pantaloons

We're going to be digging around in the dumpster if we're looking for an experienced forward. No team is going to part with a forward without mental/physical problems for peanuts. We have very little to offer that we can afford to give away. Trading the kids or draft picks is counter-productive at this point. Without digging into our youth or picks from the first three rounds, you're looking at your Adam Campbell types. We already have forwards who aren't AFL standard and I don't see the point in adding to that stockpile. Continue to put the development into Watts, Jurrah and Martin thanks. We're at least 2 years away from finals, we should build the forwardline through the draft and our internal development.

I don't know if it was as much the actual trade or the drafting of Grimes that was great. We traded Darren Jolly for pick 15 and wound up with Lynden Dunn; traded Woey for the pick used on Daniel Bell. The hindsight heroics are very much dependent on whether you're hit or miss with the use of the pick.

This is the key for me. I haven't seen the Sylvia hit, but if Davey gets suspended for his little slap it would be an absolute disgrace. Having said that, I'll be applauding, as the AFL can perform some 'list management' beautifully for us tonight and we can cry bloody murder on Sunday as we go down by a kick without Davey and Sylvia, keeping Scully well within reach.

I find it interesting how polarising a figure Robbo has become among Melbourne supporters. I expect this to be the case amongst the general AFL-supporting populace, but it surprises me that there seems to be a genuine dislike of Robbo by some of our own, beyond an annoyance at his flaws. I'm not taking any moral high ground here as a supporter thought policeman - I've had players that irked me to the point that I was happy to see the back of them upon their departure. The Robbo talk is just fascinating to me because I genuinely like the bloke, and absolutely love the enthusiasm he brings that some here have said irritates them. Each to their own, that's fine. I echo the cries of those who hope that our youngsters don't learn from some of Robbo's bad habits, chiefly the lack of chasing and going to ground too often. Equally, I hope the passion and exuberance of Robbo isn't lost on them. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching him since 1997, and he's been a source of entertainment in some lousy years, and a key player in better years. If this is indeed his last season, I'll enjoy every goal and ensuing celebration like it's the last I'll see of it.

I enjoyed the ruck setup yesterday and I'd like to see it continue for at least the rest of the year - Jamar as first ruck and big Stef relieving him. I'm not sure what effect not being able to settle into the one position will have on Stef, but I like the flexibility of being able to play him in a range of positions on the ground during the course of a game, forward, back and rucking. He's useful in a range of roles, and we don't waste a spot in the 22 with a second, NQR ruckman.

I'm no Kevin Sheehan, but if the tall forwards in this year's draft are tripe, then take two midfielders. Scully seems to be a lock at #1, so if Trengove or Manitoba or whatever his name is are the next best players then take the next best. Our midfield is disgusting anyway, it can use all the help it can get.

My prayers are with you, Jim. Get well soon.

27, TJ was one of the most clear-cut #1 draft picks in AFL Draft history. Whether we blame his mental shortcomings or our complete inability to develop players, it wasn't so much a poorly used pick as it was a case of post-draft circumstances preventing the MFC from reaping the full benefits of someone we (along with every other club at the time) thought would be an absolute dominator. As for Dunn, the realistic scenario is that he plays most of the remainder of his career at Casey, and meanders through the few remaining games he has left at Melbourne, not establishing any one position. Ideally, he'd play 6-10 games as a key forward this season, kick a bundle of goals and collect some form of trade value. That scenario sadly coincides with swine making their way through the sky above the MCG. I'm not even sure what I want out of the rest of the season regarding team selection. Do I want to see players who aren't going to cut it running around (ie. Dunn, Petterd, Bell, Newton and Buckley etc) in the hope that by some miracle their trade value increases from a few used jockstraps to a third round pick? Or do I want to see youngsters who clearly aren't ready for senior football (ie. Watts, Jetta)? I'm not sure if that's a great benefit for them or a dent in their confidence.

I love Robbo, but I support Bailey's dropping of him. Robbo's efforts last week, particularly the unthinkable stupidity on the goalline, were woeful. Just the sort of stuff you can't have a senior player showing the rest of the young group. You can't have a player of any age for that matter playing by their own rules. As for Robbo's omission costing us the game against St. Kilda, I'd say all it does is take us from a 1% chance of victory to a 0.2% chance. I'm just thankful it'll give the coach a look at Stef at full-forward for a full game and that they didn't recall Newton. It's a tough game for Martin to show his wares in though. St. Kilda have routinely strangled the life out of teams this season. It wouldn't surprise me to see us score under 50 points this week.

Thank goodness for that. A common sense victory. Transferring a Melbourne game away from our home during the season would be an absolute insult and a joke.

Care to elaborate? Carlton have invited scorn with their arrogant advertising campaign. They should be making finals in the next couple of years, but with no spine oustide of Fev, are no chance for a Grand Final appearance unless that changes.

McDonald simply must retire at year's end. He owes it to himself after such a determined, gutsy career to not play out his final year at Casey. Whelan will have to join him in retirement. Again, I've enjoyed his career, but as good as he can be, with a squeeze on list spots, we can't keep an older, injury-prone player in a position we have covered anyway. Robbo is going to be 31, but he plays a vital role in our team and thus stays. Wheatley should be delisted. Buckley must go if uncontracted. He has blistering pace, but so does Usain Bolt, and he'd probably have more idea of what to do with the ball when he got it. None of our ruckmen immediately spell delisting for me, especially since Meesen is contracted, but it wouldn't be devastating losing eithe Jamar or Johnson, though they wouldn't be my top priority for delisting. Newton' contract (one of the most farcical acts of charity you could ever see) will likely save him, but if its a choice between dumping him or someone worth persisting with, then I'd pay him out and give him the chop. Blokes like Bell, Dunn and McNamara's status on our list will depend on contract situations and the further number of spots we need to vacate.

Damn right, condemned. I have great reserved seats at the G and will be livid if the game's moved. Just a disgrace of the highest order. You can't just move games from a team's home venue halfway through a season. Imbeciles.

Yep, must pull a crowd on Saturday. We can't chuck a tanty upon being given dud timeslots if we can't draw a crowd to Saturday afternoon games at the G. Unfortunately the Dogs, like our own fans away, will provide a paltry amount of supporters so that won't help a great deal.

NO. Start moving games away from the G to interstate/Princes Park/the moon and you alienate your supporters, get smaller crowds, less exposure, smaller chance of victory. Just terrible. Our home is the G and we need to be strengthening our ties with the ground, not vice versa. Close the top section of the ground, but moving games away from the G is only going to lead to our downfall.

How many threads could we possibly need acknowledging that we have a player on our list who puts in zero effort and shows utter contempt for his teammates and Melbourne supporters upon taking the field? Once he's banished to the Casey seconds to play out the rest of his charitable contract we can move on and stop wasting valuable cyber space with musings on the man.

I don't wish the bloke any personal harm, but if I ever see him run out in the Melbourne guernsey again I will projectile vomit. The sooner he's off the list, the sooner we can all stop being frustrated by his complete lack of effort.

I didn't boo him - I usually only boo inept umpiring, players who left Melbourne for money, or opposition players who have belted one of ours or who are guilty of an overt display of insolence during the game. Supporters can boo whatever they like, even Philadelphia Eagles fans booed Santa Claus one year. I just don't rip into people based on off-field misdemeanours.

Russell Robertson would likely kick more goals from a wheelchair this weekend than any other Demon forward with the exception of Brad Green. I look forward to his return, even if it is only to make watching Melbourne a little more entertaining/bearable while we go through this phase.

Nope. No point trading trash for garbage. The only way you'd ever see a trade like this done (from a Melbourne perspective) is if Sylvia had another few years on big money left on his contract, helping us dump it. If that were the case though, the Tiges would never take it. So the answer is no. You just couldn't move someone who has produced so little in 5 3/22 years and no motor.

Green to take it for a couple of years until someone younger shows something resembling captaincy material.

And people thought re-signing Newton was folly...

Whether its fitness, sloth or some form of leprosy, that's the third time in five matches this year including the preseason that we've been flogged in the last quarter when the game was up for grabs. The players should be more disappointed with the end scoreline than the supporters today. They owed themselves more than that after an improved effort in the first three quarters.

I don't see how his game today was any worse than what he offered last year. Without wanting to rubbish the guy, his disposal is ordinary at best and he runs around like the quintessential headless chook when he has the ball. He seems to have played senior games because his pace and desire to take the game on are rare commodities in this team.

Excuse the brown-nosing, but that's a superb post - great job. I'm going to commit the cardinal sin of posting and add little of my own thought and echo all you've said. You've hit the nail smack on the head as far as I'm concerned. I've got no resentment towards Trav, hopefully he can add plenty to his three Brownlow votes in 2009.