stinga

Club apparently putting up full replay tonight sometime

With the MFC website today saying Jack Viney won't be back for round 8 (these things usually go longer than expected) Kalani White's Glandular fever will probably be mid year. TC's neck seems long term. Bowey might not be as long as some of the others. McAdam could be anything as he nearly gets there then has a relapse. Then when they do come back they have to get match fit. Most of the other injured wouldn't seem long term injuries. It seems fairly obvious we will get at least one other player from the LTI and I hope they go for a younger player such as the 2 academy players. This year doesn't matter that much about where we finish on the ladder (although expectations are always high) but 27 and 28 we should be challenging more.

Do you know the cut off date for LTI so that we can put a player on our list as we did last year.

I used to go Yabbying in the dam on the racecourse when I was a kid. So I thought I go and have a word with the yabbies who have been there longer than the rest of us and have more of an idea what was happening. He said they have been snake free and terribly concerned of an influx of snakes from Casey. They have applied for a declaration of certainty from the MRC, Glen Eira, the schools and state government, that this will remain a snake free environment. They understand it will go ahead and agreed for any aquatic recovery sessions to take place in the ponds. This source is as good as any other on this topic

In the second half of the year Langford kicked 10 of his 14 goals and Petracca kicked less with 6. Petracca was more dynamic but Langford had the better results. Even in the games Culley played Culley kicked 3 goals and Petracca 4 Even Harry sharp kicked 6 in the second half of the year.

A grade midfielders get the ball 40+ times a game at least 4 times a year. Last year ours struggled to get to 30 in a handfull of games. Apart from Kozzie our better midfielders kicked very few goals. Our midfield was also relatively slow and after losing ANB struggled to run both ways. So losing 2 of our best midfielders really matters little on overall output.

I think you are pretty much close to the mark. However with most of the additional defenders you raised who would be available round 1, I make a count of 9 (Salem, Petty and even Onley). In which case I see Lindsay playing off a wing with culley the inside mid of the second rotation. That then allows one of the others listed in the midfield to be the other small/mid forward in place of tholstrup. Interestedly, Kentfield is listed on the MFC site as a key defender and saw in some training reports he has done some time at CHB. Gives another string to his bow. Matthews will give more flexibility, but not until he gets games under his belt. I'm also one of the few who rates sharp. At least for the first time since our flag I can see where more than 10 goals a game are going to come from. Apart from the addition of Latrelle and Mihoceck, nearly all our midfielders are goal kickers.

When Jeffo first came to the club I saw more upside to him than JVR because he took the ball in front of him and hasn't been caught under the ball as Weid often was. He hasn't progressed as quickly as I had hoped but I agree he seems to have found a more up the ground sort of role which his pace for size gives him an advantage. The part of his game I want to see an improvement in, is when the ball hits the ground. Some people call it spectating and James Hird called it sheep dogging in his book. Some players see the ball and other players trying to pounce on it on the ground and they can't see how they can possibly get in there and either just stand and watch or circulate around the pack. You only get a split second to decide on a course of action and Jeffo doesn't seem able to react. Some forwards like AJ and JVR love to get in there and throw their weight around, which I'd like Jeffo to attempt.

The two negative things Bomberblit left out are Bowey out for most of the year and McVee missing from a defence that leaked last year. CJ more than compensates for McVee (who didn't play the whole season). AMW compensates for Bowey and you can add Lindsay and Taylor to that. The other 2 defensive keys are Petty (who was always forward) and Lever looks over injury, and with Turner makes a solid group of 3 talls. Even if Mihocek only plays 70% of games he will kick more goals than Petty and Petracca (terribly innaccurate) kicked last year. Pickett will still be a goal scoring midfielder as will Culley and Langford - something we haven't had for years. (even Steele kicks the odd goal). It's the first time I've looked at the side and haven't questioned where more that 10 goals a game are going to come from. Purely on numbers we play 7 games against sides that will finish below us and there are 4 sides in a similar situation to us whom we play once. Some of the expected successful sides above are interstate teams who we play at home. 10 wins seems very plausible to me

Forwards and backs ae important - you have to score and stop teams from scoring. But the game is won and lost in the midfield. We have a great ruck and our wings are as good as anyone. We now have pace in the midfield and we have always had pretty good inside mids, but lost 2 of the best in that regard. Steele covers one and we still have Viney. Culley and a further improvement with Langford should cover the other. If either of those 2 have a break out year we are looking good. Much too early to know yet but we haven't lost a game yet either.

Part February and October gives 8 months of footy for around $400 value then Cricket, Basketball and Golf for me over the summer. Normally around $600 so good value plus 2 free general admission games on mine. THE BITES AND MINIS ARE GOOD when you don't want to watch it all

Were the gates open or did you have to do it from behind the fence. Great report.

I remember going there a few years ago and feeling annoyed at having to look through the fence. Then a guy backed his ute up to the fence, put a chair on the tray in the back and looked over the fence. Very inventive!!

If they don't play a second ruck as the 5th player on the bench (probably only on some games depending on conditions and opponents), that means that another on field player has to do the relief ruck role. Jeffo couldn't do it and I don't want JVR, Petty or Turner to do it so you either go for someone like Johnson or play a losing ruck and get Culley, Langford or Steele to compete, with an extra on baller.

Whilst the contested ball side of his game is great (even taller opponents don't mark against him), I just like that he consistently gets high possessions off half back. With the rebounding game being played next year, he should excel.