I found the comments about JVR’s readiness to play at AFL interesting.  Particularly, when a lot of posters thought that he should have been played in the ones  last season.

I saw a few VFL games last year (albeit mostly on tv) and without trying to sound disrespectful, he looked good at times and was extremely competitive, but it was VFL footy, not AFL .

I too in the later half of last  season was hoping at times that he’d be promoted but at the same time a little voice in my head said ‘maybe it’s too soon’. 

With benefit of hindsight I’m glad he didn’t play. I would much rather see him promoted on merit rather than on being used to plug a gap due to injuries.

He is one year older now and one year footy wiser but still very young. 2023 will be very interesting.

Having said all that, wouldn’t it be great to see him not only earn his spot in the ones but become an ‘x’ factor nearing finals tIme, something that takes opposition sides by surprise. I live and I dream…Go Dees 

 

On 1/10/2023 at 2:36 PM, Ollie fan said:

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

All fine and dandy when the ball comes in high and slow.
Low and fast and we're in all sorts.

5 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

All fine and dandy when the ball comes in high and slow.
Low and fast and we're in all sorts.

There is no defence in the league -and probably never will be- that can defend against a well-directed, accurate, fast-paced delivery into the forward line. As I said, in my earlier post, we have been the meanest defence in the league for two years. That speaks for itself.

12 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

All fine and dandy when the ball comes in high and slow.
Low and fast and we're in all sorts.

You’re looking at the wrong line of defence then, up the ground defence made our backline worse, front of centre defence last season compared to our premiership year was stark.  Pressure up forward, slows the ball down and creates rushed high kicks.  We need the 2021 hunger for defence in 2023.

15 minutes ago, BrisbaneDemon said:

You’re looking at the wrong line of defence then, up the ground defence made our backline worse, front of centre defence last season compared to our premiership year was stark.  Pressure up forward, slows the ball down and creates rushed high kicks.  We need the 2021 hunger for defence in 2023.

Agree totally with all of the above.

Except, I'm not sure hunger is the right word. Implies a psychological issue, whereas I reckon it was physical - they were fatigued.

12 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

All fine and dandy when the ball comes in high and slow.
Low and fast and we're in all sorts.

….. yet still the stingiest defence two years in a row 🤔

8 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

There is no defence in the league -and probably never will be- that can defend against a well-directed, accurate, fast-paced delivery into the forward line. As I said, in my earlier post, we have been the meanest defence in the league for two years. That speaks for itself.

The premiership in 2021 was built on pressure out of forward 50 leading to turnovers that then generated scores. Last year we were able to stop scores but not generate them in return. Key to that was Lever and Salem being injured/underdone. 
 

Brayshaw was great at half back but not good enough to provide the immediate rebound they both did in 2021. 
 

This year Gawn playing a kick behind will force teams to go around which makes it predictable for May/Lever/Salem as opposed to the options they had this year. If they still go up the line Gawn marks. On turnover, Grundy bolts forward making defenders choose between him, JVR, BBB or TMac, if it spills then Viney (Brayshaw back in the guts where he nearly won a Brownlow with Hunter on the wing), Spargs and Kozzie with the pressure to create turnover. Viney, Kozzie and Sparrow to rotate through the midfield. Only injuries prevent a good run in September IMO

Edited January 17, 20232 yr by Roosiah

On 1/9/2023 at 8:12 AM, Ollie fan said:

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…

And to think a few years ago we were chasing Jack Gunston.

I think since he's perfected his set shots on goal in the past few seasons Fritta is now the sort player that Gunston once was in his prime and Gunston himself is probably 'past it' or almost finished in terms of years to play out his career.

Not to say that Jack couldn't have made some kind of mentoring contribution around the club (which is probably partly what Brisbane are hoping), but I think we've come out ahead on this possibility that never eventuated for us.

On 1/9/2023 at 9:24 AM, 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.

 

If Grundy is rucking and we're winning it out of the centre clearances and generally around the ground, Gawn dropping back could be a waste.  Equally I like the idea of Gawn drifting or storming forward in the right circumstances as well.  We saw what an offensive weapon he can be in the prelim against Geelong in 2021.

I think potentially having the luxury of utilizing him wherever his of most value at the time could really catch some teams off guard and really splitting the game open - just like we saw that night against Geelong.

On a slightly different note, there was often the suggestion that Dogga could play as a ruck rover even with say Gawn innthe ruck, but that was never really attempted as far as I'm aware.  I just wounder if it's a more feasible possibility on occation for Grundy to be roving to Gawn and providing a height mis-match around the ground during general play? 

Will be fascinating and hopefully salivating for MFC supporters to watch.

Edited January 17, 20232 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

It will likely be the case that the benefit of having both Gawn and Grundy will be greater than their combined stats, similar to how our wingers keeping their width forces teams to make tough decisions. Gawn and Grundy's utilisation around the ground may open up opportunities that we can exploit that don't include either in the possession chain that leads to scoring opportunities. 

16 hours ago, binman said:

Agree totally with all of the above.

Except, I'm not sure hunger is the right word. Implies a psychological issue, whereas I reckon it was physical - they were fatigued.

Overloaded?

8 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Overloaded?

Under loaded?

All this talk of overloaded and underloaded has me whelmed.

Edited January 18, 20232 yr by Stu

On 1/18/2023 at 4:08 PM, Stu said:

All this talk of overloaded and underloaded has me whelmed.