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TMac did the entire pre-season. He’s essentially only been out for 5 weeks, so he should still be in pretty decent nick. He’s also fundamentally one of the fittest players at the club to begin with. Viney is further away purely because he has no conditioning. It’s clearly being treated on a case by case basis and I’m a long way from being prepared to call “mismanagement” until I see how TMac actually goes.

Absolutely stoked about this! I feel he is one that'll play better and more suited to the more quicker tempo of AFL rather then the VFL.. And just quickly, I've had a bit to do with young "Spargs" and I posted this back early January this year. Gday guys, on one of the training thread there's been a few doubts on young Charlie about his size and whether he can translate his ability to AFL level. Thought I'd bring this thread up and have my 2 cents worth. Just on Spargo, I had a bit to do with him when he was in the under 16s bushies . I didn't bother to write anything up on him when we drafted him (lack of interest in demonland at the time) but I thought I'd post my thought a on him now. Goody is going to fall in love coaching this young fella, he is 18 years old going onto 25 in terms of maturity and level headed. He was driven right from the very young age to succeed in footy and make AFL. He started playing senior footy for Albury in the strong Ovens and Murray league (step below VFL) at 16 and was still running rings around former AFL players with such ease. It was tipped right from then that this kid could potentially be the next big thing despite his size. He was quick, tough as F**k, and most importantly, driven and determined to make it. Despite being a quiet and down to earth sort of fella, he just oozes leadership on field! We played a praccy match against Bendigo once and he was captain for the day. The whole day he was barking orders, setting up midfield stoppages, encouraging teammtes, and giving direct feedback to coaching and senior officials on what was going right and wrong. He'll be in the leadership group in a couple of years. Mark my words. Obviously being in boarding school this year I barely got time to see any of his games (injured also). But we got word back from some recruiters that if it wasn't for injury he would be top 10 without a doubt. 3 clubs had even made mentioned that if he was just a smidge taller and injury free, they had penciled him for top 5. Every club rated him and the giants were absolutely filthy when they lost first rights to him. He is a genuine talent. If I was to compare him to someone in terms of toughness, leadership and skill? it would be Joel Selwood. He has everything that you need in terms of the culture you're trying to build and set. Yes I've pumped up his tyres, but the biggest test for him will be the transition to AFL level. The likes of Caleb Daniel and Eddie Betts have shown that it is possible if you've got the ticker and drive to succeed. I believe young Spargo has this. The likes of Jones, Viney, Oliver and Lewis will crave having this kid in the side running full tilt into packs and come out ball in hand. I don't want to put too much pressure on the kid but in my honest opinion, he is an absolute beauty! Hope that helps.

Morris has “stepped away” from the MFC podcast.... Katie Caty Price from network 10 has taken over.

As for Pedersen, anyone with a clue knows he's not an AFL quality key forward, which is why he keeps being left out. He's very serviceable in the pinch hit ruck role where he can follow the ball around the ground and play as a ruck rover, but obviously there's presently no role for that. Weideman was good in his first game back after a long lay off. He's bigger, he moved far better, which suggests his ankle issues are over, he was aggressive with his tackling (5), and he's very smart with his ball use. It's a no brainer to play Weideman ahead of Pedersen. I almost hope we lose on Sunday. Some heads on Demonland could literally explode. I'd kind of like to see that.

Well....no change in the umpire department this week. The 3 umps from Tuesday are the same 3 for our game this weekend. Bubble wrap your tellies and remotes.

Damn the defeatist attitude on this forum is becoming unbearable this week. Yes, we have been shizen for most of the last 2 games but need I remind everyone that Richmond are on top of the ladder? OMac just kept Riewoldt quiet for most of the last game, despite some clearly excellent delivery from the Tigers midfield. Daniher may get off the leash once or twice, but he won't be the difference. OMac will be on this week again.

My bad. Thanks for the info. Will reset the defibrillator.

To me it’s pretty simple. Weids is the future. Pedersen is not. We need to keep investing in the future, especially since doing so is not going to hurt our chances of winning.

@Grapevineywill be happy! Me too for that matter. It’s a disgrace to have a member of the media so willing to trash the club representing it on its official podcast. It’s a bit petty but I hope he was escorted away rather than “stepping”.

If he gets 10 disposals that will be more than Garlett got in 2 games.

Great news

Most weeks he can't hit the side of a barn. Stormtroopers have better accuracy. I doubt he will miss this week.

He's played 2 good games that's 2 more than what most of the players have produced like Neal-Bullen and Harmes.

What do you call what he did last year when Gawn went down? I think most people acknowledge that he was pretty damn good most games. Pehaps that's part of the problem being that he's just not quite good enough for his size and the position he plays compared to others we have that play the same position. Asides from that, I think he was one our better players against Geelong and also competed hard and setup some good goals through good field kicking against the Lions in Rd 2, was then dropped but seems to have been in pretty good VFL form since. As I have stated in another thread I thought there was also a case to get him into the side, just to get some fresh legs in to support Gawn and Hoges off a very short break - hope the fitness department have made the right call there. I still think he is getting dudded over by Weid. As much as I really want Weid to do well, he is really yet to have a break out game a senior level that is the equal of what Pedersen produces on a regular basis. The Weid's best at senior level is about Pedo's worst or average game IMHO and the Weid seems to be the exception to the us selecting based on performance and not gifting games to high draft picks anymore mantra. That said, now that the Weid has been picked in the senior team, I would also like to see him given a decient block of games there to help find his feet at the top level. Also acknowledge that T Mac probably has the inside running on Pedo on this occation also. Assuming T Mac does play, hope the selectors are making the right call here, because as much as I acknowledge T Mac as being an experienced and classy/capable A/B+ player in his position these days, it's a pretty big call to be stepping straight back in after not playing for the best part of 2 months (even then, off the back of an interrupted preseason) and produce at the highest level from the get go. I really hope he does though, because at his best T Mac is a gun that we have sorely missed.

Barely. He touched the pill 6 times. Took one mark. Against Geelong he took one mark (a very strong mark at that) and received a free kick, both on the first quarter. After which he pretty much vanished. And you think people were shocked when he was dropped ?

Geez goody seems excited to tell Spargo that he is playing his first game.

This bloke has given a first hand account on the Petracca incident over on ch9

The holding the ball rule is a mess.

And Harmes.

Hate Twilight games with a passion. Make it day or night FFS

Lewis played 4 games, one with a broken hand/finger. In the other 3, he was twice named amongst the best. As for Pedersen, he's had one decent game in the VFL, to go along with his average games in the VFL and 2 poor games in the firsts. You see what you want to see, and ignore what you don't.

He just can't help himself from bvggering things up. Serial pest .

In answer to the OP, would happily take any of those players. In response to the suggestion that we trade Gawn, our Vice captain, a previous all Australian, who would be odds-on for a repeat this year, and a man who has stood up and played blinders in our biggest wins of the last of the last 3 years (West Coast 2017, Hawthorn 2016, Geelong 2015)... you have got to be kidding?? Tuesday night was as close to a finals atmosphere as you're going to get in a H/A match and he had 16 disposals, 8 tackles and 56 hit-outs... what does he need to do to convince you?

That blonde 22 git was the worst......

Look we played poorly on the weekend and I was gutted. But we got the ball into our 50 a lot and were terribly inefficient. Some of the things like 4 flying for a mark/spoil or 3/4 players tackling 1 player rather than waiting on the outside can be easily fixed with a bit of nous and leadership on the ground. Ess are much worse and we should spank them. I say 45 points.

We play Etihad way better than the MCG. Bizarre times.

All Melbourne supporters need one of these. Perspex screen 130cm by 130cm to isolate TV from flying object, fist or headbutt..

He thinks he’s Dusty Martin now that he wears no.4. Got caught holding the ball 3 times on Tuesday trying to do a fend off. He gets sucked into contests all the time when he shouldn’t and his foot skills are poor. What Harmes thinks he is capable of and what he can actually do borders on delusional. It’s a bit of an indictment on the match committee that he’s not even on the extended interchange this week.

Guaranteed 6 goals straight. Kent Kingsley trophy winner this week.

Going to 1400 from 1000 is better than going back in distance. I usually draw a line thoufh horses going back in sistance, though if they are sprinters 1200 back to 1100 (or at worst back to 1100) or 1100 back to 1000 can be ok if they are simply better at the 1000. DZ is not a spinter though is it? Il do the form for the Hawksbury cup.

Regardless of what happened re the camp it should NEVER have gone outside the four walls of the club. That is the real and most damning issue.

I can't recall the last time I opted not to go to a game. I litreally go to every game in Melbourne without doubt all my football life even through the Neeld years I went every week... But for some reason I don't have any desire or want to go on Sunday, I wish I did but the rubbish they dished up Tuesday night leaves me feeling this way. The style of play is frustrating & boring as hell to watch, I don't know where the run & gun style, quick handball, corridor kicks have gone but they need to rediscover it & quickly... Season on the line stuff & at this stage I'll be watching from the couch.

I don't think there is a team in worse form than Essendon right now. (You could argue we have worse form, valid argument) From a wins v losses perspective, going 2-4 isn't the end of the world. However, if we cannot beat Essendon right now at their flattest, I'm not sure who we could actually beat. This is a huge game for both sides. If we drop this I'm not convinced we will beat the saints the following week.

I misread the thread title to be 'Nuke the team'. Couldn't agree more

He has been named in the squad for Sunday. If he plays he will be the first 4th generation of a family with the same surname to play VFL/AFL football. His great grandfather played for the Demons.

Sook.

Disgraceful thread

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/afl/it-s-d-day-already-for-the-dees-20180426-p4zbud.html Huge moan at bringing up the pre-season camp rubbish again and I think we still have ample opportunity to make finals even should we loose to Essendon, but asides from that, I actually think Carey has got alot right in this article.

Tracc out (potential goal kicking mid), no other mids or mid/forwards kicking goals (Kent out), our abysmal delivery / horrible organisation / zip pressure inside 50, Jeffy in career worst form, no genuine stay at home tall forward to kick 2 or 3 (Pedders) on a good day. Might get alot of the pill and alot of entries as in previous 2 matches. But we simply aren't making the most of our entries and kicking enough goals. Scoreboard pressure absent in last 2 matches means a confident freed up (mentally) opponent who will have their tails up from the get go and going for the jugular early. Not expecting Essendrug to be much chop either but will probably make more of their opportunities up forward. Essendrug by 4 to 5 goals in an ugly encounter.

I am a Brayshaw fan and would agree with you in relation to the first 1/4. However he improved a lot during the night. I feel he still does not seem to have a role. At many stoppages he seemed to be about 10m outside the stoppage, but Gawny did little tap downs and the ball did not come out. Honestly i think the worst role at MFC over the last couple of years has been as an outside mid. Our clearance work seems to be see ball get ball, hooray punt. It has crucified Watts, limited Salem and had put Brayshaw in no mans land. I thought the biggest issues with MFC last Tuesday was their ball handling whereas Richmond were very clean and spread from stoppages/intercepts very well . The third quarter was probably the most intense football played for the year, but we could not keep it up. Fitness/Maturity could be reasons ??? Positives : OMac continues to improve because he has been allowed to develop in his defined role. Weiderman was a real positive I thought. Matured a lot I have been critical of Lever and Melksham but both were vast improvements as was Hunt's attack. I stiil live in hope !!!

Harmes hardly runs/spreads. He was caught holding the ball three(?) times against Richmond. ANB certainly runs/spreads and is good at it. His problem is he isn't good at anything else. He is a terrible decision-maker, routinely picking the wrong option or missing a target. He doesn't have great skills, he isn't kicking goals. It's pointless having him run and spread if he's a liability with the ball in hand.

I would agree that we have a lot of players,mainly half-forwards/midfield types, who are out of form at moment. Melksham was one of them four days ago, yet turned it all around on Tuesday. Fingers crossed Gartlett, Harmes, ANB, etc. can follow suit...

We have serious issues - will be seriously serious issues if we can't get over them Sunday. Expecting a nailbighting shite-fest - possibly ending in a rush for remaining seats to Noosa in September.

We are in a bit of trouble. Players retained who have hardly had a kick. Players selected who have hardly had a kick at VFL level (exception Spargo) Players selected who lack a yard (Lewis) Player overlooked who has been our best at VFL level (Pedo) What to do? I really have no idea. We are in a pickle.

stretch was shithouse

How the EFF does Harmes get another game? Goodwin just not just get it.

How the FK do Harmes and Nibbler keep their spots!?

what a joke of a thread. some people need to have a good look at themselves trollsville the problem is mostly game plan give me 18 jonesies every time

I think we need to roll the dice with Tmac for this game. His interview sounded very positive to me and his comment about getting his “conditioning out on the MCG” sounds to me as though his toe is 100%. He’s a seasoned player and extremely fit. I reckon he’ll be the key to converting more of the immense forward 50 entries into goals. Viney of last season was a completely different issue and a much more severe injury. The two are apples and oranges. Get him in.