Red and Blue realist

Clearly our biggest issues this year have been with our mid-fwd connection, not our key backs. The hoff got a hold of them rd 1 (mainly on Frost btw) but against Geelong their biggest threat were their goalkicking mids and small forwards. Had we been better and cleaner going forward we still would have got beaten but no where near as badly. To say were having a pathetic backline emergency is only to justify your position on OMac, which no matter what happens won't change. You can go straight to the changes for round 4 thread and just put the same old reasons up, won;t matter what the actual issues with the team/game plan are, you are just just blaming 1 guy.

Wow, never thought about it like this. Whenever anyone plays badly, just blame OMac. Viney's lack of run in the Port game, clearly because OMac put his socks on the wrong feet first, Jones's dropped mark - OMac sneezed in grade 2, Petracca dropped marks against the Cats - OMac was on the same ground at the time. I get it now, drop OMac and we win every game by at least 300 points!! Seriously Jetta and Hibberd are horribly out of form and we need them to get the spark back quickly. Hibberd's run has been ok, but every kick is higher than it is long, not sure if there's been 1 mark from his kicking this year. And Jetta has been beaten so many times 1 on 1 this year, which is not like him.

Agree with most of this, in particular about Trac, I think he's working pretty hard at the moment, hence his tackle numbers but is just trying too hard. It will all click very soon and then his natural skill will take over. A little harsh on Harmes, he still leading the tackle count while coming back from a pretty ordinary finger issue. He's one who really needs a set job though, and against Port they let him run free then swapped and changed him against the cats. Sit him on Merrett this week. The fumbles are a massive killer this year, as you pointed out it's impacting a lot of players, hoping this is something that can be fixed at training, otherwise we'll continue to give up big runs of goals during games.

I agree, ANB will stay in because he's one of the hardest workers in the team, whereas nearly all and sundry on here last year want Garlett dropped and delisted because he just didn't work hard enough. Truth is neither would have done much last week as we made it too easy on the Geelong defenders, but when we're up and going both can make a big contribution (not one or the other, same and the Frost v OMac debate). If ANB is out chasing and harassing hard it should create opportunities for others rather than himself, which is often unseen, and not necessarily a bad thing as he's clearly not the best finisher. Whereas Garlett needs to keep pressuring but so he has the opportunity to finish, that's his role. I was very surprised last week that we didn't drop ANB into defense when it was clear their smaller guys and mids were getting easy access to goal, I would think he could be used to do a role there when needed as well, not just to help keep the ball forward.

Come on, it wouldn't have mattered who was on Hawkins that night, he just caught fire and beat everything we threw at him, including Frost, Jetta and Hibberd (from memory he beat around 4 defenders at the same time at one point). OMac gets selected because there's more players than just Hawkins, plus in the final Hawkins was nearly irrelevant, he kicked 2 goals but had no influence on the game at all. Some on this site seems to only remember the game at Geelong last year without acknowledging in the other 2 games we played them in a direct match up OMac clearly won.

While he got pantsed last time down at Geelong, I still see OMac going to Hawkins and May go to Ratatouillea, with May using his smarts to get off Rata and help OMac out. Frost will then be used as the 3rd tall, helping to kill contests with physicality and speed, rather than spoil as that's not his go, or using Frost to go with Rata if he tries to drag May away leaving OMac 1 out (we know how that will go). He can also then stand on Danger if he gets thrown forward as he's got the speed/strength to match. I'm not at all surprised to see all 3 in the team, and think our structure will always include 3 taller back, May and Lever and one of OMac, Frost or Petty over the long term.

May himself said he played best when he had Rory Thompson in the team at the suns, allowing him to play CHB knowing that there was a constant tall staying back deep. Our run of 6 wins last year was when OMac was that last line anchor, and Lever finally got going having the confidence to come across and intercept/leave his man. I feel both Lever and May will come into the team with OMac still there, as they'll play better with that goalkeeper type position. OMac will in turn be much better when just doing that role, Frost has some great attributes (speed and strength) but at them moment can't read the play well enough to try a lot of the things he does, which he might be able to do with May there, but is causing a lot of issues at the moment. I think both could stay when May is in, but Frost is more likely to go when Lever is ready.

Which really points to the fact it was a praccy game rather than the real thing. If that happens this week I'd be shocked, ground ball gets are essentially contests around the ground and we're one of the better teams at that. Intercepts were an issue, but so was a functioning forward line with TMac holding ground and JSmith not really able to move in the 2nd JLT.

We deemed it better than Viney and Jones train rather than attend. Given their limited preparations, I think the club has done the right thing. Max will kill it there as well, he's loved and respected by all.

I wouldn't read anything into his game last week. Every chance TMac was out there for a run, not to set the world on fire. Looked to me like he was camped in the fwd 50, instead of getting up the ground too much. In a proper game I'd expect that he move up and down the ground using his tank to get back to create opportunities when his opponent just can't go with him anymore. Plus, the way to beat Rance is to play a smarter smaller player - Melky would be perfect, so he follows them around but can't get across to spoil as he's got to give them some respect.

Thanks DS, can I ask what happened with Tim Smith, is it something I've just missed?

I know it was only 1 game, but the 6-6-6 looked a winner, but I reckon it'll really hurt teams without strong clearance players. Where it will really hit teams are when their bets are off for a rest or moved out of position. Cripps is a gun but Carlton will struggle badly when he's off, Essendon don't seem to have anyone besides Shiel and that's probably not is best role. It could really hurt GC, Hawks (who along with Ess) are the weakest centre clearance teams (IMO), while Carl, Freo, Geel, Nth, StK and Dogs really rely on 1 or 2 guns, so could struggle when they are out of the centre. Fortunately I reckon we've got the best clearance mids in the comp - Oliver, Viney, Brawshaw, Jones and Harmes, with relieve from Trac, Salem, Lewis and ANB possible. With Gawn dominate I reckon these rules are playing right into our recruiting strategy over the last 4 or 5 years.

Could be an area we can really exploit, having both Gawn and Preuss in the team means we've got 2 big contested options to go to (with TMac and Weed also able to help out as well), but our advantage will be that whoever is on the side the ball is not kicked too, they can either head back or forward (depending on the flow of the game) and be more than handy. Max is a great intercept defender and handy forward while Preuss is a able to break open packs at either end. If we can kick the ball so it's 80-100 meters out from our defensive goal then we can use our 2 bigs to either help set up the offence or defend any quick movement back in. There's not many other ruck duo's that have a similar combined skill set, most rucks are just ok as forwards.

Full article in the little paper (for those who can get access) - https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/melbourne-swingman-tom-mcdonald-the-latest-star-to-withdraw-from-aflx-tournament/news-story/42335073cf0e7799a8e0055728f780dd Says the knee op was planned to happen after AFLXit, but they brought it forward. no chance he misses round 1.

Thank you Mr DJ

I agree, although they might wait with Frost, there's a lot of competition for the spot he's best at. I reckon that unless Jones is badly injured during the season then he'll be put on year by year contracts, but I'd say he's got another 2 seasons after this

Just thought I'd check how everyone who signed up was going with this? I'm contemplating signing up, (and ditching Foxtel) but want to do the trial and hope they finish the app soon. Anyone know if it'll be ready for the start of the season?? On that I know Chromecast seems the way to go but are there other streaming devices out there? Does Telstra tv work if you're not one of there customers? I know there are other forums out there on this but they are 50+ pages long so hard to find these answers and thought someone here might know

I think most TAC clubs can have a couple of overages but because Bradtke is also on an AFL list he'd probably need permission from the AFL as well. So both would be the answer is my guess. Will give us a great chance to see how he compete's with guys around his own age given he missed all the underage years. Should hopefully fast track him as a player or conversely mean the club gets a quicker idea if he's worth persisting with.

That's a good list Ron, but think Lewis might drop out as he'll be really fighting to hold his spot this year. I think Brayshaw might come in, he looks to me to be a real leader for the future.

Just going off photo's but Hibberd seems in ripping shape. He hasn't had much of a preseason since he joined us so I'm expecting huge things from him if he gets the bulk of the summer in.

Check out the C part of the MCG name, heavy use during the season would prevent us using it then,

The players talk of being given a 'summer program' where I assume they'd sit down at their exit interview and be given ideas of what they should be working on to improve their game/fitness. They would not be allowed to be directly contacted but if they want to do extra work they can. The monitoring of a players 'extra work' will come from all the tests they do when they get back, skin folds, repeat runs etc.

Early training report for today - https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/academy-award-winner-natalie-portman-a-surprise-guest-at-melbourne-training/news-story/6c603a965c957b2ac2a6f564d6c5d65a

I think the great thing is, Frost late in the season really started to develop his footy brain - he was more athlete before that. While OMac will develop more strength over the pre-season but is a naturally better footballer, which should give him a lot more confidence. When all are fit and they know how to play along side each other, we should have one of the best defensive units in the comp plus depth that won't just be cover.

I don't really agree with the traditional CHB or FB labels as the game is played differently now, even with the 6-6-6 starting spots, once in play teams will move to where the ball is. I think Frost is better higher up the ground while OMac is better staying back deep, so it might depend on who we play and the game plan. I think only May, lever, Jetta, hibbo and 2 rotating half backs, out of Lewis, Salem, KK, hunt, Jones, are in the backline then it might be needs based. My initial preference is OMac to stay deeper and may to play higher up but could see both playing a lot of games next season