Melbourne FC ‏@melbournefc 1h1 hour ago

A nice passage of play: Kennedy runs down the wing and finds Hogan. He quickly turns and pops the ball to Harmes. Harmes slots the set shot. 

Given the bro love between Hogan and Harmes both would have enjoyed that piece of play!

MFC twitter feed indicates that Watts did some really good things:  lead well, good link-up work which ended in a few goals etc.  Maybe Watts' forward role will be more like the forward/link-up for which we tried to get Crows' Tom Lynch. 

5 minutes ago, AzzKikA said:

Ditto, well more like in the middle of the topic.

Might be time to reboot DLand.

8 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

MFC twitter feed indicates that Watts did some really good things:  lead well, good link-up work which ended in a few goals etc.  Maybe Watts' forward role will be more like the forward/link-up for which we tried to get Crows' Tom Lynch. 

In which case 30 goals is unrealistic as a KPI. If he plays a high half forward who leads out and delivers to the deep forwards (as he seems to have played to according to Tappysquads) then 20 goal would be a reasonable KPI.

His key measures would then be goal assists, forward pressure and score involvements. 

Edited February 19, 20169 yr by binman

35 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Is anyone else worried that Jones has been missing in action both in the match simulation and now the practice match?

Anyone got any info?

From MFC twitter quoting Viney (who gave a post match presser)

Melbourne FC ‏@melbournefc  3m3 minutes ago

Viney says he expects to see Bernie Vince and Nathan Jones soon - it's just a matter of managing loads.

5 minutes ago, binman said:

In which case 30 goals is unrealistic as a KPI. If he plays a high half forward who leads out and delivers to the deep forwards (as he seems to have played to according to Tappysquads) then 20 goal would be a reasonable KPI.

His key measures would then be goal assists, forward pressure and score involvements. 

I would think so.  In a similar role Tom Lynch hovers forward of the defensive 50 so doesn't do too much 'forward pressure' work but had a terrific 2015 - from afc website:  'He kicked 32 goals for the season but also worked hard to bring his teammates into the game. Lynch led the League for goal assists (30) and was equal-fifth for total score involvements (159)'.

Given we went so hard to get Lynch it seems that forward/link-up player is seen as a key role and it looks like Watts is being groomed for that.  If so, it is a lot easier understand how so many tall forwards Hogan, Frost, Watts, Pedo/Dawes/Weideman and resting ruckman can fit in the forward line.  Also, the link-up role is essential if we are to be more offensive in our game plan and that seems a perfect role for Watts, his skill set and footy IQ.  Can't think of a better person for the job!

I went along.

Some really good patches where we linked up well, and also some broken plays due to a fumble or poor skill error. Overall there were some good signs.

Viney, Watts (swapped teams with Harmes at half time), Hogan, Salem were the best for me. Dunn was very vocal and screaming at players all day. Got pretty frustrated as the white team started to fade. 

Hogan could've kicked 6 or 7. Gave a couple away and was the best option a few more times. 

Not sure the Frost up forward experiment is working. 

 

1 hour ago, Demon Jack said:

 

 

1 hour ago, ManDee said:

Something weird going on,  these posts are staying at the bottom, new posts are being inserted before them?

 

1 hour ago, Demon Jack said:

You're not the only one. I'm noticing that too. 

I was having trouble last night,  with text misbehaving?  hard to copy & paste as well?

Why is the post sequence this thread all up the [censored]?

Is it just me?

37 minutes ago, ManDee said:

Might be time to reboot DLand.

The new posts finish just before the first below quote, then there is the rest.

 

Just now, Good Times Grimes said:

According to KC, they are Conner Ambler, Aaron Cottee, James Freeman, Jake Lovett, Jordan Moncrieff, James Munro, Angus Scott and Kody Wilson

Just now, Hellfish said:

I'm spewing, will be working just 10 minutes away and can't go

Just now, small but forward said:

I would have clicked like on this, but my wife might secretly be watching

Just now, CBDees said:

Gym or Practice Match? Match wins!

 

29 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Also, the link-up role is essential if we are to be more offensive in our game plan and that seems a perfect role for Watts, his skill set and footy IQ.  Can't think of a better person for the job!

Agree. It keeps him in the forward half where his excellent filed kicking can do most damage but also with this pace off the mark suits the long lead up style (that Lynch and tex walker for that matter does so well) in that he can get a break on his opponent. He also has good hands on the lead. 

I see your point on forward pressure but perhaps the focus there is trapping it in from kick outs by covering talls and spoiling pack marks. 

However even though he won't be hunting the ball into the back half (assuming he plays high HF) i'd still like him to get more possessions than he does. I reckon 17-20 possessions should be the KPI. Perhaps a bit ambitious given he will be depending on others feeding it to him but we really want the ball in his hands. 

58 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Melbourne FC ‏@melbournefc 1h1 hour ago

A nice passage of play: Kennedy runs down the wing and finds Hogan. He quickly turns and pops the ball to Harmes. Harmes slots the set shot. 

Given the bro love between Hogan and Harmes both would have enjoyed that piece of play!

MFC twitter feed indicates that Watts did some really good things:  lead well, good link-up work which ended in a few goals etc.  Maybe Watts' forward role will be more like the forward/link-up for which we tried to get Crows' Tom Lynch. 

yes,  which is more the role I hoped watts would play,  back when we recruited him.   2nd or 3rd tall.   mobile & not overly heavy.

his attack on the ball and contest has been disappointing.   I hope he turns the corner this season,  to earn his own footy.

Roos just interviewed now on SEN:

- no injuries today...one small niggle but I didn't catch who it was.

- Gawn terrific today.

- Salem in best 3 today (maybe BOG) along with VanD and Tyson.

- Kennedy and Bugg played well today and performance have spiked since Christmas.  They are both 'competitors'

- Oliver was fantastic around the ball.  Weidman was very smart in the forward line...(I think he meant he has good footy IQ).

- Casey players did well...Plapp doing a great job and they got our game plan really well.

- Need to temper Melb supporter fans' expectations of Hogan...it is only his second year and needs to be a team effort.

- Consistency of mids to improve for us to be more dangerous.

5 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Why is the post sequence this thread all up the [censored]?

Is it just me?

Me too.

Those who went along, the MFC Twitter mentioned Hunt did a few good things, linked up well, used his speed, etc. . Is he a smokey to get a game early in the season?

First time post, I didn't want to mis anything so just made some quick notes that may be slighlty out of order; Weideman good hands and nice field kicking to position - already bigger than I thought he was, gawn as others had mentioned is looking super fit, hogan standing five meters from a trainer who's kicking low hard balls at him and his hands are phenomenal doesn't drop one and they are coming in quick and they just stick, first goal long ball to the goal square jesse nearly takes the mark between two spoilers Kennedy stays down and gets the crumb and goal for the blue team, watts 55m out takes a mark in space acts like he's having a shot drills a beautiful low ball to someone in space who's set shot hits the post white team, garlett boundary line poster blue, hunt great kick to gawn 45 m miss to left just behind blue, tom mac spoil behind white, anb second nice delivery from in traffic to someone in space, Kennedy to hogan to harmes good set shot 40 meters out bit of an angle goal blue, anb good tackle in front of us, mongrel kick forward weideman good chest mark 45 out beautiful action another poster white team, oliver two nice strong tackles, gawn dominant early in the rick, watts chasing hard two good tackles, oscar bad turnover in space to the opposition, pedo dropped chest mark, clayton oliver nice turn on traffic long ball in to the forward fifty, Viv michie nice goal ran around one 45 out. Kent nice run and carry to quick for viney, best passage of the day so far, Vanders stron mark instant dish to running grimes who spots up hogan in space in the middle to garlett back to Vanders who kept running courageous diving spoil from Dunn just stopped what would of been a super passage of play. Kent 80m run down that just missed, Vanders again strong, grimes good tackle should been ball umpires pretty laxed, clarry again strong in the contest nearly breaking free when he should of had no chance to do so, even when tackled by two still kept his feet, Weidman nice pick up turn and handball from a bouncing ball, tyson to Vanders 45 out slight angle to the left one behind blue, anb had a bit of it and using it well, grimes had it a lot and also using it well and running hard, Kent good spoil watts another good tackle just misses Kent inside fwd 50 and out of bounds, anb snap in traffic around body spoiled through for a behind white, again good ball movement from blue salem, Vanders and a few others involved in a nice chain from back line that ended with an uncharacteristic dropped mark from tyson 40 m out directly in front. Nev jetta and Dunn good first half, grimes again good handball under pressure keeps running to space inside fifty should of been his shot at goal poor kick to him jusssst out of reach, salem beautiful pick up, run an lace out pace to watts on the lead good mark 45 out on front poster blue, second half what's fwd, goal white team non melbourne player, awesome contest mark salem quick inside ball that opens up the play kick to watts who nudges his opponent out pick up kicks to Vanders on the fifty quick kick to hogan on the boundary 35 out set shot goal. Another white goal from a turnover to a casey player, salem ball use amazing, tyson catches someone holding the ball centre handball to tom mac holding the ball, nev beautiful kick fwd to pedo hands to clayton 50 out just misses crowd thought it was a goal, another nice piece of play, intercept mark salem from jetta kick, salem to Vanders mid field to a hard running jesse to a hard running grimes on the goal line goal blue, clearance viney clean tap to brayshaw who recovers a poor viney handball, to vander behind from 55, Kennedy good spoil runs to goal chase down hunt misses everything, Kent out the back to hogan in the goal square good attempts to spoil by Dunn but mark and goal hogan blue, viney getting his hands on it a bit and using it well, watts the same, salem has been best on ground another good contested mark and beautiful kick, Kent pushing up to the wing, Tom mac good intercept mark handball to garlo 70 bomb to the goal line touched through, good mark inside 50 pedo slight angle pushed to the right behind white team, watts marks 60 out spots up frost on the lead 40 in front bad miss left behind blue, jesse good intercept mark handball to frost check side goal to blue 30 m out, spencer off since first quarter boots off, clayton good acceleration then turn over, anb good clearance, salem again involved twice and sets up a running viney to someone who goes long to jesse good contested mark in the goal square, kicks his 3rd goal blue, salem is on fire and the crowd are loving his work, blue ball movement been really good all day another chain and quick switch from full back to jesse free kick from Dunn push near the boundary 30 out goal for blue, jesses 4th, harmes been spending a bit of time in middle, great tommy mac link up after spoil three touches that leads to out bounds fwd fifty, watts again in space marks and just misses Kent, gawn a couple of nearly marks near goal today in big packs, viney goal from clearance inside 50, gawn nice tap to brayshaw to viney to grimes another nice pass to a diving lead mark. Clayton holds the ball up and releases cleverly, player kicks to the leading weid, good mark on the lead turn kick to dangerous spot stretch gathers and goals, watts again to salem another good kick, good tackle hunt, Wagner turnover, after training. Some running, grimes viney Vanders and tommy mac leading the way, grimes really really impressed me today. Salem was unbelievable and was getting everyone very excited, gawn won the ruck contests handsomely and the only thing that stopped him havig a really dominant day was a missed goal that was kickable and two or three nearly big pack marks where the odds were against him, Kent didn't have a lot of it but was very very good, fast and precise with his kicking, was chasing hard and tackling well too, Vanders was excellent he was really running hard to space and getting in good positions and linking up his running seems to have gone to another level, Neville jetta was excellent, garlo and Dunn too, tommy mac got in to it the new the game went and viney had a big second half. Tyson was in it a lot, anb also had his share of it today and was good, oscar mac didn't have a big influence and was involve in a bad turnover under little o no pressure, michie kicked a really nice goal from just inside 50 after running around a player, watts was excellent today and was definitely in the best few out there today. Kennedy did a few good things he intercepted a ball and went charging in to the open fifty and hunt swallowed up the ground enough to pressure him as make him miss everything from an angle, hunt really impressed me today too, I hadn't seen much of him and I can really see why others have been talking up his ability he's got a really nice kick and his speed is awesome; I can see him playing more games than not this year, 

5 minutes ago, deeznutz said:

First time post, I didn't want to mis anything so just made some quick notes that may be slighlty out of order; Weideman good hands and nice field kicking to position - already bigger than I thought he was, gawn as others had mentioned is looking super fit, hogan standing five meters from a trainer who's kicking low hard balls at him and h................best few out there today. Kennedy did a few good things he intercepted a ball and went charging in to the open fifty and hunt swallowed up the ground enough to pressure him as make him miss everything from an angle, hunt really impressed me today too, I hadn't seen much of him and I can really see why others have been talking up his ability he's got a really nice kick and his speed is awesome; I can see him playing more games than not this year, 

Thanks for the post. Can I suggest you locate the return/paragraph key on your keyboard,. That will make it a lot easier to read  

21 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I would think so.  In a similar role Tom Lynch hovers forward of the defensive 50 so doesn't do too much 'forward pressure' work but had a terrific 2015 - from afc website:  'He kicked 32 goals for the season but also worked hard to bring his teammates into the game. Lynch led the League for goal assists (30) and was equal-fifth for total score involvements (159)'.

Given we went so hard to get Lynch it seems that forward/link-up player is seen as a key role and it looks like Watts is being groomed for that.  If so, it is a lot easier understand how so many tall forwards Hogan, Frost, Watts, Pedo/Dawes/Weideman and resting ruckman can fit in the forward line.  Also, the link-up role is essential if we are to be more offensive in our game plan and that seems a perfect role for Watts, his skill set and footy IQ.  Can't think of a better person for the job!

puts things into perspective,  after watts was dropped last H&A game,  & we went after Tom Lynch,  but missed getting him over the line.    So we keep wattsy & impress on him this role we need from him ?

 

 

1 hour ago, sue said:

What evidence is there that he is MIA in the practice match?  If you are going off MFC tweets, it is far more likely the PR team will focus on new players than telling us what we already know about Jones.  Anyone there have any comment?

 

Jones did not play nor did JKH. Dom Tyson was good. No team sheets so had no idea who some players were. Salem was good in the second half. The white team was definitely the second string, they even swapped a couplle innto the white team from the blue team with Watts one of the trades. He went alright btw.

 

I was lucky enough to have the day off and get down to Casey this morning.A few thoughts on what I saw:

• Hogan was slow in the first quarter,he was dominated by Dunn in the first half.In the second quarter Hogan started getting frustrated and his curses could easily be heard from the sidelines.In the second half Hogan got out of first gear and and played great kicking a couple of goals each quarter
• Viney;best on ground
• The new guys;a lot to look forward to in the future
• Watts played okay but still needs to back himself with his set shots
• vanders is looking like a souped up version of his 2015 self
• The best I've ever seen Jetta play
• Dunn had an intimidating presence commanding his defenders into position,telling them to man up and giving them feedback

Despite the positives there were still the usual skill errors and bad decisions.We are better than last year but there is still work to do.After today I still have a question mark about this years season but if we are competitive and consistent,then we should continue to climb the ladder.

12 hours ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

Well, As always I'd love to go along.  Looking forward to the reports from those who don't have to work. 

I'll look out the window for you.

It sounds like Salem is going to really step up this season. 

Went through the MFC Twitter page and made a list of today's goal kickers. No entirely sure who was on what team.

Hogan 4, Kennedy, Harmes, Michie, Viney, Stretch.

3 hours ago, Samael said:

Jones did not play nor did JKH. Dom Tyson was good. No team sheets so had no idea who some players were. Salem was good in the second half. The white team was definitely the second string, they even swapped a couplle innto the white team from the blue team with Watts one of the trades. He went alright btw.

 

Tyson was pretty average today.. Not sure with intra club game you watch..

 

I thought Wagner got a fair bit of it.. His kicking was generally good and Hunt looks like he is making a claim for a spot round 1.

 

Standouts..

Dunn, Viney, Salem, Watts, Jetta, Harmes, Hogan, Garland & Kent.

I was also impressed by Oliver. Very similar to Brayshaw.. Looks right to go rd1!

 

9 minutes ago, deeznutz said:

First time post, I didn't want to mis anything so just made some quick notes that may be slighlty out of order; 

First half

• Weideman good hands and nice field kicking to position - already bigger than I thought he was, gawn as others had mentioned is looking super fit,
• hogan standing five meters from a trainer who's kicking low hard balls at him and his hands are phenomenal doesn't drop one and they are coming in quick and they just stick,
• first goal long ball to the goal square jesse nearly takes the mark between two spoilers Kennedy stays down and gets the crumb and goal for the blue team,
• watts 55m out takes a mark in space acts like he's having a shot drills a beautiful low ball to someone in space who's set shot hits the post white team,
• garlett boundary line poster blue,
• hunt great kick to gawn 45 m miss to left just behind blue,
• tom mac spoil behind white,
• anb second nice delivery from in traffic to someone in space,
• Kennedy to hogan to harmes good set shot 40 meters out bit of an angle goal blue,
• anb good tackle in front of us, mongrel kick forward
• weideman good chest mark 45 out beautiful action another poster white team,
• oliver two nice strong tackles,
• gawn dominant early in the rick,
• watts chasing hard two good tackles,
• oscar bad turnover in space to the opposition,
• pedo dropped chest mark,
• clayton oliver nice turn on traffic long ball in to the forward fifty,
• Viv michie nice goal ran around one 45 out.
• Kent nice run and carry to quick for viney, best passage of the day so far,
• Vanders strong mark instant dish to running grimes who spots up hogan in space in the middle to garlett back to Vanders who kept running, courageous diving spoil from Dunn just stopped what would of been a super passage of play.
• Kent 80m run down that just missed,
• Vanders again strong,
• grimes good tackle should been ball umpires pretty laxed,
• clarry again strong in the contest nearly breaking free when he should of had no chance to do so, even when tackled by two still kept his feet,
• Weidman nice pick up turn and handball from a bouncing ball,
• tyson to Vanders 45 out slight angle to the left one behind blue,
• anb had a bit of it and using it well, grimes had it a lot and also using it well and running hard,
• Kent good spoil
• watts another good tackle just misses Kent inside fwd 50 and out of bounds,
• anb snap in traffic around body spoiled through for a behind for white
• again good ball movement from blue salem,
• Vanders and a few others involved in a nice chain from back line that ended with an uncharacteristic dropped mark from tyson 40 m out directly in front.
• Nev jetta and Dunn good first half,
• grimes again good handball under pressure keeps running to space inside fifty should of been his shot at goal poor kick to him jusssst out of reach,
• salem beautiful pick up, run an lace out pace to watts on the lead good mark 45 out on front poster blue,

Second half

• watts fwd, goal white team non melbourne player,
• awesome contest mark
• salem quick inside ball that opens up the play kick to watts who nudges his opponent out pick up kicks to Vanders on the fifty quick kick to hogan on the boundary 35 out set shot goal.
• Another white goal from a turnover to a casey player,
• salem ball use amazing, tyson catches someone holding the ball centre
• handball to tom mac holding the ball,
• nev beautiful kick fwd to pedo hands to clayton 50 out just misses crowd thought it was a goal, another nice piece of play,
• intercept mark salem from jetta kick, salem to Vanders mid field to a hard running jesse to a hard running grimes on the goal line goal blue,
• clearance viney clean tap to brayshaw who recovers a poor viney handball, to vander behind from 55,
• Kennedy good spoil runs to goal chase down hunt misses everything,
• Kent out the back to hogan in the goal square good attempts to spoil by Dunn but mark and goal hogan blue,
• viney getting his hands on it a bit and using it well, watts the same,
• salem has been best on ground another good contested mark and beautiful kick,
• Kent pushing up to the wing,
• Tom mac good intercept mark handball to garlo 70 bomb to the goal line touched through,
• good mark inside 50 pedo slight angle pushed to the right behind white team,
• watts marks 60 out spots up frost on the lead 40 in front bad miss left behind blue,
• jesse good intercept mark handball to frost check side goal to blue 30 m out,
• spencer off since first quarter boots off,
• clayton good acceleration then turn over,
• anb good clearance,
• salem again involved twice and sets up a running viney to someone who goes long to jesse good contested mark in the goal square, kicks his 3rd goal blue,
• salem is on fire and the crowd are loving his work,
• blue ball movement been really good all day another chain and quick switch from full back to jesse free kick from Dunn push near the boundary 30 out goal for blue, jesses 4th,
• harmes been spending a bit of time in middle,
• great tommy mac link up after spoil three touches that leads to out bounds fwd fifty,
• watts again in space marks and just misses
• Kent, gawn a couple of nearly marks near goal today in big packs,
• viney goal from clearance inside 50,
• gawn nice tap to brayshaw to viney to grimes another nice pass to a diving lead mark.
• Clayton holds the ball up and releases cleverly, player kicks to the leading weid, good mark on the lead turn kick to dangerous spot stretch gathers and goals,
• watts again to salem another good kick,
• good tackle hunt,
• Wagner turnover,

After match comments.

Some running, grimes viney Vanders and tommy mac leading the way, grimes really really impressed me today.

Salem was unbelievable and was getting everyone very excited,

gawn won the ruck contests handsomely and the only thing that stopped him havig a really dominant day was a missed goal that was kickable and two or three nearly big pack marks where the odds were against him,

Kent didn't have a lot of it but was very very good, fast and precise with his kicking, was chasing hard and tackling well too,

Vanders was excellent he was really running hard to space and getting in good positions and linking up his running seems to have gone to another level,

Neville jetta was excellent, garlo and Dunn too, tommy mac got in to it the new the game went and viney had a big second half.

Tyson was in it a lot, anb also had his share of it today and was good, oscar mac didn't have a big influence and was involve in a bad turnover under little o no pressure,

michie kicked a really nice goal from just inside 50 after running around a player,

watts was excellent today and was definitely in the best few out there today.

Kennedy did a few good things he intercepted a ball and went charging in to the open fifty and hunt swallowed up the ground enough to pressure him as make him miss everything from an angle, hunt really impressed me today too, I hadn't seen much of him and I can really see why others have been talking up his ability he's got a really nice kick and his speed is awesome; I can see him playing more games than not this year, 

Many thanks Deeznutz for a comprehensive first post. I have taken the liberty of editing my quote of your post it so it is a bit easier to read

Is anyone else having issues reading this thread?