Thehardtackler

He looked like he might be a capable forward in training yesterday. I love the way he moves. He is very mobile for a big man.

Looks like a cross between Aaron Davey, Jeremy Howe and Jayden Hunt. I see a bit of all 3 in different ways e.g. The run down tackles, the speccie and the sheer pace.

Sean Darcy looks like he has a bit to work with if we take him in the draft. He is 113 kg and 201 cm. He appears to be good at the centre bounce contest.

Melksham is a gun. He will perform in the big games!

I am sure that Josh Wagner will grab the chance with both hands and become a regular player in the squad. People do need to get used to the idea that you have to rotate your best 22 so that your optimum 22 stay fresh, especially if you are playing finals. Look at how Hawthorn have regularly rested Rioli just before finals. It is players like Wagner who can fill those positions and play for 6-10 First Team games a year, more if they play really well.

Chris Dawes career has been ended by injury as much as anything. Unfortunately, we got very little on field from him, because he did his dash at Collingwood. He was obviously a very talented footballer and I wish him all the best with his future endeavours. I think too many people have been too negative about him on this site. He played several very good games for us when he was fit and he may well have kickstarted Watts career with his mentoring.

I really like Harmes. He has passion for the Club and is very determined. Stretch is equally driven because of the lessons he has learnt from his Dad about professional preparation. Salem is starting 22 when fit and so is Bugg, who is the kind of pest that every team needs and who opposition supporters love to hate. If Alex Neal Bulleen gets his body and head in the right place then he could be a very good player. Kennedy could also become a regular starter if he gets some encouragement and confidence. JKH may not make it. Vandenberg may be a one season wonder. Trengove has an uphill challenge but could be very special again with luck. Wagner has talent but is he a Roos or a Goodwin favourite? We will find out soon!

Yes it is best 22 for Round 1 but one thing that is not being acknowledged is that players like Garland who is not best 22, may well play 8 or 9 games as we rotate the squad, especially in the aftermath of interstate fixtures and 6 day turn arounds.

A thought on Melksham being in our consistent best 22. If you look at his YouTube highlights, he can kick at elite level on both feet. He is very good at getting the pill out the middle from the tap down. Melksham is also a very effective player in tight traffic and he is a good chase down tackler. He is an excellent kick from 50 metres in and is a fiery character. Just thought those who were constantly doing him down might like to consider this. Melksham learnt his craft from Ken Fletcher at P.E.G.S. who loves contested footy, which is what we are now all about. Consider other Fletcher understudies: Trengrove & Cotchin. Melksham was only a year or so after them and came out of that competitive environment.

Not sure Jesse is the right fit for our club! If he doesn't want to commit, then we might be be better trading for him whilst he is still in contract. He has great potential but I don't think he is the upside of a Jeremy Cameron, a Tex Walker or a Jake Stringer. Last year he won the Rising Star and looked great but this year he is obviously discontented with his place at the club. It could just be the attention that he is receiving from the top defenders in the competition or maybe he is waiting to see how Goodwin goes. I guess if we play finals next year he will probably stay!

Apparently he's on $280k at Richmond, which is a base figure. He is very frustrated that Dimma has not been playing him and there is more than a whiff that he feel the coach doesn't like him so it could be a personality clash. I'm not sure that he adds much to our team as we need midfielders, backs and a quality back up ruckman. Unless Tex Walker or similar wants to come to us I wouldn't be recruiting a forward.

Still got some players on the list who need to get their head in the game. Weak effort so far Melbourne!

Said to my mad Port supporter friend that Melbourne will either be insipid and work themselves out of this game or will come out and blow Port away with the confidence and swagger that comes from beating Hawthorn.

Pedersen is a beast. Sign the bloke up quick. We need him as an enforcer!

Cyril is a dirty w****r and I think that he will get what he deserves in the long run. I can't wait to see Petracca and others seriously hurt him in future years. Karma is a b***h.

Speaking to a Coterie Member on the train home. He reckons Vince has already re-signed for next year and he told them quite a while ago. Is this true? 

My own feeling is that Bernie has either got a social issue that is affecting his play or more likely he has fallen into his bad habits e.g. drinking etc.

He does seem half a yard short of speed at the moment. He was woeful today and against St. Kilda.

I am happy to give all ex-EFC players the benefit of the doubt. They deserve a fresh start if they join a new club, especially if it is Melbourne. To coin a Christian phrase I think that you 'should not judge others lest you be judged yourself'

Biggest [censored] ever is B.T. I have had a couple of chats with him and he is self obsessed and rude. The word 'class' in no way applies to him!

If Brisbane don't make a match of it, then Leppitsch has to be gonski.

We have been terrible at keeping the footy! Coach must wear the blame. Unacceptable performance!

Garlett In, Vince Out (suspended). Put a few of them on notice and play the same team. We should only be making wholesale changes for matches away from Home the MCG).

Let's hope that the Match Committee picks Neal-Buleen, Petracca, Trengove and Weideman next week. Out should go Kent, Oliver (rested), Vandenberg (rest) and maybe Tyson (dropped until he is playing better). I think that Brayshaw will be up and about next week and so will Hogan.

Alex Neal Bulleen kicked 3 goals in his first AFL game against Geelong. He has the  makings of an excellent player and we will persevere with him. We will also give Viv Michieva chance to prove himself as he should get upgraded to the Senior list soon.

I am so glad that we do not have Tom Boyd on our list. He has got to be the most overpaid player in the league. If he doesn't kick 50 goals this season, how can he justify $900,000 a season? Hogan is a bargain at half the price!

Jake Melksham is a very talented footballer who was misled by members of the EFC that should have known better. He is now an MFC player and I wish him a successful career with us.