PREGAME: Rd 01 vs GWS

[Damo 3,465]

Jack Billings is 29. he has played 175 games of AFL. He wont learn how to kick a goal at this stage of his career. I dont understand why he is expected to alter his proven B game now. Its a bit like bullying to play him forward of centre.

[Willmoy1947 4,260]

On 04/03/2025 at 16:56, Redleg_Knowledge said:

First time post, long time reader and would like to add my two cents.. 

As others have already pointed out, some serious injuries to key players will obviously help us in this game. GWS are a far better skilled side overall which generally doesn't bode well for the dees, especially over the last few years given our sheer dominance at contest across the ground has dropped off. (Due to a number of reasons obviously).

Whilst the practice game against Freo was exactly that, (a practice game) , it still highlighted the obvious weaknesses for us. Windy, hot and small suburban ground etc. Yet Freo were able to put together passages of play, execute and ultimately hit the scoreboard with far more ease than we were. A story as old as time with us. And these  factors highlighted even more our lack of skill and decision making throughout the game..

What was exciting in my eyes was the return of form to Oliver, Petracca looking like there are no mental scars from that injury as well as our hunt and contest work in general. It was at a high level all game just about and I love seeing us play with that energy. A few promising signs for some of the new guys was also great to see. 

We are such a hard team to place in the pecking order this year. To me, whilst we've adapted our game-style, we'll still be heavily relying on bringing high pressure, energy and being brutal in the contest at every game. And this is due to the fact that we simply do not have the list to consistently execute and make the right decisions that lead to goal opportunities over the entirety of a game. The key word is consistently here. Of course when it all clicks, we look unstoppable. And that's been the case here and there over the years. Through patches of games, seasons and most memorably the '21 finals series. 

So Goody has a task on his hands this year. We have a few more players on the list with high footy IQ. Windsor, Kosi through the middle when he's back, McVee and to a lesser degree Lindsay and Langford. 

I remain more positive than negative, even though there were some worrying signs in the Freo game. However, with less negative media spotlight, a softish early draw, a fit and connected Clarry and Trac and a new wave of exciting youth, it feels like we could again get on a roll early in the season. And this is where I really think we could build and launch from. If we start well, I think we could really be thereabouts toward the end of the year given the snowball effect that could eventuate. Give us a clean run with injury too and we could find ourselves up to our eyeballs toward the end of the year. 

First stop is the G against a highly skilled but vulnerable Giants side. 

Get it done Dees.

Red leg, what did you think of the ground, and the way they played it?

[Redleg 42,147]

18 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Red leg, what did you think of the ground, and the way they played it?

Are you talking to me?

[DeeSpencer 26,671]

1 hour ago, Damo said:

Jack Billings is 29. he has played 175 games of AFL. He wont learn how to kick a goal at this stage of his career. I dont understand why he is expected to alter his proven B game now. Its a bit like bullying to play him forward of centre.

He’s spent all preseason on the wing. Rotated at half forward because we had Taj and Lindsay fit for the first preseason game and not a lot of half forward depth. Did the same in the last quarter v Freo when Taj was subbed on.

Obviously wingers do have shots at goal but it won’t be expected to be a major part of his game.

[Fanatique Demon 2,764]

4 hours ago, Roost it far said:

His field kicking is actually pretty good. He's a deer in headlights in front of goal.

I agree that Billings fluffed his goal kicking. But there is very little on here about Petracca and Langdon who each missed two relatively easy shots for goal and at other times missed scoring altogether. I understand whipping boy syndrome. I remember when it was ANB and Melksham. But credit where it’s due. Billings for all his missed shots at goal was amongst our best five or six last week and should be in our best 23 for round one.  

[Neitz the Great 557]

24 minutes ago, Fanatique Demon said:

I agree that Billings fluffed his goal kicking. But there is very little on here about Petracca and Langdon who each missed two relatively easy shots for goal and at other times missed scoring altogether. I understand whipping boy syndrome. I remember when it was ANB and Melksham. But credit where it’s due. Billings for all his missed shots at goal was amongst our best five or six last week and should be in our best 23 for round one.  

agree completely, looks like a different player this year. I think he'll hold down the wing for the majority of the year and do decently

[dazzledavey36 56,312]

25 minutes ago, Fanatique Demon said:

I agree that Billings fluffed his goal kicking. But there is very little on here about Petracca and Langdon who each missed two relatively easy shots for goal and at other times missed scoring altogether. I understand whipping boy syndrome. I remember when it was ANB and Melksham. But credit where it’s due. Billings for all his missed shots at goal was amongst our best five or six last week and should be in our best 23 for round one.  

Common sense doesn't belong here.

Wasn't just Petracca and Langdon. Fritsch missed a relatively easy shot in the first quarter about 30m out in front and then again in the last when he completely fluffed his set shot.

Around the ground Billings kicking was fine. He's a hard runner who gets out into space and has a high work ethics.

 

[old55 23,860]

Billings' goal kicking issues are totally psychological.  It's not a technique problem, he's a neat field kick on both sides. I think it could be addressed with the right approach.

[jaydenh10 83]

anyone know what training will look like next week? iam coming over for the f1

[In Harmes Way 7,869]

On 04/03/2025 at 14:06, BScotti said:

Agree.  Billings has been great at finding the footy and delivering around the ground.  However clearly his mental "demons" on front of goal are not going to change.  Therefore there are a few options.  Change his role, dont play him or as mentioned, provide an option to hand off when he is setting up for goal.

 

Get him to a hypnotist.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,540]

Billings has kicked 131 behinds in his career so I don’t think he’s all of a sudden going to have a 15.2 kind of season. Unfortunately what you see is what you get and in all probabilities he’s going to miss a reasonably elementary shot from 40 mtrs out.

From round 20 onwards and into the two pre seasons games he’s otherwise been a good contributor and provides a good wing option, and can use the ball going inside 50. An example was this was the Port win last year where he kicked the ball from the wing area and found one of our forwards that was surrounded by 2 Port defenders. It was “thread of needle” stuff and showed what he’s capable of.

[layzie 34,528]

Before the practice games I was thinking that we wouldn't be near finals this year if Billings played more than 10 games. I am willing to revise that slightly and not grade him on his goalkicking if he can give us some decent delivery into 50 on a regular basis. 

[Redleg_Knowledge 36]

4 hours ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Red leg, what did you think of the ground, and the way they played it?

I imagine Goody and co would have played exactly as they would have had it been the G. Regardless of size and wind. We would have wanted to train our game plan first and foremost, obviously. 

The problem with smaller grounds and blustery conditions is that it can further highlight/single out players who already possess average to poor kicking, handling and decision making. Which is what we saw with our side vs Freo. 

Again, trying to look at the glass half full with us. All teams have their vulnerabilities. We know ours and they were on show again against Freo. Regardless of the fact that it was a praccie game. We've seen that level of poor skill, ball handling and fumbling before in the season proper across years now so I don't think it's worth hiding behind, "it was only a practice game". Perhaps save for a few players who seemed extra rusty. 

Anyway, I think there were enough positives to suggest we'll be thereabouts this year with a clean bill of health. 

 

Edited March 6 by Redleg_Knowledge

[Deemania since 56 6,807]

On 03/03/2025 at 18:49, DeeSpencer said:

JVR just got injured playing forward and you’ve decided ruck is more dangerous with no stats?

Disco would’ve rucked if not for Aj and we’d have been very small up forward, that’s a risk, but not a risk compared with known outcome of being too slow if we go in too tall.

Max will never stop going back with the flight. It’s up to the other players to protect him by blocking their forwards from getting a clean run and jump. 

Now we're talking, a little protection for Max is overdue. The umpires certainly ignore that need. 

[Deestar9 1,854]

15 hours ago, 58er said:

First of all I detest a team nominated and only 22 named. Just because Goody very rarely uses our 23rd named is no excuse either. 

Following the game vs Freo ( and Petty was out why did we not play Tmac on day on Tracey?)

we missed many tackles only half grabs mostly in defence and deep forward. I don’t think the 2 talls helped and the trio of Bowey Salem and Windsor (all very good footballers btw) was rather vanilla and looked ill equipped to put real pressure on the forwards as a team and definitely one on one. 

If Windsor is at half back We need 3 talls and McVee or Rivers on one flank to be physically proficient for most attacks.

As I have suggested all summer/Pre season the Duke is a natural attacking forward style player that was lost at half back IMO and with Salem  and Bowey lacked  the grunt and physical presence plus pressure to effect the game iMO.

As for the Forward line once Rooy was off it was op against it. Again Chin is a long way off as a hf flanker and has no form for about back to KB last year. 

Fritta is lost away from goals and we need all our finishers in the arc, including Trac when he rests up forward, also surely is Billing’s better nearer goals yo reach the distance at least plus I think the new players either Hendo or Culley on HFF and definitely Pup on one flank for pace and finishing and Sharp near goal when on the ground. 

In the post about our forward line most got it wrong IMO and the third tall should be Jeffo.as He has more forward finishing skills than the other talls. We need players to get say 10 disposals forward and 2/3 goals plus 2/3/4 assists not 15 wasted entries like Zvoney and I thought Lingers although busy shanked his kicks a lot plus no leading didn’t help. Our below par goal kicking in the first term and last cody us  the game. 

Lastly I reckon most of our match sims have been more energetic than this without Maybe the commentators reduced the skill of the game by lazy chatty style. 

Sorry for the length but we have  great scope for improvement with effort team selection and two or three additions TO OUR 23. 

 

It’s a praccy match. We would have trialled players in diff positions…diff game play scenarios anticipating maybe players going down mid match or responding to another teams play at the time. We def wouldn’t be showing the AFL exactly what we intend to do. It was also 35deg & very windy so let’s not get too in depth about it…

[DeeSpencer 26,671]

6 hours ago, old55 said:

Billings' goal kicking issues are totally psychological.  It's not a technique problem, he's a neat field kick on both sides. I think it could be addressed with the right approach.

I think it’s 90% psychological but I also think he has an across the body motion where as Choco coaches everyone in straight lines. I’d be training Jack to allow him to swing out more

[Kev 10,920]

6 hours ago, jaydenh10 said:

anyone know what training will look like next week? iam coming over for the f1

It is a guess from me.

Sunday the 16th March, we play. So, a Captain's run the day before, Saturday at Gosch's, probably starting around 9.30 am. Main training at Casey on Thursday 13th, 10.00 am. Recovery run, either Monday 10th or Tuesday 11th, at Gosch's  9.30 am.

I think there is a chance of an intra-club sim either this Saturday or Sunday, out at Casey.

They could post later.  https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

[BKKBooga 31]

With a healthy list we should compete well against the giants.  I have us between 6 and 10 ladder wise this year depending on health and fitness.  Two things such as tweaks to gamestyle and kicking skills will determine if we make finals.  Midfield is strong but Mayesy is in his last stretch and Petty should step up to help May out.  Chandler is not the answer for small forward, and a lot is going to be expected of JVR.  I'm tipping Viney will have a cracker of a year in a strong midfield ...if Viney nails a few more goals this year he could be AA.

[jaydenh10 83]

39 minutes ago, Kev said:

It is a guess from me.

Sunday the 16th March, we play. So, a Captain's run the day before, Saturday at Gosch's, probably starting around 9.30 am. Main training at Casey on Thursday 13th, 10.00 am. Recovery run, either Monday 10th or Tuesday 11th, at Gosch's  9.30 am.

I think there is a chance of an intra-club sim either this Saturday or Sunday, out at Casey.

They could post later.  https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

cheers, should be able to get to at least one training

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,540]

Unfortunately Green’s actually now a chance to return to for our game according to their injury report, but Hogan appears very unlikely.

I had a feeling the time line of a round 3 return for Green was a bit over exaggerated.

[Redleg 42,147]

16 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Unfortunately Green’s actually now a chance to return to for our game according to their injury report, but Hogan appears very unlikely.

I had a feeling the time line of a round 3 return for Green was a bit over exaggerated.

Giants have a bye after our game, so unless he was 100% fit, they would probably give him the the extra fortnight.

[DeelightfulPlay 2,722]

On 05/03/2025 at 17:04, At Least I Saw a Flag said:

Other team has players out .... ergo we should win!

I think we've all seen that way too many times. Never seems to end well.

I have a street party on the afternoon of the match. I'm torn. 

I also have a street party!  I thought it would start at 6 pm (to which I could arrive fashionably lateish) but they've set the start time at 4 pm :')

Edited Thursday at 12:12 by DeelightfulPlay
Added y to fashionabl..

[binman 44,818]

8 hours ago, Redleg said:

Giants have a bye after our game, so unless he was 100% fit, they would probably give him the the extra fortnight.

And even if he does play he's not going to be fully fit - he's been off legs for weeks.

From the giants' website:

Meanwhile, Tom Green (calf) has returned to running and will be pushing for an early return in round one. 

Which by the by points to an important consideration when assessing the impact of injuries on individual player's and team's preseason - not all injuries are created equal, so to speak.

Any injury in preseason that limits how much running a player can do has an outsize impact because if players don't get the optimal miles in their legs they will never reach optimal fitness - and they can't make it up in season.

The pre Xmas break is particularly important because that's when they do the bulk of their running.

They might start off ok but as the season wears on the impact of a sub optimal preseason will kick in.

For that reason, I suspect Nick Daicos will hit the wall at some point late in the season because his planta fascia injury severely limited his running pre Xmas.

If a team has too many such players they are in trouble at the back end of the season - which is precisely what happened to us last year

(by the by that's where I got it wrong in my prediction right before the season started about where we would finish. I failed to factor in how many players had injuries that impacted their running - off the top of my head that list included tmac, spargo, McAdams, Lever, Petty, Salem, Brown, May? and clarry - well not really an injury as such, but certainly no running).

Injuries that don't impede a players capacity to get the miles in might impact their ability do specific strength training or participate in drills but don't have the same impact on their aerobic capacity.

(On aerobic capacity it's worth noting that it is iterative - that's to say with each preseason players go up a level, building on the aerobic base developed in previous preseasons. That means the impact  of a sub optimal preseason carries forward to the next one).

Take Maxy's larynx injury.

Apparently that was a pretty serious injury. Maxy couldn't do match sims, drills and the like, and presumably some strength training.

But he could run - and by all accounts run he did. Maxy reckons aerobically he is the fittest he has EVER been - which is remarkable given how fit he has been over the last 6 years or so.

Edited Thursday at 20:19 by binman

[forever demons 2,368]

On 05/03/2025 at 17:54, Roost it far said:

Billing’s was ok but jeez his goal kicking is embarrassing. Imagine if we storm home in a GF against the pies after being 42 points down and the siren goes and he’s holding the ball 35m out. 

Goal ! hero gets carried around the ground by Ghostwriter

[forever demons 2,368]

11 hours ago, BKKBooga said:

With a healthy list we should compete well against the giants.  I have us between 6 and 10 ladder wise this year depending on health and fitness.  Two things such as tweaks to gamestyle and kicking skills will determine if we make finals.  Midfield is strong but Mayesy is in his last stretch and Petty should step up to help May out.  Chandler is not the answer for small forward, and a lot is going to be expected of JVR.  I'm tipping Viney will have a cracker of a year in a strong midfield ...if Viney nails a few more goals this year he could be AA.

top 4 easy prob top 2