CBDees

I don't mind Fitzy being trialled down back especially as Frost seems increasingly destined for the forward line. My impression was that Frost was seen as a replacement for Frawley down back so it is logical to consider Fitzy as a tall in the back half if this is not to be the case, especially whe O. McDonald might not be ready for a few years. I know we have Pederson as a swing player but with injuries I am happy to have two options, especially considering the fact that Fitzy with his athleticism and 200cm height offers more potential "X" factor.

It is quite appropriate to make the Watts vs. Nic Nat comparison. Watts was 10th in the Demons' B&F in 2014, Nic Nat was a comparable 9th in the Eagles' B&F the same year. Judging on pre-season form, Watts will become more valuable to us this year if Roos settles him in a constant role, while I cannot see any similar exponential improvement occurring with Nic Natanui. Wait until Toumpas has been given a similar opportunity to find his role and develop on his performance in the preseason and the Doggies match!

Also will there be any way of watching a replay ( as I will be out for dinner in a mobile free environment)?

Interesting how everybody's comments mention how our midfield will improve next year when Petracca joins it after 12 months on the sidelines, yet nobody in their comments have made any mention of Trengrove! Both were recruited with the #2 pick as 'gun' midfielders, yet Trengrove has had nearly five years in the system and has captained the Club. How quickly everybody seems to have written him off from our future plans!

Actually the "Administrators" should give a three month suspension to anybody using American (English US) spelling in Demonland posts. Punctuation should attract a seven day suspension.

p.s. Saty = TDI

We were treated to two good dashes last week! One from Frost and one from McDonald!

I agree on Clark and it is a disgrace that he left us at the start of last season. Maybe there is a role for both Frost and Gawn on occasions when there is need for a third tall down back (Frost)? On balance however, Frost is the preferred option both ends and it would be nice to have the third tall forward structure that we originally looked forward to so much at the start of last season!

Congrats on your first post!

Interesting using Frost as a forward! How good would it be if he became our Mitch Clark replacement! Then we would need to fast track young O. McDonald to take over Chip's role.

Whilst I agree as a general principle, last year our two first selections (Brayshaw & Petracca) were in a different category as they had the bodies to play versus our later picks (Stretch, Neal-Bullen, O. McDonald)!

Shame that Brayshaw doesn't get a run after his stellar performance last weekend for Casey!

I agree with each of the players you have nominated and would also throw in Toumpas ( which hopefully will put an end to all the "we want Ollie" threads)!

I don't necessarily agree. We just need to get some game time into half of them (and/or have them recover from injury):N. Jones Tyson Viney Petracca Brayshaw Trengove (I hope!) We also have Cross, Vince, JKH, Vandenberg, Neal-Bullen, Stretch, Newton, etc to add depth. Sure it will be nice to import a "gun" but we cannot keep using the excuse that we need 'another draft or two' when we have a good coaching structure now in place to develop our own. In the six that I have nominated, there are already four top three draft picks which is more than some teams can boast with the exception of the Suns and GWS. It is time for some self-belief rather than continually trotting out the same lame excuses because we already have the cattle and should not have to wait for a Dangerfield to come in to lift us!

Old Dee, why don't you watch the match using the links for each quarter on the MFC website (like l have done from Hong Kong)? After watching the replays, I did not agree that we were as "deplorable" as some posters have claimed in the second half. In fact, it was 14+ minutes into the third quarter before the Dogs scored their second goal and that was with a strong wind advantage. There were many positives to take out of last weekend's match and, to some extent, luck played a part in the Dogs closing the gap. We had some good passages of play and no one Melbourne player was massively inept.

I would go even further than that and sought AFL permission to play the same Casey team which demolished the Box Hill Hawks last Saturday (who had 14(?) Hawthorn AFL listed players in their side). In that way, Casey would get another good practice game for their tilt on the Premiership, Brayshaw and Co. would get another run, and we wouldn't be needlessly risking injury to our core players.

It is a shame that we crashed against the Saints in the first round last year, after actually beating a genuine contender at Etihad for the first time in yonks.

Although I have yet to watch the last quarter from Saturday, I have only just watched Q.3 for the first time and, although we did not win win the quarter (kicking Into what was reportedly a five goal breeze), I would hardly call Melbourne's performance in the Third quarter deplorable!

Look on the positive side. Maybe we can blood a few players and instil into the team that it is possible for Melbourne to win at Etihad! Hopefully we can remove the bogey before the season proper.

Freo should forfeit their NAB Challenge victory for playing a player(s?) against us who was on drugs!

Vandeberg was subbed off early due to a head clash. Brayshaw played for Casey against the Box Hill Hawks (who had 14 Hawthorn AFL players in their team) and was virtually BOG.

Considering the fact that we are playing the French Foreign Legion next week I would rather get some serious game time into both Brayshaw and Vandenberg rather start them as subs.

I quite like the team put forward by DA (above) but l have a sneaking suspicion that vanDemon might just be a smokie.

Actually I would prefer this thread to be renamed: "Jack Watts & Jimmy Toumpas" The curent thread title sounds too negative. Let's not forget that they play together in the one team!

And for me from Hong Kong (though l admit I only bothered with the first half)!