SFebes

Funny you mention that, Salem & Petracca in the midfield looked good in the last. at least these two are clean, along with Oliver and unlike Jones & Viney.

I guess the most frustrating parts are, we should definitely be 4-0 and we should have beaten Freo at the MCG where they have a terrible record. I disagree with some that Fremantle played well, I thought they were hopeless which is why I was fuming. They really did play badly besides one quarter and we still lost it! Go figure. We have definitely improved from previous years, no question, however there are still some alarm bells there that still exist. Our disposal and decision making is still terrible, this is often hidden by decent DE% but I think a lot of that is from cheap handballs around the back of a pack in a circle which cloud our overall use by foot. Besides Watts, Salem & to a lesser extent Petracca & Oliver in close - I don't trust anyone to hit a target at any time consistently. This is just simply not good enough, whether it is poor coaching or recruiting I don't know but we are going to always struggle putting sides away because of this. This does concern me as it is not a quick fix, we need to draft better disposers. This is really hurting us in the backline if you go through the names, Salem a single exception. Backline - Salem & Jetta tick, Vince is not a backmen and shouldnt play there, McDonald lets his great work down with some stupid dropped marks and poor decisions. Frost a definte improvement on Oscar. Melksham is a disgrace, always has been, Dons fans still laughing at us. Hibberd should do well. Another alarm bell & one that has annoyed me for many years is the topic of leadership & leaders. So often when the game is in the balance or we are getting smashed our senior players & leaders go missing. First culprit is Nathan Jones. While a Demonland & fan favorite, I personally have never rated the guy to the levels people put him on. He was a standout in a pathetic side for many years, racking up cheap handballs out the back of packs & throwing the ball on the boot only to butcher it going forward with kicks - not a captain. Speaking of captains, 1. I'm not sure why the hell we would put Jack Viney in such a position after the Trengove/Grimes debacle, does the club not learn? 2. It is standing out like dogs balls that there is conflict between these guys. I watched them closely yesterday, not very encouraging of each other. Also there was no running back to the middle to get the group of mids in a huddle before a ballup from either Jones/Viney, there certainly was from the Freo mids. In fact I was quite appalled with Jones' body language and plodding back to the centre after Freo goals. He is the last left of a bad era, he has served us well in a crap time (not knocking his endeavour), just his leadership. The Co-Captaincy is just stupid, one it has upset Jones and two, it is affecting Viney significantly, he's been as poor as anyone so far and that is the only thing that has changed. I cant remember which quarter it was, 3 or 4 but on the HFF for Freo one of their players waltzed through a small gap between Jones & Viney, both of them made no effort to tackle or lunge then looked up at each other and put their heads down. That's when I became frustrated. I think we need a leader from another club to come in from a winning culture to give the captaincy to, for eg Lewis or Ablett type, I feel for Jones but he just doesn't know how to win a game. We seem to be shutting down the opposition mids for big parts of the games but not capitalizing through good disposal & accurate goal kicking. Better set sets in the last two weeks and we would be sitting on top of ladder or close to it, so that's important to remember. The Melbourne of previous years would be 0-4 and getting belted so we have improved heaps, just need better composure and stop over hand balling and finessing. i50's are very positive as are shots on goal but we really need to nail those set shots. On bad days that alone will keep us in games much like Geelong. And then when the opposition mids get on top they crucify us, Jones & Viney are there amongst it and not doing anything! Billy Stretch needs to back himself in more than running around in circles, he has the pace so use it. Spencer very serviceable against a bloke who would beat any ruckmen. The Coach - I'm going with a tick so far, bar the Co-Captaincy. He can only control the players to a certain extent then it's up to the leaders. There is no doubt the boys are playing for him. A couple of things though, over hand balling and a very offensive game plan will need to be reined in a bit. In the last two games there has been too many cheap goals scored when the opposition gets out the back. Against Geelong, Omac was somehow getting caught one on one with Tom Hawkins, not sure who was to blame but Goodwin should have sorted that out quickly. A few of his selections have also raised eyebrows, personally I would've played Spencer the week before and gave Max a lot of time up forward to clunk his marks, plus Melksham & Oscar getting a gig for way too long. Vince in the backline just shouldn't continue! Forward line - seems dysfunctional but we are still scoring freely, just not accurately with squandered set shots. Hogan is a big out in terms of team balance & structure, but I'm still shocked at why he and Lewis got so many weeks! Perhaps play Trengove up forward for a while in a Menzel type role, see how he goes. I'm not sure how or where Hannan fits in just yet but needs to do more. And how brilliant has Watts been this year for someone who hardly got a game in JLT, he has stood up better than I had imagined & along with Oliver has carried us so far. We just need to get it into his hands more than 14 times, he creates play and normally goals when he touches the ball, but he is not a ruckmen & should be played on a wing so he can also get back when we are getting some heat. Petracca is going to be a star and I'd like to see him with more of the ball to be honest, maybe more time in the midfield, we need these two to get 25+ touches a game along with Salem. So a combination of happy we have improved but frustrated at what could have been but definite improvement. Just need to really focus on our lack of leadership issues, set shots and disposal by foot. Next 4 weeks are crucial and I would like to see us 5-3 and after the next 8 weeks 9-3/8-4. Anything less than 8-4 and I will be slightly disappointed. One last thing, yesterdays crowd was pathetic. Merely 28,000 at a guess for a MFC home game against a side we should of beaten. Besides Easter what is everyone's excuse? The Freo crowd was also more vocal. Anyway all the best and lets cheer the boys on in coming weeks, a big test of leadership on the line. See you all in another 4 weeks and Happy Easter.

It seems many clubs were bamboozled by the Cats scenario, clubs may have taken a different approach if the rules were clear.

A bit of a whacky way of thinking here but: 1st rounders: Oliver, Weideman (both low end age 2015) 2nd rounders: Melksham, Hibberd & Lewis 3rd round: McKenna I'm so pleased with the team of Viney, Mahoney & Taylor - smart operators in this area now, wait the wildcard that's coming IMO.

A bit of a whacky way of thinking here but: 1st rounders: Oliver, Weideman (both low end age 2015) 2nd rounders: Melksham, Hibberd & Lewis 3rd round: McKenna I'm so pleased with the team of Viney, Mahoney & Taylor - smart operators in this area now, wait the wildcard that's coming IMO.

Exactly, so it's ludicrous to offer up next years first round pick. If there is any hope, it's the Hibberd deal holding things up. This years second round for Rockliff and next years second round for Hibberd seems more realistic. If Ess aren't budging then it's stopping the works. Insert circus music.

Not surprising since he isn't fully trained in that position and wouldn't have a chemistry with mids, just saying he performs well - more a communication problem than ability IMO.

I reckon Watts actually outperforms in the ruck, goes OK in there IMO.

Exactly, I reckon Mahoney has a trick up his sleeve. Why would he be so keen to keep pick 29 in a supposedly weak draft.....

Rhys Stanley! - Stanley Knife!

I was referring to a previous post. Need his speed for sure, but may be passed quickly. Time will tell. I just wonder if Mahoney has something else up his sleeve considering Hibberd delay?

So we actually get Lewis for pick 61 according to reports who have worked it out. Also is Stretch in the best 22? I know he spins around like Taz devil but he doesn't start ahead of Tyson surely?

Mahoney speaks on behalf of the club, I would assume just a mistake. Rockliff is not coming.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/video/afl/trade/fair-bit-to-play-out-still!571132 No Interest in Rockliff at all.

Something is still holding the Hibberd deal up IMO, otherwise it would have been done last week. I'm expecting something left field here

Barrett just said: Pick 29 to the draft Hibberd for next years second round pick. Lewis for this year, pick 44 Unconfirmed of course.

Thats what he deserves for [censored] all over the club for years, burnt his bridges so sucked in to him

FWIW and don't shoot the messenger but the guy who started the Rockliff rumour (Zanotti) just said: "My guy just replied saying he knows nothing of a failed medical. Will update me further later today. My source comes from inside Dees 4 walls.." It will either happen or it wont, personally I'd rather see us secure Hibberd but the fact that deal hasn't gone through already means something is definitely up in the background IMO. What it is is anyones guess.

Pavlich

Hmm, this doesn't add up to me (shoulder), Rockliff has had shoulder issues for years but so did Judd, not many A Grade mids get turned down for a shoulder injury ever...they're all gettable for the right price/draft pick. I'd take Rockliff for a third round pick or future second in a heartbeat, should issues and all and from reports Bris would be happy to offload him for that price. Doesn't add up.

What's the go with Rockliff anyone?

Exactly my first thought also, if this is true then The Club is gearing up to something serious!

Trengove and Salem in Garland out?