deanox

Mind boggling. Leave him to intercept like he does best.

I think there via setting to be said about playing a team that is trying to beat you vs playing a team that is trying to minimise damage. Sometimes the later can bring the game down to their level, while the former becomes a battle of skills and systems.

Is pressure points measured as actions that effectively apply pressure? While I agree that we have looked off with pressure, my question is "is it laziness or is it a structural/game plan thing"? What I mean is, early in the year our zone was dominating. Opposition players kept kicking to spots we were defending, so it was easy for our players to apply pressure, and thus earn pressure points. Adelaide beat us structurally by kicking a shallow kick to where May/Lever weren't, forcing them to move out of position and therefore the opposition created opportunities to score. This could look like a lack of pressure points on the stats sheet, because our players had less opportunity to apply pressure. I thought GWS played a game out of their D50 where they chipped short to the HB line before going long or cutting 45 back into the centre. This meant our players were regularly out of position, and therefore couldn't apply pressure. So is the issue that after 10 weeks the other teams have started to crack our structures in a way that means we can't apply pressure? Or are the players not working hard enough to apply the pressure? Or both?

I think after the GWS game they decided they needed a tall forward for PA, so picked Brown as the one to play part game time for Casey and stay rested.

Cause or effect? Was his low game time because the coaches didn't give him time or because he didn't have the fitness coming back from injury? Given we sent him for a mini preseason it would suggest the later?

Both Leigh Newton (1997-1999) and Michael Newton (2005-2011) who played for the MFC were nicknamed Juice, in obvious reference. I am not sure if Ben Newton (originally PA then MFC 2015-2016) got the same nickname.

A top of the ladder finals contender drops a couple for games, a couple of ladder spots and looks shakey. A debutant is not going to fix it.

Personally I've always thought body language could be better or a thanks used. But I Ivery loosely know one of the Melbourne trainers and was talking to them last week in a general conversation. I wouldn't expect this person to say anything bad about Melbourne or the players - because it is the trainers workplace too - but this person did comment to me about the players being a good bunch of people and generally pretty friendly to be around. No need to say that if they didn't mean it.

Shallow inside 50s but also (without evidence) my feel was that they kicked shorter out of defence, meaning they were able to get it outside the D50 before kicking down the line or cutting into the coridoor.

Agree. Definitely under the microscope right now. In his favour is that he once again converted the 2nd most ground on field and had our most sprint efforts, meaning he is probably playing a big role in our system. But his stats and impact have levelled off, and he needs to start having a bigger impact again. For me he is the anti Melksham. I don't think Melksham does enough or works hard enough but there are a handful of times a game where he is devastatingly effective for us with respect to setting up a scoring opportunity. Can we afford to carry both Spargo and Melksham? Two players who probably don't do enough work but create scores? Who else can bring the tank and system role that ANB brings?

I agree with this. I think. Weid is competing with TMac for a spot. They both like to cover the ground a bit more, and when Weid is stuck at home he often struggles to get the the ball drop for while reason. Coincidentally this was the 2018 set up that worked too. I think Jackson fits in this just fine because he is versatile, good below his knees, and his primary role is 2nd ruck / resting forward. I know forward connection is a bit of a joke but connection is built on leading patterns, consistency and trust. At the moment every week it's a different set up and it's hard without a "bail out option" when nothing else presents. Brown's straight line running and leading should straighten us up and give a first target for the eyes. His long leads will create space behind and around him for players like Fritsch and Jackson to drop into. And while he may not be a strong pack mark he at least is a stay at home tall, which means there is always something to hit, instead of trying to spot up Spargo or Pickett. The lack of VFL has really made it hard this year, so I hope we haven't left it too late.

Lose it badly and I agree. But if we turn it around and play a good game but lose a tight one, I think they will be able to recognise the change in form. Losing an interstate match off a short break to another top 4 contender isnt a disastor.

If they wanted the "in" to be fresh for Thursday then yes, they had to make up their minds below the game so they knew who would only play a half. How is that ridiculous? For mine the Weed plays a similar role to TMac, roaming around the ground, so BBB is probably the right alternative foil.

I wonder if the late announcement of the Thursday night game through planning out? ie teams were picked for Sat arvo already (not including Brown or Weid), then Sat arvo happened and they decided that the forward line needs changes, and with the short turn around they decide they want the "in" to be fresh enough so they don't have time to wait until after the game to decide so choose Brown and only play him for a half.

Didn't Weid have 20+ touches and kick 1.3 or something last week too though? In thought I read he played week just didn't finish.

Surprised a local club didn't make one for them like the swans did for us.

We are the fourth highest scoring team in the competition. And the 2nd best defence. What more do you want?

Any chance that was their first win at the G?

I was comfortable with that goal. The ball has to be all the way over the line before it is a score. So as long as some part of his foot touches the ball before the ball is all the way over I think that's in the spirit of the rules (I don't know of technically the ball needs to leave the footy to be considered a kick).

@JadedI agree with this, but what if Weid kicks 3 from 10 marks tomorrow and Brown is ordinary? Would Weid get the call up for you?

6 May 5 Lever 4 Oliver 3 Langdon 2 Salem 1 Brayshaw May and Lever were outstanding down back all day and Salem was part of every forward move. I don't think we can fault Hibberd's effort on Stringer, Hunt on Topps, or Rivers' work either. Lingers and Angus got the votes though because they kept our structures all day. Their ground coverage thwarted a lot of Essendons ball movement, and was a big part of our win. Oliver was our best mid by a mile and it was probably the mediocre efforts around him that meant he didn't shine more. No one up forward really deserves votes, but Jackson gets an apology because he worked hard and generated chances. Had he kicked 2, he might have snuck in. Shout out to Spargo who didn't do enough. But every time he did get involved it was productive.

It is though. Look at the UP stats.

Do you think you would have been more enthusiastic if the $150k sum hadn't been bandied around? Also, would you (or anyone) feel better about the $150k if it was actually $130k split across $30k as a Tier 2 AFLW player, $70k for a full time job at the club, and $30k as part of an Additional Service Agreement for use of her image in MFC related marketing content, additional public appearances, sponsorship appearances etc.? I don't know for sure, but a) $150k was always going to be a top end claim and b) this is the type of split I'd be expecting.

lf they want to "fix" football, and bring back the old contested style like they all claim they do, then this is the main thing they need to fix. It's illegal to block, screen, body contact etc. in any way that prevents someone trying to contest a mark. Physical contact is fine as long as in l it is part of you actively trying to contest the mark yourself. So just go hard on this rule. Pay all of them. We'll have packs of players all trying to get hands on the football again, crumbers swarming. We'll have more one on ones because they can't afford to block in case they give the free kick away and because you can't afford to leave your player to 3rd man up if you don't have a block being laid so you have the over the top sit. It's a really easy fix.

I know they are both young but Jordon and Sparrow are chalk and cheese in the tank department. Jordon played wing on Friday, 86% time on ground and covered more ground than anyone else afield. For contrast, Sparrow played 58%.