33 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Sure, in hindsight.  But had neither Lever or Milkshake gone down, not sure how the great Ped would fit into rotations quite frankly. 

Easily, is how. Four main reasons and a couple of minors:

• splits packs in the air and holds onto marks 
• splits packs on the ground and leaves a space for crumbers to get the ball, usually ones that he brings to ground
• kicks goals well from up to the 50m line, from marks, and holds front position mostly in so doing
• kicks 1 or 2 goals in general play, or handballs off to this effect 

 

• Plays eyes-up to find opportunists through really good handballing but also to find space or protects space for teammate to run into
• Very difficult for flankers and younger players to tag, hold, block, tackle, bump and/or nullify when mobile or relatively static.

As for the 'hindsight' advice - an immense factor in team play learning where extremely good footballing is concerend week to week - we'd be in top position  now since the start of this successful run had this player been inside the attack line. Hindsight oversights or at the extreme, ignoring hindsight lessons is tantamount and equivalent (at least) to saying that the MFC is not prepared to learn at all. Goodness!

Fitting into rotations for him, not unusually, is for him to run from the boundary line where the bench happens to be all the way into the forward line and straight into the play. He doesn't do a lap of honour, first. 

 

Edited June 2, 20186 yr by Deemania since 56

15 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Unfortunately, I don't think we can win it without Lever.

Agreed. We got him to win flags. I reckon it’s as big a blow to our structure and game plan as when TMac was out. 

In many years of watching the game I have seen elite defenders control back lines, Scarlett, Silvagni, Hodge, Rance have all done it many times but I have never seen a small defender control a back line like Nev did today. Big Roughead ran at him today a few metres from goal, Nev holds him up in a tackle even with a two feet high and 40kg deficit Roughy was going nowhere. Ball keeps coming in and Nev keeps sending it out, Lever off, Hibbo having the biggest mare of a game in his brilliant career but Nev keeps sending the pill straight back out winning every one on one along the way.

This goes on all day then the ball is coming in to one on one Nev v Boyd, Boyd has height and weight all over him but Nev simply moves across unbalances Boyd and the ball comes to ground. These best small defender I had seen was Wanganeen but I dont think he could have achieved what Nev did today. Great performance and another guy who has been there through some hard times and deserves success.

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Buzzy said:

I just couldn't get in to that game but a wins a win. A few things I learned today:

1.  Watching live, we blew so many simple chances to score and a top 8 team would definitely make us pay.  

Maybe a top 4 team.

There are not many good teams.  Some teams in the top 8 are rubbish.

Scrappy game but a good solid win against a team we needed to beat.  Overall, disposal wasn't as crisp and clean today as it has been recently.  Lacking concentration, not lowering eyes, trying to be a bit too cute or even being a bit lazy on occasions, but some of that may be down to fatigue  after the short break and the warm conditions in Alice.  I'll happily take the four points and move to QB after a 9 day break to freshen up.

Edited June 2, 20186 yr by Deeoldfart
added 'lazy'

He is that good 1/1 that you never worry about him getting beaten by his opponent.

He was bog for me today. Huge fan of his game, reminds me of some of the gutsy small backs who were hard to beat from the neitz days like brown dog and wheels. Those two were just so good, I think Nev might even be the better than those two.

 

 

 

Spargo has played 6 games of AFL footy for 6 wins and an average winning margin of 64 points.

Geez I reckon young Spargo is a real find, he has no problem chasing leather [no BBO, ?] both ways, and got no fear, matter of fact I'm having trouble remembering such a fearless Demon outfit, with depth as well.............guess I'm in a dream, pinch me pls.

1 minute ago, Deeoldfart said:

Scrappy game but a good solid win against a team we needed to beat.  Overall, disposal wasn't as crisp and clean today as it has been recently.  Lacking concentration, not lowering eyes, trying to be a bit too cute on occasions, but some of that may be down to fatigue  after the short break and the warm conditions in Alice.  I'll happily take the four points and move to QB after a 9 day break to freshen up.

Yep   gave our all in the heat 6 days ago. Must have depleted us.

Still buzzing from that send off we have Jonsie. Good to see a few more of us 'travel' for it.

1 hour ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

How can a player of Fritsch’s build take 14 marks in senior AFL football?

Freak.

He is becoming elite.

His kicking his as good as anyone's.

1 hour ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

How can a player of Fritsch’s build take 14 marks in senior AFL football?

Freak.

I love watching him kick him the ball.

Poetry in motion.

Didn't influence the result and evened itself out a bit but [censored] me Ray needs to stop thinking people pay money to see him pull shitty frees out of his backside from 100m away.

22 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Were you watching the game? I thought Bernie was very good !!

Was at the game sitting in the wing, I was specifically referring to his tendency to go down the middle from the back 50, 1 today resulted in a direct goal, did the same thing against blues 2 weeks earlier. That wasn’t the only thing just the one that stood out most

Edited June 2, 20186 yr by Garbo

I started watching from midway through the third quarter and pretty quickly I could see we’re on top and going to win. 

That said the game was played at a frenetic pace and it was down to who used the ball better when they had ball in hand. 

I haven’t seen Lever’s injury but god I hope it’s not a serious ACL. Doesn’t sound good though, whatever the injury I wish him the best with his recovery. 

Congrats to Jonesy on his 250th, he’s a stalwart and a champion. He deserves every bit of success we’re having. 

43 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

My observations.

Very good win. I never thought we were not going to win, even after the start, we were fumbling and missing targets but still moved the ball pretty well until we hit into f50, then we were pretty poor. But again, it was more a concentration thing.

Once we fixed it up, we were always in control.

Oliver didn’t touch it for 16 minutes and still starred.

Brayshaw had it 39 times, 32 uncontested. His kicking was poor half the time today but he is still a baby in terms of games and match fitness. The last few interviews he has done I have see/heard a healthy dose of arrogance in his own ability.

Jetta was best on ground by the length of the Flemington straight. No ifs nor buts.

Hogan was immense, Gawn while early I thought got beaten a few times smashed Biyd around the ground, his marking was first class.

Clearances were a problem all day but one that didn’t hurt us. Would like to know the hits to advantage by both sides.

The Lever loss is going to hurt especially if it’s long term.

 

Really? Everytime I've listened to him I've never got the impression that he was arrogant in his abilities? 

Gutted for Lever but Harmes did a good job replacing him.

Joel Smith is the perfect in for Lever.

Vince looks done, unless he played a tagging role. Lewis can be frustrating at times with those dinky kicks that fall short.

Jetta was outstanding and should be all Australian back pocket.

Fritsch is an absolute beauty .

[censored] day

Just arrived in Athens after the usual 25 hour flight from Melbourne... very warm already at 10am (around 32).

Went straight to a full read of the 19 page game day thread. Until around page 17, I thought we were either losing or a few points up. Every second page someone was injured and out for the match.

Seems that other than accuracy which has been excellent in the last few weeks due to close in goal kicking and one particular umpire we had a decent day.

Great regulation win and hopefully another on Monday week.

Jetta Jetta Jetta

Heart and soul of the club!

39 minutes ago, Buzzy said:

I just couldn't get in to that game but a wins a win. A few things I learned today:

1.  Watching live, we blew so many simple chances to score and a top 8 team would definitely make us pay.  Travel is a cop-out, it was only decision making and confidence that prevented another 100 pointer.

2.  Firing rocket handballs at a team mate from a metre away seems to be in vogue.  And so many straight to feet.  Handballing was sloppy today even without Dom in the team.

3.  Oscar is playing his role but is so so slow to react after the spoil, and lacks intensity.  It looks like we are a player short in the contest.  We will get found out with Lever gone.  I think Joel Smith might be the best replacement at this stage as he attacks the ball in the air hard.

4.  The Bulldogs are a rubbish team.  They sharked a huge amount of Gawns taps and then just threw it away.  They have no spirit at all.

Really you are not a dees supporter, and if you you where please go support someone else, really we won by 49 points they scored 51 points, Oscar was not beaten today yes we played a top 4 side last week and won by 91, I am sick of the something bias comments, Oscar was sh@t, if we play player a better side we will lose, just predictable lasy comments, if you can't be happy with a 49 point win, and 6 in a row, which is a hard thing to do against any sides, then really f off.

Good win after starting slow. Nev, Hogan, Brayshaw, Tmac all very good. Gutted about Lever and who wouldn’t be. There’s a lot of capital tied up in the guy and he was starting to play very well. 

Got the W after a 6 day break from the Alice, bring on QB. 

18 minutes ago, Males said:

Really? Everytime I've listened to him I've never got the impression that he was arrogant in his abilities? 

I get the impression he is a very down to Earth fella who is extremely grateful and happy just to be playing after everything he has been through.  Future leader of our club is young Gus.

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Maxy and T Mac 10 contested marks

dogs in total - 4

bayley a lock rising star nom 

he is too old DD

Jetta is a champ. Thaught Hogan, tmac and Oliver were great as well.  Lewis played well as well.