kev martin

Well done Demon Army. When setting up at the centre bounces in the last, out came the raucous, MCG filling chants. Lifted them, as it gave them a reminder, that they have fans to play for. Great work on the banner as well. @WalkingCivilWar

Too much bombing it into forwards and allowing intercepts. When we lowered the eyes, or went quickly we looked so much better. All those turnovers, then giving up the corridor as they played quickly, hurt us. When we held them up we controlled the game. We have to be able to stop those quick plays, we just don't transition well when it happens fast. Must also be ready when a team decides to "take it on". Played well when we had too. The stoppages worked well. Our process to ice the game worked OK. Still needs a bit of work to make sure we find the boundary. Don't like the handballs to players in bad positions. Thought we were going to tackle well, when pregame we focused on it. Pressure was good, just couldn't hold them. A good win, with entertainment value of a close game. Glad we hit back at the right times and held on.

Drizzle has stopped. Breaks in clouds now, as blue peaks through.

Wet or slippery game, still drizzling here in the city. Forecast says the sprinkle is abating. Marks are so important to our structures. At least, I hope we play infront and have the right boots on. We have been playing consistently over the four quarters (better than previous years, and last week drop in 2 and 3 was an aberration, plus a little bath water), showing we have built our maturity. Love our young players. The mids are doing well, led by Gus, with Clarry out and Tracc foward. C'mon those on the edge of selection, push hard today. Our team is so much more flexible in our set ups and styles now, good coaching. We must be a headache to play against. Go Dees.

Thought I could see some development happening for the AFL listed. Jefferson finding good positions, Adams looking stronger, Verrall getting some involvement, Deakin.S playing well, Sestan, though not much involvement is looking fit, running out the game and looks like he has improved his skin folds. Spargo and Dunstan played well. Harmes, I wish he wouldn't play himself or others into trouble. Dursma can take a mark. Edwards looks composed, moves well, gets involved. Grundy nearly, though for a big paid, player should be dominating at VFL level. Started taking his marks in the 4th.

Sometimes turning it all off and on, gets it going.

No, only the Matildas and the opening game. The rest is on opus sports. I guess they will play them all when out of groups. https://7plus.com.au/fifa-womens-world-cup-schedule?utm_medium=cpc_google&utm_source=marketing&utm_campaign=fifa_2023&utm_content=brand&gclid=CjwKCAjwtuOlBhBREiwA7agf1rTA6uqGtEELNzTFO6nXuRLhTM7JAf8PxQOO1PUa0_B3p2iQFjgQexoCgcQQAvD_BwE Just had a look at the broadcast fixture, only the final and it looks like the semis as well, are free to air. The rounds of 16 are not free to air either. I heard seven will broadcast the Australian games?

Weeds out, Oskar in. Which teams turn up tonight, fumbles and cannot clear the backline, or good marking, smart, quick ball movement with some swarming runs? The mids battle could be interesting.

Anyone else disappointed that the FIFA Women's World Cup cannot be watched live free to air, in the group stages, unless a Matilda's game. Oh well, more power to the AFL. As the FIFA once again misses the opportunity to gather fans.

Saw some tele-vision (ch7), of Collingwood being back on the Glasshouse oval, and not on the Gosch.

In the early years of AFLW they had this order. There was an apparent lopsideness, with good teams in one group and some easy beats in the other. Large percentage, and win loss differences entailed. The observer could see that the best did not have an equal chance to play. Better not to split into divisions.

At the start of the game against Brissy, he was in the rooms. I think I saw him on ch7's broadcast. Perhaps back up for Petty, though not named as an emergency. Cannot imagine Tomlinson not giving 100% if selected. He even try's hard in the two's and at practice.

From a MFC supporters view, we have finished just outside the right to play in a finals series, quite a few times. A couple of thoughts. Would have been great to have a look in. Too many times, having no involvement for long periods was demoralising. At least, with a play off we would have got to watch a game when we were part of the few. Hated not being in finals on a regular basis, especially when going with mates to watch non-MFC games. If we played in a final series before we were ready, wouldn't that make for some experience that could be built on, and therefore with more improvement, the finals prep would be familiar. As an advocate for teams not doing well. The more capacity to have a chance to get in a finals series or at least be playing in a game where others don't play that week, I would endorse, because, experience for the team, and entertainment for that teams patrons.

I mean unleveled because, they don't play each other twice. Also, if they get a very weak team twice, that influences the percentages, which may have a big say on position. Those with big home advantages seem to have bigger percentages at the end of home and away. Gives a bit more evenness to that anomaly as well. Teams will continue to improve or underachieve, from one season to another. The draws can't predict this, and the consequences throw the attempt to level it, out of whack. it's the last chance for an even'er-uper. When 19 or 20 teams, it will still be approximately 50/50 on home and away performance. ["The lower you finish on the ladder the better access you get to higher-ranked draft picks"] Free agency disturbs this a bit.

I imagine the team finishing higher get the home ground advantage. Unless you mean, that the extra game without a week off, makes it that they won't have a chance to make or win the grand.

I am a yes. Evens up a unleveled fixture a bit. Has the game more focused on the end of season form, so teams can build and try things earlier on and still get a chance to play finals. More teams stay alive come the end of the season, so less going through the ropes, and keeps more H&A games relevant. Top 4 get an even greater advantage with week off. If they are good enough they get a chance. More do or die footy.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times They haven't been good at posting open trainings though. My guess for training is: Monday review run, 11.00 or 11.30 am, either Casey or Xavier. (Possibly Tuesday) Day before game, a captain's run at Xavier, 9.30 am. The main training out at Casey at 9.30 am, Wednesday or Thursday.

I think Xavier it has been resurfaced.

I support your sentiment. Never have I thought they make poor decisions deliberately, I put it down human nature. My two cents worth. When the umps enter the oval and the broadcaster ask us to welcome them, I am regularly the only one in the area to applaud them. I would have thought, given the hostility they face by some of the spectators, that more support would be gained. The parents, I would expect to at least show something, in order to install in their young ones a sense of respect. I am continually disappointed. I guess they come from the school of Boo's. The umpires do a tough job across all levels, and we wouldn't have a game without them. They need our respect and less derogatory calls towards them. My moto when a howler happens is, we can win without the benefit of frees. Though inconsistency can damage the entertainment. Keep up the support and sensibilities Macca, I am on board with you.

When I looked on google maps, it appeared that the oval was being refurbished. Perhaps it has a beautiful surface, and a great gym, now. Any DL's are Old Xaviens, attend or have teenagers there?

I think our facilities in AAMI are for the World Cup and Gosch's is being used by the Collingwood FC.

Watched the replay. We dominated the last quarter, those saying we got lucky or stole it, are wrong I reckon. Four misses early on, continued pushing, played desperate, and had belief. We opened the forward area well, and that gave us the ability to compete and score. What I would like to see us develop, is the ability to clear the ball out of the backline. The Saints held it in and Brissy did it for those two quarters that we lost. They forced multiple entries on us, as we struggled to get the ball past the centre. We fell off their players and our zone got picked because we didn't have time to set it. We need to either find a boundary, a releasing mark, a corridor or maintain possession, when exiting. Can't let the oppo put that much pressure on our backs.

I noticed that our training is still occasionally in the city, at Xavier College, 135 Bakers, Kew. Looked like they had a captain's run there, before the Brissy game.

Melky has now cemented his name in the 22. Looks like a rejuvenated man, his dream of playing in a GF, if we get there, is alive. That is, if consistency is his friend. I also reckon he is important with regards to his relationships with our younger brigade. He would have helped steered them through their growth and have been supportive, during the Casey time. Knows there strengths and weaknesses, and possibly, he is helping to keep them grounded, professional and having an impact.

Apologies to the Brissy supporter who was having a meltdown and I asked him is there anything I can do to help. I think it was the straw that broke him. (A verbal is close to a posting)