stinga

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.

I think it will be a horses for courses. If we play a side with 2 big rucks then Heath will be the preferred second ruck/forward - such as what might be St. Kilda next year. But against most sides their second ruck will be improvised. We don't want to use JVR in that role. Johnson according to training reports has improved his running ability and could fill that role. Just depends how he goes in the lead up games. Richmond will be a good test as they usually only have the one ruck. It also depends if the coaches want to get more games into Heath.

Whilst the drawn circles wouldn't fit outside the track, the old glenhuntly football ground next to Glen Eira college is oval and something that shape would fit outside the track, although wider than the purchased land. Our admin buildings would not fit in the 2024 map on the website though. The northwest and Southwest corners would come into play. As you say lots of negotiations.

The MFC website has a whole section including maps of the proposed facilites, Frequently asked Q&A, What the facilites will contain, letters to members etc. But all of it hasn't been updated since September 2024. They don't have to give us everything, but since that time there have been various possible adjustments given out including Waverley, the car park area and special events area at Caulfield. Surely they could have put an update every 4 months or so.

I agree on speed. It might take a while but Rivers, Windsor, Kossie would be our quickest and Langford Culley Viney and Steele for strength when needed depending on opposition. Lindsay and Latrelle would also go through. Lots of options and more than most other teams. It could mean we could run over sides towards the end of games.

On the website under Club there is a drop down menu called 'creating our home' which gives a picture of the set up from what appears as it was in 2024, but we know the admin is not going in the location shown on the map and is set for the eastern event space. if you open the image in another window you can enlarge it to read easier. Hopefully at the AGM there is an updated version of the map. There is also a lot of Q&A about various concerns there. Probably good to read it before the AGM.

From the reports It seems the players going through the midfield so far excluding Viney number 10. Apart from interchange it seems the possibilities for resting (for want of a better word) them are Half Backs - Rivers, Windsor Lindsay Wings - Lindsay, Culley, Langford, Langdon Forwards - Culley, Langford, Steele, Latrelle, Kozzie, Sparrow, Not a limited list but likely. A huge improvement on flexibility from last year. Laurie, Tholstrup and Sharp could add to that list.

Can any trackwathaers say whether X Lindsay is playing a midfield role in match sims or elsewhere.

Agree. They are going to pick sides that will transition to a top side in 2-3 years. Having 2 defenders on a 5 man bench a long way out. More like 1 Ruck/forward, 1 defender, 3 midfield.

A couple of injuries and some coming back from long term injuries and it practically picks itself. Heath is the only other probable.

Also you can't rest all your midfielders on the bench. Some to wing and half forward. Some have to spend time at half back

I think the reason no-one took him in the draft was that because he was still growing he would be a 2 -3 year prospect and there were many other ready to go prospects in the early picks. By the time the later picks came, other clubs were looking at keeping rookie spots open in the same way we were to help their salary cap. In any event, Melbourne could simply match the bid as a father son.

If Onley is 197 then White is well over 200.