Rodney (Balls) Grinter
-
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Rodney (Balls) Grinter
-
-
On 22/06/2025 at 10:45, Mouseymoo said: Can we trade JT for a guy that can identify forward talent?
Identify forward talent - what Kozzie, LJ, Fritta, and JVR aren't enough?
I guess you want JT to control the forward entry so it's not just bombs to dead pockets and loose men in defence as well.
-
4
-
-
5 hours ago, Demonstone said: Not quite, Mr Round Objects.
We swapped our 2025 first rounder for their 2024 first rounder and used that pick on Xavier Lindsay.
Bomber fans are enjoying the death ride this year and look like gaining a high draft pick out of the deal.
However, in an apparently weakish draft with many Academy/NGA selections, we already have Lindsay on our books with a year of development under his belt.
Ah, I see. Regardless, their pick still being tied to our lader position does put some imperative to finishing as high as possible regardless of making finals or not.
Having Lindsay with a year of development is already a victory I agree. I think we've usually done pretty well with Taylor trading up the order.
-
1
-
2
-
-
1 hour ago, ijustwannaseeaflag said: May is conceding on average 3 goals a game this year. He is in decline
We rejigged our game plan somewhat to be less defensive, so I'd put the additional goals conceded by May down to that. Maysie is still a gun and we're definitely a better defensive unit with him in the side.
-
3
-
1
-
2
-
-
-
Is he a red head like his old man?
If so we'd be loading up our backline with a couple of them when you include Bowser.
-
1
-
-
2 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said: I thought that that father / son prospects were also eligible to be drafted by their northern academy teams as a way to make up for the fact that these expansion clubs were too new to have any of their own father / sons.
Definitely not true for Brisbane and Sydney, but may have some legitimacy for GC & GWS. Still sux that we're potentially on the short end of the stick again.
-
3
-
-
2 hours ago, GS_1905 said: Yeah its definitely a leg-up on the comp those northern academies. They 100% should be scrapped. It is grossly unfair.
The argument that the northern clubs are trying to grow the game doesn't equate to "we get first dibs on all talent that comes through". Half those boys are playing in the VIC Coates league anyway.
I can see a benifit for those father/sons players to participate in the academies as a measure to lift the elite standards of the academies overall, just that they shouldn't be eligible to then draft them.
-
2
-
1
-
-
8 hours ago, GS_1905 said: McVee got off unscathed as well.. I suppose it could have been worse.
Butters has lots of form in this space and am absolutely astonished he got off without a fine. Maybe the AFL feel sorry for him?
If I was AJ, I'd feel pretty had done by as well.
Very glad McVee did get off though, he has been getting back towards his best footy in recent weeks and a really important contributor. Want to get yet more development into him and of course extend his contract to 2035.
-
1
-
-
12 hours ago, Pates said: My first thought was ball it up. You see them paid for a dangerous tackle but he had literally no prior opportunity to get rid of it, but for whatever reason they were hot on it then. Funny they weren't hot on it earlier in the game when a port player, can't remember who, was given an eternity to dispose of it, didn't correctly dispose of it but somehow that was play on.
As for the 50, I hate to say it but that was Viney's fault. Players know, and it felt so much the same as Kozzie's brain fart last week. We give up a lot of stupid 50m penalties.
If the umpires are going to be so pedantic on 50m penalties, then they really do need to pay every one. Earlier in the game against Port, they quite obviously failed to get it back to Max on the full and no 50 - it's infuriating.
I'm very quickly getting to the view that the league need to bring it back to 15m forward of centre and/or as a blanket rule, except for the most egregious of offences.
50m penalties hand goals to oppositions as did that crazy decision to give Port a second shot on goal. Games shouldn't regularly be decided by umpires.
Before anyone says it wasn't the umpires fault we kicked umpteen behinds, what they did was kept the scoreboard pressure going against us - for a team that has these issues it is a big factor. We're well capable of kicking accurately when we start hitting our straps, just look at the second half Vs the first against the Swans. It's not just missing goals or not, also impacts marking and passing for us and the opposition.
-
1
-
1
-
-
Edited by Rodney (Balls) Grinter
22 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said: Let's not waste these next 9 games with some fanciful illusion we'll sneak into the 8 or trying to chase wins that will amount to nothing.
This is now the time to prepare us for 2026. Play Jefferson and JvR up front. Put Petty down back
May + Melksham to Casey. Viney to a forward pocket.
Use this as an opportunity. I know Goodwin is a self-described "winner", but it's now about the big picture. If he's still chasing wins this season instead of formulating a game plan that will challenge in 2026, then he can go.
Are you serious? - No way May plays at Casey.
His form has been good and he's of also of value to the team in a mentoring capasity and setting the standard. I'd even like him to play up forward with some of our developing forwards. He'd make them walk taller playing along side them and if they're not doing the required team things and/or committing to the contest, I think a Maysy rev-up could actually be a good thing for them too.
Melksham should also be played when fit for similar reasons and how funny would it be to see him play in a forward line with May.
I'd be quite OK with Lever and/or possibly even Petty being dropped back to Casey to find some form and hunger. Would love to see T Mac given the opportunity to get to 250 games this season - his service to the club and form this year deserves it.
Sick of seeing us wasting games on Laurie. Would far rather we get some more games into Tholstrup, Kynan Brown, Adams, Woey jnr, Sestan, Culley and possibly one or two others like Sharp and Verrall.
Have loved his season to date, but I think Langford looked tired and lacked impact on Sunday, so could do with a rest.
Also time to end the Winsor experiment at half back put the kid back on the wing and let him play his natural game.
The irony would be if by playing guys who are keen as to prove them selves, changing things around a bit and releasing the shackles of expectations as bit that we actually play with more freedom, flare and start attacking more effectively and winning games.
-
2
-
2
-
-
17 hours ago, manny100 said: A real athlete and a project player. Needs a fair bit of size which will come in the AFL system. Certainly a lot to work with.
I hope he selects the Dees.
We only have Gawn, TC and Verrall at 199cm plus so room for Kalani.
What ruck prospect isn't a project player?
Asides from LJ
-
5
-
-
1 hour ago, Previously known as LITD. said: It's definitely a mind set.
Often you see it in a game when the yips go through the entire team.
...
Dozens of Austrian Psychiatrists working around the clock.
tanding on the sidelines giving advice and therapy.
Glad we're leaving no stone unturned and have reached all the way to Europe in pursuit of kicking a drop punt truely through the big sticks 😉 😂
-
21 minutes ago, dice said: Turner is a better mark in the forward line for me. Sort of shows up in the stats too:
Disco's goal kicking is also pretty solid.
Conversely so was Petty's for a while, but he seems to have lost it.
Honestly think the answer to alot of our goal kicking woes is a switched on sports psychologist.
-
2
-
1
-
-
Edited by Rodney (Balls) Grinter
I think Petty is the future solid key back we need to build around, along with Disco and Lever (Possibly also throw Adams)
If we loose another game or two, I'd really like to see Steven May up forward. I hope he's still got a few more years yet, but he's not the future of our backline. He'd probably also enjoy the oppertunity to have some fun and kick a few goals. Could alternatively play JVR and Jeffo up there around him - he'll make them wall taller and I think he'd provide some great on feild coaching to them as well.
-
4 hours ago, old dee said: Turner stays back and Petty is out for Jefferson. It won't happen on Sunday but must the next game.
Yeah, nah. Play Petty back before dropping him altogether. I think his form back there earlier in the season was pretty good. Poor bloke can't help it if he keeps getting asked to fill holes up the ground because our key forward stocks are all over the shop at the moment.
-
3
-
-
56 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said: Thank Lucifer for that.
Generational player that changed our fortunes and helped deliver our 13th drought breaking flag.
My hopes and feelings before the 2019 draft realised...
Demon DynastyMembers
Looking for a small guy that will chew up opp mistakes and force opp mistakes then punish on the counter. Someone that eats crumbs off the pack for breakfast with lightning quick reflexes, a great running leap for his size (equal 9th in the National Combine) and super goal sense and finish?
At a pinch he could even play short cameo stints in the mid given a decent pre-season or two.
Is it Weightman? ... Nope! Henry? Serong?....ummm...nah none of those. Taylor, surely it's Taylor!...hmm close but no cigar!
"Whoever it is, he can't be worth pick No.8 though. That's just sillly" i hear you say.
Well think again fellow minions!! Another piece in the premiership puzzle awaits...
That was a great call DD. But such great credit to Kozzie to turn that potential into the genuine superstar of the competition he has become. How many players can have great junior careers and highlights reals that actually go on to have the AFL career that Kozzie has had just to date.
-
-
-
On 11/06/2025 at 07:02, dazzledavey36 said: Surprised there isn't a stand alone thread on this. Congrats to Garry! An all time Melbourne great...
Great interview last night with Gerard Whatetly and one of the best things I love about the Hall of Fame is when they get to tell their story from the very beginning.
Well overdue. Was definitely one of the iconic players of the era, both for the MFC, but the league generally. That he had such a footy cultural impact from such an injury intrupted career is a testimony to his talent and leadership qualities.
Interview is a great watch. As a MFC / footy tragic, I'm often looking out for new footy stories and this interview has some gems delivered in a thoroughly entertaining way.
For so long there I sense there has been a bit of crindge about his media work within the MFC supporter ranks, but personally I've never been prouder to have one of our own amoung the media voices and I think his calm laid back and professional approach to his media work over the years have been brilliant.
...and that moment he handed over the 2021 premiership cup was just so brilliant - not sure who we'd get to hand over one we might one day win at the G, but Gazz will take some topping.
-
-
On 08/06/2025 at 15:58, whatwhat say what said: we're like the old money landed gentry that have the fancy country abode... but the roof leaks, everything smells of mould, and only 3 of the 27 rooms are truly habitable
Sounds like @Bitter but optimistic's dungeon
-
1
-
-
Edited by Rodney (Balls) Grinter
13 hours ago, Adam The God said: I've been surprised by the lack of commentary on game style regarding yesterday's game. Our approach yesterday was very much 80% 2021-2023.5 method. Which is: win the contest, bomb long to create repeat inside 50s, and hope more shots on goal leave us ahead of the opposition at the end of the day. (the NBA 3 point method - data drives most elite sports in the world and the tactics employed by coaching teams)
The remaining 20% was where we changed our angles when we went longer, tried to use forward handball on the rare occasion and a very small amount of uncontested possession at the back.
But our entries were sloppy, high and often to our disadvantage. Melksham and even Petty did well on a few occasions to halve a contest versus 2 or 3 defenders.
I'm not sure of the stats, but we did appear to use the corridor more than we have in the past, but that's a function of playing a team that gambles so much with numbers forwards and leaving space through the corridor to ping back into.
I was most disappointed with our entries though and it was the most similar style to the way we played in 2022-2023 that I can remember. We know this is a highly competitive model, there are a few Demonlanders, myself included, who think we left a flag on the table in 2023 with this game style. It matches it with the best, but aren't we trying to evolve our game style? Use more aggressive forward handball, use more uncontested possession to open up their defence and control tempo?
I find it really fascinating that there are no cries on Demonland last night or today about the game style being outdated when we go close in games, but when we turn off our pressure (not a function of game style), it's an outdated model and Goody needs to get with the times.
I've seen posters say Goody has worked out how to stop these sides playing fast. This is not new. We were masters at this in 2022-2023, so much so we finished top 4 both years playing against this fast ball movement. I just think people see what they want to see sometimes.
I'd prefer we continue to evolve our game style, particularly, how we move the ball and how we enter forward 50, because if we do this, the forwardline will function and we'll start to blow teams away. Until then, we'll be ruing missed chances, scoring shot differentials and inside 50 differentials.
I think we can win a flag again soon if we get this right.
Honestly think something we need to get much better at is roosting it long out the back into space that Kozzie and others can run onto. Something like the old Pagan's paddock.
Freitch did it pretty much to perfection with a handball well into space for Kozzie that resulted in a snap goal to him. Melksham could have done the same but even better in the second quarter on Monday, with a penetrating kick out the back and Kozzie would have smoked Howe and everyone else in the area. Instead Melksham tried to finesse a pass on the full to Kozzie, slightly over cooked it and it was cut off by Howe arially. I know it's easy as an armchair expert and Melk is actually one of our best kicks to an option inside 50 (if not the best), but I just feel we seldom use one of Kozzie's best assets to advantage in these situations and/or look to create these types of opportunities for him enough.
Similarly, I think if we got a bit more creative a bit more often and tried to play Trac one out as a deep forward it would be hard for the opposition to respond to and help give us better value for our entries. Just look how many goals St Kilda scored against us last week by moving it quickly and directly into a forward line with pleanty of space.
-
2
-
-
45 minutes ago, binman said: Which was precisely what Sparrow was trying to do. In fact more than that he was clearly trying to get it to a teammate.
If he wanted to take it out he would have picked up the ball, taken the tackle and allowed himself to be taken over the boundary, which he was hard up against.
The irony is that happens 20 plus times a game, never gets pinged despite the sile intention being to take it OOB.
At the risk of introducing yet another rule change which draws the ire of spectators, I think there is a pretty simple rule change that could be made to stop that behaviour - if you are tackled over the line while holding the ball, it's holding the ball (via no intent to dispose of it) or insufficient intent to keep it in play - take your pick the rule is there they just need to play it properly.
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
-
10 hours ago, chookrat said: The AFL cpuld be creative in how it funds full time Professional Umpires by getting a betting sponsor on board and having tv segments to review umpiring decisions and also allow punters to place bets on categories based on umpiring mistakes and even have the umpiring department sponsor players known as umpire pets.
You mean, just like legalising alchol after the prohibition?
Bring it out of the black market and into the open.
Welcome to Demonland: Caleb Windsor
in Melbourne Demons
Deriding Hunt like that is harsh. Hunt was a bloody good kick for goal and could do some good things on the burst as well. Take a look at that last few minutes of the game against Carlton a few years back when him, Kossie and Melky basically won us the game at the death.
Was pretty good Al round in his last year with us and would have been a premiership player bar injury a few games out from finals.