PaulRB

Tragically I'm looking forward to this game and for the "new" team and game style to hit the road. There is not way it could be worse than this year (i.e. Jimmys funeral and a belting) and though it may not be kosher to say this, I think we have a far better list than our results in 2012 indicated, and in 2013 we shall be playing without the handbreak on.

The trade of Pedersen for Martin, implies some of the following: there are issues with Stef that the FD don't see with Pedersen, that our 2nd ruck stocks (Jake "Betty" Spencer and Maximus Gawn) are coming along nicer than we realise. That Pedersen is a much better player than North realise, and better than some of our current mid-talls (i.e Dunn). That our structure front and back in 2013 will be big boned and beefy etc...

I thought several times early in the season that when Clark went into the ruck we gathered momentum as a team, cleared the ball and pressed forward. Agree that clearances don't always start with the ruck, and there are other ways to clear the ball, but having a decent second ruck is one of them. I'm assuming with the Pedersen trade (essentially for Martin it seems) that we believe him to be as good a second ruck and a better "resting ruck" or tall forward/back... To me it raises the stakes of us getting Gawn or Fitzy up to the level in the next year or so, as Jamar and a third string tall from North are not going to take us too far up the ladder in 2014+

Unless your second ruck is talented (i.e NicNat) and you are not just holding ground when they are on the ball, but opening up the opposition whose second ruck or tired first ruck struggles. Clearances are critical, even for the 20 min period when the 2nd ruck is on.

Agree, but I'm hoping one of Gawn, and Fitzy will put pressure on Jamar's spot this year, and trust that if the FD sign the Russian for three years they see value in that.. Plus, I don't think that Martin will be able to hold No# 1 ruck spot.

Lets put Jack Viney at his feet, and problem solved.

I actually think the most effective ruck at Melbourne is Clark, good in the air at the bounce and aggressive on the ground. Then Jamar who would have been working to instruction if he was putting it to his feet... Martin is not a great ruck nor reliable up forward...

Maybe a Martin trade facilitates taking Grundy with Pick 4 and Pedersen?

Selective use of stats Poita. Surely Rucks need to be judged on the HO stats? Mark Jamark 2012 season: 14 games averaging 32.4 Hit Outs per game Stefan Martin 2012 season: 7 games averaging 14.2 Hit Outs per game

You forgot Jack Viney.... We've had great circus.

Lions circle big Demon

I like it. Low key, low expectations and a game we should win. Nice way to ease into the season. Given the new players and the pre-season focus on "the gameplan" it's just what the Dr ordered.

Maybe we should set up a sabbatical program where our loyal players get leased to other successful clubs so they can experience finals footy and a chance at the big one. The successful clubs could then lend us their crappy or disinterested players for a period so they could experience years in the wilderness and the wooden spoon. Jared I liked you as a Melbourne player, but I hope Geelong fall like a stone, we rise like a phoenix, and you rue this decision for the rest of your life.

With our best player (jones) coming in at 50 in the herald sun top 50 I'd have to agree we have no champs or stars at the moment. Lots of potential though.

If so we should have held onto Beamer, he excelled at the long bomb.

And the Dees have Hogan, Viney, Pick 4, Dawes, Barry, and what ever we pick up post first round. With this we start to make ground on clubs like the pies (assuming we get all the other stuff right). All good Go Dees.

If we can drag it out till we get our compo for Riv (if he goes) I'd suggest to the pies pick 27 + Ricky and we keep pick 20.

I think Jack will deliver some career defining performances in 2013 as his confidence in his ability to physically compete at the AFL level grows. Prior to Clarks arrival Jack was our biggest forward and as a skinny kid he was never going to flourish. Talk of trading him before we've seen his best is absurd and short sighted.

Fingers crossed.

Fixed now.

Dawes is the key, the approach on Gumby is insurance in the case that Dawes does not come to us.

Standards are dropping at the Cattery, they just took Caddy.

yes. Hogan to become a new Demon hero

Both!!! Hooley Dooley

I think Pedersen is a "little rock" that will be traded once the "bigger rocks" are in place. I.e if we get Dawes we'd likely pass on Pedersen, so we wait till Dawes and Gumby decide where they are going before potentially looking at Pedersen..