Grandson of a gun

Yeah i agree but he is filling an area for us nicely at the moment...

Very vague statement Gotzy. How about you be a little more specific...what is the definition of not making it as a player???

He is hard at it. He is quick and solid. He is a good tackler and he can be damaging himself... the perfect prototype for a tagger and hopefully he continues to develop in the manner we have all seen. There is a lot to like about this kid...

Yeah it means nothing. You're kidding yourself. It is an accurate reflection of whether his disposals actually went were they were meant too. No one said he is a star. No one is professing he is a star. No one is saying he is the next Chris Judd or will carry Melbourne on his shoulders to a flag. He is honest. And he works a hell of a lot harder and generally provides more for the Demons than many do or will ever give him credit for because everyone needs to have a whipping boy...

My signature says it all. But i also love what Ro Bail brings....

Like any AFL team, if you don't turn up with your mind switched on 100% then you will be made to look a fool. Dean BAiley was very clear on this in his Post Match interview. If they switch their minds on from the word go next week then we will be fine, if they do not then we will be in real trouble...

To those who keep harping on about his skill errors he had a disposal efficiency of 81% today. Behind only Rivers on 90% and LJ on 83%... This bloke will never get the credit he deserves from posters round here. Sylvia misses a target, Green misses a set shot and no one bats an eyelid, Jones misses one and he is a hack. Jones is one of the few Melbourne players who week in week out puts his body on the line and has a real crack. He hadn't been in great form before today but worked his way through the rough patch and was ONE of only a FEW players who stepped up when we needed. I feel that many here like Hannabal can't see past the end of their nose and take the blinkers off to what blokes like he and Moloney bring to the team. YES in two years he/they might struggle for a game, but until our midfield group come on enough and actually show the same desire for the contest that he shows, he deserves his spot in the team.

This kid has class. Like Chip last week he is very rusty. It wasn't a great decision to have him as a sub, if anything he should have started with the view to being subbed off later in the game. We are not building for the premiership or top 4 this year. And finals would be stretching it a bit. We ARE STILL BUILDING this year to develop a team capable in the FUTURE, 2012-13 and beyond. Morton is a part of that and like many, just needs to be given game continuity. I fear for many around here who have set there expectations way too high. Get ready for more heartache this season people.

Yes Maurie but if you or anyone else has played the game you should understand that there is a mammoth difference between running fitness and MATCH fitness. If you have doubts, look at Chippa last week. Morton never played a pre-season game, that's why there is question marks. Morton for sub.

Perhaps the first half of your first sentence says it all. I bet you and many on here also wouldn't understand the varous roles Jones is assigned each week which may not net him huge possessions, but may actually influence the game by restricting the bloke he is on... I can't believe how much Jones hatred exists around here.....

Really surprised with Petterd and Morton. Thought for sure Morton was going to run at Casey this week- shows how much i know!!! Petterd is stiff and i wonder if there is perhaps a slight niggle that he would have been ok to carry into a 4 interchange game but the club won't risk it with only 3 interchange? In any event i am happy with the ins and am looking forward to Sunday. Good luck to Maric, Jetta, Petterd, Bate, Blease, Strauss and Warnock at Casey. The better all of these blokes play the better it will make us as a whole because of the pressure for spots they will put on.

This will be two in a row OD. Couldn't agree more. His first two games have been very good considering where he's come from and what expectations were. He is playing the second ruck role very well at the moment and the club is right to persist with him in that role. It is good that Juice kicked a few. Kick a few more this week and next and show that it isn't a one hit wonder and then the pressure will really be on and he will force his way into the team. Given Juice's history, let's see him repeat it consistently for a few weeks first before we go rushing him into the team...

It is a great initiative by the club to put this out there and give the supporters an understanding of where exactly things are at. it also re-inforces the point that this kid works much harder than many give him credit for in games. Here's looking forward to a few birdies to come this year!!!

Here's a shock for you Old Dee, I AGREE! Changes will be made and i think we are on the same page when we suggest that it will be one or both of Maric and Jetta who go out. If they do let's hope they really fight hard back at Casey and put in some top performances to force their way back in!

That was gold Little Goffy...

It might actually pay for many on here to actually watch this weeks Whiteboard Wednesday on the clubs webite. Schwab explains the thinking and goal setting of the footy department with reference to the weekend and with reference to the "premiership window" the club is building towards. It is very informative and may educate a few that on here are prone to rash comments with no real substance or thought. Some people will never be pleased. If Hawthorn had have kicked 3 more quick goals Davey would have been lambasted for not slowing the play down. And when he does slow it down because he recognised the swing against us, he is still the culprit who cost us the game. Give me a break.

Like The Ox, Daniel's wife sounds like an amazing woman and i wish their whole family all the best in the recovery.

100% correct E. ...furthermore, Darling has already begun filling out his frame yet Cook hasn't even come close to filling out yet. Yet time and time again, supporters of every club and especially a few here on Demonland fail to understand this and expect these kids to tear the competition a new one from day 1. Dawes used to frustrate the hell out of Collingwood supporters. For 3 years i heard about how he was a waste of talent and size. The BOOM. It's amazing what can happen with a little patience and faith that those who are charged with building our club up are actually doing their job properly...and not flip flopping every 5 minutes like the uninformed. Well said.

And you are correct- after 2 games you cannot make any form of logical assessment and there IS a reason 15 other clubs bypassed him... Also: Darling- 191cm 87 kilos. Hurley- 193cm 92 kilos. Melbourne drafted two All Australian Centre Half Forwards and two other big lumps of lads. What more did you want? Cook- 196cm 81 kilos Watts- 196cm 91 kilos Fitzpatrick- 200cm 93kilos McDonald- 194cm 88 kilos They will only get bigger too....... Take a break buddy and look at the situation logically before posting like that again... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Your post doesn't make sense either Jerry- "I am starting to get the feeling we have a plan of drafting athletic versatile types"- yes "whilst overlooking anyone with a slight query of character, speed or athleticism." How can we be drafting versatile, quick athletic blokes on one hand but then be overlooking them on the other???

Agree with both you and Mallee Bull on this. And people might now be realising how big a loss Jordie McKenzie is. He doesn't have a huge frame but he is a tackling, stoppage, clearance machine. Hopefully we can get him back soon. Then our midfield will start to look more damaging.

Back onto the original topic................ I don't see wholesale changes being made. I see Maric and Jetta as the likely two to go. Replacing them will be Gysberts and Wonna. I don't think they will bring Morton straight back in to the seniors. I know a finger injury doesn't preclude keeping up a fitness base but it doesn't allow for match practice and as we saw with Chippa, players clearly need a week or two to blow out the cobwebs. The only other possible change would be Garland out injured for McDonald or Warnock. Jones won't be dropped because that will just make our midfield even lighter on for strength. Something we can ill afford. And he is playing a run with role at the moment where he will have good weeks and bad. I see Bail taking on Black Jones taking on Power.

Yep. Democratic society it is. And in that society, if you make stupid uninformed comments expect to cop it. Age has no bearing on things and does not give any more credence to you or others and what is said or posted. I respect a good point made, regardless of the age of the person who made it... Having seen a good 25 years i reckon i've seen a bit too. Perhaps it is these "old values" or "elitism" that has been the problem with MFC for the last 46 odd years. Not everything Old Dee. I like the last line! You don't need to apologise to me or anyone else for your opinions. As you say......moving on.

Cause none wanted to go to a team not yet in the finals picture. When we are we will become a more attractive proposition. Stop fretting...

Don't bring logic into this Deemolition.

No he was playing hop scotch.............