DistrACTION Jackson

I question our coaching setups more than anything. How can a side have the most dominant ruckman in the game and get smashed through the middle?

Dear MFC selection team, please consider speed as a good attribute for this team. Outs Jones - most have been able to see for weeks that he's no longer up to it, but it seems now an injury will be the final axe. Thanks for the service Jonesy but it's time. Smith - do not understand his selection at all. ANB - not up to it. Wagner - another questionable player Melksham - not going to happen I'm sure but would be nice Ins Pickett - hopefully bring some spark Baker - please give him a run for the rest of the season to see if he will make it Hibberd - hope he's right to go Lockhart - much better defender than Smith or Wagner Bedford - another who should get a crack If one of Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw or Trac needs a rest then play Harmes midfield and bring in Bedford.

Jealous! Enjoy mate

Any update on Gawn? Heard he was a chance to miss this week?

Absolutely love this guy and think output in relation to cost he has been a much better pick up than Hill.

I think Harmes should be playing his role. Similar players but Harmes has better speed.

At least we are trying something different....

We also won two huge finals v Geelong and Hawks. Obviously huge fail in the prelim but the players were cooked after those two games.

Hannan will definitely hold his spot now. Would love to see Bedford in for Fritsch. Ins: Jones, Gawn and Bedford Outs: Preuss, Sparrow and Bedford I also want Rivers back in, not sure who comes out though.

It's interesting because I imagine the same people who scoff at Atkins would have also been against trading for Butler. Same as the tigers with Grigg and Houli, who were unwanted by their original clubs. Sometimes these players fit better in a different system so I don't discount any player taking their game to another level.

Good to hear Goodwin mention this in his press conference. It's an absolute joke that Neal-Bullen gets 4 weeks and then Dahlhaus gets a fine. Really we should've challenged it, but that's life. The AFL really are a joke when it comes to these decisions and there is no consistency. In my mind there should be two parts to the decision: 1. The action - there should be a certain number of weeks for the action. For example, both Neal-Bullen and Dahlhaus should have an automatic 1 or 2 week suspension for the action. 2. The result - I am comfortable if Neal-bullen were to get an additional 1 or 2 weeks as a result of the outcome with a player being concussed as opposed to Dahlhaus not. I think this would be a lot more easily understandable for players and supporters alike.

I'd definitely consider it. He was a solid player the year they made the GF and maybe a change of scenery would rejuvenate him. Definitely has some leg speed as a winger and decent footskills.

LOL Remember Tom McDonald bumping Stewart before the first bounce and breaking his collar bone? Has nothing to do with someones muscle size

If the AFL allow this I'd be staggered. Imagine the cashed up Eagles every year offering clubs money to play games in WA, or the Tigers paying clubs to play at the G. It would further reduce the integrity of a competition that has very little.

We already have number 2 in Max Gawn. Number 1 is a pipe dream at the moment.

Agreed. Fritsch's kicking has been a bit hit or miss this season, but he is a lot more consistent.

Membrey always scored against us out the back when our defence leaked like a sieve. One positive this season is we've somewhat rectified that (other than our oor periods against the Power and Dogs).

This is the problem when you introduce lawyers into tribunal decisions. They take what should be a simple decision and muddy it with issues with wording of rules etc. Plus they also likely make a pretty penny every time. The whole system is a joke and no matter how hard they try, the AFL can't get it right. My view is there should be no tribunal and no appeal process. There is a panel of experts, whether that be past players, legal representatives, medical background who make the decisions each week and that is final.

Looking at St Kilda they play quite tall with Membrey, King, Marshall, Battle and Ryder all going through the forward 50 at times. My hopes for the selection table: Out: Preuss (only because there's a better option), Hibberd, Hannan & Sparrow Ins: Gawn, Rivers, O McDonald & Bedford B: Lockhart May McDonald HB: Salem Lever Rivers C : Tomlinson Oliver Langdon HF: Pickett TMac Harmes F: Fritsch Weid Melksham R: Gawn Brayshaw Viney Int: Petracca Bedford Spargo Vanders Key reasons: 1. McDonald to take King & May to take Membrey with Lever taking the third tall who runs through at different times. 2. Tomlinson back onto the wing and told to run all day between the arcs. 3. Bedford, Pickett and Spargs told to constantly tackle and pressure. 4. Harmes to tag Jack Steele for majority of the game. 5. Vanders to switch between half forward and wing at times. We need to change up a few things otherwise we will keep getting the same result. Smash teams who can't match us in the midfield but then lose to teams who can or who have elite outside ball use. We also need to stop the oppositions best mid each week to give our mids the chance to dominate.

I hope Spargs doesn't get the scapegoat drop this weekend. In my mind our issues from the weekend were a result of midfield pressure rather than forward. Granted he didn't have a great game, but even the best small forwards in the game have shockers from time to time. It's a hard position to play and I want to see Goodwin stick with Pickett and Spargs as pressure smalls to build some cohesion. Personally I want a third in there and think Bedford is the guy at the moment. We need more foot speed so if we have to sacrifice a Hannan or Fritsch so be it.

LOL She works in marketing for an intermediary of the AFL so is actually interested in this stuff.

I also think as this plays out they should really limit this competition to 10 Victorian clubs and then the 4 northern sides. Based on last year's VFL this will likely be as follows: Casey Demons Richmond Collingwood Essendon Footscray Geelong Box Hill North Melbourne Sandringham Northern Blues This will then mean there are 14 sides in the comp and they can play a 26 game season to play each other home and away.

I would definitely like to see us entertain a trade for Preuss if teams come knocking. The Giants are crying out for a ruckman, with Mumford and Jacobs pretty much cooked. They have an abundance of high quality mids, so this could be a win-win for both clubs. Good thing is he is contracted so we hold the upper hand in discussions. We can easily then go pick up a mature age ruckman as a back up to Gawn. Plus we have Jackson and Bradtke both developing (very different stages of development)

I was talking to my partner about this the other day and said to her there should just be the Eastern Football League with Victoria, NSW and Qld. Fast forward two days and this news comes out. Not a fan of it being called the VFL though. I think EFL (Eastern Football League) is a great idea and will help build a strong second tier comp for all Eastern clubs. I assume we will maintain the Casey link.

In my mind Rivers has to come in. I'm not sure why he is continuously dropped, however in almost every game he has played he's been a solid contributor. He is quick and has good foot skills, one thing we are crying out for. Given the team had 3 solid performances in a row, I wouldn't be making too many changes. Ins: Gawn, & Rivers Outs: Preuss & Hannan