TeamPlayedFine39

Sign him back up!

Go Oscar! OMac to kick 5 and the Blues to lose by plenty ?

Skipper!

Not necessarily what I believe is the best 22, but this is the team I believe will play Round 1 based on injuries, form and coach's preferences: JETTA. MAY. LEVER. SALEM. TOMLINSON. HUNT. BAKER. OLIVER. LANGDON. SPARGO. MCDONALD. MELKSHAM. JACKSON. FRITSCH. CHANDLER. GAWN. PETRACCA. BRAYSHAW. HARMES. RIVERS. SPARROW. JONES. Emergency: Petty, Jordon, Neal Bullen, Bowey. Injured / building fitness in the VFL: Pickett, Viney, VandenBerg, Hibberd, Brown, Weideman.

Generally positive news after a couple of weeks of bad news. Still quite a while til Round 1 and any player currently in the main group would have to be a very good chance to play Freo.

Great clearance by Oliver, but the real hero in this passage is Harmes. Starts the clip with a block on Cotchin, then blocks the tagger pursuing on Oliver. 2 blocks in 4 seconds - clearance, goal. May be maturity and selflessness, may be the the influence of Yze as midfield coach, but this is the type of teamwork we need to see more of. OrganicBriefFlamingo.mp4

He’s copped some criticism for his disposal, but I was very happy to see Harmes tagging Cotchin and Martin yesterday. His best football is when he is tagging and his best football is very, very good. Hopefully he’s persisted with and can regain some confidence and form.

Thank god Sydney matched the Mills bid!

I'd say he's the best we've had in the AFL era. I've been watching for 30 years and he's got Neitz, Stynes and Lyon covered over that time. (though there may be some stiff competition in Petracca and Oliver waiting in the wings) Once we get into the VFL era (Flower, Barassi, etc.) we're going back too far for a meaningful comparison. There are some players like Bradman that you can say with confidence are the greatest of all time, but player comparisons should generally be done within eras/generations, rather than across. Carey is the best player that I have ever seen, though I can't say he's the best ever, as I never saw Matthews, Skilton, Bunton, Stewart or Coleman. I too am tired of every current champion being referred to as 'GOAT' at the expense of those that have come before.

I had some doubts after his first year, that he may have been yet another supremely talented MFC recruit who didn't have the work ethic to reach his potential. Struggled to run out games, in and out of the seniors, lacking defensive pressure, etc. But that second year was a sight to behold! Has been an incredibly consistent performer since then and has become a premier midfielder in the competition.

I was strangely confident the entire game. Carlton were well on top in the general play for three quarters but couldn’t put us away. Daniher’s teams were always very hot and cold and when we switched it on for the last quarter we were hot!

Anything from 1994 is my AFL comfort food. Final against Footscray is a favourite.

I think you might be overestimating out KPD depth. MAY: good run with injuries in 2020, horrid in 2019. LEVER: Two knee reconstructions. SMITH: Serious groin/OP and shoulder injuries. (Yet to play a great game at senior level.) PETTY: Zero games in 2020 and limited preseason. TOMLINSON: Can play down back, but wouldn’t want to see him in a stopping role if May was injured. We have next to no flexibility with someone like McDonald due to injuries to Weideman and Brown. We have good key position stocks down back if they are all fit and firing. However, they all have their history of significant injuries and when a couple of them are out, the shelves look pretty bare.

Don’t mind this. Anyone know who he’s been training with up til now? Hopefully he’s already got a decent preseason under his belt.

Excellent report one again @picket fence - thanks. If you have a moment, any chance of listing who was in the ‘probables’, from what you could see?

Yeah- they wanted them all gone. Displaced, killed off, bred out, denied their lands, culture and language. It was attempted genocide.

I see this one wheeled out a bit and it's simply not true; both were absolutely abhorrent to indigenous people. It's hardly reassuring to say lucky you got British genocide, cos French genocide was much worse!

I think every club has the responsibility to Paddy to not call him. He may not realise or believe it, but he needs to move on.

Not really an positive spin I can find for our first two choice KPFs missing a big chunk of preseason and the season proper. Weideman was very impressive in 2020 and was statistically on par with his KPF peers. McDonald said he wanted the opportunity to prove himself... well, here it is! Hopefully, with a full preseason and a lighter frame, McDonald can be released to play a more ranging, traditional CHF role. His tank was his best asset prior to the toe and ankle issues and the role of the hulking, inside 50, power forward didn't work for him in 2019/20. I don't love the idea of Jackson and Fritsch being inside 50 targets, but hopefully this can bring about a change in forward 50 entries (which was hopefully being worked on anyway). I currently don't have Petty in my best 22 ahead of a more versatile Tomlinson, but he may be worth a look and will be interesting to see where he trains/plays for the remainder of the preseason.

The stream last year against Nth Melbourne was great- hopefully they can arrange it again.

Exactly why every list need depth.

“This is a historic and proud day for the Melbourne Football Club!”

I feel the same way about lots of our young players. We, along with them, missed out on a lot with the VFL being canned last year. Hopefully we can get to know them and they can get some quality development this year. ?

Whilst I agree that the opening game of every season being Richmond vs Carlton is absurd, I also think it’s equally ridiculous that Carlton want still want this fixture. So much pressure and spotlight on a young team that, every year for some time, gets smashed by the Tigers. All their positive media and membership promotions go out the window by quarter time round one.

Thanks for the reports! Was Petty training with the forwards or backs?