Viney Vidi Vici

i was talking to someone who'd just pulled their pectoral muscle, and it had been so painful they went to hospital, thinking it was a heart attack. I can't imagine ripping it. And apparently recovery is extremely painful, as every hand and arm movement uses the muscle. So good on Frawley for getting himself up and going, and ending up with a good season.

Maybe you've got too used to Dunn. The player who does everything, but nothing all that well. Goddard is A-grade where ever he needs to be. Try ignore the first half of this season. If we got him, Happy days. but doubt it highly still.

read an interview after the grand final, and even then he was focussed on the breakdown of structures as the issue. He obviously recognises the importance of good structure, and has worked in a highly structured forward line. I'm confident he has his head screwed on tight and will do alright.

Rugby pre-game entertainment was heaps better

Who is out of contract for us? at least on this forum, it seems like bate and dunn's names are the only ones being brought up. Neeld surely is going to freshen up the list more than that.

He's head of my list of other experienced candidates, closely followed by Roos (laidley, Thompson, Matthews etc). Mainly because I can't think of any good reason why he wouldn't be a good coach for the club, and the fact that his position means he is coaching still, but not in the official position quite yet.

A lot of other names been thrown around, but wondering if anyone else gives Choco any chance at the Melbourne job. I'm not ruling him out, and frankly, I reckon he's better than any other other options (ignoring the contracted options). He's a premiership coach He's working under the most experienced coach of all time. People will say Sheedy is past the game, but you can't deny he's smart, and a motivator. Skills which I believe will be crucial to the coaching job, which I think Williams already had, but will be enhanced through his work there. Sheedy already said he wouldn't stop him going. He's already spent a year specifically working with young players development. anyone else as keen as me?

Can't say I've ever been interested in Craig. I was even a little excited when I heard a while ago he may go to Brisbane, if not purely because this speculation wouldn't happen.

Out of the extended bench I cant see Melbourne playing Bate and Petterd, and as good as Bate's game was last week for Casey (according to reports) I think I'd still prefer Petterd out of the two. He has a wee bit more to his game then Bate. But Im assuming Bartram will come into the side. Will be annoyed if this is at the hands of Strauss. The guy needs more than one game to get going.

did anyone see the interview with him and Max Gawn earlier last week when it was announced they were debuting? Max gave off confidence that a few people have mentioned, but I was impressed with the honest toughness that Howe had. He wasn't there to mess around, and you could tell he was gonna be giving it a good go on Friday night.

Anyone else get an email from Melbourne FC with a teams list, which had Jurrah named on the wing... as well as the bench?

Australia's next spin coach?

in: Scully, Trengove, Bartram, Gawn out: Bennell, Jetta, Bate, Newton Theres many more changes I'd like to see, but I dont think are viable for this game. IE Howe, Mcdonald and Blease in. Mainly because it'd mean taking Nicholson and Evans out after 1-2 games, which Im not sure really benefits anyone (they have no consistency, and we don't see how they play). Scully, Trengove and Bartram all are first choices into the team, and we need Gawn. Im going to buck the trend and say that Morton should stay in, but get his butt kicked for a few of his efforts last week. But then, be shown the video of him going for that hard pickup which saw him give away a free kick, and be told to do that another 20 times in a game (albeit without the contact to the head). He's a very high pick! The talent is there, and we need to get it out of him now or never. Petterd as sub.

if you need another helper, I'm in.

I liked the part at the end when Frawley was talking about other young guys signing up. Hope thats in the mind of all of them.

i watched the game today, and reckon some criticism here is way over the top. 1. Grimes also kicked some beautys. 2. Rivers has a strong leadership role. Definatly has a playing role in the team, and only criticism is he faded out as the game went on. 3. Bennell did really good things, and a few shockers. 4. Sylvia wasn't prolific, but like Moloney, used his big body really well on many occassions. 5. Johnson used his body well on a few occasions, yes, didn't get a kick, but did a few good things, especially considering his limited game time. 6. Hughes had a good first game 7. Bate's back.

I got a feeling he'll play a few games, seeing that our other ruckmen haven't proven anything spectacular yet. Meesen, if he can get onto the senior list, will play a few, until Gawn and Fitzpatrick are ready, or until he's proven thats he's not suitable for AFL footy.

geez, that makes my week. I was literally dancing around the house when i got the scores in a text last night. amazing. These descriptions, if correct, make it even better.

I noticed the improvement when we did go one-on-one. maybe thats what we've got to do to stay afloat for a while.

Amen to that.

Jumping jack, in my time reading this on this forum I've never seen anyone say that kick-ins are not a problem for Melbourne, so I don't think its completely accurate to harp on about no one caring. I haven't read every post, so I may be wrong about that. I think we all care though, because we all see the ball get butchered in the backline on just about every kick-in, but maybe its as simple as, no one has suggestions. I know I get exasperated watching, and would not even consider in my head creating some fancy kick-in setup when the players aren't doing something as basic as running in the backline to present. Baby steps may be the place to start. Once Melbourne players show that they can do the basic things, then maybe we'll all hold higher hopes of complicated set-ups actually working. thats not to say I don't think we'll make it... I just think somethings going wrong in the coaching methods when basic things don't seem to be happening. We'll get there one day.

had my wisdoms out yesterday, so not going to be able to get down there today, even though I have nothing to do! good luck to the boys. fingers crossed, no injuries.

did you see what happened the couple of times they did go for the short safe option? it was trapped in the defensive 50, with a messy handball run to follow. I watched the kickouts imparticular, knowing its an ongoing issue, and very very very rarely did I see any movement from any players, and safe options weren't all that safe. Often Jamar running into region about 60m out was the only lead. happened pretty often that Strauss had no option but to bomb it to him. bit of a tough ask.

hmmmmm.... i headed down and got to the game at quarter time. Wasn't expecting much, so wasn't overly dissapointed. Main issue I saw was a general lack of game plan. When the players got the ball they had no idea where to go, ending in a lot of messy handball chains and going backwards. In comparison, I think our skills were generally better than west coast often, but they knew a heck of a lot more about how to use it and where to run to. I liked Strauss, Bennell, Green, Mcdonald and Jamar, and the occasional clearance work from trengove. Long way to go.

careful... those collywobble guys read this too.... hush hush (I'll do my best)