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Where do I send my invoice?

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2019-06-06/neales-message-to-the-red-and-blue If you can't get motivated from that, you're not human! Man is a living legend.

Excited for this now. Second week in a row where the team changes offer obvious, substantial upgrades with players returning. Obviously players like Lever will be a long way off peak, but we’re slowly building a competent looking side again. Decided not to make my annual pilgrimage for this match this year, because we’d been crap and I really wanted some time at home having had an insanely busy year so far, but I’m kicking myself now.

In what way is May underdone? He’s been training since forever and played a full, dominant game in the VFL last week. I don’t think there’s much more prep he could have done to prepare. You just threw his name in there because it suited your whinge. And it’s totally ridiculous to suggest Salem might be unfit after two weeks where he’s been able to train in full.

suits their endless march towards becoming an American sport

That would be a good result.

First win on the road to finals I don't want draft picks - I want success

Off the extended bench, I’d like Weed, Hibbo, ANB and ........ Smithers, release the Preuss

Posted at the same time - I love how different views on here can be. Unless someone is a star I’m probably guilty of writing them off too soon. When I think of Zak I just see a butcher. See ball, get ball, kick ball (to anyone).

One of the big issues with goal kicking in the modern game is that instead of a forward resting on the fence with a ciggy until the ball comes down, forwards are running huge distances, doing repeat sprint efforts and being smashed in contests prior to needing to calm themselves, find their routine and do a different type fo skill. Think of Biatholons, where athletes have outrageous heart rates, then have to consciously calm themselves super quick to shoot accurately. It is more than just technique, more than just pressure (although the mental stuff certainly comes into play). It is being fit enough to be able to switch between high intensity and accuracy type skills in the 30 seconds, having a routine with replicable skills that can be deployed consistently, and the smarts to make a good assessment of the kick that is required (ie, Jeffie, not always some dribbler off the outside of the boot, but a drop punt FFS). Goal kicking is harder now than it has ever been with the nature and speed of the game.

I can help them out. Here's a logo they can use for AFLX:

I think the opposite, I’d play them both in the forward line for the rest of the season. The seasons a write-off so nothing to lose. Let them get some continuity working together and hope they gel and find form. There’s a good chance we won’t land a big forward over the off-season who will solve our forward line woes so they may be all we have again next season.

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I'm in the Preuss camp. Small sample size, but he's created goals from nothing when we need them and at least looks close to taking a grab rather than just sticking his hands toward the ball with eyes half closed. Keeps one defender deep. Can physically hurt the opposition. Has the ability to tap to advantage. But forget the second ruck discussion, fitness, and VFL form - Braydon still offers far more as simply a forward right now than what Tmac currently does. It's not like Tomald is the key to us trapping it in. We have looked far better up front this year when Tom has been absent - and while I was happy enough to overlook it before, he keeps getting in the way thinking he's some sort of extractor at forward scrums. Would be great to see Braydon somehow go head-to-head with Cox, like in some bizarre two-metre tagging role. All we are saying, is give Preuss a chance.

Got to training late this morning. Petty was walking off to the rooms early; didnt sight Lever, nor Angus, Viney or Lewis; competitive drills where they had to clear the ball from a stoppage and get the ball to an outside runner who would deliver a pass to the leading forward coming out of the goal square, closely checked by a defender. Pruess vs May for much of the drill. Does that mean anything? May trained strongly, Oscar B was impressive in a contested drill where you had to work the ball through heavy traffic, get the ball to a coach and then try to smother his kick. Got the smother in everytime. While the key backs practiced punching high ball kicked into Rawlings with a pad on his back, the others did a session of goal kicking. It seemed to be just a free for all of set shots and snaps, no inkling of any coach working on set shot technique! I haven’t seen anyone working with our key forwards on technique and routine etc. must be old school. I watch Weid out 2 ones straight through from 45 dead in front, no issues there at practice but game day.... and watching the key backs in the punching drill there was no emphasis on punching the ball to the boundary side on the contest. They got complimented whether they punched it inboard or straight ahead...again I must be old school, (where is Anthony Ingerson these days)? That was about it for observations.

Don’t get me wrong nothing would please me more than us making the 8, but the chances are so low that I prefer we get a decent pick and regroup for next season with a healthy list and win the flag. I still believe our list is good enough to win a flag... if we can keep it healthy and get our game plan right.

I want The big Pruessy to play, just to watch him throw Jeremy Howe into the Olympic Stand.

Lynch who has never played in a final. Cameron who has kicked a whopping 7 goals in 5 finals. Hawkins who, going back over his finals career, has kicked 2,1,1,1,2, 5,1,1,2,0, 3,2,2,0,1, 0,2,2,0. Golly. That's four zeros, six ones, seven twos, and a total of two out of nineteen games where he has kicked more than a pair in a final. So he is twice as likely to kick none in a final than kick a signifcant score. You'd think he'd get the hang of it now that he's played almost as many finals as Weideman has had games total. Come to think of it, Weideman actually has a better finals record than Hawkins. Leaving just Josh Kennedy of your examples, which is a bit like saying 'a midfield will do better if it has a Pendlebury-type player in it, for example, Pendlebury'. No doubt Kennedy is one of the modern greats of the game, and certainly a more accurate kick than the 1.3 (or does Hawkins count as out on the full?)you just dished out. Meanwhile, Jack Riewoldt is no gorilla, stands at 193cm weighing 92kg, and I don't think Richmond really regret going into the 2017 grand final with him as their only real tall target, what with having 11 separate goalkickers on the day. Our current forward line is weak and it would be good to have an extra tall, no doubt. But it is also true than an in form Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman can obviously be a potent attacking pair. They would also, oddly enough, be among the tallest (194cm and 195cm) and and heaviest (100kg and 97kg) forward combinations of recent years. You'll look even more silly about your 'don't repeat 2000' when people remember that the Demons went into the 2000 grand final with David Neitz and David Shwarz, both strongly built and highly effective classic key forwards. And along the way in those finals, in the qualifying final it had been Green, Powell and Bruce who provided most of the goals while the Davids combined for 3, and even in the glorious shootout over North it was Famer (8), Powell (3) and Robertson (3) who led the way.

Seems stoned, is stuttering, long pauses, lips moving with no words coming out at times. Weird. Could be the fact my internet at work is lagging terribly i guess.

Goody does sound a bit short of breath. But gees I love the message and focus he has. All those baggers out there can get stuffed.

Goodwin looks NQR, very nervous and upset looking, I wonder what the issues are? Health or pressure? Hope he's OK.

is it just me or does his voice sound a bit shaky/nervous at times?

Buckley knows Viney can only play on his left side so he always parks a player there and takes him out of the game. They then get the ball out on his side of the ground and run it forward to an open fwd line. In many respects Viney is our weakest link vs the pies. Perhaps we should put Viney on the wing and Brayshaw back in the middle to counteract Buckley's plan and put Gus back where he belongs.

Josh Jenkins? Lordy.....

Average ground ball gets inside 50 to Rnd 9. Tom not even on the radar...Pruess @ 5. Oh, leads our goal kicking averages also. Not bad for an unfit wanna be who can barely play out 3 quarters. Imagine how much better he'll be when he manages 4!

Our poor defence earlier this year allowed our opponents to kick easy goals. It's not as if we have been torched by miracle goals, or even flukey goals. And when sides bust us open after a turnover, they are also kicking easy goals.

Roughy is finished

I was checking to see if there were any images online from Training today and found this gem from a few months back. Always nice to have a free portrait taken by a professional photographer @Satyriconhome.

So happy to hear that he’s a new grandfather - what a wonderful blessing that must be for him.

He was and always will be the great orator, the reverend. As he said, he loves to tell a story and what I heard in his message to this playing group was a beautiful story. So you have had a bad year, lots of injuries and fallen short of expectation and even last week lost at the bell. Don't look for blame, own it, take responsibility accept the handball and work your way through it. Rather than motivation I felt as a lesson in life. I have no doubt one of the reasons he has lasted longer than any predictions is his dedication to this cause and to fight MND. No matter what life or footy throws at you, face it and work your way through as best you can. It starts for MFC Monday IMO and who better to take on than the Pies. Neale you are an inspiration to us all.

One of my hero’s ❤️?

He’s exactly what we don’t need.

Zac is a good NQR player or as Jack Dyer would have said, a good ordinary footballer. Not a criticism.Would not want to give up too much for him.

Let’s hope the players take it in. Good on ya Neale.

I noticed that at the beginning then it settled a bit. iirc, he usually does his mid week presser standing up. Hope he is well.

Spot on buck. I'm amazed that this is seemingly never pointed out by the so called experts in the footy media, who are mostly ex footballers. I posted a coupe of weeks back about Lyon bagging kicking for goals by current player and noted he spent almost all of his time in the forward 50 and probably ran no more than a 2-3 ks a game. The fitness issue doesn't just impact on goal kicking it also impacts on field kicking. it is hard to argue they should practice goal (and field) kicking more but the real issue i reckon is how many players come to footy with woeful technique. This must be a coaching issue in juniors. I mean how does a player like Trac, one of the best junior footballers in the country, get to the AFL with such a shocking technique? By that time is is too late to change it, other than tinkering around the edges. Poor technique is exposed by fatigue (and variables like slippery conditions for that matter).

Or they could have a competition, and give $1,000 to every junior club in the country. I know mine could make good use of that sort of money.

Disappointment. How the censored do we have so many injuries during the preseason and play under done players during the season proper? Desperate situations don't get you anywhere. Oscar Mac what has happened to him? Surprises. Hore, Hunt, and Frost for their consistency and dedication, real goers that's all we ask of them. Well done! Oscar Baker heading the right direction.

Hope you are not implying that Trevor Barker didn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? He was a champion footballer and fine young man.

If Weideman was at another club I guarantee a lot on this board would be calling for us to chase him. We saw his potential at the end of last season, he showed improvement on the weekend barring the obvious miss. Also people crying we've had no first round draft picks yet calling for us to trade it for a key forward this year... Please. TMac & Weideman are not alone on their output from the back end of last year. Chill the F/%k out and give the 11 remaining games a go before calling for these changes

You do realise the current year is 2019?

I think we should get Weideman...bar Cameron, he's probably the best bet of the bunch.

Sure you can, but as the greats have said (Dunstall being a main one) what you practice is what you revert to in game. Otherwise why train anything ever.

MCG predicting 82,000 on Monday. It would be awesome if we see so many of their fans leave early.

Not enough pressure in the backline We don’t work hard enough for long enough. That is why we are in the Cellar again

Dont know why, but have this funny feeling we'll roll the pies this weekend Salem, Hore, May, Lever are MASSIVE ins for us.