Lil_red_fire_engine

Just lacked a touch of polish. They are a damn good side. We were just a touch off in the second and didn’t take our chances. That’s what you need to do against the better ones. Learn from it an reset for Port. Good to see Gawn, Viney and Trac try and lift them on their backs.

They are just a touch more polished and structured than us in a higher quality game. Just not taking our chances yet could still pinch it if we get some momentum.

Our backline was massive to hold up under that. Getting nothing clean in that quarter from our mids or much pressure from our half forwards. Their mids are very good at negating first possession when we get it. Just need to get better value from the stoppages and and go back to more lowering our eyes into 50.

Tmacs exposed form is better than LJ’s. The problem here is that form is over a year ago. LJ had more impact on our ability to score last week than Tmac has shown at any point this year. It doesn’t matter who marks and who goals its about how the forward line operates, It operated very well last week and it operated in a way that should also work if its a touch wet..

Tmac has struggled to take a mark in the dry this year granted it looked like he may have just been turning the form corner before his injury. Other than body strength, LJ has it over him in mobility and most importantly if wet, ground ball ability and defensive pressure when the ball hits the ground. He will also provide a better ruck inside 50 and as a chop out for Max.

And they won one before that (and should have been 2) without spending big $$$. I reckon would have won the last one with or without him.

We need a small defensive stopper to replace Jetta, possibly a second wingman, a second natural small forward and a mature back up key forward. The question is whether we believe these players already exist on our list and the importance of filling the role vs $$$ we’ll spend. If Saad is any chance of leaving Essendon he is where I would prioritise. Possibly the best pound for pound defender in the game and also provides great attacking run. However as raised we dont have draft currency to make it happen. I am a massive fan of Zach Williams and he could also fill this role and provide great variation across our midfield but I question his durability. He is a free agent so we could make it happen if we could convince him and shuffle the cash. Otherwise with list reductions and lower spending I would just be looking for the right player that maybe is not getting opportunity at his to fall our way. Whilst In contract one that I would look at Is Jack Sinclair at StKilda. Seems to be on the outer, offers good carry, speed and polish and Is quality both on wing and as forward, Richo would Also be in the known. As far as tall forwards go I am comfortable to invest in a combo of Weid, TMac, Jackson, Petty and not spend the cash. It is showing more that there is less need to spend big $$$ on your big forwards to gain success.

Picket third in pressure acts (third week in a row in our top 5) and kicked 2. Brayshaw’s poor disposals stand out more than the others as they are usually coming once we are outside the stoppage and are killing scoring chains. He wont be dropped but he and Vanders (More so) need to clean this up otherwise someone will bang the door down and go past them. Also even when they announce shortened turnarounds this week that think we will manage this week in preparation must surely be kidding. Goody and team will want us to test our best against arguably the form team of the comp, let the shortened turnarounds be managed after this one.

Of course TMac will play if he is fit. I would suggest LJ whilst very promising today will make way. Personally I would play LJ and drop Melksham who unless I am missing the negating role he is in for is offering little except the occasional goal and assist. Lockhart’s lack of defensive drive and Brayshaw and Vanders shonky kicking are a concern but shouldn’t lose their spot as we win and try and get continuity.

6. Petracca 5. Gawn 4. Oliver 3. Viney 2. Weid 1. Langdon

Today we see whether they learnt anything from the Cats chip n mark keepings off game. I expect us to win unless lack of conversion or inability to counter keepings off occurs.

I dont know what your expectations are but he was in our top 5 for pressure acts on the weekend and directly gave goals to Harmes, Fritsch and Bennell. He was our third highest for pressure acts the prior week against Richmond. He is just getting settled in.

Melksham was improved and whilst his lethargy to chase is frustrating he and Harmes played a strong defensive role swapping on Harbrow between midfield stints. I expect that Melksham will get the defensive job on Sicily next week so no chance he wont play.

Hannan only played 54% game time last night and AVB 47% respectively. Amazing we could manage to this with TMac off for most of the game. They are both having a strong impact particularly from a defensive pressure POV when on ground. This will only get better as we get more run into both of them.

No change unless Tmac not right otherwise Brown comes in. I am concerned about Jetta though but doubt we will make a further change.

6, Gawn 5. Viney 4. Langdon 3. Petracca 2. Salem 1. OMac

A good win, more so being down one with some players still working into full fitness. Connection and forward movement improved but still so much more scope. Great to see Trac own the moment and some players show some cool heads in the final minutes. We need more rebound from half back and our mids still too many times go after the same ball and nullify each other.

Salem does not work hard enough to play wing. If anything he should be tried in the middle in spurts where less unheeded running is required. Plays much better from behind the ball.

Brisbane and MFC are the only 2 teams to have 40+ inside 50 in each game this year. The only real difference between 2018 MFC and 2020 MFC is conversion rate. I suggest the shift in forward personnel today with Weid and Bennell is a good start. That is what makes the stat so damning and also why we are not far off turning this about.

6 tackles and is watched more at stoppage than any player on the park. Not getting much ball yet but when he does its quality. Unless his pressure acts drop he plays.

People will have a fit when we make only a few changes next week. In Weid, Bennell Out, Melksham, Hunt

6.Hibberd 5. Trac 4. May 3. Gawn 2. Hannan 1. Fritsch

Constant closing pressure. Run to create options. Take the first one. Maximise the chances that present. Do these things and the talent in the 22 will get the 4 points.

Whilst I agree 6-6-6 has hurt us and an in form tall is also part of the solution I would be keen to see our I50 tackles and also goals from I50 stoppages. The ball just seems out of there a lot easier and I feel in 2018 we got a lot of goals from a boundary throw in clearance or forward stoppage. I feel this is why we should be playing two talls to try and get more balls to ground and use our clearance strength to score.

If we did he would have not been on the list this year.