I know it's only 1 game, and if in the side next week (not sure how he could get dropped) he'll probably come out & have a shocker...

But today against the Crows he finally look comfortable and composed on the AFL stage.

Admittedly, Adelaide weren't flash, but he can only be judged by his most recent match against the competition he has played against.

He found targets, found space, made good decisions, showed his sublime kicking skills and didn't panic where he would have previously.

I'd still like to see some more hardness from him, more accountability and better tackling.

As far as a developing small forward goes, I think we should be very pleased with his performance today.

Feel free to disagree, but as a FP who looked like he may never make it, and has had his task made even harder by the substitute rule, he was a handy player today.

He looked very comfortable out there and I hope he gets some confidence from it, because North at Etihad will apply a bit more pressure than the Crows did today...

I know it's only 1 game, and if in the side next week (not sure how he could get dropped) he'll probably come out & have a shocker...

But today against the Crows he finally look comfortable and composed on the AFL stage.

Admittedly, Adelaide weren't flash, but he can only be judged by his most recent match against the competition he has played against.

He found targets, found space, made good decisions, showed his sublime kicking skills and didn't panic where he would have previously.

I'd still like to see some more hardness from him, more accountability and better tackling.

As far as a developing small forward goes, I think we should be very pleased with his performance today.

Feel free to disagree, but as a FP who looked like he may never make it, and has had his task made even harder by the substitute rule, he was a handy player today.

Solid game Artie, he showed some great skills and decision making today. I hope he can keep it up when the pressure is stepped up against solid opposition.

I think so, and I will watch him particularly carefully in the next few weeks.

He may (like Frawley, Garland and countless others) prove an example that supporters should keep in mind, when criticising developing players.

Without a doubt his best game for the MFC.

Next step is consistency (applies to the entire side, not just him).

But I saw some good things today. Still doesn't link up as well as others, but he tackled, chased and ran far harder today than he ever has.

Been a bit of a critic, but he was excellent today, now he needs to back it up next week against North.

I think so, and I will watch him particularly carefully in the next few weeks.

He may (like Frawley, Garland and countless others) prove an example that supporters should keep in mind, when criticising developing players.

Fair enough Artie but the right type of criticism be it by self, peers, coaches or otherwise is the key to improvement. Improvement is exactly what we saw today and that was borne of that criticism. It was an emphatic response, I would now love to see our boys grind out a couple of wins against good opposition.

Good thread and keep up the postitivity.

31 disposals is a pretty good darn game to me. so we might be able to fit aussie and maric in our side?

Was very good in the midfield. His work rate was excellent. He doesn't have lightening speed but unlike Benell who's spot he took he seems to find the footy. Good luck to Maric lets hope he kicks on.

31 touches, including 21 kicks, 8 marks and 10 inside 50s. By far his best game for the club. He plaed more as a midfielder than as a forward pocket but that is fine. He used the ball well, and found space and time as well.

*sigh* It was a shame I had Maric on my SuperCoach AND DreamTeam benches

Lol I opted to put Shaun McKernan on the ground instead. Fail.

grimes getting injured would've worked in his favour this week I think... it was obvious he had been playing too deep in his games earlier this season...

with aussie on early as the sub, it forced the coaching staff to move him to the middle, and show us what he can do there... he got ball in the middle, and pushed forward to pressure in front of goals... where he needs to play, his games for us previously had been much closer to goal... it may turn out Cameron was on the money when he drafted him... a forward pocket who should move into the middle...

Excellent game from Maric, i hope he can be that intense next week at Etihad.

We must play with that passion next week, when the Demons spread they are a good side. Belief is amazing when it switched on.

I loved that Bailey threw him into the centre square, made him go hard and get hit. He has had a habit of hearing footsteps and not going hard enough for the ball.

Today he was excellent in the contests and really stood out with his much renowned kicking. Excellent game from him and one he has to always strive for.

Definitely shows that he is wasted as a small forward.

I loved that Bailey threw him into the centre square, made him go hard and get hit. He has had a habit of hearing footsteps and not going hard enough for the ball.

Today he was excellent in the contests and really stood out with his much renowned kicking. Excellent game from him and one he has to always strive for.

Definitely shows that he is wasted as a small forward.

Same can be said for Clint Bartram. He was right in there today. Top Game.

showing form from the preseason!

stoked that he has done well, have always been a fan of maric, i just hope he can string a few of these together!

also he was soo clean with his ball use, other than once or twice everything he did was damaging!

Edited May 8, 201114 yr by Mad_Melbourne

Yep, loved it. He was real good, let's hope he can keep it up next week.

*sigh* It was a shame I had Maric on my SuperCoach AND DreamTeam benches

Lol I opted to put Shaun McKernan on the ground instead. Fail.

Know how you feel, I did the same thing but I traded Maric out a couple of weeks ago DOFF!

Same can be said for Clint Bartram. He was right in there today. Top Game.

The structures all round the field were better. This started on selection night. Rivers out and Grimes off injured, gave us the chance to see a different setup and the balance was nice, oops,,, was great.

I think it showed that we can afford to use Grimes in the middle when he's back.

Warnock was a winner as it helped the players self belief, starting with Frawley. Our defence's balance was better alround. This had an onflowing effect of confidence, that spread through our team, as the game wore on.

Still unconvinced.

Positive- he found a lot of space. Negative- it's because he refused to man up on anyone during our defensive 'press', instead opting to simply point at crows players and palming responsibility off to others.

In a game where everyone was giving everything and making a contest out of every situation - Maric allowed Crows players to just drift off him or float out the back too easily and gather uncontested possessions.

And i thought his decision making by foot was actually pretty ordinary, opting to kick to petterd and johncock contest rather than bate 25m out and 15m clear. (Understandable decision, but still the wrong one)

Impressive numbers though.

Still unconvinced.

Positive- he found a lot of space. Negative- it's because he refused to man up on anyone during our defensive 'press', instead opting to simply point at crows players and palming responsibility off to others.

In a game where everyone was giving everything and making a contest out of every situation - Maric allowed Crows players to just drift off him or float out the back too easily and gather uncontested possessions.

And i thought his decision making by foot was actually pretty ordinary, opting to kick to petterd and johncock contest rather than bate 25m out and 15m clear. (Understandable decision, but still the wrong one)

Impressive numbers though.

rough, probably the only one or two he did wrong, but im going to watch the match again from the tv to see if he screws up a bit more, but i think he was vital, i recall he had the two goal assists in the first quarter, and ill get back to it, but i think you have been particularly rough in regards to his decision making.

secondly, the zone means certain players are placed in certain positions and have certain roles, and im assuming he is meant to be running and trying to rove or create space more offensively and block the space more so than play a hard defensive role,

Certainly far and away the best game I have seen from him.

He seesed to always find space and his disposal was up to his reputation.

It will be fascinating to see if he came come up with another like that on the more cramped ground at Doglands.

If he does we will go a long way towards breaking the Doglands / Kangaroo hoodoo.

Still unconvinced.

Positive- he found a lot of space. Negative- it's because he refused to man up on anyone during our defensive 'press', instead opting to simply point at crows players and palming responsibility off to others.

In a game where everyone was giving everything and making a contest out of every situation - Maric allowed Crows players to just drift off him or float out the back too easily and gather uncontested possessions.

And i thought his decision making by foot was actually pretty ordinary, opting to kick to petterd and johncock contest rather than bate 25m out and 15m clear. (Understandable decision, but still the wrong one)

Impressive numbers though.

Your comments mirrored my thoughts

Still, by far his best game at MFC and earned another week if not two. Was surprised when I saw his possession stats

At least his performance put a smile on my face, even if it didn't on his.

Clint Bartram. He was right in there today. Top Game.