Gator

Who said it wasn't ?

So many knee jerk reactions on here from amateur experts.

I hate to break it to you, but being a PE teacher doesn't give you extra credibility on the subject.

Viney Petracca Oliver Hibberd Vince T. McDonald

It's called the "no expectation effect". Nothing less, nothing more.

It seems to be the same posters on a different day or week that say he can't kick or will be finished with one more head knock. We get it. I reckon you're spewing unadulterated cr@p, but it's your right to do so. Just not every frigging second day.

Thanks. Although if true I'm not sure it should be divulged. He should be afforded total privacy, not partial privacy. The club said illness for a reason and if anything is shared more publicly I know I'd happily wait for such information as the club sees fit. Or otherwise.

I'm not sure how you remember the content of individual posters. I take it this bloke gets reliable info ?

How about people just assume Hogan is actually ill. FMD.

Defensive mid. Reads the play well. But Tyson is probably keeping him out. I'd like to see Jack get another go. I think he'll get a chance at some point.

The Roar is a great site with some really good articles.

The bloke bought a membership and is entitled to an opinion I don't agree with much of his view, or his somewhat embarrassing meltdown, but it's his right to have a voice in a free society. Naturally, it's your right to be outraged if you so desire. I find the outrage almost as funny as his meltdown. It's just not a big deal.

Kennedy-Harris wasn't singled out, although he copped the worst. He also had a go at Hannan, Viney, Jones, Tyson, and Tom McDonald.

What a frustrating loss by a group whose arousal levels need to be at high alert all of the time, not just some of the time. They get too comfortable too quickly. As you say, Brayshaw is the disappointment. In his third year we need the class in the midfield we now expected him to be providing. I still rate him highly, others don't, but him being the mid we hoped for and expected would make a huge difference. Selection is just one component, but it's another element that has been a bit baffling over the last couple of weeks. I didn't mind Weideman early days, or the retention of Melksham, but for the life of me I question Kennedy-Harris and Bugg getting games ahead of Harmes, Stretch, Kent and even what Neal-Bullen was showing in the main. Harmes isn't perfect, but he's a big fast body who has a crack. Give me Harmes over Bugg every day of the year. Kent might have needed a rocket, but gee, he would have provided more than JKH. Stretch isn't immune to playing in the VFL, but he also offers more, albeit in a different role. That said, I won't forget the positives. Being 4th on the 'quarters won' ladder shows we're playing some very good footy in parts, so does the frustrating stat that we've been level or ahead in the last quarter of every game. I also like using other clubs who have taken the journey before us as a guide, such as the Dogs. In Beveridge's first year they were 5/5 from 10. We can still be 5/5 from 10, or 6/5 from 11. They went on to win 14 games and play finals that year (2015) even though they lost to Brisbane in round 23. Brisbane went into that match with 3 wins and finished second last with just 4 wins. So even a Luke Beveridge side that was about to embark on finals lost the last game of the year to a cellar dwellar. We know what they did 12 months later. It's bloody frustrating, but I still believe we can win 3 of our next 4 to get back on track. But we have to turn up to play.

I love KB and reckon McCartin can play.

Last year we beat a Hawthorn team that was two clear on top of the ladder and included Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, and Brad Hill. We play an inferior Hawthorn side this year without those players, not to mention we've procured one of them. I think we're better in 2017 even though we haven't played a 4 quarter game. Clayton Oliver makes us better for starters. After this round we'll be 4th on the "quarters won" ladder. We only need to win one quarter to make that transition. If we win all 4 quarters we'll go to third. Last year we finished 10th on the QW ladder. It's a measure I rate and gives a good indication of a team's performance by year's end, as well as an accurate picture as the year is unfolding. I don't care what Hawthorn do today, if we come to play we'll win. They cannot match our midfield.

You've misunderstood, Red. When I was talking about getting games into players "who are the future" at the expense of the "likes of Pedersen" I wasn't referring to Pedersen as our number one ruck due to a spate of injuries, I was referring to Pedersen as a tall forward. A very different analogy.

There's not one team in the league that we can't beat. I'ts been a long time since a Melbourne supporter could say that.

Interesting observations. It hadn't occurred to me that Goodwin is knowingly jeopardizing a victory with his selections. I just assume he knows his list and game-plan better than me and he knows who's best equipped to play the role he requires. That said, getting games into players who are the future of a footy club often comes at some cost. But it's not like the Pedersens of this world are usually the difference. But if you're right he's a courageous first year coach who is doing the right thing by the club and in essence the right thing by himself longterm.

I think the Kennedy-Harris mystery stems from a desire to give him a decent run at it. Retaining the ball through pressure, tackling, corralling, etc. in your forward 50 is king in today's footy. Kent was dropped because of a lack of forward pressure and Neal-Bullen was getting games because of his pressure and adherence to team defence. Posters rightly point out Kennedy-Harris' modest returns in his two games back, although he did lay 7 tackles in his first game, but we know internally they rate him and I just reckon they want to give him an opportunity to perform and sometimes two games isn't enough. They would have debated his position at MC and I don't reckon he'd want another quiet effort tomorrow, but I think they like the structure of two mobile marking talls (Hogan/Watts), two mobile marking mid-talls (Petracca/Hannan), and two small pressure forwards. Kent is more dynamic and has more X-factor, but Kennedy-Harris' defensive traits (as perceived by Goody et al) is keeping him out. If Kent improves this aspect of his game and Kennedy-Harris continues his limited output they'll make a change. It's the best synopsis I can give.

That's not quite correct. Williams stats were better from his first 19 games. That said, Williams debuted at 20, so had an advantage with age. Williams averaged 26 disposals from 12 games in his first year - 1984, and averaged 30.6 in his second year on his way to the B&F in '85 at 21. If your point is that Oliver's second year may be better than Williams' second year well that is a possibility, but obviously not yet resolved. I'd also argue that stats in 1985 are worth at least 20% more than the possession game of 2017, so 30 disposals then is at least 35-36 today, imo.

The best bit to take out of the Champion Data stats is that in 2017 he's ranked the 6th best general forward in the competition. The other stats are irrelevant, because they're based on a comparison of 23 games and not the players' respective ages. Ablett and Dangerfield were 19 through 23 games, so you wouldn't expect them to have the same due to a less mature body. I recognise Petracca missed a year with knee, but still consider his age a significant advantage. Gray was the same age as Petracca after 23 games.

I don't think Langford will play, which will leave 14 premiership players in their 22. But it's got too hard for them and their lower tier players are ordinary. They'll win some games this year, but I don't expect it to be against Melbourne. I can see a nasty and spiteful game (hope so). Oliver will seek out Rioli at every opportunity and Jones, Viney, and Lewis will play close to the edge. We're better on the inside around the stoppages and will hopefully spread with better and more efficient ball movement. I expect us to be 'on' and I expect a win.

More a minor union minion than a company man.

Great get, Wrecker. I'm not sure if it covers whether a player named in the squad of 18, i.e. non emergency, can be removed from the starting squad, although I recognise insinuation by definition.