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Apparently nothing more than a small ankle injury I heard from someone who was at the Leongatha camp today. Hoping he gets up for the Hawks game but we'll wait and see. CCouldn't agree with you more Mach, its a preseason game, and Strauss should never be matched up against Edwards irrespectively. I've said it a few times, watch the game he broke his leg and he was giving at the time Gartlett in AA squad form at the time an absolute bath. Back him in for 6 weeks and we'll find our best attacking back flanker.

Agree. Roos and Lyon are great friends, there is no way we would suggest his best friend couldn't coach.

!!!!!! I know instead of every veteran only giving 40% towards the salary cap, they made it just one player gets that benefit, but I'd never heard of this before. Very interesting.

We just need to look at it with an 'each to their own' objectivity. Me personally, cannot afford to be giving 20$ per win to the club. I'd spend that minimum each time I go to the game, and for 10 wins, personally I'd prefer to buy $200 of merchandise. To those who can and want to donate brilliant, thanks for adding to the coffers! I think some who can't or don't want to donate feel like they're being pressurised into doing it. Being a supporter isn't a competition and he who donates the most money is not the 'best' supporter. It's simply a fun mechanism the club introduce to differentiate from the standard, would you like to donate to the club email. I won't be donating to this scheme, and I don't give a hoot who does or doesn't. If you're willing to waste your hard earned time talking red and blue with me and every other headcase on here, you're doing something for the club. And every bit helps.

No, that's incorrect. Love for club isn't a monetary thing. It's standing up for your club around the watercooler, participating in radio shows, social media and how much time you spend thinking of the club. The amount of time I spend on this website regularly reminds me I'd be in the top 1% of passion for Melbourne supporters. Live and breathe it, however I don't donate to these things. Anyone who thinks that $ invested is an accurate display of love for the club is so misguided. After all who's sacrificing more, the 100k businessman giving 1,000 bucks a year, or a university student paying 200 a year..

The trickle down effect is the problem here. I don't know enough about the case, but given he claims he was punched earlier in the night it does seem somewhat provoked, but my underlying issue is how weak crime punishment is. Reading some of those WA charges like the man who left one innocent blokes face permentantly droopy on the left side received 2 years after essentially glassing him... Manslaughter often sees people leaving jail on parole after as few as 3-5 years. Take a life and receive 3 lost back. The system simply doesn't work.

Dead set SD. People acting like they actually give a sh*t about these forums. Truth be told, they probably think what a bunch of losers we are. We won 8 games in 3 seasons, it's not exactly a shock that poor coaching was involved. Omg a footballer said it, hold the pressers!!!!

Stynes legacy honoured with MCG statue Jim has been announced as the next bronze statue to be erected around the G. A fitting honour for one of the greatest AFL stories ever. Still miss the big guy.

If you say it 100 times it doesn't make it true Stuie. The concept that he wasn't working hard after half time is bogus. I see Riewoldt blowing hard after half time it's cos he works ****ing hard. We play a chip around style of football in the back half which means there's plenty of time to flood back for the opposition. When a spare man isn't available to chip too forward there needs to be a release target who will provide a target down the line. In case you didn't notice, we switch the ball alot now, which means Cam was working side to side being the option for the long ball down the line. His job. He didn't duke any contested marks, but realistically that won't be his role this year. That's Dawes and Clark's role in our team. WWithout Pederson playing how he did, and expecting King to do that role, we would be lost that NAB Cup game. FWIW, in the 2005 premiership Jason Ball played that exact role for the Swans in the win. He had 4 touches..

I'd think in the final game against Hawthorn you'd want as close to your best 22 to see how they play together. Given we have an intraclub as well, that's 4 pre season games and there is no way our best blokes are going to go in with 4 games under their belt. I think for this game you'll see a lot of the older guys rested, Jones, Frawley, Grimes, Vince and Cross may all miss and use the trip to Alice as a bonding for the younger group and a really good opportunity to see what young players step up against a good team. I think we'll get spanked, but I think it'll be with a really average team that's primarily there to get some experience.

Missed the game due to work and I'm devo, but proud to hear regardless of result that the endeavour was there! Wanting to know what happened Strauss, seen a few give him worst on? What did he and Spencer do so wrong?

Watts missed 4 trainings last week. Can't see how he plays this week. I'd be looking to him next week.

Sorry I didn't mean offer Scully plus money, I mean the contract they were offering was similar to Scully in $$$

If Freo offered him that, he'd spit on them. GWS are rumoured to offer Scully+ money, if he resigns it'll be absolute minimum 650-700 raising to 850 areas I'd think.

No chance he comes to Melbourne and no chance Frawley will leave Victoria. Trade won't happen. Either way, Fyfe will stay at Freo, his manager is just waiting for a few articles to drive up his price thanks to GWS, than he'll sign. Mundy is a bigger chance to come to us.

If we're talking about MFC in the trenches I'm pretty sure we're France..

[ name=rjay" post="878551" timestamp="1391990382] Nah, the game needs people like Grant Thomas. The Lyon, Hutchie, Wilson show is much poorer for his absence. He had a few little digs but did say this. "Make no mistake he is the right appointment after previous 2 debacles and will be super for their future"

Said Roos is the right man for the job, but is sick of him telling everyone what a great coach he is. Went on to say, 'they were so bad they needed me, it shocked me into coaching them, they are so fortunate to have such a humble man for 1.5 mil a year'. I hated Roosy until he coached us with all his speak, now I live for it. Grant Thomas is a washed up sackee, who needs to keep himself relevant. But if it makes him feel better, I'll leave him be.

Hey Jarka, I'm DL7, last year I was disappointing, I just can't put enough time like I should so please open up my spot. That said I've had so much fun playing this and thanks to all the guys for the banter along the way!

Midfield of the whites, we're excellent, but even more impressive defending. The blues were simply unable to break through their press. Cross was perfect in his application of filling the hole, whilst Vince and Jones are so footy smart. Somewhat exciting when you think you're adding a fit Trengove (who during skills for me did look quicker today, not so much sprinting, but first 5 steps quicker), a developing Toumpas, a bull in Viney and whoever else raises their hand. Saw a few people comment on Matt Jones today saying what a good game he had for the Blues. I saw him very actively involved, and for him and Michie I felt like they would have looked alot better on the other team, with players moving for them, but I didn't see in MJ what others did. He is a fantastic accumulator, he gets to the right spots but his disposal by foot is so clumsy. They're not disastrous clangers, but its always a kick 1 meter behind or in front and a handball that bounces before it gets to them. Love his endeavour, but I'm not sure he's best 22. Blease was another who I have no opinion on up until today. He's always frustrated with his selfish one way football and poor tank, but today he was decent. He seemed to run hard, he gave many options and at times he was working hard to defend. It was encouraging. However, in the first period he made a classic Blease error where he ran hard to get a mark, had no options, rushed and kicked the ball straight out on the full from a completely uncontested situation. It was there when I realised he will surprise me if he is a mainstay in our team. Not sure if many paid attention given the game that was going on, but Viney was flat out embarrassing Riley in the running around the oval. He literally has only one attitude to football, and it's just to destroy whoever he's competing with. He was enjoying Riley's struggles. On that note, don't be expecting Riley for a while. His leg must be quite sore because his running fitness was not up to standard for a midfielder in today's limited rotations football. He's got 8 weeks to work on it never the less. Hogan worked hard today and was looking incredibly frustrated by the delivery or lack there of. When Strauss hit him with one of the lead outside 50, he almost let out an enormous ****! in relief. Salem I had no expectations for before, and he blew me away. His composure was fantastic given so little training, and his left foot is gorgeous. For the person above who asked about Dom Barry, he was disappointing in the game, but his skills in the training before hand were great. I was quite impressed. Evans also trained very well, and they seem to have him in the midfield group not half forward last year, but was also a little bit off in the match simulation. I personally prefer Strauss to Clisby and Terlich, someone earlier wrote that he butchered one which he did, but his footwork around the ground is unrivalled at our club. I say with absolute certainty he is the best kick at our club, both in execution and in technique. Flawless. In other battles today JKH is clearly our best FP. Shannon Byrnes offered absolutely nothing today and I was very disappointed. 43.. Who I believe is Harmes but could be Hunt was decent in defence. King looks raw but is sadly probably our most 'skilled' big man. Great kick on him. I'd say Jamar is our first ruck, with Spencer his back up at this point. Gawn blew up 2nd quarter. Anyone has any particular players they'd like to know about, happy to answer!

Just one quick one while it's still going, but I hate knowing people are there and wait till they get home. Skills training was good when I got there around 9.45. Full ground drill had very few errors, Nicholson and Toumpas really only ones to kick it short. More on that later. In the intraclub, white team has blues number considerably. Toumpas kicked 3,albeit on Westrupp. Vince, Salem, Cross and Jimmy been really good for them. For Blue, ball has looked alot like Dees last year. Stuck on HBF line. Strauss using it brilliantly only time it's getting out. Michie lots of it, but few turnovers. Hogan looked good, just not much of it. Skills dropped considerably in match play, which has been disappointing. However, trying to play to new style probably contributes. Lastly, the style may not be pretty but Cross' ball skills are perfect. Doesn't go far but he's accurate by foot.

PJ is so great for the Dees, but while he's being discussed I'm so impressed with what David Koch has done with PA. I have no interest in him on TV, but he's done for Port exactly what I want for Melbourne. He's put their name out there, in this guernsey saga he's put his foot down and said I won't settle for PA being the second club in this state. I hope in a few years Melbourne are doing the same and saying I don't stand to be compared with WB and Saints, we want to stand with Carlton Richmond etc.

Wow, safe to say after calling in sick to work and heading into Fed Square to watch the game, I'm absolutely smashed. I feel bad for Denver, it was like Adelaide in 2012, if you get a soft schedule it gets you into finals, but once there it really hurts you. They were given rubbish defences all year, and when they came up against us, it was like nothing they'd seen. They are far far better than a 43-8 team, but rolling the Pats depleted squad isn't ideal lead up. Never the less, amazing game and a great year. I didn't find out this thread till mid-year but I look forward to being the hunted next year! Go Hawks!

How do I find my score from last year?

I noticed the other day, a sticker type thing on Bigfooty profile's dictating a player sponsorship of your favourite player. What are the possibilities of the same concept being available on Demonland. Nasher & Demonland spoke about how this site runs at a loss and the costs pile up, if each player was available to purchase for a year starting at $2, and than a bidding process, it could be a fun way to make some money for Demonland. Your James Harmes would probably be available for $4 and who knows what anyone would be willing to pay for Mitch Clark's DL sponsorship for the year. $15-20 but best of all it's a donation to the website. Mods, you may be able to enlighten me the possibility of getting a 'Jack Grimes 2014 Sponsor' tag underneath where it says 'Annual Member' and whether this concept is even feasible. Also whether people would even be interesting in said idea, but it's Friday and I'm bored.