Straight Sets Simon

Then why are Holland, Ward, Brown, Miller, Ferguson and Godfrey getting a game?

It needs to be an all or none situation. Either you are playing for the future, or you're playing to win. At the moment I'm not sure what Melbourne are doing.

What team would you choose for next week against the Dogs, that has the soul purpose of winning? Forget about next year, development and giving some of the older guys a last chance. Note: Assume that Sylvia, Bruce and Frawley are fit, but Neitz and Robertson are not. Here's mine: FB: Bell Carroll Frawley HB: Bizzell Ferguson Green C: Johnstone Jones Wheatley HF: Pickett Bate Bruce FF: Davey Newton Dunn Foll: White McLean McDonald Int: Moloney P Johnson Sylvia Holland

Spot on.

Sheedy (and Ratten for that matter) still have their own teams to worry about right now. Sheedy knows that Melbourne are interested, there's not much more that they can do. No need to rush, yet.

Did you hear Greg Champion's songs today Rhino? Very funny stuff. For those who didn't hear it, basically the more that Melbourne supporters complain, the more songs that will be written. It was good stuff.

Stats mean very little. Yes, he got the ball. But what did he do with it? Even if he was hitting targets, where were those targets? Were they long direct passes into the forward fifty or chips sideways in the back pocket?

I sure hope that is the case.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

FB: B.Holland, N.Carroll, R.Ferguson HB: D.Bell, B.Miller, J.Frawley C: B.Green, J.McDonald, P.Wheatley HF: N.Brown, R.Robertson, S.Godfrey FF: B.Pickett, D.Neitz, M.Bate Foll: J.White, B.McLean, N.Jones Int: B.Moloney, S.Buckley, M.Newton, D.Ward, A.Davey, J.Bode, M.Jamar In: B.Pickett, A.Davey, J. Bode, M.Jamar, N.Carroll Out: C.Sylvia (groin), C.Bruce (hamstring) Source: Demonology

I have a feeling that both Holland and Bizzell are both on pretty good money at the moment. If either was to stay next year they would definitely be taking a pay cut.

That it isn't up to "us" but up to Kevin Sheedy if he wants to come to Melbourne and if Melbourne want him for that matter.

I think Sheedy himself might have something to do with it just quietly...

Imagine if Melbourne pick up Carlton's former coach. They will be going from a Reverend to a Pagan.

Sheedy in-part created the "modern game".

1. Jones 2. McDonald 3. Bruce

FB: Whelan Carroll Bell HB: Bizzell Rivers Petterd C: Johnstone Jones Bruce HF: Sylvia Bate Green FF: Davey Neitz Robertson Foll: White McDonald McLean Int: P Johnson Moloney Bartram Newton Depending on fitness / form: Frawley Dunn Wheatley Ward Godfrey Brown Yze Pickett Buckley Holland

How can you differentiate between dropping PJ and Carroll despite being "cemented" in the team and dropping Bizzell who is "hanging on by a thread"? Despite the fact that "most people" agree that Bizzell has been one of Melbourne's best defender's this year.

I should add that the old jumper is an alternate jumper, not the regular one.

They also dropped PJ last week and used Holland in the ruck. Does that mean they think Holland is a better ruckman?

I wouldn't be surprised if Newton actually got less votes, but because he took such a good mark, they "adjusted" the final result accordingly.

No, Bizzell isn't in your best 22.

I agree. I also think that Voss would be better suited for Carlton. At Carlton he would have the opportunity to grow as a coach with the team. If he joined a more established side (arguably Melbourne), then there would be far more pressure on him to perform straight away. At least at Carlton he could have a bit more time to mature as a coach as the players also mature.

Has anyone else noticed that Bate wears a jumper from last year? It has the old Primus logo on it and I've seen him wear it twice now.

His age has in no way affected how he plays. His only realy injury concerns have been bone fractures (i.e. his leg and cheek / jaw). I'm not suggesting that Melbourne give him another three years, however he does deserve at least one more. Next year is the future. Warnock is still young, but has shown very little. Same with CJ. They might be late bloomers, but nothing has suggested (from what I've seen) that this will happen. You cannot deny that Bizzell has been very good this year and did not deserve to be dropped last week because of form. You've got to remember too that he missed a year of AFL football and pretty much just stepped back in as if nothing had changed.