tiers

The recruiting might have been OK but it is the development that has let us down. This has been an ongoing issue for all this century starting with Brad Green and Cameron Bruce who, after 2000 finals were expected to be dominant, remained good players but whose careers did not develop much more. Players in other teams seem to have a breakout period and then go on. Our players, with the exception of Maxie, do not. Captains such as Grimes, Trengove, Jones did not become dominant (i know injury intervened with Grimes and Trengove, but still) and now Oliver and Petracca have not improved but remain stuck as really good players but rarely dominate as they should. We have a chance with Bowey, McVee, Rivers, JVR, Windsor and, perhaps too late, Sparrow to develop a new generation of dominant players. But are we up to it? Is it coaching or game plans, I don't know. I occasionally get the feeling that our game style restricts the players innate abilities. Letting Langdon loose to run and run and run in 2021 worked. Let's try more such experiments. Sadly I do not consider Goodwin a development coach so he will need some help should he remain. But it has to start now. And by the way, Neal-Bullen would have been the best tutor for the young forwards.

I recently watched the match v dorks from late 2023. Three things stood out. One. Angus Brayshaw was there where he was needed. Just got to the right spots. His loss (to the thuggish attack) in the first minutes of the first game of the finals was probably far more significant than we understood at the time. He was indirectly worth goals in every match he played especially when we lost two finals by small margins to inferior teams. A great loss to the team and, in my view, was the most compelling reason we failed to win the flag in 2023. Two. Alex Neal-Bullen. Understudy to Angus and played in similar fashion - he was there where he was needed to win possession or retain possession. Also a great loss to the team. Three. Maxie was leaping in ruck contests, not wrestling with the unworthies who are sent to negate him. Get his bounce back and instruct him to avoid wrestling. If he leaps he will outreach and defeat any opponent. Lose all of the above, and our performances fall off. Helps to explain 2025.

A letter like this should never be necessary. GO DEES.

Looks like it has changed already. If only our on field anticipation was as good.

Thanks for the update but, for my old eyes, I would prefer if the thread title was larger and the name of the person smaller. I figured out how to change the dark blue background to white so it is easier for me to read. Is there ever a time when too much is too too much?

We have started already. Six new players so far this year. Sadly May looked slow and uninterested against GC. Maxie gets beaten up each week because he wants to prove who is strongest - should show who is more mobile and can leap higher. Once again I say move Fritsch to FF and, new twist, move JVR to CHF where he can lead and run at the contest instead of always having to compete with a crowd. Maxie's comment today in the paper than GC had figured us out in the centre square is telling. Goody's time might be coming to an end. We were losing heavily in centre square last year without Trac and with Clarry only half fit - this year is worse with both supposedly fully fit. Time for major rethink. Watching Clarry push and shove with Rowell was silly - he should be a free agent and not have to worry about being marked. At times there seemed to be a shortage of bodies at the contest. What style of game are we playing? GO DEES

i've said it before on this forum so I will say it again. Fritsch kicked 6 goals from the square in a GF. Put him back there and find homes for JvR and Disco around him and let him be the target. I went to GWS and Fritsch looked lost without a home. I thankfully missed a docklands thrashing but I assume he was nowhere near the square. GO DEES

Fritsch kicked six goals in a grand final from the square. Time to settle him down and play JVR as a marking tall forward as the staring two in the foward line. Play the other four up the ground around HF. Imagine Kozzie bursting forward from HFF. Match this with Langdon and Windsor permanently on the wings where they cover the whole length of the ground. Then mix and match the rest as they are interchangeable. Can't hurt to try something new because the old way is not working.

I couldn't watch it all but the few parts I did watch revealed that we are much better with Langdon and Windsor patrolling the wings. They run up and down their wings so much that they might as well be starting from HBF. Bring them back to where they belong and work out other solutions for the midfield and backline.

Who cares? GO DEES

I can't believe that the former bomber coach is even considered. He committed the greatest sin of all - as head coach and leader he claimed that he would take full responsibility for the club's actions but then he did everything to avoid taking any responsibility. He should never be mentioned in these forums again.

Ed Langdon in the ANB role is promising. Has the tank, speed and smarts to fill the role. Don't know enough yet about Langford. Leave Caleb on a wing and find another two way runner with a tank - Sharp?

On the wing where he belongs. He's a natural. The strong running to both ends of the field make Caleb and Ed the best wing combination in the league.

Who cares. Let's just wait and see.

I attended for the first time in a long time. I couldn't figure out the meaning or purpose of the drills and they looked like any footy club at any level. But so long as they work, who am I to doubt them. I made three observations: 1. Tracca looked slimmed down in the body. I recall how in years past Plugger Locket slimmed down and lost his mojo which was his strength in the contest. I wouldn't like to see Tracca any slimmer. 2. There was one new player that I did not recognise who has grey hair. I can understand premature baldness, but grey hair. Get it coloured son. 3. Caleb Windsor signs with his left hand. If only he would also bounce the ball with his left hand when running it would bring back memories of our greatest player.

I was fortunate to attend the 2014 50th anniversary premiership lunch at the Bentleigh club. Having been at the 1964 grand final it was a delight to meet the players again. Hassa was one of the 14 (out of 20) players who were there and I got all their autographs. It was a joy to be there and Hassa was, as always, wonderful. After kicking the winning goal at the old Glenferrie Oval in 1964 to guarantee us first place on the ladder for the finals, how could he be anthing else. GO DEES. GO HASSA BABY.

Always the practical joker. In 2010, at dinner in Shanghai after beating the Lions in an exhibition match, we were talking to Neita on the outdoor balcony of the restaurant where the team and supporters celebrated, Neita was distracted by what seemed to be spit balls hitting him in the side of the head. Of course, it was Robbie who was having a great laugh. We were on the supporters' tour and got to meet Robbie who was always happy and friendly. There are some memories that will never fade.

They all do, including us as supporters.

Leave Windsor alone. He showed last season that he could be the winger that we dream of. Like Langdon, he covers the whole length of the ground. Why compromise his best position to try and make him something else. GO CALEB. GO DEES.

Nibbler was unique as a small mid/defender operating all around the ground but who could also become an attacker when the opportunity presented. Sacrificing Langdon or Fritta's best game style to cover for Nibbler is mind numbingly silly. What was special about Nibbler was his ability to operate all over the ground - he was just as likely to save a goal as kick a goal. Langdon does the same (as does Windsor) but Langdon's boundary line running ability to carry the ball is priceless. I believe that his 2 way running was one of the main reasons we won the flag in 2021 - he changed our game style and direction. There is no easy direct replacement for Nibbler (as there wasn't for Angus) and so we must experiment and distribute the work load. It might be that the biggest loss from Nibbler is his on field leadership. He should be signed up as a future coach.

Could he be a Martin Pike style third tall hard nut who complements the likes of JVR and Disco? Until we lost patience, Pike was an integral part of our forward line alongside Lyon and Schwarz. He then played the same role in winning 4 flags at North and Brisbane. Don't judge him yet. Let's wait and see.

Since Brad Green became interim president and since Gary Pert retired, it seems to me that the club has found it's feet and is on a better track. Litigation over, Goody reinstated as a top fella, Clarry and Tracca about to hit the track, no internal issues, team leaders on the track showing the way and the sun is shining today. Who could ask for anything more? GO DEES ,

The back page of today's The Age (a tabloid rag), on the sports page, has more of Clarrie than the Caulfield Cup and The Everest results combined. How pathetically poor is their journalism. A fully resolved player situation is more important than the results of two significant horse races especially where the same trainer trained the winner of both events. Says more about the tabloid trash than about MFC and Clarrie.

How close to retirement?

Saty's back. He's been missed. Can't wait for his knowledgeable and insightful training reports. I hope he still has the same affinity with the players.