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The Kangaroos should be focusing on Darwin. They are already North. they could program games outside the most advers weather and schedule them for TVtime slot, maybe even providing a double header for TV coverage.

I thought King addressed this pretty well in his press conference. It is what it is and the efforts of you Ghosty, the Demon army and those supporters who get to every game are to be admired and appreciated. Sunday 3.00 has some attractions as Kingy said and may even make it easier for me from the country 4 hour trip on train or road to attend My mates who I normally go with said that the atmosphere and crowd noise last week was fantastic and it even translated to the screen with the waving of the scarves, jigs etc. Apparently this game was one of the highest rating and that could be a good thing and I note that again our crowd sizes relative to our member numbers are amongst the highest in the league so well done.

Agree winning and playing well is most important but marquee games also add to marketing . The biggest game in NRL is the State of Origin (this is easily promoted as the game is effectively NSW and Queensland) despite the success of Storm and their attempts to bring NZ and New Gunieu into the fold that State of Origin will remain. We Melbourne should leverage off that by making Melbourne V Sydney Melbourne V Brisbane as state of origin events. Melbourne v Adelaide and Melbourne v Perth would also be promoted As the oldest club and the owners of the MCG we could easily build a significant marquee, and also entrench Melbourne into league structures.

That can be a good start but we will be restricted by the spaces available at both Caulfield and Waverley. You are probably aware of my advocacy for a greenfield site at Fishermans Bend/ Port Melbourne site. This allows a much more innovative and creative approach incorporating retail, commercial, transport, entertainment, community, facilities to complement the basic training administration etc options we are pursuing. Such a facility could also future proof the club.

Thanks all track watchers for reports. One thing I have noticed from attendance at games ( I get to some occasionally) and on tv is that we structure often to guard grass and corral players and we also seem to press deep into defence at times.. Commentators on TV often refer to the structure forcing down the line release as a positive. When I looked at this more deeply it seemed that this created situations where the opposition can run to the space between the two players guarding grass and take an uncontested mark. This was particularly obvious against bombers and at times against Brisbane. Some players give opponents too much space and often see them pointing to the next teammate to pick up the player between them. When we play close to our opponents and apply pressure was when we controlled the game and created scores. I understand the need for tempo but letting opponents drive into their forward line through uncontested possessions doesnt inspire me. Are you seeing the players training to be closer to their opponents or are they training to guard and structure..

I agree with this. Last week we should have rested TMac, Melkie Fritta and gone with Jefferson , Kentfield AMW. Maybe run Heath. Even Windsor Kolt Langford who all played ok could have been rested and saved for this bigger game. The older experienced bodies should be playing against the older bigger body teams. It6 does depend how they turn up, I reckon our best is as good as Lions and sorry i wont be there. GO DEEES

I was able to mutter to Essendon fanaticasises ( made up word combining fans ...fanatics...and fantasisers) that they are bound to win one in every 18 But that was a really horrible performance by us . especially the last quarter where we appeared to just give in. at 3/4 time bomber fans in front of me yelled come on bombers embarras them.....I said to him they already have..... Hoping for a last quarter fight....... didnt happen ....... we were humiliated.

Well my selection comments are still based on little knowledge so Ill take the coaches and selectors team as a winner. Im going over invited by my Bombers supporting mate, he's actually the husband of my friend, but has endeared himself to me despite that. He does love his footy and has again prepared a weekend of football fever, with multiple matches including in the box and special events. His wife doesnt really care for footy and is happy that I can distract him for the weekend. BUT I really want the Dees to continue his misery, although in his defence he is more frustrated than miserable criticising many of the actions his club has taken. Still I would like to see a few rested with Jeffo, Kentfield, Heath and anyone else who played well at Casey given a run. Id include Laurie even though he didnt excell.. Petty provided a really good role through back and forward and does ruck well but we know what he can deliver. Id still like to see some work into JVR as full time forward only NO RUCK. Rest any player who may have a niggle and get em cherry ripe for Brisbane. But given I didnt think Milky would play given his Casey appearance and how well he played Im prepared for anything. It does make the trip more interesting but gee winning is way better than losing. GO DEES

my only concern arises from the vision of Melksham against the doggies. I do like ghosties scenario of the 150 lead up and am now going to scour the training reports,

Yes thats a good get in line with exposing the next generation resting them back to work on specific features of their game Sorry about the multiple quote seems auto generated.

Yeah agree Petty has been out of form which is why I think he gets last chance as burst impact replacement, a role which he needs to be coached positively to do. As i said in other post Im just a bit concerned that Lukar had a significant injury which might affect his confidence and impact which I would like to see built and evidenced in the lower level. Both these thoughts are deeper coaching and development matters which I really will leave to the coach who is closer to the players.

Just a bit worried that the significant injury he sustained may affect his confidence and impact which I would rather see built and evidenced at Casey.

We do not need a white silver or grey border

Just a few changes Werridee B: Lever, McDonald, Salem HB: Tholstrup, Turner, Howes C: Langford, Sparrow, Windsor HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, Culley F: Fritsch, Mihocek, Heath FOLL: Gawn, Steele, K.Pickett IC: Lindsay, Langdon, Sharp, Petty, Moniz-Wakefield EMERG: , L.Pickett, Kentfield prefer both to play limited time at Casey Petty the ultimate emergency can pinch hit for Turner if he is short of a run or can cut out for max in the ruck and JVR who must be played fulltime forward and Heath who may need exposure to AFL.. Mw can replace Tholstrup if he is needed to tag or cut out Salem Heath played well at Casey last match and can provide support for Max and an xtra tall to create space Latrell is exciting but I reckon can have run at Casey to build up his presence not just impact. Use his pace at that level to cut them apart and force his way into the team against Essendon. Rivers may need an extra week recovery same as Kentfield We do need to see how player perform at Casey Jefferson and Kentfield l

Not sure that Melkie will make it, the way he looked last week. I would leave Petty in ones as the ultimate replacement forward or back. Hes not slow and can ply tall. seems to play better when he is a burst player. He makes and creates space and can tackle pretty well.

Youll get 2 weeks for that, Sidey would get nothing and Kozzie would get life.

I am a redleg member which I consider a donation to the club as I dont get down to enjoy the games with my melbiourne based mates who are all also redleg members. I get to sit with them and enjoy the pre and post match events. Its easy to do as I just pay a fortnightly amount on automatic instalment. It is fortunately supported by the really friendly membership staff who also assist me on match days when I bring friends along (usually at the last minute)

We seemed to be too far off our opponent when they had the ball and didnt create space when we had the ball, Both of those features were noticeable last week. We burnt ourselves when all going forward when turnover happened with poor handball or missed target

Possible Team B: Howes McDonald, Salem HB: Rivers, Lever, Jiath C: Windsor, Langford, Langdon, HF: Chandler, van Rooyen, K.Pickett F: Fritsch, Mihocek, Sharp FOLL: Gawn, Steele, Tholstrup IC: Petty, Lindsay L.Pickett, Culley, Heath EMERG: Moniz-Wakefield, Taylor, Sparrow Windsor Langford takes centre clearance Windsor Langford outside Tholstrup tagging K Pickett also run through centre for burst swap with Tholstrup LIndsay chop out Windsor Langdon THolstrup Chandler Sharp Salem ( lets see what hes got) L Pickett burst swap with Chandler, Sharp Culley swap with Mihocek, Van Rooyen Fritsch (Van Rooyen, Mihiocek rotate FF and CHF) Heath chop out for Max Mihocek, Van Rooyen (Forward role) Petty is a better ruck than both Roo and possibly Heath but can plug in for any defender needing chop out (Lever Howes Mc Donald) and can chop out for Max jn defence role Theres plenty of flexibility around some core who have little rest Langdon Rivers Salem Jiath Mc Donald Steele Van Rooyen must be just forward rotatindg and leading with Mihocrk. both providing contest so ball comes down to crumbers. Fritsh plays deep and behind contests.

I did wonder if that was another holding the man free gone missing. Watched the Casey boys where only Heath looked reasonable so knew why King made no changes. Ive had a gutful of not manning up when opposition has the ball.

Thank goodness someone can make sense of these statistics. I was perhaps totally wrong . I felt in watching all games so far that pressure was high . I commented many times that you just could not afford to fumble as opponents were close checking and turnovers occurred. Turnovers also seemed to lead to chains that led to scoring. The pace of the game looked faster as well, which affected the precision of disposal. I will keep watching and hoping that we continue our winning results.

I dont want to down play the saints too much. I am hoping we beat a good side not a poor side. WE had some great performances and some ordinary performances. Our good passages were very good. Roo and Max probably the difference. The main thing I noticed was our [layers seemed closer to their opponents which appears to be a pattern of all games. No guarding ground and shepharding players into position but close checking and tackling. Chasing and putting players under pressure and off balance is what created so many turnovers. I hope we look at our squad for next weeks selections and pick players who are suited to the opponents. Therefore we might rest some who played well and put in some more surprising picks, but in the light of today I dont know who that is. Perhaps Sharp played his one out of the box, Kolt played a role scripted 3 weeks ago, really well. Langford did little but maybe needed that run. I think Petty is showing the ultimate swing man off the bench and maybe TMac can go into the defence who all played pretty well Great problem to have. Looking forward to an exciting season.

or Better still all nominated Grand ol Flag. Perhaps the many different versions seen in this site