deanox

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?

Agree I'd like to see him get more of it, but he does put it a lot of work off the ball, lots of pressure, and some weeks that turns into opportunities and shots on goals. However is is our 3rd highest goal kicker for the year, and we're not exactly scoring slouches (6th highest aggregate in the comp). He is =40th in the competition for goals kicked. So as a forward he is doing his job. The reason I though he rated a mention this week was because I think he had 7 disposals for 7 score involvements, indicating he didn't waste much when he did get it.

Other than Fritta he is out leading goal scorer in both total goals and average goals per game. He definitely isn't having a great year and output could be higher. But he is still out best tall forward this year.

Here is the moment of impact. Lever never faces Fogarty, just moves him away from his team mates and congratulates their efforts. This is effectively a coward punch from Fogarty. He punches a bloke who isn't even looking at him, who isn't engaged with him. It's just assault.

IMO Fogarty's act was the worst of the lot. Out of play, from behind Lever (so he didn't see it coming). Just a cheap assault to be honest. If someone hit any one of us in the guts like that, from behind, while we were not prepared or expecting it, we would drop like a proverbial sack too. I don't know why it is considered tough to take a punch off the ball.

Do you mean Picket?

I reckon this proves that at stoppages the real role of a ruck is simply to make sure that the other ruck cannot dominate (neutralise). (Obviously this assumes your midfielders are able to compete with theirs) An advantage they got at the stoppages was ROB got 4 stoppage clearances (of their 22 for the game) vs Weids 1. With Gawn in, they might not have got those. Where not having a ruck can be a big disadvantage (or having a good ruck like Gawn can be an advantage) is their ability to influence the game around the ground. Intercept marking and spoiling, linking up in attacking play, and body work in close to help your kids find space are three key areas that a ruck can influence. ROB did slightly out-perform his own season averages (for intercepts, disposals etc) in this match, and did statistically more than Weid did, but with only 5 marks and 6 intercept possessions in total ROB didnt have any influence on the game. As the only ruckman on the ground, and with the size advantage he had, he should have been able to influence more. So either Weid did a good job keeping him quiet or we deliberately used a game plan that kept him out of it.

6 Pettacca 5 Oliver 4 May 3 Langdon 2 Lever 1 Viney Kudos to Pickett who had lots of impact with his handful of touches, Petty who didn't do much wrong, Salem, Harmes, Brayshaw and Sparrow who played good games as well.

I know the have the orange trim but pretty sure it's Carlton tonight.