CBDees

A very good point raised by mjt! Are we able to have costs awarded against the AFL or individuals within it? Also are we able to mount an action against the AFL for slander or for tarnishing our reputation for adopting actions which were common practice amongst teams at the lower end of the ladder (i.e. experimentation)?

I am quite happy to see McDonald stay down back and also pleasantly surprised at how well Watts has settled in there as well. With Dawes and Pederson (and Bynes) recruited to bolster our forward line alongside Howe and Clark and with Hogan coming on stream next year I think that it would be a mistake to try to experiment further at the potential expense of unsettling what is becoming a strong backline.

Interesting listening to some of the radio sports commentary this morning. The consensus seem to be that if the proceed with the action against Melbourne then they have no option but to then proceed with similar action against Carlton for the 2007 Kreuzer Cup and similarly against West Coast in 2010, Richmond, Fremantle, et al. Maybe Demetriou will have to take a salary cut to pay for the massive legal bills?

I have got him as an emergency. I think that is his best position at present however I will wait to see how he and other fring players peform in the NAB Cup.

Hopefully it is also going to explain the definition of tanking and/or how they interpret it!

Actually I forgot to include Jack Watts and Jack Grimes in the list to chose from. It will be very interesting at the selection table before round 1.

I agree with you rjay. If he only could replace the loss of Rivers then i would be satisfied. We need another big body down back.

We also have to fit in Garland, Frawley and Dunn, (and possibly Terlich) amongst others. Good article on Dunn on the club's website; Lynden Dunn, the defender

It would be nice if he did as so far he has under-performed as a former No. 8 draft pick, 5 years into the system. Neeld gave him 16 matches last year (to add to his previous 21); and he was less effective for us than Rivers, McDonald etc whereas he should have been a super star as a top ten draft pick with 5 years senior experience. Obviously Craig and Viney had faith in him otherwise we would not have drafted him and I will be pleasantly surpirsed if they are on the money as BBP is so confident. At present I cannot see Sellar (no 's') displacing McDonald.

Pardon me!

Pre-season update: McDonald to Sellar These is an interesting group of backs here, some who have yet to realise their potential. I wonder who are going to slot into our starting 22 (apart from McDonald who is a certainty)?

Great job 13th. You have managed to feature every exciting bloke who I have enjoyed watching over the last five decades with the exception of Jurrah.

Aren't we entitled to nominate a rookie at the start of the year (plus bring omn more to cover long-term injured)?

Strauss is certainly one of those players who has to lift during the year. Selection for both the NAB Cup and Round 1 will both be difficult this year when one considers that one of our hardest trainers (Magner) is currently still a rookie. I would not like to be selecting the team this year as for the first time in a while we seem to have choice (if these pre-season player reviews are to be believed). The upsdie is that there is no excuse for the Casey Scorpions to do well with some many good players (according to the coaches) who are vying against the top 22 for senior selection!

Some comments on the latest batch of updates? All I can say is that it appears that No. 22 this year will have more contribution than No. 22 did last year! Pre-season update: Strauss to Tynan

All the reports are light on; it would be nice if they could eleaborate on everyone and maybe even keep the website updated with players current situation (rather than merely number of games) and consistent format as some player profiles are very scanty and other expansive.

Was that a question?

Yes it is amazing how much rests on the AFL retrospecively trying to put a different interpretaion on the letter of their regulations. It is a bit like tax minimisation (legal where one works within the rules) and tax evasion (illegal where one works outside the rules). Surely whatever we did was within the letter of the rules as they are currently (badly?) written whatever our intent (whch was after all judged to be for the greater good of the Club at that point in time). Just as many people try to preserve their wealth in their tax management so I suspect everybody at Melbourne at the time (and other teams) were trying to do the best for the health and longevity of the Club. I don't think anybody at Melbourne actually broke any rules even if they worked within them. If anything comes out of this inquiry, it should not be penalties for Melbourne but the AFL doing an overhaul of their rules to avoid a repeat of whatever concerns them. In an ideal world everybody would follow the intent of the law but in reality all we are obliged to do is follow the letter of the law!

The end of 2011 list looked a reasonable list at the time. Guess it will all unfold when the results of Neeld's recruits and training seasons are tested at Round 1.

Yes what a great idea having potential key position player /back-up ruckman Hannath on our 'permission to train list' only to have him taken under our noses by Freo due to the fact that we had no picks in the pre-season draft.

I think that this deserves a post of its own O. Although hopeful that we can see results a year earlier than the Rams, it is worth everybody aborbing rather overlooking the strategy behind our player churn!

It doesn't cut with me!

By the sounds of the MFC post the boys are all tip top shape. Maybe it is time that Sylvia took on a leadership role? Pre-season update: Sylvia to Blease

I do not think that you can say this about Darren Jolly (squeezed out by White) or Scott Thompson (who admittedly deserted us of his own accord). We have made quite a few blues along the way.

Only the uncultured. Me thinks that you are confusing this site with the Collingwood supporter's blog.