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[Deestroy]

AFL Premiership Round 8
Melbourne V West Coast

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Saturday May 15
MCG 2:10 PM (Local Time)
Melbourne Forecast Melbourne Radar


Ladder:

Season Win/Loss

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The Melbourne Perspective:

Originally Posted by [NAME]Biffinator[/NAME]
There have been plenty of milestones in the history of Melbourne v West Coast. I have always liked the Eagles. The drug culture aside, they have been a formidable enemy since day one.

Anyone who was at the 1988 Elimination Final will never forget Alan Johnston’s herculean efforts in the first half to keep us in the game - and then there was the last quarter per se – oh Murray Wrenstead, what have you done!

And what about in 1990 when we beat them in Perth towards the end of the season: there was a genuine dust-up between the teams. Willo was always at his best when he was mouthing off – and on that day one did not have to be a lip-reader to understand what he was saying to the Eagles. Swooper himself became embroiled. On the flip side, yes, they got us a few weeks later at VFL Park after Strawbs had injured Gary Lyon at training (so Strawbs owes us doubly – 88 and 90).

The most famous kiss in football occurred in 1993 when Jako smooched his brother at the MCG; to this day, that was one of the best matches I have ever seen in my life. They killed our dreams in the 1994 Preliminary Final when we were all riding the Schwarter train to glory.

We achieved a famous victory at Subiaco in 1998 when the Rev’s young team, decimated by injury (and having lost the two previous matches by 100+ points), put the Eagles onto the canvas and sent MM into convulsions. Since then, I really cannot think of any particularly memorable games. Sadly, the results have usually gone the way of the West.

NicNat in himself is the latest chapter in the stories of our two clubs. Yep, we passed on a marquee player to punt on the best KPP prospect in the draft. Jack will come good (in spades) and for the moment we have to put up with all the shit-stirring. I am more sanguine about it now. After all, if we had picked NicNat, we would have won more than four games last year and that would have meant no Trengove. I would rather have Numbers 4 & 9 than NicNat and a much later draft choice – even so, a curse be on Carlton !!!

Ignoring the pre-season result, we should win this game. Our form has been more consistent than the Eagles. Playing at home – regrettably in some ways – always maximises our chances. We beat them comprehensively last year at the same venue and we have strengthened since then. I imagine that Frawley will play on Kennedy: such a match-up is almost worth the cost of the ticket. Akin to last year, Jamar will surely crunch NicNat at the first bounce or soon after. LeCras is a great little player and he will need to be curbed.

Dees by 1 point.

Biffinator.

Teams:
Melbourne
B: Jack Grimes, Matthew Warnock, Jared Rivers
HB: Cameron Bruce, James Frawley, Colin Garland
C: James McDonald, Jordie McKenzie, Aaron Davey
HF: Jamie Bennell, Matthew Bate, Jack Watts
F: Nathan Jones, Daniel Hughes, Brad Green
Foll: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Tom Scully
I/C: Paul Johnson, Colin Sylvia, Jack Trengove, Clint Bartram
Emg: Neville Jetta, Jake Spencer, Lynden Dunn

In: Jack Watts
Out: Lynden Dunn

West Coast Eagles
B: Will Schofield, Darren Glass, Beau Waters
HB: Lewis Stevenson, Eric MacKenzie, Shannon Hurn
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Brad Ebert
HF: Brad Sheppard, Josh Kennedy, Ashton Hams
F: Mark Nicoski, Quinten Lynch, Mark LeCras
Foll: Dean Cox, Adam Selwood, Tom Swift
I/C: Patrick McGinnity, Ben McKinley, Nic Naitanui, Scott Selwood
Emg: Mitchell Brown, Bradd Dalziell, Ashley Hansen

In: Scott Selwood
Out: Bradd Dalziell

 

[Gazza_11]

Jack Watts in

Or as I like to call it, Jack Watts 2.0

 

[Dez!]

3 of the 4 Jacks in the one team, awesome.

 

[tcwaters]

Good to see Watts playing. Best of luck lads.. Got a feeling you'll do us quite easily.

 

[shortbus]

1 point, you gotta be joking. anything under 25 and ill be disappointed

 

[chopper41]

THE SECOND COMING

 

[Capt_Concussion]

The bloke who runs the live teams on the heraldsun website straight away showed his enthusiasm for Watts vs Nic Nat. Media is going to have a field day.

 

[Sin City]

Glad Watts is in, hope he can show a bit and stick it up some of the clowns knocking him. Good luck guys.

 

[cannons]

Good to see Watts in, but having said that, I don't want anyone to go into the match expecting miracles from him, as it will take Jack a few matches to adjust to AFL level.

I'm massively excited about this match though, can't wait

 

[Dez!]

Anyone find it odd that Sylvia is listed on the bench?

With the rumours of his hamstring complaint last week I think there could be a late change and one of Dunn or Jetta come in for him.

 

[FOOOOTY]

Sylvia was having scans today according to a poster on Demonland, may not play

 

[master bate]

Anyone find it odd that Sylvia is listed on the bench?

With the rumours of his hamstring complaint last week I think there could be a late change and one of Dunn or Jetta come in for him.

Not as strange as them actually naming most of the players in positions they will actually play in!

Sounds like Sylvia Out, Jetta In is pretty likely.

 

[CM Sean]

THE SECOND COMING

This, haha!

BTW: "Dees by 1 point." Are you serious Biffinator? Surely your not? Should be a bigger win then that...

(If the game was being played at Subi, I may have believed you)

 

[ansonholt]

Guys, best of luck against those Weagles. Think you'll smash them. So glad for your sake to see Watts named Going to show the faith and draft him into my dream team

 

[DrTomSwift]

Scully's last term is going to be incredible(better then the last game). Mark my words.

 

[melbournemartin]

THE SECOND COMING

LOL

Things like this get us bagged over on the Weagles board.

...oh well...**** 'em.

I'm very excited for this game. Probably more than the Bulldogs game (higher expectation for a good game and even better result) and definitely more than the Roos game.

Let's be honest, we all want to see Sylvia smash Kennedy (legally though!) and Watts to take a hanger on Naitanui. I'd just be happy with a win though to get our season back on track. We HAVE to win relatively easy games like this if we want to make the 8, knowing that we'll probably lose our fair share of games to top teams.

 

[bloodpumpsRnB]

I am so pumped for this game now (more than I already was at least). Let's hope he get's a long spell in the team now.

 

[davey_magik]

Wrong move to bring him back IMO, but I'd love him to prove me wrong.

Crowd will go berserk if he kicks an early one.

 

[ptrg]

haha, just joking... im actually a bit sceptical about this.. but prove me wrong jack..
Prove me wrong...

 

[ptrg]

ahhh... its time to dust off the yearly chestnuts...

(and a month earlier than last year! Can't wait to do the same again next year..)

 

[ptrg]

ahh yes..

 

[d33my]

fantastic Ptrg

 

[Djcjdees]

Wrong move to bring him back IMO, but I'd love him to prove me wrong.

Crowd will go berserk if he kicks an early one.

I tend to agree. What happened to waiting until he played '3 or 4 good games in a row for Casey?' looks as though he kicked four against richmonds reserves and they've rushed him in to get as many tickets sold as possible.

Having said that, I am intrigued to see how he'll go. Let's just hope he stays injury free and kicks a couple

 

[Crimson Azure]

Watts ahhh savior of the universe!

Let this be his theme song:

[YOUTUBE]wNf9rEPoc8Q[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Dez!]

Wrong move to bring him back IMO, but I'd love him to prove me wrong.

Crowd will go berserk if he kicks an early one.

Why is it the wrong move? He played a couple of good games and then a great game for Casey, he's earned a call up.