Roger Mellie

I would rather stick pins in my eye

Cameron Mooney was given this hypothetical by The Ox (on SEN last week): If you were Daisy Thomas and were offered $900K by Carlton (versus $500K by Collingwood), what would you do? CM: Go to Carlton If you were offered $900K by Melbourne, what would you do? CM: Take the pay cut

Positives: - had a crack - didn't chuck it in - Viney played on Murphy. Gives him an idea on what to strive for (and Murphy doesn't have the mongrel of Viney) - Bail only had one opportunity to blaze away at the goals when there were two far better options (rather than 3 crap shots from last week) - Tapscott tough - Garland Negatives - Grimes injury - Trengove injury (or whatever it is) - you cannot continually start McKenzie, Dunn and Jones at the centre bounce and not expect Carlton to get a goal - McDonald cant kick, McDonald cant kick, McDonald cant kick. - Strauss is still ordinary one on one, but cant slag off the back line under that kind of onslaught - could go on

Cant see us getting anywhere with McKenzie, Dunn and Jones at the centre bounce - and NOT just occasionally. WTF? Inspired

What does it say?

Strauss (?) Frawley Garland Terlich (?) McDonald Grimes Toumpas J Kennedy (Syd) Gaff (WCE) Sylvia Clark Howe Hogan Dawes Rioli (Haw) Gawn N Jones Viney I/C Blease Trengove Evans Kent (?) Not asking much at all

Agree, but one of them will come in. I would vote Strauss as most likely to panic under pressure, which kills his kicking. He is ordinary one on one (but admittedly haven't seen him this year) and I don't think we can carry two softies in the back line (along with Watts). Nicho, on the other hand has completely lost his aggression and is a bit more hesitant since he broke his jaw last year (IMO) on top of the shyte kicking. Dilemma!

Maybe we're related....I'm Dee Jected

Listening to Neil Mitchell's interview with AD this morning, I'm left with little doubt that we told out and out lies to the AFL. I don't think I've ever felt so deeply embarrassed by this club. Just to rub salt into the wounds. Neeld comes out and effectively throws in the towel for Sunday's game. Brilliant

Why Jetta out? He didn't get too many touches but at least he was composed and used the footy well. His off the ball work was excellent too. Unlike 80% of the team, he knows what a block is. Also laid some ripper tackles. What astounded me is every time he came on the ground he went to the opposite end of the ground. Back then forward, back then forward x 15. How the hell are you supposed to settle, get momentum doing that? I'm not surprised with the resulting number of touches.

FYI, An idiot friend of mine signed up my dearly departed hound to Hawthorn FC 10 years ago, the scoundrel! My dog received the offer in the mail a couple of weeks with Hawthorn (having been a member for 1 year, ten years ago). I didn't get one though. Edit: The Hawthorn ad's different = 'Looking to go 1 better' For those interested, my dog was a true blue demon and HFC mail was returned to sender with a couple of charming words added.

Sam Newman

Hence the qualifying sentence at the end - 'there are a few question marks .... I didn't think I was being hugely optimistic. i think we have some decent players, some decent potential but also some decent gaps on the list. By the end of the season we should have a better picture of the new and recycled recruits

We've got 2/3 of a premiership list: Back Frawley Back Watts McDonald Grimes Barry Trengove Blease Howe Hogan Toumpas Dawes Clark Fwd Gawn Viney Jones I/C I/C I/C Sub There are a few question marks in there: Gawn, Watts, Dawes and the rookies and a few others (not listed) that may make the grade

No, I think Dawes is out too (with a hammy)

He's not there for his defensive skills

As a fifth year player I hope he kills it too. The big difference is, for the first time, he's done a preseason and a good one at that. I'd be happy to consign an injury prone underachiever to the scrap heap after 4 years, but I'd like to actually see what he can do given he's finally fit. The OTHER reason, as listed below is his versatility.

1) Finally has had his first preseason and is fit(ter) and to me looks a bit faster 2) Can kick (and tackle) and has footy smarts 3) Can play forward, back or middle He's fighting for a spot with Nicho, who IMO cant kick and turns the ball over. I like Nicho's run and carry, he's hard at it, runs all day and never gives up. I'm even expecting Nicho to be in the side, but I think Jetta (if he gets a sniff) will be far more damaging with the pill

Getting closer to a round 1 line-up after 3 games: Watts Frawley Dunn Grimes McDonald Garland Rodan Viney Sylvia Kent Pedersen Howe Sellar Dawes Byrnes Jamar N Jones McKenzie I/C Jetta Terlich Toumpas Sub: M Jones If fit: replace Kent with Blease, M Jones with Trengove and Pedersen with Clark, or not fit: McDonald with Gillies Not keen on dud disposal hence the omission of Magner, Nicho, Joel Mac, Evans Not sold on Grimes in the middle Believe Terlich has earned a spot and Jetta can play back, forward or the middle Strauss and Tapscott haven't played enough or done enough

Add the Mission sponsorship snatched out from under us by mangy dogs

Anyone know who the subs are and have any been used?

Giben our list deficiencies I'd be happy with one of: Wizard - small forward Scott Thompson (or Tingay) - mid Whelan - small back

Just watched the replay and I like Jetta and Terlich for the vacancies, based on that game. Not sure how those two fit in but at least, Jetta can play back, forward and in the middle Yes Magner got plenty of it, but I still would pass given the shocking disposal. Kent and Tapscott showed a bit too. I found it tricky picking out some of the players

Therein lies the difference, Baker was a thug. Dunn's a niggler / pest

Great - look forward to your report!