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35 touches at 80% and 7 clearances and Melbourne supporters still think he had just an average game. Name one other player on our list who would have these post game stats and not be considered to have had a phenomenal game? We are so spoilt by the quality of Oliver we don’t even get excited by these stats anymore. And he’s just starting to reach his peak at 100 games. Worth whatever he wants.

The clearance differential is not the cause of concern some are making it out to be i don't think. Essentially, like many clubs, we are modelling key aspects of our game on the tigers. The tigers don't care about clearances. Their focus is on what happens after the clearance defensively. As is ours, a shift that happened last season. Opposition win a clearance from a stoppage (which is where 80% occur, centre square clearnces are seen but not the main game). We put the ball carrier under pressure, who dump kicks into their 50. We intercept, often with a mark. We are set up well ahead of the ball and hurt them on transition (though we turn it over much more than the tigers unfortunately- which is why kozzie and spargo are so important). Rinse and repeat. Winning clearances is no longer the kpi it was. Important, yes. Critical, no. Consider this. At one point in the first i think I heard a commentator say they were 8 zip up in clearances. We were 3 goals up and dominating. And the commentators were pointing out time abd time again our intercept marks. But of course not making the connection. Because, you know who would expect full time professional to get it. Daisy would have pointed out the connection. They have arguably one of the top 3 mids in the game in fyfe and a strong support crew. They will win their fair share of clearances. And no doubt freo fans are bemoaning rhe fact they won the clearances and lost the match. Just as we did so often in say 2019. But we were always in control of that game. They pressed early in the third and once that was repelled it was game over. They got more clearances. But we killed them with intercept marks and as result got 75 odd percent of our score from turnovers. Just like the tigers. Think about how often that had happened to us in the past.

Players who aren’t getting dropped this week no matter how much you dislike them: ANB, Spargo, Jetta.

Second hand info passed on, but good source. Copped a wrist injury during the Freo game and has had to have surgery, likely out for 6 weeks or so. Also copped a nose injury as well so did well to just play out the game. Definitely changes my perspective on his performance somewhat.

The guy had gotten rid of the ball and was looking downfield. Danger came in from the side. He could have grabbed him, pushed him or done nothing as he didn't have the ball and wasn't expecting blind side contact. Danger chose to bump. The one thing he shouldn't have done. He broke the guys nose and knocked him out. Graded as severe, as that is the only one available with those injuries. Yes, the head bump was probably accidental, however that is exactly what they are trying to stop. Danger knows that better than any other player, as President of the Player's association. They have been told countless times, bump and you are responsible for any head knock, deliberate or accidental. No excuse whatsoever under the rules. All hell will break out if he doesn't get the right whack, minimum 3 weeks. ANB got 4 weeks in a 17 game season for swinging a player to the ground with one arm held. That player got concussed mildly. This is a far worse injury, from an act that the AFL is telling players to avoid if possible. Watch 60 minutes last sunday on CTE deaths and suicides.

Spargo had a goal, 3 goal assists and 5 score involvements. (Also had 5 tackles btw) Bizarre comment.

Makes good position, and doesn’t get sucked in to the contest when not needed. In the first quarter, watch him putting himself in the position to give Jones an option which then translated to a foot pass and goal to Kozzie. Have seen him doing this regularly, and he also works hard up and down the ground. Hoping he can build on this to consistently have more impact on games.

Yeah...he’s ok, I believe I heard during the replay only 3 other players in the history of the game have had more possessions than Oliver in their first 100 games.I think one of the Crouch brothers, Greg Williams and the other escapes me. A couple of times he ran past us on the Northern wing and kicked the ball so beautifully and thought I would like him to kick a little more in a game. Just feel there’s so much more upside that I’d hate to see it elsewhere.

In round 1 2021, Spargo easily surpassed double the contribution that he'd generally managed in games in 2020, 2019 or all but a few of his 2018 games. Interesting that he is still only out on the field for 70% game time. I'm curious to know the reasons behind that as you'd think he'd clock up at least more than the full-time midfielders. Just throwing numbers around, but - 3 goals assists, 3 inside 50s and 2 marks inside 50. 87% disposal efficiency playing across half forward (for the Demons! unheard of!) and 7 of his 16 possessions being contested. Throw in 5 tackles for good measure. Anyway, let it quietly blow your mind that on the weekend Charlie Spargo would have been in the best four or five small forwards in the AFL. Just enjoy it.

As much pressure as the pray room at Parliament House in Canberra?

Some people in this thread think he’s not in our top five players. He’s actually come in the top 10 in the coaches award twice. By my reckoning, that puts him in at least the top 20 players in the league. IMH0 he is the best inside mid we’ve had since Barassi. We have to keep him.

Jesus christ I hate Melbourne supporters.. We've gone from questioning Clayton Oliver's worth in the team, to now wanting to trade Max Gawn. Who would have thought a win still brings the worse out in some.

I had some nufty try to tell me on Facebook that Oliver was nowhere near best on ground. I'd have Oliver and Lever ahead of May personally, but clearly the three best players on the ground. The nufty has similar company on here who constantly pick Oliver's game apart. It's like they've never seen a Melbourne team play prior to Oliver's debut. I've been banging on for years on Demonland that he's the best I've seen in my 33 years. That remains. As for Oliver being replaceable... what world are you living in?

No, some people are missing the fact that the Crows player had handpassed the ball. Dangerfield was late, the ball was gone. If he still had the ball at impact it becomes a different argument. He was concentrating on giving off a handball and was open when Dangerfield cleaned him up. Late. He has to take responsibility for that. It moves from accidental, towards it being a vicious act. You can argue that its not in Dangerfields nature but he chose to do it and didn't execute within the rules of the game. He has to take responsibility for that.

I will take 4 points and 'learnings' from any win rather than 0 points and lessons from any game. It was a good win as far as i am concerned. Played well in the first quarter and later in the 4th quarter and came awy with a lot to work on. I liked Jordon's first game. He looks composed and confident and I am looking to to see how he builds on that. I liked Sparrow's game aas well and I think he will add to the depth of the Mids. tackles well and has a bit of toe about him. Spargo was great in the game and if he can produce that game on a consistent basis he will play a lot of game for the Dees. There are a couple of broken links to work on such as the link between Ruck and Mids and the kick into the forward 50 needs work still. I counted no less than 5 times in the last quarter where the last kick into the 50 was to an opponent for mark or badly directed into open space with defenders closest to the drop. Defence was excellent but they will come up against better forwards in the future, starting next week. May, Lever, Tomlinson and to a lesser extent Rivers were all great and cutting off attacks with intercept marks. Jetta had a good game against a smaller less experienced player. he will come up against better players as from next week nd that will be a better indication of where he is at. Mids, As my teachers used to say about me, 'Can do better'. Looks to me as if Oliver ha been asked to take on opponents a bit more than he has in the past. He will be better for this game where he was caught a lot. Freo were not good enough to fully punish us. Petracc had a quiet game by his standards I thought. having said that, his followup efforts at the contest are just great. He hates to be beaten. I like to look of Kossie in the middle every now and then. A little different for the opposition to work out. It was good to see TMac up and about and I think there is a bit to work with with the players we have available. At one stage in the first at a center bounce there was Fritsch in the square, Max 30 out and Spargo on the 50m arc with Jackson in the ruck. Later in the 4th TMac was in the square, Fritsch 10m in front of him, Jackson 40 m out and Pickett on the 50m arc. It will be interesting to watch the form and development of this group. Saints next week and I will be looking for the team to look a little less rusty and a bit more 'on'.

His best position is inside, and while I love Viney’s attack I think Gus does it cleaner. I can’t work out why we wouldn’t throw him in there for periods against Freo when we were getting smashed in clearances.

If that's his minimum he will be the best small forward in the AFL!

He hits targets and sets up scoring opportunities. We complain about not being able to hit up players inside 50, then proceed to bash one of the few that does it consistently.

I reckon ANB had one of the better games I've seen him play on the weekend. Looked clean and didn't get in the way like normal. Charlie is a ripper, lots of football nous and he is creative with his possessions. If he could go from 10-15 to 15-20 touches a game, he would become one of our most influential players

He had 15 contested possessions though. So 80% efficiency on 43% of touches contested is great. Similar 301 MG on 10 kicks 25 handballs is completely fine. Should he have kicked more? Maybe once or twice, I’d like to see him get towards a 1:1 ratio and also see him get more handball receives from team mates rather than the other way around. But it was a treat to watch him live, he does some special things.

i agree i thought dangerfield executed the bump with a fair degree of malice, driving in hard, leaning forward, and intended to knock kelly into next week. no doubt he was motivated by the crows giving the cats a lesson and wanting to "make a statement" to lift his side i'd also point out that it was not a classic side-on shoulder to shoulder bump. danger was actually in front of kelly and coming in on an angle (see overhead video shot shown earlier) such that the impact was not to kelly's shoulder but his right hand chest area increasing the odds of a head hit and why his nose was broken rather than his ear squished. all this and being late and hitting player clearly after disposal and defenceless danger's claim that he bumped with a duty of care to kelly is just laughable

Sloane, another Dangerfield great mate but also Kelly's captain is saying Kelly "... ran into a guy with a rock-hard melon. I've ran into that bloke, Danger, a couple of times and you certainly do come off second best normally." I wouldn't be too happy if my captain said it was my fault after the injuries I sustained. It is salt into the wound after Ricutto yesterday said it was 'bad luck'. Isn't Kelly's father Craig Kelly, a senior AFL Player Manager. I wounder if we will hear from him. tbh I find it quite unsavoury that Ricutto and Sloane are batting for a mate rather than one of their own kids. imv if they can't support Kelly they should keep quiet and stay out of it.

That’s unfair. He is an inside mid. His primary role is to release the runners once he gains possession. He does that better than nearly all players in the league. He also had some nice kicks inside 50 that set us up. His hands in close are elite. Can he improve his outside game? Sure. But that is not and will never be his primary role. He is highly rated by all league coaches. There is a reason for that.

MD's last major target was none other than Steven May So perhaps we should be looking at the positives (opposite outcomes lol) So we could point MD towards an out of form player like Harmes in order to get James back into top form!

Did you read this before posting?

He charged Kelly like bull to a red rag. To the letter of the law still worth 3 weeks suspension despite your opinion.

How quickly perceptions change. 12 months ago most dees fans had Steven May penciled in as a botched trade that cost us a shot at drafting Ben King. As an aside, MFC have been blessed with some insanely tough Indigenous footballers. May, Jetta, Whelan and Pickett x 2 could not be further from the stereotype that Indigenous footballers need to be fast, evasive small forwards that rely on natural talent rather than hard work to make it in the AFL.

The other thing about this action by Dangerfield is that it was clearly “retributional” in that the ball and contest for the ball had left the area, and Dangerfield’s action was about intimidation and inflicting injury, NOT on competing for the ball. A low blow, with the same malice, intent and effect as a king hit behind play. Disguised as a last second boo boo... He’s a thug, and weasel.

I know recruiting is an inexact science but people around here are very quick to write off young players. He was very good on the weekend and will be a vital member of the team this year and beyond.

Hopefully he can instill the high standards needed, particularly to our younger players

Good news for our home ANZAC Eve game - hopefully back up to 100% by then.

May means business. If all our players played with his heart we would be close to premiership favourites.

I think you're trying to put a positive spin on something that was not planned by us. Their ball use going inside was absolutely appalling and quite frankly we had a get of jail card in Jake Lever and Steven May Our game absolutely still relies on us being on top in clearance and contest. It has to, given the type of players Goodwin puts in and around the ball. Things like positioning, not getting too sucked in, spread etc are all elements that we've been poor at and continue to be poor at. Outside of Fyfe, our mids should have easily accounted for the younger, less developed and less hardened mids of theirs. But we didn't. Oliver, Harmes, Brayshaw, Petracca and Gawn needed to take the game by the scruff. I think it would be wiser to wait until we play a half decent opposition with not so many key players out before making a call regarding the weekend's game. I think it's clear as day our game style against Freo was not by design.

Excellent, wide ranging interview .... Maysie 'wears his heart on his sleeve'. I absolutely love the wholehearted way he has embraced the Dees.

Unless Jones gets injured or has a total stinker, I think he will retain his spot so we can get him to 300 games. And I’m not mad about it. I think Jones’ ball use going inside 50 is pretty good and he is still contributing to the team. Let’s get him to 300 games that he so richly deserves.

Capacity at this and all games will be increased to 75%. For Marvel, that means 43,500. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/crowd-capacity-lifted-to-75-per-cent-for-round-two-20210323-p57d5c.html

Yes, Freo had the first 8 clearances, but I certainly didn’t feel like we were “dominating”. Freo’s ball use early was disgraceful, and they could have easily put us to the sword early. I think we are playing a very dangerous game if we concede clearances to that extent against better sides.

If we’re ever fortunate enough to win a flag people will complain that the cup isn’t shiny enough.

Yep. I reckon Spargo is going to make a few around here eat their words. He does more with 5-10 possessions, than many can do with 40 possessions. It seems to be the same people complaining 'they bomb it in/don't lower their eyes', that dislike Spargo who seemingly never misses a target going inside 50.

Where was Nibbler's "bad luck"? A tackle, a legal execution of a skill of the game ended with bad luck where the victim hit his head on the ground. No instead the Adelaide medical staff threw Nibbler under the bus. That's disgraceful from Ricciuto and a clear star player bias.

Channel 7 news reported on Saturday night that Viney played the full 4 quarters.

May might actually be recognized by the All Australian selectors this year. Clearly the best full back right now. His kicking is a real weapon.

That is condemning vision - hadn't seen that in mainstream media. He lined him up from a fair way out, picked up speed as he got closer then lunged at Kelly, deliberately!. He clearly had the option to tackle. Chose not to. So much for his defence of split second decision making. He had plenty of time (10 steps) to assess the options. Kelly was following his line and at no time deviated toward Danger nor used his body in any sort of attacking or blocking motion. Can't see any evidence of the need for self defence.

I actually think that playing Jackson in the ruck contests might be a good way to go, make the percentage closer to 40% Jackson 60% Max. Jackson is looking a lot better at ball ups and he’s less predictable. I think you’re right that Max needs to mix things up a little bit, which was what he did a couple of times by thumping it forward. With good communication between himself and the mids that could actually be a weapon.

Everyone calling for Max to be protected by umps. Why not call for our own players to dish out the same to oppo ruckmen? Perhaps even get them to protect Max? Show some anger? Care? Passion? Just a thought..

Wtf? Jetta was actually good today. He won a number of critical one on ones.

JOnes and Jetta will not and should not be dropped. Jetta won a lot of 1:1s today and was very solid down Back

Harmes out please, lazy lazy game