Your current round 1 line up and preseason form rating

[eskimo]

Bit harsh on Bartram in the OP. I think he has done better than a 5/10.

I think Tapscott, Strauss, Bennell are all in line for a defensive spot. They all use the ball pretty well, and someone has to take over from Cam Bruce. One of them needs to make the spot their own this year!

 

[theone5]

Campbell stated as returning from injury in the pre-season games here:
http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/afl.php

Does anyone know any more about this/his injury?

EDIT:
I know see he is still injured for this weekend:
http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/108875/default.aspx

"Clint Bartram, Robert Campbell, Aaron Davey, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes, Liam Jurrah, Jordie McKenzie, Jack Trengove and Austin Wonaeamirri were also absent against the Lions.

Most of this group was rested, although Campbell is still sidelined with an achilles injury."

Although you would not think he is too far off. Fit for next weekend, last chance for a hitout before Round 1 perhaps?

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Campbell stated as returning from injury in the pre-season games here:
http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/afl.php

Does anyone know any more about this/his injury?

EDIT:
I know see he is still injured for this weekend:
http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/108875/default.aspx

"Clint Bartram, Robert Campbell, Aaron Davey, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes, Liam Jurrah, Jordie McKenzie, Jack Trengove and Austin Wonaeamirri were also absent against the Lions.

Most of this group was rested, although Campbell is still sidelined with an achilles injury."

Although you would not think he is too far off. Fit for next weekend, last chance for a hitout before Round 1 perhaps?

Mate, injuryupdate.com.au is notoriously inaccurate, never bother with it.

Campbell will not be right for a few weeks, and to be honest I'm a bit pessimistic about whether he will play any time soon. Could wind up being a bit of a tease all season.

 

[00Stinger]

chill buddy, i was just raging. if you know me at all from these forums you know i am pretty good with the ol gramma

We know your a bit of a **** knocker, who probably doesn't even barrack for Melbourne.........Good at your grammar, not so sure.

 

[BigSexc]

We know your a bit of a **** knocker, who probably doesn't even barrack for Melbourne.........Good at your grammar, not so sure.

no one thinks that anymore bro, read all my posts, dont even post on other boards

 

[00Stinger]

no one thinks that anymore bro, read all my posts, dont even post on other boards

What being a West Coast supporter or a **** knocker?

 

[WATTSJURRAHDUNN]

Campbell is slated to be available from round 4 and Frawley considers himself a chance for round 1.

We won't win too many games with hacks like Warnock, MacDonald and Rivers in the same backline; and Martin and Jones treading the green stuff.

Rivers a hack? Wouldn't think so. Has been pretty solid and is primed for a decent year again. Reads the ball better than most in the league through the air. And marks when unconested instead of punching toward the boundary.

 

[Hannabal]

Rivers a hack? Wouldn't think so. Has been pretty solid and is primed for a decent year again. Reads the ball better than most in the league through the air. And marks when unconested instead of punching toward the boundary.

The club loves him, plenty of supporters love him, but I think he's overrated. He's not quick enough for fast leading forwards, he's not strong enough for big forwards, and he regularly turns the ball over with poor kicks. He has one trick, which is reading the play well and zoning off his opponent to spoil, or help out another defender with a timely mark. As the game has got quicker he's become more exposed.

Hack is harsh, but I see him being quickly overtaken by Troy Davis.

 

[Gazza_11]

Great leader down back though.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

rumour is circulating on demonland that watts will be left out round 1 due to 'poor pre season performance'

now i, for one, think that's bullshit

he was good in the intra club, against port and from reports slotted a couple of nice goals against brisbane although still being a bit rusty

he struggled against essendon but 35 inside 50's = very few opportunity... especially the way the ball was coming in

unless it is in regard to 'training performance'

can anyone confirm this, i really don't want to start a thread on this because it seems ridiculous

 

[lose]

The club loves him, plenty of supporters love him, but I think he's overrated. He's not quick enough for fast leading forwards, he's not strong enough for big forwards, and he regularly turns the ball over with poor kicks. He has one trick, which is reading the play well and zoning off his opponent to spoil, or help out another defender with a timely mark. As the game has got quicker he's become more exposed.

Hack is harsh, but I see him being quickly overtaken by Troy Davis.

think u are totally underrating Riv here mate... had a good yr last year and plays his role brilliantly for us... you rite bout him not being strong enough but i def wouldnt be calling him slow... is so important for us in the combo with chip and col... they make a fantastic duo

 

[Demon 16]

rumour is circulating on demonland that watts will be left out round 1 due to 'poor pre season performance'

now i, for one, think that's bullshit

he was good in the intra club, against port and from reports slotted a couple of nice goals against brisbane although still being a bit rusty

he struggled against essendon but 35 inside 50's = very few opportunity... especially the way the ball was coming in

unless it is in regard to 'training performance'

can anyone confirm this, i really don't want to start a thread on this because it seems ridiculous

Sounds odd. He has trained well from all reports so dont think its that.

He had a couple of quiet pre-season matches but played well in Adelaide. He'll be better supported up forward when Pettered is back and Green can stay forward as well. The club would want to be playing him as much as possible imo.

Sounds like rubbish tbh - he's still got another game to play anyway so why would they be making calls like that now??

 

[Captain Jack]

Who would take his place? Bate? Surely not.

 

[Crusty Demon]

rumour is circulating on demonland that watts will be left out round 1 due to 'poor pre season performance'

now i, for one, think that's bullshit

he was good in the intra club, against port and from reports slotted a couple of nice goals against brisbane although still being a bit rusty

he struggled against essendon but 35 inside 50's = very few opportunity... especially the way the ball was coming in

unless it is in regard to 'training performance'

can anyone confirm this, i really don't want to start a thread on this because it seems ridiculous

If anyone is to be left out of our side for Round 1, it should be half our midfield. Lack of pressure, and simply not getting it into our F50 enough to win games. Can't blame Watts if he's getting cold down there due to lack of delivery. He must be played as much as possible. No point leaving him in reserves. He's worked hard in the gym, and by all reports, has worked hard on the track. He's capable of averaging 2 goals a game this season...

 

[Hannabal]

think u are totally underrating Riv here mate... had a good yr last year and plays his role brilliantly for us... you rite bout him not being strong enough but i def wouldnt be calling him slow... is so important for us in the combo with chip and col... they make a fantastic duo

It's not surprising that someone with a signature such as yours disagrees with what I've said.

Clearly, we disagree. That said, you can take solace in the fact that the club appears to agree with you.

 

[Footy God]

Tapscott to line up? Play 15+ games if uninjured?

 

[Bartram_Class]

Tapscott to line up? Play 15+ games if uninjured?

50/50.

A lot will depend on how he goes tomorrow. Macdonald, Strauss and Tapscott probably playing off for two spots seeing as they have thrown Tapscott back.

Should still play 10+

 

[Hannabal]

Tapscott to line up? Play 15+ games if uninjured?

I have no doubt that they'd like him to play 15+. We need a good kick to penetrate zones/presses and Tapscott is the best kick at the club, which is one of the reasons he's trained with the backs all year.

Connolly said on radio a week ago that Tapscott could be the "recruit of the year" and Bailey has said that we want him to "play early games".

Whether he does, or not, is open to conjecture for reasons such as form and injury, but the club would love him to be a fixture sooner rather than later.

 

[gintekram]

Tapscott to line up? Play 15+ games if uninjured?

Depends on how the rest of the list is going. He isn't in our best 22 atm so if we get a few injuries he should be up.

 

[THE STING2]

Depends on how the rest of the list is going. He isn't in our best 22 atm so if we get a few injuries he should be up.

We already have Frawley and Morton out, I would be amazed if he didn't play our backline is full of woeful kicks.

 

[THE STING2]

rumour is circulating on demonland that watts will be left out round 1 due to 'poor pre season performance'

As long as that means that Jones, Warnock and Bate don't get a game then that's fine, personally if he is struggling that bad they should move him around the ground more, maybe even in the backline.

He is fast and is good user of the ball and we don't have many of them in the backline and he won't have the excuse of having limited opportunities with the way our midfield clears the ball.

 

[THE STING2]

The club loves him, plenty of supporters love him, but I think he's overrated. He's not quick enough for fast leading forwards, he's not strong enough for big forwards, and he regularly turns the ball over with poor kicks. He has one trick, which is reading the play well and zoning off his opponent to spoil, or help out another defender with a timely mark. As the game has got quicker he's become more exposed.

Hack is harsh, but I see him being quickly overtaken by Troy Davis.

Spot on Hannabal! He only had 1 good game against Freo last year and he has been out of form since they changed his game. Bring back the old Rivers! The only reason why he gets a game is becasue his replacement in Warnock is a joke.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

As long as that means that Jones, Warnock and Bate don't get a game then that's fine, personally if he is struggling that bad they should move him around the ground more, maybe even in the backline.

He is fast and is good user of the ball and we don't have many of them in the backline and he won't have the excuse of having limited opportunities with the way our midfield clears the ball.

no, what bailey should do is provide us with some proper forward structure, we can't have all our forwards up the ground out of the forward fifty

 

[stickman11]

wondering when Frawley is back, if shifting Rivers forward might be useful. He is a good mark, might need to work on kicking for goal.

Tapscott should play round one.

Trengove will bring some more class. I'd like to see Bennel moved back. Not sold on Bartram at the moment.

 

[Crusty Demon]

wondering when Frawley is back, if shifting Rivers forward might be useful. He is a good mark, might need to work on kicking for goal.

Tapscott should play round one.

Trengove will bring some more class. I'd like to see Bennel moved back. Not sold on Bartram at the moment.

Bartram is a vital cog in our defense. We need him to do a job on the opposition dangerous forwards. I think he had a very solid season last year and expect the same from him this season. I think you will be sold if he has another solid season.

As for Benell, 2 players were supposedly flying pre season, Maric and Benell. 1 has certainly proven this to be correct(Maric) while Benell has really shown us nothing. When he's down back, he is far too loose. When he's down forward, he goes missing for long periods of the game. I'm really not sure where he belongs. I'm starting to think wing or midfield. At least for bursts. He has pace, he has good skills, he just needs to be able to find the footy. I have him as our sub to start the season, purely because i have no idea where he fits in.

Until Wona gets fit, he'll probably play in the F50, but once he comes back, I'd like to see Benell moved onto a wing, with Morton(when fit) on the other wing.