Pates

Chip's defensive efforts were good but his decision making wasn't the best, but there's only one that I can't think of the resulted in a direct goal. He always seems to start slow does Chip and get better through the year. Grimes looked right back at home for me back in defense. And i forgot the second biggest positive apart from the win was the fact of no injuries!

Only NAB challenge but it feels good to be excited again. Not just with the team but with certain that seem to have something to them like JKH, Vince, and Michie. Then even players that on paper didn't seem to play well but it was workrate off the ball that allowed others to take advantage. Cam Pederson is prime example of that where stats wise he did sweet FA but his leading made space for teammates that had the team rewarded, this was something that was absolutely non-existent under Neeld (whether or not it was being taught). JKH has also given us fans someone to get excited about when the ball's in his area and hopefully worry some defenders into coughing it up, it's a shame Flash isn't around to mentor him. Plenty more work to be done, but confidence breeds confidence. Let's keep the momentum going.

I think the reality it that with a fit Dawes, Hogan, and Clark he will struggle to get into the team. But it still looks like having all three of them fit will be a luxury this year, so I think he'll get about 10-12 games.

I felt a bit sorry for Neeld but that is a sensational picture!

Good choices for co-captains. Both well respected and well liked, and I think Grimes has a real opportunity to take his game to a new level with Roos as coach. LG is about right as well, as discussed Dawes is perhaps the only other inclusion I'd have in there but all are deserving although I though trenners might step back altogether. I'm also glad that Roos has said that while the group was player driven the captaincy decision came from him, the other coaches and the board. IMO it's the way it should be.

B: Whelan Carroll Holland HB: Bruce Rivers Ward C: Green McLean Johnstone HF: Yze Miller Bate F: Robertson Neitz Davey FOLL: White Jones McDonald IC: Bell Jamar Pickett Sylvia EMG: Brown Dunn Read Looking at the side it had a fair amount of older players reaching the end of their careers but also a number of players that were promising but never continued their upward trend into becoming A-graders or stars. Dunn, Bell, Bate, Miller, Sylvia and McLean were all meant to be a part of the core to take us on to the next phase. Sylvia became a good (but inconsistent) "servant", Dunn a workhorse journeyman, McLean we all know about, and the rest faded into oblivion. Of all that group I wouldn't have picked Dunn to be the only one still playing for the Dees.

Our best captain of recent times was an introvert in James McDonald. He had the respect of the players, and the entire competition for that matter. Jones doesn't need to be captain to lead so that's one reason why it doesn't need to be him, there could well be someone that gets more out of it and becomes a great leader for the club. But he remains for me to be our best option in the midfield brigade, we have Mitch as a forward option (but he needs to focus on staying out there) and Garland as a smokey in defense who really came into his own as a footballer and a leader last year. I'll be surprised if Jones isn't at the very least a co-captain.

RIP Troy

I guess it's all just opinion but most of it I reckon is about right. The truth is we don't know how things will shape up for round one because there are a couple of unknowns in there that could make an impact. Interesting to see the wraps on JHK, he seems to be exciting not just dees fans but earning some rep in the media.

I think mines the most unlikeliest of the lot, for all the footy reporters who made false claims/reports in the last 3 years to stand up and admit they were wrong. I'm looking at you Caro, Barrett, Robbo, Patrick, and Denham.

Something I would strongly recommend people do is either taking the train to Cranbourne, and then shuttle to the ground OR drive to the station and shuttle from there. Parking there truly is a nightmare. Tough assignment to take on the premiers but it's a practice match so I just hope some of the young players (and Mitch) can gain some confidence. History suggests Roos won't be too concerned about the result.

The biggest issue I had with him was his unflinching support of some terrible umpiring decisions. I get that he needs to back those under his employ but the best way to improve is to be critical of the bad decisions so that the umpires can learn and look out for it next time.

Terrible news. All the best to him and his family with this fight.

This is what I don't understand about the AFL, why can't we have the Soccer style 3 strips. One Home (Normal), One Away (Reversed or close), and One White Alternate for when either of the first two don't work. Let the clubs have a preferred alternate they can go to first and if it doesn't work then move onto the white one.

I know this thread is part joke, part "bring back the like button", and part trolling back through our recruiting blunders, but I am very happy with what Viney and Taylor have produced from the draft this year. But I have been happy with the prospects with previous drafts as well, and I think this is the crux of what needs to be different for the future, we need to make sure our development is spot on. Because I truly can't believe our recruiting has been that bad in the past, I think the club has failed some players with progressing from being an up and comer to an AFL player. How many who won rising star nominations are now on the scrap heap?

I'm stoked we've got this bloke, sounds like a really good small forward prospect, but is not limited to that position. It's an area we've lacked for a long time, hopefully he will be able to get in for a few games in 2014 and light up the G!

I was initially keen for Freeman but reading about Salem I'm glad to see we've picked up someone that knows who to use the ball. There are some good wraps on him (as there always are on top 10 players), but what I reckon will be different for Salem (and the other draftees) is that they will really make him earn his spot with the players we've picked up in the trade period. Hopefully this will allow him to develop with less pressure. Welcome to the Dees, Salem!

It's great news, fantastic work by PJ and Bartlett. I look forward to hearing more of the details as they come to light.

I liked the sound of Freeman, we lack pace and he seems to have it. Question is fitness and disposal, but it sounds like it's areas he's worked hard at improving. I really want us to get this one right as we've had really high draft picks in the past and we've just expected them to take off. With whoever we get being picked up at 9 hopefully there won't be the same pressure.

I can definitely understand the stars, but I actually liked the collar. I'm glad they've decided to stick with the logo as well, I honestly don't understand the dislike of it, if I had to guess it's that people just can't stand the idea of a Schwab relic being on there. It doesn't have to be on the jumper, but I see no reason to ditch it at all.

You weren't the only one, frankly it was depressing hearing people say he wouldn't play again. Credit to the medical staff, coming back from this is an achievement on its own. In terms of position, I remember a few times he played ruck and suddenly we started winning some centre clearances! So quite happy to hear this plan. I just want to see him back on the park, the boys walk taller with him out there. Watch him look out for his you protege Hulk Hogan!

It was sad to read about Magner and his frustrations about getting dropped/not played/played out of position and now being delisted. Certainly shows the other side of the AFL.

I thought I heard that Richmond had already got 30,000 members.

He's an amazing person. Many others would've (and have) given up with everything he's been through and it sounds like those thoughts entered his mind. How could they not? But it's a real mark of the bloke that he's persevered, become a better player and still has hope for the future, and desire to be one of the guys to get Melbourne to the top. He's like many of us long suffering, he just wants Melbourne to be great again.

I second that idea. We've dominated the newspapers for the last 2 years with negativity, only being pushed out by the Bombers "whatever it takes" program. I'm quite happy for us to fly under the radar for a while. As for Barretts opinion, that's all it is. An opinion by someone who I don't respect. At the end of the day most of us are pleased with what we've done, and we've got Roos leading the way for the next 2-3 years. Who cares what some [censored] "journalist" think.