titan_uranus

I wouldn’t have picked him. What we saw with Spargo in OR is what I’m concerned we’ll see this week, and that’s before you consider tall/run balance (we either drop a runner for a tall or we play a tall as sub which IMO isn’t a good idea).

Meh, the Dogs choose to play games in Ballarat, who cares if it’s their first home game of the year.

We're now undefeated against Hawthorn over the last 6 years (7 wins and 1 draw in that period). If you could go back in time to 2016 and tell a Melbourne fan that we were going to be unbeaten against Hawthorn for 6 years you would have been ridiculed. We lost 13 straight games across 10 years at one point there, and ended up losing 15 out of 16 games across 12 years.

It's a good thing that a genuinely quiet game from Fritsch still resulted in him having three shots on goal (all of which were kickable). I think he was only goalless in a game (not including when he got injured in Alice Springs) once last year so it's a very rare occurrence.

Way too much Schadenfreude going on here. They've lost to arguably the two best sides in the competition, playing games in March.

If Sam McClure did even a cursory bit of research he'd find that in 2023 we had the 2nd highest rate of converting members into home attendances (Fremantle was 1st). Our home crowds are excellent given our lower supporter/membership base overall. However... Whilst the vast majority of us cannot go to every single game even when we want to, I have always felt that there are too many Melbourne supporters/members who use their attendance as a form of protest too much; in other words, people who could go, don't go, because they're unhappy with something (on field or off) and want to send some sort of message. That sort of attitude is evident in the thread about Kate Roffey's "be like Collingwood" comments. How many people said "I'll go when we play exciting football" or similar?

The other promising thing was kicking 100+ with Fritsch being blanketed most of the day (he should have kicked at least two goals from the shots he did get though, but he was otherwise well beaten by Jones).

6 - Oliver 5 - Petracca 4 - May 3 - Gawn 2 - Billings 1 - Chandler

I've now been able to watch the entire replay. I felt our defensive structure was just so good and was the catalyst for the win. They had plenty of reasonably good looks only to find May, Lever, Howes, TMac and Hore impassable. Their forward line is talented and is going to rip other sides apart at various points this year so holding them as well as we did, particularly in the middle two quarters, was excellent. We clearly moved the ball differently to 2022-23, too. The marks figure shows that, but there were a number of times players took marks, looked to reset, but then changed tack and played on instead. Most of the time it worked. And it felt like we kept out forwards deeper and didn't have them all pressing too high up the ground. I loved Billings' game. Yes, it wasn't full of contested ball. I don't think it needs to be. His gut running to create options and his (generally) good kicking is a missing part of our transition play. Brown did everything he would have been asked and on a better day would have kicked all 4 of his shots. We kicked goals at least twice due to him making up ground on his opponent to bring the ball to ground in a marking contest and his mobility was as good as it's ever been. As I've said a number of times though, the test with him is whether he can do it for multiple weeks/months in a row but we clearly have an option that many thought we didn't have with him.

Wasn't this because Harmes headbutted May (for which many on social media have said he is a chance of being suspended)? I haven't seen any clip but it's been Tweeted heaps.

Please no. Less is more.

I’m only a quarter into my replay but McVee has started this year so well. It’s hard to remember he’s still only a second year player. We are onto a massive winner with Judd. I like what I’ve seen from Howes so far too.

Thanks @Demonstone, I mucked this up. I missed a whole year! I think it’s 72 - 23 in each of 2021 and 2022, and 24 in 2023, then 2 so far this year.

Haven’t seen the full game so I’m surprised to see he had no CBAs. Is that just us making room for Pickett and Salem?

I forgot to mention the "best" bit. The late surge to the 45-point margin meant our percentage increased over Geelong's, and means we are in the 8. It keeps our streak alive (we've been in the top 8 every week since Round 1, 2021). No idea what the record is, but we're now at 49 (I think) H&A rounds in a row.

I wasn't able to get to the game today and have only had the chance to watch the first quarter replay. A few have said "it's only the Dogs". I'd be keen to see how they go next week vs Gold Coast before saying they're no good. However, there's a fair chance our Opening Round game got some cobwebs out and miles into the legs which benefited us. From what I've seen so far and interpreted off the stats sheet, the defensive transition was so much better - both as to intent to get the ball moving and in the personnel involved in these chains. More Windsor, Pickett, Billings, Salem, Rivers and McVee. Great to see Brown hit the scoreboard but more importantly look lively. Remember though that in 2022 and 2023 he started the season well, but his form dropped off as the season went on. We're a much better side with a fit and able Brown in it, so I love seeing him perform, but the test is whether he can do it for weeks on end.

I’ve read a lot of posts along the lines of “Sydney and GWS are the standard we need to match”. After the last two seasons I think we should all know that flags aren’t won in March. We need the four points far more than we need to look like the best side in it right now.

Or neither, as it was a practice match. Agree re Brown though. Petty looks like he needs more warming up rather than being thrust onto the G in 6 days’ time. If Brown (or JVR, if Brown helps him) plays well today, hopefully that eases the perceived pressure to rush Petty back in. Unfortunately the converse will be true.

Brown got a Brownlow vote in Round 1 against the Dogs last year.

Schache was unretainable. Good luck to Brown who has played very well in this corresponding game the past two years. Pickett and Woey for Spargo and Laurie is significant improvement. Immediately more balanced and quicker. The Marty Hore story is a ripper. Let’s hope he holds up. The benefit to keeping Salem in the mid means it’s got double the potential payoff. Finally, TMac for Tomlinson. I didn’t think Tomlinson was that good last week but equally didn’t think he was so bad as to be dropped. Particularly not for TMac, who hasn’t played defence at AFL level for years and hasn’t played good AFL football for 2 years either. I think, perhaps, the idea is that he follows Lobb into the ruck to relieve Gawn and allow us to leave JVR forward. If that’s it, I can see it, but I’m so wary of whether he can hold up in the backline and fearful of turnovers by foot.

Perhaps a bit like how Spargo ought to have been considered last week…

Bench is Salem, Billings, Laurie, TMac, Fullarton, Kolt, Woey and Brown. Five play (4 plus a sub).

Woewodin not listed as an “in” but listed on the extended bench. Edit: our media team is awful. The article says there are 7 ins but only names 6: “Melbourne’s squad for the match features the addition of seven Demons including Kysaiah Pickett, Marty Hore, Tom McDonald, Ben Brown, Tom Fullarton and Koltyn Tholstrup” Woey forgotten.

Can’t be sub, he’s not in the squad.

Schache and Tomlinson dropped, Spargo and Bowey injured. Pickett and Hore definite ins. B Brown, TMac, Kolt and Fullarton on bench. INS – Pickett, Hore, McDonald, B.Brown, Fullarton, Tholstrup OUTS – Bowey (inj.) Spargo (inj.), Schache (omitted), Tomlinson (omitted)