Buzzy

Strauss definitely out. Then either MacDonald or Bennell depending on team balance for who we play. I personally love what Bennell brings to the table. He just needs to bring more of it. He really does rack up Heffernan type stats... somewhere between 10-14 touches a week. Had impressive calf definition though did Heffernan, he wasn't all bad. It's amazing isn't it, just a few short weeks ago we had 11 of our best 22 out and I was fashioning a noose out of my shoelaces... but look at us now!* *subject to massive mood swing occurring next Friday.

Consider yourself advised. Also, I may as well pre-warn there will be some additional Morton threads appearing before the end of the season I suspect. My issue with Morton, in particular from the weekend's game: He's tall - and like many talls he isn't super quick over 15 mtrs, is slow to drop to boot and obviously has trouble with kicking technique (as mentioned). Too compound this though, he isn't strong in aerial contests as you would want a tall to be. Being that he's never going to be a KP player - he's a life midfielder right? So what is the benefit of his height as a midfielder? It's an attribute that just hampers him in honesty. I too just can't see a place for him in the hectic contested footy that is now being played. We need to take a hard line with players like Morton, I'm sure he wouldn't be playing if we didn't have injuries.

I watched it at an Aussie pub in Clapham, London.... predominantly smug Essendon crowd who were just delightfully shell-shocked at the result. LOVE BEATING THE BOMBERS!... more than any other team. Jordie Mckenzie's intensity noticeably stood out... I think Howe might be my new favourite player... ...and I personally raised the roof when Beamer kicked that long goal in the last minute.... Cracking win.... chew on that one bombers! I still count 8 out of our best 22 players not there.... who cares about next week... I'm reading every damn article I can find about this win and savouring every word!

Now: Jurrah. What a freak. Then: The Wizz. His intensity and desire to win was amazing - I wish some of our current players had his attributes... Remember the 9 goals in a half? He was telling Robbo to get the hell out of his space and jumping all over him. Also Tingay was such a champ... Just so reliable and always seemed to do the right thing.

Ohhhh god. I can't deal with this. ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC DEMONS. No more excuses. Very upsetting. I suspect the Demonland censors are going to have a fair bit of work keeping up with the barrage tonight!

this doesn't count all the kicks that Grimes never actually gets on to his boot for being so goddamn slow to wind up. He won't ever play midfield in my opinion, for this reason...and he's not a super quick decision maker or clever thinker in tight. I think you've underated Garland's kicking, I definitely have him up there with Frawley but at around 70... and Rivers is better than we think with his kicks... Those 3 are pretty similar...

the worst thing about it is that they don't even broadcast the footy in HD (like Foxtel and One do)... Basically everyone now owns these big beautiful LCD's and Plasma's and then we get a horrible grainy Standard Def footy game to watch on it. It's an absolute joke, that should just simulcast it on one of their other 'HD' channels like TEN do. Its 2011 FFS. Frankly, I'd like to let my demon out on them.

Great post. Talking sense post. I've read the article in the OP several times and almost every sentence makes no sense.... And how can anyone logically claim this as a fail or even 'not looking good' after only 2 rounds? Ridiculous. Injuries may or may not fluctuate but the more our game opens up (i.e less rotations) then the better it looks. Every year there's more and more congestion around the ball, I'm over it - the new rule goes some way towards fixing that. If Malthouse had his way the AFL would be glorified basketball from 50 to 50. He's a [censored] bag.

Newton? So that's why you're called the Clanger King. Wonna for Jetta is a good call though. Although Wonna is never fully fit is he.

Meh... It was mildly annoying but he's entitled to celebrate a goal... I'd like to think it was more directed at the administration than us poor old fans. Although if Brucey ever logged on here, his next goal celebration would probably include him whipping out a Melbourne jumper and setting it alight before dancing on it.

'Tapdog' is what I'm going with. Inspired by the movie/dance troupe, 'Tap Dogs'. A bunch of dudes, who tap dance. In a totally non-effeminate way. I can't imagine Luke in the movie but I like the name.

Liability may be harsh but I'm not a fan of Grimes. Probably close to our worst today and made some really sloppy errors last week too. Not sure the midfield is his destiny...courageous marking is his #1 strength - and he won't get as many opportunities in the midfield. Also, he tends to cough up the ball once tackled, whereas some other players still get a decent handball away...(Chris Judd style). Grimes is a blunt object who moves in pretty much straight lines - I don't think he has enough finesse to be a competent on-baller. Mind you at least he gets near the ball... Benell only had 8 possessions! I like his bag of tricks but that there is some Heffernan type stats.

Standing behind the goals, I just felt sorry for all the long suffering Melbourne supporters who have seen this rubbish year after year. The fact that we were outnumbered 3 to 1 at every contest just proved how gutless our running, tackling and accountability was today. The other thing, was the leading. It was non-existent. Watts, among others is very often about 10 metres out of range on the wing instead of being a target and we are continually dropping it on top of sitting ducks. 'Kick outs?' I prefer to call them '7 point plays' for the opposition. May as well torp it down the middle every time at this rate. I thought the turning point was Sylvia's showboating kick in the 3rd quarter from one side of the forward 50 to the other, which would have gained nothing even if it came off. Hawks intercepted and bang, goal. Then goal. goal. goal. goal. goal. etc. Lastly, I really don't like Grimes as a player. He's is an embarassment at times, his excruciatingly long wind-up before he kicks causes epic fails every week.. today he did one in the goal square with absolutely no awareness. I feel like we're lacking that really dependable inspirational player at the moment.... remember how confident you felt when the ball came towards Stephen Tingay? Well, when it comes near Grimes I cover my eyes. He either runs over it, he goes too hard at it and it bounces off his chest, or he wins it and scuttles backwards like a crab before spearing it laces out to an opposition player like he meant it. Definitely not 'good times' for me today I can assure you. Anyway, everyone was putrid today. But hey, at least the Bombers lost.... EEE HEEE.

Stuff Maric. He can be the sub at best, Petterd comes in full time. if Frawley comes back, probably Macdonald out. It was the hard in & under kind of game that Jones should have excelled in today... but he is on thin ice I think. Not sure who could come in for him just yet though.

We should have won. We absolutely dominated that last quarter. Area behind the goals was rocking. As good as he was today, Jamar's miss from 15 metres in the last quarter was just awful. We've seen ruckmen miss a lot of easy goals this weekend but I rated Jamar higher than that - maybe I expect too much for someone to run straight at the goals when having an incredibly important shot instead of veering off to the left and kicking that way too. What made it worse was, I dropped the mark behind the goals! Would you believe, the sun was in my eyes? FAIL. LOWLIGHTS: - Maric. Goodbye again for now. Butchered what should be an easy snap for a small forward. Can't handle the big time yet. - Petterd not playing the whole game. Didn't he look great. - Grimes kicking. - Jones. Hmm. If you're going to be slow and can't kick too well, at least be a good handballer. - Davey was down a bit I thought. Just has no desire to chase any more, what's with that? - The guy in the cheer squad that tries to start the 'Melbourne' chant year after year. Now he sits down after about 3 seconds. Maybe try something new. HIGHLIGHTS: - Stef Martin. Nice hands, did a bit. - Tappy debut was nice and hard... - Moloney was possessed. Leading the way. - Bennell is improving. I like. Frustrating day. I felt it was us losing it, not them winning it throughout the game. Hawks are going to come out steaming next week, hope we lift!

That was awful towards the end. Liked: Jurrah, Maric and some of Trengoves work. Joel Mac and Bartram hard at it. Disliked: Warnock, Watts, Martin and Jamar's shaky game and the constant deep backward kicking when the switch was NEVER ON. We're not that good yet boys. Everyone was a little off tonight. Bombers went harder. Umpires didn't help. Not going to read too much else into it. God I hate Essendon. Lets see them try and do that at the MCG.

Good, Jacky Watts.. Not sure how we won both of those, but I'm loving it! Maric is and will always be a VFL player at best...and Strauss looks similar in terms of decision making... Love Grimes defensive work..but I'm not totally sold on how good he is yet, he still occassionly gets that weird tunnel vision/slow wind-up kick that just goes to the most randomly bad spot. Hate it when our players try to fend off tackles... Have seen it fail a lot in the last 3 years... Unless your name is Jamar, Frawley or Sylvia don't bother trying! Apart from this one momentm Garland was impressive tonight. Jurrah makes me smile... but damn, I forgot how worked up I get watching the Dees play. It's only the NAB Cup! Poor neighbours. Real Deal Dees 2011.

I totally agree with this. Fact of the matter is that regardless of what transpired behind closed doors with these guys (which is all speculation), each of these champs were basically shoved out reluctantly and do feel disgruntled now, which is not a great way for their careers to end. Whilst Yze & White I can understand based on form, I thought Robbo & Jmac would certainly be in our top 10 for another year and Bruce for another 2 at least, not the paltry '1 more & then seeya' contract he was offered (thanks for the faith coach, he's not exactly injury prone). Yeah sure you've got to turn the list over, keep it fresh etc - but these 3 guys were not exactly liabilities and after their service they deserved to share in a few more wins - and hopefully finals next year...and if we don't make that far then the jury's out on these decisions. Seems most people on here aren't exactly sentimental - I wonder who will everyone bash now Bruce is gone? Step up to the plate Cale Morton you're in big trouble next year son.

This is Bad. Sure he wasn't amazing - but provided crucial rebound whilst shutting down an opponent, week after week. He deserved more than a 1 year contract. Giving him only 1 year meant he could be pushed out at the end of next year, even when he knew his body would still very likely be fine. Just like poor J-Mac last year. Awful way to treat him. We forget how many games our legends like Robbo & J-Mac won us, we should be backing them in when they say they're right to go around again. Maybe we should focus on that rather than keeping hacks like Newton around the club. I mean, c'mon. Like he deserves to share in our success? This upsets me. Club champions should get more than 1 year contracts if there is nothing wrong with them. Poor form Bailey.

No room for Watts in your starting 2011 team? If he's fit he'll be in there without a doubt, are you assuming he'll have no further improvement even with a full pre-season? Everyone has their opinions obviously but wouldn't you hope and expect him to be in?

Smashed Hodge, kicked a goal, 9 TACKLES, 150 Supercoach points (Game high for either side EASILY). Gee I don't know mate, how did he possibly get in the best?

just saw the guys sing the song - I think this game meant a lot to them! We seemed to be controlling posession even after half time, but both team pushed extra numbers back. Brisbane knew we wanted the corridor so Lions basically had 2 loose players sitting on our 50 gobbling up the ball. We also butchered the ball coming inside 50, but Jurrah was hopelessly out of touch and kept going to ground so wasn't providing a good target. We should have nailed a couple of running goals which would have ended the game much earlier. Our field kicking was good in general but when we did stuff it up they seemed to catch us on the break. All in all, we lacked polish and composure when it mattered .... but the luck went our way with some nice frees! Great work from Garland, Bartram, Jones and Dunn with 3 classy goals. Hard to watch but great outcome interstate. It's a sloppy old flag but it's high flying.

LEGEND!!!!

this is so awful we deserve to lose. CMON DUNN

Trengove turns it over as much as anyone. This game is frustrating. We're being done over on the counter attack and going back the other way we are sloppy. Only Garland seems to be playing well. Bartram & Jones are having a crack. JURRAH - LIFT!!!