14 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I don't see either of these guys as line breakers, that's just not how they play or their role.  They are more steady as you go defense and ball retention machines that slowly pick their way out of defense.

Rivers is more your Jayden Hunt take on the game and break lines type, but a little bigger and more robust model, which I think is saying something, because Jayden actually matured to play his defensive role quite well from around 2021 onwards and is having a very decient year for WC.

Liked your post Balls but I think you’re red and blue goggles are mixed up with the yellow and blue ones of the Eagles. 
The analogy is understandable but I think Rivers has consistently shown more game sense and acted with better decisions and disposal. 
 

And then the enormous scope for a 21 year old premiership player learning his craft across half back and then becoming one of our prime movers. 
 

(apologies for the cliches)

 

and irony

What made Bowey so good towards the end of 2021 was his willingness to take the game on. He’s not been as daring this year.

As for Salem, he is a pretty slow player of the ball. How often does he quickly move the ball on? 

This is why Rivers shines. He has the skills of Salem, the dare of an early Bowey and more physicality than the both of them combined. When he’s going at full tilt, there are few players better to watch imo.

9 hours ago, adonski said:

Stiff on Salem...injured half the year and been reasonable considering...

Bowey I agree with though, he's hit a wall

Salem unfortunately is injured half of every year. But he has been poor this year. His kicking even when not under pressure has been woeful by his standards. I hope he finds his kicking boots the next few weeks cos he is a weapon when fit and firing.

12 hours ago, John Demonic said:

https://megaphone.link/NTETP2924955570 15:20

 

https://www.sen.com.au/programs/sportsday/

 

Anyone catch Hoynes GuessWho segment yesterday?

Said Rivers was 11th ranked played on their 100X scale of players playing above expectation. And he's interested to see what we do with the "Rivers magnet" in the next two weeks and finals

 

"No better kick in the competition in the last 6 weeks"

"Kicking 20% above expectation"

"We need to see if Melbourne can inject him into the game even more so, as he's having such an a significant impact. When he wins it, and when he wins it back, he's top 10 for impact"

"Healy: Move him into the middle?" "Hoyne: No, but Id move him higher up the ground, get him involved a little bit more, that would be interesting." But he's also cautious about making a change late in the season

He's saying maybe play him in the centre ( not the ruck rover) but all day might be a stretch too far. Could he rest for a short while forward? Prob not. Rest on the bench in 23 and get tank really going for a bigger role next year. 

Of course he can go back to HB if needed. Sometimes we may need his extra height across HB or last line.

35 minutes ago, 58er said:

He's saying maybe play him in the centre ( not the ruck rover) but all day might be a stretch too far. Could he rest for a short while forward? Prob not. Rest on the bench in 23 and get tank really going for a bigger role next year. 

Of course he can go back to HB if needed. Sometimes we may need his extra height across HB or last line.

I think the gist of it is that Hoyne wants Rivers to be kicking and hitting targets inside 50. Not sure how feasible it is to get him that high up the ground on the regular, when no one else is running it out of defence like he is currently after winning it back off the opposition. Hibberd might be a key in the next month, to unleash Rivers a little more forward of centre.

Though as Binman suggested on the pod, the addition of Spargo should improve our efficiency entering the 50 if he can up his disposals to 15-20 and be our Gryan Miers type of player.

Although now that I think about it, wasn't it a preseason game where Rivers attended 10+ or so centre bounces?  Maybe it's something up Goody's sleeve. 

 

Edited August 16, 20231 yr by John Demonic

10 hours ago, McQueen said:

Liked your post Balls but I think you’re red and blue goggles are mixed up with the yellow and blue ones of the Eagles. 
The analogy is understandable but I think Rivers has consistently shown more game sense and acted with better decisions and disposal. 
 

And then the enormous scope for a 21 year old premiership player learning his craft across half back and then becoming one of our prime movers. 
 

(apologies for the cliches)

 

and irony

All good Steve.  That's where the 'more robust' version was angled in terms of disposal reliability as well to an extent.  To be honest, I haven't watched Jayden play much for WC this season and I think it's hard to gauge players that are a part of basket case teams.  I was more just noting that he seems to be getting games and seems to be in their better players and kicking goals alot of weeks.

I think Jayden's feild kicking and decision making did get better towards the end of his career with us though.  Some of those plays where he took on the game with his dash through the centre square and great kicking delivery forward against Carlton in our come from behind win against them last season very much reminded me of Rivers plays against Brisbane a few weeks back.

I think having Rivers comming through was probably a big part that stoped Hunt getting games and why we were ok with letting him go.  Agree that Rivers is a superior player at this stage of his career and is a much better move for managing our list age profile.

Rivers has one major advantage over Hunt - he can take contested intercept marks. In that he supports May and Lever in holding out the oppos.

Jayden Hunt is the unlucky one who missed out on a flag due to a late season injury and could not get back in the team. His run and flair were always good to watch and we should wish him well even though he plays for the weagles.

Posted February 1, 2021 (edited)

Just viewed the training photos. What stood out to me was how much Trent Rivers has filled out since last year. 

Of all our recruits selected in the past two drafts, I believe he will end up proving to be our most important selection of them all. 
 

I don’t want to brag, but I just found this old post of mine from Feb ‘21. 

5 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Posted February 1, 2021 (edited)

Just viewed the training photos. What stood out to me was how much Trent Rivers has filled out since last year. 

Of all our recruits selected in the past two drafts, I believe he will end up proving to be our most important selection of them all. 
 

I don’t want to brag, but I just found this old post of mine from Feb ‘21. 

The 2019 draft is one for the ages for the MFC.

Luke Jackson heavily involved in the most exhilerating 3 minutes of football in my lifetime and we still have to first 2 Freo picks to come for him.

Kozzie would be one of the first players picked at any club in the league.

Yet Trent Rivers is shaping up as the consistently best of them all.

I listened to Mitchell's post game presser - articulate bloke ,clever coach.

He praised Max as a "generational ruckman" but , in what I considered a very interesting comment, he said that Rivers has been "underrated" across the competition.

 

He's been fantastic. Another JT special.

And settled in Melbourne too apparently. None of this I miss mommy and want to go home nonsense. 

When he was recruited I said he was better than Hayden Young who every man and a dog wanted him.

JT and I were on the same page.

Rivers is definitely a steel. Definitely has some room to grow as well.

He is a good size, has good speed and lovely kick. Hopefully he can further develop his play making to go hand-in-hand with his kicking to really explode off half back. 

I said in another thread that he needs a partner in crime down back. Pig is getting on in age and will probably retire this year. Bowey and Salo just falling short atm. If either one of them can find some of their best form, then we will have a very strong HB line.

Edited August 21, 20231 yr by Gawndy the Great

2 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

Posted February 1, 2021 (edited)

Just viewed the training photos. What stood out to me was how much Trent Rivers has filled out since last year. 

Of all our recruits selected in the past two drafts, I believe he will end up proving to be our most important selection of them all. 
 

I don’t want to brag, but I just found this old post of mine from Feb ‘21. 

You DO want to brag AND you have every right to, it was a fine call.

Agreed he’s had a very good year. Provides run and dash, competes hard 1 on 1 and can play on tall/short dangerous forwards.  Certainly more effective than Bowey or Salem right now.  

5 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Agreed he’s had a very good year. Provides run and dash, competes hard 1 on 1 and can play on tall/short dangerous forwards.  Certainly more effective than Bowey or Salem right now.  

Hungrier for the ball too

When we drafted him, JT's described him as a "real MCG player" (behind the scenes footage video) and was over the moon Brisbane didn't take him. 

Excellent foreshadowing. He's good on every ground, but he's a real weapon at the MCG.  

 

1 hour ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I listened to Mitchell's post game presser - articulate bloke ,clever coach.

He praised Max as a "generational ruckman" but , in what I considered a very interesting comment, he said that Rivers has been "underrated" across the competition.

 

Not by me.  Trent has had a fantastic season.  Seems to be where the ball is going.

Rivers has always had a solid base of form and he has improved marginally each year until in 2023 he is a definite top ten in our 22.

I'm looking forward to that marginal improvement over the next two years and we'll see a real top 5 player

1 hour ago, BDA said:

He's been fantastic. Another JT special.

And settled in Melbourne too apparently. None of this I miss mommy and want to go home nonsense. 

Yep. He's signed through to the end of 2027 which is fantastic.

I have been watching Riv since we picked him up and was hoping to see more of him in ‘23, his kpi’s are through the roof and watching him yesterday he not only draws the ball to him he is starting to demand it when he is in space, his kicking has also improved in line with his form. Trent Rivers is on the cusp of stardom.!!!

1 hour ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I listened to Mitchell's post game presser - articulate bloke ,clever coach.

He praised Max as a "generational ruckman" but , in what I considered a very interesting comment, he said that Rivers has been "underrated" across the competition.

 

Thanks for telling everyone Sam. Gees 🙄😂

I actually wrote in 2013 that there's an 11 year old called Trent Rivers who I was sure would become almost the pick of the draft and a fine HBF but again I also don't want to boast.

27 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Yep. He's signed through to the end of 2027 which is fantastic.

I was speaking to Kate Roffey at a club function and she said Riv really loves the club and can't see him wanting to go anywhere else.

Trent Rivers, likely to be rated in the Top 5 at MFC by the end of next year.

That said, I think Judd McVee, in time, will be a better player.