Dee-licious

I have been thinking about this a heap in the past 24 hours. Especially on the wing which is clearly an area we lack. I have been trying to find someone from another club we could get to get the ball on the outside and deliver inside 50. Then it dawned on me, we have him, he played there at the start of the year and was brilliant until Lever went down. Christian Salem. Beautiful kick, good break away speed, tackles like a champ. I feel if we can find a half back flank player to replace him (maybe Fritch, maybe Hunt) and can move him to play in the forward half of the ground we are instantly a better team. I think this trade period isnt going to be that exciting for us as we are going to rely on natural improvement, rather than quick fixes.

@david_neitz_is_my_dad great photos - could really see how many people were there!

@Satyriconhome you made it on tv as well.

He is playing well in the back pocket and starting to be more attacking. Could see a rookie list position (maybe), but he is behind Lever, Hunt, Smith and Wagner to come into the backline - so possibly he might also look elsewhere for opporuntities as well? What I do love is every time someone got selected for their first game this year he was always in the video hugging them. Seems like a great team man.

It’s actually quite good for training for future years. What I also love is that it is something they are doing together (everyone is important etc). Also means no extra pressure on one or 2 players. I really like the idea.

Geelong struggled with 2 mobile key talls. Hawthorn are scrambling now to come up with a second key defender. Imagine if they had to find a third. Game styles evolve based on your best 18 players. We happen to have 7 talls in ours who are all mobile and endurance beasts. Might be tough in the wet but on a dry day in September, talls get taller in the 4th.

Could win the most Melbourne post of the year. I'm very jealous! But I'm sure that a win tonight will overcome that

Jack Viney leads the league in centre clearance average (yes he’s missed most the season and I’m cherry picking). You don’t leave number 2 (dusty) 3 (Cripps) 4 (Mitchell) or 5 (Fyfe) out of the centre square - Viney won’t be left out either.

Hi All - there have been a few questions around finals eligibility for the VFL so thought I would answer them. For those interested, here is the VFL finals rules, the games played in VFL, and the games played in AFL. Easiest way for eligibility is if the Dees are still in the finals, anyone can play VFL. Under the horrible situation where we might not make it that far, this is the 18 eligible players we have on offer: B: Petty Frost* Johnson HB: J. Wagner Keilty J. Smith C : Baker Hunt McKenna HF: Pederson T. Smith Hannan** F: Garlett Weideman Filipovic R: King JKH Bugg * Frost will become ineligible if (when) we get to the semis. ** If Hannan plays VFL this week rather than AFL, he is eligible It is actually a very strong side when you think that VFL players Wagner, Lockhart, Munro, Hutchins, Scott, Machaya, Stockdale, White, Gent, Lok and Freeman have all done really well this year. Hopefully Weid and Frost wont see a game in the VFL for the rest of the year as they will be too busy winning in September with Melbourne.

Good point and lets say half of this year or post-Lever year. Last year he was selected before Jetta in round 1 (shock to us all) and was talked up as an important player for us that season. As you said, lasted a quarter, out for 12 weeks, 1 game in the VFL, in the AFL for 2 games, dropped to the VFL and got injured and out for the season. I've got him down as 7 games this year in the VFL leading into round 12 / Lever going down. You are right another year spoilt with injury, but based on selection preferences over the last 2 years, the coaches seem to prefer him rather than not. (b) A Player who has played in an AFL Home and Away Match after 1 July in the relevant season will be ineligible to play in VFL Senior Grade Finals Series Matches unless that Player has played in a combined total of at least six (6) VFL Senior Grade Home and Away Matches in the same season.

Been thinking about this binman. 3 changes is a lot, but if it was Lever, Hogan and Viney we wouldn’t be batting an eye lid over it and I think we need to see the same with Smith. He was best 22 for most of this year and even last year they saw him as best 22 (until injury struck in round 1). So I feel if he is fit they want him in the side. In my mind, JKH and Kent are out. Viney is in, and then it’s a question of Hannan or Smith. Does Fritch offer more than Hannan in the forward line? Does Smith offer more in the backline than Fritch? Great conversations we are having now rather than who do we bring in to replace yeh rabble we have playing.

Hey @Neitz the Great - same here if need be. Glad it will go to good use (I'm MCC, but like getting the MFC one as well).

6. Harmes - set the tone early and beat Shuey head to head. Really proving me wrong about his abilities. 5. Gawn - The radio are now talking about how Lycett was taught a lesson today.... yeah he was. 4. Melksham - amazing job on McLovin' and also 4 goals. How good is this guy. 3. Brayshaw - 10 tackles - and just dominated in and around the contest. 2. Salem - so composed throughout the entire game. Has Pendles sort of time out there. 1. Oliver - I think the only player who has gotten over 20 touches with the Hutchins tag.

Some odd shots on goal for him, but gee he was good. For such a young forward, he was clunking them!

Box Hill respond after some terrible work from Casey. Started with Bugg chipping a kick on our forward 50 for no apparent reason and then Wagner making a bad cross. Just terrible work.

Lockhart gets it back to 12 with really fast ball movement. Not sure who from the back 50, so it was Freeman to Matchya, to Wagner to Lockhart. Great ball movement.

Melbourne listed players to half time: Garlett: Cannot see him playing for the dees again this year. 2 ineffective touches, no tackles, 0 chasing. He is very lucky that Goody isnt at the ground. Garlett was moved around the ball now, but still not having an impact. Petty - I've been really happy with his game. Used and read the ball really well and looks like he has a good future in front of him. Kielty - been strong in the contest but doesnt seem to get as much of the football - seems to be more stopping. Johnson - love his run and drive. Could easily see him getting another 1 year contract. I think that he is developing the part of the game Jetta struggles with - that run and carry. Bugg - In and under but seems to be there at the stoppage and then you dont see him until the next stoppage. McKenna - if you see him let me know. I watched today to see him and he has barely been sighted. Smith - started really well, but has kicked 0.3 and really should have nailed those ones. Wagner - really clean when others arent and has really shown some great skills. King - Out of the 2 ruckman, he is the one I'd be keeping. Great jump, tackling hard, and showing some good signs around the ground. Flip - good tap work but not as much around the ground.

Lucky goal for Lockhart. 2 Box Hill player bang into each other and Lok picks up the loose ball and gets it to Lockhart.

Tempo just went up with another goal from Box Hill. Felling more like the Demons are there to top up Casey rather than the other way around. Lockhart, Matchya, Lok, Wagner, Gent doing most of the heavy lifting.

@Diamond Jim you are right with Jeffy. I dont know what he does at this level. I'm not sure if he is playing deep or what is going on - he has been on the screen so I know he is there, but very rarely on the screen. Johnson working his way into another year contract. His speed and kick off half back is quite nice - needs work and is still a little headless chook like, but he's had 3 so far and had a few great tackles as well. Box Hill all the attack for the second quarter thus far (6:40 in). 12-10 the wind playing havoc.

9 - 9 at Quarter Time. Heathily out for Box Hill with a hamstring. The wind is horrid - a lot of balls already out on the full (not us, Box Hill). Bugg - he has had a good quarter but it is Matt Jones-esc. Really solid and plays well, but there is nothing that screams - I'm ready to head back to the AFL. I dont know what we do with him. I guess he'll be on the trade table, but I dont know what happens with him now. Wagners - both really good and wouldnt be anti getting Corey on our list - all the things you already know about them. They can kick, run and put on pressure. Good back up. Thought that King and Flip had really good quarters, competed really well in the ruck and on the ground as well.

Flip down to Wagner to Mitch White and strait through. 9 - 7.

Missing Weideman badly. We dont have great forward structure today without him. Mitch White playing the deep forward. We've kicked 3 behinds to 1. Nothing exciting to report other than a scrappy contest. Petty looking good around our the top of our forward 50 - keeping the ball in our forward 50 (tackles and marks). He looks so composed at this level and hopefully he will get the same confidence at AFL level. King alright thus far today. I had him on the chopping block, but we need to keep one of them and he is really putting together a nice little game. Tim Smith just looks like a star at this level. I remember why we loved him back a few years ago. Corey Wagner should be on a list next year. Great running and great pressure. Tackles like a beast.

11 AFL listed players with JKH and Pedo travelling. Really tight game thus far - there isnt a lot of class on show. (He says as Tim Smith has a beautiful lead). Bugg playing inside mid today.

Also for those who are interested: 2014: Dom Tyson 2015: Hogan, Lever, Brayshaw, Viney 2016: Hogan, Lever, Trac, Viney, Kent, Hunt 2017: Hunt, Oliver, Trac, OMac, Lever 2018: ANB, Harmes, Trac, Oliver, Brayshaw, Fritch Although it’s not finals, it’s an indication that we actually have good players now (earlier versions of the 22 under 22 were not good reading for us). 13 players have been nominated in the last 5 years: Backs: Lever, OMac, Hunt Mids: Brayshaw, Oliver, Viney, Harmes, Tyson, Forwards: Hogan, Trac, Fritch, ANB, Kent add AA squad recipients Gawn, Hibbard, Garlett, Jetta (and Lever) ..... it’s not a bad 18 players with captain Jones. The arguments above are right - our “core” is sooooooo young and we aren’t really ready for another year - but here is hoping a final or 2 this year!