Kev

He has a few issues when going for marks. Sometimes, he has his hands too far above the head and the ball is not in his line of view. Other times, his wrists and elbows seem to stiff and they don't act like shock absorbers. He has difficulty finding separation, when he can create a mismatch, he does well, as he doesn't have to elevate too high. Leaping is not his preferred method. Needs to be more aggressive against his opponents, body them away instead of leading with them on his tail. Frequently finds himself with two opponents or in a pack. Loved that he can bring the ball down though. I want to see him come a bit more laterally at the contest and have his arms infront of his eyes, or a bit to the side, then have softer hands and some give in his elbows. Really needs to get his hands in the right position as he snaps the ball. High focus on the ball, don't take your of it, be relaxed and get in the zone. A bit about technique but also, alot about confidence. A little anxiety exacerbates his, not quite right technique. C'mon Weids, I still believe he can get there.

Another Friday night game, woo-hoo! Happy with this floating fixture, if they set it preseason, we would be at our usual Sunday game. This will be a challenge and will need to shift gears. The lions won't be falling over when we bring the pressure or our defensive structures. Unlike the other teams who we have made to look ordinary, my guess is the lions will fight through it. Hoping and expecting some classy football, not just our bread and butter approach. Our structures and systems are good, but we will need more. The next gear please Dees: Clean gets and disposals, we have been good this season, maintain it. Keep working for each other. They share the load and are genuinely happy for and with each other. Our fitness and gut runs have been remarkable, it is like we have extra players. Get the ball or cause them to rush their plays. Hoping for more quick ball movement. From the contest we have to have some outside runners, we have been generally busting through the middle, Lions won't let us do that. The forwards need to find separation and space on their leads, perhaps have some decoys, and don't get in each others way. Work for each other, do the 1 percenters. Oliver has been beating all his tags, Tracc is too strong to be matched. My guess, is that there will plenty of off the ball or around the contest, holding, scragging and cheap shots. Lions are a tough team and we better be ready for their muscle. Hope the umpires are up to it. It will be a cracker, we have turned up for most of the quarters this year, but we need a 4 quarter, full participation and with a strong work ethic, to win this one. This will test our best game. Go Dees.

d

Stuff the media. It is about the bucks for them. It is why we get the Sunday games regularly anyway, and so few friday nights over the decades. Fox covers us because lots of MFC supporters can afford the subscription. Free to air pander to the largest supporters base. I still remember, on a show about footy, the host saying, we won't talk about Melbourne until they beat a top 8 side back in 2018. They don't want to talk about us in extended or elaborate ways. It is great that the MFC are so accommodating to them with always offering players to interview. I wonder what the media would do if we shut the shop on them, did the bare minimum according to the contracts and just concentrated on footy for the rest of the year. Make our own in house shows, with a devils advocate for the oppositions view.

Maybe the Tassy Government would throw some bucks at us to play there. Less time to travel for us, we are more acclimatised to the weather than up north. Next would be Canberra, though I like the idea of Albury. SCG as a last resort. Not the Gold Coast. If the Lions would swap a future home game to us, then they could think about playing in Brissy. Please not North Queensland.

If they are going to call those, then all the forward that step inside, to better their angle should be called play on. They do it regularly to better the angle and try and squid the umpire. Play on you reckon, that will help the game. The straight line from the mark or free is hard to find. A bit tough to call play on. Forwards regularly have to be set by the umpires, why not the other players. Walking back, that should be the line and when you step off that line then play on. It should be the line the player sets (within reason) not what the umpires imagine unless they go and set it as with the forwards. They should all have the same rules all around the field. If the forwards want the 30 seconds they should have to have a genuine shot at the goals, or a free is paid. One time for Gawny was more about time, wasn't it. He was given hardly any! I wonder if you respond to any of my ideas or is it all a one way street, discussing only your remarks. Is it difficult for you to see others views, you just dismiss them or have no time for them?

Draws two three defenders which opens up space for others if he can release it, sometimes he doesn't. I reckon, keep taking them on. JJ still learning, improving every game. I see our improvements coming from holding the marks, improving our accuracy when kicking set shots, getting more drive off the backflanks, switching the ball a bit more as well as changing the angle of delivery a bit and controlling the tempo (go faster or slower sometimes, so to keep them guessing and to reduce or create run ons

We gave away some goals in the time on period of the 2nd quarter. I thought at the time we didn't learn from last week. In the third we got smart in time on. Can only assume the coaches got into them and reminded them of the weeks learning's.

I think you are expecting far too much. Every game will have some errors. If not the ones you point out, others will occur. Tmac breaks tackles regularly, Gawny can take shots if in the area, as can anyone. Some don't come off. Thought some of the play on calls were very tough, inconsistent calls across the season. Melky is happy halving the contest, or slowing down the play. Can get away with it sometimes. Inconsistent umpire calls across the season. Teams haven't been able to hurt us much from turnovers, let them take it on. JJ still young, again back yourself, though he will learn. They are getting the small things right and will again, but there are always small things. What gets a win is our plans, structures and the application of that, not the little stuff! I see our improvements coming from holding the marks, improving our accuracy when kicking set shots, getting more drive off the backflanks, switching the ball a bit more as well as changing the angle of delivery a bit and controlling the tempo (go faster or slower sometimes, so to keep them guessing and to reduce or create run ons) .

Sparrow has to do his runs and sprints post game to keep his work load at optimum level. So getting him on, can help with a little motivation so do his hard yards.

Agree Col, those perfect passages that always gave us hope and that we are "it", if we could do "it" much more regularly, have disappeared. When we go a bit Hollywood, it often comes unstuck now. They appear to emphasise, keeping plays simple, much less of take "it" on. A few have a licence, such as Hunty and Salem from the half-back (to break the lines) or Oliver with the skills are examples, of reward outweighs the risk. Mostly we are bread and butter, system and plans this season. Such maturity is a beautiful thing.

Out: Weids Melky Langdon In: BBB Sparrow Bowey Weids has anxiety, too much pressure on him to perform, can't find separation, can't leap and mark at the same time. Melky hasn't enough output, not playing for 4 quarters, looking slow, no longer winning 1 on 1's. Bowey is kicking well at Casey, seems a smart decision maker, can find space and is elusive, a replacement for Langdon. Can go to the backline if not working well on the wing. Sparrow needs more games at a higher level and can play as the inside mid and will do the 1 percenters. BBB to be our spearhead, needs time to gell with the team.

We make our opponents look ordinary. Bounced back. Clean football, very little fumbling. Good use of taggers. Good coaching. Jordon, Lever, Oliver, Harmes, Tracc, Tmac, Spargo, Rivers, Petty, Hibbs, all good. Melky and Weids on thin ice, IMO. Still need to take our chances when kicking for goal. Have plenty of upside and can expect more improvement as the season unfolds. Accuracy, finding separation when offensive, not flying for the same mark (did Weids spoil Fritta), taking the first option, not fumbling easy marks, a few more shepard's, Salem and Hunt had average games, so missed that fast ball through our corridors. We will miss Langdon, he is so important with him running hard and fast all game. Friday night footy with a win, we can enjoy the rest of the weekend's games and get talked about in all the shows. On the jumper clash. Wow, lots of difference in them, made even more when the white shorts are on. Disappointing, for all the broadcasters talking it up. The indigenous players feeling extra pride and then the let down. Why can't the MFC stand up to the AFL, like the others. Dreamtime game was played with much more clash. I guess the unveiling will be even more special in the Alice.

We are still forcing the errors. Oliver keeps at it, Rivers standing up, Spargo hard running to right places, Tracc is helping at the stoppages, Lever setting up well, Tmac getting into it, Fritta is working. Hold our marks, Weids and Gawny. Some beautiful in close handballs are releasing players or getting us out of trouble. No more time on goals to the dogs, please. Play it out to the siren. Haven't we learnt from the Crows game. Go Dees.

Those elite disposal by the Dogs. Wow, not when under pressure. They still look dangerous, need to stay on. Missed some easy ones again. Fritta, Jordon, Oliver, Spargo, at it and the backline is working well. They want it more. Go Dees.

Playing games, of course they will tag. Harmes needs the run with role. Jordon can do stopper roles. ANB with Daniels. Maybe not from the start, but it will happen, as has been in previous games, especially if someone like McCrae, or Libba get too much ball or if Bont starts taking control.

We are a different type of team to the tiges of old. They had grunt and could bury teams when they wanted. They would play a couple of 20 minute spurts, hit the other with a rally of goals, and could turn it on when required. The Dees play the system and structure style. This requires constant reaffirmation and we need to get some feel for the dogs after the preseason humiliation. Plenty jumped off our wagon then. I think we need the confidence as we don't instil fear, from the top teams. Belt'em around and I think it will set us up for a good 2nd half of the season. Dogs lose, the flat-track bully will start up, and playing top teams will create some mental pressures for them. Could be the same for us. We broke Richmond, now for the Dogs. Winning will positively effect our mentality and having smiles on during the week of preparation is useful to a team not known as a powerhuse. A successful home and away season (plus finishing top 4), will help with strategies going into a final series and offer less ability of others to find our weaknesses. Give them nothing. Ruthless and angry. Go Dees.

To those talking up a loss. If we we can't be competitive with the Dogs, then our prospects of being in a grandfinal is shot. There are other teams around the level of the Dogs and the Dees. We are up there with the best and can take home the grail. Comes down to, if this is our day. To the naysayers, have some heart.

It is a pressure game, and we have been able to bring the pressure this year. Possibly the best in the league, but can we perform when under the pump? They won't have the space that the Saints gave them. Get to the ball first and use it well. It is a big step up this week. What a game it will be. They will get a few, as will we. Could come down to fitness, mental strength and taking the opportunities. We can “gut run” and apparently we are angry. My biggest question is, can our accuracy improve. If accurate we win. The backline did badly last week. We have been good in that area all season, so I expect a huge bounce back. Gawn has been a bit off, I expect no marking clangers. Can someone get Oliver angry just before the whistle. They don't have a good match-up for Tracc (does anyone?). Hoping for plenty of inside 50 marks, defensive and offensive. Would love to see us convert from clearances and nullify their scoring from their clearances. Can Hunty find some space? Langdon is so important for us. Hoping Beveridge hasn't got an effective plan for him or Salem. Kossie will get lots of the ball, and we know the excitement he brings when he touches it! Cmon Dees, some moments of perfection. Do we have it in us, are we switched on, so, playing freely and without clangers? Go Dees!

Are they cancelled? I heard professional sporting games were still being played. Addit: no Casey game.

There is consistency in our selections or non selections this year. Very hard for others to get a look in. I guess a 1 point loss is close to a win, though, our system needs to be looked at, given we were nearly 3 goals up with 7 mins to go. No heads to roll! I thought Melky did alright in the first half. If he can keep that form for 4 then he will keep his place. Must be on thin ice though. No mention about Jetts injury. Was it a leg or ankle thing? Anyway, out and the quarter back is up. Hunt (who was off last week) and especially Salem are so important for our backline structure and their presence when getting repeat 50 entries and closing down corridors, as are our wings. The pressure is on Weids. I believe he will rise for the big game. ANB is also under the pump, but, given we need to stop some of their players, he should thrive with hard run with's and lockdowns. Petty will have sorted a few things out by now and could be the big improver. Fritta won't have two bad games. Bowey the med sub. Get him used to the regime as Sparrow and Chandler need game time. Can't see us going with BBB. Addit: no Casey game, so Sparrow to be the med sub

Heard somewhere on a radio program that the roof at marvel will be open -- Advantage us. Will cause some swirly wind that they possibly won't anticipate or adjust to, as well as us.

Battle for the top of the ladder. We are in every game and seem to play to the level of the other team. Can we do the same against the best? Without Treloar their midfield will be disrupted. We have felt the pain of losing and don't want to experience it again. What a time to respond. Hoping it all brings out the best in our footy. I can see us being switched on and bringing an excellent game at the dome. If our skills don't do it, then our pressure, will and selflessness, will. They are an accurate team when going and some of their leads always seem to have the opposition lagging a step or two behind. Would like to see us lead them to the ball and not fall behind them. This will need us to play shoulder to shoulder, read the play, be smart, and pressure the ball carrier. The "loss" is going to make us angrier. Go Dees

Watching that last clearance on Saturday stretch (fox), I wonder why Pickett didn't get a free in the marking contest? Adelaide player no where near the ball and hit the body, head and possibly back to spoil. Then came the umpires howler with the no deliberate call. Pickett was robbed.

We will bounce. Could be game of the year.