Jump to content

Featured Replies

 
5 hours ago, Stevienic23 said:

Having read this thread and various other threads re VandenBerg over the years I think I have the un-popular opinion of that I don't think he's that good. I understand there needs to be some forgiveness given he's lack of continuity in his football, but he just can't kick. 

I think he can be the beneficiary of shortened quarters where he can be used as an impact player - but he needs to be more than a bloke that can just tackle. He has no problem finding the ball:

vs Geelong – 1 kick, 6 handballs, 3 tackles 62% game time –71% efficiency

vs Richmond – 14 touches, 3 tackles, 70% game time –85% efficiency

vs Gold Coast – 11 touches, 3 tackles, 47% game time –72% efficiency

vs Hawthorn – 13 touches, 4 tackles, 81% game time – 53% disposal efficiency

If he polishes up his kicking - especially at goal, he could be a lot more damaging playing that half-forward pushing deeper role. Bizarrely, I can acknowledge that we are a better side with him in - so maybe I'm just Covid rambling 

It’s not just that he tackles though, it’s that his tackles prize the ball loose so much more than other players (as distinct from a tackle that causes a ball-up). I can’t name another player in our side I could say that about. The next best flankers such as ANB certainly can’t say that, and aren’t going to be so much better with the ball to justify the loss of that attribute.

AVB is an average footballer, but when he tackles, he tackles hard. They stick

I think his opponents would be hurting for a while. 
If we progress to the pointy end of the Season, he could be a very useful member, without getting a kick....

Edited by Sir Why You Little

 

Also can we all just get the [censored] over 2018? 

Sorry, but how many times do I have to hear it? 

Yes it was a good run, but we got absolutely embarrassed in Perth (given we ended up losing to the WCE who won the flag) but can we all stop reverting back to it? 

Everyone needs to wrap up their romanticism with it  

Everyone keeps comparing his 2018 to now. Who cares? 

Traccs 2018 to now is also totally different. 

With AVB he hasn't changed and the game is only getting quicker. I see him going through to the end of the year and then I think he will get overtaken by a younger, quicker player who can do more. His continual injuries (even if this injury is only a few weeks) is also a bit of a worry. 

I think he's a limited player and can't seem him in our future 
 

18 hours ago, deanox said:

Is Goody happy that you've told everyone he is unhappy? Or should that have been kept quiet as well?

Oh very droll, thought you could understand his attitude to extraneous noise

Just pointing it out, you have the option not to read


13 minutes ago, MF-C said:

Also can we all just get the [censored] over 2018? 

Sorry, but how many times do I have to hear it? 

Yes it was a good run, but we got absolutely embarrassed in Perth (given we ended up losing to the WCE who won the flag) but can we all stop reverting back to it? 

Everyone needs to wrap up their romanticism with it  

Everyone keeps comparing his 2018 to now. Who cares? 

Traccs 2018 to now is also totally different. 

With AVB he hasn't changed and the game is only getting quicker. I see him going through to the end of the year and then I think he will get overtaken by a younger, quicker player who can do more. His continual injuries (even if this injury is only a few weeks) is also a bit of a worry. 

I think he's a limited player and can't seem him in our future 
 

damn....damn.....you just reminded me of 2018 after i'd banished it from my memory.....damn

Remember a couple of years ago when we made a Prelim? Those were the days. What year was that again? 

Edited by Ethan Tremblay

 
Just now, Ethan Tremblay said:

Remember a couple of years ago when we made a Prelim? Those were the days. 

Now that I'm over the fixture 'fixes' rant, I reckon we can get there again this year. 

How is that for reverse MFCSS...:cool:

39 minutes ago, MF-C said:

Also can we all just get the [censored] over 2018? 

Sorry, but how many times do I have to hear it? 

Yes it was a good run, but we got absolutely embarrassed in Perth (given we ended up losing to the WCE who won the flag) but can we all stop reverting back to it? 

Everyone needs to wrap up their romanticism with it  

Everyone keeps comparing his 2018 to now. Who cares? 

Traccs 2018 to now is also totally different. 

With AVB he hasn't changed and the game is only getting quicker. I see him going through to the end of the year and then I think he will get overtaken by a younger, quicker player who can do more. His continual injuries (even if this injury is only a few weeks) is also a bit of a worry. 

I think he's a limited player and can't seem him in our future 
 

Why?

It's a recent season where the majority of our current list played good football for long periods. Just because we lost the prelim doesn't mean there's nothing from 2018 that is of relevance or that can be used for comparison or reflection.


8 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Now that I'm over the fixture 'fixes' rant, I reckon we can get there again this year. 

How is that for reverse MFCSS...:cool:

Beat Brisbane and we’ll make the Grand Final*.  #Youhearditherefirst.

1 hour ago, deanox said:

How dare you actually talk about football in this thread. 

Haha yeh I wish I had some inside mail from the club to join in on this 'my mail vs your mail' w*nkfest. I knew I was opening myself up but just an opinion I've had for a little while which I felt like airing. 

I suppose part of my opinion is formed upon the fact that he's in his 6th year on our list and we've shown a lot of faith on very little exposed form. Dan Menzel had more exposed form and you could see why Geelong (at the time) kept him around.

I've acknowledged that his physicality means we're a better side for him in it - but I think he really needs to tidy up his disposal by foot so we can play him in a position that's really going to make us a better side.  

1 hour ago, Satyriconhome said:

Oh very droll, thought you could understand his attitude to extraneous noise

Just pointing it out, you have the option not to read

Just a little joke Saty ;)

26 minutes ago, Stevienic23 said:

Haha yeh I wish I had some inside mail from the club to join in on this 'my mail vs your mail' w*nkfest. I knew I was opening myself up but just an opinion I've had for a little while which I felt like airing. 

I suppose part of my opinion is formed upon the fact that he's in his 6th year on our list and we've shown a lot of faith on very little exposed form. Dan Menzel had more exposed form and you could see why Geelong (at the time) kept him around.

I've acknowledged that his physicality means we're a better side for him in it - but I think he really needs to tidy up his disposal by foot so we can play him in a position that's really going to make us a better side.  

I think Vanders is an enigma. In some ways similar to Viney in that his most valuable contribution is intangible and not quantifiable.

Toughness, leadership (by physical example), persistent effort, aggression, perceived pressure. Heart and soul? These things matter to the way that everyone else around them plays. 

Few players have these qualities in abundance. And I think that they only lose their spot when a) someone more skilled knocks on the door and b) the rest of the team has developed / can bring these traits in sufficient quantaties that they are looked upon foldly but not missed. 

So I agree he struggles and will be replaced eventually, but we are a while away from that yet. 

4 minutes ago, deanox said:

I think Vanders is an enigma. In some ways similar to Viney in that his most valuable contribution is intangible and not quantifiable.

Toughness, leadership (by physical example), persistent effort, aggression, perceived pressure. Heart and soul? These things matter to the way that everyone else around them plays. 

Few players have these qualities in abundance. And I think that they only lose their spot when a) someone more skilled knocks on the door and b) the rest of the team has developed / can bring these traits in sufficient quantaties that they are looked upon foldly but not missed. 

So I agree he struggles and will be replaced eventually, but we are a while away from that yet. 

Cant argue with any of that


7 minutes ago, deanox said:

I think Vanders is an enigma. In some ways similar to Viney in that his most valuable contribution is intangible and not quantifiable.

Toughness, leadership (by physical example), persistent effort, aggression, perceived pressure. Heart and soul? These things matter to the way that everyone else around them plays. 

Few players have these qualities in abundance. And I think that they only lose their spot when a) someone more skilled knocks on the door and b) the rest of the team has developed / can bring these traits in sufficient quantaties that they are looked upon foldly but not missed. 

So I agree he struggles and will be replaced eventually, but we are a while away from that yet. 

Agreed. A bit like Byron Pickett in 2006, in that opponents didn’t want to go near him. 
 

He was a real weapon that year

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Agreed. A bit like Byron Pickett in 2006, in that opponents didn’t want to go near him. 
 

He was a real weapon that year

My son is in an analytical field that understands human motivation and more so effect!!

He said to me that VDB is a great barometer and instigator of what occurs out on the field!

Ahh In spite of any negatives here ...I might get it wrong,,, often.. but my son .. Ah I'll back his appraisal!

I always like AVB in our side!!

Edited by picket fence

36 minutes ago, picket fence said:

My son is in an analytical field that understands human motivation and more so effect!!

He said to me that VDB is a great barometer and instigator of what occurs out on the field!

Ahh In spite of any negatives here ...I might get it wrong,,, often.. but my son .. Ah I'll back his appraisal!

I always like AVB in our side!!

Sure. A heavy tackle can be equal to multiple “disposals” if that tackle is rendered correctly...

 

On 7/22/2020 at 8:39 PM, Mickey said:

Stratton got fined for striking

Should've been at least 1 week

Thank phark this bloke is back in tomorrow night.

It's no coincidence that we play better football when he is in the team,  it's happened on multiple occasions now. 

Not blessed with skill but raises the bar for the whole team with his attack on the opponent.

Love him! 


Not a lot of tackles stuck properly last week, not a problem for AvB!

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: St. Kilda

    The media has performed a complete reversal in its coverage of the Melbourne Football Club over the past month and a half. Having endured intense criticism from all quarters in the press, which continually identified new avenues for scrutiny of every aspect, both on and off the field, and prematurely speculated about the departures of coaches, players, officials, and various employees from a club that lost its first five matches and appeared out of finals contention, the narrative has suddenly shifted to one of unbridled optimism.  The Demons have won five of their last six matches, positioning themselves just one game (and a considerable amount of percentage) outside the top eight at the halfway mark of the season. They still trail the primary contenders and remain far from assured of a finals berth.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 2 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: Sydney

    A few weeks ago, I visited a fellow Melbourne Football Club supporter in hospital, and our conversation inevitably shifted from his health diagnosis to the well-being of our football team. Like him, Melbourne had faced challenges in recent months, but an intervention - in his case, surgery, and in the team's case, a change in game style - had brought about much improvement.  The team's professionals had altered its game style from a pedestrian and slow-moving approach, which yielded an average of merely 60 points for five winless games, to a faster and more direct style. This shift led to three consecutive wins and a strong competitive effort in the fourth game, albeit with a tired finish against Hawthorn, a strong premiership contender.  As we discussed our team's recent health improvement, I shared my observations on the changes within the team, including the refreshed style, the introduction of new young talent, such as rising stars Caleb Windsor, Harvey Langford, and Xavier Lindsay, and the rebranding of Kozzy Pickett from a small forward to a midfield machine who can still get among the goals. I also highlighted the dominance of captain Max Gawn in the ruck and the resurgence in form in a big way of midfield superstars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. 

      • Clap
      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 9 replies
    Demonland
  • PODCAST: Sydney

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 26th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we analyse a crushing victory by the Demons over the Swans at the G. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.

      • Clap
      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 49 replies
    Demonland
  • POSTGAME: Sydney

    The Demons controlled the contest from the outset, though inaccurate kicking kept the Swans in the game until half time. But after the break, Melbourne put on the jets and blew Sydney away and the demolition job was complete.

      • Clap
      • Love
      • Like
    • 428 replies
    Demonland
  • VOTES: Sydney

    Max Gawn still has an almost unassailable lead in the Demonland Player of the Year award. Jake Bowey, Christian Petracca, Harvey Langford, Kade Chandler & Ed Langdon round out the Top 5. Your votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

      • Thanks
    • 46 replies
    Demonland
  • CASEY: Northern Bullants

    The Casey Demons travelled to a windy Cramer Street, Preston yesterday and blew the Northern Bullants off the ground for three quarters before shutting up shop in the final term, coasting to a much-needed 71-point victory after leading by almost 15 goals at one stage. It was a pleasing performance that revived the Demons’ prospects for the 2025 season but, at the same time, very little can be taken from the game because of the weak opposition. These days, the Bullants are little more than road kill. The once proud club, situated behind the Preston Market in a now culturally diverse area, is currently facing significant financial and on-field challenges, having failed to secure a win to date in 2025.

      • Thanks
    • 0 replies
    Demonland