Lil_red_fire_engine

Agree with Sparrow but Jones frustrates me no end. Refuses to chase, refuses to take first option, refuses to play team footy.

Whilst a good win we need a freshen up. I would have Sparrow (no impact), Jetta (cooked) and Jones (selfish and no defensive actions) in the gun. I would have Hibberd and Melksham in for Jetta and Sparrow and have Jones as the sub (for those obsessed with getting him to 300). .

We are winning with structure and fitness rather than talent and performance at present. GWS threw everything at us and took their chances. That was a tough hard fought win and we again fought back and then controlled the game. Lots to work on but I will take double the scoring shots and a 5 goal win which ever way it comes. Hunt is starting to grow in confidence and Pickett is just a joy to watch. Looking forward to us sticking it to the cats on the G next week.

6. Gawn 5, Hunt 4. Pickett 3. Langdon 2. Salem 1. Viney

Gee that was surprising that they came out hard and changed their style. Need to get some goals and put them back in their box. Oliver needs to get on the move to accentuate the holds and blocks. Just need to show some composure, get on their bikes defensively, play with some better spread and make some space in the forward 50.

Right decision to maintain the same 22. There will come times when form wains or injuries occur that will create opportunities for those that are ready to take them. I suggest Milkshake will be sub being he offers the most versatility.

Fritta’s goal kicking needs to get better but its more to do with him leading to low % positions than him missing easy shots in my view. Worth noting before Bailey kicked what was an amazing clutch shot Lyons and Daniher missed. If you want to see the best watch the rejuvenated Tex the purest kick in the game at the moment.

The club should offer a digital concierge that the non tech savvy member can coordinate with via phoning the club and then meet at gate 3. The club could secure their ticket and preload onto a digital device that they use to get them through a special members queue for this purpose. The club would then provide a physical pass that advises their seat allocation once inside the ground so they can get into the relevant bay. It’s not perfect and does not solve those that want to buy some inside for cash purpose but would solve the getting people in. I see plenty of older potentially low tech folk at the footy together or on their own and we need to ensure we provide the relevant support.

I just look at the role a player is playing and whether he is doing his job. I dont look at his dream team points, draft -position or pay packet on the weekend to evaluate it. If we have 22 guys doing the job we need them to do we will be a lot better than 22 guys getting high dream team points and individually playing to their draft pick or pay packet. No excuses from me. Gus has been poor for two seasons other than a game here and there. Gus is learning a role and whilst developing is doing it better than anyone we have seen at MFC in the last 3 years at least. I suggest that makes it well worth persevering with. McIntosh averaged 13 disposals and less then 2 tackles a game last year and finished 5th in Richmonds B&F

I didn’t think I would need to educate you but here it goes. Defensive wingers are about structure and being a step away from the ball and the contest. It’s to stop the oppo doing something quickly or not at all. Kamden McIntosh one of the best in the business had a 13 possession 1 tackle and 8 pressure act game last week. Richmond will probably give him high B&F votes like his top 5 finish last year. Gus is a work in progress in the role but he is doing it a hell of a lot better than people get. This is why we are not even looking to rotate him on ball at all and preferring Sparrow and Jones and others. Carry On.

It amazes me how little people get that Gus is playing the skinny side defensive wing and is actually playing it well and still learning, The right way to continue to reinforce that we are rewarding team footy and role footy wins is to maintain an unchanged side. If there is no VFL practice this week just take Milkshake and he could get time as medisub if needed. Which if you consider he offers good flexibility forward, back and mid if required.

I always find it interesting how uncomfortable Demonlanders find it after a strong, injury free win to be able say “No Change”. We almost go hunting for one coming up with some great reasons why they are required. Teams with stability are always the teams with the best chance come years end. No one outside the team that is injury free is a guaranteed in. I would argue Benny Brown the only one once fit without question. No one inside the side did not play their part in our win. I will admit some like Jones and Jetta I believe may be passed by at some point this year and some like Hunt I dont have full faith in but they all deserve their spot. I will also admit that the good teams have roles that are not defined by Dream Team Points but what it means for the structure or intent see Brayshaw, Sparrow, Spargo and ANB I reckon. It’s no change for me bar the who you choose as medisub. And it should stay that way whilst we win playing team footy knowing there are some strong players and up and comers to take out away from you if you dont.

That game could be the making of us where the players get what it means to play your role for the win and the rest will follow. - Rarely did our mids go for the same ball. Trac in particular once he saw it was closest to Oliver at times stepped out of the contest for the receive but maintained a defensive position just in case. - Our half backs were dominant I dont think I have seen Salem or Hunt play better games of balanced defence and attack. Rivers was al,so instrumental. - I can only recall one occasion where our defenders were all up in one contest. Generally they trusted their mate and looked to minimise others joining the contest (sometimes with May too obviously). - A bunch of lesser lights showed they can play high quality roles not just make up the numbers, particular mention to Tomlinson, ANB, rejuvenated TMac and old man Jetta. - Our forward pressure was manic which meant even when they weren’t pressured they panicked. 66 pressure acts between ANB, Spargo and Kozzie (Higgins, Lonie, Butler had 37). The Melbourney thing to do now would be to get ahead of ourselves and drop our bundle against the Giants. I look forward to being proven wrong.

The only unforced change will be Baker out as sub for someone else likely Vanders I suggest. I am not a Hunt fan but that was the best half back game he has played in 4 years. His balance of attack and hard nose defence was excellent. Brayshaw is playing possibly the most important team role in the skinny side defensive wing. I didn’t see much switch tonight or fast movement from half back from the saints which is their standard. Even when we needed a mid rotation we preferred Jones to him. Maybe we should consider that his role is not about possessions but structure and maybe he is actually doing it well? With Viney I would argue there is no one other than Benny Brown that is a definite 18 starter,. Whilst we we are winning we deserve to maintain a winning team and those banging the door down can wait their turn.

6, Salem 5. Oliver 4. Tomlinson 3. Pickett 2. Petracca 1. ANB

It’s not some of the good things Jones does when he gets the ball. It is his inability to do the “without ball” things like tackle, block, shepherd and defensively rung that is the concern. Such things will kill us at Marvel with the saints run.

Us being willing to develop Brayshaw there over Baker I think says a fair bit about where he is currently at.

I was dubious on him in both pre season hit outs and these were reinforced round1. The only thing that should save him this week is the saints small forwards and a fast track. He makes too many errors does not get enough ball as a rebound to be dangerous with his speed and lacks defensive awareness. He has great speed so I hope it comes together but he on borrowed time with Hibberd on the improve and Bowey likely to develop quickly.

If Harmes is out then it’s unfortunate but can be simpler. Out Harmes, Jones In Viney, Chandler I really worry about Jones ability to handle the speed at Marvel and to pressure at all their running defenders.

So do you review a 2nd year key talls draft standing on output or attributes? He has shown the attributes that validate why he was and should have been taken as a top 3 pick. The last quarter is an example of that. Other than Serong who I reckon has the lowest ceiling for the quality player he already shows he is who would you out of the below be more sure will be an elite player in 3-5 years time? Note that we took Pickett next who I will back over McHenry and Rivers who I would suggest has shown more than Ash or Young at this time. Ash, Stephens, McCasey, Young, McHenry, Flanders. His game is coming together but he shows things in his agility, aggression and contested marking as a second year that few can do. I would not even be surprised as a second year tall that he does not play all year but he is an outstanding package that will only get better.

The naysayers are already gone.

Did we not draft for run and polish? We by all reports tried to trade for Hinds but he chose elsewhere. It was pretty well reported we met with Philips (unsure who opted out) and wanted Smith but missed to the Cats. My view is we attempted to address it. We need to be fast tracking those that can like Bowey, Laurie, Bedford, Chandler as soon as we are confident they can play out a senior game.

In Viney, Hibberd Out Sparrow, Hunt

6. Lever 5. May 4. Oliver 3. TMac 2. Langdon 1. Spargo

There will be plenty of chances to be critical when we lose. Whilst that was not a complete performance it was a 4 goal win, which never felt in doubt against an emerging side. That is before you get to us missing likely 5 of our best 18. So being you would think we lost if you read this thread I will just focus on three bright spots as the bile in some of these posts already highlights the areas that need improvement and plenty that I just shake my head at, 1. May and Lever gave one of the more complete performances you will see from 2 defenders. They are our number one weapon. 2. Jimmy Jordon is a no frills worker with footy nous who I can already see is an upgrade on recent AVBs, Wagners etc... Will complement Oliver and Trac and co the more he plays. 3. We finally saw some consistently strong forward pressure from both our smalls as well as Tmac, Fritta and others forward,.