KingDingAling

You think Hogan wanted to wait around for effective ball use inside our 50? This club has been bombing the ball inside forward 50 since Jamar/Moloney, and nothing appears to be changing in a hurry. I'd have Jones no where near the ball drop, Brayshaw and Oliver are not much better (unless they were to handball to a receiver).. There isn't a real effective plan out of the middle. It would be a long term option, but something I would consider exploring would be to have Salem rotating with Fritsch in the midfield, and have them play as a link man - on the receiving end of a handball from Oliver or Brayshaw. The aim of the game is to kick goals, the best way to do that is to move the ball out of the middle and cleanly into our forward line - giving our forwards the best opportunity to kick goals. Our club has the greatest capacity to do this. But instead we play a sloppy country football reserves style of play - with absolutely no organisation.

Where to start, where to stop! We are blessed with the best quarter back in the game (Christian Salem). Tonight we chose not to use him in that role. It was back to being an ineffective team. We have too much ineffective runners in Hibberd and Hunt (who wasn't too bad). The fact that May came in meant less ball in the hands of a real user (Salem). I think we play in a year where the ball needs to be in the hands of a real user of the ball, and set up from the backline. Really disheartening tonight, not a lot to like, no real structure. The boys tried hard, many did well, but they are running around chasing kicks without no real disciplined game play or structure. Reminds me of when I played under 11's.

I think the problem is both mental and physical. Mentally Petracca is trying 'too hard', and he is playing outside of himself. He wants to have a real impact - you can see that. The kid tries his heart out. Physically, as has been mentioned on this site all pre-season, Petracca is carrying too much weight. Everyone outside of our fitness department can see that, and its obviously having an effect on Petracca's game. The solution: Lose weight, build endurance, and run full time on the ball. Put down the basketball and start training for distance. I am still very impressed with Petracca, he is just not being served well by our fitness department.

I felt sorry for Max Gawn. He was getting smashed up from pillar to post, and not one of his teammates flew the flag. Thankfully May comes back in this week, a side with Steven May in it wouldn't side by idly and watch Gawn get battered. I know a side with Jake Lever in it sure as hell wouldn't either - as that kid has serious hands (players know it). Look forward to getting Lever back. After last week I'd say Jack Viney's reputation took a slight dent. As a player most others consider to be hard and play on the edge, he sat by and did nothing whilst Gawn got hit contest after contest, and often by slight on players who were doing it just because they could see others were getting away with it.

We looked slow, were beaten in close by youngsters, killed on the spread, didn't have a plan B for Gawn. Today was a bad day. On the upside, we have May coming back in and Lever also at some point. It's hard to really say what we need. Salem was an absolute standout today and I thought Spargo tried hard with his constant pressure.

Put Spargo and ANB in the midfield. At least they give us pressure and Spargo at least runs both ways.

Put Spargo in the midfield.

Even if he has been seen out more than Elvis? So what. If Jesse Hogan has anxiety then it is possible he is using substances to relieve any symptoms in the short term - because he may not have been aware of anxiety as something affecting him. Now he is aware, Fremantle will ensure Hogan is treated effectively, and not with alleged substances like drugs and alcohol.

In all likelihood Hogan has been playing with anxiety for quite some time. If Fremantle can get on top of this and get Hogan treated sucessfully - then they will see a player who reaches his full potential. If that were to be the case, then Jesse Hogan's best football is most definitely in front of him. I admire any AFL football player who even walks the field with clinical anxiety. Good luck to Jesse. Welcome back to the great MFC anytime.

My old man just started a league RIFF RAFF. Feel free to join (anyone). 719755

I thought Petty was very good. Keilty was beating Nankervis - and sometimes easily. That is a very positive sign for Keilty. If that second ruck role is going to be a thing for us this year, Keilty just put himself in the conversation after yesterday.

Brayshaw needs to work on his left foot. He has turned it over twice in a row. Frustrating.

Spot on.

I want Salem to be a midfielder - but he just isn't. He is far more effective down back.

I got a full screen using Kayo sports. I never could get a full screen using the AFL app last year. Not saying it can't be done though.

That was a ridiculous free kick against Brayshaw. Umpires need to engage their brain from time to time. Its pathetic.

Rockliff could have attitude problems because of Port's culture? I wouldn't be so quick to judge him. When he was at Brisbane he was clearly frustrated, and the fact they got Fagan in to clean up their mess suggests there was a problem. I'd be willing to cut Rockliff some slack. He isn't he easiest bloke to like but maybe he expects more from others. That probably isn't a bad thing.

Maybe Jack would get more support around here if he was injecting Hexarelin.

Its a minor surgery but the 2 ACL's alone are a worry. 1 ACL alone is usually a concern. On the upside, if there is one, Lever isn't that well conditioned IMO, so there is a lot of room for improvement.

Petracca is going to be vital for us next year. Weideman is largely unproven, and whilst he does look the goods - we can't 100% bank on it. Petracca is a good fall back option for us in the forward line. He has the tools to be a power forward. Hopefully we don't need to rely on him to be a one out power forward, but if need be, I think he could do that role very well. He is very strong. I have seen nothing to suggest he will be a full time - or even part time - midfielder, but he could play a vital role for us in the forward line next year. Whilst we didn't draft Trac to solely be a forward, it may turn out that he could be more beneficial for us to play forward - than he'd be as a mid.

We must have got wind of another club taking him. Otherwise there is no reason he wouldn't have lasted until the rookie draft. He barely rates a mention anywhere. Jason Taylor does have a good eye. He needs to at this club, we don't leave him with much.

Another club must have been looking at him if we taken him so early in the draft.

Can you ask him if we even factored in Lever's ACL history when we asked for a trade with Adelaide last year, given that we overpaid so much, it would be interesting to know that a) Mahoney even knew about it, and b) whether it came up in negotiations with Adelaide. Cheers.

That is true. But if this draft is deep, and granted there are many key position players early on - Taylor could have a quality mid in store at 23 and 28. Who knows? But he is in the position to do so now. Our needs are met. Taylor can afford to waste a couple picks on footballers who get passed up. If the draft is deep, I am thinking Sloane, Parker and Beams type players. Well built footballers who could immediately make an impact.

That is brilliant. I love Hogan, but clearly he was homesick and plagued with issues not of his doing (father, etc). I hope he has a good career. I would love to see him in the red and blue again. He is the only high profile player we've lost that I genuinely hope does well at his new club.