The Chief

Might have been mentioned already, but I received a survey from the AFL about my attendance at Sunday’s game. Amongst other things it asks you to rate ‘interactive fan initiatives’, ‘music played in the stadium before the match and at breaks’ and ‘quality of home teams pre-match entertainment’. Could the AFL be aware that some of us hate this confected American rubbish?

The knocking of Petty on the game day thread was really ordinary. What did people expect for his 12th game? The poor bloke was clearly nervous, probably still gets flashbacks to that St.Kilda game. Thought he showed some promising signs in the second half. Others should reflect on how many games Weideman has been gifted to develop at AFL level, before knocking Petty in his 1st senior game since 2019.

Did wonder if Max letting Jackson do more of the ruck work around the ground yesterday, was because of the short break to this week’s Richmond game. Great that we’re in a position to even be able to think this is possible. No need for any concern with Jackson’s marking, he gets to contests, is comfortable with the physical tussling, just a matter of time until he starts clunking them.

Gee the negativity on here has gone to a new level. Calm down, long way to go, we maybe struggling, but they’re no better

Spot on. The other hyperbolic favourite is “this player is elite” at whatever performance measurement the gushing commentators can grasp at, often a measurement that’s not terribly relevant to a players ability to get ball/dispose of ball effectively. Particularly overdone in AFLW, where it seems every player is elite at something.

May broken eye socket

MCG has great drainage, if we get a break in the rain before the game it won’t be too heavy and there’s no mud or centre square wickets anymore

The Age’s match report points out it was “undermanned St.Kilda”. Their injury list: Ryan Byrnes - who is he? Brad Crouch - average midfielder James Frawley - passed his use by date Jarryn Geary - see above Dan Hannebery - lots of huff and puff, has no impact Rowan Marshall - yes they miss him Ben Paton - just 35 games Paddy Ryder - probably his last season

Putting aside the wasted shots at goal, thought our general field kicking was really good, big improvement on what has been a major weakness. Choco and his balls having an impact already? On the other hand, the Saints field kicking was rubbish. Haven’t looked at the stats, but their turnover numbers must have been horrendous. Not sure if it was an off night for them or if that was a true indication of their skill level. If the latter they’re a long way off being a serious contender. Also loved Oliver clearing the ball from the contest, can’t recall him giving one of his trademark 1 metre handballs that just build pressure on the receiver. Perhaps Yze’s influence showing? There was a moment, I think in the last, when Oliver won the ball in the centre and Trak was calling for a short handball, you could see Oliver look at that option and then elect to kick long into the forward line. With the 6, 6, 6 positioning that quick kick from the centre deep into the forward line puts enormous pressure on the defenders.

Max actually weighs 108kg v Hawkins 101kg

Watching Hawkins last night continue his dominance of stoppages by pushing his opponent out of the contest and taking possession in the ruck contest, wondering why Gawny doesn’t do more of this as a variation to taps that are proving way less than 50% chance of connecting. Following the rule change that allows ruckman to take possession at stoppages and be given the benefit of no prior opportunity, just seems an obvious tactic for someone of Gawns size to utilise.

Based on the limited game time against the Dogs, pretty confident he’ll get a game well within 2 years. Looks a likely replacement for Jetta. Not the done thing on here, but all the best to Sam Switkowski, great local talent who’s had a wretched run with injury, a quick and smart small forward, hope he snags a few tomorrow.

Hard to tell how serious Cats took last night’s game, but hoping the loss of Harry Taylor will expose a few holes in their backline. Number of Essendon marks in forward 50 that wouldn’t have happened in the past.

Yep, ready to go again. Team was The Chiefs coached the Chief. Thanks

I’m sure he’s a nice bloke and all, but gee this is great news.

Great appointment. Amongst numerous areas for improvement, suspect we’ll now finally see the end of Oliver’s 1 metre or less handballs that just build pressure and instead start clearing the ball from congestion, the end of Gawn thinking he can kick and instead see more handballs to those who can, the end of Viney thinking he’s a foot taller/20 kg’s heavier so he’ll now give the ball off rather than fruitlessly try to break tackles, and the development of Hunt to be the winger he always should have been. We also have a solid Plan B if Goody can’t deliver in the first half of next season. Happy days.

Carlton have too many too tall forwards and desperately need inside mids or Cripp’s is going to have a very short career. Trade Viney for McKay. Win win for both clubs

Had to go overseas for work the night of the vote, but was here for the last game. Took my mum to that game, who passed away this year after 89 years of following the Demons, thinking it would be the last time we’d ever see Melbourne play. Nearly got into a fight in the bottom deck of the Northern stand after a heated argument with another Melbourne supporter who was openly welcoming the merger. Can still remember walking out of the MCG after the game with my mum, thinking that would be the last AFL game I would ever see. Based on the media, the merger seemed a done deal, so I was going to ditch AFL and follow local footy. Maybe I would have changed my mind, but at the time I was so upset. I remember writing a letter to Ian Ridley at the time, pleading with him to back down, and how the merger would be devastating for my family. My son had just been born in July of that year and he was going to be a fourth generation Melbourne supporter and the merger was going to destroy my dream of going to the footy with my son, just as my dad had taken me. So glad the merger failed, even though there’s been so many disappointing seasons since 1996, my family has stuck fat, we all support Melbourne, attend nearly every home game together and it’s been a core part of our lives.

Pruess’s performance was incredible, considering the circumstances of no VFL to hone his match fitness. He was clearly under instructions to look for handballs rather then kicking, which is smart coaching. Max should do similar. No question Pies we’re far from full strength, but gee how dumb are their supporters backing them Into favourites? Bookies love it when Pies are performing poorly, money still piles in regardless. Ed Langdon’s ability to get back into defence and then still able to quickly present further up the ground has made a massive difference to our defence. Big admirer of Sidebottom, and even though he had 29 disposals, we were able to limit his effectiveness. It looked like Sparrow was his tag at times, be interested at the coaches assessment of his game.

Umpiring was absolutely terrible last night. They need to stop wasting their time memorising players names and just focus on their positioning and decision making consistency

Absolutely loving Hawthorn being Brad Pitt, hoping it lasts another 20 years. Very flawed thinking behind having both Frawley and Frost together in the same backline, ultimate butcher brothers. Hope they keep Puopolo, McEvoy, Burgoyne, Smith, Frawley and Scully on their list, chewing up salary space and all well past their best. Clarko’s press conferences are just so enjoyable, can’t wait for the next instalment

Lack of a key forward who can consistently compete strongly in the air and grab a few contested marks per game is the obvious massive hole in our list. Be worth at least experimenting with May forward, think he played that role at GC for a few games.

Sparrow is a far better prospective mid than Jordan. Just needs some luck with injuries.

It’s obvious this thing is going to take many months, not weeks, to resolve. Understandably the AFL doesn’t want to face the facts at this point, but inevitably thIs season will have to be cancelled. Even if after a couple of months the current measures start to show some promise in reducing the infection rate, until there’s an effective way to immunise those who are most vulnerable, the restrictions can’t be relaxed. If they relaxed the restrictions, it would only take a few infected people to start the infection chain all over again and we’ll be back to square one. If an effective immunisation isn’t going to be available for 12 to 18 months, the AFL needs to start thinking about how and when pre-season training for 2021 can be run and what that means for the start date for next year’s season.

The 15 minute face-to-face advise sounds nonsensical. If someone sneezes in your face in the first second you meet them, surely you’re infected.