PaulRB

Its a myth that fixtures are doled out to big clubs only. Footy is an entertainment business, and the MFC has played unwatchable footy for several years and crappy footy for a decade. If we start playing some quality football and look capable of making finals the AFL will fall over themselves to reward us commercially (as they did this year with the Tigers). All rests on our ability to entertain. We put on a good show and the slots will be given (earned).

Financials aside. This is a great draw!!! We play 14 games against teams that finished 9th or lower! We could finish 5th (like Port this year) with 14 wins* without having to beat a team that finished in the 8 in 2014. Its like a free run, if we can take it. *FYI, I am not suggesting we will win 14.

The Age rates us as having the best draw - http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/2015-afl-fixture-the-winners-and-losers-20141030-11ebww.html

hahaha the likely number# 1s key weakness is his kicking... Oh dear.

The club might well have screamed and shouted PRIOR to the draw in PRIVATE. To carry on now would be highlighting our irrelevance and impotency. The AFL is hardly going to say "Good point Peter! lets just go away and rejig the draw just for you..." If we can win 8-10 games in 2015 we'll move up the pecking order in terms of commercial spots and blockbusters.

I like our first four games and the second half of our season where we only play 2 top 8 (2014) teams on the way home. If we improve enough to be a genuine contender for 9th spot (sigh), then we are playing our equals... so should be some good games.

We get the Saints, Doggies, GWS, Collingwood and Freo twice = only one top 8 team + 3 other strugglers... Not bad.

1. Saturday, April 04 - Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns - MCG 1:40PM 2. Saturday, April 11 - GWS Giants v Melbourne - SO 2:10PM 3. Saturday, April 18 - Adelaide Crows v Melbourne - AO 1:40PM 4. Friday, April 24 - Richmond v Melbourne - MCG 7:50PM 5. Sunday, May 03 - Melbourne v Fremantle - MCG 1:10PM 6. Saturday, May 09 - Melbourne v Sydney Swans - MCG 7:20PM 7. Saturday, May 16 - Hawthorn v Melbourne - MCG 2:10PM 8. Sunday, May 24 - Melbourne v Western Bulldogs - MCG 3:20PM 9. Saturday, May 30 - Melbourne v Port Adelaide - TP 1:40PM 10. Monday, June 08 - Melbourne v Collingwood - MCG 3:20PM 11. Sunday, June 14 - St Kilda v Melbourne - ES 4:40PM 12. Sunday, June 21 - Geelong Cats v Melbourne - SS 3:20PM Round 13 BYE 13. Saturday, July 04 - Melbourne v West Coast Eagles - TIO 7:10PM 14. Saturday, July 11 - Essendon v Melbourne - MCG 1:40PM 15. Sunday, July 19 - Melbourne v Brisbane Lions - MCG 1:10PM 16. Sunday, July 26 - Melbourne v St Kilda - MCG 3:20PM 17. Saturday, August 01 - Collingwood v Melbourne - MCG 2:10PM 18. Sunday, August 09 - Melbourne v North Melbourne - MCG 1:10PM 19. Sunday, August 16 - Western Bulldogs v Melbourne - ES 3:20PM 20. Sunday, August 23 - Carlton v Melbourne - MCG 3:20PM 21. Sunday, August 30 - Fremantle v Melbourne - PS 2:40PM 22. Friday, September 04 - Melbourne v GWS Giants - ES 12:00AM

Like that both Brayshaw and Laverde are tall, goal kicking mids who seem comfortable and capable resting up forward. Both seem similar in this way to Dom Tyson in the front half. Given Laverde is only 4 cm smaller than McCartin and brings midfield potential, speed and endurance as well as a goal sense (and nice leap)... So much rests on Hogan coming back fit and firing.

Recon we should pick Laverde over McCartin, there is seems to be a lot to work with given his height 190cm, movement (agile and athletic) and footy skills (silky)... From Paige - One of the most exciting players of the draft with arguably the best highlights reel, Laverde is blessed with traits AFL clubs struggle to find across two or three players, let alone have them all in one. The epitome of an athletic and speedy midfielder who can play every position well, Laverde is a sublime mover. He glides through the wings with poise and speed, and loves to cut through congestion with long strides where he can burst out from a contested situation and run the ball. Laverde is another tall midfielder with a thumping yet accurate kick, and is one of the more damaging players available in this years draft. His agility and almost arrogant sidestep means he dances around opponents with ease. Laverde has shown a propensity to take the game on and is a natural goal kicker, whether from a set shot or on the run. His disposal efficiency ranks among the elite in the AFL, and hes been known to fly for a few hangers throughout his journey, coupling a distinct x-factor with an already impressive skill set. He loves the ball in his hands. He is often the instigator in attacking forays, and has the rare ability to swing momentum into his teams favour. His versatility is highly favoured, but he looks his best playing through the midfield or on a wing. That being said, he can just as easily be sent to rest forward or back. where he can use his strong marking game and elite endurance to cut games open. Lots to like!!! My suspicion is that the impact of McCartin's strength, aggression and footy smarts (pattern running) will be muted at AFL level.

Is there any chance the Saints will move to take Brayshaw at No# 1?

You could roll out a similar list for almost every club in the land. Total bullshite... tabloid media rubbish.

Then we're up [censored] creek, again. With no excuses.

Surely these two "categories" are the same. I.e. the one "most likely to be a star" IS "the best available midfielder", and is already factored into their predicted draft position.

Yes but it's not our choice, it is the Saints that will choose... and be held to account for the choice. No buyers remorse for us, as our rebuild hits high gear with Brayshaw PLUS Petracca OR McCartin joining us in 2015. One can almost feel us catching up with the pack...

I suspect that Garlett along with Kent and Kennedy-Harris will rotate from deep forward to high forward to midfield. Whats Garlett's field kicking and creative talents like through the midfield?

I'd imagine he'd start out playing a Jack Darling type forward flank role as our 3rd or 4th tall forward to build his engine and add another dimension to his game, while he builds the strength and stamina for the FF role. Dawes, Hogan, Gawn/Jamar/Fitzy, and maybe even Pedo would be before him in 2015. Big step up from FF in TAC to FF in AFL.

I love that we're faced with the tough choice of taking the best mid in the draft OR taking the best forward in the draft... Tough times

He'll be good round one. Article said 10 weeks back start of September, should have a couple to go...

Whats Gawns injury? didn't know that.

Jamar, Gawn, Betty and Fitzy. Why do we need another?

I'm struggling to resist looking forward to season 2015. The MFC is like a wayward girlfriend, who just needs to wriggle her hips and I come creeping back. Only, 5 months of hip swinging to go...

If the AFL is lenient to the players on the basis they were totally duped by the EFC, then surely another round of sanctions against the EFC would then be required? Confidence in AFL acting with integrity on this issue is low.

The other thing about taking McCartin at 3 is that big forwards have currency to be traded in years to come, mids seem to be less so...

9th, 99.99%