Pates

And about to do Sweet Home Alabama karaoke!

I read that just before, really puts things into perspective. All the best to him in his recovery.

I'm sure they wouldn't risk him if he wasn't right, he played in the match sim last week so fitness wise he's good to go.

Well I gotta say the club has stooged me on this one. I was sure Gus was going to come back in and then words were that he was going to come through the VFL but now he's back in. Welcome to 2016 AFL Gus! Lumumba is a bit of a surprise but his run out of defence suits our evolving style so it's a good chance to show us his worth. I think Oscar being rested is good for him and the team, I still feel he needs more work on his body strength but he's improving. Dunn has a fight on his hands to get back in the 22, as does a few others force their way in/retain positions. Competition for spots, isn't it awesome!

I know grand scheme of things it's nothing but it is one of my annoyances about us EVERY YEAR playing an away game to this mob. That plus the fact we miss potential good gate takings, it's an annual frustration.

I feel sick thinking about it but I would imagine they would start with the rotating Frost/Pedo combo, neither of the Kings are physically ready from what I have heard. I actually wanted us to hang on to Jamar as a player/coach sort of role, just in case Gawn and Spencer went down. I understand why they didn't go with that as it has the potential to stunt the development of the younger ones but if Gawn goes down we will be in a lot of trouble in the ruck division.

We keep winning, that is step 1 to retaining Jesse. He sees good things happening here I think he'll want to stay.

The closer we get the more I think we may well go in with no changes. Aside from Petracca and Trenners no one seemed to play extremely well in the intraclub match simulation, I heard on Fox Footy that they are likely to give Brayshaw a run in the VFL, and from the sounds of it OMac might well get up for the game on Saturday. While I would like to see our best 22 played I think it's a good thing from Roos/Goodwin/match committee to back the same boys in to get the job done again. Hopefully at the VFL there'll be several outstanding performances that force others to perform in the seniors. Casey will be looking very good this week; Brayshaw, Lumumba, Dunn, Trengove, Petracca etc, the first few in particular you'd expect to get full match time.

At the risk of opening Pandoras Box I'm curious to hear what people think of the choice to replace Gary with a female host in Rebecca Maddern. Personally I haven't watched much of The Footy Show in the last 2 years because of work and also it's quite frankly become stale and repetitive. The format would go: off the top the breaking or big story, if it was racial, sexist, or a social commentary type issue Sam would have his two bobs worth while pointing his hand at the camera while he gets the applause from the masses. The panel would have their say, of which they would only say 10% of what they actually want to say for risk of getting fined or in general hot water, Shane or Billy would have their say and end with a weak attempt at a joke. That's segment 1 in a nutshell and it would take about an hour before they actually start to talk footy. I feel like her inclusion could go either way. It could reinvigorate the show with fresh ideas and perhaps a wider audience, or it could turn away it's current audience looking for something just simply blokey to watch without a care in the world. Personally I'll give it a go when I get the chance to watch, if nothing else just to see how Sam deals with it!

I'm not gonna lie, there is a nagging voice in the back of my head warning me not to get ahead of myself on this and to be prepared for us to somehow choke on this game. But there is a more important image that pops into my head, the image of Viney, Hogan, Oliver, Watts, Gawn etc and the look on their face after the GWS win. They desperately want that feeling again, and I think the competitive beasts we have at our club will accept nothing more than our best on the weekend, and if that happens we'll win big. This game is a golden opportunity for Hogan, who until the 4th quarter has been a bit off kilter, to regain his form and confidence. I hope the club builds on Clarry's minutes and unleashes him against the depleted Dons mindfield, and I wanna see Jack Viney smash everyone one of them into the turf (he can go a little easier of Jamar if he likes). As Jako said, this game will be won/lost/won big between the ears of the Dees squad.

I still think if Petracca is given a clean run for when he debuts he could romp it home. But boy Clarry more than put up his hand!

Can someone create a time machine so Jack and Todd can play against each other. Who would win that battle? Also Happy Birthday Todd!

While I agree, I think there is only so long that excuse can fly. He's had more than ample time to recover from his first QB and while Neeld wasn't exactly a confidence booster he is now into his 3rd year with Roos and it's fair to say it's been up and down. One of the other issues with him is that coaches have been desperately trying to figure out what he is as a player. So he's been thrown into every role bar ruckman to work it out. He was recruited as the standout key forward, but maybe he was actually always a 2nd or 3rd key forward. With Watts in the forward line with Hogan by his side and even with Pedo/Frost as another big body it actually makes a lot of sense why he can now be successful. I'm optimistic about him this year. It has all the ingredients for it to click consistently for him and for the team, but let's see how this thread is traveling after round 4/5.

This doesn't happen very often but I think we can forgive his below 20 possie game because of the corkie he got. He looked in considerable amounts of pain immediately after it and was very clearly hampered for the 2nd quarter and much of the 3rd. That he was able to come out the other side of that in the 4th is a credit to him, one which I'm not sure he would've had the fortitude to do in previous years. But you are right, the more he gets the ball and delivers lace out to Hogan the better! Also wasn't it great to see him back his pace and agility that we heard so much about in his early days!

Going on past experiences, Roos doesn't like changing much up after a win if he can help it, but if fit we should be playing best 22 whenever possible. Brayshaw is best 22 and if he puts in a good week on the training track I reckon it'll be hard to not bring him in regardless of the opposition. The Bombers are to be underestimated at every teams peril, they have brought in some very decent players to cover (albeit at the twilight of their career) and there will be a day or two where everything clicks for them. They will also be riding emotions of the fans as it's the first game in Melbourne (not at their home but ours ). I hope that last years debacle against them is seared into each players brains because our boys should be looking for redemption for last year, and dare I say it revenge for many previous years. It will always be an unlucky player who gets dropped after a win, but if the best is available you play the best. I think Dunn will come in for OMac, and someone very unlucky will make way for Brayshaw. (I suggested M Jones earlier but apparently not! )

I was not expecting the crowd to break 25,000 (hell even getting close to that wasn't in my mind). But off the back of a very positive pre-season, a debuting gun, and just that confidence that this could be an enjoyable year, the faithful really showed up. Well done to everyone that was there, the atmosphere, especially at the final siren, was electric and I was extremely jealous I couldn't be there!

That's all I was asking for, an actual analysis that made intelligent points as opposed to just a smartipants GIF that tells me nothing. I will confess I was not at the game, I was watching nervously on my phone. But prior to round 1 I would've had Brayshaw in over M Jones and what I saw of the game he didn't do a lot, I didn't see him do a lot wrong for that matter. Hence my comment. I agree Harmes was pretty ineffectual and he should be in consideration for being dropped, but for me it's not like for like (if Brayshaw comes in for him).

Well deserved. Honestly I wasn't too worried if he didn't get it this week, it was only a matter of time. Some crucial clearances in the final quarter and a simply outstanding first half. Congrats Clarry!

Are you a Melbourne member? If so it's a substitute game. I'm sorry but those who "boycott" the game because they don't want to contribute to Essendon are missing the point, if you are a member then that excuse doesn't fly. And if you aren't a member then get on board, or pay to support YOUR club and stuff the bombers. I'm missing it because of work, I'd give anything to go watch it live.

Care to elaborate on this most hilarious of GIFs? Exactly which part do you disagree with the fact that Brayshaw is close to a walk up start or that Matt Jones could be dropped and didn't do too much wrong?

Brayshaw comes in, that's a certainty, Matt Jones would be most likely dropped and he should feel like he didn't do too much wrong. O'Mac on crutches at the end of the game, I'd be very surprised if he got up/club would rush him. Dunn is the most logical replacement unless we look at a reshuffle with Pedo/Frost rotating in the backline and we bring in a forward. Lumumba would surely be in consideration as well. Whatever happens I just want Daniher to be goalless, I still can't believe both he and Cloke kicked accrurately against us last year!

I'm on board with the "smashing them into the turf" idea, like DemonAndrew there is a nagging fear in the back of the brain that we'll find a way to loose this. Arrogance was their undoing, arrogance was our undoing last year against them. They can have their solidarity march, they can have an applause for the banned players, they can cry me a river if they want; I just want us to win and if we bury them into our home ground turf that will cause them more pain than us fans could even dream of.

I hate saying this, but I do see a bit of Jack Reiwoldt in Hogan with regard to attitude. The tigers fans experienced it with Richo and as he retired up bobbed Jack doing the same thing. Dropping a mark and getting upset, or having an off day with the hands so playing for frees. Now it's great that he is annoyed with himself that he missed a mark or something like that but Jonno Brown should be his inspiration, if Brown missed a mark he followed the play up right until the end and then allowed himself to be angry. That all said the delivery into Hogan (although he missed a couple of good chances) was absolutely in the favour of the defenders for the first 3 quarters. 4th quarter we had open 50 and hit him up on leads. He showed the Hogan we'll see more often as he becomes more experienced.

Fitness base is his biggest hurdle, he's yet to play a full game. If we had the sub rule still in I would consider him as the sub, but we don't so he needs at least one full at Casey before he is up for selection. That's just my opinion.

I don't think what he did was what he intended but yes it was almost an exact replica on the St Kilda and a nightmare in slow motion until Jesse thumped the ball away!