Gator

Obviously the Gawn issue was a non-story, although it once again highlighted Goodwin's, at times, poor judgement.

I just wished the club would shut up.  Stop talking about love, stop talking about connection, stop talking about individuals, just STFU.

But, of course, that's not happening.  Goodwin is on 360 and channel 7 tonight.  It's a complete waste of time, because he'll either say something stupid, or be his typically boring self.

I don't expect other posters to remember my views on players but let's just say I'm a Harvey Langford fan.

But I was quite underwhelmed with him on Sunday.  I don't know whether it's just his manner but for me he lacked urgency and intensity around the contest (obviously not late in the last quarter near the boundary), he dropped marks he should have taken, including a 15 metre sitter kicked by Campbell, he has a weakness with ground-balls, no better epitomised than when a rolling ball clean bowled him through his legs, and he fumbled numerous times in tight at stoppages, including CBAs.

He's a first year player, so you accept he's got a lot to learn, but it wasn't a performance that would elevate him to the senior team for me.

2 hours ago, old dee said:

He is a poor kick that is the reason he was in the same position at the saints. 

That's not the reason.  He's soft.

15 hours ago, old dee said:

I just don't see our side being as good as I thought we might be over summer. Seems we are back to relying on players who having proven to be B talents over last few years. 

I tend to agree.

I think our best 18 is pretty strong, especially the backs and mids, but we fall away quickly with some very average players.

I can't get excited by Jefferson, Turner, Johnson, Chandler and a few others.

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

 I hate to say it but he is becoming Jack Watts mark 11.

Didn't you spend your life defending this bloke and his performanaces ?

20 hours ago, Slartibartfast said:

I know this will be howled down but TMac is too good to not have in the 22. If May comes back I’d be moving Petty forward. AJ was poor in the ruck against Brown and JvR is much better. Jeffo has no intensity and I’d prefer Turner and Petty to AJ and Jeffo. 
If Spargs is ready he’s a class above Hendo. 
Wont happen, but that’s my take. 

I'd leave Petty back, but wouldn't be averse to McDonald trying to replicate his Plugger days up forward.

Last year on a Sunday at the exact same starting time Richmond played the same team and had 4,000 less people at the game (19,040).

Richmond have a huge supporter base.  And there was no grand prix to contend with.

Perspective.

1 hour ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

ANB also knew how to find the ball (16 possessions a game) from a flank and defend (5 tackles a game) across 176 games. 

Also possibly the most astute role player in the AFL to the point that multiple teams did studies with their like players on his application to role to try and replicate.

Sharp I like but it was his disposal and inability to accumulate that had him on the fringe of a strong Brisbane side.

 I rate Sharps potential but I will take the proven form of  176 mostly under rated games. 

Neale-Bullen replicated the Kane Lambert role.

AFL debutantes or MFC debutantes.

Sharp is one, but not the other.

1 hour ago, Pennant St Dee said:

He’s an absolute gun, who like Dusty is learning about the requirements to reach his ceiling. 
 

Its been rumoured he doesn’t like training but having spoken to some at West Coast he’s a very good trainer who works hard but just needs and wants to learn more about the preparation side of things 

Apparently he enjoys the actual training, as in on the green stuff, but doesn't enjoy all the little extras that the pros do.  Some call all that extra stuff training too and consider it super important to ever maximise your potential.  I suspect it will come in time.

10 hours ago, gawnbeatsnerds said:

herald sun reporting him as 204cm 😱

This has been discussed ad nauseum.  He's 200cm.  A while back, a reporter - Sam Edmund - incorrectly converted 6'7'' to cm, another journalist repeated the radio comments in print, and here we are.

@adonski link won't load for me.

I'm sure it's enlightening.

3 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Take another look at the table in my post and look at their predictions for 2024 and how they panned out. 

As I mentioned it was surprising how accurate the number of wins were for Hawks, Swans, Pies and Dees, even before a ball was bounced. 

No doubt having fewer injuries will help but maybe injuries pan out across the league to the point where they aren't statistically significant ...  I just hope the dees prediction for this year is horribly wrong.

Pythag isn't infallible.

In 2022 they were out on Collingwood by over 4 wins and Port by over 3.  Collingwood won 16 (against a prediction of 11.9) and Port were 3 less (10).

In 2023 they doubled down on Collingwood saying, 'We’ll say this: it would be absolutely staggering if Collingwood won more than 16 games next season.'  ... there is essentially zero chance (16 wins) it will be repeated...

Collingwood went on to win 18 games in the home & away and, of course, the flag.

2 hours ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Updated R1 Side

B: Bowey May Howes

HB:    Windsor Petty Lever

C:    Billings Rivers Windsor

HF:  Fritsch Turner Chandler

F:   Langford VanRooyen Sharp

Foll: Gawn, Trac, Langdon

IC:  Oliver, Sparrow, Viney, Johnson

Sub: Lindsay 

 

great to hear Judd is ahead of schedule and is a R2-3 prospect.. he and Kos make this side VERY hard to select!!!

The omnipresent Windsor.

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

You folks heading out today? @Gator @picket fence??

Unfortunately, I won't be there.

As for Jefferson ?

He has no presence or urgency.  I'll be mildly shocked if he makes it at AFL level.

Some players scream ''I'm the man''.  I wasn't keen on young Caddy in his final junior year, because he dropped sitters and looked fumbly, but he did have aggression in spades.  Even at just 19 he thinks he's the man at AFL level.

At age 17 Jesse Hogan playing for Casey knew he was the man.

Jefferson is the opposite of ''I'm the man''.  That's OK if you can still attack the contest like your life depended on it.  I see that with van Rooyen, I don't with Jefferson.

Someone else said he'll never be a pack crasher.  If you're key position size at AFL level there's a level of competing in packs that's a non-negotiable for a forward.  I don't think he has that level.  Sorry to hurt people's feelings.

Do some supporters think if it isn't spoken about it might go away ?  That's hysterical.

Nothing has changed.  It will be discussed in the media most days for the rest of the year.

The MFC will do what is best for the MFC.

I wouldn't trade him under any circumstances at the end of this year.  The end of 2026 you'd have to consider it.

18 minutes ago, Roger Mellie said:

I think he's been reported as playing at half forward too (Gator)

 

Just fleetingly.  In the sessions I've been to Langdon has lined up on the wing, half-forward and in the middle.

At a guess, 80% of the time he's been in the middle.  And looked great.

44 minutes ago, adonski said:

Maximus on the recruitment drive

 

Ruckman often say stupid things.

27 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Last night was 30 and unlimited bench changes, so guessing the same.

But only 4 players could be interchanged at any one time.  So players in the 30 had to be subbed on or out of the game.

2 hours ago, Go Ds said:

It is. But I just looked at the team of the century thread. Not everyone had him in their best 18 or even 22/23.

You're basing his career on Demonland posters ?  

Culley isn't as far away as some think.

It's a long season and Culley is perfect if there's an injury to one of the bigger bodied mids, or players need a rest.  It might be Langford, or they may look to rest Viney, Petracca, Rivers, or Oliver later in the year.

I'll be amazed if Rivers plays defence.

He's played every minute as a mid and has thrived in this role.

With Windsor, Salem, Howes, Hore, and Bowey, the defence is covered.  Lindsay played a lot of half-back as a junior, so it's not beyond the pale for him to go back if needed.  The last thing I'd be doing is sending Rivers back when he's looked great through the middle during preseason.

25 minutes ago, jaydenh10 said:

yep has been as good as campbell in one qtr, very impressive

Campbell rucked against Xerri and the 193cm Johnson rucked against skinny kids.

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

How I'd line them up:

FB: Petty McDonald Howes
HB: Bowey Lever Hore
C; Billings Rivers Lindsay
HF: Sharp JVR Sparrow
FF: Chandler Turner Langford
Foll: Campbell Oliver Pickett
Int: Laurie, AMW (Sestan), Woey, AJ

That team is missing 9 of our starting 18, including some all-time greats of the MFC, and it's still better than some Melbourne teams I've seen run around this century.

5 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

It’s a wrap. Short session but great vibes. They’re champing at the bit to get the season going. 

It's very impressive that you didn't say ''chomping''.