Kev

On second thoughts, no changes. Balic carrying the flu and didn't play at Casey not fit for the big show. Joel Smith's injury sets him back, so don't want him in as he is only just performing at AFL. Give him a bit more time at Casey. At least Vince has experience, courage, can read the play and able to close a player down. Hannan still a possible out but I can't see who comes in.

Unsure about Hannan's game, involvement and decision making. Can Harley Balic get a run, a mature head who is an outside runner? Could bring Joel Smith in. Get him settled so he can play a bit more of his natural game and start taking some marks. Out: Hannan, Vince In: Balic, Smith

Is Dom Done, given he could have been the obvious in to replace Viney. Well done Harmes, closed McCrea down. Gee some of our kicking to leads in the first half was bad. Spargo saw it flying over his head a few times when on a lead in the 50. He is finding meters off his opponent. Jesse is a confidence player. Couldn’t stick it till a free kick brought him into the game. Always attracts numerous opposition players to him. Good to see our crumbers come into the game in the second half. Max found himself isolated a few times. He should always have a crumber at his feet. Hibbs and Jetts not up to their usual standards of late. Oscar has a great fist and works closely off the shoulder of his opponent. Jordans turnovers, has to be able to see opposition players not just our own. Oliver's intentional plays often look like errors. Amazing footy brain, so creative. Very well rounded footballer, hard to stop. Angus's side steps and run through traffic, great. Max so consistently good. Doing it all over the field. Sticking marks as well. I thought Jesse was going to have the great hands. Fritsch thinks it through well, always does the right thing. Can't wait to see Petracca dominate, I want him to take the next step. I wonder if Bernie, Hannan and JKH did enough. Is Jones Ok, his kicking was usually his strength, it has been off in a few games this year. Love it when Melbourne control the ball and the opponents can't get a touch. Beautiful third quarter. Good coaching, able to change style throughout the game, good adjustments.

happy birthday Doc, wishing you more to come. The same with the game, plenty more, there is always a tomorrow. Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC G'stand Match Centre

C'mon Dee supporters, enjoy our journey. Win or lose, we are getting a better ride than in previous years. Go to game, watch the game, none of the heeby jeeby's, jinx's or general anxiety. We are competitive, we can win when we are behind and can dominate games. I know there is an emotional gamble but is only a game. Enjoy, I don't get the hide away, not go or watch it. Individual superstitions really don't determine the outcome (stop the magic thoughts). Have some courage, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on such a beautiful Melbourne day, at the "G", win or lose.

I believe we are maturing. I expect us not to let the dogs get more than 2 goals in a row and to control the momentum. We should be learning from our past bad games. Four quarters please and hard at it in the time on period. Plenty of marks for us in the 50 meter area on such a beautiful day. Go Dees!

Agree, that with JKH in, it releases Spargo. My guess Spargo will play as a mid. JKH does love tackling and hurting in tackles but will he work hard enough to get to them? His other problems could be his decision making and being a team player.

Baker is not an endurance runner yet. Would have to be an impact player off the bench. Where as JKH will look faster in the final quarter and the time on period. I do like the aggression he may bring to the game.

JKH The backline of the dogs may have to rotate players on him. The same with Tom, Jesse and ANB (all elite endurance) . That could stretch them and throw their backline out of balance. I think he is faster than Bugg and Tyson (though not saying much). I also think he is maturing well and should do better this time out. Hope he makes it, a defining game for him (AFL or not).

JKH has a big engine and can run all day.

Great to see JKH in the team. I like his aggression, hope he becomes the pest that Bugg used to be. Can see him working welll alongside Garlett. Five goals between them. Vince will be a known quantity bringing a bit of contol to our back play. Will be going in a little smaller in the backline. Hope Oscar Mc and Frosty can neutralize or win the high ball

Out: Billy stretch (injured) In: Bernie Vince Play Salem in Billy's position and Bernie into the backline.

Usually only attend the open trainings. If I am just walking past when they train I'll have a look. Next open one I'll keep an eye out. I am mid 50's, 172 cm tall, Caucasian, no MFC paraphernalia and will be walking laps of the oval. Hope to say gidday and talk about MFC.

Sorry about that. I was wrong. I'll try and get more accurate with my observations. New at this posting and I don't want to be misleading. I apologise again.

I thought the footy show having embarrassed Petracca with his basketball skills may have contributed to his poor performances.

I've seen the numbers during simulations varied, usually to the advantage of the attacking team. If the ball is turned over then the numbers are against the defenders. In drills there are plenty of one on one with ground balls or in the air. They have drills with finding a way through defenders and obstacles. I have not seen 'run with players' in drills. Usually the player doing outside stuff is unmarked. I see the same problem as you depositve, we cannot handle close marking. Intensity changes all the time. Usually the training starts with low and slow then increases then back to less intensity. Can be dependent on the break and whether we have travelled. Didn't focus much on VandenBerg but he is a big player for his mobility and desire. Loves getting the ball. Cam doing everything well. Though they appear to still be encouraging Harry Petty, wouldn't be surprised if they give him another go some time.

The drills were quick and simple. They appeared a little fumbly at first but later improved. Hopefully that's all the hangover from Darwin we have. The morning was cold and the wind was light at the start and a little stronger by the end. The conditions were reasonable for good skills. Nathan Jones vocal, placing high expectations on his troops. Group bonding appeared to be emphasized for a bit of the time. Bailey Fritsch and Oskar Baker in with the mids. Forwards had Dean Kent with them. Backs had Cam Pederson and Aaron vandenBerg. The split into these groupings only lasted for a short time. Then it was into two groups, The talls who practiced marking and the rest. Game simulations were short, with no tackling. Mainly focused on lateral ball movement then finding a corridor. Oscar McDonald and Harry Petty working on Tom Mcdonald and Jesse Hogan. In the rehab group was Jayden Hunt, Joel Smith, Dean Keilty and Dion Johnstone. Jayden was running hard by the end. Dion only doing easy laps. Joel eventually joined the main group so must have made it through the tests. Harley Balic and Billy Stretch were not on the track. Pat Mckenna appeared to have some right hamstring tightness and left early. Goodwin had some focus on Christian Petracca during individual goal kicking. The running group at the end of training included; Cam Pederson, Mitch King, Lachlan Filopovic, Tom Bugg, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Mitch Hannan, Dom Tyson, Sam Weideman, Oscar Baker, Josh Wagner and Tim smith. Cam working very hard leading most of the runs. Jay running home well on the last lap with Dom second behind him when it became competitive. Oskar most of the time tailing the group. PS. I think I saw Brendan in the rotunda of the botanical gardens with his binoculars watching Collingwood train. (not serious).

Oh, sorry didn't quite understand the commentary. Not too focused on the show. Easy to misinterpret if not too knowing of their program. How come that was all they mentioned of the Dees? You can see that others heard the same thing as me. Poor media communication, though I apologise for the misleading post. Thanks for the reply and correction 17.

Oh, sorry didn't quite understand the commentary. Not too focused on the show. Easy to misinterpret if not too knowing of their program. How come that was all they mentioned of the Dees? You can see that others heard the same thing as me. Poor media communication, though I apologise for the misleading post. Thanks for the reply and correction 17.

The footy classified show on ch 9, 9th of July 2018 said they won't talk about MFC till we beat a club above position 10 on the ladder. We suffered for years as the easy beats now we can play, they suggest this. Has it happened to any other club? What is wrong with talking about us? Us fans need to hear what the commentators views are and get some news about MFC. Are we not part of the AFL family? Why ostracize us? I hope it is tongue in cheek, though they didn't mention anything about the Darwin game and they intend not to talk about the dogs game. WOW! If we don't beat Geelong then nothing for us, peculiar. I find their statement offensive. Wouldn't happen to the bigger clubs.

The toilets need to be right next to ground otherwise players have to make there way back to the railway area, losing time and disrupting the session. At Goschs Paddock they often squat in the long grass, which isn't a great look. A space for gear needs to be close by as they often change into and out of boots or runners, plus having the phone and other personal stuff close by and secure. Encouraging spectators who may not be members should also be encouraged. So having some "comforts" for them is only sensible if we are to grow our supporter base.

Did ball hit the goal post. I thought Tracs was going to roll over the goal post (knocking it over in the style of Lee Mathews, 1982) and kick the goal.

Would like to see us have a settled team now. Changes should be due to players not being 100% or ins to match the opposition. We need cohesion now in order to build for some tough teams and hopefully to finals. We just about have a full list and there is alot of pressure for places, but we need stability. Perhaps this next game against the dogs is the last of our voluntary changes. Maybe Vince, Keilty or Baker and VandenBerg when fit. Unsure about the outs.

Such domination on the field. Freo had nothing happening, no flow and unable to find space because of our pressure. Frosty kept winning or neutralizing there ball play. Good effort by him. Angus continues to impress with his ability to get the ball and run. Max's marking and positional play was nice as was his few crumbing efforts. Hoges started so well with his marks but his misses seemed to drain him. I expect him to keep growing as the year progresses. Unsure about Lewis. Hope he is useful if make the finals or when playing bigger matches. I would love to see Joel stick a few marks. Spargo wasn't helped by the break. I can see lots of improvement by him with more games. Love it when Harmes breaks lines. Fritsch has some silk. Neville struggling to find his best form. Viney is a rock seems to hurt those who tackle him. Petracca needs to be able to finish what he starts. Love it when he gets the ball, so balanced and strong. Salem so nice by foot and Stretch is looking stronger and improves our ball carrying. A good win but we need to make scores when we dominate. I don't like us stuffing around.

Tough conditions to appraise any of the skills other than ability to work hard. Great conditions to get some game fitness into Kenty, Mckenna and VandenBerg. I thought VandenBerg was the best at it, especially into the last Quarter. He appeared to really want it. Kent is building and great to see Mckenna stay fit. I thought Kennedy-Harris did well, gee someone needed to be able to kick the goals. The go in AFL didn't help Petty. Well off it though tough for talls in the conditions. Loved Hannans involvement, taking them on and side stepping. Harley Balic seems to be getting fit, playing the outside of packs well. Weids so so, hope he gets better conditions next week and can work on consistency.