Gator

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.

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.

Ruckman often say stupid things.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

I highly doubt that May, Lever, Petty and McDonald will all play against a Giants side that loves its small pressure forwards. At Casey, during one of the intraclubs, it was Howes who went to Pickett late in the game when he went to full forward. There may not be a huge difference in height between Howes and McDonald, and yes, Harley Reid made Howes look silly, but I'll be very surprised if Howes doesn't line up in round 1. I'll be just as surprised if McDonald does. Btw, McDonald has been good in the sessions I've attended, but the balance just doesn't work.

Can you quote back to me the part where I'm "staunchly committed to defending a player that we haven't even signed yet". Thanks.

As I mentioned in my training notes, the one thing I haven't been able to ascertain is his pace. It hasn't noticeably been an issue around the footy, but I haven't seen him in space. That said, I have seen him streaming into goal and kick a couple from 45 metres and at didn't seem a problem. I've also seen him look good overhead. I might see him on the wide expanses of the G and think to myself, OK - now I know why they didn't want him. But he does a lot right and I love left footers ! And I don't take much notice of random supporters. Ours or others. For instance, Deespencer spends his life telling us players are slow. If they're good enough they're fast enough. If they're not good enough, they're slow. He's looked good against Oliver, Rivers, etc.

No. I blew that somehwere else...

Culley also noted the improvement that came in his 20 metre sprint times: 3.3 seconds in 2021 compared to 3.1 seconds in 2022. Benson said he was technically already a very good runner, with the key to their training being capitalising on those strengths while making small changes - 16 May 2022 That's all I've been able to find on his speed. 3.1 is fine for a 194cm mid. According to Adam Simpson he also ran a 6.03 minutes for the 2km time trial, which is also decent.

It's Culley for me. In my opinion, he's just too good to not pick up.

I looked at Brand gazing into the empty little stand. He had a slight tear in his eye. I asked if he was OK. He said he was fine. Just had a little bit of sand in his eye.

I'm not great at estimating crowds, but I tried to do a bit of a head count yesterday and my guess is that 250 people would be generous. I was struggling to get past 150. There were sponsors tents, etc. and I couldn't help but feel embarrassed by the turnout. Clearly, the allocated time wasn't conducive to attendance.

In the second half they changed some of the players from Blue to White and vice versa. I think it’s more interesting as to who started in Blue and who started in White. Blue (probables): Gawn, Oliver, Rivers, Langdon, Lindsay, Langford, Sharp, Howes, Bowey, Salem, Billings, Petty, Lever, Sparrow, Fritsch, Chandler, Turner, van Rooyen, McAdam, McDonald White: (possibles): Campbell, Laurie, Culley, Brown, Adams, Jefferson, Sestan, Hore, Fullarton, Johnson, Woewodin, Moniz-Wakefield, Verrall, Adams, plus Casey top ups. No Mentha and George, or those who you already know about. It seems Petracca, Viney and Windsor will be back next week. So, while we do have injuries, I suspect we won’t be far off our best team soon. Jefferson: He started as a forward for White and was quiet. To get him involved they moved him into defence in the second quarter. He looked very comfortable behind the footy and got quite a lot of it. In the second half he swapped teams and played forward again, but was again quiet, although he took a nice contested mark in the last. Gawn: Campbell is a handful in the ruck contests. He competes hard against Max and manages to neutralize many of the hitouts, but Max worked his way nicely into the game. He took 6 or 7 marks and dropped a couple he’ll take in a few weeks. He got plenty of it. He won’t be falling away this year. Oliver: He’s moving really well and looks back to his best for mine, despite Goody saying supporters will need patience. He used it well, was clever, and wasn’t rushed like he seemed last year. In the votes. Langdon: He was in most centre bounces. He just gets a lot of it when he’s on ball and uses his quick feet to get out of trouble. Kicked a goal and missed a few other chances. Like all of the mids he made a couple of blues but he was in my best. Salem: Played in defence. He’s back to his best and moving like it’s 2021. Bowey: He too played in defence and racked it up. The odd mistake and sometimes I’d like him to move it on a bit quicker, but he looks a lock for the best 22 to me. Langford: He just looks comfortable at the level already and around the contest. His height will be a real asset around the ground and he makes good decisions. His one Achilles heel is he sometimes overruns ground-balls, but he looks a star in the making. Kicked a nice long goal. Lindsay: I thought he was good. He got it about as much as you’d expect playing a true wing role. Nice poise and competes/tackles well for a first year player. Some people think he’s skinny, but I look at the legs and his core looks great for an 18 year old. His upper body will obviously develop. Sharp: Not as noticeable today, but still did some nice things, including a smart front and square crumbing goal. Rivers: Played midfield all game and was good. In my best along with Oliver, Langdon, Fritsch, Salem, Bowey and Gawn. Fritsch: Involved, looked quicker than usual and seems set for a better year. Lever, etc: It was a pretty easy day for the defenders and they did what they had to. Not much to say. Chandler: Did some nice things and seems over his shoulder injury. Turner: Pretty quiet, but he did take a couple of good marks. Van Rooyen: Was the best key forward on the ground and we know he competes well. He still seems to drop an easy mark or chest mark every time I watch him, but he also clunked a couple and I reckon he’s ready to stamp himself on the competition. McAdam: He was playing deep forward and was having a good game before getting injured. A few for White. Moniz-Wakefield: I thought he was really good. Competed really hard, much to Salem’s annoyance at one stage. He played in defence and wouldn’t be out of place in the best 22. Brown: The boy was good. He played mainly on a wing and was one of the better players for White. His Dad was watching on. Sestan: I really like him down back. He was very involved and we know he usually kicks it well. There isn’t a spot for him, but I think he’d equip himself well. Johnson: Good early with a goal and a nice mark, but largely unsighted from then on. Fullarton: He’s such a great build. He did a couple of nice things, but on a whole was reasonably quiet. But I may have missed some stuff. Verrall: He did pretty well against the odds. He took a very good mark in the last and got involved. His kicking is problematic. Woewodin: Played wing and was one of White’s best. Used his pace through the centre in the last when he was switched to Blue. He and Lindsay were matched on a wing for a while. I’d say they’re going head to head for a spot in the 22. Hore: He was good. He looks a class above VFL level, but will have to bide his time. Culley: OK, he did a couple of sloppy kicks interspersed with quality left foot kicks, including a great goal on the run from 45. He was often head to head with Oliver, including the mandatory niggle. I have to say I really like this bloke. I haven’t seen enough to know what his pace is like, but in so many other facets he looks a fantastic prospect in the midfield. We probably have a greater need for a small forward, like George, who I also like, but gee, Culley is too good not to be on an AFL list.

It would be very easy for me to not make it humanely possible.

Leather poisoning. Played mainly on-ball. Saw him on the wing and half-forward, but 85% midfield. George and Mentha didn't play. Nor did Viney.

Yes, McAdam injured his leg and took no further part in the match. Rivers played on-ball all game. He didn't play in defence. Bowey played defence all game, despite his goal. If I get time I'll add some more thoughts.

I was hoping you'd have ''league average'' wing statistics to make the declaration you did, but seemingly not.

What's your metric ? What's the league ''average'' ?