deespicable me

The thing I like about this list is Luke Dunstan is at 26. Second Saint on the list behind Brad Couch. I heard it said Ratten didn't like Dunstans turn-overs and the big knock on him was his disposal, but considering the company he is in on that list he is a pretty good ball winner and fits in well with our territory gained football. Looks like he is a really good pick up.

He looks fitter Turner. He's a fitter Turner

I don't see Richmond as a threat at all.

For me the two Sydney teams are the main threats. But on paper we are superior to both those teams.

The hunger is an issue though. Our contested ball was where our game started and you need desire and purpose to keep it up for a long season. We will most probably have at least one form slump and if we can get through and still finish top four we will be hard to beat. 

Goodwin was good at teaching them to reset. After each game and even quarter, but after a season it's back to zero. That's a big reset, but hopefully they will go again. I see some big wins and a much higher percentage this year as we blow a few teams away. Each time we do win by a big margin the commentators around the game will be fawning all over us. It is a big danger getting ahead of ourselves. We are the team to beat but make no mistake, there will emerge at least one other team who will believe they can beat us and win the Cup. 

Speaks well and I think his clear hunger to be a bigger part of what the team achieved last year will inspire and drive the team to greater heights. Is there greater though? Maybe just to "do it again" by the Beach Boys

6 hours ago, old dee said:

Sadly I think he is a VFL talent DJ. If it does not happen this year it never will. 

Weid I think was actually smart to sign a two year extension with us. He is still young at around 24-25 yo and will be free agent and in his prime for his next contract. 

If he had of gone to a Gold Coast for more money he would have been exposed and much more demanded of him and a likely scenario where he fails. By taking a modest wage at Melbourne he can continue to develop and not get over exposed. He could still become a good player in the right team when he is at the peak of his abilities. Will that be at Melbourne? Not sure. He has another two years to prove he has value to a club. And Melbourne will want to make him a good prospect if for no other reason than to trade.

Just watched the videos and was super impressed by Kate Rothey our president. She spoke so well. I think if any of the boys disrespected a female in any way she'd rip them apart. She has a real warmth as well. Her good wishes and inclusion of Glen Bartlett was great to see. She is a very good leader. We are a good club in good hands.

Go Dees

1 minute ago, CYB said:

if i was Gary Pert, i would be seething. This is not a good draw from a commercial perspective or from a general week-to-week proposition given we just won the GF - i dont know what else we need to proove. We play entertaining football.

I don't mind playing the top teams twice - its only fair given we have 23 rounds with 18 teams. But to get WC and Geelong away yet again is farcical. WC doesnt phase me as it once has, but the Cattery is a hard place to win. We also don't play at our home ground for 5 consecutive weeks and have yet another final round game away. Seriously WTF.

The two biggest commercial games for us are both away (tiges and Collingwood) and our home games are against interstate sides. There is no cash in for us after winning the flag. It's like they want to prove we are a second rate club who's numbers won't stack up.

Disgusting and disrespectful draw for the club. 

Love her to bits.

For me she will be as important to the MFC as Jimmy Stynes, Max Gawn and Ron Barrassi.

I know Collingwood (Buckley), Brisbane (Voss)  and Hawthorn (Mitchell) have made bold/crazy decisions to keep hold of favorite sons for coaching roles, to this point with limited success, but I'd love to see Daisy coaching the aflw side and continuing her journey with the MFC. She is an icon and trail blazer in the formation of the women's league and will have awards named after her and I reckon may even one day get a statue in her honour at the MCG.

People should be getting along to see her play as your grand daughters will be asking questions about her in years to come. I'd love to see her take the side all the way. Go Daisy, go Dees.

I'm glad Howe wasn't any part of it. Hope it doesn't sit well with him.

After the Sam McClure puff peice about the 'nastiness" between Melbourne and the Dogs, which is all fine if it pumps up the rivalry, but how about the Dogs and Dees really go to battle by offering each others future first round pick to each other to take the rivalry up a notch. Maybe add in a $100,000 from each club to a charity of the winners choice.

I know it can't be done this year but it would be fun to see. Say Carlton and Essendon. Swans and GWS. Freo and West Coast.

Actually I don't think the AFL would approve.

2 hours ago, Grr-owl said:

This is the key to understanding why Jackson is so important to us. There is no matchup for him. He is a point of difference between us and every other team. 

He will probably take over Max's AA spot. We could have a player as first ruck in the AA side for over a decade. Imagine that.

I think Cordy for the dogs will try to be physical and may cross the line, mainly because he has pretty limited skills and to offer something to the team cause may be best served by injuring as many opponents as possible, but the danger of going out there to try and target players has more chance of backfiring than being successful.

In my mind we are the better side with a dominant big man in Max so when he goes forward or back they will try to jump into his back and slow him down. Martin was on one leg by the end of the prelim and at 34 with a limited preparation they have to be worried. We are a very clean side with some physical beasts like Petracca, Viney, Harmes and now Sparrow who go for the ball with intent. 

This physical attack idea is a Beveridge mind game to try and get us off our game, because if we play our game we will win. Just play hard, fair footy and don't change what you've been doing. Don't feel intimidated and we are too good. They have to disrupt us someway to win and Beveridge will be trying every trick in the book because he knows we are the better side.

Well to counter that, Melbourne don't really have any players I would consider super flaky whereas Port have a bunch. I was kind of banking on guys like Amon, Motlop, Rozee, Fantasia etc to have stinkers under pressure as our path to victory and it worked out that way. I look at Melbourne's expected 22 and there really aren't any weak links. It's going to be a grind for 4 quarters and if we do emerge as winners, it'll be a small margin.

As fans, we'll be white knuckling all game I imagine.

This was a quote I liked. There wasn't much ra ra and a lot of thought. One even pointed out the 25 to 11 frees for in our second meeting as a reason they won. 

I think Hunt is possibly the best match - up on the dangerous Weightman. I think Hibbo would do a good job though so happy with the selectors choice, Hibbo can body him and hold him at stoppages. He is a good mark as well Weightman, not sure who is the best stopper for his marking, maybe Smith.

He's just coming to the years when he is going to be at his most capable of making an impact. He needs to look for a club that will give him a shot at the full forward role for a couple of years. We aren't ready to do that till maybe 2023 so he should look around and we should value him highly. 19 is about right. 

2 hours ago, BW511 said:

I would say mentioning Tommo, Hibberd and Smith all prove we do need him in a roundabout way.

Tommo isn't currently playing and he is more your 3rd tall.

Hibbo isn't currently playing and he is the most similar to Maynard, he is becoming quite limited with his movement.

Smith will likely never play on the sort of player Maynard would, again. 

 

I agree I think he improves us and would be a good get, but if he's a lock in our back 6 with May, Lever, Salem, Petty and Rivers then missing out / interchange is Bowey, Hunt, Tomlinson, Smith and Hibberd. Rivers is probably our version of Maynard and I'd prefer Rivers every day. Also the money spent on Maynard can help hold talent like Rivers who is in line for a big pay-rise. The beauty for Melbourne now is they can low ball any talent unhappy with their present club. MFC has done a great job of identifying who it wants and sticking to the plan with Lever, May and Langdon all coming across on strong rumours and this year it looks like Maynard is the one who we're into, but we are now in a position to pick and choose and there will be lots of players "gettable" in the off season. Maybe we wait?

I am one who doesn't like to see players go, from Hogan to Watts to Gysberts to Blease and recently Jack Viney and of course I have been proven wrong many times over the journey. I am biased and find ways to like our players more than others. Nothing wrong with that.

But do we need Maynard? I would have thought between Tomlinson, Smith and Hibberd (if he stays for 1 more year) and a developing Bowey we had that half back sweeper spot covered. Maynard is a good player though, white line fever, hates to get beat. I hope we put a high price on Weidemann though because I think we might need him for structure of the team more than Maynard.

I'm pretty sure Hibberd would have done a better job on Cameron than Smith did. He is a better defensive player than Smith. Smith doesn't always make good positioning and got caught with the wrong positioning in his one on ones with Cameron. Cameron basically ran rings around him. After the first quarter you could see they had made a mistake at selection as not only was Cameron on fire but their smalls were worrying us in the forward 50 and Rivers was nervous and turning it over. Luckily Daniher was rubbish, they got an injury freeing up Lever and we got well on top in the second quarter.

Again like others I like Smith and think he can make it in the backline but he needs work and I don't think they'll ask him to lock down a player again. My biggest disappointment with Smith was when he was the designated intercept marker and did everything right but dropped the mark. He makes me nervous. 

I also thought Bowey was poor early but he kept attacking the ball and offered good run especially in the last so it was a great experience for him and he probably should hold his position.

Tom Mac looked lost for the most part. I don't think he's comfortable playing second fiddle to Brown. I don't mind if they stick with him coz he deserves it and offers a plan B if something happens to Brown but if they make a change I would think it would be Melksham for TMac.

For mine I love Hunt and his headband and his dash and bravery and when he's ready I want him back in for Smith. One change.

1 hour ago, dieter said:

The game highlights only go for 7.56...

He's in the lowlights section

He also coat hangered Kossie from behind. Was again just an act intended to hurt and or maim. It was late after Kossie got rid of the ball. It was definitely reportable and really "old school" stuff that Dermie loves but most people including the AFL want out of the game. Dermie laughing going "oh yeah, just made him earn it, nothing wrong with that" Well yes there is Derm, they are cheap and cowardly shots and when delivered by a guy that has no other skill then get him out of there.

His only two acts that had any consequence out there were his hit on Kossie and then Gawn. These guys are champions of the game and need protecting. Same with guys going past the ball flight in order to put their knee into the back of players. Could end a career. Happens to Oliver all the time. It puts the lions in a bad light and he should be hounded out of the game.

5 minutes ago, deanox said:

6 Clarry

5 Petracca

4 Viney

3 Lever (15 intercept possessions)

2 Viney

1 Fritsch

 

 

Viney was good wasn't he.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

 

What about the 7 day quarantine period as last time we played over there. I thought the bye may be after the semis to get four teams in Perth and quarantined in time to play the prelims. Or if travelling from either SA or Brisbane to Perth its more relaxed.

I think it depends on who wins etc. If Port lose then win their semi they will have to come to Perth for their prelim, same with Brizzy

13 hours ago, 58er said:

Can't drop  a four game in a row good player on a ridiculous hunch !!! 
Hunt is not ready yet and we don't need to risk him as if we win he has 2 full weeks or at least one to get fit.
 

Very emotional 58er.

I'm very happy with Bowey and if we go with him then no worries, he deserves his chance and the match committee are backing him in. But Lions are the best scoring team in the comp. If we get pushed back and are forced to defend more I'm not sure Bowey is as good one on one as Hibberd. Close out marked him on the weekend. Hawkins gave him a gentle push and sent him flying. He is a first year player having played 4 games and shows a great deal of promise but this is a final and the Lions are a ruthless team. How do you think he'll go if they send Robinson to him on Saturday? As an addition and an alternative to Salem in clearing the ball from the backline he looks terrific. If we get the game on our terms he should play well, if we don't I'm not sure he adds much. So it wasn't a ridiculous hunch thanks.

And why I was asking the question about Hunt is I wasn't sure where he was in his rehab. He may have been close last week and they gave him an extra week. I didn't know.  

9 minutes ago, Accepting Mediocrity said:

Gawn, Oliver, Petracca and Lever are certainties to make the 22. May probably 50/50 - Aliir and Andrews have been outstanding all year as well, and one of those 3 will miss out. Weitering has also been great in a terrible side.

Charlie Cameron will take the small forward spot, but Kossie is a chance to make the squad. Fritsch probably doesn't do enough aside from kicking goals - not a knock on him, but he's probably competing with Greene who has been better. Salem will make the squad but probably wasn't good enough in the second half of the year to make the team. Some good players will miss out.

I reckon it will look something like this:

FB: Lever Andrews Stewart

HB: Rich May Dale

C: Merrett Oliver Macrae

HF: Stringer Hawkins Petracca

FF: Cameron McKay Greene

Fol: Gawn Bontempelli Wines

Int: Miller NicNat Steele Aliir

I like your side but I don't think Cameron is in AA form. I think Papley should get the nod. Apart from the fact he has had a great year, you probably have to put a Sydney Swan player in and Parker, Mills, Heeney and maybe Tom Hickey come into consideration and may make the squad but I don't think any of those will make the team and while Papley may not make it I think they'll go for a second full forward in the spot rather than Cameron. I spose we'll see.

I always think they should keep a spot in the AA for a small forward who tackles, terrorises and kicks goals. They are exciting and always one of my favorite players. I am so happy we have a genuine contender in Kossie, he is a great player in great form. His first goal the other night was a beauty and he had a big hand in our comeback kicking 2 more goals and setting up Fritsch with a beautiful kick inside 50. So I thought through all the contenders for that spot.

Dees; Kozzie, Spargo and ANB all good players, Kozzie the X Factor that usually gets the nod in AA selection. Just a note on how good our coaching has been to identify a style of play with these 3 involved and stick fat with them when a lot of us were calling for them to be dropped at times. Looking at the list of other teams, we have a good mix of players and a dangerous forward line.

Port; Butters, Gray and Rozee. No real contender. All good players but injury and Rozee is more a hff

Geelong; Close and Miers, both good players but fringe players in Geelong side so nowhere near AA selection and a concern for Geelong going forward. Think how good Cockatoo Collins is now going at Lions for pennies. Bad list management by Geelong.

Lions; Cameron, Zac Bailey, Coleman and McCarthy. A developing and dangerous lot of smalls the Lions finished top for points for for the H/A season due in no small part to their mix of small forwards, all offering a different set of troubles to backlines. Cameron is the genuine star but not in AA form but could rip a finals series apart. Zac Bailey is a star as well but has played a bit more up the field. Still is top 10 in this category but not AA forward pocket. McCarthy is more in the Toby Green mould and while handy is not AA. Coleman at 21 and 19 games is a coming star of the game, who we can hopefully shut out on Saturday

Dogs'; Weightman. Is a star and will be top 2 or 3 in this list for the next decade. Max already hates him and he will have plenty of mark/goal of the year nominations over the next decade. I think Kozzie is just ahead of him as he's played all year but Weightmans rise has been impressive.

Sydney; Papley. Rarely mentioned in AA talk but surely he tops this list. Is a genuine star and has the best celebrations in the comp. Should be in AA just ahead of Kozzie.

GWS; Green will be AA and is a super star of the comp, top 10 in the league, but not a small forward by my definition. Like McCarthy for Lions or Fritsch for us or Rohan for Geelong is a mid sized forward that plays a different role. Can go in the other pocket.

Essendon; McDonald Tipungwuti. No

Others; Ryan for West Coast is a great player but obviously not this year

Betts for Carlton. He could own the position. The Eddie Betts pocket in the AA side for the small crumbing forward. Another accolade and the naming of another pocket with the Adelaide oval as more decoration to a great career.

I've possibly forgotten someone but I love the position, think it should be recognised in AA lists and offers some of the best and most exciting players in the comp. And we have Kozzie!!!!!!