4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

It would made sense if Harmes had stayed in the team. With Sparrow being injured, Harmes move to starting on the bench and rotating through the midfield made sense. 
 

Harmes should be in and tagging Hill, Billings or Steele.  We have no tagging as should be Macrae and Bont having a party last week. Harmes needed the assignment. 
Hope he is back to tag Fyfe and Parker in the next games. 

I'd suggest that some of these good comments will take place during the game. A 'picked' side can change once on the ground - throwing a spanner, sometimes, into opposition set plans. That is why I'd recommend OMac to keep the bench warm throughout the game for the comfort of the hard workers making up the rest of the team - for when these latter folk need a short rest. OMac could also prove invaluable in this role, fetching drinks, towels and the like for their short-term recuperation. 

2 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Dropping Fritsch for being late is dumb, dumb, dumb. Fine him. Make him clean the showers. Do anything else that sends a message APART from harming the team’s chances of a much-needed victory.

Most of the time that you hear of a club suspending a player it is for a relatively serious infraction.

This just does not play right for me

3 hours ago, chook fowler said:

As a team we are missing a centre half forward, a wingman, 2 speedy half backs and a tactician in the coaches box.

Nice little summary.

4 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Somebody is getting increasingly carried away and posting rubbish rumours. There’s no way that following being dropped Harmes wasn’t spoken to ‘properly’ about it by the head coach. It’s nonsense. 

Gossip girl ?

17 hours ago, leucopogon said:

Saints by 58, this will be the beginning of the end of Goodwin's career I reckon.

The end is almost a fait accompli - just going through the motions these days - looking for an available alternative. So many MFC supporters want change, now. Saints by 59 points.

15 minutes ago, loges said:

Gossip girl ?

Awwwwww god I loved that show, can you believe Dan was Gossip Girl? OMG. 

Edited August 29, 20204 yr by Ethan Tremblay

Be very surprised if we win. I've posted elsewhere half the side that got us to the prelim in 2018 are playing way below that level. What I'd like to know is why this has occurred rather than rumour mongering.

2 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Some conjecture over the "so much" part Jnr but that is certainly the million $$ question right there mate.

I come back to my gut feel re motivational aspects.  Apparantly the players love Goody (most/all/some?), not that they all have to and in the real world such fairy tales rarely exist.

But, for arguments sake, let's say/assume most of them do.  This love part however doesn't necessarily correspond to player's excelling or performing on the day imv.  Maybe he is just a tad 'too nice/pally' and the fear component required to get message = response (ie motivation) ain't quite there or to the level one might require for AFL match day performance.

Could be wrong but that's been my concern all along.

I honestly believe a good coach would have this team humming, We have all of the elements.

The fact it has taken so long to try and fix the "connection" between the mids and fwds is telling. The fact that in critical games and marquee time slot games we fold like a cheap suit.

Regardless today is really the line in the sand. Goodwin has made significant statements with selection and if we lose I think we are basically out of the race. And of that happens he should go as soon as practicable.

The game today should tell us a lot. We basically have a full list, an ex-Saints coach and possibly a favourable venue.

If we get smashed today I think the knives will be out and all hell will break loose.

 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, chook fowler said:

I can understand Harmes getting dropped on form. By the same criteria Hannan, AVB and Hibberd probably should have been as well. We have too many that give too little, too often.

You can add Melksham, who picks and chooses when he wants to put in an effort

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Most of the time that you hear of a club suspending a player it is for a relatively serious infraction.

This just does not play right for me

Do you think there’s more to the story? 

5 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

Do you think there’s more to the story? 

No idea but it does seem to be a massive over reaction which makes you wonder.

No secret that teams and coaching staff are under abnormal pressures while in these hubs. Have a look at Hardwick's outbursts which some are saying are occurring because Balme is not there to provide that mature voice.

7 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Is this legit?

How does this information exactly get leaked from within the inner sanctum 8 hours after team selection?

Something doesn't add up...

I actually heard this this morning from another source re the info on Harmes. Where there's smoke....

4 minutes ago, picket fence said:

I actually heard this this morning from another source re the info on Harmes. Where there's smoke....

Harmes would be smart to ask for a trade. No room for him in our midfield, and thats the only spot he can play.

 

I went to the game last week. One of the floors to our set up once the we had kicked a behind (our own) was that the team or coaching panel could not stop the opposition full back from pin pointing a pass into the pocket to a loose doggies player. Who would then pass it on to another doggies player and then they were out. Sitting in the stands it was so obvious and yet rather than man up in forward line so as to stop this transition, they were happy to let it go and each time this was an easy exit with at least three goals coming from this play. It was horrible to watch. I am pretty sure the forward line coach had no idea what was happening. 

I feel for big Sam, in any other team he would kick four to five goals per game. It is horrible to watch the shear waste. Our speed in transition was as like watching a slow motion train wreck.

Once again handballs going backwards and if not going backwards six meters into the air with the opposition standing right next to our player who was standing still or running backwards to try and make a contest.

 The back flankers (Hibb) butchered kick after kick going into the forward line and was one of the doggies better players.

The center bounce / throw up. What have our ruck-man to do? Once again tap after tap direct to the opposition and they easily moved the ball in attack with out a hand being laid on them. Our mid field if first to the ball would cough it up with ease. They simply do not know how to move the ball by tapping on to a player in a better position. Once again the mid field did nothing but fight each other for the ball.

Hibbo should have been dropped not Lockart. Tomlinson is not a defender nor is Harmes. Harmes can't hit a target and nor can Hibbo.

Don't get me started on Melksham. How does a senior player kick it into the man on the mark from 30 meters out?

 

 

Not enough doom and gloom in the Dogs post match for you then BD?

 

Oscar and Spargo back in our lineup !!!  Pass the panadol.  

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

No idea but it does seem to be a massive over reaction which makes you wonder.

No secret that teams and coaching staff are under abnormal pressures while in these hubs. Have a look at Hardwick's outbursts which some are saying are occurring because Balme is not there to provide that mature voice.

A buddy of mine is one of the fitness trainers In the Tigers hub right now. All things considered it’s a pretty calm atmosphere there, and they’re all getting on well. I wouldn’t read much into Hardwick’s outburst. He’s got a colourful mouth when he’s peeved, but apparently does an incredible job of keeping the mood pretty light there, generally speaking. I’ve been privy to a couple of Tiger functions, and I can tell you they have a very enviable club culture there. 

1 hour ago, Mel Bourne said:

A buddy of mine is one of the fitness trainers In the Tigers hub right now. All things considered it’s a pretty calm atmosphere there, and they’re all getting on well. I wouldn’t read much into Hardwick’s outburst. He’s got a colourful mouth when he’s peeved, but apparently does an incredible job of keeping the mood pretty light there, generally speaking. I’ve been privy to a couple of Tiger functions, and I can tell you they have a very enviable club culture there. 

thanks to peggy o'neal and neil balme, plus benny gale who - all things being equal - should be the next ceo of the competition

Edited August 29, 20204 yr by whatwhatsaywhat

8 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

You might as well tell us who you're referencing Nev.

I'd still like a reply Nev, as to who " the usual trolls who only contribute abuse of other posters and the odd joke " are.

It seems to me that a statement like that is just trolling in itself, and you need to put up or ...... well ... you know what I mean.