Practice Match - Melbourne v Hawthorn @ Casey Fields

[Deeoldfart 7,874]

Tough day today possum?

I reckon that's the case, Probably needs a holiday!

[Whispering_Jack 28,176]

Please keep things civil.

I'm getting RSI just deleting posts that are insulting of others and totally superfluous to this thread.

Next step will be holidays.

[Ted Lasso 17,367]

50,000 is the average now we need outside support but if you don't support Casey that's your decision D26 , this clubs 22,000 members behind port and I back Jims and Paul's decision to see it through.

Only 6 teams had 50,000 members or more last year, we finished mid table coming off close to the worst year in the clubs history with 33,177 win a few games and things will improve significantly and we might get close to 40,000 that's a healthy amount for a smaller victorian club, at the end of last season we finished 6,000 members behind port who played finals and are one of only 2 SA teams

[mjt 640]

Only 6 teams had 50,000 members or more last year, we finished mid table coming off close to the worst year in the clubs history with 33,177 win a few games and things will improve significantly and we might get close to 40,000 that's a healthy amount for a smaller victorian club, at the end of last season we finished 6,000 members behind port who played finals and are one of only 2 SA teams

Ask PJ what he thinks about 40,000 members ?

[Ted Lasso 17,367]

Ask PJ what he thinks about 40,000 members ?

I reckon he would be pretty happy if we finished the year with 40,000 members to be completely honest, considering it would be the highest ever membership total in our history as a club.

[Earl Hood 5,895]

Why the Cessna? Couldn't you take Thunderbird 1?

Akum

Good point but the trouble is every time I take Thunderbird1 up it draws a crowd. In my line of work I need to keep a low profile. There is a story as to how I finally got my hands on the craft after years of being thwarted by those vain, good looking marionettes but it would be boring.

I can report that it does go like the clappers once you get the all clear from air traffic control at Morabbin Airport.

[Sir Why You Little 35,434]

Akum

Good point but the trouble is every time I take Thunderbird1 up it draws a crowd. In my line of work I need to keep a low profile. There is a story as to how I finally got my hands on the craft after years of being thwarted by those vain, good looking marionettes but it would be boring.

I can report that it does go like the clappers once you get the all clear from air traffic control at Morabbin Airport.

I prefer Thunderbird 2 Myself.

Such a beautiful beast to fly and the full take off sequence has never been bettered.

[Whispering_Jack 28,176]

Now, let's talk football.

Getting to the game that's going to happen on Saturday, it's good to see that we escaped injury from the Alice Springs trip with Jimmy Toumpas pulling up fine after copping a whack on the head from Billie Smedts - Toumpas set to play against Hawthorn.

Likely to play against the Hawks are Jack Viney, James Frawley, Cam Pedersen and Jay Kennedy-Harris with big men Chris Dawes, Max Gawn and Mark Jamar also being considered.

The good thing about the game against Hawthorn is that Casey is playing directly after our game, so there will be some players who will play limited game time for us and then theyll play a couple of quarters with Casey. So its a great opportunity for a lot of our players to get some game time.

~ Josh Mahoney.

[Ted Lasso 17,367]

I think Jesse Hogan will really benefit from either Dawes or Pederson being in the side with him, another hard working forward to take the pressure off him a little bit.

[Earl Hood 5,895]

Now, let's talk football.

Getting to the game that's going to happen on Saturday, it's good to see that we escaped injury from the Alice Springs trip with Jimmy Toumpas pulling up fine after copping a whack on the head from Billie Smedts - Toumpas set to play against Hawthorn.

Likely to play against the Hawks are Jack Viney, James Frawley, Cam Pedersen and Jay Kennedy-Harris with big men Chris Dawes, Max Gawn and Mark Jamar also being considered. ~ Josh Mahoney.

I am not sure it is a good idea to be playing the Hawks at this stage. We are trying to build confidence into the playing group, we have two good performances against the 7 and 3 finishers last season. Why play number one now? The Hawks are flying, no injuries, everyone is up and about and they are keen to overawe everyone early to get the psychological advantage on everyone. In short we could get smashed, like they have done to the North and Brisbane and a lot of good MFC vibes shattered. Not sure why we agreed to this match really.

[SaberFang 7,141]

Will help the coaching staff determine how much progress has been made, and who is fit enough to play AFL footy each week. This match will separate the players from the pretenders. The loss or victory will be meaningless, what they'll be looking at is the players that perform under pressure.

Don't see anything wrong with it. We'll learn far less playing against and beating a middle tier team.

[McQueen 17,864]

I reckon he would be pretty happy if we finished the year with 40,000 members to be completely honest, considering it would be the highest ever membership total in our history as a club.

Jackson is on record as being disgusted by the idea of only 40,000 members for this club. His expectations are far greater.

Best we raise ours as well.

[CBDees 3,162]

I am not sure it is a good idea to be playing the Hawks at this stage. We are trying to build confidence into the playing group, we have two good performances against the 7 and 3 finishers last season. Why play number one now? The Hawks are flying, no injuries, everyone is up and about and they are keen to overawe everyone early to get the psychological advantage on everyone. In short we could get smashed, like they have done to the North and Brisbane and a lot of good MFC vibes shattered. Not sure why we agreed to this match really.

Well you may not be sure but i similarly don't think it a good idea to squib out of a scheduled practice match.I am sure that the playing group will take confidence out of playing the Premiers as will Casey against the Box Hill Hawks.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

I am not sure it is a good idea to be playing the Hawks at this stage. We are trying to build confidence into the playing group, we have two good performances against the 7 and 3 finishers last season. Why play number one now? The Hawks are flying, no injuries, everyone is up and about and they are keen to overawe everyone early to get the psychological advantage on everyone. In short we could get smashed, like they have done to the North and Brisbane and a lot of good MFC vibes shattered. Not sure why we agreed to this match really.

It's a practice match, so we can practice.

[Earl Hood 5,895]

Will help the coaching staff determine how much progress has been made, and who is fit enough to play AFL footy each week. This match will separate the players from the pretenders. The loss or victory will be meaningless, what they'll be looking at is the players that perform under pressure.

Don't see anything wrong with it. We'll learn far less playing against and beating a middle tier team.

I hope this strategy turns out to be correct. Just worried about getting smashed by a team out to setup their superiority early in the season. Lets hope we take them on, then that will be a bonus for sure.

[Earl Hood 5,895]

It's a practice match, so we can practice.

I am basing my argument on Roosey's talk of a fragile playing group that needs to be developed and nurtured. Roos is trying to get the group taking chances, building trust, enjoying their football, having fun. You might want to build this incrementally, not by playing the premiers. Just my opinion. Lets see what unfolds next week.

[DemonOX 8,582]

Jackson is on record as being disgusted by the idea of only 40,000 members for this club. His expectations are far greater.

Best we raise ours as well.

Best the boys perform on the park too McQueen as this will go along way to increasing the membership.

Seven yrs is a long time between competitive performances!

Edited March 3, 2014 by DemonOX

[Whispering_Jack 28,176]

I am basing my argument on Roosey's talk of a fragile playing group that needs to be developed and nurtured. Roos is trying to get the group taking chances, building trust, enjoying their football, having fun. You might want to build this incrementally, not by playing the premiers. Just my opinion. Lets see what unfolds next week.

If Roos is indeed trying to get the group to take chances, then why not try your hand against the best of the best? These blokes are footballers, not choir boys. They'll learn more from taking on the Hawks than some of the half baked outfits I saw running around in some of the NAB Challenge games.

[boydie 653]

If Roos is indeed trying to get the group to take chances, then why not try your hand against the best of the best? These blokes are footballers, not choir boys. They'll learn more from taking on the Hawks than some of the half baked outfits I saw running around in some of the NAB Challenge games.

Agree, I also think there is no harm in a little reality check to show just how much we still need to improve on despite 2 positive performances so far. Maybe this weekends performance will prepare us better for when we play Hawthorn in the season proper.

[P-man 13,356]

I am not sure it is a good idea to be playing the Hawks at this stage. We are trying to build confidence into the playing group, we have two good performances against the 7 and 3 finishers last season. Why play number one now? The Hawks are flying, no injuries, everyone is up and about and they are keen to overawe everyone early to get the psychological advantage on everyone. In short we could get smashed, like they have done to the North and Brisbane and a lot of good MFC vibes shattered. Not sure why we agreed to this match really.

Nah bugger that. Bring em on.

[Earl Hood 5,895]

If Roos is indeed trying to get the group to take chances, then why not try your hand against the best of the best? These blokes are footballers, not choir boys. They'll learn more from taking on the Hawks than some of the half baked outfits I saw running around in some of the NAB Challenge games.

WJ I hope your right but let's face it they have been playing like choir boys for a while now! Lets hope Roos has transformed our boys. And let's hope we smash the Hawks, God we are overdue to give them one!

[Qld dee 8]

Might drive the range rover down from QLD for it

[DeeSpencer 23,732]

I am not sure it is a good idea to be playing the Hawks at this stage. We are trying to build confidence into the playing group, we have two good performances against the 7 and 3 finishers last season. Why play number one now? The Hawks are flying, no injuries, everyone is up and about and they are keen to overawe everyone early to get the psychological advantage on everyone. In short we could get smashed, like they have done to the North and Brisbane and a lot of good MFC vibes shattered. Not sure why we agreed to this match really.

I see the point. And they are flying. But they are also human. Their forwards and backs are mainly just getting by on their top talent. It's their young midfielders pushing for games and the unstoppable Sam Mitchell who are giving them their drive. The Brisbane side they played was a joke, even we would've beat them and maybe comfortably. They took care of North easily but they didn't completely humiliate them. If we get beaten the same was as North did I think we can respond. The hawks have a huge psychological hold on us anyway, the round 1 saints don't.

Also I'm not sure we really got to choose the match. Once we were gifted the game at Casey (which is great for Casey and good for MFC) we were probably stuck with the opponent.

What I'd like to know is how much we will bend to Hawthorn's negotiations. Apparently they want it as close to round 1 as possible. Where as we'd prefer and extended bench to give guys like Dawes and Viney a run. I hope we don't roll over to Hawthorn.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

If we lose by less then Brisbane and North did in the NAB Challenge games then I'll be happy.

[What 18,810]

I am not sure it is a good idea to be playing the Hawks at this stage. We are trying to build confidence into the playing group, we have two good performances against the 7 and 3 finishers last season. Why play number one now?

Umm cos we have been scheduled to? lol

Perfect preparation if you ask me.