tasmanlvr
Club Legend
Better effort last week, but we need to back it up again.
Melbourne
Round 1: Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) defeated Melbourne 8.6 (54)
Round 2: Essendon 28.16 (184) defeated Melbourne 5.6 (36)
Round 3: West Coast 27.15 (177) defeated Melbourne 13.5 (83)
Round 4: Melbourne 22.12 (144) defeated Greater Western Sydney 15.13 (103)
Round 5: Brisbane 17.20 (122) defeated Melbourne 14.10 (94)
Round 6: Carlton 18.13 (121) defeated Melbourne 8.12 (60)
Round 7: Gold Coast 16.18 (114) defeated Melbourne 7.12 (54)
Round 8: Richmond 15.16 (106) defeated Melbourne 11.6 (72)
As I said, we put in a good effort last week and we need to back it up as we continue to strive to earn back respect after our shocker against the Suns. But, there were a few players who did stand out over the weekend.
Players To Watch
Aaron Davey: Davey put in a 2004-esque performance last week, having 19 disposals and three goals, and perhaps looms as one of the pivotal small forwards in this game now that Walters is out. With no guarentees on Davey's future as it stands, Davey will want to continue putting in big performances like last Sunday to maintain a spot on the list in the near-future.
James Magner: Magner came straight into the lineup on Sunday and immediately stamped his authority on the team, having 20 disposals and winning the ball in close, helping to provide support for Nathan Jones. Magner likes Patersons, having had 32 disposals in his second game last season in a 108 point loss to West Coast.
Colin Garland: Deserves more recognition than the lack of it he is getting. Without Garland it is fair to suggest Melbourne would be walloped by a lot more than we already are at times. Garland only had 12 disposals against the Tigers, but it was his spoiling work and his calmness which impressed me the most. Hopefully he can have another big game against the Dockers on Sunday.
Fremantle
Round 1: Fremantle 16.12 (108) defeated West Coast 11.14 (80)
Round 2: Fremantle 16.10 (106) defeated Footscray 11.12 (78)
Round 3: Essendon 10.12 (72) defeated Fremantle 9.14 (68)
Round 4: Hawthorn 18.10 (118) defeated Fremantle 11.10 (76)
Round 5: Fremantle 12.9 (81) defeated Richmond 12.8 (80)
Round 6: Fremantle 15.9 (99) defeated Gold Coast 7.12 (54)
Round 7: Fremantle 15.10 (100) defeated Collingwood 10.13 (73)
Round 8: Sydney 11.4 (70) drew with Fremantle 9.16 (70)
Fremantle showed heart in their comeback against the reigning premiers but will be filthy that they didn't spoil a late Michael Johnson shot that didn't make the distance with about 20 seconds left. Despite a small blip between rounds 3-4, Fremantle have been excellent so far this season and are certainly a good top four chance. Freo will want to continue their good form against the Dees.
Players To Watch
Michael Johnson: Johnson was terrific against the Swans, particularly in the last few minutes where he was swung forward and made a target. Johnson had 25 possessions and kicked a goal. Since being charged with drug possession a few years back, Johnson has been one of the best defenders in the competition, but has now shown his hand as an excellent swing man á la Harry Taylor.
Jack Hannath: Guarenteed to play as both Sandilands and Griffin are injured but there's a reason he's on here, and that's because Freo stole him from our grasp. It's a well known story, Hannath was training with the Dees in Darwin, when the Dockers picked him up in the pre season draft. Since then Hannath has shown a lot of potential, despite having a quiet game against the Swans. This will be the first time Hannath has played against the Dees since this interesting story.
Nathan Fyfe: There are so many classy midfielders in the Dockers' midfield but I've chosen Fyfe because he oozes class. Fyfe has been terrific this season despite a two week ban which rules him out for the Brownlow that I thought he could potentially win. Another solid 23 disposals in his return on the weekend means that he continues to easily win the footy and show that he was a bargain pick in the 2009 draft.
Prediction
Well Freo are a very good team, and we need to be completely on our game to keep the margin respectable. There is a very very low chance of a win so I suppose it would have to be all about respect and development. Let's hope we can continue to build a good structure which can potentially hold up against good teams such as the Hawthorns, the Geelongs and the Sydneys of the League.
Melbourne
Round 1: Port Adelaide 19.19 (133) defeated Melbourne 8.6 (54)
Round 2: Essendon 28.16 (184) defeated Melbourne 5.6 (36)
Round 3: West Coast 27.15 (177) defeated Melbourne 13.5 (83)
Round 4: Melbourne 22.12 (144) defeated Greater Western Sydney 15.13 (103)
Round 5: Brisbane 17.20 (122) defeated Melbourne 14.10 (94)
Round 6: Carlton 18.13 (121) defeated Melbourne 8.12 (60)
Round 7: Gold Coast 16.18 (114) defeated Melbourne 7.12 (54)
Round 8: Richmond 15.16 (106) defeated Melbourne 11.6 (72)
As I said, we put in a good effort last week and we need to back it up as we continue to strive to earn back respect after our shocker against the Suns. But, there were a few players who did stand out over the weekend.
Players To Watch
Aaron Davey: Davey put in a 2004-esque performance last week, having 19 disposals and three goals, and perhaps looms as one of the pivotal small forwards in this game now that Walters is out. With no guarentees on Davey's future as it stands, Davey will want to continue putting in big performances like last Sunday to maintain a spot on the list in the near-future.
James Magner: Magner came straight into the lineup on Sunday and immediately stamped his authority on the team, having 20 disposals and winning the ball in close, helping to provide support for Nathan Jones. Magner likes Patersons, having had 32 disposals in his second game last season in a 108 point loss to West Coast.
Colin Garland: Deserves more recognition than the lack of it he is getting. Without Garland it is fair to suggest Melbourne would be walloped by a lot more than we already are at times. Garland only had 12 disposals against the Tigers, but it was his spoiling work and his calmness which impressed me the most. Hopefully he can have another big game against the Dockers on Sunday.
Fremantle
Round 1: Fremantle 16.12 (108) defeated West Coast 11.14 (80)
Round 2: Fremantle 16.10 (106) defeated Footscray 11.12 (78)
Round 3: Essendon 10.12 (72) defeated Fremantle 9.14 (68)
Round 4: Hawthorn 18.10 (118) defeated Fremantle 11.10 (76)
Round 5: Fremantle 12.9 (81) defeated Richmond 12.8 (80)
Round 6: Fremantle 15.9 (99) defeated Gold Coast 7.12 (54)
Round 7: Fremantle 15.10 (100) defeated Collingwood 10.13 (73)
Round 8: Sydney 11.4 (70) drew with Fremantle 9.16 (70)
Fremantle showed heart in their comeback against the reigning premiers but will be filthy that they didn't spoil a late Michael Johnson shot that didn't make the distance with about 20 seconds left. Despite a small blip between rounds 3-4, Fremantle have been excellent so far this season and are certainly a good top four chance. Freo will want to continue their good form against the Dees.
Players To Watch
Michael Johnson: Johnson was terrific against the Swans, particularly in the last few minutes where he was swung forward and made a target. Johnson had 25 possessions and kicked a goal. Since being charged with drug possession a few years back, Johnson has been one of the best defenders in the competition, but has now shown his hand as an excellent swing man á la Harry Taylor.
Jack Hannath: Guarenteed to play as both Sandilands and Griffin are injured but there's a reason he's on here, and that's because Freo stole him from our grasp. It's a well known story, Hannath was training with the Dees in Darwin, when the Dockers picked him up in the pre season draft. Since then Hannath has shown a lot of potential, despite having a quiet game against the Swans. This will be the first time Hannath has played against the Dees since this interesting story.
Nathan Fyfe: There are so many classy midfielders in the Dockers' midfield but I've chosen Fyfe because he oozes class. Fyfe has been terrific this season despite a two week ban which rules him out for the Brownlow that I thought he could potentially win. Another solid 23 disposals in his return on the weekend means that he continues to easily win the footy and show that he was a bargain pick in the 2009 draft.
Prediction
Well Freo are a very good team, and we need to be completely on our game to keep the margin respectable. There is a very very low chance of a win so I suppose it would have to be all about respect and development. Let's hope we can continue to build a good structure which can potentially hold up against good teams such as the Hawthorns, the Geelongs and the Sydneys of the League.