Start Max in the goal square. See how Cameron reacts.

1 hour ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Do you remember how often Madden played forward?  He kicked a massive amount of goals.  Must have been one hell of a player.

Can't you remember, P2J?  Big Simon played in the same era as our own Robbie Flower, who you assured us in another thread that you had seen play.  Unless you were being economical with truth, that is. 

Of course, to have seen these champs running around you would have to be at least in your forties by now and I don't think you're anywhere near that old, are you?  

2 hours ago, Sydee said:

Wait a minute - flag favourites ? 
 

 

 

Of course. It's part of Gil's ongoing Americanisastion of the game which will see every team from 1st to 18th win a flag . And all the players will get participation ribbons.  

11 minutes ago, demonstone said:

Can't you remember, P2J?  Big Simon played in the same era as our own Robbie Flower, who you assured us in another thread that you had seen play.  Unless you were being economical with truth, that is. 

Of course, to have seen these champs running around you would have to be at least in your forties by now and I don't think you're anywhere near that old, are you?  

I remember Robbie because I am a Melbourne supporter, even though I was very young then.

Young enough to not give a [censored] about any other teams or remember their players.

 

2 hours ago, IRW said:

He could start by tapping to a mfc player  more often rather the technically " to advantage "

Bit harsh - the connection between Max and the midfield group seemed to be missing in round 1. It certainly seemed to be better this week 
 

It was spoken about by Goodwin after the game and I thought he said it was something they would have to work on during the week - seemed to me at least like they had made some adjustments and it was working better

Max can palm or hit the ball to a designated area but if our midfielders are too slow to react or in the wrong position you can't blame Max - not saying our Max is perfect but I wouldn't be swapping him for any other ruck in the comp  

  

Haven’t heard one football commentator (including Kane Cornes) heap nothing but praise on Max’s game . Of particular note was his running to spots especially in the back line to help out. Lever & May were a bit fumbly in the marking & Max was supreme. He is at the moment the premier ruckman so I would think the other ruckman have to challenge him not the other way round !!

2 hours ago, IRW said:

He could start by tapping to a mfc player  more often rather the technically " to advantage "

Stats from the weekend - he seems to be doing something right 
 

Metres gained from centre bounces:
Melbourne: 821 | St Kilda: 195

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Brown used to play forward ruck at NM quite often. If and when he gets on the park will be interesting to see if he is given that job like Geelomg use Hawkins.

Given the situation with his knee i wouldn't let BB anywhere near a rucking contest.

Max is a great example of someone who stays in almost every game by purely having a high work rate. Even if he’s having an off day from taps (or taps to advantage) he’s still making contests and taking contested marks. His role as the sweeper when May and Lever are covered is absolutely essential to the team. 

He looks like someone who will play into his mid-30s, even if it’s not as the no 1 ruck. Jackson couldn’t have a better mentor. 

3 hours ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Do you remember how often Madden played forward?  He kicked a massive amount of goals.  Must have been one hell of a player.

I clearly remember all the ruckmen on that list.

Dempsey was a freak, an absolute freak and thrashed every opponent he played against most weeks. His defensive marking was his trade mark, and his tap work was just so accurate.

Madden was basically a giant goal-kicking, high marking midfielder who changed ruck play. He was the first I remember who jumped early into his opponent for serious hangtime, and then palmed it in a range of full 360 degrees, including behind his head while he was in the air. 

Moore was so athletic who, like Madden, had midfielder qualities. He could change the momentum of a game  by doing ridiculous superstar things like Toby Greene or Dusty Martin. He was probably the most spectacular of this list.

Cox the same; at his size he should have been awkward kicking on the run, but he was a beautiful kick. He served it up from hand and foot bringing Cousins, Judd etc... into the game.

I am a bit protective of this list, and few make it on. Max earns his spot for being so consistent, by his impact in moment or periods of a game, but also for his tap work. Some people on this chat are critical of his tapping. That is actual praise because opposition are treating him like their own ruckman, understanding their own rucks have little to no chance to win much against him. 

 

Madden was a remarkable player.  He kicked well over 500 goals but nearly always had a very good ruck partner which allowed him to spend plenty of time forward.  His first two senior seasons he played almost exclusively forward as Graham Moss (1976 Brownlow medallist) was the number one ruck at the Bombers. Then he played alongside his brother Justin for a number of years, before he went to Carlton in 1983, Paul Salmon from 1983 until the end of his career, as well as Peter Somerville towards the end of his career. Roger Merrett also often took the ruck in the mid 80's.  So Madden was genuinely versatile and could have played exclusively as a key forward.  His ruck work was incredible.

Gawn is the best ruck since Dean Cox in my view, and certainly worthy of a place in that top 5.  He's a better ruckman than Peter Moore - not as spectacular but a better pure ruck.

Thought Max played a real team-first role on Saturday. 

Was worried about his first game, but this week took marks in the backline, did much better 'connecting' with the midfield and had Saints supporters lamenting 'we only kicked it to Gawn'!

Would be good if he could contribute a goal or two but like I am with all players I'm  happy if he just plays his role.

 

Definitely prefer the 'kick behind play' Max 

11 hours ago, Rocknroll said:

Max must be licking his lips again.  (mods - I dont think this deserves it own topic, please put this topic somewhere else if it fits) 

Max did well on the weekend, but hoping he starts really hurting teams soon. 

Tell me how you reckon Max can really hurt these teams. 

It's often the non stats/non possessions that are overlooked. Opposition players want to kick the ball to a certain area of the ground or to one of their link up players and they look up and there's big Maxy standing in the way. So he dictates where the ball is likely to go and with more experience our players are taking advantage of this by reading/ intercepting the ball coming in.

Edited March 29, 20214 yr by dworship

21 hours ago, Deestar9 said:

Haven’t heard one football commentator (including Kane Cornes) heap nothing but praise on Max’s game . Of particular note was his running to spots especially in the back line to help out. Lever & May were a bit fumbly in the marking & Max was supreme. He is at the moment the premier ruckman so I would think the other ruckman have to challenge him not the other way round !!

It was highlighted by Matthew Lloyd on the AFL website. Showed behind the goals footage showing Gawn pushing back to get in the hole and take intercept marks without a Saints player following him. It's that workrate and endurance that makes Gawn as good as he is.

Number of times on the weekend he called Jackson up from the goal square for stoppages just outside 50, and went back to the wing, Dogga is pretty much our forward half ruckman while Gawn covers the back half

 

On 3/30/2021 at 2:20 PM, Ben Reyment said:

Number of times on the weekend he called Jackson up from the goal square for stoppages just outside 50, and went back to the wing, Dogga is pretty much our forward half ruckman while Gawn covers the back half

 

At times, there was a point from where I was behind the punt road goals Maxy was our FF in the square with Trac then Kozzie in a line up to fifty toward the square, and I thought that would cause concerns if you were coaching Freo...

Lots of options.

On 3/29/2021 at 7:39 AM, Deestar9 said:

Haven’t heard one football commentator (including Kane Cornes) heap nothing but praise on Max’s game . 

That’s awful. Unless you mean the opposite. ?

On 3/29/2021 at 4:53 PM, Sydee said:

Stats from the weekend - he seems to be doing something right 
 

Metres gained from centre bounces:
Melbourne: 821 | St Kilda: 195

I would like to know how they determined these numbers.

From what I can see - having a dominant ruck man is akin to having a state of the art fax machine. 
Grundy and Gawn just don’t rule like their glorified ancestors did.

3 minutes ago, rpfc said:

I would like to know how they determined these numbers.

From what I can see - having a dominant ruck man is akin to having a state of the art fax machine. 
Grundy and Gawn just don’t rule like their glorified ancestors did.

I would imagine it is reflective of clearances from centre bounces - ruck dominance if effective in getting your midfielders possession should in theory play a big part in this 

5 x All Australian (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

2 x Melbourne best and fairest winner (2018, 2019)

1 x AFL coaches association player of the year (2018)

Melbourne captain from 2020 - 

Now best on ground 5 goal performance to rocket us into a grand final.

 

 

 

Still think the best thing he has done for this club is to spew on Tom Scully 

Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the greatest Demon of them all?

We will find out in 2 weeks. 

 

If we bring home the cup he will be the best captain in the modern era 

On 3/29/2021 at 12:28 PM, Roost it far said:

As someone who thought we should trade Gawn I’ve become a total convert. He and Jackson in combination can potentially dominate games. He’s a big reason we’re flag favourites 

🤗

On 3/29/2021 at 10:34 PM, layzie said:

Definitely prefer the 'kick behind play' Max 

🙄 even when he gets 5 goals in a final?

 

Seriously that game last night was the most inspirational captains game I can remember. Absolutely inspirational and a joy to watch. 
And Luke Jackson being able to release him forward (and back) hopefully will add 3 or 4 years to his career.   Sign LJ up for life today. 
What a combination.

19 minutes ago, monoccular said:

 

🙄 even when he gets 5 goals in a final?

 

That's a nice reach back to March 2021 there Monoccular! :p

But in all seriousness he has taken his forward craft to a new level this year and I agree I don't think you'll see a better captain's game than that. Behind the ball, forward of the ball, put him where he's needed and he'll deliver.