Neil Crompton

I though Smith was our only forwards who constantly put in. He definitely plays next week. TMac was [censored], so agree there. His one wood has been his kicking for goal - and when that goes, you know he’s shot.

Didn't he play that role on saturday with Schache, TMac and BBB out? Don't believe that his one possession game would have built much confidence. Hopefully he learns a lot from it, and that this, in part, helps drives his transformation next season. Good luck to him.

it will be nice when he starts growing "outwards" instead of up.

To my mind, the MFC made a big sales pitch and a commitment to Grundy when we contracted him., and we need to make Gawndy work.He is a AA ruckman. He is a top bloke. He has all the qualities we want in a clubman. There is no real reason the two cannot work together - even if it’s 15 min on and 15 min bench time each quarter. WTF would you let him go and replace him with a second rate or has-been ruckman? Make it work Melbourne, or look very silly if you cannot. I think we will play him Thursday.

I think it is really a poor show by MFC, imo. There is no way that Schache, Brown, Woey and Spargo would be getting a game on Thursday so they should have played today, which would have really helped Casey, and at least made them competitive. To my mind they have really let down Casey, and let down those 4 who go without a game. I’m [censored].

The ladies' skills have been getting better and better each year, with last year a standout. I now really enjoy watching the Dees play. Will seem very different without Daisy playing, though. Good luck to Mick and the ladies for tonight and the whole season.

This is a final that is important to the club and those playing. How do you then take 4 of your best player out and rest them for the last quarter (or quarter and a half!) as you suggest? That would mean no interchanges for that period. With respect, hopefully that is not going to happen.

Found it interesting that Nic Nat said that he was certain that he was being drafted by MFC (as we had told him that) and was shocked when we picked Watts instead. If we had, I wonder what a difference that would have made to Max’s development?

They couldn’t do it for Sam W unfortunately, what makes him think they can do it for Josh?

Not sure if he will or not, but if TMac gets selected to play finals it will be an absolute credit to him and his amazing determination, persistence and never-give-in attitude given the injuries and the time out he’s had over the last few years. If he is fit and in form we are a better side with him playing.

My fav used to be the homemade milo thick shake. The more milo and ice cream the better.

Haha I wish you’d keep your hand off your nethers, BBO.

Ladder position irrelevant. Play anyone anywhere should be our mantra together with strong winning form going into the finals.

I’d still rather have kept Jackson, if possible.

Our new forward coach next year?

a lot auditioning. for your replacement

Haha no one takes drummers seriously anyway.

Interesting point Tim. Lever had approx 69% of his total marks and 63% of his disposals after Tommo went off (with Smith going back to replace Tommo). Could this simply imply that we need 3 talls down back, with the third tall not necessarily Tommo? Could be Smith, could be Disco Turner? Disco had a very good game at Casey by all accounts - is he worth a try? ('cause Tommo did look pretty slow on a few occasions). I also prefer Smith playing forward.

Posted February 1, 2021 (edited) Just viewed the training photos. What stood out to me was how much Trent Rivers has filled out since last year. Of all our recruits selected in the past two drafts, I believe he will end up proving to be our most important selection of them all. I don’t want to brag, but I just found this old post of mine from Feb ‘21.

No we really don’t. We could use Joel Smith as the second tall with JVR and give him a good go at it. Of the 4 you mention, at least Joel can take a contested mark, he can lead and he is better below his knees than those 4. He’s trained all year as a forward - and yet he has played mainly in defence when he has come on - let’s give him a go. Why train him as a forward if we do not use him there? We certainly have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain IMO.

Great post Sam. Both defenses were superb. You are the 4th or 5th poster to say that without our defensive efforts, Carlton should have been 5-8 goals up at quarter time. Which begs the question, why does Joel Smith cop such BS on here? He was part of that brilliant defensive effort. His spoiling and tackling were very good. Yet he cops the "should never play back again", or "should be the permanent sub". The poor bloke has been training as a forward all year and yet gets placed down back. We are lucky to have someone with his versatility. Personally, i would prefer him as a forward, but really happy for him to be getting game time, in any role, after so many horrid injuries throughout his career. He is the ultimate team player as he'll take on any role he is given.

For a moment I thought you must be a class athlete. Second paragraph soon told me differently. Not to dismiss your horrid injury. Hope all is operating as it should now.

Fried?

Not good news, but it gives someone else a opportunity to shine. Let's hope so anyway.

I think our goalkicking in the last could qualify as embarrassing, JadedNM.