Dr. Mubutu

Brown not (yet) out for the lions: B: Ashley McGrath (9), Daniel Merrett (21), Joel Patfull (24) HB: Travis Johnstone (4), Matt Maguire (36), Josh Drummond (39) C: Jared Brennan (17), Daniel Rich (10), Andrew Raines (29) HF: Justin Sherman (11), Jonathan Brown (16), Jack Redden (30) F: Todd Banfield (18), Brendan Fevola (5), Brent Staker (14) Foll: Matthew Leuenberger (23), Michael Rischitelli (35), James Polkinghorne (31) Int: Mitch Clark (1), Simon Black (20), Tom Rockliff (38), James Hawksley (12) Emerg: Albert Proud (2), Troy Selwood (28), Matt Austin (8)

What a cromulent synopsis.

I'm in agreeance with Adelaide Demon on this one. even in the rare occasion that the Dees ARE on free-to-air, it'll be pre-empted by some other game in Qld, meaning you'll need to have Foxtel (and by extension Main Event) to even see the game! (That is, unless we play the Lions, I'm pretty confident that Saturday's game will be on half hour delay.) Or, alternately, broadcast at midnight (hello Friday night football).

I'd trade Meesen for him.

Agreed. Although, it's akin to saying 'winning the lotto is preferable to getting TB and dying'.

Wouldn't read too much into that, so have McKenzie and Spencer.

Jeez, you'd imagine that this would sell quite a few memberships over the next two weeks! Surely it'd get most of those 'borderline' fans to sign up! Excellent sales pitch from the club.

Since we're still accepting nominations....... 6. Petterd 5. Grimes 4. Jamar 3. McKenzie 2. Davey 1. Newton (only for pushing over Luke Ball)

6 - McDonald 5 - Green 4 - Scully 3 - Grimes 2 - Trengove 1 - Jamar

This is probably the biggest selection surprise for me (well, other than Dunn as a rover.) Obviously looking to control the ruck by including two specialised ruckmen in the 22. (or looking to give Spencer an easing back into AFL level ruckwork)

Actual round 1 team: (via melbournefc.com.au) Backs: J.Bennell, M.Warnock, J.Rivers Half backs: J.Grimes, J.Frawley, J.MacDonald Centreline: A. Davey, C.Bruce, N.Jones Half forwards:J.McDonald, M.Bate, R.Petterd Forwards: B.Green, B.Miller, J.Trengove Followers: M. Jamar, L.Dunn, B.Moloney I/C: J.Strauss, J.Spencer, J.McKenzie, T.Scully Emg: A.Maric, R.Bail, C.Bartram Damn. A little late.

Quite the bravado there, sir! We'll see who forgets to put their tips in the most come seasons' end....

Here's the rub, though. Isn't the Rising Star voted on BY the media? At this stage, given the amount of coverage given, I'd imagine NicNat was a shoo-in (even if there may be better week-to-week performers out there).

Exactly. Davey could walk into any side in the comp as a small forward, but because we lack class in the midfield (currently), this is where he is played at Melbourne. With 750(odd) players in the comp, IMO we would have at least a couple in the top 20%.

Just joined, and expecting to finish stone motherless.

+1. This is all I am hoping for this season, as well as a decent run with injuries. (I'm now in the process of finding every wooden surface that I can.)

Well, that's obviously why they get paid for that, and I'm just a fat bastard in the stands!

Well, I may as well chuck in my 2c worth: B : McDonald© Frawley Bennell HB : Rivers Warnock MacDonald MID: Trengove Grimes Bruce HF : Davey Miller Bate FF : Green Martin Petterd FOL: Jamar Jones Moloney INT: Jetta Scully Strauss Dunn EMG: Spencer Maric Bail I don't like Martin at FF (definitely a defender), but it's what the FD seem to be pushing for.

Definitely in agreeance with you.

He's not Robinson Crusoe at the MFC in that regard. This was probably the most noticeable thing (for mine) from the Essendon game. The amount of times players made the contest, only to be easily muscled away from the ball. A lot of players just need a little more time to develop.

No. It means we couldn't take a punt on yet another 'project player'. Grimes was gone by the time the rookie draft happened. The FD obviously think that it is more worthwhile seeing where 3-4 years of development has got Hughes, rather than taking a punt on an overrated 17-year old (e.g. Temel, Daw), and frankly, I concur with their judgement.

At this point, I'd assume that he is, given 4 is only being worn by a Casey player on one of the teams, as opposed to both, as with the other players' numbers.

Via MFC twitter: DemonsHQ: View the intra club team list for tomorrow's practice match - http://bit.ly/accDFX From this page, I'm assuming players out for tomorrow's match are: Bate PJ Garland Aussie Tapscott Blease

Just joined - Bargain Basement. Only players from bottom 8 teams last year. Should be interesting!

Yep, a definite +1 here. I'd (somehow) make the trek.