I'd be dropping Sparrow next week if Viney comes back in. Young player, give him a rest so that we can bring him back in fresher when required.

Viney plays forward, takes forward stoppages and occasional midfield bursts. 

Harmes plays midfield minutes and wing, taking Sparrow's role from tonight.

I feel like we're getting close to finding the right mix. 

If Sparrow gets up again, take out Jones. 

We have to get proper bang for our buck with Gus and Harmes. Viney's a leader, he'll take to a forward role with stoppages minutes.

Edited August 9, 20204 yr by A F

The post-match interview with brayshaw was good - as always ben gibson actually asks decent questions as doesn't roll out filtered nonsense. 
Brayshaw's answers to whether he was frustrated playing less midfield (I paraphrase!)
- It's not all about possessions, my defensive work has been really good this year which I've been working on
- I'm happy taking extra midfield responsibility when vines is out, but would rather vines be playing
- We have a good spread of midfielders who can pop up and have a good game which makes it a headache for oppositions

I, like others, wonder why he isn't getting more midfield time, but I imagine there's plenty of other parts to the puzzle we're not aware of. 

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/792502/rd-11-angus-brayshaw-post-match?videoId=792502&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1596971000001

Edited August 9, 20204 yr by Stinger

Last week after the Port game, the trade out drums were beating. He had a shocker. 
Fast forward to one week and he was in our best v Crows and our best 3 (behind Clarry and Trac) v Roos. 
He showed again his talent and will be a key driver in our club over the next few years. 

We need to make our wealth of midfielders a strength not a weakness.

This is up to the coaching team to work out the best structure for this and it seemed it worked better against the Crows.

If the midfield coaches can't get it right then they need to be moved on for someone better.

Basically proven now that Viney and Brayshaw can’t play midfield together. For whatever reason it just doesn’t work. We need to find roles to maximize both and rotate them. When they’re rotated out of the midfield I’d try Viney up forward for pressure and Gus off back flank streaming forward. Viney can help with defensive pressure and hit the scoreboard. Gus had success off half back flank in his first year and look good when he bursts a few sets before delivering inside 50. 

Agree - it sucks, but Brayshaw and Viney can't go together in the midfield.  He just appears so natural through the middle, and looks silky (can't believe I am saying that) as his confidence is building.  He has two feet, and can hit up leads into forward 50 at the same level or better than Viney (Viney has improved in this area).

Viney's stoppage goal against Adelaide got me thinking about playing Viney as a small forward - could he play more forward of the ball?  

Gus is getting his mojo back, and I would hesitate to stuff with that. 

I do like the idea of Viney playing a defensive small forward role, with stints in the midfield.  He will snag some goals too, hes kicked some nice ones already this season and is kicking very well.   Imagine he and Pickett when the ball hits the deck inside 50.  

Not sure if it would work but may need to be tried as Gus is just too good not to be playing as a prime mid.

  On 09/08/2020 at 14:39, A F said:

I'd be dropping Sparrow next week if Viney comes back in. Young player, give him a rest so that we can bring him back in fresher when required.

Viney plays forward, takes forward stoppages and occasional midfield bursts. 

Harmes plays midfield minutes and wing, taking Sparrow's role from tonight.

I feel like we're getting close to finding the right mix. 

If Sparrow gets up again, take out Jones. 

We have to get proper bang for our buck with Gus and Harmes. Viney's a leader, he'll take to a forward role with stoppages minutes.

 

Theres no way Sparrow will get dropped. it will be Jones, hes a liability now

 

I reckon Jackson will be rested as well for Max, TMAC was good around the ground last night

From AFL fantasy ....

https://www.afl.com.au/news/484984/fantasy-secrets-to-success-every-club-s-cbas-for-r11

Centre Bounce Appearances vs North - Angus and Luke Jackson most prevalent (sorry about the formatting of the cut & paste):

Player	Fantasy	TOG	CBA
Angus Brayshaw	103	80%	19
Clayton Oliver	106	85%	15
Christian Petracca	109	83%	13
Luke Jackson	44	69%	13
Tom Sparrow	74	67%	8
Tom McDonald	82	84%	6
Nathan Jones	35	73%	3
Jake Melksham	45	85%	2
Sam Weideman	58	92%	1

Edited August 13, 20204 yr by Pollyanna

^^^^

Very impressive by Gus and a real vote of confidence from the coaches to make him our dominant CBA.

 

As an aside, any idea what is included in CBA?  With 18 goals scored plus a CB at start of each quarter equals 22.  Excluding the CBA by Ruckman (EJ. TMac) I count 62 CBA by mid-fielders.  Something doesn't compute...

  On 13/08/2020 at 05:38, Lucifer's Hero said:

^^^^

Very impressive by Gus and a real vote of confidence from the coaches to make him our dominant CBA.

 

As an aside, any idea what is included in CBA?  With 18 goals scored plus a CB at start of each quarter equals 22.  Excluding the CBA by Ruckman (EJ. TMac) I count 62 CBA by mid-fielders.  Something doesn't compute...

20 for the rucks, 60 for the mids. Both the first and second quarters finished with goals that didn’t go back to the centre I believe 

Edited August 13, 20204 yr by DeeSpencer

 

  On 13/08/2020 at 05:38, Lucifer's Hero said:

As an aside, any idea what is included in CBA?  With 18 goals scored plus a CB at start of each quarter equals 22.  Excluding the CBA by Ruckman (EJ. TMac) I count 62 CBA by mid-fielders.  Something doesn't compute...

Those number show a total of 20 centre bounces: 20 ruckman attendances (13 LJ, 6 TM, 1 SW) and 60 midfielder attendances.

There were 4 bounces to start the quarters and there were 18 goals ..... but there were goals kicked after the siren in the first (Larkey) and second (Weideman) quarters, which didn't result in centre bounces.

 

Edit: SNAP!!

Edited August 13, 20204 yr by Axis of Bob
Because DeeSpencer is faster than me.

 

  On 13/08/2020 at 20:58, Demonland said:

 

Same as  s North plenty of time in middle !

Hack not so much I hope but up forward a bit more

Angus will explore his options elsewhere is not played in the guts. 

  On 14/08/2020 at 00:06, Ethan Tremblay said:

Angus will explore his options elsewhere is not played in the guts. 

Gus loves the Dees, and wont be going anywhere.

 

I think Goody & Co got a taste of their own medicine for trying to play around with his position against North and Adelaide, we should see him play way more time in the middle now.

Id love to see Viney played HFF, his pressure is outstanding

  On 14/08/2020 at 00:32, Tracca said:

Gus loves the Dees, and wont be going anywhere.

 

I think Goody & Co got a taste of their own medicine for trying to play around with his position against North and Adelaide, we should see him play way more time in the middle now.

Id love to see Viney played HFF, his pressure is outstanding

Sure he loves the club etc. 

But I’m sure he’d love a club that didn’t sit him on the bench for 1/3 of the game and play him in positions that don’t suit him. 
 

More game time, more midfield, more $$$ = gone.

You watch other clubs will come for him, positive the already would be sounding him out.

  On 17/06/2020 at 10:32, MyFavouriteMartian said:

One more head knock, and who knows,  'D3'.?

Would be a different statement if the umpires could remember that the head is sacrosanct.

Although the tribunal handling of T Lynch did not support that.

Watching other games(we get so little FTA here of MFC games) I never see so many high tackles paid or missed as I do with us. Maybe we play in a fashion that attracts that tackle. The club should ask the umpires board if we are doing something wrong to not receive protection of our heads. Could also ask about tackling outcomes as well. We are often penalised for holding but rarely receive frees for incorrect disposal when we tackle, should we change our techniques of disposal and tackling.

Perhaps you would need to know how the umpires are going to act on any given night but like your opponents you can factor in their behaviour and adjust your actions.

  On 14/08/2020 at 00:39, Gorgoroth said:

Sure he loves the club etc. 

But I’m sure he’d love a club that didn’t sit him on the bench for 1/3 of the game and play him in positions that don’t suit him. 
 

More game time, more midfield, more $$$ = gone.

You watch other clubs will come for him, positive the already would be sounding him out.

I think that will change moving forward now, Im hoping they have learnt their lesson.

 

hes signed until end of 2022 anyway

  On 14/08/2020 at 02:42, Tracca said:

I think that will change moving forward now, Im hoping they have learnt their lesson.

 

hes signed until end of 2022 anyway

I truly hope so. He should be playing more and more midfield.

 

Contracted doesn’t mean much these days. When they want out they usually get their way.

  On 14/08/2020 at 02:56, Gorgoroth said:

I truly hope so. He should be playing more and more midfield.

 

Contracted doesn’t mean much these days. When they want out they usually get their way.

I dont think he wants out mate, hes very happy and im sure hes potentially frustrated, but Im sure it was just us trying to see if he can play a different position. I really want to try viney hff, i reckon he could become a good player there and will help our forward half pressure

Did anyone get behind the paywall to read this:

https://twitter.com/superfooty/status/1294061172933767168?s=20

Edit: thought that would embed, sorry. Text says "Simon Goodwin is frustrated by speculation over the future of Angus Brayshaw but the hard nut is set to be pushed out of the centre square again against Collingwood"

Edited August 14, 20204 yr by titan_uranus

Viney is not a fwd, they can both only play in the middle unfortunately.  Viney has kicked goals yes.  But that's as a midfielder, not as a fwd with someone who's job it is to stop you kicking goals.

I hope I'm wrong but I dont think they can both co-exist in the same team.

Perhaps viney/brayshaw + 2nd rounder for Polec + our original first rounder back?? And they pay part of his much inflated contract.  Dreaming I know

  On 14/08/2020 at 03:50, titan_uranus said:

Did anyone get behind the paywall to read this:

https://twitter.com/superfooty/status/1294061172933767168?s=20

Edit: thought that would embed, sorry. Text says "Simon Goodwin is frustrated by speculation over the future of Angus Brayshaw but the hard nut is set to be pushed out of the centre square again against Collingwood"

If this happens and we lose Gus, I'll be furious with Goodwin.

I mooted trading Viney or Gus last off season, but I was wrong about Gus. He gives us something different. Either we learn to balance our midfield properly, or I know who I'd be letting go first.

So frustrating. how about rewarding the bloke who stepped into that role and immediately dominated. 

Gus dominated the game without Gawn winning the taps. he's genuinely as good as Petracca or Oliver in that position, we're insane if we don't at least increase his time in the guts. 

I'd rather see Petracca/ oliver spend slightly more time forward to afford Gus more time than Gus be pushed out