9 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Ruckman have always worked with little guys. 

They still remain tall when the shorter guys who can take a high mark lose their spring late in the game. 

That has always been the case. 

Yes they are more mobile now and cover more of the ground, that was what Jim started. Stynesy was superfit before it became a standard level for big men

That is a simplistic view of the game 30 years ago vs now. Yes, Stynes ran a lot. But if you watch a game from that time, it's very different.

I certainly wouldnt be comparing Stynes/Strawbs with Gawn/Preuss.

2 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

That is a simplistic view of the game 30 years ago vs now. Yes, Stynes ran a lot. But if you watch a game from that time, it's very different.

I certainly wouldnt be comparing Stynes/Strawbs with Gawn/Preuss.

I am not doing that, yet. But if Max and Preuss can work together and give each other breaks from being crashed into, then  they could become a great combination for the MFC

12 hours ago, don't make me angry said:

Never hurt west coast they have always played 2 ruckmen plus 2 talls up forward

Mmmmm.  But how long since they won a flag?

6 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Goldstein, Xerri, Brown and Daw. With caps on list numbers a team can't hold on to too many "talls". Whether Preuss was the right one to let go, though, is a good question.

As it turns out, tragically and totally unpredictably, Norf may well regret letting Preuss go now that Daw’s career is, not to overstate it, at the crossroads. 

4 hours ago, Redleg said:

Don’t worry about the Roos letting him go, that is a sign of the times. The Bombers let Jake and Hibberd go and The Suns let May go for example, not that Preuss is in their league.  

We have also let go quite a few over the years.  As others have stated, Jolly, Martin but also Dunn, Howe, Armstrong all of  whom(bar Martin) have played in grand finals.   

And then there were Gysberts, Morton, etc

Edited February 23, 20196 yr by monoccular

Cox is a big Yankee doodle dandy and without his protective American gear on isn't much chop. Knocking him and tackling shoulder first to the ground would have his tail between his legs in no time.

Edited February 23, 20196 yr by Dame Gaga

47 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Alf "Fiery" Fricker! Could hoist a bag of wheat onto his shoulder with one arm.

And "Harmful" Harold. Victorian Railways Commission Tug of War champion 5 years running. He used to be our local night soil man. All the kids were in awe of him.

Those were the days. Seems like yesterday. (give or take 150 years)

Need I remind thee, both Germans.

4 hours ago, ProDee said:

I don't agree with your recollections of history. 

Pwobabwy not many agree wid your version of history either. Nuff said.

Marty Hore is a good price with some agencies at $81 for the Rising Star.

Problem is, he’s ineligible for the award, unless the AFL are maintaining their standards of tweaking rules to now allow mature age recruits to become eligible. 

40 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Mmmmm.  But how long since they won a flag?

As it turns out, tragically and totally unpredictably, Norf may well regret letting Preuss go now that Daw’s career is, not to overstate it, at the crossroads. 

We have also let go quite a few over the years.  As others have stated, Jolly, Martin but also Dunn, Howe, Armstrong all of  whom(bar Martin) have played in grand finals.   

And then there were Gysberts, Morton, etc

Most probably we didn't 'let them go', most went - bar Dunn and Armstrong - of their own volition, Frawley, for example. Morton and Gysberts and Blease were, in my opinion welcome departures...

4 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I take almost nothing away from scratch matches except perhaps the fitness level of individuals. Any AFL listed player can look like a star when the opposition lowers their pressure.

It does matter because they play for pride and are competitive beasts and our supporter want to see us win scratch matches and whatever football the MFC is involved in. If you get that winning into you then they will always expect it. 

49 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

That is a simplistic view of the game 30 years ago vs now. Yes, Stynes ran a lot. But if you watch a game from that time, it's very different.

I certainly wouldnt be comparing Stynes/Strawbs with Gawn/Preuss.

Not today anyway. Tomorrow the world?????

 

2 hours ago, dieter said:

When it's all distilled, I don't quite get what all the discussion about the lad Preuss is about. It's bleeding obvious Goodwin and co understood that Gawn cannot be expected to run the whole race on his own - like he was last year - without an inevitable collapse in output.Hence Preuss. It will turn out to be one of the wisest and smartest recruitment coups in our history. Agreed, Spencer was a handy backup, but - without any condescension to Spencer - Preuss is simply a more agile and better coordinated athlete. Even better, he's a German...I put it to you, the sooner our list gets filled by the Obsts, the Neitz's, the Schwartz's, the Muellers, the Manns, the Nietzsche's, Ditterich's - I could go on - of this world, the sooner we'll vin anozer flag.

Warne-Smith had German ancestry as well.

1 hour ago, dieter said:

Pwobabwy not many agree wid your version of history either. Nuff said.

Get well, Dieter.

I'm hoping for the best. 

Why do so many here keep making reference to North letting Preuss go as some indication of a potential flaw? When was the last time a non-marquee player who desired to leave a club held to their contract? We actively targeted and recruited Preuss. We also gave them a 25 year-old former pick three who up until last year (when squeezed out of position) had been averaging 25 touches and 10 contested.  

17 hours ago, rjay said:

Must be hiding it well...

Sorry that you must not have a Fox or listen to Gary on SEN. I will assume you have a reasonable knowledge of our game and Melb's games last year.

My opinion on Oscar on Hawkins an also a spare man in defence on the last quarter at the G by Our coaching staff cost us both games vs Cats.

Little things but 2,wins an we are 2nd Home Final vs Eagles !!

Gary is sharp and doesn't miss things. Suggest you listen to him and you should understand.

Boyh the examples above are my take and I stand by them.

Hipe we can both celebrate the Dees in 2019 snd get that flag.

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Skuit said:

Why do so many here keep making reference to North letting Preuss go as some indication of a potential flaw? When was the last time a non-marquee player who desired to leave a club held to their contract? We actively targeted and recruited Preuss. We also gave them a 25 year-old former pick three who up until last year (when squeezed out of position) had been averaging 25 touches and 10 contested.  

And much like Kent who left us for the security of a 3 year contract at the Saints, Big Bad Braydon does not need to worry about inking a new contract till the end of the 2021 season

The risk of having both ruckman is the affect on the bench and having midfield rotations. We have a strong solid midfield group now but are they fit enough to make up a player that they would have had previously in the rotations?

I like the idea of Pruess and Gawn together, but don’t think they will play 100% TOG.

Does the benefit of a tall fwd line out way the lost rotation?

Attended Friday and probably more of the same points from me. After the first 8-10 minutes we were as hard, polished and dominant as you can be in February. Pies supporter claimed this was due to the quality missing from their side particular the middle until I reeled off Oliver, Viney, Jones and then started to work my way through the rest of the ground. The rule changes had limited affect however I think they will have a a lot more prominence on a bigger ground. I also feel there was a touch of the coaches keeping their wing positioning and kick out tactics up their sleeve for the real stuff.

Preuss will play round 1 at minimum and I suspect a lot of the season. The mobility, stamina and defensive pressure that T-Mac and Weid provide will allow this. I found both Smiths underwhelming other than a highlight or two. A three tall set up of Preuss, T-Mac and Weid is my preferred with Melksham as the fourth. The biggest quandary for me is who to put at their feet. Garlett pressured and offers a natural crumb but still wont take contact and both Spargo and ANB were underwhelming. I am keen to see more of Wagner as he had some nice cameos second half and there are small forward spots for the taking.

It was great to see Hunt with confidence, AVB with added stamina and Hore look assured. The three will put even more pressure on the roles to be played of both Lewis and Jones and potentially Hibberd at points who I thought had a shocker. Lewis kicked beautifully but cant keep his feet and had 2-3 of his signature handballs over the shoulder to no one. No disrespect to Jones but he needs to learn a wing or flank as his midfield minutes will be limited by the development of our young core, now including AVB and Harmes and the want for increased minutes for Trac and Salem. In saying that there are wings up for grabs with both JKH and Stretch getting reasonable ball but both butchering it continually. They both in my mind lack the class connection we need through those parts and I cant wait to see whether Fritsch and KK can deliver those missing pieces or whether one of our many mids can adjust.  

Apologies. A bit of a ramble and nothing really new but probably just a chance to gather my own thoughts...

 

8 hours ago, Skuit said:

Why do so many here keep making reference to North letting Preuss go as some indication of a potential flaw? When was the last time a non-marquee player who desired to leave a club held to their contract? We actively targeted and recruited Preuss. We also gave them a 25 year-old former pick three who up until last year (when squeezed out of position) had been averaging 25 touches and 10 contested.  

Well obviously it is not always because of a flaw and let's hope other factors are involved with Preuss.

 But when you consider the glee which many here saw the departure of players like Watts (and others), you have to admit it is reasonable for supporters of the destination club to ask why his original club moved a player on.   

18 minutes ago, sue said:

Well obviously it is not always because of a flaw and let's hope other factors are involved with Preuss.

 But when you consider the glee which many here saw the departure of players like Watts (and others), you have to admit it is reasonable for supporters of the destination club to ask why his original club moved a player on.   

You say Tomato, I say Tomahto...

Was he moved on or did he choose to move on for better opportunity.

In Pruess' case I say  it was for opportunity...

17 hours ago, ProDee said:

I really liked his game.  Did every kick hit a target ?  No, but many did and he was back to his running and aggressive self.

If they can get him to exploit his attributes with a little more composure I think he'll play a lot of games.

Further to your comment, it looked to me like he was consciously lowering his eyes to find a target which I found pleasing

Cognitive bias is an amusing phenomenon.  

Most people have hardly seen Preuss play, but they're sure he's in Melbourne's best 22, because a) Melbourne decided to recruit him, b) training reports, c) he kicked two goals in a practice game against a team that had no decent key defenders, and d) West Coast play two rucks.

Preuss was OK, but he's a bit of a lumberer and not a particularly good tap ruckman.  He's aggressive, which is great, but right now he's a pretty average footballer. 

Reckon JKH played his best game for the club just before the finals and got dropped to make way for returning players the following week.
Reckon he was abit stiff.
Hope he can continue the good form, fridays hitout sounds promising for him.

 

27 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Cognitive bias is an amusing phenomenon.  

Most people have hardly seen Preuss play, but they're sure he's in Melbourne's best 22, because a) Melbourne decided to recruit him, b) training reports, c) he kicked two goals in a practice game against a team that had no decent key defenders, and d) West Coast play two rucks.

Preuss was OK, but he's a bit of a lumberer and not a particularly good tap ruckman.  He's aggressive, which is great, but right now he's a pretty average footballer. 

Even more disturbing are those who have seen Preuss play, and regard him as pretty average!

37 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Cognitive bias is an amusing phenomenon.  

Most people have hardly seen Preuss play, but they're sure he's in Melbourne's best 22, because a) Melbourne decided to recruit him, b) training reports, c) he kicked two goals in a practice game against a team that had no decent key defenders, and d) West Coast play two rucks.

Preuss was OK, but he's a bit of a lumberer and not a particularly good tap ruckman.  He's aggressive, which is great, but right now he's a pretty average footballer. 

Mason Cox is a pretty average footballer.
Still causes big headaches.

Edited February 23, 20196 yr by Fork 'em

Ask any pies supporter and the flag is there’s to lose this year, I really hope they fall in a heap sure they have some handy players but there list doesn’t bat that deep, they almost did a bulldogs and played a good month of footy last year and pinched it, some of the comments on the game day thread on big footy are laughable, apparently Taylor Adams is a better midfielder than Oliver who knew.

oh and Melksham wouldn’t be in there best 22 either lol 

Edited February 24, 20196 yr by brendan