Lil_red_fire_engine

He's seriously lacking touch but took 6 marks and had a direct hand in 3 of our goals. I don't think he looked overawed I think he looks like he is trying too hard. Once it clicks there will be no turning back. Ignoring no Dawes Rd1 there is no way he wont play.

We looked dangerous last week with two small forwards. Why was JKH not playing? Frost whilst laying good pressure and some marks is not a forward or ruck. Get him back or out if match ups don't allow. The Hogan expectations are alarming. A 19 year old got out-bodied and looks rusty after not playing all last year and at all with this team. WTF. I know we don't want to play kids but Bail, M Jones and Garland need to go. Grimes game whilst not a stinker still doesn't see him in a best 18 for us when we are a good side. No disrespect to Viney as he gives his all but he needs to work on his kicking or become a handball first player. Its not just his final kick last night, for all his hard work he has been a liability the last two weeks. If that was MFC with 2 way running I would love to see MFC without it. Someone needs to tell Gawn he is tall, very tall. There is no need to crouch or hang on to try and balance his advantage. I don't know if its a positive or negative that our three best players last night in H, Jeffy and Vanders weren't there last year. I've said that the most important part of NAB is no injuries but tripe like last night is hard to swallow.

This is not out for blood but general fact. That's not one shocker. He needs to fix his kicking and decision making. I could not give a hoot what he bleeds if he can't make simple decisions and execute basic skills.

It's his kicking general. Needs to sort it out.

Surprised you raised Garland and Viney. Both need to sort their ball use.

Can someone confirm that Jones and Hogan and Tyson hardly played in the last or was it just that we couldn't get near it.

I agree. 2 poor kicks and caught once the other one very stiff. Ran hard all day as per his 10 marks also was a lot better defensively. So far from our worst it is laughable anyone would raise him.

Sorry nothing wrong with a Grimes game today. Agree with the others.

Promising first half with good run and decision making. Putrid second half for the opposing reasons. No injuries the most important thing.

Promising first half. Putrid second half. No injuries the most important thing.

Someone said to me during the week that MFC supporters are the biggest bunch of whiners in the AFL. Hard to dispute with some of the comments in this thread. Nate, Tyson, Grimes, Salem, Jetta, Toumpas are running and using the ball well. Our forward set up looks well balanced and dare I say it dangerous with JKH and Jeffy at the big fellas feet. You can only beat what's in front of you. Hoping we put our foot down on their throat in the second half.

So this is the Salem that people saw in the intra. Now I get it. Keen to see the difference in the way we kick with the wind.

i think half back is the right move for his development and he has the skills we need off half back. Plenty of time for a midfield move in future years.

He dropped two grabs he should have taken and you could add a third depending on how tough we want to be. I thought he made poor positioning on a few occasions and held the ball up when he should have gone. These are things I expect of a second year I guess but he had been seriously talked up off training reports and expectation didn't translate on Thursday.

Interesting post NAB most have Salem locked at half back without much comment. He was the biggest disappointment expectation v performance on my viewing. He would need to play a lot better in the next 2 rounds to make round 1.

FWIW I thought McKenzie was serviceable when on. I thought Dunn was neither here nor there. I thought Grimes was fine defensively but is a continued liability with ball in hand. I thought Garland was a liability with ball in hand and was poor defensively he is clearly better on smalls as he holds too much against mid-tall forwards. We need poise and disposal as well as good defence out of our backline and if Grimes and Garland don't resolve this they wont be there long.

Howe is better behind the ball as he is forced to involve himself. I find when forward he drifts out of the play and does not demand it.

I thought Salem and Gawn were the most disappointing against expectations of all players last night.

Assuming this is players on our list from last year. Kent Viney Toumpas

If all were available and now seeing where we are at our best side in my opinion. Jetta, Frost, Dunn Lumumba, T-Mac, Howe Vince, Tyson, Newton Watts, Dawes, Vandenberg Garlett, Hogan, Kent Jamar, Jones, Viney Pederson, Cross, Salem, Sub: Toumpas Em: Bail, Gawn, JKH

I have not read any of this thread so this is my own thoughts immediately after game. No injuries is the best outcome. Good fightback and one bad 15 minute patch. Newton, Frost (when back) and Vanders showed enough to me that they are givens for round 1. Grimes, Garland and M Jones are very limited footballers and need to be pushed out of side by mid season if not earlier. Add some polish with Watts, Vince and Howe and teach Toumpas and Salem to find more ball and our movement will be alot better.

Whilst I can understand the disappointment I am surprised at the amount of criticism at the timing and locale of a short session of dancing with your sister. I expect the club to have an intra club at the time that best works for the players and their season preparation. I expect that anyone who attends an intra club are the hard core supporters that will buy the same memberships and merchandise just on a different day. I understand the club is about its supporters but the the thing that we have wanted is professionalism and an eye on nothing but game day performance. Having it at a better time and better location for supporters seems to me to be the least important item.

Great news. The kid can seriously play and has the attitude and drive to boot. I suspect with more maturity will end up more mid who pinches forward.

Very disappointing to the club and supporters wanting to see him in the red and blue and most importantly the kid himself. However keeping it in some sort of sunny side perspective: Doing it now is better than during the season. Doing it now in his career is better than once he gets momentum with maturity in years to come. We lose nothing from last year with his loss this year. Injuries will happen and the loss of a player with zero games is better than numerous others in the team (who I won't mention so as not to mozz them). Unlike Hogan last year this is not a position that we cant cover in some way. Knee's with the right surgery and rehab don't have lasting effects. A knee is not a foot injury. I refuse to get caught up with any curse or over reaction. Injuries happen. It sucks regardless of who it is but its just part of the game. Best of luck Christian in your recovery. I look forward to seeing you in the red and blue in 2016.

I suspect confidence in what his body can do will be his biggest challenge if he recovers.