Round 1 prediction.

Earl_of_twirl · **Joined:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:58 am **Posts:** 7

I am generally an objective blues man by nature, I hardly make raving predictions about the boys, in fact I'm more than likely to focus on the negative in the hope it turns into a positive, having said that my prediction for round 1 is..........

Carlton in a canter!!!

My basis for this is as follows, as a rule Melbourne always slaughter us through the middle which in gives there forwards waves of opportunity to score. However the Melbourne midfield is as underdone this season as I have ever seen it, Mclean, Moloney and Bruce are all well behind the 8ball and that I believe will give us the edge we need, we all know how much Bruce likes playing against us, well it isn't going to be the same Bruce this time, Mclean and Moloney provide alot of the grunt through the Melbourne midfield and being underdone, they are not going to have the same impact which in turn will cut the supply to the Melbourne attack.

Our midfield will get first hands to the ball and our supply to our forwards will increase, Melbournes backline is absolute rubbish.. period. They will not be able to match Fev, Red, Fish and Waite if we get even an average amount of supply.

Don't expect to many bold predictions from me over the course of the season.

CK95 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:59 am

Mclean & Bruce are only slim chances to play anyway

camel · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:07 pm

Sounds fair to me.

phoenix johnson · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:09 pm

And yet Green and Yze will line up against us.

Both always do well against us.

I'm expecting a pretty tight contest.

thegezman · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:14 pm

robbo will rip us a new one....again

still i reckon we are a fair chance to push them all the way and maybe even snatch a first up win.

man i would be stoked if that happened.

Elwood Blues1 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:10 am **Posts:** 4827

Fair enough...you have gone with the dont back them first race back from a spell theory . Not too sure of Bruce's pedigree or how he goes first game back but I do remember J Brown of Brisbane first game last season v Essendon* last year and he dined out on the bombers as did Nafun Buckley when he had 30+ possies in his first game back.
James McDonald is one of those no names who seems to play well gainst us and Travis Johnston has been in fair form for the Dees so I wouldnt write off their midfield ..
In the past we struggle when French has a rest and it maybe McLaren vs Jamar for example that has a bearing on the game and the midfield battles. White being the athletic jumping style of big man hasnt really suited us in the past and I'll be interested in the tactcis employed aginst him..I would expect Prendagast to follow him around the ground and maybe double team him at some ball ups etc...
I'll also be following where Carazzo plays....with Davey in the lineup you would think Carazzo might be the obvious choice to tag him and has done the job before however I wouldnt mind betting Carazzo gets a run in the midfield and I wouldnt mind seeing the coach be a bit positive and give Carazzo some onball tiem cos he knows how to find the footy.
I'm expecting Eddie Betts to do well, unlike some players I think Eddie will be better in his second year and his preseason form has been good...

Be nice if Mclean, Moloney, Bruce and Rivers didnt lineup for the Dees..

AGRO · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:23 pm

Elwood Blues1 wrote:

I'm expecting Eddie Betts to do well, unlike some players I think Eddie will be better in his second year and his preseason form has been good.....

Given he has done a full pre-season this year unlike last year he should hit the ground running. :wink:

phoenix johnson · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:32 pm

Rivers won't be playing, Elwood.

Can't wait to see what Eddie can do with another good pre season under his belt.

Here's hoping he can break 25-30 goal barrier this season.

tumi2 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:34 pm

thegezman wrote:

robbo will rip us a new one....again

still i reckon we are a fair chance to push them all the way and maybe even snatch a first up win.

man i would be stoked if that happened.

Robbo will be having dreams about standing on Lances back.. its like a massive platform for stepping on.

nightcrawler · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:48 am **Posts:** 2891

phoenix johnson wrote:

Rivers won't be playing

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18572508%255E20322,00.html

Looks like Rivers will play afterall.

Bruce hasn't played any of the Melbourne intra-clubs or NAB cup games. So comparing him to Buckley starring after coming back through the VFL isn't really accurate. Bruce will play a half in the VFL this week and if he pulls up alright then they'll play him. He'll be fit, but he won't be match fit. There is a difference.

old55 · **Joined:** Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:19 pm **Posts:** 301

Earl_of_twirl wrote:

My basis for this is as follows, as a rule Melbourne always slaughter us through the middle which in gives there forwards waves of opportunity to score. However the Melbourne midfield is as underdone this season as I have ever seen it, Mclean, Moloney and Bruce are all well behind the 8ball and that I believe will give us the edge we need, we all know how much Bruce likes playing against us, well it isn't going to be the same Bruce this time, Mclean and Moloney provide alot of the grunt through the Melbourne midfield and being underdone, they are not going to have the same impact which in turn will cut the supply to the Melbourne attack.

Our midfield will get first hands to the ball and our supply to our forwards will increase, Melbournes backline is absolute rubbish.. period. They will not be able to match Fev, Red, Fish and Waite if we get even an average amount of supply.

All true and it should be a lot closer than people might expect.

Earl_of_twirl · **Joined:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:58 am **Posts:** 7

nightcrawler wrote:

phoenix johnson wrote:

Rivers won't be playing

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18572508%255E20322,00.html

Looks like Rivers will play afterall.

It is a smokescreen, Rivers will not play.

marciblue · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:24 pm

Maybe it will be closer than it would normally be. It will mean that we can compete with the dees running brigade who I rate very highly. On their day, the dees are a formidable midfield group who can trouble any side. This ofcourse is our greatest deficiency; worse than defence IMO.

I have a bad feeling that Carrazzo might be in for an indifferent year. I think his form has been a little lacklustre this pre-season and I was really hoping he would step up and be a permanent mid for us in 2006. I hope i'm wrong (really!)

Earl, I love your optimism but I cant see it being a canter

Megaman · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:18 pm

If we can't curb Russ the knob, he will be the difference, the small(-ish) forward that always kills us :roll:

bondiblue · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:40 pm

All the Melbourne supporters I know are viewing this game as a danger for them, due to a number of factors:

Haven't played well since the Darwin game.
Neitz is struggling with age and fumbling
Lots of injury interuptions in pre season
Injury clouds over Rivers (despite what you read today)
Rely on Robbo and Davey too much to kick goals (if they are covered...)
Nicholson is no modern day full back.

They expect White to dominate, and this may give their onballers an edge.

I need to see the teams first before I decide. Injuries to any team in the comp (repeat, any team) will be to their demise if they can't cover them.

fevolaaaa · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:45 pm

It's all about Robertson. If we hold him for once we'll win.

Carrots could handle Davey

budzy · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:17 am **Posts:** 8128

tumi2 wrote:

thegezman wrote:

robbo will rip us a new one....again

still i reckon we are a fair chance to push them all the way and maybe even snatch a first up win.

man i would be stoked if that happened.

Robbo will be having dreams about standing on Lances back.. its like a massive platform for stepping on.

AW is also having dreams of reaching over the top of RR while RR's sitting on Lances shoulders and taking the mutttthhhhher of all hangers :mrgreen:

AW to take Robertson anyone??

keogh · **Joined:** Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:36 am **Posts:** 6475

Good to see Ol 55 still on board.Both teams ara as fragile as a tory's wedding vows and its just a matter of which midfield supplys the most ball to the forwards.

The game last year was highlighted by Robertson's thearatrics but I thought White was the difference in that game.He may not have it his own way with the fry back in town.I think it will be a close contest.

Molly · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:31 pm

Actually, I have to hand it to Old 55. He always comes on here for the Carlton v Melbourne games, and is really polite and even-handed in his analysis. I never trawl opposition sites - but are our supporters as generous in what they write? Just interested to know.

bluehammer · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:33 pm

My coin is on melbourne 40-49pts

Round 1 prediction.

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