Wiseblood

3 and 4 team trades can get those things done. Both Brayshaw boys strike me as the loyal types, though, so I'm not convinced he'll want to come home.

I think that's they key part, dazzle. There is something to work with. Do we have him play some VFL early in the season to hone his craft a bit, especially in terms of getting in the way of others, or do they unleash him Round 1 and back in a bit of his x-factor to make the difference? I'm not sure yet, but I think he's shown some promising signs thus far.

It's a shame really, as I find he has no trouble finding the footy and getting to the right spots at AFL level. He is actually a handy wingman, as his 19 touches, 10 marks on the weekend suggest. But, as you say, he does turn it over a bit and that takes away his value to the side. I'd like to think he can clean up that aspect of his game as he could become a good role player for the side.

Why shouldn't he? It's his first game of the year and he's got a few years of terrific footy under his belt.

It's the blokes first hit out for the year, but let's write him off anyway. It's BPP, he's prone to making statements like that.

Let's be honest - the side that runs out in a fortnight will be very, very similar to the one that got rolled in Perth. May will be the major inclusion, but I can't see any of the kids getting a run, while KK is still a few weeks away from being in the frame for selection. That side made a Prelim, so I've got every faith that we can start off the year in good form.

As above, Jones said that Viney was a bit sore but had pulled up fine otherwise.

Came from Goodwin himself. I'm on my phone so I can't get the exact quote, but he said that the docs confirmed he won't miss Round 1. Edit - @Redleg there is article on the MFC website about it.

I agree, but I think it will be short term pain. Goody has been able to build a very solid game plan over the last few years, and I'll back him in to make the right tweaks to ensure we aren't impeded too much. It might take some game time to perfect it, but we will get there.

Clearly the Hawks put the cue in the rack....

I can almost predict the posters who will think May gets suspended and those who don't.

And Harmes is playing Round 1. So, basically, we can just add JKH and possibly Preuss.

Goodwin has said that Harmes will definitely be right to go for Round 1. Just a dislocation that pierced the skin. Fritsch and Joel Smith will be fine as well, JKH out for a while but not ACL.

To put things in perspective - the Tigers are currently 7 goals down at half time in their game against Hawthorn. You think that changes anything for them going forward? Of course not. We'll be fine.

You contribute more to MFCSS than you should.

Not only that, he kept his shoulder and elbow tight into his body. He didn't push out, just bumped him. I'd be very surprised if he got suspended.

Of course they did. They're a young side who want to improve and the JLT is a chance for them to build up a few wins and get their confidence up for Round 1. They'll need it. We don't. With a later start to the pre-season we've had to manage the players differently and I think it's showed over the last two games. Good in patches, not so good in patches and plenty of silly mistakes. We haven't had a pre-season like it since the last time we played finals, so this is new territory for most players.

So let's put the result aside. If we're being honest, it's meaningless at the moment. I think we are a side that is still coming to terms with a new(ish) gameplan that has to fit into the 6-6-6 model. We know that Goody loves to use two players off the square and we can't do that now. It will take time to get used to, and we saw that today. Sometimes we looked excellent, other times we were left exposed. That may happen early in the year and we might need to be a little patient with that. Also, we took in less players and then had both JKH and Harmes go down. That hurt rotations and it showed for most of the second half. That can't be ignored. The positives for me - Brayshaw and AVB looked good, with AVB having a huge amount of tackles. I think Joel Smith gives us something good up forward and kicking four is a sign of that. Whether or not they can slot him into the Round 1 side is the big question, but he deserves to be in the conversation. I think our backline will be fine too, and we added a number of players who were having their first run for the year. They'll be much better for the game. Obviously, we need to tighten up on our forward pressure and our skills a little, but that's what JLT is for. Skills are never top notch in March. With Viney, Jones and Melksham to add to the lineup, it will take out a few others and we'll be a better side, especially around the ball. The injuries are a negative too, but if Harmes is okay and it's not too long term, then we've done okay there too with the next game a fortnight away. No slitting of wrists or worries for me and it hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for Round 1. Bring it on!

Perhaps we had to shift him into other rolls when both JKH and Harmes went down injured? Or maybe Goody is just trying a few different things while there are no points up for grabs? Either way, I think he showed enough down forward to suggest he can be handy down there if need be. Joel Smith has been excellent today as well. Surely it puts him in contention for Round 1?

I still think we're alright in that regard, we've just not done it well today. I actually think, with our clearance work, that it will be even better when we know it's man on man and they can't drop someone back from the centre bounce. If we work it out well then we can be super dangerous down there.

Exactly.

Yep, they chose to give those guys more time at Casey instead of, say, just a half or less in the main stuff.

We have been two rotations down since half time, plus we took less players into the game. It will be no surprise if we don't run the game out well. I just don't want any more injuries.

You're an absolute spud of a supporter.

To me, that's the only thing that I've been disappointed with. I can handle the skills, fitness etc. at this time of the year. But our pressure when the ball his the deck hasn't been great, and for the game style we have it needs to be better. We bomb it in and if it isn't marked then we keep it in there and set up the wall. Hasn't happened nearly enough today, although you would expect it to improve when the real stuff begins.