The Chief

Just arriving in Launceston, just as wet here as in Melbourne

Like most others lucky enough to see Flower play, easily the best MFC player by a mile in my lifetime. Freakish skills and a sixth sense for knowing how to avoid most of the hits, remembering this was a very violent time in the VFL. He had amazing courage for a bloke who physically looked out of place. I was lucky enough to have a beer with him a couple of years before he died, just a regular bloke who liked a chat, had absolutely no tickets on himself. Such a tragedy that he died without seeing Melbourne win a flag.

If it comes down to a tall forward choice between Brown and Weid, then Weid will need to lift considerably

Very happy with a win, but Adelaide have lost a lot of experience and you’d think will be bottom 5. Spargo unfortunately has no AFL attributes, his best hope is to become a tackling/pressure small forward, but that looks unlikely. ANB, like last year, had minimal impact. If he’s getting games during the season then we’ll clearly be struggling. Weid still can’t take a contested mark, Brown looks a better option.

Channel 7 saying Gawn sole captain after winning player vote.

Hi I’m in again, thanks. Last year & this year’s team name “The Chiefs”, coached by the Chief

Surprised players are getting away with using body momentum to work out their biceps & triceps. Lot of effort for minimal gain.

As Neale lives in Melbourne, staggered he again missed out on this year’s ‘Victorian of the Year’ to go into the running for ‘Australian of the Year’. The courage and selfless dedication to finding a cure that will never help him deserves that recognition.

The Chief, 99 and the 2 junior agents are all attending tonight’s B&F. Last year was a great celebration, on reflection maybe a bit too much self congratulation. Expect that attending tonight’s will be a bit like shooting myself in the shoephone.

Totally judgmental, but if you lined up the pure footy talent of the Tigers defenders yesterday (so exclude Rance) against Melbourne’s defenders, I don’t think there’s much of a difference. But Richmond’s defence in terms of organisation, desperation, teamwork, tackling and pressure makes their performance look light years ahead of where Melbourne’s currently sits. That gap has to be largely attributed to the difference in coaching and development. There is something seriously wrong for this to go so far off the rails in one season and Goodwin must be held accountable. If there’s little improvement by pre bye round next season surely the Board has to act.

Think the views on JKH are harsh, seems to be tainted by his poor performances some time back and not his current form. Has had some major injuries but out of the small mids/fwds bunch I’d still have him ahead of Spargo, ANB, Stretch, Garlett, Jones and the Wagners. On the flip side, Salem’s disposal skills are still viewed as excellent by many, but this year they’ve been mostly poor, probably masked by those around him just being poorer.

Will report back if I hear anything new, though think that’s highly unlikely.

Heading into the MFC Chairman’s function. Be interesting to gauge the mood of the high & mighty on where we’re at.

Needs to be a third choice: 3) Absolutely zero chance of 1) or 2) choices ever occurring

Yeah good idea. TMac is definitely salvageable with good coaching, but seriously doubt much can be done with Weid, other than offering him to the Pies in the hope Ed goes all misty eyed on the romance story of Grandfather, Dad and son fairytale and pays over the odds.

In Vegas and wondering if anyone knows if you can watch AFL live anywhere?

Any prospects in Albert Park/Lakeside Oval area?

Wagner pretty unlucky. Frost’s selection looks like coach’s conceding we lacked speed last week and Cats looked very quick.

Not too hard to articulate the problem, history shows how difficult it’s been to actually solve. I had some dealings with Pert at the Pies, he can spin a good story. I’ll hold my praise until he delivers the solution.

Not sure about those saying it was like a training session between 2 teams. I was surprised at how physical it was, there were a number of clashes that were very audible, Brayshaw in the 3rd probably the loudest. Lions looked much quicker, not just because of leg speed but also they linked up much better. Obviously their extras on the bench and our injuries were factors in this. Their quick movement out of the backline kept finding our backs poorly positioned or isolated. Our backs looked slow and we’d have to be considering Frost for OMac to help fix this. Inclusion of Jones, Viney and Melksham would surely have got us the win, so I’m not too stressed by the loss. Selection for Rd 1 will be very interesting, didn’t see much to excite from Spargo or ANB, if they play then training form must be rated higher than practice game performance.

Yes, he’s blinded by the light and easily led astray when we’re on the gas

Did my bit today by convincing a West Coast supporter who has just moved to Melbourne from Perth to buy MFC membership.

Pruess’s ruck timing is way off, needs to fix it fast to get that second ruck position.

David King keeps saying he ‘can’t wait to see Max Gawn in action’ in Shepparton, has there been a change or is Kingy on the gas?

Like to understand the logic of how running through snow helps with an ACL recovery. Some fitness genius probably getting paid big bucks for this training ‘innovation’. No concern with any risk from slipping over from a knee under recovery?