Previously known as LITD.

Happy to see Petty in the backline. There is a team of quite a few older players.

I don't want to have a dig at Goody. He's moved on and we must respect him for what he did. But I don't think making changes on the fly so to speak was one of his strengths. Sometimes he was painfully slow or did nothing at all. Of course he should have checked in here on game day every 2 or 3 hours to sharpen his skills and make the 1000 recommended moves. But in all fairness, he did make changes but often the game was done and dusted when he did. That and things like always playing Petty out of position were his only real negatives. But sometimes his stubborness or persistence paid off. He achieved the ultimate in shaking off entrenched attitudes and an almost real voodoo and bought home the bacon. He's made a distinct place for himself in the annals ( careful) of AFL history. Thanks Simon.

Tx TEIN. Your absolutely correct. My apologies and yep accuracy is important.( Look at our goal kicking). In my weak defence, I think in my mind I had a figure of quite a few players contributing that year. With quite a few around the 20 odd goals or more. It seemed that way for a few years. So I just picked randomly 25 a piece and hence 50. Not far off as you mentioned 2018. But for 2021, yea it was lazy and sloppy so sorry. But aside from KP who has been our real only live wire small fwd ( Anb dropped off before he left) we have desperately missed these two as contributing in this area the last few years. Though not a small, even Harmes used to chip in and slot a few In a team that has lost its ability to kick winning scores via lack of successful tall forwards ...Fritta a medium in and out of form ....Petty, just not a fwd......Tmac previously incredibly accurate and prolific pre 21 ( although his first half of 21 set us up nicely)....the departure of Smith, Bbb , Grundy and Jackson.....we miss those 20 something contributors. So I'm very happy about this draft. But thanks for the correction it's important. ( No sarcasm here). I was a decent way off. Cheers TEIN. I'm starting to believe that we may go much better next year. I think with a new coach and a decent amount of new blood, we are looking more promising with the continuation of some of the younger blokes . This includes and I know peeps will howl me down .....even Jefferson who needs to get over his big league anxiety. He has all the tricks and body. Not sure about Roo but he definitely needs to stop being used as a centre ruck if he's ever going to make it. It's not fair. And for the love of all things holy play Petty where he belongs. Hopefully King will see reason as opposed to our prior premiership coach. There is still some pruning that's was sadly missed and it's baffling May went before some blatantly obvious others but I won't go there. Also without being too negative, I think we have at least cleared out the players that may have been a decent distraction and deflating influence on morale and motivation. So in a final very positive note, it's onwards and upwards for the MFC next year to finish seventh by %. And then of course get knocked out by the new wildcard system. Id bet my house on it .....except then we would of course , win. Oh the horror. Back to the Ashes...... Edit....did 2021 really happen? One day there will be a cure for Mfcss. Three aspirin and three cups in a row. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Without Spargo and Anb who in 21 managed around 50 goals together , we certainly could use another small fwd capable of kicking a few. Good work.

Promising pick. Look forward to seeing him play. Good stuff MFC.

Na....could never forget them and their dirty play in 2000. Plus a few other things I won't mention for legal reasons. It's hard to pinpoint why you hate some teams. Sometimes it's their fans but usually because they have Muppets like Maynard playing for them.

I think with an aging Viney we are definitely going to need someone in the middle apart from Max to show some passion and courage. So I definitely agree with you here. But sometimes the best leadership is just getting the ball from a contested battle in the middle, spinning out of trouble ...taking a few bounces and driving in deep into the fwd line for someone to mark and goal. J S is a fighter and a lot of his disposals have been fought for but he's definitely slowing down. Mids to it tough. There shelf life isn't so long. Playing time and hits take their toll and a 30 y.o. mid is probably the same footy age as a 24 y.o half back. Before someone points out Dangers stellar effort in a final this year......look how he played the week after. At 30 Jack S will struggle but he will certainly give his all. He's like the other Jack mentioned in this post ......one tough cookie. So we will see. He hasn't had too many injuries at least

I think there's a fair bit of tall poppy in there but that's the way it goes in AFL.

I have a soft spot for North so yup And I liked the dogs when they were under. Other than that it's hard to like any interstate teams other than the giants and GCS. And pretty much the rest of the Vic clubs suck. In order of Vic clubs hatred..... Cwood.. A few million miles... Cats.... Hawks.. Dons.. Carlton... Richmond. ( Actually don't mind em,,). We should do a vote but I know the pies win.

I watched a quite a few Saints games the last few years as they're my second team. But not enough to dismiss this so perhaps you are correct. Thanks. Didn't really consider this a great deal.

Cheers Brenno. He has playerd around 20 games a season for his last nine out of 11. So his game time has barely changed in every last nine seasons. At his peak at age 25/26 the same for most mids...( Mids have the shortest shelf life following by wingers...fwds, then defenders) he had 30 disposals. For the last five years, this has decreased by around two per year, to last year's tally of only 20 disposals. And he wasn't played in any fwd capacity. He did wander down back occasionally in the games I've watched. So his last season at 29 years of age he only had 20 touches per game of 22 for the whole year. Id say that's a decline for sure and not the number you want from a mid. As mentioned I'll pay his use of the pill is well above average but he has to get it much more. That is my concern and I'm not making those stats up. Interesting his marking and tackling has remained constant but his goal kicking has dropped in the same period from one in 2 games to one in 5 games. The latter isn't really important but with our fwd line it would be obviously more beneficial to have a mid help our %.. But as the dear departed great Ron Barassi would say........give me possessions. So where am I really wrong on calling this out as not a stellar pick up re age and clear decline in numbers? Not trying to be argumentative and appreciate a response but what am I missing? Your not the only one to defend this trade. But surely those disposals are rookie numbers or a defenders....not a mid. An it's the pattern that seals it because it's a clear linear loss by two touches a season....5 in a row. On this trajectory it will be 18.1 in 2026. And he's had a fair run regarding injuries and so forth. Genuinely stumped. Tx anyway.

As stated I genuinely hope I'm wrong. He could be more handy in a fwd role than a full time mid. His experience isn't questioned nor his elite use of the ball The issue is his age. Mids decline from 27 onwards despite the odd exception. His disposals, marks and goals have declined each year for the last four. That should raise some flags. I'm glad his tackling is still strong.....a good example to the others. And while we have gaps in our midfield I just don't believe he's a good answer. Maybe as a swing mid. He's slowed down a bit. If under a new coach and in a new team we can capture something close to his peak form then great. I have been a big fan of his but his form has dropped a lot. I know because I've watched quite a few Sainters games. Maybe his leadership is needed but we need ball winners first. And I'm happy to admit when he does get the pill, his use of it is very good. Again the issue is in the drop of disposals. This might not be age. It could be injury or dissatisfaction at his club. Who knows. But one can only go by stats. Please explain where I'm wrong on this as I have had some negative responses and I'm genuinely open to and keen to see why I'm wrong. Cheers.

We better be paying him Didley because he's 30 before next season starts and a quick perusal of his stats, show a nice clear and concise linear decline in all fields. I think especially for a mid ...25 is the prime so there's that. It's got a fair bit of the Billings about it but I really, really hope I'm wrong. Stats though, don't usually lie.

No need to see it as grovelling GW. I know you said in tongue in cheek but you definitely make some worthy points. Theat are part of the MFC and deserve more support. I'm sure they put in just as much effort as the fellas. Probably more so as they probably have to overcome bias. I've watched a few games since my daughter was in a relationship wth an Aflw player from sadly a different club. Ive enjoyed and appreciated the skills level from the get go. There is no way in my prime as a mediocre player I could kick the ball as far and as accurate as some of these players. It's worth tuning in if one hasn't already so good thread.

Someone has clearly knocked off his dictionary set from E onwards. Go fund him? I said fund. It's approaching Christmas.

No... simply because like years gone by you've already put in the hard yards to finish in seven and eight and like the teams above you don't need further testing. I mean one could argue for further $ that Fifth has to play 11th just because. Why are the two bottom final two only tested. It just means they are more fatigued, have more suspended players and injuries. It effectively means finishing 7 and 8 under this scheme have fat chance of a flag. And the players are playing enough imho.

Hi L Great to hear from you. I'm not sure what exactly you.mean. Are you in favour of this new idea. My take on it means that finishing 7 or 8 means you haven't finished. You have to play another game to determine where you finish. While the other teams rest. Am I right in this? Isn't it a case of really making a final ten? Just named differently? Please correct me if I'm wrong but does this scheme mean after the h and a games all finals teams rest but for 7 and 8 and need to play again to see if they are actually finalists. If this is the case I suggest that we will never see a team finishing 7 th or 8th before the WC game, win a cup Or just as bad by sheer luck and a few cases of sever food poisoning, the tenth team in 50 years knocking off the minor premiers. It just seems to make it harder for 7 and 8 but nobody else. Or easier if you will for the others in six and above. Does having a final ten in a comp of 18 seem right,? Wildcard is just a fancy name to effectively make it so. And all through the year what would be the point of a ladder revealing only the top eight. It's inaccurate when two other teams are in the mix.

Finally some logically comments. If we finish 7 th and get knocked out of finals by a team in 10 th that had three or more losses than us which will of course happen, I'll explode. I'm 100 % for it every season we finish 9 or 10 though. Otherwise get rid of it

He's never really exploded onto the scene of you will but to be fair he's never really had a consistent run in the ones. Often used as a sub. Worth a try. If he can lock a spot there it could free Bowey for some cameos up fwd or in the middle. The latter could be a right goal sneak. But I think despite his lack of opportunities this is a make or break year for Laurie. Is he killing it at Casey?

As an addendum...I see us finishing ninth next year so then again, if the shoe fits😀

Thanks for the tx re my view. I'm so naive about the monetizing of the game. When did it happen? It doesn't seem that long ago or maybe it is when the bloke who would unblock your pishadoo on a Saturday morning would don a Guernsey ( probably a pies one...no I'm not classist...it's bloody honest work) and play at the big one. And it was usually just a small supplement to his work as a plumber. Now it's the other way around where they work part-time promoting energy drinks to new home developments. And these endorsements if smart can supercede their highly lucrative club renumeration. But it's the company that makes the big bucks. Was it all on the cusp of expansion? Or instead of one black and white one hour shorter replay of only one game a week to 24/7 on demand bliss? Or twenty big ones for a beer and pie. Or the ninety dollar AFL logo approved jumper for the grandson?Or Commissioners on commission? Yep that's the one. Got it. Can't pinpoint the time but it's safe to say the trajectory has been exponential. Gotta feel sorry for the 65 something year Olds hobbling on one leg living on one hundred a day, today. Perhaps some reimbursement to players of ye days gone by would be a good thing do to As much chance of Tassie team winning the flag next year. I guess this is why I'm not wealthy. I never see the big picture. I don't think many past players did either. If you ever get a chance to watch the Cricket series Howzat it's a good analogy. Anyway I've wondered off here. It's just hard to think this wild new idea about wildcard finals is not just all about money and doesn't give a rat's for the players well being In a franchise where the seasons get longer, the travel more so, the heat it's played in and as a result the injuries increased..................Most probably to raise their ugly pain in the future it's pretty rough. So I think the players need to push back against this money machine called the AFL and while many are greedy themselves re loyalty disappearing one could argue the are only following suit. And why shouldn't they? There the ones who pay with blood sweat and tears. While the concept at primea facie looks exciting, if dissected without emotion despite the harm to players, I think it adds a significant level of undemocratic undulation. A team seventh at times in close seasons can be only three or four wins from a minor premiership . And ninth can be there or four from a spoon. Who wants that? There must be better ways to squeeze the lemon for the players sake and press the knife into us punters wallets a. bit more. Maybe just water down the beer a fraction more and a tad more gristle in the four n twenties is probably good for another four and twenty grand each weekend. That would probably match the wildcard. Not that I'm a cynic mind you. Probably just more jealous. Cheers DJ. See you in the funny papers. Aka our forward plan delivery playbook.

Can Someone please check me if I'm all correct on this because I'm a little shell shocked.. Tx. But Just wow. This is one of the biggest shake ups to the comp almost chasing going Australian wide. An overstatement ....but it's big news. Now while we ( The grand old MFC) have been struggling to make the mix ,I guess for purely selfish reasons I think I'm for it. Especially since at times we went up to Brissie and bumped of the premiers and also gave the scum a hell of a fight kings round (and lost solely by the worst display from the maggots ahmm sorry... professional umpires, I've ever seen). It gives bottom club supporters hope and it's clever marketing and more ruppees for the money machine that is the AFL And they are bottom clubs because now if I'm reading this correctly effectively we have a top final 10 out of at present 18 clubs. It's not boring that's for sure. But the first clubs to finish the h and a at 7 and 8 ( hopefully not by a big point margins to the two below) that lose out will leave a hugely empty fan feeling despite the huge filling of AFL coffers. It had better not be us. But as old the syndrome that lurks in the dark recesses my footy mind, that no medication or therapy can resolve, I fear it will be. And most likely by the pies with more superb umpiring from those talented champions of the comp. Call me paranoid or a deeply passionate Dee's supporter. So is this a total extra round of two games to determine the final eight? And do the final 7 and 8 determined by this go straight in against teams that have had a week off.............. BECAUSE THEREIN LIES THE RUB It makes is just so much more difficult for the bottom two final finalists via fatigue, travel, injury , suspension and other elements. It dramatically changed the finals landscape. Also imagine a scenario of a club finishing seventh by % only to three clubs with the same wins, above it to, be beaten on a bad day by the ninth team that finished with a possible six or seven losses more. Yikes. I'm not convinced it the slightest fairness or rewards in this shake up, in any fashion. And while it may add hope and excitement it's hard not to see the negatives and be cynical about what makes the football world go around in this day and age. I know player gets compensated incredibly well but they pay a rather hefty tax post foortyw via injury. The season is long enough. There is more strain on players each passing year with travel ...five day breaks...media scrutiny....head clashes and more. Perhaps the finals should be overhauled if we introduced two new teams but at present I feel it works just fine. It's not perfect as it currently stands but it will be much less so with this. Just my two billion two cents worth. Can someone please clue me in as to my understanding of the changes. After the wildcard round and the final eight is finally resolved... Is it back the the usual system? What and in incentive e to make the top six. And while we used to bemoan how hard it was for a club to win a flag from 7 or 8....it seemed the McIntyre plan changed this and made it slightly easier. But now it will head in the other direction so on balance I think I have to say just NO. Can someone please do a poll. I tried but had trouble. I'm really keen for some commonsense consensus. But I've probably come to the wrong place brother...I mean sister. ..I mean all of us. Many thanks.

Absolutely. And some pushback about playing Kardinia 30 years in a row.

For once I'm going to be able to laugh at Tracc kicking for goal. Will be most entertaining when he's in different colours. I still wish him the best but his hope of playing fwd for the GCS is amusing.