Seahawks New Guard Receivers of ‘07
Forced to Assume Leadership Role in ‘08

Veterans Wide Receivers Engram & Burleson

The Seattle Seahawks had a difficult end to the 2007 season leaving them with many questions to address during the off-season, through free agency as well as the college/NFL football draft. One of their glaring problems was their depth at the wide receiver position and the tight end. Injuries plagued Seattle’s receiving corps last season, leaving Mike Holmgren to patch up a part of Seattle’s offense that was extremely important if Seattle was to win their own division and make it through the first round of the playoffs.

Two years ago, prior to the 2006 season, the Seahawks made a bold move and acquired Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, Nate Burleson, signing him to an extended contract in the off-season, hoping that he would be the kind of player that could help Seattle stretch the field and would bring another piece to QB:Matt Hasselbeck’s arsenal of weapons that could spread defenders and open up an anemic running game. That same year, the Seahawks still needed help at the wideout. Cornerstone wideout, Bobby Engram, missed the last eight games of the 2006 season because of a rare thyroid illness. With a poor prognosis and unlikely return to football, Mike Holmgren had to look at this at worst case scenario. Seattle made an unprecedented trade to acquire former “Super Bowl MVP” and New England Patriot wide receiver Deion Branch. Branch was holding out of the Patriots training camp and intended to remain a holdout into the regular season, requesting a contract extension, but not getting what he wanted. The Seahawks, needing immediate help at split end, acquired the unhappy Patriot, giving New England the Seahawk’s first round draft choice in the upcoming draft (2007). This was a huge risk, but for the Seahawks front office, they fell it was a necessary risk and thought it to be a good decision for the team… at the time.  Holmgren was looking for an immediate fix to a wide receiving group suffering the loss of Engram (thyroid illness), DJ Hackett (injured) and the recent defection of Darrell Jackson through free agency. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Deion Branch wasn’t able to pick up Holmgren’s comprehensive playbook and struggled throughout his first year as a Seahawk. DJ Hackett returned at the end of the year for the final two games but failed to redevelop the timing with QB Matt Hasselbeck to become a consistent contributor in time for the playoffs.

Seattle is still looking for answers at the wide receiver position. Since last year, DJ Hackett (the only Seahawks wide receiver with prototypical size) left Seattle as a free agent and signed with the Carolina Panthers. Deion Branch, who sustained a calf injury during the 2007 season, returned to the Seahawks active players for the final playoff game, but reinjured a calf on one play… leaving him to off-season reconstructive surgery requiring months and months of rehabilitation to return to playing condition. His rehab is ahead of schedule, but that is always a delicate condition, especially for a split end requiring the ability to cut and run passing routes. According to training camp reports, Branch is looking good on agility exercises and Holmgren is hopeful he can return in time for the regular-season kickoff game. That may just be wishful thinking though. Teams never liked to look needy, in fear of losing leverage impossible trade talks as a team looks forward to this season and perhaps acquiring a veteran wide receiver down the road a ways.

Ben Obamanu hopes to lift his game.

The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver hopefuls are in camp, and because of the status of the wide receiving corps of veterans, there are at least three spots open for a new comer or a backup player from 2007 or even a wide receiver that hooked on with Seattle’s practice squad in seasons past. Ben Obamanu has had flashes of greatness last year as well as Courtney Taylor, but between the two, they have just 17 receptions and zero touchdowns. Jordan Kent and Joel Fulani are fighting for a job, both have one year experience on the practice squad. Bryan Gilmore is a wide receiver that has come to Seattle after a long itinerary of action throughout the NFC, now hoping to hook on with the Seahawks at a time when Seattle’s looking for a player to shine among a lot of inexperience.

Last year, coach Holmgren had big questions whether Bobby Engram or Nate Burleson would be able to produce on a team that had other veteran wide receivers who were much more talked about throughout the NFL. Now, Burleson and Engram are the veteran sages that must help the young up-and-coming players become contributors on a team that is certainly preparing for a giant transition. Mike Holmgren is making his last years surge towards getting back to the Super Bowl and padding a resume that may land him a giant deal with a fortunate team that could land him a job after what will probably be a short retirement. Jim Mora Jr. is the understudy who is trying to find an identity with the Seahawk team so that when he takes over the reins for the 2009 season, he will be able to put his brand on the team and try for success with the nucleus of players that need role players who are athletic enough to make up for veterans who aren’t getting any younger, but wiser.

Bobby Engram threatened to hold out and missed the teens voluntary minicamps, has decided that his character is more important than his wallet and has decided to honor his contract and to his credit, has returned to the team and will participate in the preseason training camp in its entirety. Seattle’s front office has managed to sign all of their draft picks in time for training camp. This will help Seattle’s ability to have a cohesive unit without trying to hurry up the maturation of the new rookies in camp.

Rookie Tight-End John Carlson

At the tight end position, Seattle will have another new look tandem of tight ends. The Seahawks used their second round pick in the draft to choose John Carlson, a tight end from Notre Dame. Carlson had a subpar combine in Indianapolis before the draft. His 40 time was not so good, but reportedly, Carlson had an illness that prevented him from performing at his best. He came to the combine regardless, and that shows some character. Will Heller will most likely be the other tight end making the final 52 man roster. Heller has relatively good hands and has shown the ability to block well from both sides. This is a position to watch carefully as the tight end usually plays a key role in the West Coast offense. However, we have recently learned from the Seattle Times writer, Steve Kelley, that Mike Holmgren has revamped his offenses playbook, so there is no telling what type of offense he intends to run. Thus far, he has been a proponent of the West Coast offense, a scheme he learned firsthand from its creator, San Francisco 49ers coach, Bill Walsh. Mike Holmgren was an assistant coach with the 49ers for several years before leaving for Green Bay, and a head coaching opportunity. Obviously, an opportunity that he made the best of winning a Super Bowl while coaching the Packers.

Matt Hasselbeck

Seattle Seahawks Man In Charge!

Matt Hasselbeck Hoists Another NFC West Trophy!

Matt Hasselbeck has been the man in the Seattle Seahawks wheelhouse for eight years now, without a single thought of losing his starting position as Seattle’s quarterback and field general in charge of the Seahawks offense.  Not only has the, 32 year old Hasselbeck, been the leader on offense, he is also the driving force behind the Seahawks team, offense, defense, and special teams.  He is the “Go” in the Seahawks quest each season to take the NFC West championship… and the Hawks have succeeded four straight years, winning the divisional championship and even advancing to the Super Bowl, once.  The Seattle Seahawks have not reached the pinnacle, yet… however, that’s not because their leader faltered at any time.  Hasselbeck has the kind of game where he can lift the entire team on his back and carry them through difficult times.  This is what separates him from average quarterbacks who have physical ability to be a quarterback in the NFL, but lacked the intangible characteristics that allow them to make everyone around them BELIEVE they can win game after game and reach a suitable to win a world title.  Matt Hasselbeck has these characteristics along with some of the greatest quarterbacks ever to lace up shoes and strap on a helmet.  Mike Holmgren knows how to separate the good athletes who can play NFL football, from the players who have a special aura around them and shine brighter than the rest.  Matt Hasselbeck has the aura and that shine and he will continue to win the respect of his fellow players and will make all the players around him better because of the trust developed between “paycheck players” and players who play football at a higher level than the rest and just happen to be paid quite handsomely for playing a game.

He can run flat out blazing afterburner speed in the 40, he has a vertical jump that could rival some of the best point guards in the NBA, and is said to have a special ability to maneuver around and away from would-be tacklers effortlessly.  Unfortunately, it takes a lot more to become a starting quarterback in the NFL.  Wallace has struggled with the fundamentals of being an NFL quarterback.  With his athleticism, he doesn’t know quite when to scramble or when to stick it out and allow the pocket to form around him, delivering a feather-light pass to a full back in the flat, or a wide receiver running an out and in, or pumping the ball and launching a tight spiral to a wide out running a fly pattern down the field.  He just doesn’t seem to have that pocket awareness that quarterbacks need.  He gets happy feet when he starts to hear footsteps behind him, not trusting his offensive line to build that pocket, or how long that pocket will last.  The bottom line is that nobody truly has a good feeling, or a good enough level of trust that Seneca Wallace can lead the Seahawks offense. He has little experience and even the times that he has been able to take the field, he has not impressed many critics.  Preseason each year, Wallace gets an opportunity to shine and show his ability to lead less Seahawks team to victory

Seneca Wallace Will Battle Charlie Frye for No.2

Behind Matt Hasselbeck, the Seahawks have a second string and multitalented backup at the quarterback position, Seneca Wallace.  Wallace has impressive stats that lead one to believe that he has everything necessary to become an “every down player” at some point, but there is something missing in his long quest to become a legitimate NFL quarterback.  Seneca Wallace has more physical ability and athleticism than perhaps any player on the Seattle Seahawk roster, but he is most likely longing for a dream that may never happen.  In the NFL, athleticism is only one part of becoming a starter at any position, let alone the most demanding position in perhaps any sport.  Wallace can flat out fly down a football field with 4.3 speed that most wide receivers and cornerbacks don’t possess.  He has soft hands and can catch a football with the best of wide-outs and defensive backs, but he insists he is a quarterback first.  Unfortunately, it takes a lot more to become a starting quarterback in the NFL.  Willis has struggled with the fundamentals of becoming an NFL signal caller.  This is a very demanding position that requires mental fortitude combined with a natural ability to feel pocket pressure and to have a complete understanding of every position on the field, offense and defense.  An NFL quarterback must understand the intricacies of the offense line positions, the tight end blocking schemes and receiving routes, the wide receiver routes and how to sell a passing play that is really designed to be a running scheme.  The quarterback must read defenses in a split second and call an audible if necessary.  There are so many split decisions that need to be made by the quarterback, that it really seems unimaginable to expect that much from one man, but he must fulfill all of the responsibilities of the other 21 players and most know the whereabouts of every defense and an offensive player almost like a sixth sense.  Seneca Wallace doesn’t have these characteristics and it shows when he’s on the field. Wallace signed a new contract last year, increasing his pay for a three-year contract for $5 million.  Stipulations were believed to be discussed when the contract was signed, that Seneca Wallace would take on more responsibilities on the field other than quarterback, widely believed to be H-Back, punt returner and wide receiver.  Unfortunately for the Seahawks, he was unable to help the team in those capacities, but with the acquisition of Charlie Frye (former starting quarterback) from the Cleveland Browns, Wallace must do more to ensure his position as a Seahawk backup quarterbackor perhaps or even a spot on the Seahawks roster this year.  He simply must do more with his athletic ability than hold a clipboard on the sidelines.  He has tremendous potential, but so far all that potential has been unrealized.  Charlie Frye will push Seneca Wallace to do more, and Frye has experienced… something Wallace does not have.

Charlie Frye Brings Youth to Back up QB

Charlie Frye is considered the third string quarterback behind Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace.  In 2007, Charlie Frye started three games with the Cleveland Browns, but with the Browns faltering and doing very little to help Frye succeed, Derek Anderson stepped in and had immediate success spelling doom for Frye, making him expendable and the Seahawks stepped right up and snatched Frye away from the Browns, giving Seattle a viable backup at the position and showing once again Seattle’s distrust in Seneca Wallace as their only backup option as a disaster plan to back up Hasselbeck should he become injured.   Charlie Frye really didn’t get much of a chance as the starter of the Cleveland Browns, last year.  The Browns offensive line really gave Frye no opportunity to be successful.  He was trampled on every play, giving him absolutely no chance to deliver the ball to receivers downfield.  Then, Derek Anderson became the hero… virtually overnight.  Charlie Frye will have a better chance to succeed here in Seattle.  Hasselbeck is the man, but Charlie Frye is a young man and will have an opportunity to compete for a job here in Seattle… whether a backup or a starter in the future, his outlook is much brighter in the blue and green uniforms of the Seahawks uniform.

The biggest not-so-well kept secret in the NFL is that the Bears’ receiving core is problematic. After an off season that saw them lose their number one and number two receivers, the Bears are left to fill the void with a pair of so-so free agent acquisitions, impending draft picks and two talented, yet still very raw and unproven, leftovers from the March raiding — Devin Hester and Mark Bradley.

Bradley, the Bears’ second-round pick in 2005, has shown flashes of brilliance only to be superseded by injuries and under utilization, something that even the coaching staff has admitted to. You can bet now, however, that Bradley will be given every opportunity imaginable to succeed as he is thrust into the thick of the starting receiver position battle.

In three seasons with the Bears, Bradley has played in 32 games, made 38 receptions for 583 yards and scored four touchdowns. Let us be honest. These statistics are not going to bestow much hope into the hearts of Bears’ fans, let alone strike fear into the minds of NFL defensive coordinators. Nevertheless, a case could be made that Bradley’s god-awful numbers are connected to the limited opportunities he has received when he is actually on the field.

As a matter of fact, Bradley showed he could be counted on when the ball was thrown his way while playing at the University of Oklahoma. In 2003, after transfering from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Bradley played in 10 games and caught 58 passes for 1,114 yards, leading the Sooners to the national championship. Maybe these are the numbers that the Bears found so attractive to warrant using the 39th overall pick on him three years ago.

Bradley’s quick to get out of his stance, possesses above average quickness coming in and out of routes, is effective at avoiding the jam with change of direction and swim moves, has decent concentration going for the ball in traffic, is not a shy blocker, has explosive jumping ability, runs good slants and has excellent sideline awareness, getting his feet down in bounds while adjusting to the ball. In the 2005 combine he ran a 4.42 40-yard dash, had a 39.5 inch vertical jump and his arms and hands measured 31 3/8 and 8 7/8 inches, respectively.

The only obstacles standing in the way of Bradley and a breakout season are inconsistencies with the offensive line and uncertainty at quarterback. Bears’ general manager Jerry Angelo has made it clear that these issues will be at the forefront when April 26th and 27th comes around. This promises to be the Bears’ most offensive-minded draft since Angelo took the helm in 2001.

The Bears would do themselves a favor by finding talented replacements at left guard and right tackle. Their three remaining starters, John Tait, Olin Kreutz and Roberto Garza, range from solid to elite. Two additions to the line and a timely cohesiveness would mean big things immediately for the offense. The run game would certainly improve. How much, exactly, depends on running back Cedric Benson’s ability to push through initial contact and expand on his current game plan: 1. get ball 2. fall down.

Bradley would also need quarterback Rex Grossman (trust me, he is the starter) to stop his Jekyll and Hyde act and play with the consistency so many, including myself, feel he is capable of. Hopefully, Bradley and Grossman will be able to develop a chemistry in training camp, much like the one that “Sexy Rexy” shared with former Bear, Bernard Berrian, over the last couple of years.

In fact, Bradley has the potential to be much better than Berrian. He is just as much as the deep threat as Berrian was (Berrian ran a pedestrian 4.58 40 at the combine) and possesses better size and much better hands. Also, Bradley’s route-running ability will allow offensive coordinator Ron Turner to open up his playbook a little bit more.

If Grossman can finally play with that long-awaited consistency and the Bears can address their offensive issues properly and effectively, which they seem intent on doing, Bradley will have all the help possible to stand himself apart from the David Terrell’s and Dez White’s of the world – a challenge that Bears’ fans this year desperately need him to meet.

The Half Back Flanker season preview is broken up into four categories - Top of the Heap, Scraping In, Missing Out and Bottom of the Barrel . But rather than pretend that we know anything about footy, let’s look at what the ‘experts’ are saying and then, in 25 words or less, sum up the fortunes for each side this year.

So, without further ado…in ascending order of bragging rights:

(brisbanetimes.com.au)

WEST COAST: The Eagles are looking to rebound from a highly controversial couple of years and the loss of two outstanding and influential (in different ways) midfielders. Will they remain to be one of the competition’s elite teams?

• The Herald Sun have their doubts;
• The Age are not entirely convinced;
• But the AFL website seems to think so;
• And Sportal seems to think so too;

Half Back Flanker says: They will make the top four, all be in bed by 11:30pm and be as boring as all get-out!

(Source: bigfooty.com)

PORT ADELAIDE: The Power came out of nowhere to make the Grand Final…where Geelong sent them back to nowhere very quickly. Are they really that good…or did psycho-coach Mark Williams scare them into believing they can play?

• The Age have them in seventh;
• Sportal think they are better than that…but only just;
• The Herald Sun compared them to licorice allsorts - the journo must have been hungry at the time;
• The AFL website think they will be ‘around the mark’ - that’s great and all…you want to tell us where ‘the mark’ is? Is it in the top-two? Just inside the eight? Somewhere in Australia?

Half Back Flanker says: We have faith in Port but Choco Williams is very scary. We are just covering our ass in case he finds out where we live.

…

(Source: abc.net.au - Getty Images)

HAWTHORN: The Hawks made giant strides last season after Spida Everitt pissed off to Sydney. With new cult figure Buddy Franklin running amok, this team is on the rise…but just how good are this mob?

• The AFL website reckons top-four…easy;
• The Age pundits both agree with that;
• Sportal has them third;
• The Herald Sun just waffles on for ages without actually answering the question…yes, it’s Mike Sheahan!

Half Back Flanker says: They are headed for the top four and provided the likes of Hodgey, Browny and Jordan Lewis stop hitting blokes, could go further. Spida who?

…

(Source: 3aw website)

GEELONG: The Cats swept all before them in 2007, ending a long premiership drought and giving Billy Brownless yet another excuse to piss on for weeks at a time. Can they be stopped in 2008?

• The Age pair say no…and no;
• Sportal says no;
• The AFL website takes the soft ‘top-two’ option;
• While the Herald Sun just want you to buy their new book!

Half Back Flanker says: Young nucleus, plently of depth - the Cats are the team to beat. But remember; don’t go to Thailand for your back-to-back premiers tattoo!

The Half Back Flanker season preview is broken up into four categories - Top of the Heap, Scraping In, Missing Out and Bottom of the Barrel . But rather than pretend that we know anything about footy, let’s look at what the ‘experts’ are saying and then, in 25 words or less, sum up the fortunes for each side this year.

So, without further ado…in order of likehood of an early finals exit:

(Source: smh.com.au - Tony Nolan)

SYDNEY: The Swans reached the top of the heap in 2005 but suffered an early exit last season. Will the recently reconstructed Barry Hall lead them back in flag contention?

• The Age don’t think so;
• The Herald Sun don’t think so either;
• The AFL website have a bit more faith…;
• …but Sportal don’t!

Half Back Flanker says: Nobody seems to think so…we have to agree. But they will still scrape into the finals and give it one last shot.

FREMANTLE: The Dockers should be really really good - and they were for one year in 2005 - but they have a history of sucking whenever they start to look good. With a new coach, will they ever be good again?

• The Age can’t decide…top four or bottom four?
• Sportal have some hope ;
• The Herald Sun has no idea;
• The AFL website thinks they should challenge ‘on paper’. Awesome - thanks for that startling revelation…

Half Back Flanker says: We say they’ll make the finals but on one condition…they have to play West Coast in the most spiteful finals match ever played!

…

(Source: footycards.com.au)

COLLINGWOOD: The club everybody else loves to hate became kinda likeable in 2007 with their gutsy late-season heroics. Are they really good enough to challenge for the flag?

• Sportal don’t think they will be that good;
• The AFL website don’t think so - but they will still be good;
• The Age pundits are divided (again) - Walls not convinced, Connolly is;
• The Herald Sun thinks they can…but if they don’t, James Clement is to blame!

Half Back Flanker says: Good? Yes. Premiers? No. Still kinda likeable? That was purely a one-off…it will never, ever happen again!

…

(Source: saints.com.au)

ST KILDA: The Saints have won the NAP Cup and are now the heir apparent(ly) to Geelong’s throne. For a chronic underachiever, are we just getting a little carried away?

• The Herald Sun predict big things;
• The Age have them in the Grand Final;
• The AFL website have a major boner;
• Sportal are still waiting for the swelling to go down…

Half Back Flanker says: The Saints are relying on two broken-down ruckmen to lead an injury-plagued club to the promised land. What could possible go wrong?

The Half Back Flanker season preview is broken up into four categories - Top of the Heap, Scraping In, Missing Out and Bottom of the Barrel . But rather than pretend that we know anything about footy, let’s look at what the ‘experts’ are saying and then, in 25 words or less, sum up the fortunes for each side this year.

So, without further ado…in ascending order of ‘close but no cigar’:

(Source: essendonfc.com.au)

ESSENDON: With a new coach and the departure of their bestest player ever, nobody seems to know what is going to happen with the Bombers…especially their own captain.

• The Age pundits play pantomime…the Essendon man thinks ‘finals’, Robbie Walls thinks ‘crap’;
• Sportal reckons they will be intriguing and exciting…but still crap;
• The Herald Sun thinks they will be fast but have no idea if that means they will be good or not;
• The AFL website talks about the “new freshness” at Windy Hill? Yep, so much better than the old freshness;

Half Back Flanker says: Apparently, the Bombers will be fast, intriguing, exciting and exude a new freshness…but still be crap. That will be worth watching…

(Source: realfooty.com.au)

ADELAIDE: The Crows were on the verge of premiership glory a few years ago until tennis-bogan Lleyton Hewitt divided the club and ruined everything. Have they missed out on the ultimate prize?

• The Age has them missing out;
• Sportal has them missing out;
• The Herald Sun had them missing out before the NAP Cup but now they are not so sure;
• The AFL website thinks they are on the cusp - so they might miss out…or they might not!

Half Back Flanker says: They are missing out…and it’s all Lleyton Hewitt’s fault!

(Source: www.qwc.qld.gov.au)

BRISBANE: The Lions missed out last year but impressed with some big performances, particularly from reformed psycho Jonathan Brown. But are they good enough to get back in the eight?

• The AFL website are buying it…they are talking Grand Final Contention;
• Sportal are as well…they have them scraping in;
• But The Age aren’t buying it;
• The Herald Sun are more concerned about promoting Mike Sheahan’s man-crush on Jono Brown!

Half Back Flanker says: We don’t buy it but as long as Browny is splitting packs, kicking goals or smacking innocent bystanders, all power to them.

…

(Source: realfooty.com.au)

NORTH MELBOURNE: The Roos, as always, are being written off as a serious threat despite a prelim final last season. As they fight for survival, can they do it again?

• The Herald Sun reckons they can;
• Sportal thinks they can’t;
• The Age are divided again…one says yeah, the other says nah;
• The AFL website thinks they can…but probably hopes they don’t after rejecting that move to the Gold Coast!

Half Back Flanker says: We will write them off again and then look stupid when they finish top four - damn stupid Shinboner spirit…

The Half Back Flanker season preview is broken up into four categories - Top of the Heap, Scraping In, Missing Out and Bottom of the Barrel. But rather than pretend that we know anything about footy, let’s look at what the ‘experts’ are saying and then, in 25 words or less, sum up the fortunes for each side this year.

So, without further ado…in descending order of potential suckiness:

(Source: ariel.unimelb.edu.au/~yuan/carlton)

CARLTON: This season will be one of learning and discovery…just how many different nicknames will Chris Judd earn in 2008?

• The Age believes it should be “the Juddernaut”;
• The Herald Sun is leaning towards changing the club name to “Judd and Co.”;
• The AFL website go with a simple “Superstar Judd”;
• But it seems Sportal haven’t come up with a nickname for Judd just yet - boring!

Half Back Flanker says: Won’t finish last but won’t make the finals…but it all depends on Juddy, the Juddster, Ol’ Judderoonie, the Juddmeister, King Judd, Mr Twigley, etc…

(Source: richmondfc.com.au)

RICHMOND: The Tigers have been consistently mediocre for many years. If that is actually part of Terry Wallace’s five-year plan then most think he is on target again in 2008!

• The Age thinks they will suck;
• Sportal thinks they will suck;
• The Herald Sun really, really wishes they will suck;
• The AFL website may have removed their Richmond preview…perhaps they are not allowed to use the work ’suck’!

Half Back Flanker says: The Herald-Sun have already prepared their headlines pushing for Kevin Sheedy to return to Tigerland and will not be afraid to use them!

…

(Source: abc.net.au)

WESTERN BULLDOGS: They fell in a heap last year and the off-field crew all hate each other…according to Libba. Is all not well at the Akermanis Retirement Village?

• The AFL website think the Dogs could be anything…gee, thanks for that;
• The Age pundits are divided - one says Scraping In, the other says Missing Out;
• The Herald Sun are ready to blame off-field in-fighting just in case the Doggies fail;
• Sportal thinks they need a power forward…there’s plenty available now the NBL has finished - what about this guy?

Half Back Flanker says: When any player over six foot is either injured or attacked by a stingray, it’s probably a sign that it’s not your year!

…

(Source: realfooty.com.au)

MELBOURNE: They might have been in existence for 150 years but the Melbourne Football are proving one thing - experience counts for little these days…particularly when you suck. But don’t take our word for it…

• The Age thinks they will suck - but not as much as Richmond;
• Sportal thinks they will actually suck more than Richmond;
• The AFL website are so pessimistic, they possibly didn’t bother with a preview;
• The Herald Sun seem more interested in Russell Robertson’s singing career!

Half Back Flanker says: Melbourne will suck more than Richmond. Frankly, we are more interested in Robbo’s singing as well!