von

All fair points. Does weideman develop faster in the vfl? Also next to hogan is he a liability at all? Pederson and smith aren't key forwards in my mind. They are third forwards in an average side to me. Weideman is a strong second forward if developed correctly. Hogans ability and form straight out of the gates is almost miraculous. It doesn't happen. I wonder if we expect more from weideman because of this.

true we are pushing for finals but our list is a few steps from contending, which is an entirely different situation. I think the fastest way we get there is getting games into our talent, which weideman is. The game was lost in the middle and an inability to navigate their defense effectively with decision making and skills letting us down. We are still going to have flat games like today. The middle of the ladder is as congested as it's ever been which is where we are. Our positive is that we are the youngest team in that pack.

I disagree. He rarely had a one on one contest. All day it was bombed to him and hogan would have been lucky to clunk any of them. he was playing the number one role today, which he isn't ready for. Bringing the ball to ground is a win in a three on one in my opinion. That seems to me like impacting the game. They were playing every player in our third all game. Our forwards were constantly swamped. We didn't adjust well enough and when we tried to our delivery wasn't up to scratch. They defended very well. i think we can afford to carry a few players if it means they develop faster. We aren't winning the flag this year. Next to hogan he looks much better and will learn more than he would in the vfl.

Weideman will be fine. Put some weight on that frame he takes more marks and kicks more goals. The sky isn't falling. It's his second year and he's a key forward. our decision making was poor for most of the game. freo gambled on the contest and it paid off. You can do that with a dominant ruckman. We couldn't combat their spread because we were still in the contest as they were running off with it. we looked young at times and flat at times too. It was good to see us come back and with some better decision making or any one of hogan, Lewis or Gawn we win that one.

What an uneducated view of today's proceedings. Without vince we are a lesser side. There were other things that cost us a lot more. Freo gambled on the contest all day, it paid off. Their spread was too quick and they used our ground better than we did. Without the bounce going their way all day those gambles don't pay off and we win.

Unbelievable pick up

Unbelievable pick up

What's wrong? I thought I was allowed to forecast some predictions for the future like everyone else on here does. Some things seem fairly plain to see. My predictions would fall into the plain to see category surely.

Baby bombers Hawks of 08 and gws this year. Speaks for itself. They don't call it the fountain of youth for nothing. Youth is an everlasting gift from the loins of God himself. If only we could find a way to harness it's true powers.

It is because of this quote I see the young and virile footballer as the way of the future. Quality is undoubtably important but it seems like the afl is trending in one direction. Look at tonight's game with gws dismantling an old and irrelevant north. It was spelt out pretty clearly.

i don't think that's fair. Hogan has a mature body already, where's his spark. Out the window. I'm positive watts and Gawn will become predictably dependable until their bodies fail them. Just watching trends is all I'm doing. Look at the way hunt came in full of youth and running. Blew our game plan wide open and showed the way for many.

I'm well aware of the demographics. Just see it a bit differently to you obviously. I'll take being called a tool as its more a reflection of the unaccepting nature you've shown to differing views on the balance a football side needs. As Leigh Matthews once said there is no right and wrong when it comes to a footballers age. It's what's between the head and in the heart that matters.

Whatever mate. Can't handle the heat of a forward thinking football mind then get out of the kitchen as they say. Next you'll be telling me that we should trade our youth for experience.

Just imagine if we stuck to our guns and played a younger side in those other 5 games. 5 more wins puts us right in amongst the guts of premiership contention if I'm not mistaken.

Sometimes a great mind is too far ahead of the pack to be understood by the masses and labelled accordingly. Only time will tell. If it's true I have nfi I'll be ok with that. Sometimes the conservative approach the afl takes in general is baffling. I guess it makes sense that it would trickle down through the clubs and to the supporters.

Mate, that's illegal. I'm talking about some real 18 - 21 year old quality. Really go hard in that age bracket. I think the way the games going that's where the glory is going to come from.

The youth of today's game are next seasons experienced campaigners. Meaning their spark will begin to fade as leadership becomes their priority. I'd like to see another couple of seasons of draft picks really start to influence our in field energy. I'm sick of the likes of Gawn, watts and next season brayshaw petracca, hogan losing their spark as their bodies mature.

If we dish out a performance like today again I will personally deliver to the club all of my footy cards and footy stickers. I will waltz in there chest pridefully pumped up with cards under my arm and say to them you my friends can have my cards and my stickers. Maybe then you will understand the pain we as supporters have trawled through for generations. The ineptitude of this current football department baffles the mind. When will the real Melbourne football club stand up. This recalcitrant group we have inherited will lead us to the upper portion of the bottom half of the eight and they will take us no further. We can't even get a real brand to endorse us. New balance is for retirees and hipsters. Where's our Nike endorsement going to come from?

We need to bring in some youth. Case closed. Any one can see that we are lacking the spark and passion of youth. I would hope we trade out some of our fringe for draft picks. I am duck to death of bringing in other teams sloppy seconds. Have we no dignity.

I personally find it insensitive and a blatant form of cultural appropriation when the white footballers wear the indigenous guernseys. Is nothing sacred.

I can't help but favour Vince in this situation. His obvious advantages being his cleaner disposal, strength in the contest, intent to hurt the opposition physically and has a more interesting media persona. Dangerfield would have to be one of the more over rated Brownlow favourites in recent history.

It's just a simple fiction of reality my friend. Look at the situation at hand.

I expect much of the same issues as this year coming in with 10 - 12 victories. I hope to see a continued improvement in what emerged as a lethal ball movement game. Still a few years off doing it consistently being quite a physically demanding style of play. the natural improvement of the young brigade will allow us to begin to see the signs of consistency we crave however I believe that is 3 years and some good trades off being a reality. look for Oliver to take over the afl starting next week and continuing on into eternity. Omac will fill out some more by eating protein and benching like a champion and begin to compete with his brother as the number one superstar of our back line. Look to see hogan having a year much like he has this year for Fremantle as we realise that although weideman isn't there yet he will get there and not having a giant ego to kick to allows our midfield and half backs to be more creative and develop a greater understanding of the possible avenues to goal. petracca will continue the poor goal kicking tradition we have enthusiastically embarked on with him and his fellow superstar friend Jesse. However he will be doing it on his own. jetta looks to be on the decline and it saddens me. He has been the undisputed champion of our backline since ingerson and shanahan reigned supreme. To see him slowly lose his faculties for the game will be nothing short of heart breaking. dom Tyson will look to refine his abilities in the same way the great Nathan jones has through out his career leading him into an even greater form line than has been exposed this year under the cloud he left the year before. look to see the weight of the world start to weigh heavily on big max. The fairy tale doesn't always work out in the real world and a body that big inevitably breaks down. The beard will stay however as his form declines it will become a point of contention amongst disgruntled fans and the media. I will expect Jake spencer to have something of a break out year as gawns injuries keep him off the park. goodwin will be questioned early as the game plan refuses to click early leaving us looking a couple of k's off the pace. It will click in for one glorious patch of form in which we will win an outstanding 8/10 games in the middle of the season before once again succumbing to fatigue.

looks to me as though goodwins going to need to run some new and improved training drills. Particularly the old don't handball to a friend when there is a triangle of rabid predators around him. He will also need to implement the dont get your friend killed kicking practice. And finally ladies and gentleman they will need to practice their sprints running. Last but not least a few talented specials will be getting a visit from a friend to us all the head doctor. Maybe tony Lockett is looking for a job. Throw him in to our trainings hey. Here's how you do it hoges and Patricia. straight through the big ones. I feel so lonely when my best team loses.

Thank you. It's important I think to understand the emotional impact that places like this have on the boys and those close to them when they turn against their beloved team.