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1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

So hard to get a good read on where teams are at this time of year.  We lost to one of the top teams last week with a very undermanned team on our behalf.  We only lost by 12 points or so, but I think that scoreline really flattered us after we were dominanted for probably 60% of the game and they possibly rested some of their guns in the last quarter which let us back in.

Brisbane were pretty good last week and I do consider them to be a capable team on the rise.  I expect Brisbane to be playing fairly hard for a win this week to build confidence for the season ahead and get their supporter base energized in much the same way as I believe we selected teams and played JLT to win last year.

I actually think a good hard hitout for us this JLT win or lose is exactly what the team needs to keep them grounded and hungry for the start of the regular season.  I see danger written all over our first three games of Port, Geelong and Essendon if we go in believing the hype.  Learning how to best handle the favourites tag and being hunted every week is the next step in our development and I'm hopeful that with Goody's down to earth demeanor and approach that it's something that we take in our stride in a clinical workman like manner.

Food for thought, good comments. The season must start - seriously, energetically and powerfully - we are good enough to take all three games to set up the following games. 

 
 
54 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

JKH has broadened his impact, skills and involvements steadily over his time at MFC. He was more effective than ANB against the Tigers... (and for that matter, Spargo)  and ANB has already shown he can be effective at this level. I raise this comparison because I think the JKH detractors are stuck in the past.  I'm not sure he will make it to best 22 in 2019, but he is very clearly on the fringe and may break through... have a closer look!

He doesn’t have the same tackle pressure and contest to contest work rate as Spargo and ANB as a forward though. He had 10 pressure acts, Spargo had 22 and ANB 27. Some of that is because he played more wing but either way he’s rarely had that high pressure game.

He’s an undersized wing/mid/high half forward who runs to the right places both ways and has some nice hands and movement around the contest. That’s how he got 40 in the VFL often. That’s how he played well last year.

I liked his game against the Pies. Didn’t like the way his ball winning or ball use folded against the Tigers under pressure and he didn’t do anything special defensively. 

Can he or Stretch state a case that they are better than Jones for round 1? Maybe, but I’d be picking the skipper because at least you know he’ll win the ball and attack contests. 

53 minutes ago, binman said:

Disagree with much of this. JKH was dead unlucky to get dropped late last year. Runs and works hard. Is a neat kick and stays in the contest. I actually thought he was one of our better players against the tigers in the JLT game. 

Most on DL seem to agree that our recruiting team and football department get most things right these days. A view i certainly share.

I regretted my comments almost as soon as I posted them. I do not like being unduly negative about players, and I was in the case of JKH.

I hope your opinion is correct, i really do.  It is always interesting to read a contrary view, without hyperbole.  

I wholeheartedly agree with the second para. They have a reason to keep him on the list and that's good enough for me. 


I suspect the wording around Preuss playing in the VFL was a kind way of saying he'll be starting the season there.

Doesn't make sense to be moved to the VFL side to be able to play more minutes in the ruck when/if he played round 1 75% of the game he'd be in the forward line.

 

1 hour ago, The Chazz said:

Let's not forget, we totally dominated them for the 1st quarter when they had their best players on.

...

Yes, I was wondering how many Richmond membership cards were heading towards the microwave at quarter time.  We looked really slick, whereas when Richmond dominated it was a bit scrappy.  

23 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Pruess in the VFL? 

I thought the coaching staff would've preferred to see another sample of the 'Prawn' ruck combo before round 1.

Excited to see May in the red and blue though! 

 

I think this has to do with Ryder being injured.  And apparently Preusssy didn't play well last week ?

 
5 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The quintessential list clogger.

Of the contenders for the small fwd spot, JKH is the fittest and most in form, so has been rewarded by Goodwin

Up to him to grab the opportunity and hold the spot for Rd 1

 

 

2 hours ago, The Chazz said:

Let's not forget, we totally dominated them for the 1st quarter when they had their best players on.

Did we take the foot off the pedal so that we didn't show all our secrets?  Did we allow the scoreline to flatter Richmond?

So many "what ifs" that really won't be answered until Round 1.

I agree Chazz, why my was that assessment that we were dominated for only 60% of the game.  We played similar games against Hawthorn and Sydney last year where we put in a brilliant first quarter and then let the game go to crap from there.  Not saying that will nessasrily be a cronic problem for us again this season based on one JLT performance, but probably a good issue to have highlighted in the preseason and not to be bitten in the season proper.

...for whatever can/can't be read into a practice match.

It's interesting to note just how our demeanor as a supporter group has changed in just the space of 12 months, if we had have put in a similar performance at the same stage last year I think a lot more would have been made of our poor performance in the 2nd and 3rd qrts.


14 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Of the contenders for the small fwd spot, JKH is the fittest and most in form, so has been rewarded by Goodwin

Up to him to grab the opportunity and hold the spot for Rd 1

 

 

i doubt he is a contender for a small forward role. It's wing or bust for JKH

1 hour ago, Satyriconhome said:

Of the contenders for the small fwd spot, JKH is the fittest and most in form, so has been rewarded by Goodwin

Up to him to grab the opportunity and hold the spot for Rd 1

He’s not a small forward 

5 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

He’s not a small forward 

That is where he has been training all preseason, with occasional wing, so obviously not my decision or opinion

Same applies to Billy Stretch on the wing, with KK out, his opportunity 

52 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

That is where he has been training all preseason, with occasional wing, so obviously not my decision or opinion

Same applies to Billy Stretch on the wing, with KK out, his opportunity 

Well at the first two opportuniies to trial him in that position they instead played him on the wing. Both times. 

Edited by binman

2 hours ago, boydie said:

I suspect the wording around Preuss playing in the VFL was a kind way of saying he'll be starting the season there.

Doesn't make sense to be moved to the VFL side to be able to play more minutes in the ruck when/if he played round 1 75% of the game he'd be in the forward line.

 

Well when you think about it,  Preussy has to play ruck to improve his ruckwork, from the his level of last year.   He won't do that by playing 95% as a forward.

He needs plenty of time in the role, to make improvements.   This means Casey as No1 ruck,  and with the extra fitness he has dee-veloped with us,  he should get better in the main ruck role.


2 hours ago, sue said:

Yes, I was wondering how many Richmond membership cards were heading towards the microwave at quarter time.  We looked really slick, whereas when Richmond dominated it was a bit scrappy.  

The Tiges wore us down and ran very well with their game plan. We brought onto the field some refreshments to have a 'bang' at them, to gain a sense of belonging to the MFC and to evaluate the recruits' skills and onfield bearing at that point - and this was all that we could have asked of a small  group of apprentice footballers in the red 'n blue. It was a very strategic act and I was pleased that the coaching team / selectors approached the game this way. Interesting that our efforts were maximised with good scoring accuracy and was relentless; they never gave up against a power team on the day. Brisbane seem to be a rising commodity with improved player profiles and preparations that will test us; however, we do have a stronger team selected than that utilised against the Tiges just one week ago. We will win this one just the same, but we must bring 4 quarters of desire and thought to achieve that win. This is the start of the Demon 'roll' towards a great September. 

Neville Jetta stumbled through a career of being almost-good enough to just survive for almost twice as long as JKH has so far. Like many on here I have no idea what they see in JKH, but I didn’t with Jetta either. I can only assume they know what they’re doing; hopefully we get a similar pleasant surprise.

4 hours ago, binman said:

Well at the first two opportuniies to trial him in that position they instead played him on the wing. Both times. 

I must have misunderstood the role he is being asked to play when I discussed it with him at training

Just now, Satyriconhome said:

I must have misunderstood the role he is being asked to play when I discussed it with him at training

Maybe. Or maybe he was humouring you. Or maybe the club realised he is no small forward.

Whatever the case in both  the practice game against the pies and the jlt game he played on the wing.

Do you not think - notwthstanding your one on one chats -  that if they were considering him for a small forward role this season they would trial him in that role. At least once? Particularly after Jeff went down?  Do you have a logical reason why they didn't  do so?

Perhaps they will do so this weekend. Perh asps not. If tbey don't I'm sure you will tell us you chatted to him (or a coach, or a trainer  or a water boy) and they have landed on a new role.


1 hour ago, binman said:

Maybe. Or maybe he was humouring you. Or maybe the club realised he is no small forward.

Whatever the case in both  the practice game against the pies and the jlt game he played on the wing.

Do you not think - notwthstanding your one on one chats -  that if they were considering him for a small forward role this season they would trial him in that role. At least once? Particularly after Jeff went down?  Do you have a logical reason why they didn't  do so?

Perhaps they will do so this weekend. Perh asps not. If tbey don't I'm sure you will tell us you chatted to him (or a coach, or a trainer  or a water boy) and they have landed on a new role.

His role is to provide the pressure in the fwd 50, a la small forward, give an outlet on the wing and various other bits that suit his size and skill set, I was at the Collingwood game and thought he basically operated between the wing and the goal square, exactly what a small forward should do

But don't.

Small forwards start in the forward line and whilst they may push up sometimes stay in the forward line by in large. Hence the name. Small forward. Like Jeff.  Like spargo. Like betts. That is the position you said he was going to play.

All players - even defenders push into to the forward line at some point. Players who do so from the wing (and start on the wing) are called wingman. The position jkh played in the seniors last year and in the two trial games this year.

I am not suggesting he did  not tell you he was being trained to play as small forward (though what you say above is different to your initial post on this topic). But that is not the role he has played thus far in two trial games. 

 

Edited by binman

3 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

jkh runs all day and can hit a target by foot, and loves to tackle

he's not overly quick but he's a classic workhorse 

I sense he will end up a skilled workhorse...  who just happens to end up where the footy is.

 

Kennedy-Harris - forward-pocket-elect - has a kicked a sum-total of three goals since 2014. Even I've managed that many goals since then: save up for some Google goggles, learn the ancient art of origami, and don't choke on my own vomit.

Go Dees!

Edited by Skuit


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