bing181

Petracca?

Petracca?

Meanwhile .... Jack Trengove has brought his own footy today, he's up to 13 possessions already, and has added a goal, 21 minutes into Q1. @melbournefc

Pedersen has been OK, Matt Jones, Bernie Vince. But drops away after that. So much for selection headaches, for a few of them will be pretty straightforward next week.

For all their shortcomings, Essendon are piling on the pressure. We just have to soak it up and work through it.

Under the circumstances, extremely.

And ... first Rising Star for 2016.

Isn't there someone we can call to be sacked because of that?

Lumumba and Brayshaw in.

True. But then again, you're always one of the first to stick the boots in.

Hogan simply outplayed by Davis, nothing to do with Roos. 1 goal in a half of footy is nothing to do with the coaching.

Someone's not paying attention.

Or the wheat from the other wheat. (Less and less chaff around these days.)

Have a look at Dunn's NAB cup games.

Perhaps - but then again, what did Dunn show? OK, injured against St Kilda, but with that plus the Port match, he still played 1 ½ games, but totalled 2 marks. Game against Port, only 6 possessions, though he played most of the game. Not disagreeing about Oscar necessarily, though his game against St Kilda was an improvement. But are we picking players on what they're actually showing, or on reputation?

Dunn is just as ripe as, say, Vandenberg, probably riper given his experience and age. It's not about fitness, even if that has been mentioned in passing. He wouldn't be named as emergency if he wasn't up to playing. Neither Lumumba nor Brayshaw are named as emergencies. Dropped from leadership group should have already set the alarm bells going, so is it surprising that he's out of the Round 1 team as well? Suggestions around the place that there's something going on off-field with him, but who's to know, maybe he's just not meeting the coaches' expectations? In the NAB cup match against Port, Dunn only had 6 possessions (and one mark) for 79% of game time. Tom Mac had 17 and 3 - a bit of a gulf there. Against the Dogs, Dunn played nearly a half of footy for 5 possessions and once again, one mark. And sure, stats aren't everything, but at least Oscar Mac had 6 marks (and 13 possessions) in his NAB cup game against St Kilda. Oscar also has his brother's endurance and fitness, and played 95% of game time against St Kilda, second only to Tom. Maybe more going on here than we know, but maybe Dunn just hasn't done enough and Oscar is simply next cab off the rank.

"intriguing" isn't the first word that comes to mind ...

Let's not forget, Dunn finished behind Howe in last year's B&F. Seems to be much more highly rated here than around the club. Equally though, with their main big forwards out, is it that much of a loss?

I don't know that Dunn is all that injured, or underdone. A senior player like that, with 10 or so pre-seasons under the belt should be right to go on what Dunn's had. He's also named as an emergency, unlike the others in your list.

The MFC site left out the ruck division.

Dunn not included and Brayshaw not yet ready the two biggest surprises. Agree that O Mac is a concern, but given Dunn's inconsistency and being dropped from the leadership group, not all that surprising. Perhaps if Cameron hadn't been suspended, things might have been different.

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Colin GarlandHB: Matt Jones, Oscar McDonald, Christian SalemC: Bernie Vince, Jack Viney, Aaron vandenBergHF: Jack Watts, Sam Frost, James HarmesF: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Dom TysonI/C: Tomas Bugg, Clayton Oliver, Cameron Pedersen, Ben KennedyEmg: Lynden Dunn, Billy Stretch, Jack GrimesAFL debut: Clayton OliverMelbourne debut: Tomas Bugg, Ben Kennedy

His finger was fine and no scan ever took place. Nevertheless, the sky is falling.

Some of the players coming through the under-age comps have commented on this, noting that from early on it's hammered home to them that what goes into your body is your responsibility, and your responsibility alone. Heppell, like all of them, knew what his responsibilities were, irrespective of age or experience.

What is there to get? He's only been in full training with the group for 2 weeks.