Robbie57

Jetta copping a bit of flack for staying down which I thought based on his recent performances was unlikely so not surprised to hear he has a concussion.

How bad is it and will he miss this week?

For all the BS about the first round means nothing it clearly means a lot. Our team now thinks it can play and better still every player knows a shocker means a stint at Casey.

We will pick a team based on balance against GWS. I went to the game last year and we went in too top heavy. Both JHK and Jeffy caused headaches at times for GC and I'd liKE to see them both stay in. Kent did less than JHK overall by a whisker. If Dawes was not available there would be no changes.

Frost is being used as our back up ruck and general utility so stays in that role. Brayshaw only goes out if its clear he cant run out a game as he was a real contributor.

After seeing Ablett limp around with a bad shoulder I think Vince should have another round at Casey to make sure he is absolutely right for a return. It would be nice to run Toumpas with Scully to give him confidence but he is the likely out. No changes to our settled backline.

Possible outs: Kent (or Toumpas).

In: Dawes

If we repeat our performance I will have no idea how to get Vince into the team.

We will win there this year.

North's biggest problem has always been Brad Scott....he does not know how to take them to the next level.

And, I can't stand either Scott...

Neither can coach in my book nor accept an umps decision.

6 Mc Donald

5 Viney

4 jones

3 Garland

2 Garlett

1 Newton

Special mention G Ablett slick hands to Garland.

He is our good luck.

So you & I are the reason we haven't won a flag for 50 years. That's good, I thought it was all my fault.

Add me to the fault list as well.

Malceski is a good pick up indeed and a loss for the Swans who may really miss his drive off half back. We got a very similar player in H.(congrats to him on 200 tomorrow lets hope his 300 is a premiership game .

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We're proud to announce we'll be unveiling The Robert Flower Wing at Saturday's game.Starting from approximately...

Posted by Melbourne Football Club on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

To me it was already his wing. The shining light in the long dark years and brings back memories of often the only reason to make the long walk from my place in Port Melbourne to the ground.

A very fitting tribute by the club to the best player never to win a brownlow (he deserved about 3 of them).

I am looking forward to the match and in the spirit of not falling into "the here we go again" trap this is what I would like to see:

1. Our defensive unit carrying on from its good work last year ( we effectively ditched Frawley to build this unit given he was already gone)
2. More precise kicking skills going forward, they are simply needed these days to penetrate the flood of players.
3. Some offensive capability (if you are going to contend you need at least 2 major avenues to goal above your mids scoring as well).

To some extent we have seen this developing in the practice matches and that is exciting. Getting the ball into the hands of Salem, Watts and H are the key to precise supply. Hogan Frost Garlett JKH and Dawes (when he is available) start to make us look more offensive. Its going to take time to gel but we look different and for me that is exciting. I am not convinced GC has the offensive capability they need yet so we will be in the mix on Saturday.

No doubt we will have our moments but I really cant wait to see us improve and start winning, lets hope the first is Saturday.

Classic Dunny "taking it o the chin"

I'd expect him to play a quite a few games this year in the Salem JKH pattern from last year. It's all about his development and earning a spot.

I would be concerned about whether he is physically ready for it yet in particular does he have the tank for a full game. I think we should always have a sub who could run out a whole game.

The coaches may be tempted this week given GC is generally a younger team.

If his likely starting spot is either HF or Sub who would you prefer Brayshaw or Howe?

John "wreck it" Ralph (he looks like that dude from the game) didn't get his facts right and failed to mention this all occurred when the AFL skewed the system to benefit both GWS and the Suns and the major clubs)

Usually I cant stand David King but at least he was prepared to look at what is happening at the club. The club has acknowledged the sins of the past but it is time to move on.

Roos is absolutely right to put the past behind us, we simply cant change and any amount of crying over who we failed to pick etc is just useless.

You didn't mention that Barlow and Mundy were subbed off / rested, and that Fyfe didn't play. Be honest, Freo had the game won at half-time. And as a top 4 team in hot conditions, they are more likely to take the foot of the pedal, than a struggling team looking to build confidence.

My concern is that the last year, the gap between our best and worst broadened as the year went on.

Barlow was subbed at the end of the 3rd and Mundy went off in the 4th. At 3/4 time the scores were 7.5 to 6.6. Freemantle (at full strength) scored only a point in the 3rd.

Certainly Fyfe didnt play. Perhaps they did take the foot off the pedal the way we did against the Dogs but watching the game it didnt appear that way. In any event doesn't diminish what was a good effort by us despite looking spent in the 2nd quarter. The point is we played pretty well in the conditions.

I have had the good fortune to be away for all of the practice matches. I watched the Dogs match on the internet feed and listened to the first quarter of the Dons match.

Last night i watched the Freo match and for those who are in deep dispair about the Dons match they should go back and watch it. We were in that match up to our necks against some quality opposition. Indeed but for a clear wrong call on a goal that hit the post, Russians amazing miss and a few holding the ball decisions (which we will learn from) the result would have been a lot closer.

Our weakness in the match was our ability to deliver to the forwards and their ability to lead into space and hold the ball.

Our issue in the Dogs match was after being dominant in the frist 2 quarters our coaches decided they had a licence to try a few things which didnt work out including changing our midfield set up which allowed the Dogs midfield to get on top.

I cant comment on the Dons match but we shouldn't discount the positive aspects of the first 2 matches based on the 3rd alone. Sure we dont have depth or any real A+ stars yet but there are some good signs emerging. We will continue from time to time have a gap between or worst and the best. Garland will not continue to make poor decisions as he gets back into the game. Hogan will learn where to lead to. Viney will not repeat his mistake. We will start to take the game on a bit more as Lumumba and Frost do to greater effect.

One thing you can guarantee Roos will be having a discussion with the coaches about what they learned from the practice matches and the same discussion with the players both individually and collectively. I expect we will see the gap between best and worst narrow over the year.

Roos clearly sees a forward role for him which would relieve the pressure on hogan and Dawes. Is our ideal forward set up 4 talls and the 2 crumbers? Could also be putting pressure on garland and Howe for spots down back. Certainly in the starting 22 on current form.

Roos seems less concerned than people here:

Melbourne coach Paul Roos said he wasn't too concerned by the change in momentum and didn't blame his side for taking their foot off the pedal.

Roos said the Demons stopped competing as hard at the contest, but he was pleased with the way his side moved the ball in transition early on.

"I think today what we saw in the first half was what we're trying to work on both defensively and offensively," he said.

As disappointed as I was at the time by the second half I think we can read a little bit into what Roos is trying to do. They mixed up the winning combination from the first half to give some other players game time and to learn more about where those players were in terms of preparation and the game plan.

As I saw it our key mids were essentially removed from the clearance work to see what a few others could do which allowed the dogs to win out of the centre. The coaches need to learn what the marginal players can and can't do and those players need to learn as well.

It became obvious our second rung players have a longer way to go and are not yet comfortable with implementing the game plan.

M jones has a long way to go and Mckenzie was poor. Lumumba is not a good inside mid without support and is better suited to the position in combination with jones and viney feeding him. Garland improved but needs another game under his belt to put in a full performance.

Watts was good in the second half and but for the wind would have kicked 3. It's going to be a difficult choice what to do with watts and frost.

In the season proper we won't see a starting clearance group without one of jones Tyson and viney which happened quite a few times in the second half. (Jones started on the wing a few times)

On reflection we have learned a lot out of yesterday in particular what combinations work and who is ready for the season..

Watching in Canada. Will stay up for this.

Ball movement has been good and this will be a confidence boost for the boys.

Garland is showing a return to form.

The toump will press for a spot.

Salem a gem off half back.

And what about frost he is a great pick up.

I am loving the commentary it's so bad it's engaging a bit like demonland at times.

Heart and soul of the Club. Absolutely loyal unlike some others. In the thick of everything and at the bottom of every pack all game every game. Where would we be without Jonesy - an absolute gem.

Never had a fraction of the credit he deserves. And as hard and tough as he is - never stoops to anything untoward. If ever a bloke deserves to wear the revered No 2 - he is the man.

Jonesy you are a super star.

Hear hear

Dunny, russian tyson cross Howie and HL?

Did I miss anyone from the starting 22?

I am not entirely sure Range Rover might make a surprise appearance.

Everybody decided to clear out Clint and left Nathan Jones surrounded by 3, obviously the talk wasn't there, Roos stopped the drill and spent about 30 seconds pointing etc

Good to hear Roos is demanding this kind of accountability; from the reports there has been less talk of game plan this year and more focus on how we clear and move the ball as a team.

Patricia and ANB both sidelined with knees (of various degrees). The harsh realities of a contact sport, but a downer for all.

Which leaves Bradshaw and Stretch. Fingers crossed.

No not Patricia as well.....

I feel sick .... but Roos probably wouldn't have played him straight off the bat. He will come back fitter (insert other platitudes here)....

Nope that doesn't help, I still feel sick.

oh god not this thread again.....

About 10,000 posts to go.

Maybe more if he goes to another club.

1. Viney; he needs to become a greater presence around the ball taking some of the heat away from Jones and Tyson. At the moment he gets in there but he needs to get the ball out (effectively) more often.

2. Toumpas; we need more quick ball movement and better linkage from the centre feeding our forwards.

3. Hogan; his simple task to take a key defender away from Dawes and give us some forward structure. If he can't get the grab to ensure the ball drops to Gartlett or K-H (each to aim for a goal a game). His aim should 30 goals this year and to build on that the following year.

4. Maximus; we need a dominant ruck who can mark around the ground.

5. Salem; a year as a menacing half forward.

Absolutely brilliant news.

Merry Christmas to all Demonlanders.

My daughter who is 2 is about to get a jumper with 2 on it, she will wear it to the GF in 2018 with pride.

As discussed above a player who turned around from average to our most consistent with hard work and dedication.

Our heart and soul.