The real question here is whether Brock's form warrants selection for the seniors or the Ants.

Yes the MC have made the hard call (what seems) reluctantly with both Warnock and Johnson, and I am suggesting the time is now overdue for Brock to find form and/or get his body right in the Ants, because he just doesn't seem to be in form imo; assuming my perception of his form is correct.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Wouldn't be getting too carried away with Melbourne just yet. True, they have drastically improved this season and they are a dangerous team who we shouldn't be underestimating by any stretch. You're right that this Saturday will be no walkover. If the boys don't come switched on and ready to play, then we will get pantsed. Having said that, Melbourne are not yet a finals team. I would say the Demons are a bit more advanced than what we were in 2007, but a bit less of what we were in 2008.

Still 11 weeks in the season to go, they have a young developing side and it's only natural for them to tire. If we remember back to 2008, Kreuzer was in his first year and tired out towards the end. It happens with a lot of first year players, and Kreuz didn't make his debut until round 3. Not sure they can keep up this winning form for much longer with such a core of young first and second year players. The way to play Melbourne is to be physical right from the first bounce. We have the advantage of the more mature bodies on our side, and the boys must use it to intimidate the young Melbourne players.

It's very pleasing that we have Waite back in this week because he's never afraid to show some physical presence on the field. One thing that stood out to me in the West Coast game (and to an extent, the Hawks game) was that we were missing a bloke up forward who can take a grab. Waite is that man, and if he can show the same form he gave us against the Saints, then Melbourne will have a few headaches.

It is a danger game, but Melbourne have more worries than us heading into the match.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

D’s have beaten:

Adelaide
Melbourne
Richmond
Brisbane
Port

Not much there.

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"I had to eat"

Can't believe the Dee's got over Melbourne!

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#23: Lachlan Henderson

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I'm shocked to be sitting here

Highlighted are teams we've won and lost to. They stayed closer to Hawthorn and Collingwood than we managed to.

We're a better side that needs to be switched on to win

As all have said 'A Danger Game'.

They have a similar forward line to us = pace and pressure.

It would be nice to have Army, AJ and Browne in the defence this week to contain their small forwards.

You would think Brock would be dropped (Dees look better without him) after growing moss yesterday.

My $64000 question is can Ratten and MC get the team switched on?

If so we should win well, if not

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They coud'nt.....could they?

Nah the Hawks beat them by about 50 points too.
They did nearly win against Collingwood but lost to the Eagles in Melbourne. They beat Brisbane in Melbourne whereas we had an early season game at the Gabba, plus they just got thumped by Geelong although they pretty much tanked that.

Still, agreed it's a danger game.

Could someone in the know please tell me why Grigg cannot get a game ? One of the best in the VFL every week. Is it GC17. Otherwise he must be worth a game or two or at least an explanation as to why not from the MC.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

Tough selections again this week. Assuming that Armfield, Bower, Lucas and Yarran are at least another week away from returning (and that Scotland is OK)-

IN: Waite & Houlihan

OUT: Hendo & Browne

Grigg is in the mix, but I don't think he can be said to be a better option than Brock or Hadley at the moment.

It'd be nice to try and get some continuity into Hendo's footy and leave him in the side, but realistically the MC will probably want Waite playing forward, so that means Hendo will have to make way. T-Bird's spot in the side is still not safe IMO, and I'm quite sure that, on current form, he'll be back running around in the VFL when Bower is ready to return.

I've gone with dropping Browne for Hoops, but it could easily be Joey or Hadley. I thought Joey had one of his better AFL games yesterday, so he just hangs on for another week. I prefer him slightly to Browne (who also didn't do much wrong yesterday). Hadley was good early against the Weagles, but he needs to perform better, especially if Brock remains in the side.

FWIW - I thought Brock did his job yesterday with 19 possessions and 9 tackles from 58% game time, but like several others, he was below his best and needs a good game this week.

I guess there's a possibility that Sauce might make way for Warnock, or even possibly Hammer (although another week in the VFL wouldn't hurt Hammer, just to sharpen up his touch and match fitness a bit more), especially if Sauce is feeling sore and needs a rest. But on form alone, I tend to think Sauce should hold his spot for at least another week.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

Saturday was Grigg's first VFL game for a month. He's had an injured ankle. He'll be in the mix for AFL selection soon I'd say.

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

I am not in favour of playing an extra tall if waite comes back in, so hendo may be unlucky this week.

Hadley and mclean should not be in the same team.

Ins: Waite, Hoops
Outs: Hadley, Hendo

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Go Blues

I'm predicting a walk in the park for us as melbourne are young and developing and they need time....but of course if we happen to lose the same applies to us....

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Yeah - see......... i disagree!

Melbourne are a young developing list and if they loose, most will have expected it and said "Ah well, they're learning to gel as a team".

But us? If we loose.......... a team that SHOULD, by all respects, be expected to play finals AS A MINIMUM this year, then really.......... what excuse do we have????

Melbourne were hot favorites to win another spoon but they are prooving a lot of people wrong and exceeding expectations.
Melbourne have everything to gain and we have a LOT to loose.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

1. Lose
2. Everyone tipped us to slide this year.
3. Richmond were always favorites to win the spoon this year.
4. Emotive capitalisation annoys me.
5. We will smash them.

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dane's trolling again

Yes. No doubt whatsoever we SHOULD win this, and comfortably at that.

It's another test of where we're mentally at.

We need to walk the walk this week and finally gain the respect that a genuine top 6 side, which I think we are, should have.

Our rebuild started in '05, that's 5 years ago. It's time now to take responsibility and give Melbourne a lesson.

Could someone in the know please tell me why Grigg cannot get a game ? One of the best in the VFL every week. Is it GC17. Otherwise he must be worth a game or two or at least an explanation as to why not from the MC.[/quote]

Saturday was Grigg's first VFL game for a month. He's had an injured ankle. He'll be in the mix for AFL selection soon I'd say.[/quote]

Thanks for that but it was only two games he was out for. Wouldn't the team be so much more versatile with one of Hadley/McLean dropped for Grigg who can play both in and under and as a runner?

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

Does Grigg really play in and under?

I should go back and watch some games from 2008 before I open my mouth, but I don't think there's been that much to suggest he plays that way.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Anyone know how Scotland pulled up from his ankle? injury. I recon he's really important.

If Hadley is dropped this week I'll be sooking about it.... was much better than McLean.

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I support the Navy Blues whatever happens!

Scotto's fine. Just a knock to the leg. Will play this week.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.