Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

Surprisingly, we matched them, 38 clearances each. This isn't to negate your point Adam; rather, it highlights our inability to benefit from them and adds to the question of why. Agree about Billy - his very first involvement was the first of those tackles, I think? And loved his goal-with-first-kick moment - can't recall being present for one before!

I said on here I'd be taking a concerned interest in Christian after Taberner's hit on him last week. Christian took a similar mark last night; overhead, eyes up, pack bearing down. So I'm deleting "concerned" now!

Justin Plapp's views about Casey performances last week: Maxy: "Maxy definitely played his best game for the year...The week before, Gawny had a performance that probably wasn’t his best...we just need to see a bit of consistency with his footy." Pencil: "Big Jake’s past month has been tremendous...he’s had a good month of football." Conclusion 1: Pencil ahead on consistency. Conclusion 2: Maxy can do it and could be rewarded when he does it consistently. (p.s. Seeing him at Casey, when/if he can kick straight he offers something more in the forward line than Pencil)

+ 1. But it was also the way he said it, forcefully negating Burgo's question(point?) before he'd even finished it. Confidence...in himself, in his own view of the team's ability, and maybe that the team shares his view of its ability? And perhaps a confidence that comes partly from the team actuallyshares that before he'd even finished itfinished his question/point Poor proof reading - how embarassment!

Indeed no, t_u, but seeing as it's happened... "Gifted 100 games of AFL football": Is there anyone on here who could compile a list of all the current players in the AFL with 100-ish games, so we can make our own assessments where JW might be in the present-receiving queue?

I'm vulnerable to thinking along the lines of a couple of common themes here: 1. Investing exaggerated hope in the youngies who show immediate capability (Hogan, Brayshaw, etc) because of their relative scarcity at MFC and the perceived (positive!) difference between them and many of their experienced colleagues; and 2. Perceiving that those among these more experienced colleagues who were once like these current youngies have apparently since dropped off. So I'll be keeping an eye on Christian Salem, who has shown himself this year to be one of the first group, I reckon, in the hope Taberner's slam on him after his mark in the 2nd quarter won't make some small contribution to sliding him into the second group. My head tells me he doesn't seem the sort to be affected like that. That there was no suggestion of a head drop in taking such a dangerous mark, and the way he (eventually) bounced up to take his kick, suggests he isn't. Keep up the good work Christian!

I'd be interested to get to the bottom of this - basically, whether it's happening or not. We are told that, to be a successful team, everyone has to play their role. At the same time there is a view on here that JW will be important when we are being successful. But that creates a vicious cycle. Any player whose role it is to 'kick it to Jack' when circumstances require it, and isn't doing that, is not playing his role (and by extension JW isn't playing, or isn't being allowed to play, his). So, the mis/use of JW becomes a barrier to the success that JW would be valuable for. And what about other players for whom this might (to a lesser extent, I agree) apply - don't kick it to Chris, he'll drop the mark / Jeremy, he'll miss the goal / Frank, he'll miss his target / Jordie, he'll only handball / Jay (and currently Dom), he'll get caught, etc?

This notion featured in the Postmatch thread too. Firstly, did the 'not kicking to Jack' really happen today? But more importantly, is this means of 'sending a message' a real thing? Do players really do this - what do posters think? (footballers please comment; I can't remember it from my distant and inconsequential playing days) If it is happening at AFL level, at Melbourne, that is a real indictment on all the players involved, possibly worse than the "playing for I" Roos referred to in his presser.

Source, Greeny? I'm vague on his reasons for departure, but the list changes at MFC since would/may provide him new encouragement? T

Seriously: Been at both(?) of the games so far. Stirring stuff (possibly - but hopefully not totally - cos we won). This is something MFC MUST retain a pre-eminent role in. Nailing my colours to the mast, I reckon a womens comp should be the curtain raiser comp to the AFL. T

Can we just get back to foot-y? Sorry. T

I’m getting this in before Sunday, in case we’re all deflated then (from what we’ve been after last Friday night). I thought it might be interesting to have it on the board, to maybe be bumped once in a while over the season, according to how the two teams involved are tracking. I’ve just noticed who we play in the final round. For the reasons below, I reckon that for the first time in a while we – us supporters certainly and the team hopefully – are going to have a rubber with some life in it! And for the benefit of the not-quite-over-its among us, part of it is the involvement of you know who! Scenarios: They’re in contention for finals (quite possible atm) but a win to us WILL keep them out Ditto, but a win to us MIGHT keep them out They’re in contention for top four (less likely) and a win to us will/might keep them out We can do an ’87 ourselves** Even if none of these are still in play come Round 23, at the very least we should be in a position to be making a statement for 2016, and actually making that statement. And we’ll certainly be playing for redemption for Round 21 last year and Round 2 this year. It’s a home game, too, although scheduled at Etihad (only for the time being, perhaps?). Will we still have a curse to break then? T **Definitely the dreaming bit: The way the season is shaping up, could it be possible that even 10 wins, with a reasonably healthy %, gets a team into the finals?

No knocks on the performance in total (how sweet it was!) but I think I noticed this too. A main factor seemed to be that receivers were getting into better positions - and moving! - and maybe as deliverers the boys hadn't quite caught up with this pleasant development. Looking at the point made in the OP, it would be interesting to get feedback from our training-watchers about amount and nature of handballing 'teaching', including in simulation (for the 'think quick' component)

Haven't been watching any of these games but interested in opinions re our next games: 1. Effect on Freo of the nature of tonight's game (on top of travel and a shorter week)? Physical? Mental? 2. Effect of loss of Lake (and - erk - Frawley)? T

Methinks jacket and scarves are Montgomery's comic construction, a metaphor if you will (apologies Monty if it really IS a real jacket!) Anyway, I can foresee two Demonland camps pursuing this: one that finds the jacket and waves it proudly at the world and an opposing one that calls it for premature vanity. Let the 'We're still in it / You're dreaming" battle begin (how do I insert one of those little smiley demons?) T MrBurns replied while I was constructing. You can ignore me (how do I insert a little 'oops' demons?)

Well, praha and rpfc, it happened! Nineteen and the team should have a pleasant and productive phone-out on Monday and Tuesday, then!

x 2, Song T (ps missed opportunity to respond to yours to my maiden post, Song (yr query about me rucking). So: 1. Much appreciated; 2. No; 3. Not needed anyway after last night!)

To your first sentence, Arrow, I add "and to be there to experience it!" and wholeheartedly agree. TBH I didn't even notice the warm-up - I guess I was left pondering on what I'd experienced: the great job the Rising Suns did; the solemnity of the progress of the Light Horse and the flame around the ground (including the applause from the MCC 'pavilion' followed by ours at the northern end goals); RDB's profile on the big screen after he lit the flame - one can barely imagine his thoughts; the bugler (particularly having read the Age article on the Dawn Service bugler) and the silence. It gets to me. For next year - surely it will be locked in (and next year it will still be a fixture-friendly Saturday night and presumably OUR home game) - it would be great to dispense with the ground announcer's strident and unnecessary filling. It would also further enhance the mood if more of the lighting could be turned off, within safety limits, and ditto the ruble of chatting from behind the scenes during the silence. T Side note: The teams stood still for quite a while. What does this do to them? I trust it didn't contribute to Kent's injury? Second side note: Back to Hells Bells next week - looking forward to it. How could we get them just to put a bit of a pause between the last toll and GOF chiming(!) in?

Burgo's easiest interview ever? Ask the question and away we go! Here's someone who won't have trouble communicating on the field. Refreshingly informative, respectful and appreciative, and loved the "we" including in references to previous years. T (p.s. Go the hyphens!)

Some more of number 3 on Friday night, Jack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgYRpjJWQNo (A side order of number 1 would also be good)

Sorry. Relearning my computer 'skills'. This is the way to do it I think: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-04-13/ruckin-role-a-challenge-roos T

Time for my first post (rucking's close to my heart). Thought at the time this from PR on 14/4 didn't bode well for Maxy and the Pencil but it also informs discussion about the Loo: COACH Paul Roos says figuring out what type of player should fill the second ruck position is now a challenge for most teams in the competition. Roos said versatile tall Sam Frost had performed the second ruck role admirably for Melbourne so far, but it was a difficult position to manage. “Probably the challenging position for most clubs is that second ruck position,” he said. “Unless you’ve got that Paddy Ryder type, who is a natural forward/ruckman – most teams struggled to find that guy. “The Giants on the weekend had [Adam] Tomlinson doing it and [Cam] McCarthy, and [Kurt] Tippett is doing a bit more for the Swans now. Geelong went with three talls on the weekend – Rhys [stanley], [Dawson] Simpson and Mitch [Clark]. “Even the better teams are struggling to find that extra player, but we’re pretty happy with the way Frosty’s been doing it.” Be kind. T