2 minutes ago, willmoy said:

Could they be holding back three of our best players to play the gruelling second half of the year to help the final push for the Eight, Four, and then Flag??

high risk strategy if true - early wins are crucial.

44 minutes ago, willmoy said:

Could they be holding back three of our best players to play the gruelling second half of the year to help the final push for the Eight, Four, and then Flag??

Melksham is definitely not one of our best players.

Q: Why is Melksham valued?

A: 8th highest goal assists at MFC since 1965

    Top  20 marks inside 50 for MFC since 1965

    4th highest goal kicker on current list

This from 71 games in R&B to date.

Just to give some perspective on goal assists...

Melksham - 65 from 71 games

Brad Green - 85 from 254

Cam Bruce - 71 from 224

Adam Yze - 40 from 271

 

14 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Q: Why is Melksham valued?

A: 8th highest goal assists at MFC since 1965

    Top  20 marks inside 50 for MFC since 1965

    4th highest goal kicker on current list

This from 71 games in R&B to date.

For sure, been overall a great pick, but his 2020 was very underwhelming and his refusal to pressure to the required standard and his selfishness in front of goals were a bit unlike him. Needs to lift in 2021 from that.

Melksham in 2020 (averages):

Goal assists - 6th
Score involvements - 8th
Goals - 6th
Marks inside 50 - 5th
Tackles - 21st
Tackles inside 50 - 13th

For reference, Neal-Bullen was ahead of him in EVERY category except for goal assists (where he was 0.16 behind him) and marks inside 50 (not surprising given their usual ground positioning).

 

21 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Just to give some perspective on goal assists...

Melksham - 65 from 71 games

Brad Green - 85 from 254

Cam Bruce - 71 from 224

Adam Yze - 40 from 271

 

Fair chance WW that there hasn't been a long history of stat keeping for goal assists, I think they might have started keeping records in 2003, looking on AFL Tables and even with that the stats seemed to have changed a fair bit over the years.

Jake had an ordinary year in 2020, no doubt about it! I fall into the group that suspects Hub-life didn't bring the best out of him (growing family etc) rather than the group that believes all talent that this bloke displayed over a significant period suddenly vanished; evaporated - consigning him to the scrapheap! Short-sighted and short memories there, I believe.

5 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Jake had an ordinary year in 2020, no doubt about it! I fall into the group that suspects Hub-life didn't bring the best out of him (growing family etc) rather than the group that believes all talent that this bloke displayed over a significant period suddenly vanished; evaporated - consigning him to the scrapheap! Short-sighted and short memories there, I believe.

And still pretty much in his peak age for performance. Not sure what happened last year, but fingers crossed they get his role more settle in the forward half and get his head back in the game.

I think one of the (many) issues with last season for players like Melksham is that without a genuine reserves competition there wasn't anywhere for him and others who lost form to go. I think the coaching staff took the opinion that it was better to persevere in the hope that they would gain confidence rather than relegating them to Micky Mouse practice matches that were an extremely poor substitute to a reserves comp.

With the Casey (touch wood) restarting for the year I would like to think that there will be more pressure on spots with players pushing harder performances in the reserves.

Having said all of that, I really was frustrated that Jake managed to keep his spot in 2020. I could count the positive performances he put out on one hand.

Edited February 22, 20214 yr by Pates

5 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Just to give some perspective on goal assists...

Melksham - 65 from 71 games

Brad Green - 85 from 254

Cam Bruce - 71 from 224

Adam Yze - 40 from 271

 

3 of those blokes were more interested in slotting goals.. 

15 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Q: Why is Melksham valued?

A: 8th highest goal assists at MFC since 1965

    Top  20 marks inside 50 for MFC since 1965

    4th highest goal kicker on current list

This from 71 games in R&B to date.

In a club that has 1 200 game player and historically a very high turn over of players. Nothing to hang his hat on.

18 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Just to give some perspective on goal assists...

Melksham - 65 from 71 games

Brad Green - 85 from 254

Cam Bruce - 71 from 224

Adam Yze - 40 from 271

 

So he is better at goal assists than our board and coaching staff?

 

 

 

Fwiw I agree with you about his worth. He was critical in 2018. My problem is that when out of form he is a liability, and he needs to regain that form.

 

“It’s good news for Angus Brayshaw, who is back into full training after having surgery on his foot last year, while Jack Viney is on track to play a practice match in the lead up to Round 1, despite having a minor operation last month.”

Really good news on those two as I think quite a few of us (me included) were concerned they wouldn’t be seen until early into the season. 

So good to have a fitness bloke who can speak. Burgo gives you more confidence that he knows what he's talking about. As for his predecessor, I used to worry how he communicated anything to the players because he sure couldn't tell us anything.

Good to see Melkshams hamstring is only 2 weeks back in our best 22.

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

Good to see Melkshams hamstring is only 2 weeks back in our best 22.

On last years form Milkshake doesn't deserve a place in Round1. IMO he will have to produce form above his 2019 and 2020 average  (Or best ). Not good Enough and experience and tagging role drummed up to keep him in is not good enough.

So best 22 missing from round 1 confirmed are Brown and Weed.  anyone else?

Weids and Ben working together in rehab, should lead to a good rapport between them.

Hopefully they support each other to be better players, with a reduction of getting in each other's way and have that comradeship and connection earlier.

Disappointed that no news regarding Aaron Nietschke has come out of the club in the 24 hours since he came off the ground in yesterday’s practice match. 

Even if they’re waiting on the result of scans, a brief statement on the initial medical viewpoint on his situation would suffice. 

 

Yes I hope Nietschke will be ok. The Footy gods can be cruel to many young men. It’s fingers crossed.  

On 2/24/2021 at 6:25 PM, kev martin said:

Weids and Ben working together in rehab, should lead to a good rapport between them.

Hopefully they support each other to be better players, with a reduction of getting in each other's way and have that comradeship and connection earlier.

Weid said he is back running next week, so here’s hoping he will be back quicker than first thought.

19 hours ago, The Third Eye said:

Disappointed that no news regarding Aaron Nietschke has come out of the club in the 24 hours since he came off the ground in yesterday’s practice match. 

Even if they’re waiting on the result of scans, a brief statement on the initial medical viewpoint on his situation would suffice. 

 

Official now - his third ACL. Poor bloke.

Just now, The Great Pretender said:

Official now - his third ACL. Poor bloke.

Poor bugger. That sucks.

That hurts. Career over unfortunately for the lad.