Lil_red_fire_engine

His second efforts and the defensive side of his game has always been a concern. It's just when he's clunking marks and kicking goals its rare we raise his deficiencies.

This was the most important thing for mine to take from the game. It was clear that Hogan and Gawn had much improved confidence and touch by end of game that hopefully they build into next week. This as well as the return of Watts and Tyson and likely return of Viney should allow us to attack the Port game in a much better way.

6. Vince clearly beat his opponent 5. Hunt 4. Kennedy-Harris 3. Lewis 2. Petracca 1. Wagner

Just not clean or moving the ball with any smarts or actually gut running with any intent. I don't mind that Hogan is lacking touch I do expect him to chase and defend when he doesn't have the ball. Keen to see what Goody tries at the half to pull this one back.

He does everything so consistently clean in a split second that it doesn't stand out. Until you wonder when was the last time you saw him fumble, or miss a target, or go to ground. Then you realise he is already elite just waiting for his tank to catch up.

Who are you playing him ahead of Gawn, T-Mac, Hogan or Watts?

My biggest concern on Lever is he has limited exposed form on a first or even second key forward but everyone is guessing that's what he becomes. My view is he would have played a similar role to Smith or Wagner in our side on the weekend not that of Oscar or Frost. With lets assume Hogan and T-Mac forward this week he will likely play on neither and get Watts or Hannan/Trac. Even when Talia and Hartigan are playing they still prefer Kelly to play the third tall defender role to free Lever up. He is a jet at the role he plays and would love him at MFC I just don't think it is for either of the two key posts (granted he could play there if required particularly as he matures).

Hogan had a direct hand in 2 goals (T-Mac and Melksham's winner). Kicked one himself and missed an early sitter. Our run on in the second was when he was shifted into the middle when they stopped clearing the ball at will. When T-Mac was hot in the third he played wide and high to not allow double teaming. That's a fair role contribution for someone who has hardly played this year.

6.jetta 5. T McDonald 4. Oliver 3 ANB 2 Frost 1. Petracca

I suspect Melksham will go to Docherty and Vince to Gibbs.

I think this is key. They don't kick big scores which should mean even if they control parts of the game we should always be within reach.

We should win, however we usually struggle against their starting midfield. What would last year have been our starting mids in Viney, Jones, Tyson will be sitting in the stands and Gawn is only coming back to a semblance of form. You can find creative ways forward and back with injury but the game these days is won by the quality and depth of your midfield rotation and should not be underestimated. Hoping to see Vince to Gibbs. Lewis marshall the back half. Oliver and Trac step up beyond their years. Hannan to add zip to the midfield mix and Hogan to remind us how good he was before family and personal battles weighed him down. Bring the team with the number 1 pressure acts in the league and we win. Bring anything less and we;'re leaving it to chance.

I doubt we will make it happen however, if we did everyone is assuming all interest in Lever is as a KPD. His skill set could also see him become a highly damaging midfielder in the Fyfe mould or maybe more so just as an attacking half back. I think this is more likely as there is not much exposed evidence of his ability playing against the best or even second best KPFs. With T-Mac showing current ability to play the forward/ruck role which will be hard to fill short term we may not be as stacked with a backline of O-Mac, Frost and Lever as we think. We are also assuming all stay fit and healthy and in form.

The more those outside keep losing the more likely 11 games and a good % might be enough. Next 3 will be tough with the amount of players not available. The less our losses hurt with those around the mark losing as well the better. We are still going to have to find a way to win though.

Melon22 based on what you saw which 5 would you bring in - in order

If Freo can win, we could not be happier with how the non MFC results have gone. Particularly with Hawthorn having Giants and Cats next two weeks and Dogs/Saints having Crows and Tigers respectively next week.

All named in the bests but granted on a day they were flogged. Casey Demons Maynard Smith Kennedy-Harris Kent Kennedy Trengove Jay Kennedy-Harris 1 goal 15 kicks 10 handballs 25 disposals 2 marks 8 tackles 107 dream team points Ben Kennedy 1 behind 11 kicks 19 handballs 30 disposals 12 tackles 119 dream team points Dean Kent 1 goals 1 behind 18 kicks 9 handballs 27 disposals 4 marks 4 tackles 104 dream team points Joel Smith 9 kicks 12 handballs 21 disposals 8 marks 3 tackles 83 dream team points

I am updating this assuming Tyson also wont get up and after Casey's game. In: Hogan, Garlett, Kennedy, Maynard, Smith Out: Bugg, White, Wagner, Viney, Tyson

I will do this on the assumption that Viney and Bugg are the only forced outs and those at Casey duplicate their form of last week. In: Hogan, Garlett, JKH, Kennedy Out: Bugg, White, Viney, Stretch

Its saying a lot to me that Billy Stretch was my biggest disappointment last night. He is somewhat seasoned compared to Wagner and White, has not played 4 in 18, went back to work on his contested game. Was found wanting in at least 3 contests one where he put in very short steps. If you are going to be just outside you need to get buckets of ball or be damaging which he was so far off either.

My MFCCS says don't expect Viney back this year.

You can. Just not 8 of them at once. Role players have their place but you can't carry them all.

It is pretty obvious JKH, Kennedy and Kent must have done something as there is no way Dion Johnstone would be ahead of them as an emergency. Tonight was not unexpected. We didn't lack effort but lacked spark and were 3-5 steps off our normal spread. This meant they had plenty of short kick options to use and we had no options out of the backline or into the forward line so just dump kicked on most occasions. Gawn seems to be lacking his attack on the ball in the air and holding position since his return and I hope it returns quicker than his beard grows. Whilst it's great we have won 3 of 4 in 18 days the injury toll has killed us and I expect will ruin our second half of year more than we hope. If I look for good points tonight, we never dropped our heads. O-Mac is getting better and better. T-Mac could actually make a serious foil with Hogan on return. You realise how good Salem is when he's not there. You realise how good Petracca will be the more you watch him. Rest up. Reset. Go again.

6. O-Mac 5. Petracca 4. Jetta 3. T-Mac 2. Hibberd 1. Viney (which says a lot)

After watching tonight I would plant him in our top 5 most important players.