Lil_red_fire_engine

Great first up game by Christian, so clean and efficient. Still carries on like a [censored] and let’s see how he copes when adversity comes at a point. Such an impact just validates the he did not want to be at MFC and needed a fresh start. For what we need moving forward, 3 first rounders plus cap space plus resetting us as a connected team is good for us.

Those that think 2 first rounders for Humphrey clearly don't watch the Suns or project players development. Fourth in their B&F last year behind the Brownlow medalling, current captain and All Australian and prior captain. He is super clean and dynamic and unlike some others of his age has high impact per possession. Will only improve as he further builds his tank and maturity. Happy for us take a proven player with potential to be elite with 5 years development into him over a swing at 2 more kids (though we are pretty good at nailing them). Kay defensive posts if required can be filled via trade or free agency in my view.

What about Shane?

Bowey aside, May has been my favourite across this decade thus far. Trading him to maximise the Hogan deal was a risky masterstroke and everything about him was so very UnMelbourne. In my mind he was more important to us winning a flag than any other one player, both in getting us there (maybe aside from Max) and on the day on one leg. Hoping getting away from the club is good for him to get his life right and good for us to focus on the season with one less distraction.

Bowey aside, May has been my favourite across this decade thus far. Trading him to maximise the Hogan deal was a risky masterstroke and everything about him was so very UnMelbourne. In my mind he was more important to us winning a flag than any other one player, both in getting us there and on the day on one leg. Hoping getting away from the club is good for him to get his life right and good for us to focus on the season with one less distraction. I doubt we will bring someone straight in and suggest we'll wait for mid season. However if we do Blight also best answer for me to sure up defensive stocks and/or allows us to flip Turner or Petty forward if required. Otherwise whoever we think could be an immediate small lock down defender. The calls for Ah Mu in my opinion are amusing. He was not good enough to be drafted in a lean year yet "monstering" 2 goals on Jed Adams in a intra sim has people salivating and wanting an immediate investment. Did he play in the VFL against Richmond on the weekend?

We don't know what King's philosophy is on taggers or run withs. I think Steele or Sparrow take him at stoppage. When he goes forward I would give Disco the job if not Jiath (though this comes with risk). I have not seen any side put him under physical pressure yet and I hope we are the first.

I don't. Aside from 2 goals he has been disappointing both weeks. Culley they will want in the side asap and he has been able to run and participate in drills without contact. Toss up between Laurie and Kolt for last spot and if Culley not there Kolt plays.

Backs Lindsay TMac Lever Half backs Salem Turner Howes Centre Langford Rivers Langdon Half forward Sparrow JVR Chandler Forward Fritsch Mihocek L Pickett Rucks Gawn Steele K Pickett IC Windsor Heath Jiath Culley Laurie Emergencies Petty Tholstrup Taylor

6 Windsor 5 JVR 4 Rivers 3 Fritsch 2 Gawn 1 Steele

Very promising signs from Windsor, JVR, Rivers, Fritsch and Max looking better at CBAs than he did in Origin. Game style signs still excellent and keen to see what it looks like on the expanses of the G and when really challenged (do we fall into bad habits). Turner aside our tall defensive posts a concern as was the lack of impact of our speed forwards (Koz aside). It will be a very hard for us to compete fully against StKilda round 1 with a half less prep and them playing round 0.

Very promising signs from Windsor, JVR and Rivers. CJ will be Frost ball 2026. Needs to fix his disposal or will spend time at Casey. I would like to see our small forwards get into the game a bit more offensively and defensively. Lever needs to stop flying against others and get more aware.

One of Disco, Chandler and Rivers will rightfully be next. Noted that Melksham on SEN today mentioned Rivers, Disco and JVR.

Melksham not ready yet a first year kid with a restricted preseason who also played Casey last is in the 26. Unless injuries hit hard in the forward half you may find that Melksham is not ready for most if not all of the year. Hoping that XT gets more game time and TMatt has a cameo. I assume Petty will play managed minutes and swap with TMac at a point (cant see both playing at the same time). Curious to see how Luker goes as forward/ruck giving Max 1 a chop out. I thought Heath would play and be a chance to duo against TDK and Marshall round 1.

I suggest one of Tmac or Petty will be outside the 23 and sub in at a point. They will want a look at Petty but maybe not a full game first up. I don't see any world where both are in the team. I hope TMatt gets a run. I suggest he has a tool set that we will look to accelerate into the seniors for the game style we're looking to p;lay, particularly as Kozzie plays more midfield.

That explains Pickett not being there. It doesn’t explain Dangerfield being on the list nor to a lesser extent Sicily Petracca and C Camreron.

6 K Pickett 5 Heath 4 Steele 3 Sparrow 2 Howes 1 Chandler

It will be interesting what the Max 1 and Max 2 experiment looks like next week. There is no way you can't explore it. Particularly with us facing TDK/Marshall up first. Lots of positives thought Howes and Sparrow were both well above expectations. Koz ready to go next level and Latrelle improved the longer the game went. Windsor underwhelmed to expectations and as mentioned earlier the backline talls were a bit rusty. One thing I do know is we certainly won't be boring to watch.

Well we certainly move the fast and direct and may have found a next era ruckman. I sense that a few key forwards will bag us this year. TMac and Lever do not fill me with confidence.

Photo gallery on MFC site from today's training has various pics of AMW, Salem, CJ, Petty and McAdam in some level of ball work in individual shots. Good to see they're all passed the point of just running laps and hopefully on the way to match practice shortly. Edit: And per social video Culley in some level of modified training.

Only based on match sim but it was noticeable to me the defensive workrate of Steele, Sparrow and Windsor in particular. A good watch point in the nth and Tigers games once Pickett and Rivers included as neither naturally have defensive traits as midfielders (even though Rivers has played most of his career in defence).

Unsure what the source is but looks out of sync with what we saw yesterday being Laurie, Mihocek, Kentfield, Matthews played. Salem, CJ and Petty are all watchpoints being they missed.

Windsor lived up to pre-season hype and Lindsay looked as accomplished at half back as I hoped. The two that surprised me most was Kolt off half back (offensively and defensively) and Howes where ever he was playing (was it wing). Sparrow got more than usual but turns back into traffic or dump kicks too much for my liking. JVR and Jeffo certainly had a spring in their step early. Jeffo looked a level or two improved until he came down after that mark (could not work out if he played much passed that point). We played with more freedom, handballed, switched and chipped more and took the game more forward via the square than the boundary. There was a lot of turnover and poor set shots but not surprising to me this time of year and with the amount of top Dees missing and Casey top up participation.

I agree. Though I am pretty sure the website templates are all telstra reskins for all afl clubs and are not our choice.

I like it though a touch long. It's great that we are daring to be different for us by owning the illusion of what others think of us Skiing, Red wine, Cheeseboards, MCC, Go Number x etc.. and what alot are thinking (angst at losing two club greats, we have good kids, not our year-but why not). Whether you like it (seems most) or not, it's well considered, well executed and certainly will be noticed. I do hope they have a shortened cut to use as online promo as well.

An article I read this morning said the highest any player has the ball in hand in total for a game is 60 seconds (that is removing dead time for kicking a set shot). So for the things that Melky is great at how often does he need the ball vs the things his body is no longer able to do well for the majority of time you dont have it in possession ie: pressure and cover the ground. I dont think you can play him and Mihocek and Fritter in a style where we want to push up the ground heavily, transition quickly and get out the back. I see the other two well ahead of him. Maybe the extra on bench allows for it but I cant see him playing more than a quality mature back up role where required.