Tonight was our first look at a proper balance of Oliver, Viney, Petracca and Brayshaw.

It worked, IMO.

Evidence to support the argument that our best 22 can feature all four.

Might be telling that we went with Petracca in the forward line and the other three in the middle for the opening bounce.

He's Baaaaaack 

He's a Demon 4 life.

6 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Gus plays well when the team plays well.  

Team plays well when Gus plays well

Okay, I might have totally misread this but my impression was that in the first half today, Viney wasn't in at the coalface at the stoppages. Was he keeping out of the way and leaving it to Oliver and Brayshaw? If this was intentional, it worked. As the game wore on, I noticed him getting more involved and he was pretty fierce and effective in his role. It has been suggested by the pundits here that Brayshaw and Viney in at the same stoppages doesn't work out so well. 

Seems like the Football Department is listening to d'landers !!

If he keeps contributing like he has the past three games then keep the guy. If he has to play in the middle to play well, then play him there.. if we aren’t playing him where he plays well, trade. At the moment we’re playing him where he plays well and we are bagging points, so I’d say he’s fine and all is well. 

I think he needs to stay in the middle, the thing I like about Gus is he knows when to hunt the ball and when to stay out on the edge whereas Oliver and Viney are see ball get ballers. It balances things up a bit better. 

4 hours ago, pineapple dee said:

Okay, I might have totally misread this but my impression was that in the first half today, Viney wasn't in at the coalface at the stoppages. Was he keeping out of the way and leaving it to Oliver and Brayshaw? If this was intentional, it worked. As the game wore on, I noticed him getting more involved and he was pretty fierce and effective in his role. It has been suggested by the pundits here that Brayshaw and Viney in at the same stoppages doesn't work out so well. 

Seems like the Football Department is listening to d'landers !!

I think he was playing behind the stoppages for the majority of the night.

4 hours ago, layzie said:

I think he needs to stay in the middle, the thing I like about Gus is he knows when to hunt the ball and when to stay out on the edge whereas Oliver and Viney are see ball get ballers. It balances things up a bit better. 

I reckon Oliver has changed his game up a bit to be able to receive or leave the ball for a team mate in better position. But otherwise completely agree with this.

10 hours ago, Unleash Hell said:

Im in the trade brayshaw camp but he's not the gun people make him out to be.

Utter rubbish The stats  don't lie When he gets the ball in the corridor especially.

14 hours ago, Gawndog98 said:

I rate brayshaw very highly because he offers something different to our other inside mids. For mine let viney walk and use the money to get zac williams. 

Also not sure why people on here are keen on players like merrett and cerra, trading brayshaw for an inside mid doesn't solve the problem at all we'd just be playing them out of position. We need small defenders to replace jetta and hibberd, and/or another classy small forward.

Trade talk in a couple of weeks will be redundant  as bout Gus as he proves played in the guts he is second to none in using the ball and linking our gdmd together.

Notice how the Trac trade talk is Now nonexistent ( treason  almost  in fact) and this will be repeated about Gus.

Eho will the next targets be Harmes ? 
All are different cats and that's the dilemma for the opposition who to tag??

BTW Harmesy had his best game this year by far today and Melky  also with best games ever in pure results from Spargs and Sparrow,

Oh and max credit to the FD and coaches for having Pruessy ready and really fit for combat. I was waiting for him to be puffed out by HT but no he was still strong late in the game and played a strong game time with good support for Tommy who was so close to a three goal haul todsy.

16 hours ago, Action Jackson said:

With both Sparrow and Jordon waiting in the wings as potential quality inside mids, I think we should definitely consider trading Brayshaw, but only if it's a genuine win-win and not for a draft pick. We need an instant best 22 outside runner. So looking through teams that need quality on-ballers these are the options I'd consider:

Sydney - Oliver Florent straight swap. Would absolutely do this and they need a replacement for Kennedy inside.

Essendon - Darcy Parish springs to mind as an outside runner. Prefer Florent but not out of the question.

Carlton - Zac Fisher could be an option here, thought I'd want something additional back.

Fremantle - Adam Cerra. Hasn't really got going yet at Freo but maybe a move back home will help ignite his career.

Saints - in the hunt for another midfielder so may come knocking. Can't see what they can offer as a direct swap other than someone like Hunter Clark but that isn't happening. May need to be a first round pick plus someone like Sinclair.

My preference would be in the following order:

1. Florent

2. Parish

3. Cerra

4. Fisher

5. Whatever Saints offer

 

Please don't waste time in furthering the media and some confused D/Lers about trade options fir Angus.

Its patently obvious he is valued rather higher inwardly at Club level ( where it really only matters) by the Coaches  and FD.

AND As sure as I can be every interview Gus is totally committed to the cause (Yes sometimes  it is not fully apparent by looks) in his speech about game Time, lack  of on ball time but refers to other strings like tagging commitment to team cause etc.

Doesn't  sound like Any one about to look elsewhere any time soon to me.

At least most D/Lers are now are saying only the BEST ready made player could be involved in a trade replacement.

Our synergy presently developing with  the on ball crew including Jacko (why BTW for all his youth and not quite ready body and who  is a naturally skilled team player ) each plays a different role and brings unique skills to their game and our team our outside runner with a Trac And Clarry  starting to accelerate out of stoppages plus Gus mostly outside ( also Langdon on occasions) run it's starting to Balance the midfield skills quite nicely.

Its Looking like Gus is an integral part of our future success because he wants to be and perform his role in that for as long as he is able. 

Let the players play That's what they do best!

 

2 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Thats what we all wanted to see, and what do you know hes back to his best.

Gus seemed to spend quite a bit of time patrolling the middle between the 50m arcs, often unmanned.  (Would love to see a heat map if some one can access them).

I had a sense that Coll didn't use the corridor much because he was there and can really hurt them if the ball is turned over near him. 

If my perception is correct it was very good defensive tactics by the coach.

On channel 9 now

Speaks very well does Gus.

7 hours ago, 58er said:

Utter rubbish The stats  don't lie When he gets the ball in the corridor especially.

Yes sir!

Apologies for having an opinion.

It was a huge win for the club to see all of Gus, Viney, Oliver and Petracca having fun together in the middle.

It's not quite the Voss, Lappin, Black and Akermanis fab four.. or... is it?

10 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

It was a huge win for the club to see all of Gus, Viney, Oliver and Petracca having fun together in the middle.

It's not quite the Voss, Lappin, Black and Akermanis fab four.. or... is it?

Rhetorical question, is that you Bruce McAvaney?

15 minutes ago, bringbackthebiff said:

Rhetorical question, is that you Bruce McAvaney?

Ah, no, no, no.  It's a whole different format, don't you reckon, Biff?

Gus, Oliver, Viney and Pettraca are all having fun out there in the middle, wouldn't you say?

It's a big win for the club, do you think?

They remind you a bit of the old days of Brisbane, don't they? 

This new fab four could be the next Voss, Lappin, Black and Akermanis, couldn't they?

Was very impressive in his appearance on the Sunday footy show. A great representative for the club.

17 hours ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Gus plays well when the team plays well.  

Or is it the other way around?

Keep them together till we win one, then they can chase the money.

We are potentially a very good side, as good as any team in it. But when you get to top four good you are judged by a different set of standards, and a team stacked with talent has to deliver a premiership or be damned to the couldabeens, that the world is full of.

Melbourne's star is rising like a comet. We will need to win one in the next two or three years I'd say or it may be a long, long time before we get the chance again. Further if we don't we will again be laughed at, humiliated or worse pitied by all and sundry.

We have a good list but as we rise the players will be tempted to change clubs and chase big coin. It is imperative that as supporters we back the players and the club and stop playing little Gods and tearing our players apart. The hatred for Spargo is an example but there is a constant dialogue of "delist him, he's crap, he can't coach etc."

Please stay together as a team till we win one. I want Gus and Viney in that team.

8 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Speaks very well does Gus.

If you have time and haven't already seen, check out the "Captains Run" videos they put up each week on the club website.

Co-hosted by Max & Gus and they are both really good.

Episodes range from ~40 - 60 mins and they talk about what is going on around the club, upcoming or just played matches, have a news segment with Ben Gibson and speak to past players.. etc

Edited August 16, 20204 yr by JTR

2 hours ago, deespicable me said:

Keep them together till we win one, then they can chase the money.

We are potentially a very good side, as good as any team in it. But when you get to top four good you are judged by a different set of standards, and a team stacked with talent has to deliver a premiership or be damned to the couldabeens, that the world is full of.

Melbourne's star is rising like a comet. We will need to win one in the next two or three years I'd say or it may be a long, long time before we get the chance again. Further if we don't we will again be laughed at, humiliated or worse pitied by all and sundry.

We have a good list but as we rise the players will be tempted to change clubs and chase big coin. It is imperative that as supporters we back the players and the club and stop playing little Gods and tearing our players apart. The hatred for Spargo is an example but there is a constant dialogue of "delist him, he's crap, he can't coach etc."

Please stay together as a team till we win one. I want Gus and Viney in that team.

Agree, I posted on another topic the same thing. We are establishing the nucleus of a really good side. Premiership sides do not have 22 stars, but a lot of people who play their roles.

( Name all of Hawthorns Premiers 0nly 5 years ago or RIchmonds 3 years ago)) We have the best ruckman (or close to it) , a bloody good backup now, the fabulous 4. a replacement for Jetta (although I wish he could still keep going at his best) , an outside wingmen/medium fwd. Small Fwds still in their football infancy. A Full Fwd , Three really good first years    ( Jackson, Rivers Kozzie). A couple of really good second + years ( Sparrow & Lockart). Our Defence is no longer a sieve ( thanks to May)   PLUS we have backups for most of these.

Start building the flagpoles  !!!

10 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Gus seemed to spend quite a bit of time patrolling the middle between the 50m arcs, often unmanned.  (Would love to see a heat map if some one can access them).

He’s definitely spent more time around the middle of the ground the past few weeks. Here’s  his heat map vs Collingwood. He’s been good filling defensive holes and definitely stopped the Pies moving through the corridor more.