18 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

There is nobody more deserving than Max, with or without Xerri likely missing a chunk of games thru suspension.

Grundy has been good, but Gawn is currently averaging:

20.4 disposals
5.6 clearances
36 hitouts
9.6 hitouts to advantage
13.7 contested possessions
47% hitout win percentage
2.2 contested marks a game

All of those stats are above average or elite

Grundy averages less disposals, less contested possessions, and far far fewer contested marks (0.5 per game!)

Xerri also averages less disposals, but more clearances at 7.1, but again only 0.5 contested marks per game!

Anyone who makes the argument that Gawn isn't the most complete ruckman in the game, is kidding themselves. And he blows anyone out of the water for consistency and leadership.

It would be daylight robbery if he doesn't get his 8th AA jacket.

He'd have to be captain of AA following the previous senior status rules within the AFL.

19 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

After a poor first half much better second half and some positives

Like the fwd structure of JVR, Jeffo, Melk and Fritsch. Fritsch workrate and team first today good to see makes the team better

Clarrie showed some of his clean quick hands around the stoppages. Trac ran the game out well but his kicking is a worry.

Jeffo leading patterns are good and he halved several contests, must persevere with him and JVR.

Langford is a very good player both Kolt and Windsor having poor years but like Bowey get good pre seasons behind them and see them improve.

Great performance by Tmac, Lever probably makes way for May or Petty down back.

A win with little impact from Kossie another positive

One of the positives of having Jefferson in yesterday is there is another tall especially when JVR is in the Ruck. With those two to cover Fritz gets a lower quality Backman.

18 hours ago, binman said:

If he us interested in being a coach I reckon he'd be a brilliant AFL coach.

Absolutely agree

8 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Give him a bit of credit, he was better this week presented to the contest and wasn't outmarked as much.

I know it was only Norf.

You could see him slowly gaining confidence, had a few 'almost' moments as well. The last thing he needs now is to be dropped after yesterdays efforts!

35 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Give him a bit of credit, he was better this week presented to the contest and wasn't outmarked as much.

I know it was only Norf.

Oh yeah - was definitely better than last week and got better as the game went on. I think he will definitely better for a good run at it and another summer in the gym

54 minutes ago, tiers said:

Too many of our direct passes are intercepted and too many passes to free players in space end up being contested because the pass is too long or not to the player's advantage. (Langford's pass to Melksham is a notable exception but then HL is exceptional).

It is improving a little over the course of the season, but still too many floated ball and not enough driven one.

Invites pressure/trouble especially on a quick transition.

1 hour ago, old dee said:

I wish I had thought of that. A very good description. He doesn't look like an Aussie rules player.

Another summer in the gym will help. Maybe some reformer pilates for core strength too.

12 hours ago, bing181 said:

For starters, they play completely different roles. If you're talking either/or, then it's TMac for May, perhaps Turner. The closest we have to Lever (intercept defender) would be Howes.

They don’t play different roles. Tmac had a team high 12 intercepts and used the ball well. That is exactly the role Lever should be playing but hasn’t been. Tmac is an intercept defender.

2 hours ago, Brownie said:

Got to watch the replay late last night.

TMAC - what stands out for me is that the bloke can actually straight. The value of having good disposers in our side is just so critical. He's steady as a rock and should never have been dropped.

Our defence - keep TMAC in, move disco forward with JVR and Jeffo. Send Petty back. Give Lever and May a rest. It could work really well.

Our goal kicking - was better. But there were three oofs in that total from set shots and we still missed sitters. I wouldn't be overly satisfied with our goal kicking but it was better.

And yep as others have mentioned, our ball movement and disposal is still off chops.

Our intent - won us the game. It was fantastic to watch Tracc, Viney, Oliver, Pickett and of course Max grit their teeth halfway through the third and grind out a solid win. Pressure is everything.

Jeffo and JVR - we just have to persist for the rest of the season now and see if they can find confidence and a groove. Leave JVR forward as much as possible. I still don't understand how JVR ends up under the ball so much? Can someone who can get to the games shed some light? Surely if he's leading hard you kick it out in front of him. Is our field kicking letting him down or is it his leading patterns or both?

Lindsay looks cooked now, Windsor just needs a game or two. Langford is a gem, he also looked cooked for 2 or 3 games back, but he seems to have gotten a second wind. He's a gem.

Xerri - swinging stiff arm to the jaw with the ball nowhere near tells it all. The slow motion footage is damming. 4 weeks at least. And yes our club is completely placid. The players looked shocked and the club should come out hard this week for all of the players and Tom's family. Melksham almost got very seriously injured earlier in the game with a hard hip to the head. Not even a free kick and the commentators just said it was accidental. It was still high and reckless. Petty's concussion the other week was blamed on Petty for poor technique. Wtf you tend to lead with the head when you're going for the ball.

And yep. Dragged my wonderful wife down to the MCG from the northern Rivers to watch that fateful final. A horrible night. No respect for a fair and courageous club champion. No respect after the game with abusive pies supporters screaming at Melbourne fans AFTER THEY WON! Just filth.

My love of footy at the AFL level was broken that night. I probably won't attend many more AFL matches in my lifetime. I'd rather have a nice day out watching a good suburban game.

@Ghostwriter please send our love and thoughts to Tom and his family this week if you can. Hope our club comes out strong this week for us all.

I'm not holding my breath though.

Go Dees

Why not just bring Petty or May in to replace Lever. Disco is settling in well down back and IMO needs to be left there.

JVR, Jeffo, Melk and Fritsch playing HHF like yesterday should be how we structure up with a rotating mid Kossie/Trac/Viney and Wing rotation Langford/Chandler/Langdon is how we should look to go IMO with someone having to come in for Sparrow

I've been one of many on Fritta's back and justified with his efforts in the past few games but yesterday he got a bit of his mojo back playing up the ground and back which suits him. Played a very good, selfless game and a credit to him.

1 hour ago, old dee said:

One of the positives of having Jefferson in yesterday is there is another tall especially when JVR is in the Ruck. With those two to cover Fritz gets a lower quality Backman.

Yes, they worked well together and need to be left play in tandem for an extended period

Really liked Fritsch workrate in playing the HHF role, he wasn’t exposed to many 1v1 aerial contests and his decision making and disposal overall was good. A couple of kicks where he wasn’t exposed trying to change lanes got cut off but I like that he took on those kicks.

Good players do that and they really change ball movement and opening up opposition defences.

Hopefully he can maintain that level of effort against Carlton this week

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

There is nobody more deserving than Max, with or without Xerri likely missing a chunk of games thru suspension.

Grundy has been good, but Gawn is currently averaging:

20.4 disposals
5.6 clearances
36 hitouts
9.6 hitouts to advantage
13.7 contested possessions
47% hitout win percentage
2.2 contested marks a game

All of those stats are above average or elite

Grundy averages less disposals, less contested possessions, and far far fewer contested marks (0.5 per game!)

Xerri also averages less disposals, but more clearances at 7.1, but again only 0.5 contested marks per game!

Anyone who makes the argument that Gawn isn't the most complete ruckman in the game, is kidding themselves. And he blows anyone out of the water for consistency and leadership.

It would be daylight robbery if he doesn't get his 8th AA jacket.

Grundy’s been good for the last 6 weeks. But AA selection comes from a season, not half. TDK was going great for the first 6 weeks but has fallen off a cliff.

Xerri and Jackson are the only rucks other than Gawn who have had good form for the whole season, and IMO Gawn’s got both covered. Jackson being in a winning/finals side helps him a lot though.

2 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

In which parallel universe does Clarko think Xerri was attempting to tackle Spaz? It was a straight up clothesline. He wasn't even looking at the ball or the player.

And he didn't just put his arm out, he swung it

27 minutes ago, Palace Dees said:

Missing a AA badge, wrapped up his 8th yesterday.

28 minutes ago, Heart Beats True said:

They don’t play different roles. Tmac had a team high 12 intercepts and used the ball well. That is exactly the role Lever should be playing but hasn’t been. Tmac is an intercept defender.

You can't debate with Simon181 he lives in an alternative universe

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

You could see him slowly gaining confidence, had a few 'almost' moments as well. The last thing he needs now is to be dropped after yesterdays efforts!

He did a really good job in halving contests even 1 v 2 that’s all he can do and up to the smalls to win the ground balls.

Positive for mine, despite the missed set shots he kept going with the drop punt set shots and didn’t revert to changing his approach.

Must persevere and get he and JVR working in tandem

16 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Grundy’s been good for the last 6 weeks. But AA selection comes from a season, not half. TDK was going great for the first 6 weeks but has fallen off a cliff.

Xerri and Jackson are the only rucks other than Gawn who have had good form for the whole season, and IMO Gawn’s got both covered. Jackson being in a winning/finals side helps him a lot though.

So Jackson averages fewer disposals, and a lot less clearances. Also fewer contested possessions and only 1.2 contested marks per game, which mind you is still elite.

He had Gawn covered for goals per game and disposal efficiency.

Gawn is 3rd in the entire competition for contested possessions, and number one in the league for contested marks (Sam Darcy is only 4 behind him- freak!!).

If only we had another reliable back we could pick, who could play forward as well...

Coaches Votes Melbourne v North Melbourne

10 Christian Petracca MELB
6 Jake Melksham MELB
5 Max Gawn MELB
4 Harry Sheezel NMFC
3 Bayley Fritsch MELB
2 Colby McKercher NMFC

Thoughts?

6 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Coaches Votes Melbourne v North Melbourne

10 Christian Petracca MELB
6 Jake Melksham MELB
5 Max Gawn MELB
4 Harry Sheezel NMFC
3 Bayley Fritsch MELB
2 Colby McKercher NMFC

Thoughts?

Sheezel played better than Fritsch or McDonald? That's hilarious Clarko.

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Can’t argue with that. It was all of the above; careless, high contact and had a severe impact.

Not sure how North challenge on any of these.

15 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Can’t argue with that. It was all of the above; careless, high contact and had a severe impact.

Not sure how North challenge on any of these.

I agree Jaded, they will try though. As would any other club tbf.

The only part they could challenge is the "carless" grading.

I personally don't think he intended to knock Tommy out and just got it wrong in the moment.

So Careless makes sense to me.

4-6 more like it !!