Pates

He was easily one of our best on Friday. He had many telling possessions and was always looking for something on the rebound. Disposal was better than most (ironic considering the conditions) and he had some handy marks in our defense. He is highly rated by the coaching staff as someone that can be creative in the backline, but i've got to be honest i don't see it all that often, most of the times he just gives a looping handball the Grimes or a midfielder. Still, currently he is the right player for the position, by the end of the year i feel that will change.

I think it actually looked like that's what Chip was trying to do re: defensive long kick, i think he just got too close to the man on the mark. The kick ins were poor v Kangas, and it cost us big time, against the bulldogs it was just silly errors by players that we expect better from (not having a crack, i love these two). A shame, but hopefully they'll learn from it.

I forgot how important he was, very important to our team.

The biggger the gesture the bigger the coverage, i think it's a great initiative by the club.

It's harsh, but the fact is that he is certainly not our future. He will do this to us time and time again, play very good at VFL level then come in to the seniors and give us very little. Hypothetically if he did come in, i'd see him basically taking Bate's role with Bate pushing closer to the goal square. My selections are: IN: Hughes, Bail Out: Pettard, Martin Depending on his fitness i'd also bring Jordie McKenzie in for Rivers.

It's fantastic news for the club, in all directions we are on the way up. Keep the momentum rolling into Friday night, and let's make some NOISE!

I've gone for Hughes because he's had a consistent showing at VFL level and this could be his chance to crack into the side, my next choice is PJ to come in for Stef Martin with Bail to replace Pettard. Perhaps i'm being a bit harsh on Stef but i don't think he's shown enough in the last couple of weeks to warrant staying in the side, 2 years ago we all saw something in PJ that we liked, hopefully he may be able to show us it again.

I've heard that the coaches really rate him as a future player and he's just been struggling with various injuries, i think it's a good idea. Friday night footy could be a big ask for him first up but it sounds like his form warrants it.

I would. MFC fans despise Etihad, but i think we will turn up in good numbers. My prediction is 36,000. It really is a nothing game in rivalry terms. That said we seem to have developed a singular rivalry between Dunn and Harvey.

Try youtube, i'd imagine they're all on there.

Both played very well on Saturday night, Bate in particular is starting to gain momentum and is becoming very valuable as a hit up leading target. Bruce is tough to criticise, he finds the ball very easily and has a creative mind, his disposal is just not quite right. As many have pointed out it's not the efficiency of the receivers that's the issue, the issue is that too often the receiver is put under pressure by Bruce's handballs. The irony is that i'm starting to find more worth in him staying in the side as the season goes on, it's handy having someone that can read the play and find the ball so easily in the backline. Having said that, i get the feeling that someone will be pushing for his spot towards the end of the year. With so many best 22 players to come back in, the pressure could on him to justify his selection.

The loudest roar was that insanely stupid decision against Bennell, just about everyone around us was standing and screaming! Great crowd, let's hope for many more!

Happy birthday big man! All the best, hope the boys get up you ya! And, of course, many more!

I dunno, feels a bit short for me. 22-24 i think is still a good fit, with them getting rid of the pre-season competition. Finals system in my eyes doesn't need to be changed at all, keep it at 8 that way when you make it it actually means something, that you are amongst the best in the competition. But i know what will happen, the AFL will do what it can to maximise the bottom $$$$$. Not unexpected, but is it right thing to do for the image of the game?

I heard Cam Schwab say that one of his major problems is the technique in his tackling takes a lot out of his lower body, so they are IN THE PROCESS of teaching him a better way. Obviously they don't want to disrupt it where it effects his game but only time will tell.

Very good news, we will need hard bodies out there against the Lions.

I heard he gathered 22 odd classy possessions, Grimes said he played well and he's just getting some match fitness.

Going on how soft Buddy Franklin's one was last week, it would not surprise me if he got a week. But again, that bump on Sylvia in the pre-season MUST come back to haunt the AFL every time a report like this goes up. Does Beamer have any points left over from a previous report? Because if he doesn't, a reprimand could be the way they go.

We need to keep the intensity going, forward pressure is always going to make it look like you're having a dip. Look at the St Kilda game last year, we were always going to lose it but for the first bounce we were hitting them hard and tackling relentlessly. If we do what we did against the Pies, we will give them a run (we could even sneak a win), if we do what we did against the Hawks a lot of the good work we've done in the last 3 weeks could be forgotten and all of a sudden we're back where we started the year. FWIW, i look at the players and they have belief in their eyes now. They know they can do it, all the training that's been drummed into them, the game plans and the tactics, they're starting to see it come to fruition, and confidence with a young side is just priceless. I don't know what to expect from the boys, but i do expect the Demon faithful to turn out in full force this Saturday.

The key for our confidence is in the tackling. The first half the first and second efforts in tackling were there, but the third and fourth effort that got us the opportunities from the Collingwood game weren't. The second half it was back, and hitting them hard and kept the pressure constant. Richmond is low on confidence, if we heap the pressure on early they might just crumble. Still i expect them to come out strong this week as would fancy themselves a chance. Sylvia being back will certainly help.

Someone was always going to get screwed by GC17 and GWS, no matter what in every year there has to be one top team and one bottom team. Richmond bottomed out big time for ages, they took a 5 year punt with Wallace and it backfired, big time. Now the only question that the AFL should be asking is that if this was any other side, Melbourne, Sydney, Kanags, Port, or whoever.....would they give them the same treatment to them. The answer is no, and Richmond should be no different. So if the Tigers are doomed to wallow at the bottom for yonks, the AFL should be held accountable for giving these two new sides such concessions without any regard for the current teams down the bottom. IMO the top draft pick should ALWAYS go to the team down the bottom, if i was going to make any concession, that would be it.

No i must admit my mind goes to that place as well, perhaps it's all the years following the Dees! Percentage isn't even factoring in my mind, i just want us to make sure we get the four points!

Most of the team was poor in the first half, Bruce (like many) demanded a better performance from themselves in the second. I am quite critical of Bruce usually but i actually thought he was quite creative in some passages from the backline. Kicking for goal should be better but he was not our worst, but just a solid contributor.

I was great seeing all the red and blue faithful so elated after the game, especially the kids because they need to feel proud of their club or else they'll give up on the Dees. While today's game was hardly highly skilled and played with intensity, what i was really impressed with was how we responded after the first half. Great feeling, hopefully will become more common this year. And yes i think the song was a bit low, i swear it used to blare across the speakers but now you only just hear it in the background.

I was there too, really enjoyed it and Cameron was in fine form as usual. Josh Mahoney did very well getting across the tactics and such, great initiative by the club, can't wait for the next one. Perhaps next year they make it available for single games.