Has anyone read the Mongrel Punt 2023 season review about us? 

THE BIG QUESTIONS – MELBOURNE 2023 SEASON PREVIEW

Some interesting points - particularly that Fritta has kicked more goals in the last two years than anyone else bar Hawkins -pretty amazing. The MP does not agree with the “selfish” criticism…

Like me, he is pretty bullish about 2023- particularly Gawn/Grundy and Langdon/Hunter. A good read if you can get it.

Edited January 9, 20232 yr by Whispering_Jack
Added link

PS He is also a huge Clarrie fan - sees him as an all-time great.

https://themongrelpunt.com/afl-season-2023/2023/01/08/the-big-questions-melbourne-2023-season-preview/

 

47 minutes ago, Ollie fan said:

PS He is also a huge Clarrie fan - sees him as an all-time great.

Sounds like a very astute observer of the game 😉

During the season, the $6 a month fee for their full articles is really worth it. One of the few footy news sources with content they've created and aren't just padding out fluff stories.

Love the idea of plonking Gawn in our defensive 50 for much of the game to make the opposition think twice about their inside 50 entries.

If T Mac, BBB and JVR are all available then I don't see the need for Gawn to spend much time as a forward this year.

 

Edited January 8, 20232 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Love the idea of plonking Gawn in our defensive 50 for much of the game to make the opposition think twice about their inside 50 entries.

If T Mac, BBB and JVR are all available then I don't see the need for Gawn to spend much time as a forward this year.

 

It seemed to me that opposition teams were finding ways to NOT bomb long into their F50. I.e lots of chip and run type entries to undo the influence of May and Lever and break up our structure. Does Gawn playing back really add that much more? Its a genuine question not a statement. I just cant quite get my head around where to get the most out of him when he's not rucking. 

14 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

It seemed to me that opposition teams were finding ways to NOT bomb long into their F50. I.e lots of chip and run type entries to undo the influence of May and Lever and break up our structure. Does Gawn playing back really add that much more? Its a genuine question not a statement. I just cant quite get my head around where to get the most out of him when he's not rucking. 

I think the answer to this might be that there are two types of attack from the opposition. The first is setting up a chain of chip and run, which we try to defeat by all-team defence, putting pressure on their ball-carrier and all receiving options, starting at our forward line. The second is when they get the ball from a contested situation, which, as MP describes, can be stymied by having the ruckman play a kick behind.  

Minimum 20 mtr passes by foot essential, or the code will pay.

I wonder if perhaps having Gawn a kick ahead of play (rather than behind) will offer us the easy option when teams are playing man on man? Our lack of quality by foot became an issue when teams went man on man, and our fitness started to drop (because normally the better fitness allows us to get better post contest possession / clearance). Having an outlet like Gawn sitting 30-40 metres off the throw-in / bounce might be an option. 

With Grundy taking the ruck contest, Gawn's opponent is likely to be undersized, or Grundy will ruck against their second-choice ruck which may enable a clean clearance.

50 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

It seemed to me that opposition teams were finding ways to NOT bomb long into their F50. I.e lots of chip and run type entries to undo the influence of May and Lever and break up our structure. Does Gawn playing back really add that much more? Its a genuine question not a statement. I just cant quite get my head around where to get the most out of him when he's not rucking. 

Yep, at worst he blocks space...less room for forwards to lead for the chip pass.

Most likely pressure up the ground will see more get out of jail kicks which we can pick off.

4 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Love the idea of plonking Gawn in our defensive 50 for much of the game to make the opposition think twice about their inside 50 entries.

If T Mac, BBB and JVR are all available then I don't see the need for Gawn to spend much time as a forward this year.

 

Agree absolutely BBP.

5 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

Has anyone read the Mongrel Punt 2023 season review about us? 

THE BIG QUESTIONS – MELBOURNE 2023 SEASON PREVIEW

Some interesting points - particularly that Fritta has kicked more goals in the last two years than anyone else bar Hawkins -pretty amazing. The MP does not agree with the “selfish” criticism…

Like me, he is pretty bullish about 2023- particularly Gawn/Grundy and Langdon/Hunter. A good read if you can get it.

  It was a great read until it got to the bit where if you wanted to read on you had to subscribe. I paid the money and kept reading!

Money well spent. Go Dees 

Personally, I think bombing the ball in long is exactly what we want the opposition to do. 

I'm not so sure Gawn is going to be in the middle less.

Why change a Ruckman who wins a flag from the middle? And who knows all participants.

Brodie becomes a big problem forward while Max becomes one in the backline.

Yes been meaning to sign up and finally did, would love to have a yarn in a pub with this bloke.

6 hours ago, DEE fence said:

Yes been meaning to sign up and finally did, would love to have a yarn in a pub with this bloke.

He does have a pretty good sense of humour and doesn't take himself very seriously. A refreshing change from a lot of the ex-footy player turned journalists who write as though they are THE authority on the game. 

22 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Personally, I think bombing the ball in long is exactly what we want the opposition to do. 

Yep ... And the opposition all learnt that isn't the way to beat us.
Run at us and go forward low and fast cause the backline are panic merchants.
Worked a charm last year.

 

Edited January 10, 20232 yr by Fork 'em

1 hour ago, Fork 'em said:

Yep ... And the opposition all learnt that isn't the way to beat us.
Run at us and go forward low and fast cause the backline are panic merchants.
Worked a charm last year.

 

Panic merchants?? Two years in a row the meanest defence in the league?!!!!

On 1/9/2023 at 7:47 AM, Ollie fan said:

PS He is also a huge Clarrie fan - sees him as an all-time great.

How could anyone see Clarrie not being in the echelon of the 'all time greats'? 

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

How could anyone see Clarrie not being in the echelon of the 'all time greats'? 

He already is!!🤩

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

He already is!!🤩

and he hasn't even reached his prime yet

still a work in progress

Someone finally identified how good Fritsch is as a goal kicking forward, only behind Hawkins over last two years, plus 6 in GF. Fritsch all class!

Edited January 10, 20232 yr by D4Life
Spelling

We are so lucky to have Oliver, tagged every week, seems to never play a bad game, if he starts kicking a few more goals, will go from great to fantastic!😃

The willingness of Gawn to do whatever it takes for the team to succeed will be a big factor in Gawn/Grundy working. 
Hate to be opposition try to negate both Gawn and Grundy, different ruck styles, will be hard to stop!