7 minutes ago, Monbon said:

Trent Rivers is THE next superstar at Melbourne. Let it be recorded that I wrote that.

 

You didn't.

This will sound trite (when has that stopped me) but Gawn being injured for 6 weeks is the best thing for Brodie to get comfortable being our main ruck. Gawn will settle into the best back up ruck the game has ever seen and FF and our forward line will suddenly cause a bunch of headaches for the FD.

We need to manage that group (Gawn, Grundy, JVR, Brown, TMac, Petty) to ensure we have headaches come September.

*JVR managed due to age and Petty ‘managed’ due to him looking lost by sending him back to get confidence.

Frustrating game but....

• Eagles went in with a plan to clog up the game and contest
• We ground it out despite some poor umpiring and lots of fumbles
• Our tackle numbers were great and we pressured them all game
• We worked our way through it and did what good teams do - strangle them slowly when we're not playing well
• Our winning average at Optus Stadium dropped
• Grundy working his way into some good form
• Fwd line efficiency was good
• We are a much more flexible and unpredictable side now

4 points no injuries percentage boost away from home, move on.

Edited April 9, 20232 yr by jnrmac

The Engine (ANB, Spargo, Chandler) is just purring atm and my god it is so funny to watch all these teams just put absolute numpties on these three.

You want to close us down - shut down The Engine. 

But if you show no respect, they will torch you.

I've only seen highlights but rapt with the win and glad we did win by the 10 goals. That's what we needed to do. 

 

Credit to WCE for not turning their toes up, that was a par win for us, even if there were many excellent performers. Yeo and Kelly had a red hot go. I don’t mean to whine but I think we left another 6 goals on the table, that said I’d rather we did that, than going back to bombing it, was clear they were trying to think their way through the fwd 50 entries and stuffed it up a few times. Also Kozzie didn’t get a great return score wise, but played well, he is from the JV school of strong. ANB is having a brilliant season, actually gets award for most underrated player, an immense game today.

The tackles and contest made it clear what a professional unit we are, no hubris or disrespect on display, made for a relaxing game even if we didn’t smash them, everyone very accountable.  

Am hoping the AFL puts the Viney tackle on a video so we can add it to the JV made me cry thread. He was a great captain today, led from the front and monstered WCE packs.

Grundy was very smooth, the only time I thought we looked a tad unsettled was with Petty in the ruck, I hope he can do this against some of the better ruck teams to come, but this was a great game for him to find touch. Also am ready for people to forget about him playing for Collingwood, much like May and Lever and Hibbered, he needs to be just spoken of and to as a Melbourne player.

Bowey is starting to float his kicks a little, he needs to stop that fast, against another team we will get opened up on turnover, floating kicks defensive side is death. I thought this last week and more so today, it’s like with less pressure his kicks float more, he did have the time to execute (by his standards). McVee on the other hand has that same amazing mojo that Bowey started with, looks so classy with the ball, love that with hard work he has changed his destiny and where and what people thought he could be.

Tmac did his stuff, am super happy for him, but again it’s par as he didn’t have Mc Govern on him, but did his job. What I did like was his timing, much better, and not taken under the ball. That said JVR is the future, did the future start today or a week ago or in 2 months time, tough to be a selector, but I think JVR over Tmac as he looks more dangerous in a pack.

Chandler is growing each week, really loved that he got a classy goal, was reward for all his work.

Hibbered is still best 22, great use of sub with Jordan as well, this arrangement with optional sub makes us stronger with all the depth we have now, more licks of the ice cream for everyone. Loved that Jordan came on bursting with energy and no sooking, just showed he has a big heart.

BF 31 with 32 consecutive games scoring a goal is another that will be AA squad at least, leading, snaps and set shots is just special, probably the best pick of JT’s career apart from Oliver.

Petty didn’t score but I like this experiment, one more week up front is my wish, I feel like he was a tad off in timing but not heart, and these games are a great time to learn forward craft.

Hunter and Langdon are under done for praise so far but both played their role. Spargo some crafty goals, Sparrow played better than last two weeks, maybe a fire under him?. Brayshaw had good touches, with others all playing better he is perhaps lost in noise, but played his role and consistent. Lastly, Trac, I know he started slowly but he kicked the goals he needed, I didn’t think he linked with team mates as well as he normally does, but I love that he got a couple of goals. His link to team mates will come back, however getting the goal kicking monkey off the back is very bad news for the competition.   

Edited April 9, 20232 yr by DEE fence
Trac comment

19 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

On a side note, I know footy is a tough game, but gees it really broke my heart to see Hunt so sad after the game. He was a real favourite of mine at Melbourne. Always tried his hardest and clearly didn’t want to leave. 
I wish him all the best. Thought he was very good today!

I forgot and celebrated Jayden’s goal. No one minded though, they all knew I was sad as well as a little drunk. 

33 minutes ago, sue said:

I reckon it did go through if the only angle they showed was the one they used to say it didn’t. Shocking quick and wrong call.  A review of the review should be called for by the AFL Iif it had any spine. 
 

So of course nothing will happen. 
The one clip they did show had it very clearly across what I could see as the goal line. 

1 hour ago, adonski said:

Petty back behind the ball, BBB up forward

Do you drop McDonald and bring in brown after that? Doubt they drop JVR - they’ll want to get some games in him…good problem to have but a problem nonethless 

29 minutes ago, A F said:

To my eye, Tom Sparrow was excellent too.

Yep, had a very good game

Did lever hurt his ankle?

35 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

He is easily the most underrated forward in the game. 
 

Arguably should have already been AA

15 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

You didn't.

1 hour ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

That score review guy needs to be fired. Looked like a goal to me, at worst it was worth a closer look. I'll be bringing this up in August if percentage becomes a factor! Plainly unprofessional.

Good solid scrappy win. A 10 goal margin was probably about par. Grundy is a freak of nature. 

 

 

It was a clear cut point, wasn't even close to crossing the line.  Not sure how it could look like a goal to you?

3 minutes ago, heath55 said:

Do you drop McDonald and bring in brown after that? Doubt they drop JVR - they’ll want to get some games in him…good problem to have but a problem nonethless 

Well if Macca can go through the Twos so can Brownie

2 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Well if Macca can go through the Twos so can Brownie

TMac went back to Two’s for poor form. BB was playing well ..an injury ..

34 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

On a side note, I know footy is a tough game, but gees it really broke my heart to see Hunt so sad after the game. He was a real favourite of mine at Melbourne. Always tried his hardest and clearly didn’t want to leave. 
I wish him all the best. Thought he was very good today!

You’re right, he was good, but a couple of times he had the opportunity to hurt us today and his foot skills let him down.  He did this too often with us. I wish him well, but not too sad he’s gone. McVee a much better option moving forward. 

6 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

Did lever hurt his ankle?

Was stressed when I saw him standing the mark testing it, but we were 10 games up and they let him play on, so assume he rolled it only and they let him run it out to stop it swelling.

9 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

Did lever hurt his ankle?

Hopefully not 

11 minutes ago, monoccular said:

So of course nothing will happen. 
The one clip they did show had it very clearly across what I could see as the goal line. 

Concerning that many people think this 'very clearly' crossed the line.  The line is also the back of the post.

You all need glasses  😂

 

1 hour ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Brayshaw is more at risk IMO

he's bottom 5 at the moment, looks off.

1 minute ago, Buzzy said:

Concerning that many people think this 'very clearly' crossed the line.  The line is also the back of the post.

You all need glasses  😂

 

There is very clearly ball infront of the post.

Whether than means the ball is 100% not over the line we won’t ever know. But this is how they judge it and it’s consistent.

16 minutes ago, heath55 said:

Do you drop McDonald and bring in brown after that? Doubt they drop JVR - they’ll want to get some games in him…good problem to have but a problem nonethless 

I’d say petty goes back and Hibbo out, and brown comes in. JVR probably has until gawn is back to displace brown or tmac if he wants to hold his spot 

3 minutes ago, Buzzy said:

Concerning that many people think this 'very clearly' crossed the line.  The line is also the back of the post.

You all need glasses  😂

 

Clearly in the back to TMAC

3 minutes ago, Buzzy said:

Concerning that many people think this 'very clearly' crossed the line.  The line is also the back of the post.

You all need glasses  😂

 

Is that the still shot they showed when they made the call?. Looks different.