Good games by Bartram and Maric today,

Bate held his is own and worked hard - give him a few more games

Was surprised when I saw his possession stats

I was gobsmacked, didn't think he had muh influence at all, maybe I have blinkers on

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.

Today Maric arrived as a player, he will get lots of confidence out of his performance which was excellent.

31 touches is a good game, which was his best for the club.

Bennell doesnt rack up enough of the ball, his highest being 17 against the Sun's.

Clearly his best match for us. He may finally get to play more than 2 games in a row and thoroughly deserves it. Well done mate!

I actually didn't rate Maric's game today, unless I looked at the stats first. Got a lot of cheap possessions, didn't get his own ball, and didn't do much with them. I can't remember him damaging the opposition at all. Lowest impact 31 possession game I have seen. Only Bate did less in my opinion.

Edited May 8, 201114 yr by Thomo

Bate held his is own and worked hard - give him a few more games

Not at the game I went to. Dropped simple marks, fumbled, looked lost at times

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

+1

I'm confused as to why people are giving Maric votes, unless I looked at the stats first. Got a lot of cheap possessions, didn't get his own ball, and didn't do much with them. I can't remember him damaging the opposition at all. Lowest impact 31 possession game I have seen.

Hate to agree, because i found his performance encouraging for the most part, but yes, his impact was minimal and there were still a few times he had me shaking my head. But, coming from as far back as he is coming from, i'm very happy with his output today. Gives us something to build on and shows that he can compete at AFL level, which i've always doubted.

Not in my best 6 on the day, but played his best game for the club, no doubt.

Maric is stunning by foot, one area our club doesn't excel in. If he can find the footy like he did today there is always a spot for him.

I was wrapped to finally see him have a good one, because I was starting to have my doubts about him.

Fingers crossed he can build on todays performance and have strong back-to-back games.

Maric was good today but its hard to judge the opposition. IF MFC were awful against WCE, then Adelaide (ex Tippett and Scott Thompson) were thorougly putrid. Saying its his best game for MFC goes without saying. Just wonder what will happen when the opposition will be stiffer and more competitive.

Bate did little for me that he is up to it. He wont get it easier than he did today and just went.

Maric is stunning by foot, one area our club doesn't excel in. If he can find the footy like he did today there is always a spot for him.

I was wrapped to finally see him have a good one, because I was starting to have my doubts about him.

Fingers crossed he can build on todays performance and have strong back-to-back games.

I thought Maric & Bate were important today, and played well. Bater presented hard and many of his leads and positioning weren't honoured.. He played an intelligent game. He must work on his hands to improve,,, but his efforts tapday were fantastic. I'll wait to watch the replay before I say anymore, but I thought the balance of the side, and the way we setup was outstanding.

I think we can all see that it resonated well with the players.

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.

I actually didn't rate Maric's game today, unless I looked at the stats first. Got a lot of cheap possessions, didn't get his own ball, and didn't do much with them. I can't remember him damaging the opposition at all. Lowest impact 31 possession game I have seen. Only Bate did less in my opinion.

This is why i hate most Melbourne supporters.

Maric's kicking and football nouse were great today, just look at the 40m stab pass to a leading Jack Watts. Had Grimes done that, there would be 5 different threads about it.

While Bate wasn't flash (although I thought he worked very hard and din't look far away), I thought that his big body made our structure look much better.

I'd be happy to keep him in the team, although, in time, I'd like Howe to develop to the point where he could be that player.

This is why i hate most Melbourne supporters.

Maric's kicking and football nouse were great today, just look at the 40m stab pass to a leading Jack Watts. Had Grimes done that, there would be 5 different threads about it.

agree, frustrates me so much, his kicking today was damaging, and had many score involvements, what more could he do?

This is why i hate most Melbourne supporters.

Maric's kicking and football nouse were great today, just look at the 40m stab pass to a leading Jack Watts. Had Grimes done that, there would be 5 different threads about it.

I think it's a problem for all supporters of all clubs.

The fact is, there are just a lot of stupid people who follow football without understanding the game.

We might be the ones who should be included in that group, but I highly doubt it.

Maric had a serious influence, delivering the ball precisely into our forward line.

The stats are just the icing on the cake.

While Bate wasn't flash (although I thought he worked very hard and din't look far away), I thought that his big body made our structure look much better.

I'd be happy to keep him in the team, although, in time, I'd like Howe to develop to the point where he could be that player.

I'd agree on Bate.

Personally he wasn't very effective himself, but his mere presence had a positive influence.

I hope he keeps his spot for next week.

He still managed to show how limited he is as a player, unable to contest for the footy above his head.

What Maric did well today was create time and space for himself. He was really clever with his ball use.

But, most of all, he showed that he was able to do damage in the midfield. It's important that players of his type can move past simply being dangerous sheepdog forwards, but provide spells in the midfield and add to the rotations to ease the load. Provide a good midfield link between the midfielders and the forwards, which is very important.

But, obviously, it's only one game. But at least he has shown everybody, including himself, that he can do it.

Maric was ok. Wouldn't put him in our top 10 today. He did use the ball well though.

Man do I feel for the guy.

31 possies yesterday and I haven't heard a single word of praise about his game.

How is it that people are happy to persist with player's such as Bate, who yesterday was our worst performer.

Add to that we absoulutely dominated in all areas of the game, he still had zero impact and there are people on

here saying that he should retain his spot.

If that was Maric, people would be asking for him to be dropped. Morton was given the easiest 50 games of AFL

that anyone could ask for without having to do nearly half the work Maric does.

If anyone should be given a string of AFL games to get their confidence going, it should be this guy.

He uses the ball unbelievably well, (which is what the team is crying out for) is quick, and has great goal sense.

Give him a run of 5 or more games in our side and let's see if he can hold his own.

Edited May 9, 201114 yr by stevethemanjordan

must admit his ball use is handy.....

just seems to footy department like wona over him....

maybe he could be used up the ground a bit and 30+ possies is a sign he can do that

one game doesnt make a season however

need uphill skiers as well as downhill

I do feel for him...

Because even a thread started to applaud his efforts spends a third of the opening post talking about how bad Bate was...

I'll honestly admit I didn't notice him for much of the 1st half. When I did see him get the ball though he was good with his disposal, more than happy for him to be given a few weeks to show what he can do. I'm glad they used his speed through the middle though rather than just sitting him in the forward line, yesterday we used a lot more more of small forwards through the middle rotations which we should be doing week in week out.

Because even a thread started to applaud his efforts spends a third of the opening post talking about how bad Bate was...

Bate wasn't that bad at all yesterday. Definitely deserves more senior game time...

As for Maric - great post. He was fantastic yesterday, as he was all throughout the pre-season. Was probably a victim of the new sub rule which forced him out of the side early in the season... clearly he's put in a massive effort, got himself really fit, and can be a valuable member of our starting 22. No issues having both him and Aussie in the side either...

I do feel for him...

Because even a thread started to applaud his efforts spends a third of the opening post talking about how bad Bate was...

Yes rpfc. Well done for spotting that. I was using Bate as an example of someone who seems to be given chances time and time again after poor games by poster's on here while Maric is always shot down after a single senior game.

He is extremely unlucky.

Edited May 9, 201114 yr by stevethemanjordan

Man do I feel for the guy.

31 possies yesterday and I haven't heard a single word of praise about his game.

you mustn't be reading many threads or have eyesight issues

just look at the best player voting thread for example. He polls quite well for someone who wasn't in the top five players

even posters who are hesitant in praise said it was his best game yet and deserves more games

lets have a good look after he has played 3 games in a row (and all against teams we should beat)

be patient grasshopper and don't get ahead of yourself