CBDees

And I wish him luck! As a former player he must have twigged that there are many Essendon supporters in the legal profession (including the judiciary) and this cannot enhance his chances.

Nice to hear McCartney's name mentioned. It appears that all reports emerging from the Club only mention Roos, Goodwin, Mathews, Rawlings and Alison. Surely he could be given a bit of press?

Obviously written before the NAB Challenge judging by the absence of Oliver in his best 22 and the fact that neither Kent nor Harmes are mentioned in dispatches. Despite the toughish draw that he acknowledges, I am confident that we will do better than 14th!

Interesting that you are going for a 15 man squad without Gawn, Jones or Vanders! I think that you are taking the Giants for granted.

Disappointed that you are going against the pundits ( and recent form) in not selecting Oliver!

I think that I his year we can promote two Rookies due to Melksham.

Best thing about watching the game yesterday in a Geelong pub, was when a Carlton supporter a few seats along the bar, cursed his Club for getting rid of Jeffy. (He was not at all worried about the loss of Eddie Betts.)

What a great game and so nice to see Harmes, Kent and Kennedy feature so well. I particularly like the way that we had a good mix of goal kickers with Hogan only chiming in at the last quarter after a number of missed opportunities. Great to see Watts, Oliver and Garlett dominating a quarter each and so many contributors overall. Considering the fact that we still have Petracca, Brayshaw and Trengove to debut, we may well be in for a good year.

I haven't viewed the footage but I hope that you are right.

When we win it will make it two games in a row at EddieHurd, and four in a row overall. Let's hope the press don't read too much into this and blow out our odds.

I'd still prefer Tyson and Salem.

Watts - pick 1 Trengove - pick 2 Hogan (Scully#1 compensation?) also Kennedy was pick 10 for the Pies (before we swapped for Howe/Toumpas#3) p.s. And Tyson was originally pick 2 when GWS drafted him

I have seen Petracca on the park at training and I doubt that you will be disappointed when he plays his first match.

No Richmond has pick 9! We have pick 18.

You must be joking!

I am flabbergasted by this. Nearly everyday I receive a NT Tourism email, directly as a result of the MFC association. I even planned to go to the last match in the Alice (but is was too dear)!

Thanks for the report Steve. Your impressions of Petracca are consistent with my thoughts when I have watched him at training. I would be wrapped if they unleash him and Oliver for Round One!

I have seen Petracca on the park at training and I doubt that you will be disappointed when he plays his first match.

I think that everybody is unduly worried as Kennedy will probably play a big slab for Casey unless we have a bad run with injuries again. Last Sunday's list has to be trimmed by four (interchange) plus we have to find room for Hogan and eventually Petracca and Trengrove. He is better depth than we have had in past years.

Disappointed that you are going against the pundits ( and recent form) in not selecting Oliver!

Disappointed that you are going against the pundits ( and recent form) in not selecting Oliver!

For a member with 7 posts, this was a very unselfish offering.

And when we have Hogan and Dawes in our forward structure our score will improve markedly!

They may only be practice games but Roos stated from the outset that we Intended to field a near full strength side during the series. How other coaches respond to that is their business and what suits them for the development of their own lists. I am happy for Roos/Goodwin's strategy on this and happy for our young list to experience a winning culture going into the season proper. Now I am just waiting for Petracca and Trengrove to have their first run.

And after we beat St. Kilda next week it will become 3 from 3. A nice confidence builder for a young team for whom the game plan is finally starting to gel and it means that we turn up for Round One much better prepared than in the recent past. Go Dees!