened legs. Sapping games like this, are IMO, not want someone who has been out for 3 months or more, to return in. I think that is a recipe, for another leg injury in this game or the following week. Leave those long term leg injuries, to return after Darwin... Please Melbourne.

We'll be able to grab a couple of sleek centreline'rs, come November. I think we went best available, and ready to go.

I think nearly everyone overrated Us at end of last year... we were good, but Not great... and the Hype (fugazi) snowballed... like an out-of-control Ranger-Rover down a Ski-Slope. I agree we kept playing players the past 2 years... when they should have been rested. to get them 100% right. Not chronic has beens.

B: Jetta May Hore HB: Hibberd Lever B Ellis C : Salem Coniglio Baker HF: Melksham TMc Hannan F: VanDenberg Weideman Hunt R: Gawn Oliver Brayshaw Int: Viney Frost Petracca Quick small forward (anyone but Spargo and Neal-Bullen) Depth: Dunkley, Spargo, Neal-Bullen, Jones, Kolodjashnij, Petty, Fritsch, J Smith

Some people do not have enough things in life to be critical of... Lets try to lean on some under-performers on field... instead of trying to tear people off-the-field... New ones. Most of us are not Pro-Spellers, in here. So lets give it to the Pro's, who don't go hard enough... and let individual supporters go under radar... Collective supporters open slather, as a group.? !

Lets hope we can get a hold of both of them, down the track a wayz.

Hop back in-line 'DS'... your about 3 or more years behind in this area, old son. But also its not Just Speed we need. I'd say Hannan is a game to game proposition... as well Might be AVB. Jeffy is shot... and Tracca is... well, should be inside-mid. We need flankers, for all four Qtrs of the Oval... as well as wingers who can fly.

He should have been on suspended penalties for the past two recent incidents... so now he could be serving 3 or 4 matches concurrently, for this latest uncharacteristic fail.

I've been going thru a couple of recordings of our 2019 games. I noticed Tracca during some after-goal celebrations, of Dees players. He appeared, a little as an outsider... shy, or jealous ? I got the impression he might be a bit of an introverted character... Or of current nature ??? = mood... This seems to fit with these comments above, imv. .

This kid looks to be, a very smart and intuitive player. I'm very happy we have him, because from the looks of his skill sets, he is something we don't have much of... Natural AFL smarts, composed thinking on the foot. .

Injury relief for Demons after scans clear star defender... MELBOURNE is breathing a sigh of relief after scans cleared key defender Jake Lever of damage to his ankle. Lever was playing his second VFL game back after a knee reconstruction when he rolled his ankle. The Demons' elite performance manager, David Misson, said there was no need for concern after Lever suffered the injury in the second quarter of Sunday's match against Williamstown. ................ The star defender had originally hoped to return against his former side Adelaide this weekend, but Lever is now likely to spend another week in the VFL to build match fitness. .

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2019-05-27/kyle-dunkley-becomes-a-demon MELBOURNE has used pick No.3 in the Mid-Season Draft to recruit versatile contested midfielder Kyle Dunkley on Monday night. The 19-year-old has spent the start of the 2019 season playing for the Gippsland Power in the NAB League competition, as well as representing Footscray in the VFL on two occasions this year. After being overlooked in the 2018 National Draft, Dunkley has impressed Melbourne’s National Recruiting Manager Jason Taylor in the early stages this season. “Kyle’s an inside midfielder who has the ability to play forward,” Taylor told Melbourne Media. “He can play in that forward role in his own right, he’s good overhead, he’s hard at the footy and has been able to play at VFL level this year for Footscray for a couple of games and hit the scoreboard there.” https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-05-27/midseason-rookie-draft-who-did-your-club-take Cody Hirst has slipped through to the Swans at P-16.

I think he's done OK... better than say 50%... which would be more than we are used to. of recent decades. Can we do better, yes, I think we can.

2shea.

We both have hope for. You have more faith in him, than i do.

It makes people reflect again... in a different light of day. The truth is no doubt somewhere in-between the two extremes.