R1

B: VINCE, O.MCDONALD, LEWIS

HB: HIBBERD, LEVER, HUNT

C: PETRACCA, OLIVER, HARMES

HF: MELKSHAM, T.MCDONALD, NEAL-BULLEN

F: GARLETT, HOGAN, HANNAN

FOLL: GAWN, TYSON, VINEY

IC: JONES, JETTA, BRAYSHAW, SALEM

EMERG: FRITSCH, STRETCH, BUGG, MAYNARD

Fritsch unlucky but Hannan's experience gets him over the line.

Pleasing hit out - no injuries of any significance.

Confirmation that Maynard, Wagner (and possibly Stretch) are not starting 22.

Bernie with a 1 year contract probably realises now that it is a final contract.

Skill & intensity of Hannan and (potentially) Fritsch eases the pain of Watts' absence.

Versatility of Pedersen highlighted - more critical than many think.

Hannan a stand out for me did some great things in the last quarter when the game was in the balance.

I missed the third quarter. Did St Kilda just get on top and play some good footy or did we move some players around and try something different? Or did we just revert to Melbourne. 

3 minutes ago, mdemon said:

Pleasing hit out - no injuries of any significance.

Confirmation that Maynard, Wagner (and possibly Stretch) are not starting 22.

Bernie with a 1 year contract probably realises now that it is a final contract.

Skill & intensity of Hannan and (potentially) Fritsch eases the pain of Watts' absence.

Versatility of Pedersen highlighted - more critical than many think.

Pedersen - good again when given a chance but still can't see him playing alongside Hogan and Tommy Mc. Unless the niggle that kept Tom out is more than that I'd expect Pedersen to miss round 1. He's more natural forward than Tom, a better tackler, better in the ruck but Tom's endurance is hard to ignore.

Wagner didn't make a mistake in the first half when the team was rolling. Couldn't do anything right in the second half. Really looks to suffer from perceived pressure. Maybe trying too hard to get a spot in the team?

Maynard - gets caught out when he's out in space or unfamiliar positions but he certainly qualifies as a tough player in tight. Round 1 is probably far too soon but at some stage I think he gets a go as a midfield tagger. His athleticism and tackling around a stoppage should be put to use. If he was picked to play round 1 in Viney's role I'd be very surprised but not exactly shocked.

Just now, Ethan Tremblay said:

I missed the third quarter. Did St Kilda just get on top and play some good footy or did we move some players around and try something different? Or did we just revert to Melbourne. 

You’d think after we witnessed it a heap last year we’d be wiser as to why it happens. The Saints players seemed to be everywhere and on their own the whole quarter. Our disposal efficiency was very low as the Saints lifted the tempo and we started bombing kicks.

 I remember talking to Jetta during a family night last year around June and he stated that when the opposition brings it ( pressure) they weren’t too sure how to handle it. I hope they find a way soon.

Umpires up to usual standard "house".

Saints, take your time Paddy, get on the boundary Stretch, couldn't possibly reach your neck Max, and we don't give free kicks to you Bernie.........

How these players from MFC manage to keep their perplexed faces straight this year takes a lot of composure. But don't give the suckers a hint, boys.......

Other than getting confused with the distance from the fence to the boundary line i would rate this  "Magg## Game Votes" at a 4 out of 10

 

 

11 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I missed the third quarter. Did St Kilda just get on top and play some good footy or did we move some players around and try something different? Or did we just revert to Melbourne. 

Insert first quarter Round 23 here.

15 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I missed the third quarter. Did St Kilda just get on top and play some good footy or did we move some players around and try something different? Or did we just revert to Melbourne. 

All of the above 

17 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Insert first quarter Round 23 here.

Yuk.

That.Game.Never.Happened. 

Edited March 8, 20187 yr by Ethan Tremblay

Good to see our big guys in nice touch with Hogan, Lever and Gawn. Absolutely loved the intensity of Brayshaw, Melksham and Vince tonight, as they'll be looking to cement their spot in the 22. Jones was a slight concern to me, as he looked to be going around 70% pace in covering ground and getting back defensively. He didn't look that good against North either. 

Overall good first half, but took the foot off the gas in the second half. Comfortable win!

Not mentioned much thus far is Hogan’s game. I thought he was terrific - 21 touches, 7 marks and 2 goals. Effective involvement in inside 50s, some great ball use, massive tank and just good footy smarts. 

He looks confident and happy - will be a  huge factor for us this season rotating through the midfield. I really like him as a roaming CHF, whilst TMac / resting Gawn tall timber up front. 

Edited March 8, 20187 yr by Deemented Are Go!
Missed a bit

40 minutes ago, DemonAndrew said:

round 1??
B: Jetta - O Mac - Hibberd
HB: Vince - Lever - Lewis
C: Jones - Salem - Hunt
HF: Petracca - Hogan - Melksham
F: Fritsch - T Mac - Garlett
Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney
I/c: Harmes - Tyson - Hannan - ANB
Emerg: Brayshaw - Stretch - Frost - Pedersen

there's a lot of tough decisions to be made if everyone is fit

Looking at your team here, and thoughts, Emerg Brayshaw. And we need more speed and outside run.

I just wonder with young brother now in Perth, If Brayshaw struggles to be regularly 22, if he will start looking West?

And Gaff comes into Restricted free agency I think?  Others of interest in 2018, Wines?

And we need a speed machine.

4 minutes ago, DV8 said:

Looking at your team here, and thoughts, Emerg Brayshaw. And we need more speed and outside run.

I just wonder with young brother now in Perth, If Brayshaw struggles to be regularly 22, if he will start looking West?

And Gaff comes into Restricted free agency I think?  Others of interest in 2018, Wines?

And we need a speed machine.

Brayshaw just needs a bit more time. I thought some of his class started to show tonight. 19 touches at 84% DE and two goals is a good start. 

Edited March 8, 20187 yr by Ethan Tremblay

To be honest, despite the 1st quarter, I’m not as confident as I’d like to be about Rd.1. Plenty of work to do over the next few weeks. (I just hope that the no risks policy was the dees being allowed to take the foot off the accelerator to save some juice).

48 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

You could tell from the moment the 3rd quarter started we were flat after half time and stuffing around with the ball. Bernie - who was otherwise excellent all night - started doing all sorts of dinky kicks. The midfield couldn't win a clearance. The backline started bombing it in and the forwards weren't defending at all well.

I don't really care that we came out flat thinking or knowing we were ready for round 1 and in some ways it made the 4th quarter a better test to play the game out. What kills me is that we can't bottle it up once we've started poorly.

You have a bad 5 minutes and give away a couple of goals to start a quarter - every team does - but then you have to find a way to get control of the footy. Take the pace out of the game and switch the ball around a bit and get numbers to the contest. 

Every team has bad quarters. The difference between the good, the bad and the ugly is shutting those quarters down and getting back in the game.

I think our hero Lever had one touch, and 2 dropped marks fir the third quarter. Correct? Those who want to justify the payments to him plainly don't watch the game

Brayshaw's game, after a pretty ordinary showing against North, was the highlight for mine.

Oliver is just so slick, surely AA if he matches last year's output and stays injury free.

Hogan is no longer the Messiah, just a very capable roaming tall. I didn't notice him a great deal but his stats on paper are very impressive.

Lever is easily worth two midrange first round picks if his early form, coupled with his young age, is anything to go by.

Stretch was busy but not overly effective, Wagner wasn't terrible but makes amateurish mistakes,and Maynard is a depth player at best. Also think Pedersen is on his last legs.

9 minutes ago, Farmer said:

I think our hero Lever had one touch, and 2 dropped marks fir the third quarter. Correct? Those who want to justify the payments to him plainly don't watch the game

I agree, let’s get rid of him. An average quarter in a JLT is unacceptable. 

Edited March 8, 20187 yr by Ethan Tremblay

I'm hoping I'll be able to see the first quarter at some stage because we really seemed to do a number on them, second quarter was even but I felt like we weren't lowering the eyes enough going forward, third quarter we couldn't get out of 2nd gear and the Saints started to pick their game up. The positive is that when the final quarter came we switched on again and showed the maturity to see out the game.

I liked the look of:
Fritch
Lever
Petracca
Oliver
Hibberd
Brayshaw
Gawn
Hogan

I wouldn't say either of these necessarily dominated (though Oliver first two quarters sounded pretty big) but they all had good periods where I thought if they can put it together in the proper season they could be important. 

Bring on the cats!

Edited March 8, 20187 yr by Pates

7 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Brayshaw just needs a bit more time. I thought some of his class started to break through tonight. 

Agreed, but his long term future is questionable.  How many of one type can we have in one midfield list?

Robustness needs to be proven, Wines is.

Gaff has enormous run, but more speed would be good.

So just looking ahead at the possibilities for the end of season, to further strengthen out future.

Brayshaw is a beaut, but will he see a long career?

Edited March 8, 20187 yr by DV8

Oh and quick question: does Hogan have a back? Clearly he doesn't because the amount of times he gets shoved out of contests is ridiculous.

3 minutes ago, Farmer said:

I think our hero Lever had one touch, and 2 dropped marks fir the third quarter. Correct? Those who want to justify the payments to him plainly don't watch the game

lever was arguably our best defender on the night; so smooth, all class

he's going to be worth every cent

1 hour ago, Deespicable said:

Overall an impressive display, although a worrying third term when Savage and Billings tore us apart with their disposal skills and we were smashed at the clearances in that term. It was interesting to see who would step up for us when it mattered and it was general the younger brigade – Oliver, Trac and Brayshaw the stars and Bugg,  Lever and Tyson huge as well. The big difference is that for the first two terms our disposal and ball movement was so precise (almost Hawthorn of 2012-15ish) and you could see the errors unfolding for our opponents. Pleasingly, we got a reminder in the third term that you can’t ease up the intensity and even more pleasing, we stepped it up again in the last.

So many good players but here’s my take:

Oliver: Brilliant first half. Set the tempo in the middle in the first quarter and then drifted down forward and snagged a couple in the second. What are his Brownlow odds?

Petracca: Not far behind him. Big marks, big takeaway, big mistake by Saints three years ago. Lifted in the last when we needed him.

Lever: Unbelievably clean early when the heat was on and safe and sure in the final term. Does anyone now question why we paid the big bucks to get this guy?

Brayshaw: He was back tackling like he did in 2015 and he even cost a goal with one of his over-exuberant efforts. Then his final term took it to a new level - he was everywhere. After a so-so display against North, he made sure he’s in for Rd 1.

Fritsch: Skills, pace and the only question mark (his intensity) were answered early. But a quietish second half begs the question – how can he get a game ahead of ANB and Harmes if they are fit … and Bugg?

Hannan: After an ordinary sort of game against North, he stepped up big time and his pace and tackling was a feature. We know the coach loves him and on that showing, you can see why. Lock him in for Rd 1 Eddie.

Salem: I’m not totally sold on him in the guts, but he was clean and showed how dangerous he can be with a classy snag in second term. But along with Billy, he has to keep performing.

Hibberd&Melksham: The Bomber buddies must be looking forward to Rd 7 already. Melky continued to show that he is a dangerous hard-running small forward. Hibberd is a SC must. 

Maynard: OK someone has to miss out in Rd 1 and if Viney plays, it will most likely be him. But he’s courageous and a massive worker like his brother. He will play at some stage, but I suspect he’ll win the Casey B&F.

Tyson: Came back in and looked fit and smart and his first goal was Tysonesque with a nice change of direction.  Prolific in last term. Put him back in your best 22.

Stretch: Billy was everywhere in the first term and his releases were generally exceptional. He kept running and it would be tough to leave him out on that display. But if Harmes, Viney and ANB return, then it could get down to him or Salem for Rd 1.

Bugg: Showed his value in the third term. Beat his man, legged, no free and still gets up to lay a strong tackle that sees the ball spill to Jeffy to re-establish our lead. Really lifted when it counted and it will be a brave man that leaves him out Rd 1, but it could get down to Fritsch v Bugg for that last forward spot, if ANB is fit.

Garlett: A few classy intercepts and a couple of snapped goals. Not dominant but his pace adds to our forward pressure mix.

Pedersen: Brilliant early mark and long kick to set up Petracca’s first goal. Did nothing wrong and worked his butt off but hard to see playing Rd 1 if T.Mac returns.

Jetta: Not his best night, but maybe needed the run. Won’t get Motlop (he’s not there) but will get a key Cat in Rd 1.

Frost: Came on in second term and made a couple of poor kicking errors and beaten a couple of times by Bruce but lively and grew in stature in the last term.

Hunt: Not his greatest night disposal wise, but showed why he’s so dangerous and converted the sealer.

Wagner: Another handy game, but if Jordy is fit, then he looks likely to be the unlucky one to miss.

O-Mac: Was he rested after quarter time. Or injured?  He wasn’t that impressive early, but we did miss his kicking composure in the third term.

Vince: One cross field howler, but overall another strong display. Will he pick up Danger when he rests forward? That is the question.

Jones: He’ll be better for the run. Certainly not his night.

Gawn and Hoges: Our two money men missed quite a few targets early but both got better as the game wore on and did not stop running and presenting – which ultimately is what their paid to do.

How was Lever in the third term? Bloody awful. And dropped an uncontested mark early in the last quarter which lead to a goal. Open your eyes guys!!! Might be ok in the long run but is struggling IMO

29 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Yuk.

That.Game.Never.Happened. 

I thought I had erased it from memory. Someone restored it from backup. 

7 minutes ago, Farmer said:

How was Lever in the third term? Bloody awful. And dropped an uncontested mark early in the last quarter which lead to a goal. Open your eyes guys!!! Might be ok in the long run but is struggling IMO

When judging a player I think the best think you can do is judge them based on one average quarter.