1 hour ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

He also has to work hard the other way,  and get down into the back half,  just as much as the F50.

 

Gus does 100 x100's pre season, with brothers.  OK, lets see it Gus, in games.

100%, but I thought he showed that on the weekend for the first time in a long long time.

6 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

100%, but I thought he showed that on the weekend for the first time in a long long time.

Yep, I sure i noticed him down back more often than I remember of him.

I think the press we've been putting out, about our mids lack of defensive running is being heard.  

And also there are young players like Sparrow,  Chandler and maybe Bedford almost ready to come into our mids blend.  Add Salem as well,  and Bedford into wing consideration,  and there is now pressure within the club for team places.

 

Seriously, our future looks the best,  since the mid 80's.

16 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

100%, but I thought he showed that on the weekend for the first time in a long long time.

Players are now fighting to hold their positions with the kids pushing forward.  And the stars of 2018 are struggling to hold theirs.

This, IS the best thing that's happened at Melbourne since 1987,  when Viney,  Spalding and Dean, with Koop entered our building.

13 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

100%, but I thought he showed that on the weekend for the first time in a long long time.

He was good on the weekend and was second best player on the ground according to both coaches. It was his best game in a while IMO. Ran harder both ways and hit the scoreboard. Promising signs.

13 hours ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

Players are now fighting to hold their positions with the kids pushing forward.  And the stars of 2018 are struggling to hold theirs.

This, IS the best thing that's happened at Melbourne since 1987,  when Viney,  Spalding and Dean, with Koop entered our building.

We're bottom four for the second year running and the sixth time in a decade. We've played finals once in nearly 15 years. Over the past 18 months we are the worst team in the league again - even Gold Cost and Carlton have won more matches than us. Our core players in their prime are struggling to hold their position in the senior team over speculative late draft picks...and this is the best we've been since 1987?!

If our best in over 30 years is repeated bottom four finishes, then we are truly doomed.

35 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

He was good on the weekend and was second best player on the ground according to both coaches. It was his best game in a while IMO. Ran harder both ways and hit the scoreboard. Promising signs.

We're bottom four for the second year running and the sixth time in a decade. We've played finals once in nearly 15 years. Over the past 18 months we are the worst team in the league again - even Gold Cost and Carlton have won more matches than us. Our core players in their prime are struggling to hold their position in the senior team over speculative late draft picks...and this is the best we've been since 1987?!

If our best in over 30 years is repeated bottom four finishes, then we are truly doomed.

Our list is the best its been since 1987.   Not the current form line.

Last year imv, you can't count,  because of so much injury and poor preparation.   A one off wrecked season.

I think the true formline is thru  2016 - 2017 - 2018 - ...we've been building away at the list since Roosy's time. 

 

And I can see anyway,  that the list has the most contested players,  the most competitive players,  and now we have quite a few skilled players, about to come thru into the lineup.  So yes,  I think this is our best list since the mid 1980's.

34 minutes ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

Our list is the best its been since 1987.   Not the current form line.

Last year imv, you can't count,  because of so much injury and poor preparation.   A one off wrecked season.

I think the true formline is thru  2016 - 2017 - 2018 - ...we've been building away at the list since Roosy's time. 

 

And I can see anyway,  that the list has the most contested players,  the most competitive players,  and now we have quite a few skilled players, about to come thru into the lineup.  So yes,  I think this is our best list since the mid 1980's.

I admire your optimism, but respectfully I disagree. Unfortunately the results/facts show we're not in a great spot.

1 hour ago, Lord Travis said:

I admire your optimism, but respectfully I disagree. Unfortunately the results/facts show we're not in a great spot.

We're in ordinary form, and trying to play thru presses. most teams are struggling to get thru disciplined presses.

The Lions game, of the highlights I saw,  there was open space a plenty.

The same in games I recall of the Suns,  plenty of space to run int.

 

When we struggle,  we ave to look at what the opposition are doing to cause our struggle.

And when criticising us against other matches teams good form, we have to see they're opponents actions.  To understand why the team is in such good form.

 

I'm looking at our game again at the moment. one thing I noticed was when kicking into our forward-line from a free/mark near the centre, we kicked to in front of the hot spot to a pack of many players of both teams.  We did not have forwards spread, to draw defenders apart.  Open spaces at the flanks pockets.

 

When the Cats have the ball in our backline,  they chip, wait,  until they see an avenue forward,  either thru corridor or via boundary. The Cats pread wide, and they never stop moving, all players moving,  apart from player with ball at the mark.  They just all trot about until they find some space opening.

IMO we are not as disciplined to be as busy and dedicated as this, we seem to do it in fits and starts.

 

Another thing I'm noticing on this 3rd watch of the match is Oliver's poor decisions with the ball.   He is wasteful.  Ignoring good options, and burning some teammates efforts.

His handballs are too spontaneous and hot, for most players to catch and control.  They go to feet, or above heads, like rockets,  and as such more often create another loose/contested ball situation.   When he kicks the ball, mostly he slams it on boot without any viewing,  or skills to boot.

Incredibly wasteful, and I suspect his stats are truly over-flattering him.

 

I'm starting to think he should be made to go and play another position,  so he has to learn to be responsible for an opponent,  and also for his use of the ball. he is too flamboyant with the ball.

He gets the ball easily, and he disposes of the ball the same way,  without anywhere near enough care.

 

The other end of his disposals are nearly always another contest.

.

Maybe It's time to play Brayshaw in Oli's position,  and put Oli outside on the flanks.  Forward &/or back.

Edited June 30, 20205 yr by MyFavouriteMartian

Have to get him more gametime now. I like that attacking wing role he plays

I was critical of him this year and he's showed a bit

 

13 minutes ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

Maybe It's time to play Brayshaw in Oli's position,  and put Oli outside on the flanks.  Forward &/or back.

I think Oli needs to go into a Fwd Pocket for 20 percent of a game, he has played up there in spurts before he's starting to look stale.

10 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

I think Oli needs to go into a Fwd Pocket for 20 percent of a game, he has played up there in spurts before he's starting to look stale.

In one contest Oli and Viney rushing for the loose ball,  Oli called Viney out to receive, Oli grabbed ball, flicked to Viney, who kicked the ball. Oli could have been the reciever and the all user.

He chose to take the easy stat.! 

He let Viney take the responsibility of hitting a target.

 

I think this encapsulates Oi's mindset.   Get lots of stats and everyone's cool.

 

i want to see Oli become a Lot more 'creative', with the ball use.   He's gotten lazy,  just sticking to his easy bread and butter.

18 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

I think Oli needs to go into a Fwd Pocket for 20 percent of a game, he has played up there in spurts before he's starting to look stale.

I want to see him in the backline under pressure,  and minding an opponent, so he is under pressure.  It may well improve his composure and use of the ball, under pressure.

Brayshaw sure could use more time inside, at the ruck.

 

# It could also give us the opportunity to try Salem inside with his skills,  or Sparrow, or give Pickett a couple of minutes in there,  just to see how he looks.?

I really would like to see Salem freshened up from centre-line forward. 

 

Send Oli or Melk back,  to be a small down back.

Wwe could rotate Oli between Mids and half Back.

Edited June 30, 20205 yr by MyFavouriteMartian

12 touches 0 tackles simply isn't good enough for a bloke playing in the guts. Needs to be dropped 

I like Gus, but sadly, he is the odd one out and if we can flip him to fill a need in another area of the ground, we should look long and hard at it.

he's gone from my fave player to a fella that just laughs having wacky haircuts.. clearly needs a change of scenery. its not working out at mfc ? would definitely give him up with a second rounder for a decent first/mid with footskills.

He must be close to being dropped, poor this week and having a poor year, can’t keep gifting him games. 

He played on the wing a lot tonight. I would want to know what role he was doing before we jump the gun. 
To me he is an inside mid and playing him anywhere else is robbing him of his real talent. It’s like playing Oliver on a wing and wondering why his effectiveness is down. 

On 6/30/2020 at 2:00 PM, MyFavouriteMartian said:

In one contest Oli and Viney rushing for the loose ball,  Oli called Viney out to receive, Oli grabbed ball, flicked to Viney, who kicked the ball. Oli could have been the reciever and the all user.

He chose to take the easy stat.! 

He let Viney take the responsibility of hitting a target.

 

I think this encapsulates Oi's mindset.   Get lots of stats and everyone's cool.

 

i want to see Oli become a Lot more 'creative', with the ball use.   He's gotten lazy,  just sticking to his easy bread and butter.

Totally agree. He was waxing handballs all night with Viney and both were flat footed and put the other under pressure. I liked Harmes in the middle. He makes things happen and is clean below his knees.

Trade Brayshaw for Saad.

 

Brayshaw might keep his place but MUST BE OUT ON NOTICE. 

1 minute ago, Lord Nev said:

Trade Brayshaw for Saad.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Trade Brayshaw for Saad.

 

Would love this but doubt they’d go for it.

Brayshaw was fine. Needs minutes in the square. Won important penetrating clearances when in there.

I wouldn't be dropping him, but he can do more.

8 minutes ago, Jaded said:

He played on the wing a lot tonight. I would want to know what role he was doing before we jump the gun. 
To me he is an inside mid and playing him anywhere else is robbing him of his real talent. It’s like playing Oliver on a wing and wondering why his effectiveness is down. 

That’s why he is the odd one out in my view. He is 4th or 5th inline as an inside mid, and hasn’t been versatile enough to adapt to other positions, similar to Jonesy imo.

Either we try flip him for an outside mid or a forward, or he needs to adapt and play that half forward role he played pretty well during his first season.

Edited July 11, 20205 yr by Forest Demon