There will be enough sad/brutal (but accurate) 'three word' summary posts for 2019 (mine is 'we went backwards'), so to keep us in good spirits for what should be a better year (it has to, right!?), I thought I'd focus on some of the positives (it shouldn't be hard to list them!)

What went right? What do we salvage from the wreck of 2019??

For me:

- Another fantastic year from Maxxy. I know the commentators gush over Grundy, but we have the #1 ruckman, no questions. True leadership material, hopefully he figures more in this regard next year.

- Fritta (who was finally played in the right spot)

- Salem was a constant out back, and needs to be utilised better next year. We could do with his foot skills further up the ground.

- I know his season was interrupted, mostly his own fault, but May will be a huge asset. He's tough, reads the play well and can lead from out back. He just needs a good off season to get his body right.

- Petracca showed glimpses towards the end of the season. He just needs to let loose in 2020.

- Maxy is still a genius 

- Hore was a great find 

- Fritta’s last part of the year = elite 

- Petracca’s finish to the season 

- Frosty 

- Petty 

My garden's looking really nice.

Frost is a positive for me. Still not a smart footballer but starting to cut out the brainfades.

Max will win another B&F and should be AA, but may get left out.

To hear Goodwin say that Fritsch forward has been a find the last 6 weeks was incredible. We've been calling for it all season! But his last 6 weeks have been great.

Trac has put together a solid year. Not superb, but good. Am looking forward to seeing what Burgess can do with him fitness and body wise.

Lever and Viney playing a solid block of games will leave them in good stead for pre-season. 

Edited August 24, 20196 yr by Good Lord George

Gawn

Marty Hore

Fritsch

Frosty

That is it

This

Edited August 24, 20196 yr by ding
redo

2 minutes ago, ding said:

This

That is one shiny turd! 

I can't believe I forgot Frosty! Agree. He's not the 'best', makes some strange decisions, will never win a Brownlow, or have one of those giant faces in his honour, he's just not that kind of player.

... BUT he tries his guts out every week, and backs himself in, which is more than I can say for a good portion of the boys this year. I love seeing his run from out the back and am looking forward to more of it in 2010 - hopefully leading to more goals!

12 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

- Maxy is still a genius 

- Hore was a great find 

- Fritta’s last part of the year = elite 

- Petracca’s finish to the season 

- Frosty 

- Petty 

Yes, Hore! He'll figure prominently in our back setup for years to come I reckon.

Petty showed something for sure. With some bulk behind him and a solid off season, I agree, I reckon he could surprise with lots of success next year!

10 positives

1- big Max Gawn is a superstar. Huge heart and despite others falling away, he had a fantastic year.  Deserves All Australian.  Will finish top 10 in the Brownlow in a team that won 5 games.  Lots of 2 votes rather than 3 votes will reduce his finish though. 

2- we found Hore, Lockhart and Petty.  Each showed me they will be part of our future. 

3- we are back at the top of the National Draft. Yes it’s a sign of bad times and we’ve had enough, but we should get Ash or Young (Suns will be gifted 1-2 combo). Either Ash or Young are very good. Prefer Ash as he is tough and quick. 

4- Sam Frost showed he can take on key forwards.  His round 23 game v Brown showed his ability to shut down key forwards. His chase down of Petruccelle was also a highlight 

5- Fritsch is a forward.  Hopefully the last 7 weeks showed Goodwin not to put Fritta in the back pocket. His round 23 mark was my Dees mark of the year 

6- Trac and Salem took a step up. Two highly rated 1st round picks. They are behind oliver and Brayshaw but showed their value.  In a tough year, they can hold their head up. 

7- Misson is gone ( Burgess has some serious fixing to do)

8- Lever and May played only a handful of games yet showed they will be very good and even better together to control the defence. Looking forward to 2020. 

9- injuries killed us in 2019.  It couldn’t be that worse in 2020 surely 

10- footy showed the inflated egos that you need to work hard and it doesn’t just happen. YOU BECOME THE HUNTED.  Lesson learned to all at MFC... I hope 

Salem played too many poor games after round 15 to make this list.

a free september.

I see a positive as being the fact that between Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney, Harmes, Salem and Trac they only missed a combined 4 games. While we missed a lot of games in other areas of the field, our midfield got to spend a lot of time together, so while they weren't always in great form at least when that returns their not trying to figure each other out again. 

I see a few people have said that one of the positives from our season was that our midfield spent a lot of time together. I actually see this as one of our main problems that contributed to our poor performance this year. I felt at different stages during the year that some our midfielders (not including Max) needed to be 'pulled up', 'played in different roles', reprimanded etc especially at the back end of the season, when our accountability was zero.

Goodwin kept on persisting with the same players, same game plan & kept on getting the same result until really the last game where he made some changes. I would have thought that blooding a few younger players & exposing them in the seniors would have been a much better plan with 2020 in mind, but only my opinion.

The only positives for me was the reality that Max will be elevated as our sole leader/captain after a stunning season & good to see the emergence of Frost & Hore. Too many selfish players that are not accountable & continually turn the ball over.

Big preseason.

3 minutes ago, Laughing Goat said:

I see a few people have said that one of the positives from our season was that our midfield spent a lot of time together. I actually see this as one of our main problems that contributed to our poor performance this year. I felt at different stages during the year that some our midfielders (not including Max) needed to be 'pulled up', 'played in different roles', reprimanded etc especially at the back end of the season, when our accountability was zero.

Goodwin kept on persisting with the same players, same game plan & kept on getting the same result until really the last game where he made some changes. I would have thought that blooding a few younger players & exposing them in the seniors would have been a much better plan with 2020 in mind, but only my opinion.

The only positives for me was the reality that Max will be elevated as our sole leader/captain after a stunning season & good to see the emergence of Frost & Hore. Too many selfish players that are not accountable & continually turn the ball over.

Big preseason.

Yep agree 100%

when things were not working, not enough was done in the midfield, either waiting for “it” to happen, or had no idea what to do

Concerning

Positive/s;

- I resisted the temptation to cough up for the Grand Final Guarantee

- Spring is nearly here and I can spend my September weekends focusing on the Spring Racing Carnival, knowing I've got a few extra notes in my pocket due to my first point

- Part of me knew that the results of this season would happen, so I managed to not let the club consume me like it normally does.  I've enjoyed my weekends more, mainly because I haven't GAF about footy, and that's been since Round 1.

How anyone can find anything positive astounds me.  Yes, Max had a great year, but we already knew he was a star.  Many will talk about Hore and Fritsch - great, a couple of older, ex-VFL players have come in and had an impact (says more about the rest of the team).  If our list management don't get this preseason right, we're going to be a poor side for a number of more years - we just simply don't have many quality players that will take us to a premiership.

I have a young bloke who loves the Dees (actually, just Maxy), but is already talking about at what stage in his life does he get to change teams.  He's 5.  Why wouldn't I let him walk?  Why should he have to put up with the same emotional assault that this club has given me in the 40 years of supporting them?

That, MFC, is that reality of the pissweak efforts you so easily accept.

 

Positive for me is that the season has finished. 

3 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

10 positives

1- big Max Gawn is a superstar. Huge heart and despite others falling away, he had a fantastic year.  Deserves All Australian.  Will finish top 10 in the Brownlow in a team that won 5 games.  Lots of 2 votes rather than 3 votes will reduce his finish though. 

2- we found Hore, Lockhart and Petty.  Each showed me they will be part of our future. 

3- we are back at the top of the National Draft. Yes it’s a sign of bad times and we’ve had enough, but we should get Ash or Young (Suns will be gifted 1-2 combo). Either Ash or Young are very good. Prefer Ash as he is tough and quick. 

4- Sam Frost showed he can take on key forwards.  His round 23 game v Brown showed his ability to shut down key forwards. His chase down of Petruccelle was also a highlight 

5- Fritsch is a forward.  Hopefully the last 7 weeks showed Goodwin not to put Fritta in the back pocket. His round 23 mark was my Dees mark of the year 

6- Trac and Salem took a step up. Two highly rated 1st round picks. They are behind oliver and Brayshaw but showed their value.  In a tough year, they can hold their head up. 

7- Misson is gone ( Burgess has some serious fixing to do)

8- Lever and May played only a handful of games yet showed they will be very good and even better together to control the defence. Looking forward to 2020. 

9- injuries killed us in 2019.  It couldn’t be that worse in 2020 surely 

10- footy showed the inflated egos that you need to work hard and it doesn’t just happen. YOU BECOME THE HUNTED.  Lesson learned to all at MFC... I hope 

wow what an effort to come  up with 10 positives .Well done.I came up with zero.I didnt even think Max was quite as good this year as last .Next challenge will be positives for Nathan Lyons fielding-Fielded Gary .

2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Salem played too many poor games after round 15 to make this list.

His famed kicking went down the gurgler in the back end of the year. Repeatedly missed easy targets. Overall though I think the season was a step forward for him. Which we can’t say about too many.

All the individual positives have been mentioned. I’ll put in another mention for Lockhart. I really like what I see in the kid. If his body holds up he has a long AFL career ahead of him.

6 hours ago, kallangurdemon said:

wow what an effort to come  up with 10 positives .Well done.I came up with zero.I didnt even think Max was quite as good this year as last .Next challenge will be positives for Nathan Lyons fielding-Fielded Gary .

Yes not even I can forgive Lyon for fumbling the run out. 

Or that gutless umpire for not giving Stokes out lbw. 

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Yes not even I can forgive Lyon for fumbling the run out. 

Or that gutless umpire for not giving Stokes out lbw. 

Stop it Norm. Flashbacks Aargh

I was coming good!!!

It’s over!

My positive is that whilst we played most games if not all with half a side we really only got belted in a couple of games therefore I can see huge upside with improved game plan and skills and gradual improvement with the guys we keep that got a few games into them this year and of course the likes of Brayshaw,Salem, Hunt etc get back to their best. Many games with mainly VFL players in side we were in until near the end so that gives me hope. Proviso is we cull and recruit well in this trade period.

Biggest positive for me this year was that the Richmond station was a lot quieter towards the end of the season. Didn’t have to wait to get a train. 

We rarely lost by a large margin