Pedo said [its the most confident I feel] in myself and body wise, but there is a lot more competition this year, with [Max] Gawn coming down forward and theyre talking about playing two rucks and Fitzy is playing and training really well, he told

melbournefc.com.au.

Pedersen fit and confident

Now that is saying Gawn is going to be a forward. I think Gawn and Jamar switching ruck/forward with Hogan, Dawes and Garlett + Petracca is starting to look like a forward line that can help us win some games.

My son, the Richmond supporter (throwback) is sick of hearing me say, next season we are really going to improve. One year I will be right.

What do others think?

I tend to agree with you MD, especially when we have either Kent, Watts, JKH or Howe to insert as the sixth forward in addition to the five core players that you named (with Roos making the call during the week)!

  On 19/01/2015 at 04:28, ManDee said:

Pedo said [its the most confident I feel] in myself and body wise, but there is a lot more competition this year, with [Max] Gawn coming down forward and theyre talking about playing two rucks and Fitzy is playing and training really well, he told melbournefc.com.au.

Pedersen fit and confident

Now that is saying Gawn is going to be a forward. I think Gawn and Jamar switching ruck/forward with Hogan, Dawes and Garlett + Petracca is starting to look like a forward line that can help us win some games.

My son, the Richmond supporter (throwback) is sick of hearing me say, next season we are really going to improve. One year I will be right.

What do others think?

Yes with one proviso

As long as you live long enough

So how does the backline look then?

  On 19/01/2015 at 09:15, Al said:

So how does the backline look then?

It looks OK IMO!

T. McDonald, Dunn, Jetta & HL would have to be locks and I suspect tw of Howe, Grimes, Frost & Garland will round it off. Pederson is also likely for depth along with Terlich, both of whom seem to be training well and O. McDonald is part of our future down there as well.

I have high hopes for our forwards, backs and mids this year and am quietly confident that they will see us in the top eight come mid-season!

p.s. Don't be surprised to see Toumpas tried on the HBF at some stage during the season.

Regarding the backs. I'd like to see Salem take a flank and be the guy to pin point passes. Played some Carnival footy there from memory. Can tackle and isn't soft so maybe a better option than Grimes/Terlich?

  On 19/01/2015 at 09:58, CBDees said:

It looks OK IMO!

T. McDonald, Jetta & HL would have to be locks and I suspect Grimes, Frost & Garland will round it off. [Pedersen] is also likely for depth along with Terlich, both of whom seem to be training well and O. McDonald is part of our future down there as well.

I have high hopes for our forwards, backs and mids this year and am quietly confident that they will see us in the top eight come mid-season!

p.s. Don't be surprised to see Toumpas tried on the HBF at some stage during the season.

Sorry i should have elaborated CBDEES, Pedo eludes to in his interview about the team leaning towards playing two ruckmen with one resting forward. So where does that leave himself and Howe? You've left Dunn out of your backline. Would love to see Toump or Salem of a back flank, if this was to happen I think it would force Grimes out of the side.

I think its time to revisit the "starting 22 round 1" thread.

  On 19/01/2015 at 04:28, ManDee said:

Pedo said [its the most confident I feel] in myself and body wise, but there is a lot more competition this year, with [Max] Gawn coming down forward and theyre talking about playing two rucks and Fitzy is playing and training really well, he told

melbournefc.com.au.

Pedersen fit and confident

Now that is saying Gawn is going to be a forward. I think Gawn and Jamar switching ruck/forward with Hogan, Dawes and Garlett + Petracca is starting to look like a forward line that can help us win some games.

My son, the Richmond supporter (throwback) is sick of hearing me say, next season we are really going to improve. One year I will be right.

What do others think?

I think Melbourne will finish above Richmond on the ladder. It's more about Richmond struggling (because of lack of depth) than us massively improving.

Our entire team has improved a lot - on paper. I'm feeling more confident this year than others that we'll finally start winning games by good margins.

The forward line looks good as long as Hogan stays fit, Dawes lifts and Pedo backs up his talk with some walk and gets on the end of a few more goals this year.

With the other talls resting forward and our smaller brigade with another year and solid pre season behind them it should result in better scoring ability.

I'm wary of placing too much expectation on Petracca. Sure, he's a well built and skilful youngster who can kick long goals but he's not played a game yet. I reckon we'll get more goals from Tyson and Salem this year.

I just want the season to hurry the f... up and start.

We are only about halfway through the pre-season.

Can you believe it.?

If they've made so much improvement already.

What's another 2 months going to do?

The probability of either Gawn and Jamar making a noticeable contribution to the forward line is so minute such a number is yet to be invented.

I think our best hope is to tether Hogan and Dawes to a goal post each, and have a group of crumbers at their feet. As long as they can make a contest in the air, we should be able to at least hold the ball in our forward line for longer this year. Just tell the midfield to kick the ball long as soon as they get it, rather than going backwards and sideways.

  On 21/01/2015 at 05:17, poita said:

The probability of either Gawn and Jamar making a noticeable contribution to the forward line is so minute such a number is yet to be invented.

I think our best hope is to tether Hogan and Dawes to a goal post each, and have a group of crumbers at their feet. As long as they can make a contest in the air, we should be able to at least hold the ball in our forward line for longer this year. Just tell the midfield to kick the ball long as soon as they get it, rather than going backwards and sideways.

Maybe we can get them to wear lace up jumpers and unleash a few drop kicks . . . .

  On 21/01/2015 at 05:17, poita said:

The probability of either Gawn and Jamar making a noticeable contribution to the forward line is so minute such a number is yet to be invented.

I think our best hope is to tether Hogan and Dawes to a goal post each, and have a group of crumbers at their feet. As long as they can make a contest in the air, we should be able to at least hold the ball in our forward line for longer this year. Just tell the midfield to kick the ball long as soon as they get it, rather than going backwards and sideways.

Ahhh the old kick it long and keep all the forwards in the forward line theory. Nice idea, until you realise with opposition backlines zoning as well as mids and forwards pressuring our up field players the ball wont ever get inside 50.

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with need to move the ball quicker and try to get more forwards inside 50, but it's not as simple as bomb it long.

Agree that Gawn and Jamar need to show something forward. Gawn has been a dominant forward at VFL level. But at AFL can't seem to take strong marks nearly as often. I hope he's flying for marks more this year instead of crouching and trying to muscle blokes. Jamar had that stint at his best when not only was he a good ruck but very handy forward. Maybe his best preseason in years stokes him up.

Otherwise Pedersen will take one of their spots which is fine if he's in great form, but does put pressure on the number 1 ruck without a legit back up.

Will be interesting to see if Pedo can hold down a spot as a full time key forward this year. With Dawes out round one it's likely he'll get the chance to play at least that game. Pedersen, Hogan, Gawn most likely if they have good NAB cups with Jamar in the ruck.

Sub one of the rucks at 3/4 time and have Pedo do relief ruck work for the last quarter would be the preliminary plan.

It's good to know he's fitter. Hopefully he's picked up a yard of pace to go with it.

  On 21/01/2015 at 10:11, Georgiou R.R. Martin said:

Will be interesting to see if Pedo can hold down a spot as a full time key forward this year. With Dawes out round one it's likely he'll get the chance to play at least that game. Pedersen, Hogan, Gawn most likely if they have good NAB cups with Jamar in the ruck.

Sub one of the rucks at 3/4 time and have Pedo do relief ruck work for the last quarter would be the preliminary plan.

It's good to know he's fitter. Hopefully he's picked up a yard of pace to go with it.

I don't like the look of Jamar and Gawn in the same team, reckon it's too top heavy but with Dawes out it may be what we go with.

I think Fitz and Pedo will fight out the resting ruck spot and NAB form will be an important predictor for early games.

  On 19/01/2015 at 22:18, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I think Melbourne will finish above Richmond on the ladder. It's more about Richmond struggling (because of lack of depth) than us massively improving.

Sometimes I just think it is the Richmond jumper. You could put the leagues best 22 in those colours - and they'd still finish 9th.

  On 20/01/2015 at 09:28, Pig Dog said:

We are only about halfway through the pre-season.

Can you believe it.?

If they've made so much improvement already.

What's another 2 months going to do?

Hype us all up into a frenzy of anticipation climaxing about 5 minutes before the bounce for game one ...

Perhaps a little confused as to the title referring to pressure, are we talking about pressure for spots? or forward pressure as a tactic? Seems like the former... anyhoo..

There is an interview on the MFC site with Jack Watts stating that he is is expecting to play forward this year again. Mentioned that he could spend time both deep in attack and high on the half forward line.

It fits with the first definition of forward pressure... perhaps not the second so much :D But his disposal of the footy can't be faulted, and another year on, hopefully he has a bit more body strength and is good for some goals up there.

  On 21/01/2015 at 23:04, Red and Bluebeard said:

Hype us all up into a frenzy of anticipation climaxing about 5 minutes before the bounce for game one ...

It is the 30 minutes after the first bounce that I worry about R and B

  On 21/01/2015 at 23:16, old dee said:

It is the 30 minutes after the first bounce that I worry about R and B

Yeah, the mood is often very different by then ....

  Quote

Watts said he was most likely to spend his time up forward this year, after also playing down back and in the midfield in recent seasons.

“I think I’ll play up forward and try and kick some goals and be pretty damaging up there,” he said.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-01-21/watts-warming-up-for-season-ahead

There is another man in the forward line.

  On 21/01/2015 at 23:16, old dee said:

It is the 30 minutes after the first bounce that I worry about R and B

Old Dee, my mother always told me, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." You need to substitute "positive" for "nice" and teach yourself to be optimistic. Every time we utter negative comments a little part of us shrivels up and dies. At this rate you're talking yourself into an early grave. I'm not sure my contact is going to be able to help you out if you don't do your bit. If you want to live to see another premiership, you'd better get on board the optimism bus. Don't give me any of that reality bus BS - wouldn't you rather be on a bus heading for somewhere sunny and bright instead of driving around in circles thinking about how bad things might be? Get on board OD.

  On 22/01/2015 at 03:13, Crawf52 said:

Old Dee, my mother always told me, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." You need to substitute "positive" for "nice" and teach yourself to be optimistic. Every time we utter negative comments a little part of us shrivels up and dies. At this rate you're talking yourself into an early grave. I'm not sure my contact is going to be able to help you out if you don't do your bit. If you want to live to see another premiership, you'd better get on board the optimism bus. Don't give me any of that reality bus BS - wouldn't you rather be on a bus heading for somewhere sunny and bright instead of driving around in circles thinking about how bad things might be? Get on board OD.

Any news from on high Rev. I have been a bit worried since your last comment?

  On 22/01/2015 at 02:15, AzzKikA said:

There is another man in the forward line.

But Roos said he was a midfielder.

Maybe Roos concedes he is too soft for a midfield role.