Rodney (Balls) Grinter

1 hour ago, Pates said:

I actually thought JKH didn't disgrace himself, for me he earned another go on the merry go round. 

Agreed hard at it, linked up well and I certainly didn't recall any bloopers.

1 hour ago, Watts the matter said:

Because he loses the initial contest that Kent would have won. How many goals did he kick or set up?

Are you kidding?  Was very impressed by JKH's areial work tonight.  Stood under a number of passes where he subequently got crunched, but still held onto the mark.

I would like to see Kent back in the side too as I think his pace attacking flare and preparardness to take on the game are and asset.

One thing that is really starting to get me - massive knees in the back in marking contests.  You are not allowed to put your hands in a blokes back, but if you charge through with a massive outstretched knee, that's somehow ok???  WTF.

I'm not just being sour grapes about Tim Smith, there were also Melbourne players that did do it to others and sorry but I just don't think it's in the spirit of the game.  Similar for that other cheap practice of pushing or jumping into the guys back after the ball has gone out of bounds.

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

He was on one leg the whole night mate, give the kid a break.

And yet he still bullocked hard, took marks, kicked goals, moved the ball forward and set-up others.

Is a total  gun and will have plenty of days out over the next few years.

I'd actually like to see Salem play more forward of center.  Not sure he is having a great impact as a backman or with his ball movement down there in defence, but his elite disposal is such an asset going into forward fifty.

Our ball movement and delivery into forward fifty has been atrocious for most this season.  Yes we yet multiple forward fifty entries, but most of them are just bombs or crap passes that  advantage the opposition.  Meanwhile the opposition gets on the fast break and scores against us far too easily where we have opened up the feild for them.  Even before injuries cruled our nights was a theme against Carlton, Geelong, Richmond and Freo.

Having Hibbard was a big help tonight at times, but surely some adjustment to the game plan required.

On Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 4:23 PM, titan_uranus said:

Except for the total lack of any relationship between the two facts.

Watts also makes a much better forward.

But that's the issue for me - when Watts is out of the forward line, we rob our forward line just to have someone sit in the ruck.

Pedersen could play Smith/Weideman's role, not add much less than them (and no, for the record, he won't add much more either), but by rucking that prevents us from having to ruck Watts when we should be playing him as a permanent forward. And as you've said, it's not like Watts is so much of a better ruckman that it's noticeable.

How many great plays did Watts set up tonight with his deftly placed disposal tonight?  The answer being quiet a few, but could have been so many more had he played 90% of the time as a forward rather than a ruckman.

Hibbard - fitting number fourteen

[censored] more injuries.

Depending on how and how badly we did loose, but I'd seriously start to question Goodwin's revamped/next evolution game plan, the present implementation of it or lack thereof, whichever the case may be.

 Even though we won the game against Carlscum, we looked bloody awful, chipping the ball around and overusing it on countless occasions.  Bar Big Max the troops have hardly changed this year and my feeling is that we have gone backwards in most our performances to date.  The Geelong and Fremantle games where we have dominated the time in forward half and forward 50 entries, but failed to score and been hurt badly on the rebound are symptomatic of the deficiencies in the teams game at present.  

Will see what Hogan's return brings and in all honesty I'd be prepared to give Goodwin a few more weeks yet, but I'm far from convinced that the system is working as it should at the moment.

2 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I'll be annoyed but I won't be writing the season off.

The more I think about it, the loss of Lewis really has been big. His addition to the team takes the pressure off Jones, Vince and Viney so it is no coincidence that those three haven't been quite as good since he's been out.

I'm happy that Hogan has another key forward in Smith next to him, I just wish it was Pedersen instead, fingers crossed we don't get caught on the half forward line because there aren't enough genuine options forward.

Lewis has certainly been a handy pick-up, no denying that, but with players like Oliver etc stepping it up a notch this year, due to natural developmentent etc, Lewis should really just be icing on the cake, not a vital cog.  Certainly hasn't helped that Viney has struggled for form and the absence of Big Max, but time for the rest to stand up.

3 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Yes they might give it a real shake over the next few years....186 would be nice.

Make it a nice round 200 I say

Gunning for the Eagles today.

Would love to see the Hawks start to challenge and break all our records from the past ten years.

Wow, Sydney (last year's grandfinalists) 0 and 5.  As big a fall from grace this year as Freo were last.

Quick allert AFL HQ, crank up the Swans cola and extend their academy zone into Central Victoria, they won't make the 8 and are clearly on the brink of catestropic collapse.

6 minutes ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Maybe Balls meant J Smith?

No, but J Smith also certainly shows potential... Just needs to improve his kicking and decision making, from what I saw JLT and Rd 1, he was a little untidy in these regards, but certainly looks like a keeper though.

19 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

you must have watched a different game then. not meaning to bag smithy but he had a stinker.

No, I did mean T Smith and just looking back on his stats for that night, you are correct, they alone don't paint a pretty picture.  But I did like his attack on the footy, the man and the intent that Tim showed and if he had a sinker that night, then it bodes well for when he plays an average/typical game.

Looking forward to seeing a hard tough and talented No.14 running around in the red and blue once more.

1 hour ago, Danelska said:

As a reluctant expert, I'd suggest Kent (as has been suggested in infinite other posts) has failed in his defensive duties. The coaching staff rate JKH and want to give him an opportunity and Pedersen, rightly or wrongly is cooked in the eyes of Goodwin and co... 

Also @Dr. Gonzo, I'd suggest trawling through...lets see... perhaps the two pages previous to the post that you are looking to make, to see what all the other reluctant experts are postulating about...

Sorry, but don't buy this.  Why would the MFC bother re-signing Pedersen at the end of last season if it was the case?

Still I'm happy enough that we at least brought in Smith, as he looked alot like a goer in his first outing against Geeeelong.

And who says that AFL revenue will always continue to grow?  The players might want to be careful what the ask for chasing a % of revenue.

1 hour ago, chook fowler said:

The obvious message is if you're involved in the game don't touch betting in any form. Simple really.

Perhaps it's because betting has never really apealed to me in a big way, but you would have to ask the question with the money that most AFL footballers get paid - why would you bother betting at all?

24 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Does anyone know the AFL's investigative powers and a player's disclosure responsibilities as to gambling? I'm curious why the AFL came looking in the first place. It reads like the actual breach was for allowing someone else to use his account - for not evidently nefarious purposes  -  and then covering this up for some reason? Wondering how the investigation was started and then concluded. 

I know being sports people they have extra responsibility, role models, integrity of the game bla bla, bla, but if the matter is/was unrealated to footy and the AFL don't have really good evidence of wrong doing, then you'd almost have to think these guys have the right to tell them to [censored] off and stop breaching their privacy.

6 hours ago, Nasher said:

The lack of HD is the problem I think.  

I'd rather go to the game and watch in super dooper ultra high definition with full surround sound... But then I live 2000km away, so I guess I'll just watch on Foxtel HD (I don't even think it will make it into 7Mate up here!).

3 hours ago, ProDee said:

Prefer Weideman.

Don't rate Pedersen.  Not AFL quality.

You must be racking your brain why he's not getting a game.  Perhaps you're wrong.

Rate Weideman - on potential, yes maybe, but right now, he just looks like and performs like a boy playing a man's game.  His output at AFL level has been woeful (corky withstanding).

Pedersen may not be or likely will never be an A grade key position forward, but is capable enough, splits packs, holds his own in the ruck (releasing Watts) , brings down marks and provides a target  that Weid just doesn't right now.  

In summary, Pedersen actually performs at AFL level where as Weid presently just looks like he might be the goods one day.  I know who I would have picked against Freo.

1 hour ago, markc said:

i would love melbourne to have the hawks success over the last 10 years,  we all know what its like to get belted week in week out 

but I do have a little smile seeing them like this too 

Hell yeah, but it would be very sweet icing on the cake for them to have the last 10 years we have just had as well - is that too much to ask?

0 - 4 and even better is their percentage of 56.  It was still only 63 before today's loss, so that paints a picture of floggings practically every game this year - I love it.

17 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Why hasn't he been playing ?

He doesn't compete in the air unless he has the sit.

Even if Weideman is injured with a corky I wouldn't bring in Pedersen.

Pedersen is so good the most goals he's kicked in a season at Melbourne is 14.  Quick, rush him in...

Watch the Hawthorn game last year for an example of Pedersen creating an airial contest which benefits Weideman who collects the subsequent  easy loose ball running past and goals from Pedersen's good work.  Pedersen actually competes in the air and on ground level, neither of which Weideman has really shown this year.  I don't even understand how he got picked from his JLT series form, in which he was pretty much just a seagull kicking easy goals in the goal square as a loose man from over the top style handballs from others hard work.  I understand Weid has some good athletic and football atributes which bode well for the 'future' but that shouldn't make him the protected speices he seems to be come match selection.

Put Pedersen's best 14 goal effort in the context that a) he has rarely played a full season, b) spends time away from the forward line in the ruck and c) has played in a Melbourne team that has struggled to kick any goals and the 14 looks ok.