Temper the ecstasy!

[Sleeve 67]

I'm the first to bag, condemn and vent my frustration.

I did all of the above during the final term.

I'll say something I've banged in about for the past 3 seasons, we've still got

a Shiite midfield.

If we can somehow land a consistent Colin Sylvia( Perhaps a pipe dream) or

quickly develop a Joel or a Scooter Selwood (Please Please) , and the Viney's

and Jimmy Toumpas' of the world quickly realise the potential they have, we may

begin to get something to believe in.

The KPP blocks are there , the midfield requires URGENT attention, there may

, just may be life in this carcass.

[praha 11,240]

Yep, midfield almost single handedly cost the team the game. They were annihilated in that last quarter, especially the last 10 minutes. Jones was directly blitzed at around 4-5 straight center bounces which all resulted in Dogs goals. Guy worked his but off but boy is there a lot of improvement in that regard. I mean, with even a decent midfield with ONE 150+ gun player there, this team is potentially a 8-12 win side. Backline and Forwardline are set.

[ThreeOneSix 954]

Yep, midfield almost single handedly cost the team the game. They were annihilated in that last quarter, especially the last 10 minutes. Jones was directly blitzed at around 4-5 straight center bounces which all resulted in Dogs goals. Guy worked his but off but boy is there a lot of improvement in that regard. I mean, with even a decent midfield with ONE 150+ gun player there, this team is potentially a 8-12 win side. Backline and Forwardline are set.

Gawn tired in the last quarter and Minson had a free run at it, so it's a once off.

Max Gawn doesn't have the body to withstand 4 quarters of football in the ruck, but he done a hell of a job for 3.

In the last quarter, we may aswell of played without a ruck, so that is hardly Nath Jones fault.

I am not even worried about that last quarter, the game was there to be won for the first 3 quarters if the Bulldogs were up to it - and they weren't.

They only started playing when we didn't, that will not happen next year.

Bulldogs are rubbish and we had Viney, Clark, Grimes and Jamar out... Jamar would've won the ruck all day, so we done well to smash the dogs till 3 quarter time IMO.

[Waltham33 475]

We know our midfield is below par. Recruitment priority 1.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

We won a game of football and showed lots of promising signs throughout the match. I shall remain ecstatic until at least Tuesday

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I would think most of us on here are smart enough to know our midfield is very sub standard, despite the win last night.

[Daemn 2]

We won a game of football and showed lots of promising signs throughout the match. I shall remain ecstatic until at least Tuesday

Totally agree. Pop the champagne I say. Can't we keep the constructive analysis until later this year at least?!?

[Nasher 33,617]

Agree on the midfield, though I also agree that our ruckman being dead on his feet was a big contributor.

TV survive this week Sleeve? :-)

[Dr. Gonzo 24,305]

Gawn tired in the last quarter and Minson had a free run at it, so it's a once off.

Gawn was out on his feet and the Dogs had Boyd, Cooney and Griffin in the square at quite a few of the bounces, a midfield that wasn't far of successive GF's only a couple of years back.

[Webber 10,538]

Gawn tired in the last quarter and Minson had a free run at it, so it's a once off.Max Gawn doesn't have the body to withstand 4 quarters of football in the ruck, but he done a hell of a job for 3.In the last quarter, we may aswell of played without a ruck, so that is hardly Nath Jones fault. I am not even worried about that last quarter, the game was there to be won for the first 3 quarters if the Bulldogs were up to it - and they weren't.They only started playing when we didn't, that will not happen next year. Bulldogs are rubbish and we had Viney, Clark, Grimes and Jamar out... Jamar would've won the ruck all day, so we done well to smash the dogs till 3 quarter time IMO.

Gawn did more in the first quarter than Jamar has done for a whole game all year. He understandably was knackered in last quarter, where Minson took over, and there was nothing as you say that Nathan Jones could have done. But PLEASE no more Jamar. He is simply a liability around the ground.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,305]

Gawn did more in the first quarter than Jamar has done for a whole game all year. He understandably was knackered in last quarter, where Minson took over, and there was nothing as you say that Nathan Jones could have done. But PLEASE no more Jamar. He is simply a liability around the ground.

With Gawn, Fitzpatrick and Spencer fit and playing as they have the last two weeks I can't see Jamar playing again.

[Chook 15,022]

With Gawn, Fitzpatrick and Spencer fit and playing as they have the last two weeks I can't see Jamar playing again.

Jamar has his flaws, but he can at least ruck entire games. The other thing about Jamar is that he doesn't get beaten comprehensively by Minson-type ruckmen. Players like Ryder and Naitanui can jump all over him and render him useless, but more old-fashioned ruckmen typically get nullified by Jamar.

[DemonFrog 1,356]

I say get the players enjoy the rest of the season ad see what they can do under an experienced AFL coach.

I personally believed after round seven that the MFC would not win another game this season.

So the MFC has gone one better then my expectation so far this season.

Keep going boys prove me wrong some more!

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Jamar and Gawn is still the best ruck combination for mine.

[Dee Dee 1,117]

Gawn tired in the last quarter and Minson had a free run at it, so it's a once off.

Max Gawn doesn't have the body to withstand 4 quarters of football in the ruck, but he done a hell of a job for 3.

In the last quarter, we may aswell of played without a ruck, so that is hardly Nath Jones fault.

Max Gawn admitted in a post match interview on 774 that he was out on his feet in the last quarter and that Minson virtually had a free run in the ruck.

[old dee 23,872]

Normally I would add a number of sobering comments but after the last two years of crap

We won one to hell with anything but joy for the next six days.

Go Dees the best 120 minutes this year

[CHAMP 347]

Jamar has his flaws, but he can at least ruck entire games. The other thing about Jamar is that he doesn't get beaten comprehensively by Minson-type ruckmen. Players like Ryder and Naitanui can jump all over him and render him useless, but more old-fashioned ruckmen typically get nullified by Jamar.

But could he do so if he didn't have a great tendency to withdraw from general play.

[autocol 448]

I reckon Spencer is unfairly derided on this site, and Neil Craig was effusive in his praise last week so I'm sure he would agree. I can't understand the hate. The bloke puts in 110% every time he takes the field, has good pace, ferocity at the contest, and admittedly average skills. I don't think Jamar will be getting much game time once he and Gawn are both able to run out a game, especially if Mitch and Fitz are also on the park. We could conceivably field a team with three or four ruckmen/forwards/defenders if we could balance the midfield. We certainly have the potential to play an exceptionally tall team if we can create a strategy that allows it to work.

[DemonFrog 1,356]

I reckon Spencer is unfairly derided on this site, and Neil Craig was effusive in his praise last week so I'm sure he would agree. I can't understand the hate. The bloke puts in 110% every time he takes the field, has good pace, ferocity at the contest, and admittedly average skills. I don't think Jamar will be getting much game time once he and Gawn are both able to run out a game, especially if Mitch and Fitz are also on the park. We could conceivably field a team with three or four ruckmen/forwards/defenders if we could balance the midfield. We certainly have the potential to play an exceptionally tall team if we can create a strategy that allows it to work.

Dam!

Game plans are something we not been much good at lately.

[Sleeve 67]

Yes Nasher it did, I didn't watch it as I had guests and had to play host , caught the last 15!

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

Yeah you could tell the entire difference from the first 3 and a half quarters (they got a jump in the last but we then kicked 3 in a row) and the last half of a quarter came from around the stoppages and centre bounces. Gawn was out on his feet. Fitzpatrick was tiring as well. All those who have been wanting this ruck combo for weeks learnt a lesson there. But the midfielders besides Jones also lost a heap of momentum. Sylvia was obviously saved for a last quarter burst after playing a lot forward and layed a couple of tackles but that was about it. Rodan was shot. Nicholson was shot mentally. So it was Jones v Boyd, Griffen, Cooney and Libba whilst they had a dominant ruckman.

The ruck issue I'm not so worried about. If we had any of Clark, Jamar or Spencer it wouldn't have been a problem. The midfield is more concerning but Viney is on track to be a Libba type player very quickly. Grimes is a huge worker who could play half back and midfield and be available to go into a centre bounce when others tire. We do desperately need more but we are aware of that. Don't underestimate how good the dogs starting midfield can be - it's mixed it with premiership teams in prelims, it just the rest of their side that battles.

I think if Blease is out Craig will finally turn to Magner for some more midfield minutes.

[old dee 23,872]

Yes Nasher it did, I didn't watch it as I had guests and had to play host , caught the last 15!

Surprised you are still in the land of the mortal Sleeve.

There were time in that last 15 I thought I would expire!

[titan_uranus 25,045]

I'd look at this glass half-full and say that for 3.5 quarters we managed to quell a midfield containing Griffin, Boyd, Cooney and others.

As has been said, if we draft/trade/recruit properly, and bolster the midfield, clearly the back and forward lines are coming along nicely and we'll begin to rise.

[jazza 1,323]

our ruck division looks mmmm ok

remember they are boys learning the caper, it s taken minson 6 years as with most big men

did we make mistakes , tick

did we learn, tick

did jw force himself to go down back, tick

the pieces are starting to fall into place, everybody was complaining ABOUT our youth, rucks, kpp

coach , prez .ceo,

and now were all talking about wins future, youth and trades

ISNT IT WONDERFUL

remember today is basking monday

[Jaded No More 68,974]

The good news is that history shows us that good midfielders take much less time to come on ,and are in fact, easier to find.

That we have our spine all but completed with seriously good players, means that our rise can be quite dramatic and quite quick once we are able to find and develop those extra mids we need.