deanox

If they don't need to announce this, maybe it's already happened?

For all the consternation about not having a plan B (for the record, I don't think teams need Plan Bs, they typically just need to execute their Plan A correctly) one thing I do think we should give strong consideration to is this option. Brayshaw can play in the centre, no worries. This isn't a major shift. Bowie/Hunt can come in to cover his HBF role. This isn't a major shift as they are part of that group based on form anyway. Pettacca spending extra time forward offers a real dimensional change for us, and provides an alternative avenue to goal with TMac and BBB either injured or out of form. We would effectively be playing him as a medium forward to replace that tall forward role (instead of Melksham I guess?).

Thanks! I haven't seen much of Chandler, particularly lately while he has been in form. So my next question for the watchers was whether he could play that link up role across HFF and onto the wing, like Spargo has been, or cover the ground as part of our zone like ANB does.

I'm not saying Spargo is playing well - I felt his impact had been down. But other than "goals scored" his stats are actually up on last year: Stat: 2022 v 2021 Disposals: 12.6 v 11.5 DE%: 69.9% v 70.7% Marks: 4.4 v 3.4 Inside 50s: 3.2 v 2.2 Metres gained: 212 v 187 F50 ground ball gets: 1.2 v 1.2 Goals: 0.3 v 0.7 Shots at goal: 1.0 v 1.6 GA: 0.8 v 0.6 Score Involvements: 4.6 v 4.4 Tackles: 2.5 v 2.4 Tackles i50: 0.9 v 1.0 Pressure Acts: 11.8 v 10.8 I actually think that Spargo's lack of goals is a direct result of the poor performance of our tall forwards. Without TMac, and with BBB struggling to impact games consistently, Spargo has been forced to play higher up the ground to offer options. This has resulted in more marks, more uncontested possessions, more inside 50s, a higher kick/handball ratio, and more metres gained, but less shots at goal because on average he is further away from goal than last year. I'm not sure that swapping Chandler for Spargo fixes this. (As much as I think Chandler deserves a go)

Id like to reward Chandler too but who would he come in for? I feel it's Pickett, ANB or Spargo he is competing with: Pickett kicked 6 last week and 2 last night. He is inconsistent but he has absolute star quality and is so dangerous, he threatens to take every game apart. I can't see him being dropped. ANB plays a high coverage, high pressure, link up half forward role. I don't know if Chandler has that sort of endurance or aerobic capacity? Spargo feels to me like he has been down on form, but I'm not sure if that is just because he is averaging less goals per game? He is actually up on score involvements, goal assists, inside 50s, disposals and marks than previous seasons. I think he is playing higher up the ground than before which is continuing to less goals. That isn't where Chandler will play. Melksham is most likely as he is the last in the team and didn't provide the obvious defensive efforts last night that he did last week. But he had 9 score involvements from 9 disposals, including kicking 2.1 and a goal assist. That isn't a bad return for a fringe player taking his chances.

Unfortunately he has already played his first game.

Definitely not dominant, I wouldn't bet the farm on us. But one thing is for sure, as a squad they understand what finals footy pressure means and they know the gear they need to get to to win them now. The prelim finalists for the last 4 years: 2021: Melbourne/Bulldogs/Geelong/Port Adelaide 2020: Richmond/Geelong/Brisbane/Port Adelaide 2019: Richmond/GWS/Collingwood/Geelong 2018: West Coast/Collingwood/ Richmond/Melbourne Richmond, GWS and Port won't be there. The Dogs might sneak in, and I know they beat us tonight but honestly I can't see them winning 4 finals straight. Brisbane played one prelim in a season everything was played in Queensland. They are a good side but I don't think they have the defence to win a flag. Collingwood have some experience and if they can sneak top 4 could be a threat come September. Otherwise Melbourne and Geelong are the only teams with that grand final experience right now. Does it solve anything? No. But it actually could help us step up a gear in September even though we've been struggling in June/July.

Had pretty solid 1st and 3rd quarters. But I don't think he touched it in the other two. Once again he leaves me confused, because I don't see the specific thing he does wrong consistently. At his worst it seems that he is useless in pack type situations, not competing, no body work etc. But most games there are at least a couple of situations where he does great work in the packs, hitting them hard, splitting them, bullocking the follow up, scooping the ball and fishing a handball, or floating across dangerously. His lead up work is perfect when on song. But then oftentimes he'll just be standing still, hands in the air, no movement. So he can do it, but just doesn't most of the time for some reason. I can't pinpoint it. Still, 3 goals and 2 direct score assists is a decent output.

I think the club would have a good idea what both are thinking, but I also think that until end of season these things are rarely done deals, for a couple of reasons: - Unless there is a very specific reason that Jackson must go home (family, friend, illness, etc), then it'll be a desire thing. - We don't know where Jackson sits on the "like to go" vs "must go" scale. And it sounds like the club don't either. Until that is known, his currency isn't known. - Freo/WCE will need to stump up appropriate trade. Until end of year, it is unlikely we will have even entertained that convo with them, plus we also know that currently neither party has available currency. So until final draft order, other trades/player movements, etc get known, it is entirely possible that it just won't happen. - Unless Jackson is willing to walk into the PSD for nothing, and probably get picked by WCE, then Freo will have to trade. - For Gus, it's similar. He is exploring FA. He'd be remiss not to meet and greet, hear an offer etc. - I would be surprised if they are giving an exact number right now, with salary cap/ EBA unknown etc - I'm sure MFC have given a good number but would also potentially have room to move if an LJ left. - So unless Angus hates MFC or his current role, and can't wait to move OR unless he is being offered an absolute godfather offer that we can't get near, then it would still be up in the air as well.

Great analysis @binman. I would love to see the Weed come back and hit the finals like he did in 2018, but this time get the medal. I think he has the ability but I'm not confident we'll see it happen.

I really don't think he'll be dropped, and even though a lot of his goals often look like easy out the back, I think he works pretty hard to be in the right position to get them. IF he is dropped, he wouldn't be dropped on form. It would be on a statement regarding team first ethos and defensive efforts, as we are a month out from finals and that is the area we need to lift.

I think it will go Oliver and Petty for Bedford and Melksham, the obvious selections. But what I meant to write, before the inexplicable post above was this: In: Oliver, Petty, Out: Bedford, Fritsch My reasoning is that 1) I think Melksham brought a level of intensity and effort that we've been lacking (except for the Vineys) and coming into finals that should be rewarded. Leaving him in sets that example. 2) Constrastly, Fritsch isn't hitting scoreboards but not doing those things. The swap for Weid (probably one week only) is part of that example setting above. 3) Bedford is underperforming so is the easy out. But this only works if the coaches are willing to throw Petty forward, so I think unlikely.

We need another tall in the team, one way or another: with only one tall forward, we have no flexibility or cover across the ground at all. I don't think Bedford is giving us enough right now, and a run in the 2s will help him apply what he has learnt and find form. I though Melksham did a pretty good job tbh: at his best, he plays across half forward and uses the ball well when he gets it. Today his defensive efforts were actually pretty good too, so I wouldn't be looking to rush him out. Oliver is an obvious in. I'd go: In: Petty, Melksham Out: Bedford, Oliver I know that Goodwin has been loath to throw Petty forward, and I don't blame him: a settled back 7 is important. But the disruption has already occurred and Tomlinson performed well, so it's a good opportunity to try it out. Edit: ok I tried laugh reacting myself here but couldn't. It's been a long day. I'll reply again without the obvious error.

Fritsch was actually having a shot there 😉

Only if he stays!

Early work from ANB has been really promising, involved a lot linking up. It's been lacking the last few weeks. Similarly a couple of marks to Ben Brown up the ground are a good sign.

Wrong footed as well, Fritsch. Bad choice.

This year's indigenous jumper isn't my favourite of all the art works/designs we've adopted, but I do like certain aspects of the design that I hope we will retain: Mindi the devil snake in particular! From a design perspective, the white and black Bunjil (wedge tailed eagle) is what I think throws the balance off a bit. And I think that if that image was in red and blue people would get around it much more. Here is all of the designs we've had if anyone is interested: http://www.footyjumpers.com/melbourneindig.htm We've stated in our RAP that "our vision for reconciliation is to unite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with non-Indigenous people through the game of AFL". This doesn't just mean once a year. If wearing an indigenous art designed jumper 4 times is a method of helping bring those groups of people together, then that's a good thing. If non-indigenous people think "it's too much" or "I just want our old jumper back" then perhaps they are the people who the club are patiently leading, by taking them on the journey they have identified with the indigenous community in development of the RAP. It's also possible they'll never be convinced, but the representation and visibility matters, and it will have a positive impact on the next generation coming along regardless of some people holding out. So, everyone is free to dislike the particular artistic design (although as something we have commissioned and chosen and has meaning this is lightyears away from the forced clash jumpers of the past). But the concept and frequency? In a week where NSW announced it was taking it's flag off the harbour bridge, and a year where the VicGov is progressing a treaty and the federal government is making strides too, this isn't going anywhere.

I seem to recall us previously requesting (or at least claiming to have requested) lots of home and MCG games in the first half of the year to help us build momentum on and off the field.

On TV it looked like we struggled with the ground and footing, never really confident running, and how the ball was bouncing, how slippery it was etc. while they seemed pretty comfortable. I put it down to "home ground advantage" (cold dewy Thursday night in Geelong with stadium missing winds, is basically how they train).

Almost exactly what I had @chook fowler. I just didn't think Oliver was effective enough to be as high rated and thought Gus and Hib both did a great job under a lot of pressure. 6 Lever 5 Trac 4 Viney 3 Gus 2 Hibberd 1 Oliver

@Demon Dynastyyeah everything I could find has his draft day weight (84kg) still listed, although I find that hard to believe. I also found unofficial website with stats for this year. It list positions this year as FB/HBFL so consistent with what you've said, but I wasn't sure if that was just named team positions. https://vfl.aflmstats.com/player/Fraser_Rosman It would be great if they could turn him into a replacement for Hibberd (or even Smith) as a flexible running/tall.

He was drafted at 84 kg, any idea where he is at now?

I was very excited about Rosman's potential when we drafted him. At 194 cm and an elite endurance runner already (with speed as well!), He had all the tools for development. It sounded like he was making some progress up forward last year but I haven't heard much about his progress this year (admittedly I haven't looked).

So one in play as a clumsy tackle (not saying it was acceptable but it was part of play) and the other an off the ball act, and they get the same penalty?