Lil_red_fire_engine

Great effort by most with poor execution. Needed to take our chances in the first half but couldn’t break them or the crowd. Two many that think they are better than they are. Hogan and Petracca time for your talent to be matched with intensity.

He needs to have his role simplified. He is a half forward trying to prove he is a midfielder. Now he is doing neither well. I suspect his mid year review would have been the most interesting fly on the wall convo. I will be interested to see any shift in where he spends his time or the way he approaches the role. Not unusual for a player 50 games in to have a lull. Not many players have a straight up trajectory, those wanting him on the trade table is laughable. He needs to be playing high half forward and get back to attacking the ball and man and setting up goals.

Sorry WB I probably should have been clearer with my sarcasm. Outside mature players at that age will have a significant risk of injury.

The concept makes sense. Put him on a wing or high half forward and he would offer great quality, run and experience. Just like Wells has at Collingwood, Deledio at Giants and Stevie J before him....

Rather than be knee jerk to QB only I think we have three things to resolve coming into the back half of season. These were already known but were validated against very good opposition on the weekend. Who is the second ruck? The Lewis/Vince backline combo will catch us out and needs to be solved now? What is the right small forward combo. Based on addressing these needs I would do the following initially and continue to tinker to get these right. Pedo out for T Smith (him or Weid but I think Tim provides more flexibility at this time) Vince out for Harmes (I would trial him as a running back). Hannan for Garlett (I will take Spargo's second quarter and 7 tackles overall over Hannan's first quarter and 2 tackles for the game). Things that others appear to think we need address but I don't I have ignored. These include a presumed need for a second tall back (a more dynamic back 6 I would prefer) and to bring in another inside mid like Tyson (I think this can be solved by Jones going outside and Brayshaw in).

Frost was so good at Casey on the weekend he was moved forward to get out of Petty's and Keilty's way. Frost would not have helped today. Mason Cox had a day out although would have thought playing in front of him may have been a shot at some point.

6. T-Mac 5. Oliver 4. Jetta 3. J Smith 2. ???? 1. ????

We were a touch off and played against a team that are loaded with our kryptonite, fast spreading mids and flankers. Our second tier players had lower impact than they have. Yet we still kick 14 goals and Spargo kicks that early goal in the last it was probably game on. We need to decide against fast sides whether we rest Vince as he is a liability on days like today. The bye and 50 games in and its probably time for Trac to decide what he wants to get out of his career. Does not work hard enough. Will take 8-4 and strong % and hope the boys are as disappointed as I and reset for a big second half post break.

They are clearly quicker than us. If you can’t beat them at the source or if you do but just hand it back they are going to do what they are. Time to get Gus into the middle, trac deep and Jones and Harmes to the outside.

If we win this one and go to the break 9-3 with a monster % I will believe we can give the year a serious shake. However its a bigger test than most are giving credit to" Collingwood play a fast style of game that will test our systems. I am hoping Round 23 revenge x ladder positions x MND x massive crowd doesn't mean we waste energy and move away from the structures and composure that has been our backbone during the streak. Everyone plays their role and we play hard and run hard and we win but there is not much room for error in this one, particularly early.

There is nothing wrong with stating that you don't think a player has the tools to make it in our best 22. Last I counted not all can. I don't see that I offered any ill will to him, I backed up my current view with reasons why and unlike a lot have seen him play multiple games to base my current observation on. If you can't watch players and assess how you think they may progress both positively and negatively then that's disappointing for you. I don't expect him to be playing seniors now and he actually played a rewarding VFL game yesterday. I just don't think it will translate to the team we are building at senior level. I have noted that of last years draftees Frisch, Spargo and Petty have contract extensions. I assume the club is still holding reservations on Baker whilst they develop him as well.

Just my thoughts. This is the third time I have seen him (twice live) and I doubt he will be able to make it at a 2018 onward MFC. Not trying to be overly critical but I just don't see him making it. Doing better than Hunt doesn't cut it. Hunt has shown what he is capable of on the big stage and if he can clean up his kick and get his confidence back he is proven AFL at minimum. Baker is mature age and has been in the system. His ball use was loose and aside from two passages I saw he doesn't appear to know how to use his best asset. Does not look a natural footballer to me which is now what our side is mainly made of. .

Tyson had a great clean game as an inside mid. Great back up to have if we get injuries to our inside but he cannot play any other role. Someone please check Petty's age. He certainly does not look or play like a teen. Really looking forward to his development over the next couple of years. Balic was either in everything or nowhere to be found which I suspect is par for the course. I suspect he is the type of player that would be better suited to AFL level than VFL level football. Will be more than happy if he gets a call up in the back half of year. I don't think Baker will make it (seems to have not much other than speed). Hunt is at a pivotal point in his career and needs to round out his game or find some new tricks. I found his game bitterly disappointing. Similar to others I had Dion written off but his game as a small defender was very promising. If he keeps up that level worth at least a rookie spot.

Based on the ins and no Weid you would think its Ped for T Smith and we will I would back J Smith for Lever.

After Gawn has tapped it to Oliver who hits you with the best clearance handball in the game.

Its hard to disagree with this point. His flexibility to play multiple roles as required to an elite standard is potentially the difference between us being good or great. Making up the numbers or having a serious shot.

4 of those were omitted I believe.

He followed it up with another absolute cracker into the middle of the ground from a similar spot 3-5 minutes later. Played on one leg but I reckon he was involved in a third of our goals.

This is the Joel Smith named as an emergency. I would argue he is the one who plays closest to the way Lever plays. Particularly against the pies will be surprised if it’s any of the others.

Agree. I thought he’d been well held. His work in traffic was lightening and clean. He plays the game at a speed few find possible.

Adjusted post replay. 6. Jetta 5. TMac 4. Oliver 3. Brayshaw 2. Salem 1. Hogan

It would be highly surprising to me if it’s not Joel Smith. Everyone else deserves to see it through to the bye.

6. Jetta 5. TMac 4 Salem 3 Brayshaw 2 Hogan 1 Gawn

This week to me is the test to see whether with the media circus our young team start drinking their own bath water. It’s the week to show leadership and not showboat but continue our ruthless edge. It’s the week where teams start to set themselves for us and we become the hunted. Let’s see how we handle the shift. The dogs as have been mentioned still have match winners and 10+ Quality players but it’s hard even if they win the general battle seeing them out scoring us. Best of luck to Jonesy. Had a 250 one club player ever been more deserving.

The pessimistic supporter in me says a week of massive media plaudits and individual interviews stating we aren't getting ahead of ourselves says the old Melbourne lose this game. Please don't validate for me that the old Melbourne still exists in some way.