Alcho Dee

Great looking forward line, but these guys need games together and time to gel. We need run out of the back line and fast ball movement through the midfield so that teams don't have time to drop back and out number us. I would play Hogan, Clark and Howe in the goal square Dawes CHF, Fitzpatrick playing with Casey as a replacement for whoever gets injured first, my bet being Dawes. If another goes down Watts goes forward too. Let's hope that we don't loose all 3 big men Hogan, Clark and Dawes....reality is we will loose 1. What we might have gained from 2013 was game time up forward for Fitzpatrick.

Signed me and the missus up for our first memberships yesterday, I have been a supporter since I could walk, my old man had red and blue striped wall paper in my bedroom growing up, my best mates mum and close family friend who died in car accident 14 years ago who was married to ex hawthorn player was a Melbourne supporter, I used to collect footy records from around 94' onwards they were sent to me weekly from a friend of my father.I was going to sign up last year but after watching our performance round 1 against Port Adelaide that was never going to happen. I know the good times are coming I trust my instincts they are usually correct. But just like last year I think round 1 will be telling. Anyway...2more to the tally :-) UP THE DEES

dazzledavey36....are you serious? Dawes premiership player vs Fitzpatrick the unco awkward forward/ruck...picture being the opposition defender for a second Dawes or Fitzpatrick....experienced forward vs 30 game(approx) forward...have a think about it. Shame on you.

Dom Barry - I don't give this guy much chance of making it, needs to add muscle. I want this guy to harden up and dominate the VFL so he gets his chance to play on the G, otherwise it may be a short time at the MFC. Lynden Dunn- strong body, good burst of speed, dedicated to the Dees, experienced, booming right foot. So what has gone wrong and why so many haters? I hope he puts a good season together. James Strauss - so many injuries, but this guy can play, and his great disposal by foot, is an area we have struggled with in our backline and has cost us so many goals, like Jimmy Bartel is trusted with kick ins at Geelong because his disposal and decision is so good, we need this sort of player and Straussy could be it.

And...watts, how could we forget watts....

1. Dawes...because he had an interrupted first year with us nd didnt show everyone his best. 2. Trengove....after 2 years of captain really affected his performance, I want to see the player who we drafted, strong contested player, prolific ball winner with elite skills and elite fitness. 3. Toumpas...I thought had a poor first year, I want to see him winning lots of ball and be a goal scoring midfielder, has x factor but we haven't seen it yet. 3.a Gawn...time to put a year together.

No comment. Going to wait until round 1, all this positive stuff doesn't mean a thing. Injury list is minimal and hopefully it stays that way.

Does anyone else think it would be odd if GWS take a midfielder with pick 2 ? As they traded Tyson to us for pick 2 which would be pick 4 if Hogan and Martin in the mix? So it should be Boyd and Billings/Scharenberg 1 and 2 right....?

ever seen him.play?

Any news on Gawn, hope he has a huge pre Christmas and remains injury free for once.

or not.

We all have these huge expectations of Watts, Bailey played him forward (where he was drafted) Neeld played him in defence. And now Roos wants him in the midfield..... Would play him forward pocket next to Hogan.

So you think Watts is capable of 20 uncontested possessions av and 6 inside 50's, if the best midfielders can't do that how can we expect that from Watts, the poor fella after 5 years in the game doesn't even know where his best position is. He has skills, always has, but he is soft.

20 uncontested possessions possible 6 inside 50's probably unlikely,meanwhile a Sam Mitchell playing the same position has 35 possessions 6 inside 50's and 10 tackles...oh plus 1 goal to his name, and what about clearences? How would Watts compare to a Swan or Selwood. My point being Watts can not match it with the best midfielders and should not be played as a center or RR. I have friend's who have followed Michie, and they have HUGE raps on him. I think we will be surprised by him.

It starts at the stoppage, can Tyson and Jones and Viney win the clearance? And get the ball going forward where we can hit up Hogan or Dawes or Clark or Howe, if this doesn't work its about damage control and our defensive game, putting pressure on the opposition ball carrier and picking up loose players, having a defensive press to keep the ball in our forward half. Gut running and fitness through the midfield is what we need. Our rebounding defenders need to have huge years, Grimes and possibly Vince across half back need to be clean with disposal and aggressive with their run and carry. Back: Frawley Garland Terlich Vince McDonald Grimes Mid: M.Jones Jones Trengove Fwd: Clark Dawes Watts Cross Hogan Howe Ruc: Gawn/Spencer/Jamar, Tyson Viney Int: Toumpas. Tapscott. Kent Sub. Michie. Emg. Dunn Blease Strauss Clisby Fitzpatrick

the skill set to beat a Sam Mitchell at a stoppage? Get real. Jack Watts is not a stoppage player...yet. doesn't have the balls yet. Around stoppages we need Tyson, Viney, Jones, Vince, Trengove and Michie.

Frawley. Garland. Grimes Clisby. McDonald. Trengove Toumpas. Viney. Vince Howe Clark Cross Dawes Hogan Watts Gawn, Tyson, Michie Int. Jones, Kent, Terlich, Tapscott. Emg. Mckenzie, Dunn, Strauss.

I thought you likened him to Dan Nicholson?

We need someone with confidence and swagger, or the opposite to Watts, Blease and Morton. I would go with someone who is a 'bloke' one who is confident with their appereance.....and maturity above their age. It's all simple

Good point mate and well said, you're right we don't have a Milne, Betts, Rioli, Motlop someone with a burst of speed and good evasive skills and goal sense, apart from Neville Jetta, but half of my work colleagues are Richmond supporters and all I hear and see about Nahas is negative, I would hate to see us draft hi after his performances at Richnond, he might be better compared to other potential draftees, but his best might be well.below someone else's.

Kent had a great first year, considering the situation he was in, being a first year forward with limited supply from midfield.Kent played most games this year and has a lot to build on, with a solid pre season I think he deserves every opportunity. He looked unfit this year, but has the skills and footy brain required to make it.

That's desperate. He doesn't deserve to be drafted by us... Would prefer to play other Melbourne players. He is everything we are trying not to bring to the club, right?

Clisby might be able to play this role, and Grimes should provide some run when he moves to the backline next year. But it is the midfielders job to provide options near our defensive 50, some people say Dane Swan and similar types get a lot of cheap kicks in the backline, but it makes the defenders job so much easier.Regarding crumming forwards, i don't think we need to worry much about that.

Billings is perfect for GC, they have a solid midfield already but could use a half forward. Every time I have watched him Play, I have been impressed with his over head marking and his precision kicking and ball use. This guy has all the polish to go top 2. Has a footy brain and will be a star.

1GWS . BOYD 2GWS. SCHARENBERG 3STK. AISH 4WB. BILLINGS 5GC. KELLY 6COLL. BONTEMPELLI 7BRI. LENNON 8NTH. MCDONALD 9MEL. FREEMAN 10COLL. SALEM 11WC. SHEED Hopefully Bontempelli slides to us, I think he looks so similar to Ben Reid from Collingwood, breaks the lines, agile, long kick with a fluent action, composed, has height and weight(give him a couple of years in the gym) has a lot of upside, we should take this guy if he is free. Could play any position on the ground.