Leaderboard

Here’s a summer feel-good(ish) story for ya. So a colleague of mine is a cricket-loving Kiwi who plays in an amateur league here in Melbourne. The name of the league escapes me, but it’s pretty well organised whereby they have player ranking points across the all teams. My mate is pretty good and as such, got selected to represent the Kiwi ‘All-Star’ team or some such in a one-off exhibition game played today. Weeks ago he cane to me with his good news of selection. With his limited knowledge of AFL, my mate said rumour was getting about that a footy star was going to be on the team. Some tall bloke with a beard, he says. I immediately opened a file on my work computer filled with humorous Max facial expression pics that I use to punctuate light-hearted emails and showed him - is this the bloke? Confirmed, Max Gawn was selected as wicket keeper / batsman for today’s game! I haven’t seen too many keepers of Max’s height, but apparently he goes alright! I’ve read about his passion for the Black Caps and the fact he was born there so makes sense I guess. My mate said he’s a ripping bloke. Anyway, the Kiwis lost needing 2 runs off the last ball. Guess who had most of the strike in the last but couldn’t get bat to ball? Can’t win em all; shades of R1 2018. At least he didn’t pull a hammy or anything. My mate was pretty filthy on the loss so I don’t have much match detail at this stage, he said it was too soon so must have been a heartbreaker. But best of all, my mate was kind enough, and Maxy gracious enough, to sign a picture for my 4.5 yo twin daughters to go alongside their one from Daisy Pearce on our fridge. The conditioning is almost complete. Thanks Maxy, go Dees!

If your only metric is money then sure mills might be happier. But it is unlikely pendles only metric is money or else he would have picked bball . He's playing the game he loves. In front of massive crowds. Who love him. He gets to live in Australia, in his home town. And sleep most of the year in his own bed. Occasional trips to Perth but otherwise short plane rides and max one night in a hotel. Plays one game a week. On the money front would be a multi millionaire by the time his career finishes. Would have opportunities to go into media post career (unlike patty, probably). And how much money do you need? Is there a sliding scale of happiness the more millions you have? I reckon both would be equally happy with their choices.

The prospect of having to hear for the rest of his life that he finished 3rd in the Brownlow one year, should be a sufficient motivating force to get back to his best and surpass that crowning achievement. ?

And yet some people around here wouldn’t even have him in our best 22. Would walk into anyone’s best 22 with his crisp kicking and goal kicking nous. Players that would feature in other best 22’s. Gawn - obviously. Melksham - as mentioned above. May - one of the better full backs in the league. T Mac - 50 odd goals despite missing the first 5 games of the year gets you a gig. Oliver - one of the best young mids in the game. Does things others can’t. Maybe: Brayshaw - 25 odd Brownlow votes gets you a gig but I’m hoping he’s not going to live off that achievement for the rest of his career. Very good midfielder who once had a 37 possession 3 goal game. Poor 2019. Salem - has a good shoe but tends to fade late in seasons. Lever - A former All Aust 40 squad member who’s an excellent interceptor of the pill. Hasn’t shown anything near elite in his time with us. Fritsch - This season will prove whether he’s the real deal as a full time fwd presumably. Needs to kick 40 to be considered a gig with the big boys. Apparently Richmond and Collingwood have kept an eye on him if your believe rumours. Petracca - Has elite traits but just goes missing after playing a blinding quarter. Will 2019 be his year?

I googled the golden calf and illuminati together and it took me to some very strange places. Could we save the Dees by writing a new Dan Brown like novel? In Hollywood you can hit it big by registering story lines for movies.. don't even have to write much........

Not as much love for Fritta in this thread as I would have expected. Come the end of 2020, that will change!

I'm all for off-season musings, but this is a bit of an outdated and simplistic way of analyzing lists I reckon. Even very good sides typically only have a handful of superstars and maybe another half dozen clearly above-average players. The bottom 6-10 players in good teams aren't world beaters, but play a role that utilizes their strengths and doesn't expose their weaknesses. In that sense, most of Melbourne's best 22 would at least be in the frame of Richmond's best 22. Oliver is probably a better player than, say, Cotchin, but would replacing Cotchin with Oliver improve Richmond? Doubt it. Our list is good enough on paper to go deep in finals. Pretty much anyone that knows footy accepts this. Getting it to click is the hard part. On topic: Gawn Oliver May (GC version) Tmac (2018 version)

hi all, Deakin Pereira is my son. He stands around the 201 cm mark. He has just turned 17 in september. He takes a size 18 shoe. He has not touched a footy for nearly one and a half years. We were blessed to come to Train with Melbourne for 3 days and Deakin really enjoyed it. He is a basketballer and there have been numerous offers to play bball in the US. At present we are waiting on offers to go to a prep school in the USA. Deakin really enjoyed the challenge at Melbourne and time will tell if he sways back to AFL. the above photo is not him.

Pure guesswork

I’ve never quite understood why so many people feel the need to share images of the membership pack they get in the mail on all of the mfc fb groups. Every member of every club gets the same thing every year. It’s not exactly a surprise. It’s a bit like sharing your monthly gas bill.

Sorry Damo but you have Fritsch in twice??

Weekend Special Monday NFL 5.00am New Orleans @ Tennessee New Orleans Win (1-13) $2.50

Monday Best Spanish Primera Division Monday at 02:00 Real Betis v Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid Win $2.00

But probably the biggest factor is which game is more enjoyable to play, rather than wanting to play internationally (which basketballers rarely do in any case). Our very own Luke Jackson was Australia's best player at the under 17 bball world cup and with his height, skill and athleticism would have 100% played college ball and had a real shot at playing NBA. But he said he enjoyed playing footy more and chose to head down that path. By the by Pendles would be the same height as Mills. Or perhaps a touch taller.

I am surprised that you didn’t pick (sic) Pickett? ?

Luckily I do have a backlog, but the plastic pockets have a limited shelf life. Officeworks my next stop.

Who’s better off’? Probably a question best answered by a Jesuit or philosopher. However I’m sure Pendlebury has few regrets about his career (other than not playing for his beloved Demons)!

We made the prelim last year and now have a better and more mature list. We have the talent we need a fit list, a solid game plan, fully committed players and mental toughness though the squad

Jordan will be in our top 4 by the end of the year and walk into any other midfield.

A melee is when Steven May looks at a player who has just dropped one of our guys,and it is called a scuffle if you are a protected player and start pushing and shoving.

How about this for a sliding doors moment Scott Pendlebury was about to go to the Australian institute of sports for basketball, and Patty Mills was preparing to try out for the AFL, Scott Pendlebury knocked back the scholarship, and decided on an AFL career, then it was offered to Patty Mills who took up the scholarship and the rest is history. who's better off?

1 Clarry 2 Max 3 May 4 Melksham 5 Harmes 6 Nev

Updated best 22 B: Jetta May Hibberd HB: J.Smith Lever Harmes C : Langdon Oliver Salem HF: Melksham T.McDonald Petracca F: Pickett Fritsch Petty FOLL: Gawn Brayshaw VIiney IC: Tomlinson Jackson Vandenberg Lockhart Emergencies - Hannan Rivers Jones Hore In - Vandenberg, Rivers Out - Hunt, Preuss

Melksham would be in the starting 18 of any of those teams. As would plenty of our orher guys.

The aim was to hear others' opinions on whether we really have a decent list. If we can't find players on our list who'd get a game in the top teams, what hope do we have? As for already answering my own question, no, I don't think just Max and Clarrie would make the other teams. Now, I'm trying to put this politely... Maybe it's not so much a case of answering my own question as someone else not understanding its intent.

And the aim is what? You've already answered your own question

Well today mine turned up and probably because I had been prepared by this thread I am happy. Yep little more than the membership card but I can remember that is not so long ago that is all you got. Will one of us not buy a membership without all the bibs and bobs of recent years? I seriously doubt it. For 2020 all I want is to win 12- 14 games and play finals everything else is superfluous.

Got to be quicker than that ? 2020 Men Front of Jumper: Zurich 2020 Men Front of Shorts: Hertz 2020 Men Back of Jumper: Jaguar 2020 Women Front of Jumper: Hertz 2020 Women Front of Shorts: CSG ??? 2020 Women Back of Jumper: Zurich

I forgot Spargo, starting his rehab, after the ankle Dunkley did a power of work in the break, came back looking really fit, has no issue running out the sessions Disappointed for Nietschke, was looking good and was another being groomed for a wing Ha ha good point on Nev, he knows, another who came back in great shape, even after his op Has actually lifted all his times etc Surprising what a bit of competition across all lines can do???

And this bloke?

Someone had to put the motzer on it. Hope I"m not sitting next to you at our next GF if you're going to make rash calls early.

On the Bennell hunched back thing, it reminds me of this bloke...

Maybe he is not being advised. Maybe he can make his own decisions, because, well, ,you know, he knows where his career is at.

one of uncle bitter's favourite exercises (sans whip)

Thought you may have been referring to Pork Hunt.

I'm going with a conservative 22 to start with B: Jetta May Hibberd HB: Salem Lever Jones C Viney Harmes Langdon HF AVB Tmac Petracca F: Pickett Weid Fritsch Foll: Gawn Oliver Brayshaw I/C: Petty ANB Tomlinson Emerg: Brown, Rivers, Jackson After a full preseason, community cup experiments and reserve games at Casey this is my what if wish list for those I havent included in best 22: - Rivers potentially taking over Jones' probable HB position - Joel Smith gaining fitness and continuity to keep developing and maybe look at Petty's swingman position as a marking option both ends - Jackson continuing to develop and get a few games in the seniors to show off the raw talent he has. I'd love for him to really push Weid into form but also interested to see him play the second tall forward to give Gawn more rest in the ruck, - The battle for the small forward spot Lockhart, Chandler, Hannan, Hunt etc. - Obviously Bennel finding form and fitness would be the ultimate bonus for this team. Could be anything.

My take on Best 22. A bit different B: NEV, MAY, PIG HB: LEVER, PETTY, HARMES ? TOMLINSON, VINEY, LANGDON HF: SALEM, T.MAC, MILKSHAKE F: TRAC, J. SMITH, FRITTA FOLL: GAWN, CLARRY, GUS IC:, AVB, HUNT, HORE, BENNELL Imagine Tomlinson/Langdon running all day up and down the wings Salem/ Milkshake hitting the forwards lace out every time Lever needs to play 3rd tall. That’s where he shines. Tracs / AVB / Harley rotating through the middle + resting forward *I know Petty training with forwards this is hope only 22

If fit Tomlinson is best 22 without a doubt, he was brought in fir a specific purpose (like Langdon). If we get a blessed run of injuries like what the Lions got last year and the Tigers in their 2017 premiership year, we will be seriously competitive. Luck is an intangible quality that can't be underestimated.

The second poster in the off season to suggest Melksham isn't good enough to make the best 22. Unless you guys are predicting a sudden downturn in form next year, Melksham would be one of the first picked. Infact, I'd go as far to say Melksham is the best kick at the club. Seen those inside 50 bullets he's capable of and the classy goals he kicks. We sorely missed him last year as we slumped to a 2-8 record without him.

Happy to share my gas bill...… in fact any of my bills.

B: Lockhart - May - J Smith HB: Lever - OMac - Salem Mid: Langdon - Petracca - Tomlinson HF: Vanders - Petty - Harmes F: Weideman - TMac - Pickett Foll: Gawn - Clarry - Viney I/c: Fritsch - Brayshaw - Jetta - Melksham

Based on what we are seeing from training at moment in simulated match practice, here's my take on Best 22 at moment. Defenders (7 - one on bench): May, Lever, Smith, Jetta, Harmes, Salem, Hibberd - Emerg: Lockhart Mids (8 - two on bench): Gawn, Olly, Viney, Langdon, Trac, Brayshaw, Vanders, plus one more from Jones/JJ/Dunkley/Sparrow Forwards (7 - one on bench): Fritter, Melky, T.Mac, Petty, ANB, Hunt plus a decision on whether to have the extra big (Tomlinson, Weid or Jackson) or the extra small (Kossie or Bedford) Injuries to Jones and Tomlinson mean they will have to show quite a bit early next year when they get back in with the main group.

No that's because his replacement would be for Jetta first and Salem would play further up the field. On the training notes JL has had great reviews and hopefully he gets a chance early if not in Round1 Being compared to Alan Johnson is no mean feat and running And dash were his attributes just what our defence needs. While I may be a bit premature I believe that if we are to become a Top 4 team by the end of this season both Hibbo and Jetta May not be our HB flankers. Think Rivers And Maybe Joel Smith with Lockhart as the small plus May Lever and A vastly improved Oscar OR Harmes/Hunt /KK if fit / or Tomlinson. Snd all of them on their bikes to start the running and carry using handball and foot passing to Langdon or our mids or HF flankers!

Training as a half back and whilst he's looking good there (and was his best position at Casey) I can't have him ahead of Hibberd, Salem and Harmes yet.

Just checked the entire thread and I was the only one that has him in the best 22.

Apparently training with defence. Nev's protege?

Surprised you tipsters are not including Lockhart as the small forward. I though that considering his absence of a preseason this year he was very promising.

Don forget to do a Casey Reserves best 22... I know you have it in you, Werridee.

Most people have Weideman in their starting 22. Not saying he won't be there but IMO he's the biggest question mark of all. Really needs to show something pre season.