Ash35

Andrew Lovett is a very talented player. His ability to run and carry the ball, and deliver it, is outstanding.

But why would Essendon be looking to trade a player with so much skill and pace.

Cos he is a bad egg. He was suspended twice by the club this year and I get the feeling Knights has lost patience with him.

If you think Melbourne has the ability to "straighten" him out, you will pick up a very good player if you traded for him.

Personally, I think Melbourne have enough issues without adding Lovett to the mix.

For MFC to finish 15th, we'd have to beat the tiggies by 10 goals and WCE lose by 12 goals... not gonna happen.

Or a more realistic scenario would be Melbourne winning by 3 goals and WCE losing to Geelong by 20 goals.

It was a great goal from PJ and is one of the better goals for the season, but unfortunately for him he probably won't even win Goal of the Week. Brent Harvey yesterday kicked the goal of the year at Telstra Dome.

It may well be that I wear my red and blue coloured glasses while watching the footy, but I've never seen Green do that.

Yep, you're right. It must be your red and blue colored glasses.

Green does it. I've seen it.

Monfries and Green are not alone though. I noticed it in the Carlton vs St Kilda game a couple of Friday nights ago. A Carlton player [can't remember who] virtually dropped to his knees as soon as he felt contact from behind. The player chasing has no real option other than to fall onto their back. At normal speed, the umpire has to pay a free kick for in the back.

It's like the player on the bottom of the pack with a guy sitting on top of him. The guy on top stops the ball from coming out and the player underneath gets penalised.

It's very difficult to umpire that sort of situation.

The criticism of Monfries by everyone here is very amusing, but not unexpected.

Surely Brad Green should have known about the 'drop to knees' technique that Monfries employed as he is an expert at it himself.

I thought the emergencies were interesting.

Hocking, Hooker and Mangin vs White, Jones and Carroll.

I hope we [Essendon] don't have a late change.

In what way are we a good chance to beat Port?

Port are terrible right now.

This week you can add Salopek and Tredrea to their cotton wool brigade.

They have only won 2 of 10 games at AAMI stadium this year, which included losses to sides like Richmond and Carlton who traditionally don't travel well, and a Pavlich-less Freo last week.

Melbournes form has been decent in the last month. Beat Brisbane, competitive against the Bulldogs, 3 good quarters against North Melb and 35 mins of brilliant football against the Dockers.

Not saying you will win, but much stranger things have happened.

Our season is already "finished". We can't make the finals [2 games and 20% out of the 8 with 5 games to go].

With your last 3 games against WCE, Port Adelaide and Richmond, a win on Saturday could do you more harm than good.

May the best team win.

ESSENDON

In Andrew Lovett

Out Scott Lucas (back)

MELBOURNE

In Brad Green Paul Wheatley Austin Wonaeamirri

Out Brad Miller (hamstring) Nathan Jones Michael Newton

Green and Wheatley are handy ins, but Miller is a loss. Obviously Lucas out hurts us.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, with Fletcher and Michael just about finished, Essendon will be very very interested in Hurley at pick 5.

I don't know any hard core facts, but from what I've heard McNamee personally turned that 150 year function into a success after they had only sold a handful of tickets. He stepped in and sold the place out!

It's difficult to have any real impact in only 4 months in the job.

Interesting one. I agree that Mooney isn't a superstar, but I also don't hear people rate him as one, so I'd find it hard to label him 'most overrated'.

Who's your 'most overrated' from Essendon?

For the Dees, I'd say Bruce.

I'll take what you say about Mooney on board, and perhaps look else where.

Anyway, onto the Dons.

Our list isn't rated by many these days, so it's difficult.

Perhaps McPhee, although I still think he gets played out of position. No ones fault, with injuries to Lucas and Lloyd earlier in the season, and Gumbleton and Neagle at other times, he has been forced to play CHF, which he ain't. Was sensational back in 2004, but has never really reached those heights since, which is disappointing.

I don't think Slattery can play. Yes he is tough and gutsy and gives 100%, but the guy is no good. Don't think he gets rated a great deal, but I wouldn't have him on our list if it was up to me, yet he was signed for another two years a while back.

Some on this thread have mentioned Lloyd and Lucas. No way for me. Lloyd is about to move into 8th spot on the all-time AFL goalkicking list. Despite his negatives [sometimes playing for frees etc etc] the guy is a star. Lucas is vital to us. 2 time B&F winner, once as a forward, and once at CHB. When Lloyd was underperforming during the last couple of seasons, Lucas stepped up incredibly and was sensational.

Now that Lance Whitnall has retired, I need to find a new "most overrated" player for mine.

I think it will be Cameron Mooney.

My theory is that he is a Quinton Lynch type, that is, kicks goals in a successful team, but would struggle to have any sort of impact in a crap team.

How he got All-Australian last year kicking 55 goals with delivery from the best mid field in the comp astounded me. Anything less than 50 odd goals would have been a failure with the season the Cats had.

He gets publicity cos he plays with in great team and is a "character", and I'll admit he fills a role at Geelong, but as someone has already said, is just a so-so footballer.

Yup.

And we named him Captain.

I thought Captains were supposed to have the ability to lift and inspire their teammates, a la Lyon and Neitz.

So really, you are saying that Dean Bailey has got no idea.

Cos not only has he given votes to Bruce for Sundays game, he would have had a big say in making Bruce captain.

And to think Yze_Magic, you have been a fan of Baileys throughout his stint as Melbourne coach.

How things change.

I noticed on Footy Classified last night that Cam Bruce got some votes [6 I think] from the coaches.

Probably ends this arguement right there if both coaches thought he was Melbournes best player.

Kyle Reimers seems to me to be the best of all their young kids. He will be a gun player s he gets more games under his belt.

I don't rate Ryder much at all. Takes the occassional grab but plays much too loose. Jetta is a 50/50 bet at best.

That's why footy is so great, different opinions and such.

I hope Reimers becomes a "gun", but my gut feeling is that he wont. Obviously I hope I am wrong.

Ryder has a massive amount of natural ability and is very athletic. Has only played key back since pre-season 2007, but shows improvement each week. His best game was in round 2 when Geelong mauled us by 90 odd points, yet Ryder beat Mooney hands down.

I like the way Jetta is coming along. Played a great game against Freo in Perth before the break, where he directly set up 5 or 6 goals, then broke the game open on Saturday night with 3 goals of his own.

godees, I did forget Miller. Defiantely adds to your structure up forward even though he isn't a massive goal kicker.

Reimers looks the goods, did you just forget him?

I'm not convinced yet. Obviously I hope he makes the grade, but I'd like to see a bit more from him before I get carried away.

Jacey, I think the reason we have so many of those speedy types is because it suits the game plan Knights is trying to implement. As well as Lonergan, Watson, Welsh, McVeigh and Stanton give us a bit of "grunt", but I agree, our midfield needs work.

There are some interesting responses here.

I love how by just naming 10 or 12 young blokes on Melbournes list makes them all good players with a massive future [Nudge, I'm looking at you].

The original post talked mainly key position players. I don't have a problem with Essendons key position stocks. Perhaps we are a bit skinny down back with only Ryder as a young developing tall backman. Obviously Mal Michael and Fletcher won't be around forever, but I'm hoping we can draft Hurley as a future full back. Key forwards are under control, with Neagle showing great signs, Gumbleton with potential if he ever gets an even break with injuries and Darcy Daniher in his first year. Of course we are going to play Lloyd and Lucas at the moment, but we have back up developing when they move on.

Yes Warnock and Garland are coming on this season, and Martin is getting a go, but Rivers seems to be cursed. I think Garland will become a good player, but the jury is still out on Warnock, Frawley and Martin. Melbournes young key forwards are Bate [playing CHF atm] and Newton and ?????. Hmmmm.....I'm sure Watts will help, but with Neitz retiring this season and Robertson struggling before his injury, can't say Melbournes key forwards are the most potent going around.

At the start of the season, I saw Melbourne and Essendon in similar positions. Both clubs had replaced long term coaches which should bring new ideas to the table. Both clubs have alot of youngsters on their lists. Bothb clubs are light on for depth, so injuries cause chaos. Both teams have struggled with injuries and won't play finals in 2008.

I think both clubs have some future. Looks like everyone here thinks the Dees are moving in the right direction, which is great, and I'm quietly confident the Essendons youngsters have some ability as well.

On exposed form, Morton, Jones, Garland, Wonaemirri & Petterd are players to get excited about, with Grimes and Maric yet to play, while I like the looks of Myers, Neagle, Jetta, Houli, Ryder, Davey and Gumbleton for the Bombers.

Difficult to say who has a better future. It's how these guys develop really. Melbourne will obviously pick up another top 2 draft pick later in the season, which will help their playing stocks, and if Essendon can stop winning some games and ensure we also get a top 6 draft choice, both clubs will be well placed going forward.

good to hear from you ash, its been a quiet season from you?

VIC 92

WA 63

2 mins to go

Yeah, been busy deanox. Hopefully I can contribute a bit more in the coming weeks.

13 mins to go in the last quarter, WA are mounting a bit of a fightback.

VIC 78 WA 56

This probably isn't quite what you are looking for, but he tipped West Coast to beat Geelong last thursday night saying that WCE would apply good pressure to Geelong.

I don't think I've seen a team apply less pressure in an AFL match in my life.

Poor Juice.

Is now likely to never play again.

As for Flash's mark - nowhere near Mark of the Year because when he actually marked it, he was hardly off the ground at all!

Quite right, it was a great leap, but he actually took the mark on the way down, whereas Lloyd was still on young Wilkes back when he grabbed his speccy.

The problem for Davey is that Mark of the Week winner is decided by the public voting.

As been discussed here before, players from teams like Collingwood and Essendon seem to get over the line even if their mark/goal is inferior.

I was at Friday nights game, and Lloyds grab was awesome, as was Daveys. Which was better is debatable to me. The fact that Davey jumped onto Richo probably has him in front, but I reckon Lloyd will win the weekly nomination due to the number of votes he will get from the Essendon supporters.

Peter Donegan ?

Peter is a Collingwood supporter.