dazzledavey36

He was there.. He was also at Casey on Sunday watching the boys..

I think there is far bigger concerns then just the whole 'loading' narrative. My reasoning is we are more banged up this year then last. This time last year we had majority of our playing squad who hadn't missed games at all going into the bye. This year we've had certain players either missed through injury, illness or form and also some playing incredibly sore and looks like it's about to continue on with Gawn, Petty and the likes. All Australian players like Lever, Petracca, Salem are also out of form and are struggling post their injuries. The other aspect is when we did lose to teams last year we didn't get out to 20 or 30 point lead and then just go to water like we have with teams this year. Our 2nd half's over the last 3 week is one of the worst in the competition. Our defence and pressure was still quiet high last year compared to this year where we are sitting 2nd last for pressure just ahead of Essendon. We barely dropped that low at all and to me this is a far bigger concern. Lastly, teams have finally worked us out now. Hawthorn laid the blue print this year and now clubs have followed through. Clubs were still trying to work on how to stop our defensive half but now clubs are piecing through by using the corridor and speeding up the ball movement. We haven't adjusted at all for the last 3 weeks, in fact our coaches have been slow to react to this which is actually quiet considering I felt last year we reacted a lot quicker when challenged. Loading is not even a factor for me right at this minute. It might be for some but there are some warning signs that need to be rectified very quickly after the bye if we are to stay top 4 especially coming up against Brisbane and Geelong.

This whole pushing players through the injury barrier is certainly paying off..

Max Gawn is in a moonboot

Out: Small forwards as subs Still confused why we have 4th best forward pocket as your starting sub. Perfect opportunity to use Tomlinson as a starting sub knowing that coming into the game Petty was fairly banged up. Coaching staff have made some truly bizarre selections this year.

Clearly we are not fit. There is a significant difference to last year. Our pressure rating was still high and we weren't being overrun by teams in the 2nd half of games 3 weeks in a row. People thinking that is just the same similarity process like last year is kidding themselves. Our team is more banged up injury wise compared to last year and we're leaking goals way too easily. Opposition clubs have now done intense homework on us now compared to last. Get us through the corridor and you have us on toast. Clubs have now ramped up their ball movement on the turnover because without May we aren't as organised quickly as we were last year. Fitness is lacking but being found out by other clubs is another. Just because it worked last year doesn't mean it'll work this year. The game is evolving rapidly each year and exactly what Damien Hardwick was banging on about last night on AFL 360

Could almost add Spargo to this .

Yes. Nibbler isn't the only one. The likes of Sparrow who's killing our momentum surge by just coughing up the ball so easily. If they're willing to drop guys like Tom McDonald and Trent Rivers, then Sparrow and ANB form also cannot be ignored.

Unfortunately I cannot see the likes of Spargo and ANB ever be this productive in terms of being solid goalkickers.

Weideman has been in the system for 6 years and still struggles with this.

You could have Tony Lockett or Wayne Carey sitting at full forward and it make no difference. The elephant in the room is the fact that our efficiency going inside 50 is truly horrible. Like on par with 2019 where we would win more inside 50's then most teams but struggle to buy a goal. Until we fix this mess, then our forwards have no hope of generating scores.

So? It literally has no bearing in a round about way. This never seemed to affect Richmond and Hawthorn when they won flags each year. The amount t of excuses thrown up on here is seriously laughable.

Fair point

Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this unfold at such crucial stage of the game..

Am surprised we haven't at least tried him as a deep forward and just give him the opportunity out of the square one on one similar to Max King. Once he gets a good leap at it he's usually a good mark.

Brown and Sparrow should be the first ones dropped. After that, take your pick.

It really is like watching 2019 again...

Charlie Spargo: 13 games and 5 goals Alex Neal Bullen: 12 games and 2 goals. I've left Kozzie Pickett out because he's at least kicked 16 goals this year from 12 games. He's doing his job as a small forward even though I feel like he's lacked his usual x factor and zip compared to last year. His pressure is still fantastic. But, between Spargo and Nibbler they've combined for a total of 7 goals.... In comparison, Carltons more inexperienced small forwards are; Matthew Owies: 12 games and 11 goals Corey Durdin: 11 games and 10 goals 25 These two alone have combined for 21 goals alone. We're just not getting enough out of Spargo and ANB. They run hard and link up well at times but the amount of times we bomb it forward to then not have a small forward at the drop of a contest is infuriating because defender are now just waltzing out of our forward half way too easily. Can't just leave it up to Kozzie to do all of the front half attacking. I'm not even sure if Bedford is even the answer. Poor kid actually plays well one week and then gets dropped the next week for the sub vest. So it's obvious coaching staff aren't willing to give him a run of games to at least show what he's capable of.

Yes agree and annoyed I forgot about them They were both terrific.

Any little remaining fantasies Melbourne supporters will hold onto.. #loadinglife4eva

Brayshaw, Petty and Oliver were our only positives for the day.

Add Viney to that list. He just hesitates and throws the footy onto the boot like it's a hot coal.

We have this complete fascination of having small forwards as subs. One of the most bizarre coaching I've seen.