rodney_g

50 against Martin. Firrito misses from 30 out

Warnock done over by Hale 20 metres out. Goal to North. DemonDan's call on intensity is spot on. Need a lift

Frawley overruns ball but wins free. Dunn open inside 50 won't take responsiblity for shot on goal.

Melbourne wins ball back, Dunn spots up Green in forward pocket and Green GOALS.

Scrimage in North goal square. First score a point to North.

Moloney free from opening bounce. Good juggling mark by Pettard 50 out. Jamar gives away free.

Small looking crowd.

First Channel 10 game I've been able to watch this year. Commentators giving me the irrites already. Looking forward to the bounce

The Good Oil

What's the best thing about living in Melbourne, I ask. "Melbourne Football Club," he replies.

That's funny. When someone asks me the best thing about the Melbourne Football Club, I say "Liam Jurrah"!!!!

Melbourne v Brisbane Lions

8 Brent Moloney (Melb)

6 Jackson Trengove (Melb)

5 Colin Sylvia (Melb)

5 Matthew Bate (Melb)

4 Simon Black (BL)

2 James Frawley (Melb)

ENNNUUURRGAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHRRRRHHHH

Kudos though to Jack, have to be one of the favourites

Also congratulations to Jack Dunn from the Wide World of Sports team!! (or is that Lynden Trengove)

No it's Alzhiemers i am sure of it!!!

Loyalty?? Those Feral supporters have been known to spit on coaches!! I shall never respect them....

Whatever the reason, I'm sure that the AFL's fixturing policy is entirely based on what is good for the game and has absolutely nothing to do with a base objective such as reaching record attendances and profits.

Vlad's performance bonuses are based on the former right...

It seems it's no longer necessary,

Agghhhh - don't mention the "Scottish Play"! **Madly touching wood and crossing fingers and toes**

Commentary FAIL from afl.com's useless game tracker:

"Miller has possession in the pocket. He will take a set shot and if anyone in this team knows how to finish it is him. Goal."

Also, don't expect miracles from LJ every week. He will get a lot of defensive attention this year and will need to adjust.

I guess if an "analytics expert" has developed a "formula", it must be right.

So true Laurie. I think this para says it all:

"It is worth noting maligned midfield pair Richard Tambling and Brett Deledio have statistically outperformed many of their peers of the same position type and draft group, with both earning above average value ratings."

A statistician can have his head in an oven and his feet in ice, and he will say that on average he feels fine.

Anyone got an unpublished training reports lying about?

BBP that sounds pretty good to me, and I know I am being optimistic with suggestions of 8 wins. I think the big difference between this year and last year is that I think there is more drive to win some of those games later in the year. Particularly if we win one or two and get a bit of momentum the players could suddenly find themselves winning a couple more.

Similarly it is completely possible that we will only win 5-6 and lose 8 more by less than 10 points and just not be able to finish off those victories. I won't be too disappointed if that happens, but it will be a frustrating year.

Definately will be frustrating. I think we will win 5-7.

In the cold light of January it is a little difficult to see where 8+ wins will come from.

Good chance of victory (7):

Richmond (@ MCG x 2)

North Melbourne (@ Etihad + MCG)

West Coast (@ MCG)

Port Adelaide (@ TIO)

Sydney Swans (@ MCG)

Unexpected but possible (6):

Collingwood (@ MCG x 2)

Port Adelaide (@ AAMI)

Carlton (@ MCG)

Essendon (@ MCG)

Fremantle (@ Subiaco)

Major upset required (5):

Hawthorn (@ MCG x 2)

Adelaide (@ MCG)

Brisbane Lions (@ MCG)

Western Bulldogs (@ MCG)

No chance (4):

Geelong (@ Skilled)

Adelaide (@ AAMI)

Brisbane Lions (@ Gabba)

St Kilda (@ Etihad)

BUMP

Wondering if anything came of this idea?

I've got a couple of old shirts that will otherwise be going of to the Salvos.

Could it be as simple as getting an postal address in Yuendumu?

Everyone on Demonland and Demonology is to some degree a 'trainspotter' wanting information - its just that some of us live with their parents and wear anoraks and some of us just like talking about Demons!!

Agreed the club needs to be as communicative as possible & restrictions such as cost, time, sensitivity of the info etc are all legitimate.

I notice that the Crows are posting regular pre-season training video reports http://bigpondvideo.com/adelaidetv/226034

Stuff like this goes a long way

Absolutely - I'm sure the club would be keen to have some involvement, as there would be money left over to donate both to te club and to the community

I'm not sure whether the Larapinta Trail is a part of the Yuendumu communities traditional area, but I think there could be a good opportunity for establishing a yearly 'charity challenge' type fundraiser - with half to club and half to Aaron Davey's new charity (or all to Aaron's organisation).

Could be a great pre-season team-building challenge for the boys too!

Is it too optimistic to hope that if Tenace is training with the Demons it is as a some kind of cautionary tale?

- High draft pick doesn't not equal guaranteed success.

- Failure to improve skills does equal delisting.

The Age - "One club, one culture, one mission"

I think Mick Malthouse hit the nail on the head:

''We talk big. We produce nothing. I'm going to make a bold statement, maybe a disappointing statement. I blame the midfield.''

Bailey has stuffed this up good and proper. He gave Ball the option of not coming to the club and he took it. No surprises there, reading Connelly's comments on the saga I know that I would prefer him to coach us.

Bailey has either cost us a proven midfielder or a up and coming youngster. Hopefully the media has got it wrong and he hasn't nominated for the draft yet, it wouldn't be the first time. Ball was supposed to stay at the Saints and Davey was going to walk out on the club only to sign the next day. If Ball has nominated for the draft Bailey is 100% to blame.

The intreview that could have been

In this imaginary interview the part of Dean Bailey will be played by Little Stinga.

LB: Hi Dean.

DB: Hi Luke. Listen mate, as far as I see it you've only got two choices - go back to the Saints or come to the Demons in the PSD.

LB: What about the National Draft?

DB: I just told you - you've only got two choices. Us or the Saints.

LB: But I'd rather play for a contender. So I could just nominate for the National Draft and hope to get to a contender. By the time your premiership window comes around I'll be a cripple.

DB: I'll tell you again - you've only got two choices. Us or the Saints.

LB: But you're not going to pick me with Pick 1 or 2. Pick 11 is pretty valuable so probably not there. Maybe Pick 18 but there are a few premiership contenders between 11 and 18. And with the compromised drafts ahead Pick 18 isn't looking likely either. I'll take my chances.

DB: For the third time - you've only got two choices. Us or the Saints.

LB: That's a pretty weak bluff Bails. I'm nominating for the National Draft.

DB: Forget it Luke, I've changed my mind. You haven't listened to a word I've said have you.

If Ball is prepared to put himself in the draft, he is prepared to accept he might get picked by Melbourne, which is tantamount to him giving Melbourne the green light.

Take him with 18.

Doesn't taking Ball at Pick 18 force us to pick a KKP at Pick 11 and unless it is Butcher we could be picking a kid well ahead of his station.

Goes completely against the 'best available' rule than many subscribe to.

Could mean we waste more than one pick in this draft!

So why aren't teams throwing money at Yinka Dare and Manute Bol to play as AFL ruckmen?

Because you need a lot more than superior height to play this game...

... not to mention that Manute Bol is 47 years old and Yinka Dare is dead.

"... He's articulate ..."

Not sure if this is considered a positive personality trait in the Western suburbs!

Doug Hawkins would be a much better chance at communicating with the locals.

We were never good enough to challenge. If Neitz, Robertson or someone like that were off their game, we'd always loose.

I used to be really proud that Melbourne got by with basically a mix of battlers - some skilled but underrated, others just gutsy - and a few flawed genius types.

But we just got by.

What we need (and what we are building) is a core group of elite players with a relatively skilled and physical supporting cast (but probably still underrated by outsiders).

Trengove should definately go #1.

Only so that he has a higher trade value if (when) those SA clubs come sniffing around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FB. Garland Warnock Bennell

HB. Rivers Frawley Grimes

C. Trengove Moloney Morton

HF. Sylvia Bate Watts

FF. Jurrah Green Woenamirri

R. Jamar Jones Scully

IC. Bruce McDonald Petterd Martin

It's getting very hard to leave players out!

... and conversely very hard to fit players in!! No Davey?

It is becoming a pleasingly difficult task.

FB. Garland Frawley Bennell

HB. Bruce Warnock Grimes

C. Davey Green Morton

HF. Sylvia Miller Watts

FF. Jurrah Bate Petterd

R. Jamar Jones McDonald

IC. Spencer Scully Trengove Martin

Missing: Moloney Dunn Bartram Jetta Blease Cheney Johnson Maric Strauss Wonaeamirri Rivers