Mad_Melbourne

I thought the last few weeks he has been playing as a winger, being used as an outlet but also sliding into the stoppage to create space. This role gives him the ability to drift forward, but also slide down into the loose man. His greatest ability is to have time and space and his lateral movement of late has created a lot more of this.

Will be an interesting prospect coming into the game after the bye as no player deserves to be dropped. Whilst Riley as the sub didn't get much of the ball he continually dug in and each 3 of his possessions were score involvements which is pretty impressive. JKH and Fitzy played well in the VFL, Hogan definitely will not be playing VFL and the "obvious" changes that people would have thought performed more than adequately. What this week highlighted: Chris Dawes is actually a much more important player than people who label him "concrete hands" will have anyone believe. His ability to fight for the ground ball, compete in the air, lead on the ground but also create space through correct leading patterns is vital for the function of our forward half. Angus Brayshaw is going to be a superstar and Stretch and ANB do not look too shabby either. Midfield accountability goes along way to getting the job done. Max Gawn will be first choice ruckman for the next 10 years, providing he can keep injury free, would love to see him get a few summers under his belt. Melbourne are most definitely on the up, despite people saying that our loss from last week has shown how little the club has improved, we have the makings of a top 4 team in 3-5 years

I don't disagree, you are. But seriously, who would we be available to trade for that is better, in your opinion? I honestly don't see what has given you the thoughts that he is not going to be the future of our key back stocks All 17 other clubs would definitely look to trade him in

Yeh, there aren't many better options under 25 for key position back/ probably not many better in the comp. Despite having some poor form in the last few weeks, he was not too bad this week. Completely irrational post

I still think you have the stat wrong, on the MFC website it has Dawes on Average and total ahead of him, but its only by a minimal amount as Fitzy has only taken one mark in our forward line this year due to him playing as a backman. I have liked what i have seen of Fitzy down back this year and I think its the kind of thing where if I was Roosy I would not throw him into the forward line as it looks like he is actually playing decent football in the defensive role. When I am talking about limited success I am talking about his whole career leading up to this one, the games he played as a ruck/forward were pretty poor and I think that he is actually getting some continuity in his football as a backman. As for Dawes, I think his competitive streak and lead up work is what sets him apart from all of the other options, whilst his marking is not the best, I still think he has a spot in our best 22 for his presenting up the field as a target alone. Do I think this is his spot for 2 or so more years, not if he doesn't improve but this year, with all of the injuries currently also, there is no way we can not select him as a forward if he is ready to play. Michie played his best football last year across half back, whilst i agree he is slow, it is more just to give him one more shot this week. He is not going to be a midfielder in our team and half back is a spot which we need to sure up. That said i think his time is up at Melbourne but who knows. The JKH comment was just meant to be in general, i could not be bothered throwing the multi quote in, sorry

This post is a bit confusing to e honest with you, I personally do not think Dawes is as bad as the whole of demonland thinks, I do agree that he will drop several marks that he should take but he will definitely help to create space in the forward line for Jesse and also draw considerable attention. At the very least Dawes presents continually and it is something that we desperately need, because we have struggled with that get out kick from our back half. The thing that i reckon Dawes does really well in comparisson to most of our team is that when the ball is kicked to him he competes and breaks even, whether it is holding the ball in or forcing it accross the boundary. If Dawes is fit enough to play out the game he is brought in to CHF without question, and i think even if he is a little underdone he may well be brought in. Highlighted stat is wrong. We have seen how Fitzy goes as a permanent forward and he is uncompetitive and he is showing potential in the back half, so if there is a match up for him then it is fair to assume he will come in and hopefully continue to play his role/beat his opponents. With Grimes out, maybe Michie can move to the back flank where he had limited success, but at the same time i am not overly convinced on his utput and still think i would prefer Jones and Bail in ahead of him. JKH will not play, 50% game time in the Casey 2s does not equal AFL call up EDIT: IN: Dawes, Bail OUT:Pedo, Grimes

I agree, I just think for the most part what I have seen has not shown that he has any attributes that put him as AFL standard. Bail and Jones have fitness and speed at an adequate level and I personally see them having more of a chance of keeping a spot on the list than Michie. He cramped up after 60% game time if I recall, I just think that Bail and Jones at least play roles in the side effectively. I don't think any would be playing with a full compliment but I think they are ahead of him.

We all know Bail and Jones are not the solution, but they are the best of a bad bunch. If it wasn't for Newtons concussion I wod suggest him, but Michie is on the delist pile I think that Jones and Bail are better options anyway. Even though he was just the sub he was genuinely poor and came on and was more of a liability than anything else.

I agree It was also abundantly clear that we were missing his presenting up the ground in the last quarter, that being said Pedersen was off the ground injured so we had no bail out kick option. IN: Dawes, M. Jones OUT: Pedersen, Michie

This is exactly the issue. We used the handball really well but it was often to another stationary target, the use of the handball to two or three stationary options leads to unwanted pressure and fumbling. Obviously it can be used to draw in the opposition to create the space for the runners but we often did not take proper advantage of the space available.

Hogans only flaw is his kicking distance, which is something that can improve with time and strength, but at the end of the day I am not worried about him taking shots from 50 as he is incredibly reliable from inside 40m. He has a presence and that is something rare from a 20 year old, I loved seeing him crash the pack in the last quarter and as he was jogging down the field keep looking back to make sure the St Kilda player was slow to get up.

The benefits of full pre seasons are abundantly clear with Jimmy. He has had a stinking run with injuries and im hoping he can keep his body in check and his improvement and form will continue as well. He works hard and uses the football really well, which help create the foundations of a good footballer. Here's hoping he can continue his form and work ethic of the last 4-5 weeks.

I honestly dont understand how anyone cannot see the genuine potential that Melbournes list has for the near future. I don't think we have ever had a list in the last 5-8 years where if we had 10 or so injuries to players who would no doubt be starting or pushing for spots and still be competitive in every facet of the game. Our midfield won, our forward line arguably performed better but we struggled to run it out of the backline. In one bit of play where everything that could go the way of the Saints did and that is why it went from one end to the other but we will learn. I am gutted with the loss, but the transition our list has gone through whilst Roos and Taylor have been on board is phenomenal. We will claim a scalp this year I can see it coming

It's all about impact as the sub and his 29% of game time was the worst of any on the ground. Not that he doesn't have potential and I do not like to bury players but I honestly think he is not up to it. He is a A grade VFL player but he is yet to show consistently that he is of an AFL standard. His disposal is not great at all, it's his effort around the ground that is usually pretty good. I think we saw the last game of AFL Michie will play for a while, but who knows.

In terms of using the ball it was his best game, in terms of one on one contests and keeping his opponent under wraps I think it was pretty poor and usually it's the other way around. I have been a fan of Grimes for the most part, but today he consistently looked slow against every opponent I think it proved to me a bit more why Salem has been selected ahead of him. He is not able to play on the smalls, just seemed to consistently lose his opponent

Can't see how you are going to make a post worse than this. The only way for you is up! Played plenty of kids this week, including 4 first year senior players. Watts again showed what he can do. Players who looked average where a few of the older players. Stupid

Michie: worse than (insert) bail or m jones Neal-Bullen: probably wasn't ready Grimes: genuinely a liability Toumpas: continues to impress Roos: flood the backline

Definitely concussion

Spent a chunk of time on the bench, had an issue with his ankle, was treated by the medicos and then got back on but battled after that, also he had 9 touches

It was a combination of both, in the first half he was happy to have the loose in our backline, but from half time onwards he wanted us to go to a 7 man forward line and man up the loose man. The second point about protecting the marking space was something i was surprised about on game day, but the collingwood players did it really well and its something we need to do better in our backline when we have the loose.

I think from how Roos has spoke at all the pressers he will not want to make many changes but there will obviously be two forced changes and I have also heard that Newton suffered a bit of an ankle injury and whilst he spent a fair bit of time on the bench was also able to play the game out, so dependent on recovery and a fitness test could determine his ability to play. Selection is always an interesting prospect but not going to be upset with any changes that occur. Tyson, then any of Michie, Grimes, ANB, Stretch or Rohan Bail dependent on roles that will be required and way we are looking to work the team. I don't think Harmes will be played. I would personally think that two mids coming in is the best idea and letting Lumumba spend more time in the backline in a role similar to Garland could be the case but who knows.

They also spoke a little bit about this on AFL 360, Bucks commented on how Roosy used the wings on the weekend and said it was quite an important move into winning the clearances. Personally I loved seeing Watts getting a few clearances, looked to move really well in traffic and then gave it off to the best option, but the restarts that we were able to generate throughout the game was what kept us going. Who'da thought that a midfield consisting of Sidebottom, Swan and Pendlebury would be beaten comprehensively by Melbourne, just shows the changes in not only personel but also confidence from the last 6 years.

In terms of who is our best AFL ruckman at current it is Jamar. In terms of who is it most important we get games into this year it's Gawn/Spencer Gawn getting 50 + games under his belt is pivotal and he desperately needs to increase his match fitness and match sense. The fitzy tunnelball goal resulted directly from him attempting to mark it on the goal line, should have spoilt it over. He will learn.

Was a cork, which was why they let him play the rest of the game. There is no way if there was even a slight suspicion of fracture they would have kept him playing.

I agree with both points and I also think it is something that can come, if he can continue to improve and show games like WB and Collingwood then he will have a spot on our list and I think he has a really good foundation to improve from if his effort is going to be of this level consistently.