1 hour ago, Jaded said:

Christ that’s a blast from the past. 
We are so old. 

Not true! Now if you would excuse me...

 

River's got a pump up by Cal Twomey on AFL Exchange tonight. Shared our thoughts in that he was surprised no one was talking about him.

Regarding our inside 50s and our inside 50 efficiency, I can't remember which poster it was that was complaining about our forward 50 entries and suggesting we change it up, but we are currently 1st for inside 50s and 5th for inside 50 efficiency. That's a monumental improvement for us.

We're predictable when we go inside 50. If a player isn't free and the leading channels are clogged up, we'll go into the high forward pocket. It means every Melbourne player knows it. This makes us predictable in the same way Richmond were predictable going to the foot of the square and Riewoldt throughout 2017 and 2018, then getting their crumbers to pressure the foot of the contest.

We don't have the same sort of dynamic smalls (outside of Kozzie), but our go is stoppages, so we look to get an inside 50 mark (say Gawn or McDonald) or get it out of bounds to reset and win the stoppage contest from there. This strategy won't change, as I think @binman said, nor should it. It's clearly working a treat. 

Edited May 17, 20213 yr by A F

2 hours ago, rpfc said:

Daniher said Chris Lamb was a ten year full back and then delisted him a few months later.

Haha. If Watts and Melksham were/are whipping boys on the forums, Chris Lamb was whatever the opposite of that is. He had a serious following about these parts and 'ology, which was arguably unwarranted on actual output. 

12 minutes ago, Nasher said:

Haha. If Watts and Melksham were/are whipping boys on the forums, Chris Lamb was whatever the opposite of that is. He had a serious following about these parts and 'ology, which was arguably unwarranted on actual output. 

Chris Lamb being one of the few players to get under Wayne Carey’s skin helped get him brownie points.

Edited May 17, 20213 yr by John Crow Batty

i'll never forget chris lamb getting turned inside out by an elderly sav rocca in canberra in a pre-season game; it was the one where they were talking about rattling tins so we could afford to upgrade this exciting kid named aaron davey to our senior list so we could play him

knew he was never gonna make it if a 35 year old (or thereabouts) saverio was making you look foolish

Brown and Weideman might not have got on the score sheet, but watching the replay at the moment, I reckon we can make this work with McDonald. It might take some time to get this to work and we might have to be a bit smarter about how we use each one, but it was a reasonable dress rehearsal. 

I liked how we utilised Weideman in the ruck and then higher up the ground and across half back. We also had him from the square on occasion too, so we kept them guessing and kept flipping the match ups to test the Carlton defence. 1v1 their guys are actually not too bad. It's their team defence that's ordinary, so it was good to see Brown and Weideman get a couple of looks each. They really could easily have had 2 or 3 each. And if Max doesn't take that off Brown's chest earlier in the game, there's another one. But that's the synergy that's not quite there yet. 

I also think we need to play Fritsch up the ground. Play him between the arcs. His ball use there is brilliant, particularly entering 50. The old Melksham role. Roll him back to our forward square when we can, but his ball use further up the ground will be very handy. He'll still get 2 or 3 looks a game, the same as he does now, but then exploit his ball use and allow others to get involved.

Chandler should get another go in there as a small too, but I think in time it'd be nice to have Sparrow in there. He gives us an extra mid rotation and can play a defensive role inside forward 50. It might also be an idea to try Bedford for a game or two as well before the end of the season. We do need another zippy small like Kozzie though, but that's the for the draft, unless we've got our eyes on a small in the mid season draft. 

I'd utilise Brown at CHF, deep forward and as the secondary option with Max up the ground. I'd use McDonald deep, CHF, wing and the other secondary option with Max up the ground.

Be fascinating to see what we do this week. I reckon we'll go unchanged, unless we bring Viney in for Chandler. It may also be a horses for courses thing against say the Bulldogs the following week, where we might want to go tall to try and target the Bulldogs' lack of quality KPDs. I'd love to see Jackson play as a genuine mid and second ruck too, but that might be a bridge too far. Interesting times.

And I just need to say it again. What a ripping game from Rivers. Star. He's even better on replay.

Edited May 17, 20213 yr by A F

1 hour ago, A F said:

Regarding our inside 50s and our inside 50 efficiency, I can't remember which poster it was that was complaining about our forward 50 entries and suggesting we change it up, but we are currently 1st for inside 50s and 5th for inside 50 efficiency. That's a monumental improvement for us.

We're predictable when we go inside 50. If a player isn't free and the leading channels are clogged up, we'll go into the high forward pocket. It means every Melbourne player knows it. This makes us predictable in the same way Richmond were predictable going to the foot of the square and Riewoldt throughout 2017 and 2018, then getting their crumbers to pressure the foot of the contest.

We don't have the same sort of dynamic smalls (outside of Kozzie), but our go is stoppages, so we look to get an inside 50 mark (say Gawn or McDonald) or get it out of bounds to reset and win the stoppage contest from there. This strategy won't change, as I think @binman said, nor should it. It's clearly working a treat. 

Our smalls are in such excellent form to keep the ball in our forward line. The leading patterns were understandably crossed and confused and that will get better over time. But if they want SW to be there, they will have to get creative with selection - I think Brown at FF is our best bet for success in 2021.

16 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Our smalls are in such excellent form to keep the ball in our forward line. The leading patterns were understandably crossed and confused and that will get better over time. But if they want SW to be there, they will have to get creative with selection - I think Brown at FF is our best bet for success in 2021.

We did look really dangerous against Sydney with a 200cm giant standing in the goal square. I reckon you might be right.

42 minutes ago, A F said:

And I just need to say it again. What a ripping game from Rivers. Star. He's even better on replay.

He stands up in high pressure moments. The type of moments that win you finals. I love him! 

32 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

He stands up in high pressure moments. The type of moments that win you finals. I love him! 

Absolutely. Some real clutch marks, but also clutch contests, and just takes the game on and runs through forwards to get ground balls and then clear them. 

8 hours ago, Nasher said:

Haha. If Watts and Melksham were/are whipping boys on the forums, Chris Lamb was whatever the opposite of that is. He had a serious following about these parts and 'ology, which was arguably unwarranted on actual output. 

See also: Michael Juice Newton

13 hours ago, Demons3031 said:

important link in the chain - Langdon.  His hard running to help out in defence or to create space and options on the wing is critical and is what translates the great defence into something.

Thanks 3031. Top post. Absolutely this regarding Langdon. So many times he has broken away into space and been that vital link out of our defence. Probably covers more territory than anyone except maybe Oliver. And EL is always so clean with marking and effective in finding targets. He has been a huge part of our success thus far.

On 5/16/2021 at 9:52 PM, Winter Dan said:

I believe Carton had an extra at the stoppage and we played a spare back. 

we had someone back all game

Still cant work out why our forward line is so crowded One point in first quarter 5 players including Chandler flew for a mark spoiling a good grab by TMac

The positioning of our forwards still needs a lot of work

Also Max spoiled TMac numerous times with no talking  and we never seem to have  small defender goal side

Pretty basic flaws in my opinion

8 hours ago, A F said:

Absolutely. Some real clutch marks, but also clutch contests, and just takes the game on and runs through forwards to get ground balls and then clear them. 

Trent "Clutch" Rivers

On 5/16/2021 at 6:49 PM, Better days ahead said:

Who cares what BT thinks leever. He's a boofhead.

Excellent post, nailed it in one!??

20 minutes ago, FritschyBusiness said:

Trent "Clutch" Rivers

He is an absolute Gem Rarely makes a mistake with the ball

A true footballer Love watching his game

Sidebar comment but  many thanks to whoever found and handed in Mrs B's phone after the game. Hope it was a D'Lander or friend.

Much relief to see it sitting on the lost property bench when we got there.

10 hours ago, Dannyz said:

He stands up in high pressure moments. The type of moments that win you finals. I love him! 

And he is such a competitor.

I think back to his devestation in the rooms after I think the freo game last year. 

And I loved his perplexed reaction to a free given against him on the weekend.

Hw also backs himself. Takes players on and takes risky options with his kicks.

In doing so, like Hunt, is both a defensive ans offensive threat.

And those two players playing their role has freed Salem to get further up the ground.

As a result Salem has become much more of an offensive threat. Almost all of his kicks now go forward. And most hit targets. Ane because he is kicking from higher up the ground those targets are often in dangerous areas.

It was interesting that. On on the couch  when asked what he would do to break the dees down, lyon said clamp down on Salem.

Liking the love for Rivers on here. Its insane he does everything, so rare to have few floors for such a young player. Of course playing back half helps and he's given a fair bit of freedom but I just think this kid is going to be a star, still unsure of what his ceiling will be but tracking as future all Australian backman and a long career ahead of him at the very least.

Edited May 18, 20213 yr by Yung Blood

You can be sure that his ceiling is higher than his floors.

Wanted to make note of the skill level on the weekend.

I've been going to every dees game in Melbourne with my Dad for about 20 years and we while it wasn't a pretty game of football by any means our class and skill in wet conditions was a cut above Carltons. Haven't been able to say that many times over the years.

I think we've had skilled players in the side but sometimes it doesn't show when confidence is down. Now that we are rolling with firm belief in each team mate there are some really creative things happening with the ball.

Just little things I noticed on the weekend like Brayshaws insanely quick and well timed handball to Hibberd running off the boundary in the last or Kozzy almost bouncing the ball behind his back to gain possession and avoid boundary/opposition in the pocket, so many more little things like this just had us in ore of some of the skills and confidence on display. Its not just the Kozzy's, Salem's, Petracca's, Olivers or Spargo's its becoming infectious. 

 

 

15 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

Goody on 365 just now stated he was very confident that the Weid will be with us next year. Sounded pretty definitive about it. Don't think the Weid is going anywhere soon.

He seem very confident but who comes out for Jackson in a couple of weeks?

Edited May 18, 20213 yr by leave it to deever

26 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

He seem very confident but who comes out for Jackson in a couple of weeks?

Goody had to say that. Imagine the stink if said otherwise. In the meantime Weid has to perform better than his first outing and kick goals when he has the opportunity.

Edited May 18, 20213 yr by John Crow Batty