PaulRB

Given both Tom and Jordie had leg injuries (reduced fitness) and their lack of "game time" this year, I can't see them both slotting into the team without a week or two in the Casey team. Hence round 8 - 9.

Spins and round abouts Liam Jurrah - 20 games for his 50 goals (aged 22) Jack Watts - 21 games for his 13 goals (aged 20) Melb talls - 42 games for their 63 goals (average age 21) Gumbleton - 22 games for his 22 goals (aged 22) Hurley - 32 games for his 29 goals (aged 20) Ess talls - 52 games for their 51 goals (average age 21)

Both Jordie and Scully are 4 weeks off by which time we would have just played round 8 (North) or 9 (St Kilda) both of which are likely to highlight which midfielders should be replaced by the returning two... Month being a long time in footy...

I'd like to see J Watts as the Sub, given his good half game last week.

I think Morton, Gysberts and Wonna are all improvements to the team given the form and pedigree of the players going out. Over the Hawks debacle, ready to re-load for the Lions. Carn the Dees

I like that Bailey has named the starting 18 and stated to the remaining players in the squad "You convince me at training this friday why you should be in this team" (paraphrased). For Nathan Jones, Jack Watts, Lynden Dunn, and Ricky Petterd it is a wake up call or the rocket they probably deserve, and for James Strauss, Matthew Warnock, Cale Morton it gives them a chance to press their case for inclusion. The dynamic Bailey has set up means that these 7 will be competing for the 3 (+1) spots available with their team mates watching closely... i.e. no more passengers. Bring on the Lions Carn the Dees

Bam Bam

To my mind the key KPI is building experience in our "Flag core". I would define the Flag core as the 10 top 20 draft picks of the past four years, from Morton to Cook. the gems we've picked up elsewhere (Jurrah, Mackenzie, Wona) those project player(s) we shall need to complete the picture come 2013 (Gawn) These player plus the good old hands will be the ones to do the business for us in 2013 and beyond. Their development should be our Number one Priority.

Are you subtly implying that your "hunch's" (that are "in fact always correct") are the same as your Tatts numbers? or is this just noise to fill in a slow friday before the season starts... What would Tapscott have to do on Sunday for you to get over this "hunch"?

Bam Bam is going to be ripper for the MFC. He's playing because hes talented, aggressive and has a mans body. Been looking forward to his first since the words "Luke...Tapscott" were spoken on draft day... Carn the Dees

Agree with Maldonboy38. The wise heads at MFC HQ will stay focused on the goal which is forging a premiership team to have a tilt in and beyond 2013. This will see the continued development of those players who are seen to be part of that team even if it means short term pain (i.e. missing finals). This will see alot of pressure on "marginal" players who may not have further development potential as the club tries a new kid in their position. Bate, Dunn, Bartram, MacDonald, Warnock are going to have to have great seasons in 2011 to hold the kids Maldon mentioned out of their position in the team. Next year as Cook, Gawn, Lawrence, etc... mature, other players will be pushed. The goal is to have the best list battle hardened in two years (2013) when we should be ready. If the pressure of blooding the next generation forces the "marginals" to excel and those Next Gens that force their way in are what we hope (Tapscott, Blease, Gysberts, Maric) then we'll have a good year. If the "Marginals" wilt and the next gen don't mature quickly we'll have a classic "development" year. Either way the goal is building a team for 2013 not 2011... That said I am excited about this year as the dynamic I described above can create momentum and funny things can happen... Bring on the Swans! Carn the Dees!

Bailey has shown a focused, deft and courageous approach to building a potential premiership squad. He is not afraid to take a step back (retiring Junior) in order to take two forward (blooding his premiership squad) despite the short term nature of the media and some fans. The stats (above) confirm year on year improvement while also investing in game time for the talented kids. Every things he's done so far confirms his focus on and capability to building a premiership capable squad, collecting a great list, building a player based leadership culture, knowing where we are and only upping expectations in alignment with reality, patiently investing in the kids and silently amassing a squad that will be able to execute the game style which he (and presumably the insiders at the club) believes will be advantagous when our window is open in 2013+ when are player game average equals 100+. Every aspect of the build since Bailey arrived has been managed to near perfection. To say 8 wins or less means Bailey clear out your desk is so simplistic and mindless. For example, Jamar does his knee round 1, Jurrah and Pettard their shoulders again in round 5 and Tom makes a tragic announcement in round 15. As a result Melb only win 8 games, is it Baileys fault? I'd rather we appreciate and respect him for whats he's done so far, and for his preparedness to risk his coaching career to deliver what all Melb fans so desperately want, another flag. In my mind he risking alot more and giving alot more to the MFC than most fans would ever be prepared (or able) to do.

I was looking at pictures of the Dees playing Brissie and noticed that in the 5 of JW contesting a ball, in most of them he had his eyes closed. So it would seem to be an easy fix...

I can't wait for Bruce, under pressure, to pop a high looping handball to his Hawks team mate, and for Beamer to lay out his team mate...

Too much Fairy floss at the family day for Jack...

MELBOURNE 1. Matthew Warnock 2. Nathan Jones 3. Clint Bartram 4. Jack Watts 5. Jordan Gysberts 6. Matthew Bate 7. Jamie Bennell 12. Colin Sylvia 14. Lynden Dunn 15. Ricky Petterd 16. Jack Grimes 18. Brad Green 19. Addam Maric 20. Colin Garland 22. Brent Moloney 24. Liam Jurrah 27. Jared Rivers 28. Joel MacDonald 31. Tom Scully 34. Stefan Martin 35. Luke Tapscott 36. Aaron Davey 38. Jeremy Howe 39. Neville Jetta 40. Mark Jamar 42. Jake Spencer 44. Rohan Bail 45. Kelvin Lawrence 47. James Strauss

Sounds like the result of a team alot of players under 20 games with at least 4-5 who are yet to play a real AFL game, a couple coming back for their first game, a couple of regulars desperately in need of game time and a dozen doing enought at this time of the year to best prepare for the real stuff. Need to bring together the A-Team for the last practice match next week so they can properly prepare for the Swans. May still be ugly but it'll be the ugly we have to take to the MCG for the Swans. Looking forward to getting to the G. Go Dees.

When Fev had his dreads we used to call him "Side Show Bob" and like that character Fev's moments of contriteness and recognition that he is just one part of a larger team dissapear when the alcohol or pressure reveal his true narcissistic core. Having said that, I'd get so much amusement watching the MFC tear the Blues apart with Fev in our forward it would almost me worth the inevitable calamity that is Side Show Bob.

I would welcome Cale Morton delivering on his evident talent on a more consistent basis. Another mediocre year, while probably not putting him in the hot seat, would lower our expectations and put him on the periphery of the 22.

good points Dee-luded. Carn the Dees. Hate the Bombers. Bring on the season...

1. Joel M seems to lose his composure when under siege (esp in last Q) 2. How rare it is for the MFC to physically impose themselves (i.e. still young), loved Dunns heavy body work and general aggro. 3. In this even a comp, 4 quarter intensity is the key to our year.

Opening bounce? B: 3. Clint Bartram, 27. Jared Rivers, 28. Joel MacDonald HB: 7. Jamie Bennell , 20. Colin Garland, 44. Rohan Bail C: 9. Jack Trengove, 12. Colin Sylvia, 16. Jack Grimes HF: 4. Jack Watts, 14. Lynden Dunn, 36. Aaron Davey F: 19. Addam Maric, 18. Brad Green, 24. Liam Jurrah R: 40. Mark Jamar, 22. Brent Moloney, 2. Nathan Jones I: 1. Matthew Warnock,34. Stefan Martin, 6. Matthew Bate, 39. Neville Jetta, , 42. Jake Spencer, 47. James Strauss E: 15. Ricky Petterd, 46. Sam Blease Out:21. Lucas Cook, 38. Jeremy Howe, 50. Michael Evans

There is something different this pre-season that feels good. Team looks strong, developing and hungry. Distractions such as GSW and the inevitable scuttle butt seems like water off the clubs back. And last week we got a taste of the delights that will come from watching the Demons in 2011. Bring on the season. Carn the Dees.

Have heard very little on Warnock all pre-season, anyone know what his story is at the moment?

Good to see Tom is still with us. ;-))