Older demon

I didn't realise how impressive the club presidents C.V. is. He is obviously a well-respected pro in his field and "Bartlett's proposal, which he has also put before other commissioners, is in line with industrial reforms which led to the 2009 Australian Fair Work Act." I would have thought the law of the land was a good model because whatever the AFL is doing is clearly not working. It must be extraordinarily difficult to plan player contracts if you don't know what you have to pay or can afford. WE have several young champions we want to tie up for years.

Chip was weighing up his options and didn't buy in immediately. I always thought Roos moved on from Chip and prepared for life after Frawley. As a professional footballer Chip made a commercial decision and may have realised the coaches were happy with the draft pick compensation they would get. I don't blame him for that and wish him well. If he wanted to return (he is a good mate of Max) then it would be up to the club to get him back. Remember Croad leaving Hawthorn for Free (I think Hodge was the draft pick they got) and returning later to play in a premiership. I doubt very much this would happen but stranger things have and if it did I would trust the team at Melbourne to assess he was needed. Jeremy is different, he wanted to play up forward and Buck's promised him that. It didn't take them long to realise that, it doesn't work, and Jeremy is exactly where he was with us, as an intercept mark down back. I suspect Roos moved on from Jeremy too and didn't think him made of the right stuff.

Hogan was definitely at the game Saturday. I saw him at the lifts on level 2 at halftime. If he has gone to Perth then it has been in the last 2 days.

I am sure Hogan will play despite what Jones says. The story was also about the home issue and Jesse may have to rush homes as it appears a member of the family isn't well. I hope Pederson comes in as the 2nd ruck which frees Jack to run around the forward line. When Jack rucks and Spencer rests we have NO presence up forward or marking option. I think Weed will be out injured and Melksham can have a rest.

I think Bernies best games are in the midfield and tagging or playing one on one with blokes like Mitchell, Selwood etc. Yes he makes errors which we don't notice further up the ground but are crucial in the last line of defence. The importance of good kickers down back is now being shown. Hibberd, Hunt, Salem and even Wagner will form the defence as 3 are are good left footers and the other (Hunt) runs it out of defence and gains yards.

This is from the website. On his performance, Viney said he believed his start to the season had been “solid without being spectacular”.“I feel like I’m playing my role within the team at the moment and doing what’s required and popping up here and there, doing some good things,” he said. “I’m certainly looking to keep getting better and improving throughout the year.” If I remember he had a late start to pre season post op which my explain the slow start. I guess we want more from him than "solid". We also don't know what this role is and maybe that is the issue, he is following coaches orders. I do know that we seem unable to curtail the opposition stars in the midfield this year. I thought Viney tagged Steven's in game 1 to good effect but Murphy, Dangerwood and Fyfe have all dominated us in the last 3 weeks. I still feel that the coach is tinkering with the team composition and game plan and isn't overly worried at the moment about finals.

Look to this weeks emergencies first and see how they go on Monday as this has been the hint each week as to who is next in line for promotion. Trengove, Oscar and Smith were this weeks emergencies so I would not be at all surprised to see Jack back. I expect Hogan to replace Weed. It may be Weed and Melksham for Hogan and Trengove and hope there are no further injuries.

Can anyone tell me why today some umpires bounced at the centre and then one decided he would throw it up. The throw up was certainly to Sandi's advantage. I thought post a goal it was always bounced now it seems optional......

My concern is that he is having NO impact on the game. I don't think it is captaincy but limitations in his game right now, such as no right side or accuracy with his left foot and he was never quick. Others in the midfield have passed him by with Oliver being the extractor and when Trac moves into the midfield he will be squeezed out more. He needs to adapt and lift.

To me, a measure of our development will be seen in how we deal with this loss. In the past we would look for positives and be pleased with the effort. Yes it is a young team and incredibly young inexperienced forward line. But we lost! This was a game where we gave ourselves every chance, had more inside 50's and shots at goal and didn't take our chances. The collective player and coaching group should be bleeding. Other teams have injuries and the Hawthorn and Bulldogs mantra is a soldier goes down another steps up. We should be filthy about losing and not happy about anything and take it out on Freemantle at home. Good teams hate losing and go up a notch the next game. This is what I want to see next week. Minimal changes and those who were down yesterday to lift. Great games from Jones (you champion), Hunt, Watts, Clarry, Stretch, ANB and Kent

Noted Cripps and Rowe both selected to play this week. If Cripps corps another knock and displaces fracture are Carlton negligent?

Well done Bull and nice to see the number 38 back.

I think Frost and Wagner played a half and not sure of the miles in Pedersons legs, so doubt any of this trio will come in yet. The standouts at Casey have been Bugg, Kent and Spencer with Bernie available. I like the idea of Spencer rucking and Max spending time up forward as he is still troubled by his back and has been unwell so my source tells me.

Just wear it. MFC becoming antisocial and it comes at a price, so be it. Bernie comes in for Lewis and be interesting to see who replaces Hogan. Maybe it will be Spencer, remember we beat Geelong without Hogan before with Spencer up forward. If Spencer comes in expect Jack to play CHF or maybe go small and play Hannan CHF and bring Bugg in to annoy Dangerwood

I was at gate 3 handing out scarves. The line to the membership shed was 50 people lomg 10 minutes before the bounce. I have never been so busy handing out carves as this weekend. Josh Wagner was there to meet and greet ended up assisting us, as there were 5 lines of 10 deep members to claim a scarf. It was flat stick from 2pm right up to game time and more wins mean more members. Josh was awesome and the number of surprised looks on members faces when they saw who was processing their members card and handing out a scarf was fantastic.

For what it is worth the team lineup is different on the MFC App. Same personnel but Hannan, Oliver, Smith and Oliver on the bench.In that team. Hannan an Etihad specialist maybe. Burned us in VFL G.F.

Can anyone tell me where White is in his preparation? He may be the rookie upgrade for Garland as a backman. He has played a bit more than Smith and may have played on members (unsuccessfully) last season. I think Pederson will play as a swingman forward and back.

There has been lots said about the team tonight but i thought the Eagles game plan hurt us. Chip kicks, hitting target, maintaining pressure and moving the ball quickly even if it was sideways put a lot of pressure on the backline. We won the hit outs but they won the clearances and Thought their midfield showed more poise and class. Many of our mid's just didn't fire. I would hate to be a backman defending with the way the ball was delivered to the eagles forwards. They broke our press with precision kicks and a few times got over the back to a loose man. This game was a bit more intense than the last and there was lots of fumbling. Areas to improve, maintaining possession, hitting targets, moving the ball quickly, making tackles stick

I would like to see him less reliant on his left side. Rarely appears able to kick with his right foot. he is never going to be a raking long left foot but needs to his more targets.

Lots of turnovers not necessarily under pressure. Few blokes playing their first competitive game so to be expected. I suspect ANB playing on Mitchell, his disposal has been sloppy but has tackled Michel ferociously. The backline will look a lot better with Frost and his run and carry. WCE very slick with their handball, kicking to position and playing keepings off.

The Lumumba situation may also influence the number of positions. A rookie will almost certain to be promoted with Heretier's future cloudy, but the spectre of a payout for him means we have to carry his wage for no play, so unless a settlement is reached we have to carry him. Personally I prefer quality over quantity and White or even Smith may well find themselves on the main list before the season starts. 3 rookies and a B rookie seem enough for me

Isn't it obvious he is copying Shane Woewodin and trying to win a Brownlow by attracting the attention of the umps.....

Congrats Josh and well earned promotion. IMO opinion Josh offers a lot of half back and whilst he may not have the run of other candidates he is excellent overhead and I found a feature of his game early on was his intercept marking and he goes hard.

Today is the last day for list lodgement so is there anyone else who MFC may delist today or is that it and we wait and see who they bring in?

There is a great photo on Jack Viney's Instagram post of him and his mates at the races have a Crownie. Clearly he is still great mates with Ollie as they flank a group of very happy well dressed young men. Maybe one day Ollie will eventually get to the Dee's??