Ned

I'd be curious to know on what basis he would be worth a fortune to other clubs. I honestly don't know a lot about Schwab, and he seems to talk a good game, but I didn't see any logic to this. It's the sort of mates stuff that shouldn't happen in a well-run organisation.

I reckon this stinks. The club isn't his piggy bank. If you need bridging finance, go to a f'ing bank. People don't pay memberships or donate so Schwab can use it. I don't take loans from the MFC, why should he? And I'd like to know what the club gets that it couldn't get at a bank or through depoosits. The news really got up my nose. It's not professional and really makes me doubt the judgement of the people running the place.

Warnock isn't best 22, simple as that. Every time he received a handball he was standing flat-footed. It was very poor. Also, the turkeys out there complaining that Gerard Healy was picking on Melbourne when he said the kicking in our backline was a weakness should watch the replay of this game. Some absolute shockers. It's only pre-season and that's fine. But there were some really disappointing moments. Essendon's ability to make tackles stick and break ours was one that I noticed. I was watching the 2008 game against Fremantle and Moloney bombing the ball to nowhere in that match. Little has changed in three years. I like the guy because his heart is in the right place. But he doesn't seem to learn. Lynden Dunn takes the honours for me tonight. Applied a little physical pressure that sent a Bomber off with the trainers. Nice!

I really like Green as captain and Davey as vice captain (I know there are two others, but they don't count for mine). Two attacking, creative players who can lift the side off their own efforts. It has a really good vibe about it.

Well, I reckon we are going to win. How does the comp play out? Who would we meet in the semis?

I find Healy's commentary excellent, and I think he's spot on in his assessment, too. He was saying Melbourne should keep Grimes in defence as it makes for a stronger back six. He was also speaking in the context of admiring our forwardline and the strength of our midfield. Sometimes I think a few people on here are paranoid. Healy, hosting On the Couch at least, has always been fairminded when it comes to Melbourne and has put Mike Sheahan in his place a couple of times when the old boy wanted to have a crack at the Demons. Healy is articulate and intelligent, which makes him a standout among football commentators! None of that takes away from the fact that he is a mercenary %$#@ for leaving Melbourne in the 1980s.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say he'll be All Australian in 2011.

You're not Robinson Crusoe there. I want to see Melbourne cause some pain to other clubs. First and foremost Carlton

Didn't Bate kick a pretty good goal in the final quarter? The curious thing was Collingwood really went up a level from then on. I'm really looking forward to seeing how we match up on them next year. I just remember Jones' smother in that match. Makes me shake my head at those wanting to trade him.

I reckon the AFL is showing respect to Jimmy on a personal level and for the work he's done at a professional level to drag the club back from the brink. I see no other explanation for such a good draw (we looked exciting last year, but then again so did Norf). Melbourne should make the eight and win one final in 2011. We should've made the eight this year. The only teams I don't see us beating are Collingwood, Geelong and St. Kilda. Everything else is up for grabs (and maybe the filth, too, if we really get up for Queen's Birthday).

As I understood it, Trengove was given three years because he is from South Australia and they wanted to give him a good shot to avoid the go-home factor.

Touche!

He was a sensation and he has some mongrel about him. I'd like to see him job a few more backmen, but they certainly know he's there now. I can't believe the transformation. I swear, at the start of the year I thought he was an A-grade spud. I remember this giant run-up he took for a long shot on goal against North. You just knew it was going to end in tears and it did. That player seems like he's from the moon compared to Dunn in the second half of the year. I love him -- and his moustache.

I think the jury is still out on Bailey. I think he can be a premiership coach. He's tough, intelligent and a competitive beast (did you see him giving Sewell a mouthful just before the break in the Hawthorn match? It was gold.) The team is coming together. I'd say we should be able to make the eight in 2011 and if so, he's on his way.

Yep, if Melbourne are going to spend some money, I'd be happiest seeing it deployed on a top class fitness person. There is bad luck. But it's funny that some teams (usually the top ones) seem to cop less of it than others.

Well, if the trade is for a bag of chips (which is all it should be), I'd take Kossie as I think he has more upside. You've got to question a player's worth if he's being dumped by norf!

It's our historical mission. We are taking them down. Queen's Birthday showed we have the will and I think we all know we now have the skill. Melbourne is Collingwood's bogey. I reckon they already know it, too. But as I said earlier, we've got to win the lower profile games and make the finals. No point taking down the top dog if you can't play in September.

David Hale is a spud.

Great player and I respect him enormously. But don't want him as captain and he needs to work on his delivery. Those midfield breaks that get bombed down the throat of the opposition just do my head in.

I disagree. I think his confidence is shot. He was very good last year and is a massive unit. The right coach could turn him around, I reckon. But I think it would cost a lot to get him and isn't worth it for our team at this stage.

The guy has about five kids and would cost us some serious coin. I just don't think he'd bring enough to justify that. Bailey has plenty of mongrel about him and doesn't need someone like Choco to provide it. Agree that Laidley would be a much better option. He's a thinker and ferocious competitor. But again, I don't think Bailey needs someone to hold his hand. Just good assistants.

Yes, agree. Leo Barry's was in a pack of about 10 and won the game. Goddard's was magnificent but not as good.

I don't want to rain on your parade because the performances against Collingwood were fabulous. But the overwhelming feeling I have at the moment is the frustration of not being able to bank on your team: West Coast at the G; Port at footy park (surely the best chance we had in ages to win in Adelaide -- and the captain's 250th to boot) and a couple of others. It's great we can get up for the Pies, I love it. But we need to be able to beat the crap sides consistently, too.

He took a pretty ordinary team very close to the preliminary final.

It has been meaningless for two decades, truth be told. Centrals were always the Western Bulldogs of today -- unable to seal the deal -- until the league was gutted.