Lil_red_fire_engine

Adjusting this based on yesterday's JLT and assumption all are fit bar Kent (my guess) for round 1 at Etihad. B: Jetta O-Mac J Smith HB: Hunt T-Mac Hibberd C: Lewis Tyson Jones HF: Petracca Hogan Vince F: Garlett Watts Pederson Ru: Gawn Salem Viney Int: Oliver Brayshaw Stretch Melksham Emerg from: Vanders Bugg Weid

I think the other item which has been understated is that our biggest weapon in Gawn dominated yet only played 58% game time. It was very rare he and Spencer were both on the ground at the same time. That for me says this is about getting minutes into Jake and building the load on Max rather than potentially playing the two in tandem.

He certainly creates varied views. I don't dislike him but today, aside from one clean handball his ball handling and execution were poor and on multiple occasions broke down scoring chain opportunities. I don't think he will make round 1.

Looks like we have a round 1 bolter in J Smith. Salem, Clarry and Bray appear to have gone up a gear. Hogan looks like he may have gone up a few gears. We were good around the contest but we did get too many drawn in a bit too much. Also our ability to kick the ball out of the backline is still a concern. Vince down there gets it a lot but is a liability and he will cost us games if he plays there all year.

Joel Smith = Round 1 lock to play on Membrey. Salem move to midfield will make a massive difference. Too many of our players are getting sucked inside the contest leaving free dogs on the outer contest for the handball flicked out.

I look at it more as last years 7th vs 11th.

Pumped for footy to be back today. Amongst a long list of things I am most looking forward to seeing the differences in our tall structures both forward and back, the impact the kicking of Salem and Lewis will make to our midfield ball movement and how much improvement is noticeable in Bray, Clarry and Trac. Result nice but not important, more so the way we go about it and hope for an injury free day.

Melksham won the ball well but ran himself into trouble on a numerous occasions which turned the ball over. When he took a quick first option he looked good. Not surprised Goodwin talked his boy up though and it would take a lot I suspect for him not to play round 1.

Jack does not have great disposal by foot at the best of times so first kind of hit out of the year I am not surprised he looked rusty. I would argue Jacks weekly form over the past two years has been highly consistent, in fact I would argue more consistently high than Nathan's. Jacks only dip really was the weeks after return from his broken hand. His Bluey this year and nearly winning it after a missing a large portion of games in 2015 I would suggest support this.

B: Jetta Frost Hibberd HB: Hunt T-Mac Vince C: Lewis Tyson Brayshaw HF: Petracca Hogan Kent F: Garlett Watts Pederson Ru: Gawn Jones Viney Int: Oliver Salem Stretch Vanders Emerg from: JKH OMac Weid

Agree Harmes, Melksham were not very good. Petracca did not get a lot but as always what he did was eye catching. Viney was in everything (would not be surprised if he led the possessions) but his impact was negligible and his execution was poor. How you can attribute his performance in a match sim to being emotionally spent and an potentially early validation as to being given the captaincy too early is a significant stretch.

Similar today. Eye catching moments but no consistently in it.

I have been to enough of these preseason match simulations to know that it is impossible to read too much into them. The good. No injuries to report. Stoppage work clean. Hunt. Clarry. Brayshaw will go to next level. JKH looked clean and will pressure Jeffy and Kent for a forward spot. The not as good. Lots of sideways kicks when clear options forward. Too much slow play from off the mark. General kicking poor with Harmes, AVB, Bugg and Viney the worst offenders.

I would only not agree if he was not ready......Does anyone have any doubt he is ready? I don't. I just see this as a different style transition plan.

Interesting the the two sides that played in the GF last year did not play 3 x 195cm defenders. A recent comment from Gawn on a video on MFC website where he mentioned the competition between Frost and OMac for a spot in the team took my ear. I suspect we will play with T-Mac and one of Frost/O-Mac only most weeks.

The wind is no worse than the impact it used have on a game when watching MFC Players playing for Sandy at TBO. At least it has a decent size car park unlike Sandy had at TBO. I would suggest the surface quality is usually one of the best for a VFL ground. The key issue is decent viewing points which due to lack of elevated seating and what appears to be a wide ground make it difficult for spectating.

We were fortunate we could retain Crossy in a development capacity. In saying that assuming he was not wanting $ and was understanding he may have had to play VFL to allow games into Oliver, Brayshaw and co it was a poor move. My view is he would have played most of the season ahead of Bugg, Michie, Newton, Grimes, M Jones who on most weeks one maybe two were in the 22.

If Gawn was in the leadership group last year and had an AA year and from my view appears to be driving harder this year its a no brainer. Watts should just continue to focus on playing good footy. Vince should focus on regaining form and removing the brain fades that cost him the odd report. Lewis in is a given on what he brings and what has already been observed and mentioned over preseason. Jones, Viney and T-Mac re-select themselves.

Thanks for your response. I went to learn more about our team and more so the players. I saw a decent game with no understanding of who our players are. Similar to you I walked away knowing one player Pearce (did not know Hickey) and no clue on any of the others. I am surprised you did not find the lack of numbers as frustrating as I, particularly when you like to be personable with players.

Saty, Pearce aside can you tell me who your favourite players were and who played well?

I went with my Carlton supporting brother in law and his 11 year old footy obsessed daughter. By the end of the game she knew who her favourites were by name and number. She raced out and already has their autographs on the back of her Blues jumper and knows whose number she wants on the back (Darcy Vescio).

A great insight there Dee Gee. In my view we looked slow and appeared to have chosen a side based on a combative inside game rather than the outside running that appears to be needed in a 16 v 16 on larger grounds. It is interesting that you think we have chosen a young list to develop as I was concerned that our two marquees being passed 25 may already be passed their best whilst others appear to have chosen younger up and comers. Will be curious to see how we go and feel more promise based on your comments.

C7 have one game per week (except round 1 where they have 2) with all other games on Foxtel.

Excerpt below from Herald Sun write up on the game. Who should fans look out for? Carlton marquee Bri Davey was a standout. She started off half back, but quite simply, could play anywhere. She’s bullocking and hard at it, but also smart and a good kick with a great mark. Vescio has the X-factor. Early she bobbed up with a trademark acrobatic mark and finished with two goals. Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce is pure class while defender Karen Paxman’s run and decision making is impressive. “I think the way in which (Bri) is able to influence her teammates as well as perform herself, is a really important quality,” Keeping said.

I was there for the game. We were in it until 3 quarter time due to a controlling half back line and Carlton's forward's not holding position. For the first three quarters we appeared to take control of play mid way through each quarter and have the better endurance (which based on the last may not have been the case). Unfortunately aside from the above even at that point in the game Carlton looked better structured as well as much faster and stronger. The last quarter was really just Carlton working out a long kick over our half backline their speed could get us out the back every time. We lacked any decent offensive plan and just seemed to be happy to kick the ball sideways between 45-60m out until we turned it over. I feel we have a chosen a list based on who is good in suburban woman's footy not what will work and develop in an elite 16 on 16 competition. Daisy aside, it is hard to comment on actual players as we had no numbers on our jumpers (a real missed opportunity).Our best appeared to be our CHB (possibly Hickey) and a midfielder with a blonde pony tail. Pearce wins it in tight, is hard and has good hands and vision but lacks any speed and turned it over by foot a lot. I would say based on today we have a decent backline and inside midfield but lack much outside class and any forward power. Will be interesting to see how we go as the season progresses.