Neil Crompton

I’d like to know why, with an all Australian midfield, we cannot constantly win clearances? In only 8 out of 17 games this year have we won total stoppage clearance - and worse, in only 5 games have we won the centre clearance battle. Yet every time we have won the stoppage clearance, we have won the game - 8 from 8 - which I don’t think is any sort of coincidence. We have obviously won 5 of the remaining 9 matches without winning clearances, so we set ourselves up well enough to overcome this lose about 55% of the time. (I don’t know the stats from last year but I don’t remember us being so poor at these stoppages). We only have to look at the GF last year to know what damage we can do if we win the centre clearances, but there have been very, very few signs of this happening this year. 3 out of our 4 centre bounce players are All Australian, and we continually lose clearance? That’s a really big problem in my eyes. Don’t tell me about defensive pressure on opposition clearance means we can win the ball back, etc, because so far this year if we win clearance, we win the game. If we lose clearances, we win 55% of the games. I’d much prefer to win the clearances thank you.

Well played Ethan.

what such an inspirational person she is. And such a breathe of fresh air.

Any more losses and I'll be getting loaded

A number of posters also find constant put downs of our players tiresome. Get over it.

Ouch! (haha and I thought you said you understood boys humour!)

Because it can get so cold, “Mama told me not to come”

Haha That makes 2 of you

He’d fit right in here then would he Luci.

Now I’ve got it - well done D, great puzzle.

Sorry layzie, I don’t know and to be honest I don’t care. It is my hope that this thread closes so that his name is not a focus on DL anymore. Of course that is just my bias that the MFC and TW should never be spoken of in the same sentence (like I just did……spit!)

Thanks for that. Not sure I still don’t believe there is a problem up forward, in addition to fatigue, but I’m here to learn. Another question, if we know we are fatigued during certain games say after half time, what is our plan B to account for that? Surely we don’t meekly accept that we will be overrun and lose games? Perhaps the coaches need to work on a better Plan B at these times.

That’s not what you said, nor what you meant. I wouldn’t dig yourself in any deeper.

I’ll be happy just to make the final 4 first Luci, give our form and our draw

I’d like to see Gus move into the middle for this game if Oliver is out, in preference to Dunstan. (We don’t need another in the middle with poor foot skills when we already have Viney, Harmes and Trac for that). It’s the ground Gus was BOG playing a midfield role a few years ago; and as evidenced in the practice games this season, when Gus went into the middle, he and Gawny had a great connection at the centre bounces. We’d lose a key member of our backline, but it also would give Hunt and/or Rivers a chance at redemption. Our forward line is not functioning, despite what some posters might be saying, and therefore needs a shot in the arm ( not the Essendon type though). Laurie has earned a debut and should get a run. We need a second tall imo and that’s a choice between the tried and rarely true Weid and the untried van Rooyen. I’ve always been wishful when it comes to the Weid, but this time I’d like to see the van Roy boy get a debut.

Except for Gus, yet

Yes, I imagine you are

I’m sure he’s lusting for a list spot Binny.

Haha I think you’ve just reverted back to Jaded again.

Please tell me why that is. Here’s an idea - what if they spread out instead and offered a choice of 2 targets rather than one dirty big pack, where our mids and smalls never seem to prosper from the failed pack mark?

Did anyone else hear the post game comment that Geelong are seriously chasing Gus? If the MFC cannot get Gus to re-sign then it will be the beginning of the end for the club, and I will start supporting Cats - there, I said it. Get it done Dees!!!

I’m going to stick my neck out and say that I believe that all the hype around Jacko - the incredible potential, the generational player - is just noise that at this stage in his career is simply baseless. He may become a reasonable player - but no way will he be “generational”. He rarely holds a mark around the ground - and certainly not one grab - he doesn’t win many hit outs at stoppages, and stats wise, there has been only minor improvement from last year - not the progress you’d expect from a “generational” player. While I’d prefer him to stay - as I think he will continue to be a good back up to Gawny - but if he wants to go, I’d prefer it be now rather than in 2 years time, as I believe we’ll get more for him now than in 2 years time. In 2 years time, the hype will be considerably muted, as his improvement, I believe, will not warrant such hype any more. The old adage of buy low and sell high definitely applies to this. I don’t think his trading stocks will get any higher than this year. Good luck to the kid, no hard feelings if you want to go, but I’m now more looking forward to the talent we can obtain from the trade.

Hey Binman, can you please explain to me again why we shouldn’t be concerned about our forward line?

Of course there is. Anyone who says there isn’t is kidding themselves.

Thank goodness for Gus down back