kev martin

The fixture has given us a definite advantage over the collywobbles. We get to watch there set ups, then they lose players who are being managed or don't get over the niggles. They have there first 4 day turn around (I think), so will be unsure of there energy/intensity levels. An advantage but can we wack them. Be ruthless Dees. Get some percentage increase while we can. Wouldn't change the backline. They have been strong and Lockhart may need more time. Looked sore against Adelaide. In: Gawn and Viney Out: TMac and Spargo

We should have an advantage, we know the area and field. The week before, we play the Bulldogs Saturday, (Metricon), St.Kilda play Brisbane Sunday (Gaba).

I remember the West Coast Eagles whining about hubs. Hopefully our club is complaining to AFL incorporated about our change of training areas. We have to include Casey in that as well, given our home is Gosch's.

Both have a good set kicking method. I expect the problem is in their heads. Again, consistency with kicks and ball handling should come with more experience. Weeds still young and Fritsch needs to settle as a forward. Love that Weids doesn't look scared of the contact any more. Can hold his own and is clunking a few.

We seem to play better when he is in the team. Perhaps the comeback from the injuries inspire them, plus his straight lining of players, he is the enforcer, the protector. Positions himself well, can mark and I think he will only get better as game fitness improves. Hopefully he gets the "dumb" out of his game.

He seems to work in a different time zone. Loved his ability to connect with Oliver. Both fast muscle twitches. As he gets more experience I can see those fumbles not happening. Though a little concerning. The clean players are guns. He has a footy intelligence. The marks seem to be the basic lack of concentration. Agree he needs to settle, take some time but gee it is a big step up from what he is used to.

Thought the backline was great, especially the first half when they were slinging everything back that came there way. Goody's structures are working well. North couldn't get anywhere. Tried the keepings off, like how Geelong got us but it just pushed them further into our forward line, then the pressure hit them. They didn't have a plan B. Great pressure game around the ball from us. Oliver got his kicking together. Petracca has become elite, still the yips a bit infront of the goals. Not many turnovers, though a fair bit of fumbling. We are becoming a much more direct team.Did we "switch" the play at all? Enjoyed Jackson's game. Rivers did some important things. We are taking marks. We do some stupid things at times. Thought Melksham would have done better given his responsibility of leading by example. Feel for North, 4 day break and travelling, then the injuries during the game Hope we don't drink from the bath again. Let's keep winning.

Feel bad for ANB. The centrifugal forces got him. Could destroy his AFL career. The tribunal destroyed Tom Buggs game by making him an example with harsh decisions. He was never the same again after he wacked that player. I wonder why the umpire didn't give a 50 meter penalty for the aggression after the high tackle, if it appeared excessive. Would like to see them take into account the victims behaviour in incidents. The Adelaide player did not brace for any impact as he was attempting to kick.

Hoping for no more 4 day breaks between games. Sunday will be our second. They should endeavour to share the 4 and 5 day breaks around, as well as the travel days so as not to bias the teams.

Does anyone know what happened to the guy that Lockhart went at? He charged at him when Lockhart was limping. A bit similar to Carlisles aggression, hitting the injured hand of opponent.

Good to see us back to playing for 4 quarters. Forward line is functioning better. Still need a small crumber. Great we are taking marks. May is important for us. Fix up our turnovers , handballs to players under pressure, wayward kicks and we will be good. There are some passengers at times, need all to get involved in the game. Keep developing Dee's.

I thought he got a bit angrier when he heard the whistle for a high tackle against him (dubious) and he took it out on the opposition player. Two weeks for a MFC player and because of the concussion.

I believe they are camping out in Adelaide until after the Sunday game against North Melbourne game.

"A fierce wll to win" isn't just a bull at the gate type. In team sports it requires players chemistry and cohesion. I believe that it is about making the others around you better players, because without that we lose. Often, our disposals put the teamates under pressure. We need a team that brings the best out of each other, with act towards the advantage of the other, 1 percenters, support and sacrifice. We need a team, that as a collective, refuses to lose.

We need all members of the team to want to win and not settle for second best (not just a couple of them). They also need a variety of AFL level skills that can be performed under pressure but they have to be able to "will" themselves in the game. I hope one day we find a team that can get a 70% win/lose ratio.

I want them to recruit players that want to win. People that hate to lose. We need heart and desperation. Get the psychologists to test them. They also need AFL standard skills. If only Ding had the AFL skill level, as he hates losing!

It is his first public criticism of the team. Assume he would of said '(censored)' privately or shared within his group and with other board members during his tenure. We are not really playing like achieving the objectives the club told the supporters we are aiming for over the next 5 years. Without addressing the clubs on-field problems that have been there for a long time. (such as; playing the 4 quarters, controlling the momentum within the game, responding when we are challenged, having a functional forward line, developing drafted players, making good decisions, having AFL standard skills, being a 'hard' team to play against, etcetera) the club will suffer, membership will suffer and objectives will not be reached. People who have shots at the team aren't sick of the team but are sick of the results. Most will keep their interest but will they stay financial supporters? The board want us to be a powerhouse again. PS. I think most of us will still be watching. Not sure if Goodwin is the type of person to 'take the paint off'. He would more likely set processes into action. Let's hope playing the bottom teams helps us get our game right.

Suggest you crack at Bartlett about his 'wingeing'. Tell him to stop watching and that he is not the type of fan you want in the MFC.

Agree about May., he is playing accountable football. We have a bit of a backline flood and crowding of the zones going. This is why I think our backline is working ok, though at the expense of energy to the midfield group.

So the topic is "so I think I worked it out". Are you saying the problem is the fans? Or there is no problem? Are you telling me not to watch MFC games? I think the obvious problem remains our forward line, the lack of connection and conversion of inside 50's to score. Give us you thoughts on this? Please don't tell me how to use my time. I'm an adult and can choose my own behaviour without your mastery.

I believe there are some academic papers that suggest that once the professional players get the right contract then their performances suffer. Perhaps we need more contracts that emphasise the performance. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_year_phenomenon

Turnovers kill us. I wish we could dispose of the ball to our advantage. Is it the skills and that we can't execute under game pressure? Are we drinking the bath water again? Is Pickett going to kick some goals? We need marks inside the 50. Also thought that they were at last playing for 4 quarters before the Port game showed our flaws. The next two weeks will tell alot about us. Isn't that always the way, constantly play, have to win games. Always under points pressure. Hoping we will get ahead of the curve someday.

I don't mean they are found all at the same time in that area. It is difficult to know with tv viewing. Though what drew my attention was seeing Fritsch in the backline. It is also the high forward line that gives me ths impression of everyone zoning the defensive. I want to work out why our 50 entry conversion is atrocious and the opposition (Port in particular) sling off our forward line to score. I feel it is about transitions, disposals to advantage and intensity. The players don't seem to know where each other are as they continually change roles. So my idea is that we run around the field too much. Our main 6 backline players are our stability, the rest could be anywhere.

You are right. Our backline is doing the job. I notice that every player is sometimes found in that part of the ground, which makes it a bit easier to defend in a crowded area. I think we lose energy and intensity because of the effort to fill the back zones. My point is more about how we are playing out of traditional positions and our forward structure suffers. Players cannot blindly kick knowing a tall will be close to the ball drop.

The haircut of first year player Jackson. It shows some people in the hub have no idea.