Jaded No More

Of course we can! Watch Jamar, PJ and Godfrey kick 100 goals between them in the next 9 weeks

Please look at the other established threads before making new ones. We don't want to fill up the boards with multiple threads.

I think all the other rivalries were taken, so we got stuck with Geelong. Although, our recent history makes for some rivalry. Our 1 point victory over them in 2005, then they smashed us in the final, plus the draw last year. Or maybe the rivalry is that we both haven't won a flag in over 60 years

Rubbish! He had very limited ground time, and when he was on the ground they threw him down back. He wasn't worse than TJ, Davey or Green. I'm livid that they dropped him. Yze spent 3 years under-performing, and gets a one week holiday in the VFL. CJ has an average game due to limited opportunities, and becomes the scapegoat. In a week where we could use as much pace, and foot skills as we can possibly get, dropping him seems senseless. I don't get it either Graz!

ARGH! I can't believe they dropped CJ. Talk about scapegoat! So that means... Out: Neita, Robbo, Rivers, CJ In: PJ, Ferguson, Holland, Yze Slow, immobile forward line here we come!

The Geelong backline would out-run, out-mark and out-smart them all (apart from possibly Holland, who is pretty hard to out-mark). We cannot win with a forward line of slow tanks, not against one of the best backlines in the competition. And the way our crumbers (Davey and Yze) are travelling at the moment, I don't know how much you'd get out of them.

So do Davey, Bartram and TJ going on form, but this is not the time to be dropping class players with above-average disposal. Not when we're already missing McLean, Rivers, Bartram, Neita, Robbo, Pickett, Sylvia and Dunn.

I don't get it. Why the sudden fascination with Bizzell and the forward line? As a tall forward, he can't mark nor out-muscle Scarlett. As a smaller, more mobile forward, he doesn't have the speed. He was an eratic forward at Geelong, who flew for the occasional specie, but was extremely ordinary overhead or on the lead. If he plays, I hope they use him to cover the loss of Rivers. Yep, Green, Yze and Davey for me too. Rotate them out of the goalsquare, with Bruce and Miller at CHF/ on the flanks. As long as we don't see more than one of Jamar, White, PJ (if he plays) or Holland up forward at the same time. Please!

Standing with your hands on your hips and your head down screams poor attitude to me, and he isn't alone in that. Davey was another prime example of someone with a defeated, mind-elsewhere, body language. When running along the boundary he also looked to be in his own space. Daniher said on the Footy Show last night that Travis tends to come across that way, so maybe it's just his personality and I'm reading far too much into his body language.

If CJ gets dropped, and I wasn't such a sucker for this football club, I'd boycott the game! With an already depleted forward line, this could be his chance to shine. He got limited game time last week, most of which was spent down back (not his natural position IMO). What the hell are we doing if we drop an unproven 22 year old for an over the hill 30 year old?!

No I did not. I never tipped against us in 2003 either (and still won the tipping competition at school!). You see why I need therapy? <_<

Or Jeff White playing with socks full of blood.... or Miller and Bell playing with OP.... or Robbo playing with a bad knee and a bad shoulder... Maybe the broken toe is affecting TJ's ability to run, or kick, but it shouldn't affect his attitude or desire to be there. The main issue with him at the moment, is that he looks disinterested. Don't think that's a symptom of having a broken toe (and I should know, having broken my toes about 3 times ) Brad Green played with a foot injury the whole of last year, and while his kicking was affected by it, his hunger for the ball wasn't. That's why he's in the leadership group.

This is the first time in my life that I have tipped against Melbourne. I'll need therapy after this season is over!

Should Robbo have returned to the field on Monday? According to MMM, his knee swelled up straight away and they still brought him back on, only for him to hurt it further. Now he's going in for surgery. Maybe it had no impact, maybe it did. Bottom line is, it was a risk not worth taking... not at Round 2.

Exactly! And Finks, if Newton is still mentally fragile after 3 years in the system, don't you think it's time we make him grow a set? Do we want another Smith on our list (different circumstances, but same waste of time)? I'm all for nursing the kids through, especially if overworking them will damage their bodies, but he's been in the system for 3 years and the other two bottom-aged players drafted in the same year have come along just fine. At some stage, we need to bite the bullet, and given that our 2 best forwards are out injuries, you'd think this would be the time. If Petterd, who's been at the club for 5 minutes is ready ahead of Newton, that's a bad reflection on Juice, and not a necessarily justified one. BTW, if another midfielder goes down, I'm hoping Buckley will be the first inclusion.

Exactly. 'Melbourne Supporting for Dummies', Chapter 1- Get a sense of humour <_<

Robbo going into surgery to have the knee looked at. Said on the Footy Show he's hoping for 6 weeks, but could be up to 10. Crap! :angry:

Clearly he is, which takes some heat off the selectors. Something needs to be done about his OP, which I assume is the ongoing issue. If I remember correctly, Stephen Powell had an operation to fix the injury. He was out for a year, but at least it solved the problem once and for all. He's only 20, this needs to be fixed! P.S.- my 50 grand is looking mighty good right now, Y_M!

BRING BACK 426! :angry: :D

I have nothing against Bizzell as a player, I just don't see the point in playing an ordinary footballer (yes, ordinary, especially since he's lost a yard of pace in the last couple of years) who won't be at Melbourne next year. He was a good, loose defender 3 seasons ago. Then along came a much better footballer in Rivers and took his spot. These things happen, that's the nature of football. Given that Rivers is out this week, I can see the logic behind Bizzell's inclusion, I'm just not excited by it. Still, they gave him a 3 year deal so they have to justify is somehow.

Yep, especially if he lines up at FF alongside PJ and Ferguson. Exciting stuff!

I just picked the first 3 ordinary players that came to my head. If you're really that upset about it, I can edit his name and put in Ward or BRUCE or.... Please don't make me list anymore, it's depressing enough as it is.

Amen to everything you just said!!! I'm a "play the kids" junkie, I admit it, but FFS there has never been a better time to take a chance. We're 0-2, we've got a massive injury list, our depth is extremely ordinary and we're coming up against a good side. I don't blame any Melbourne supporter who doesn't feel like wasting their Sunday watching Brown, Godfrey and Bizzell kicking hospital passes to Geelong's defenders.

I advocate we fake an outbreak of mad-cow disease at the club, forcing the AFL to suspend any Melbourne matches for 5-6 weeks (depending on the length of McLean's, Neita's, Robbo's and Rivers' injuries) But if we must line up on Sunday, I hope we don't play someone who can't take an overhead mark at FF. I have nothing against PJ, I just think it should be a requirement that a forward can take a mark. I'd rather Jamar at FF. At least he might be able to take Scarlett down behind the play or something. Our best option IMO is to line up with a smaller forward line, and trying to beat the Geelong defenders on the lead. That means Davey, Yze and CJ closer to goal, with Miller and Bruce leading out. None of this will matter if we lose the clearances though, because a backline of Ward, Bizzell and Ferguson is likely to implode more often than a nuclear plant.

*Goes in search of a gun* Wheatley at CHB. Gold! Please Daniher, please play Petterd and give me a reason to actually want to watch the game. Edit: there must be an echo in here because where's Sylvia?