The team we love

Watch the game again Biffhead.

Back on track.... http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2014-11-27/highlights-angus-brayshaw I just watched Gus' highlights as a junior again. Even if he doesn't find much ball, if he puts his body on the line with these tackles, smothers, and second & third efforts.. he will be contibuting to better the team.

Hunt didn't train - he has some back soreness again. Misson says he'll take it easy for two weeks. Howe came off half way through the session and got a rub down on both hammies. He then did some running along the boundary at about 80% but didn't participate any further. Without being an expert, if he strained a muscle badly he would not have been able to stride out like he did in the running on the boundary. He could obviously feel something was not right when he came off. Fingers crossed the MRI doesn't show any damage and that he just had a bit of tightness as he hasn't trained in the main group for so long.

Interestingly, Dean Kent completed the full session this morning but has not been selected in the squad. Good to see VanDemon named after his head knock. He was sporting a cracking black eye at training but participated in all drills.

My Round 1 side: Garland McDonald Dunn Jetta Frost Lumumba Vince Tyson Kent Howe Pederson Watts Garlett Hogan Salem Jamar Jones Viney I/C Cross JKH Toumpas Petracca I can see Kent, Salem and JKH pushing further up the field.

Looking at the round 1 line up from Demonlanders, many have left out Bail, M. Jones and the co-skip Grimes. I respect the efforts of Bail and Jones but the sooner the likes of Salem, Toump and JKH step up (whilst the new boys are developing) and take their spots the sooner we will rise. I have been watching the 2014 replays on Foxtel with a focus on Grimes as many on this board have pointed out his weaknesses. I have always been a fan of Franky but he is not agile or quick enough to play on the smalls, and is 50/50 disposing of the ball to a Dees jumper when not kicking sideways/backwards. I admire the way he puts his body on the line but I really can't see where his positon is in 2015 (especially with Lulumba and Frost coming in to the back six).

I still can't believe we nabbed Brayshaw AND Petracca - big bodied mids that can win there own ball at the stoppage. No more stick insects! Interestingly, we also landed the to highest ranking 'pure mids' from SA in Stretch and ANB. Over the next few years these guys (with Jones, Tyson, Viney) will allow Salem, Toump and JKH to play on the flanks as 'finishes'.

Watched his highlights on the MFC website. His pace away from the stoppage over the first 10m surprised me - he seems to have enough time to steady to hit a target. Stoked with the two 'big bodied' mids. 2015/16 can't come quick enough!!

Top 10 out of contract targets If you are already missing trade week, the Hun lists the top 10 out of contract players at the end of next season. Cameron and Dangerfield are the genuine stars. Who else would you choose to help boost our midfield stocks?

On SEN, The Ox believes Clark may be a straight swap for Travis Varcoe - outside speed with some polish. Thoughts?

Great report Tasman. A few highlights for me this morning: - Hogan and Dawes look in great knick. Both worked hard the entire session displaying repeat efforts and strong hands. - Dom Tyson looks so composed. He may have missed a couple of running shots on goal but his field kicking was outstanding. He punches the ball low with his preferred left - even over 50 metres. - Viv Michie, much as above. We know he's only played half a game at AFL level but he has all the attributes if he can find the ball in the big league - he's well built and a nice kick. - Christian Salem is more solid than reported on here perviously - actually quite well developed for a first year recruit. He has the best kick on the training track - a really fluent motion, seems to kick the ball out of his hand rather than dropping the ball on to the boot. - Viney, Terlich and Riley worked hard over the full session, still running hard at the 2 hour mark of training. The way they were moving they can't be to far away from joining the main group. Seven weeks until round 1 and the list is looking healthy! - It is only training but they are doing it with much more intensity than last year. The drills are a lot more pressure based including full tackling - hopefully training under these conditions transfer to working through congestion game day.

Viv went inside after about 40 minutes. He looked fine - maybe planned as per individual program.

The only knock on him is that he doesn't rack up huge possies in that TAC Cup. Did he manage bigger numbers in previous years? Where do you see him playing most of his footy..mid/HB?

Montagna is suspended for round 1 2014 further depleting their experience. We must win the midfield battle!

After watching the prospects on the AFL website, Salem looks to have the class, composure and ability to hit a target on will. Outside the top 5 he fits our needs best and has the skills to play off half back while he develops as an AFL midfielder.

Garland Martin Nicholson Bail Frawley Grimes Trengove McKenzie Jones Davey Watts Sylvia Howe Clark Jurrah Jamar Moloney Gysberts Blease Green Tapscott Petterd I really think Martin could play as a KPD. His first games for the Dees were in the backline. He is quick enough to go with any gorilla, nearly 200cm and 100 kegs. As gutsy as Rivers is, he's too slow to play on a medium lead up forward and too small to go with the gorillas (see game against the Filth). Bartram is a good defensive pocket but I think Nicholson has the attributes to shut down a small, but create more drive. McDonald will put pressure on KPDs over the next couple of years. Davis could be a Garland type player when he improves his endurance. Grimes and Bail will rotate through the midfield, hopefully Strauss can get back to free them up. Blease is still to prove himself but could provide an injection of speed that we need. If Gysberts stays fit, he will surprise a lot of people. Tapscott should be our Luke Ball in and under, did this well at Casey. Howe is a natural footballer, great hands and nice skills. He will have very good year playing the fourth tall, teams will struggle to find a match up for him after Clark, Watts and Jurrah. Green needs to earn his spot this year, losing a bit of pace. Davey in the pocket, he can't handle the tag. If he can kick/set up a couple of goals a week and lay ten tackles with defensive pressure he will be playing a vital role.

In answer to your question.. yes. If Prendergast made such poor decisions in the past, he'd be gone and we'd be making more than the minimum list changes required!

What we were really lacking in the last few years was structure. Note that Neeld referes to 'structure'. If you look at the better teams, they have structure in defence, in attack, at stoppages, at kickouts etc. With the young talent we have, we will be a better team if each player plays a specific role and we have a structure as a team. We're yet to see this talk transform into good football, but I think the new coaching staff will give us every opportunity to succeed. Bring on 2012 and beyond!

Most of the group were there. No LJ, Newton or Wonna, and obviously Trenners, Chip and Green are on International duties. From what I could see, in the rehab group were Grimes, Spencer, Davey, Clarke, Cook, and Evans. They were mainly jogging laps, except Grimes and Spencer - did some light exercises. There was a group that came out, ran a couple of laps before heading back in which included Sylvia, Tapscott, Strauss and Petterd. Good to see Strauss was able to jog a couple of laps before heading in. Not much else to report but I didn't hang around too long as the main group were just doing running drills.

Howe didn't play against Carlton either. That's a turn over of 8 players! Go Dees!

Outside the square.. if JMac is injured.. Davis in. Apparently quick and was out muscling in the one on ones at training in the preseason before he was ill.

Go to http://bigpondvideo.com/footytv/?ref=Net-Head-TV-Footy In the search bar type 'melbourne v fremantle' and click go. Third and fourth quarters should appear. Enjoy!

Interesting comparison. If I read the table correctly, Collingwood have had 1078 more games experience at 49 more games per a player! Go Dees