Rodney (Balls) Grinter

For real? And if so, how far back was this?

But the stats don't exactly support what you are saying: http://m.afl.com.au/stats/stats-pro#/Compare?playerIds=CD_I294675,CD_I298281&comparisonTab=h2h From what I saw of our first four or five games, Lever's disposal was pretty ordanary. He hacked quite a few of his disposals completely and alot of the ones he didn't were down the line to a 50/50 or worse contest, which resulted in either turnovers or stoppages. But in fairness I think this was true of alot of our players over the first five weeks, when we were playing without great confidence and system. I think the manner in which players hack kicks and turn it over influences people opinions of them. Players that play conservatively and turn it over in more conspicuous ways don't stick in people's heads like ones who try to do too much, get caught and/or turn it over with absolute clangers. Just look at the career stats of Hibberd Vs Frost if you want an example of this. I was even suprised myself how good Frosts stats were in this respect. http://m.afl.com.au/stats/stats-pro#/Compare?playerIds=CD_I290160,CD_I293738&comparisonTab=h2h To be honest, I don't think loosing Lever will make that much difference to our team performance. From what I've seen, his best is good, but I don't think he has provided that much of his best for us in games this year that we will miss that. His absence will provide an opportunity for someone else to step up and personally I'm looking forward to see who that is and how they go. Guys like Frost, Wagner, Hunt and Smith all have some attributes which have the potential to make them a real asset to our side and in some way, I almost think we needed an injury to give one of them a go and keep them motivated to compete, perform and improve at VFL level, it's just a pitty that it's an ACL that puts Lever out for such an extended period.

On the basis of my understanding of his form over the past 3 or so weeks, I would think Bugg would be the other that would be well in contention.

My recollection is that Stretch has played most of his AFL footy at half forward.

Replaces Melksham if he doesn't come up?

I'd say Wagner is the closest like for like with Lever, plus Goody and the coaching love him. To be honest, I can understand why Wagner gets picked, he is athletic, tough and takes the game on by foot. A good fit with our game style.

So glad the boys got the win for Jonesy today. Congratulations on 250 Nathan. GO DEMONS!

Doesn't match my recollection. The dogs built over a reasonable period and I think many now reconise much of the credit for that development was due to McCarthy - pretty good record of developing high performing, sucessful teams old Macca - let's hope his good record through association continues.

Agreed. I think the old adage of one game at a time applies as much to supporters as our team. As much as I've enjoyed and been encouraged by our year to date (the past 5 weeks in particular), the MFC hasn't really achieved anything in football terms yet, not even making finals. It's nice that we are starting to be viewed as a team team be feared, but I agree that we don't really want to be skiting as a supporter before and even after beating opposition teams at this point. After an absence of real sucess for so long, it's hard to contain one's self and I feel I've possibly even crossed the line in rubbing it into Carlton for being the new worst team this century.

I'm guessing that watching the team winning flags might be a bit like loosing ones virginity, the first time is special, but then you want more. I'I' still waiting to pop my MFC flag cherry.

SOS recruiting management.

Sorry to be a spelling stooge, but it was Pike with an ' i ' not a ' y '. But yes, correct that we were his first AFL club. Pike along with Scott Thompson, Jeff Farmer and Jeremy Howe could probably headline an alternate list of players that the MFC lost to other clubs during the same era. Pike would be the only one of the aforementioned that was actually discarded by the MFC, but probably went on to become the most sucessful. Gee I wish we could have held onto him, as I recon he could have made a big difference in the 2000 GF.

Of all those KPIs we have broken through over the last month, I actually really like this one, which fittingly, we would have actually inflicted with our win several weeks ago against them - "the Blues are now the least successful Victorian club this century. Since the start of the 2000 season, a year after the club had made the Grand Final and a year in which it was to make a preliminary final, Carlton has played 417 matches for just 157 wins (37.65%). In the same period, Melbourne has played 415 games for 158 wins (38.07%). " http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-30/barrett-blues-should-follow-dees-recipe It's not the point that the article is trying to make, but I hear Mark Neeld is available and I'd be only too happy for him to go over to Princess Park and bake some cakes for Carlton.

I like this parallel universe, particularly if there are more 91+ point victories for the MFC in it.

I was pleasantly surprised with how well we did with the umpires against Adelaide. I actually remember thinking a few times as I watched the game that we had given away a free kick, but no whistle, play on. Also got a fair few fairly soft free kicks in favour of Hogan and Lever that I'm not sure we would have got in the past. As much as we made the running in many ways and should probably have an amount more free kicks as a result, I actually think that umpires are more likely to favour the better side, even in an unintentional, subconscious way. Hopefully a good sign for things to come.

Cross might have been forgotten by the media, but not by the MFC faithfull who stuck it through with our team when Crossy played for us. Can only imagine the player he must have been in his prime for the dogs. David Rhoden is another I felt we got good value out of, even if it was not as profound as the likes of Cross. And, if I'm ever thankful to Hawthorn for anything, Jordan Lewis has been pretty good having only had to give up a swap of picks in the 50s or something. Still [censored] me that nearly two years on they show Lewis with a Hawthorn jumper and premership medalion on his AFL 360 segment - would be nice if one day that is replaced by the same scene with him in a MFC jumper.

Like a few others have stated, I'm waiting for us to grind out a close win against a quality side in form and maintain the rage through the whole season before I will be satisfied. One of the problems is that there really are not many quality, in-form sides I rate. Geelong at Geelong perhaps, Sydney, West Coast and dare I say it, pehaps Collingwood are about the only games we are yet to play that I can really see testing us from the perspective of quality opposition. I have probably under rated Richmond to an extent to date, but also think we are well and truly capable of beating them. We continue to improve, whilst much of the old gaurd fall away or stand still. Ablett is showing his age, wear & tear and hasn't really made Geelong a better side. Happy to see the Hawthorn resurgence stall at the moment. Never really rated Adelaide anyway and it would be nice to think that Sydney are slowing falling away from what they once were, though they are the side that most concerns me could yet come good. I also have a feeling that GWS might get they her act together in the back half of the season and make our final round game against them pretty compeditive, but their season should be well and truly over as far as finals are concerned by then. Don't give two shiits what the media thinks of us. If we can continue to bank wins over the next 4 - 6 weeks and then manage the players mindsets and physical condition comming into finals, that's where it's at for mind. Whilst I do think we have a team that can beat any side and who over the last 5 weeks have put together more consistent good form than any MFC team I have watched, the premiship isn't won in May, so I'm quite ok with just taking each week as it comes and celebrating in retrospect.

I'm mainly think of the ones on the Fox Footy channel. They come across as very vanilla presenters rather than having any real interest in the game. Caroline Wilson may have had a fairly good understanding on footy, but she wasted it by narrowing the focus of her reporting on the dirt, rumour politics and innuendo. Couldn’t stand her style of reporting.

Since the acceleration of equality campaigns in recient years, I have noticed far more women presenters in football. Daisy is one of the few that give the impression of really belonging. I get the impression that many of the female presenters are there just on a semi token basis. They are i) female, ii) good at delivering semi scripted/formulaic vanilla match summaries/introductions and iii) many are very easy on the eye. But not many talk with alot of confidence or authority on pure footy matters. In general, I'm in favor of greater female representation in footy comentary, I just wish more were like Daisy.

Daisy Pearce on the ABC's call of the Lions V Dogs last a few weeks back after Hipwood missed a fairly elementy set shot: "Do you think a haircut would help?" lol Gold - telling it like it is!

Happy birthday Daisy.

Just looking at the ground, not much grass on the deck. Wouldn't want to get dumped into that. I recon Tony Greg's penitrometer would get about 5mm into the surface.

As @Clint Bizkit points out, what a player Scott Thompson turned out to be. Tex, you are the World's biggest sook.

Watching the Redtails game. Good to see channel 7 have brought Gilbert McAdam in for the commentary. Love his work on the Marngrook Footy Show. Disappointed to see that we will get BT for the main game though. Easily the worst, most annoying of comentators going round at the moment.

After lamenting how long we have to wait till the start of the game this afternoon and woundering how I was going to fill in the time, I recalled the televised curntain raiser game: 12:00pm Springs Redtails Vs Darwin All Stars, Ch:7 (7 Mate here in Qld). Keen to check it out.