BigFez

As always I'll add a disclaimer that I don't read every post in every thread, so apologies if this has been done to death. I've always scoffed at suggestions of putting May forward. Why would you put a generational key backman in the forward line? However, right now, I'm here for it. After getting his pants pulled down by Mitch Georgiades (feels weird even typing that), he is now leading the reverse Coleman for the year. We have good key defensive stocks in Turner, Lever, Petty, McDonald. Our key forwards are lacking at this stage. He would compete in the air, and make intercept defenders very nervous. Is it not worth a try?

Spot on, we bring the effort from yesterday to even one quarter of the saints game and we win. After the swans and lions wins, the effort against the Saints is the one that annoys me the most. And the fact most of us weren't even surprised by it is a great way to summarise what it is to be a Melbourne supporter.

Collingwood's best footy is the best I've seen so far this season from any team as much as it hurts to say. If we bring the effort we did against the saints it will be 100 points. Really hoping we come to play.

Who could forget that left foot 50m goal in the semi against the Hawks. They'd had 9 of the last ten inside 50s and were coming hard in the 4th quarter. "what about that from Melksham". Gus also involved in that passage, what a player.

Pearce getting 3 and Maynard getting 0 is nothing short of a disgrace.

Copped a hit in the throat from Raynor, apparently was having trouble swallowing and talking so was sent to hospital. Not damage though and right to go according to AFL dot com.

Pretty sure he led the league in goal assists in 2018. I have always maintained we look like a better team when he is in it.

Apologies for railroading this thread into punting talk! I know some don’t like it. Back onto the coaches award, I really wish this was the most prestigious award instead of the Brownlow. I feel like the wheel is turning in this regard, but the Brownlow still gets all the attention. Coaches opinion should far outweigh the umpires opinion.

Xerri having a great year, but Max has him covered in just about every stat you can think of bar tackles (easily) and clearances (just). I feel like Max's game would catch the umpires' eye slightly more as well, with the high marking. Along with the bald head/beard combo he's pretty hard to miss! Xerri looks to be the one who'll take the mantle eventually, other than perhaps De Koning.

He could quite well have polled 10-13 votes in the last 5 weeks. 3s against Richmond, West Coast, Brisbane and Freo, maybe pinch one against the Hawks. He polls pretty well for a ruckman too. If he keeps this form up wouldn't be surprised at all to see him near the pointy end.

Max still $51 for Brownlow. Am I the only one who thinks that's outrageous?

I wish I had your confidence. I think they'll be far too strong. Their backline is a fair bit ahead of our forward line, I reckon we'll struggle to kick a score. Viney is a huge out too. More than happy to be proven wrong though!

Apologies if I have missed something and this has been answered before (numerous times), but have we not had any training reports this week? I see Training Reports have their own page now, accessed from the side menu, but the most recent item is from the 8th March.

With how putrid we are at defending fast ball movement, I'm surprised we've won a game tbh.

Pretty much every one of Oscar McDonald's touches has ended in a goal. Playing really well.

Knee. Nothing further yet.

SMASHED out of the middle AGAIN

He said he's building every week but not fully back to his best. If 28 and 3 with 11 clearances is 'building' then I'm looking forward to seeing him back to his best.

For whatever reason, this is coming up blank for me. Would someone please be able to elaborate for me? Got a decent reaction so my interest is piqued.

I thought we were caught ball watching quite a bit when the ball was in dispute. Freo set up really well with outlets via handball through the middle and our guys were a bit flat footed. That led to a couple of easy goals for them. Hopefully they can tidy that up a bit. I reckon Goody would have rated AJ's game and he'll be a real chance of a Rd 1 debut. Hopefully his effort and attack on the ball make up for what I perceived as a slight lack of height and speed for a key fwd. Gees he had a crack though.

I was pretty surprised on how long we were to make the 8, considering last year we weren't all that far away despite the injuries to many of our stars. I'll be getting on that for sure. Oliver for Brownlow is an interesting one. Even in his dominant AFLCA winning seasons he didn't win, he was still a number of votes behind the eventual winner. Not sure if they umpires love him enough to get him over the likes of Bont, Neale, Daicos, Cripps etc. The umps will give those blokes 3 votes just for showing up sometimes. I reckon Tracc is the better bet for Brownlow personally, the umps seem to like him.

I would never write off a JT selection. I for one believe there are many country footballers who, on talent alone, are superior natural footballers to plenty on AFL lists, they just lacked the drive and dedication to get themsleves to the level of fitness required to compete with the elite juniors at draft age. I played with and against plenty of guys who went on to be drafted, and there were guys who would be every bit as good, or better, but just liked the good times a bit too much to drive themselves to that level. If this bloke has discovered that drive slightly later, there's no reason to think he can't have an impact at AFL level. The recruiters have obviously seen something in him, and I'm here for it. Go well young man. How tall was Nick Riewoldt again? Not comparing the two but sugestions 193cm is too small for an effective forward are misguided.

I'd be interested to hear if Kentfield is showing anything to suggest he might see some AFL action this year. Only things I've really heard about him are he's big and slightly off the pace in terms of fitness.

Has it been said that West Coast were bookies favourites in this game?