titan_uranus

I’m not for a second suggesting we have nothing to worry about. We have heaps to worry about. This game didn’t suddenly reveal them. They were clear going into 2026 and a side primed for a flag like Fremantle, with a stacked midfield, was always likely to expose that. I maintain that it’s unreasonable to pile on those three kids. Langdord and Lindsay have barely, if at all, played 20 games whilst this was Windsor’s second game as a centre bounce mid. Again, we didn’t play just anyone, we played a side that is much, much, much better than us in the middle. It is not surprising we looked slow, timid and fumbly. That happens when you are under pressure (real and perceived) all game. I want to see them improve but we need to see a lot more than two games, one off a six day break in Perth in the heat against a flag contender.

6 - Gawn 5 - Langdon 4 - Tholstrup 3 - Rivers 2 - Steele 1 - Chandler

This is only a reality check if you got ahead of yourself. This was a totally unsurprising result. Honestly, winning two quarters after that nightmare start, and fighting back in the last, is to our credit. Losing Turner ruined our defence, highlighting that we were too short for Fremantle at selection. Ridiculous to see posters already piling on Langford, Lindsay and Windsor. In what world are they going to compete on a 6 day break, on a hot evening, against a midfield like Fremantle’s? Clearly work to do for them but FFS just bear in mind how much more experienced and talented the opposition were. Tholstrup’s job on Serong was fantastic, Gawn is ridiculous (Darcy’s a fail of a ruckman though), Langdon played his best game in ages, Chandler fought it out and Rivers looked a lot better this week IMO. We are going to be thrashed by a few sides this year. Next week should be a better showing.

I reckon we get belted but if we can maintain our style from last week and show continuity in our method, I’ll be ok with that. If we minimise the margin that will be a bonus.

No he’s out. Huge help for us tbh. King said as much in his presser.

I dunno about that. I don’t think Carlton has any issues selling merch with the CFC monogram and without “Blues” meaning anything. Essendon’s logo is a plane and that doesn’t seem to stop them selling merch. Port’s logo is a monogram too. In saying that, I do think we should be leaning into the demon heavily. Using the flamehead as a retro throwback once a year is IMO a perfect way to do that.

This is so important. Engaged, connected, informed. Such a basic concept but up to last year, one we had failed at miserably. Our comms were awful, our attempts lacking, and the connection and engagement from the member base was dwindling. So happy to see the club care about this, and for us as members to be buying back in.

I personally think we’re no chance, but I’m ok with that. We should have major difficulties curbing their mids - Young, Serong, Brayshaw and Jackson is a much bigger test than what St Kilda threw at us. That midfield delivering to a very dangerous forward line spells trouble for us.

Seems to have been suggested that the new race is bigger with more screens to give us more “vibe” running onto the ground. I hated it, as I prefer to see us emerge from within the MCC heartland, but the X post dazzle quoted gives a better justification for it - change the rooms, leave the old Melbourne behind, including our old rooms.

This is the sort of thing that tells me he can be damaging at AFL level once he adjusts to the pace and gets fitter (which admittedly are 1-3 years off). At the moment he's too slight and likely aerobically won't be able to hold his spot in the side for long periods at a time, but the way he finds space, and uses it, is a stand out (except yesterday when Koz was leading into the goal square and he got caught in two minds as to whether to kick it, which he should have, or pass it to Koz).

I'm very optimistic about Steele, as I think he is going to be one of the recruits of the year across the league, simply because he fills a gaping hole in our midfield. He shouldered a huge load yesterday and, with no Viney, is going to have to keep doing that until we get more midfield experience into the likes of Langford and Rivers. If he just plays that role every week, we win, and win big, from the trade to bring him in.

The fact that we had a number of players who were down is a positive IMO. 120 points with Koz kicking 1 goal, for example. Personally I think Lever was fine and nowhere near as bad as he’s copping on here, other than the two awful kick turnovers (he has to learn to stop trying those kicks, he routinely misses them). Agree re Latrelle. How many times did he find himself in space and with the ability to impact? He was behind the pace of AFL level, and not fit or strong enough, but the sign is there IMO that he can be damaging once he adjusts.

When he was talking about the unfairness of playing a side coming off Opening Round, he also noted that in the next few weeks we have consecutive games against sides coming off a bye (Round 3 vs Carlton, then Round 4 vs Gold Coast). This sort of stuff is fixable - the easiest way of course is to remove the byes by removing Opening Round altogether and having everyone start on the same weekend, in Round 1. Just have the four northern clubs get home games in prime time slots.

I'd always thought there was logic behind having a key defender follow an opponent's key forward up into the ruck. It's clearly an option for us now with Petty. The members didn't miss this. Great atmosphere today in the members, actually. Loud, vocal, got stuck into NWM and TDK when they stuffed up. Good stuff. Honestly, I'd rather pay Clarry $700k to play for someone else than pay TDK $1.8M to drop chest marks for my club...

9 (non ruck) players had CBAs today. Surely that's an increase on our average under Goodwin?

IMO the only change we should be considering is getting in another tall, which by virtue of injuries has to be Heath, to help Gawn combat Darcy/Jackson, and/or to avoid Petty having to ruck when we have to cover Treacy, Voss and Amiss. Obviously will disrupt our balance but there's a chance we went the extra runner today because Marshall was out and we wanted to up our run as they'd played last week. We went into the Richmond game with Kentfield in the side so our plan may well have always been to have another tall. 325 metres gained plus 10 defensive half pressure acts (third behind Petty and Turner). He was gassed late but was far, far better than this. Those players looking "a step off the pace" weren't all that bad though, but regardless, how much was that caused by St Kilda having played last week?

I think we may be stuck with Lindsay in the backline until Bowey's fit, or AMW is ready for senior football. Sparrow went to a few centre bounces but agree, still don't really feel like he's a true midfielder.

6 - Gawn 5 - JVR 4 - Steele 3 - Windsor 2 - Petty 1 - Tholstrup

Such a great win. Yes, there are clearly weaknesses. But the bravery to stand up and defend in the fourth when we were clearly gassed was remarkable. So much to like about how we move the ball. King had a brilliant day - Tholstrup tagging, tick. Petty relief rucking, tick. Sharp held back to be relatively fresh late, tick. 30 scoring shots with Koz well held is a great sign. We will get belted some weeks, but to all those who thought we were going to be pox this year, drop the pessimism and get around us. Buy a membership. Get to the games. Invest in this season. It is exciting.

Highway to Hell?

Yes. The one we’re running out of as I type is wider and has more signage. But I’d prefer we were emerging from within the heart of the MCC like we used to.

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen it. I suspect attendances are up for other clubs/sports where they do this. But I also suspect those other clubs are playing attractive football/sport and winning. IMO, if we played 2025 football this year, no amount of “activations” would bring people to the ground. If we play exciting, top 4 level football, I suspect people would come watch even if we had borderline silence on match days outside of the actual game.

GWS last year ran all over us late. It was IMO the single biggest reason they won the match. We just slowed to a walk when they kept running.

Genuinely excited. I’ve got a lot of optimism about this season, at least relative to expectation, but even if we’re a bottom 6-8 side this year I’m still excited to see our new players, our new coach, our new game plan and our new club (but not our new game day “activations”).

Guerra sheds light on this, and other “game day activations”, here: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/nba-style-how-the-demons-plan-to-amp-up-their-home-games-to-get-crowds-back-at-the-g-20260313-p5oa86.html Moving to the other, bigger, race to make use of more/bigger screens More use of LED signage Songs after goals (Let Me Entertain you after the first goal of the match, then players’ choices) More in-game information from announcers (eg as to injuries)