Fanatique Demon

8 hours ago, Dee-lusional said:

Does Tom McDonald swing back and fill the void of Steven May?

The coach had said on more than one occasion - including after today’s match - that Tom is NOT going to play in the back line.

I’m doing my best, although there’s always a little doubt.

Just thinking about 2020 and 2021, we have beaten Carlton, Gold Coast, Adelaide, North, Collingwood, St Kilda (twice), GWS (twice), Essendon, Freo, Geelong and Hawthorn (twice) for 14 wins out of 22 games. That’s just OK. 

But we have cause for optimism, because since the loss to Port Adelaide last year, we have won 11 of our last 14. Port Adelaide and Richmond have done better, but I doubt there are many other teams in our situation. (The Bulldogs have won 10 of their last 14.)

So, we’re getting there. And so am I.

1 minute ago, rjay said:

Would agree with you on Bedford but really stepped it up a notch today in the VFL game...if he can put a few more like that together he may have a future.

Wish I’d have seen it. Imagine how another small like Kosi would mesmerise the opposition. Like WC’s Ryan and Rioli did a couple of years ago.

3 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

IN. WEID BEDFORD SPARROW 

OUT. MITCH BROWN (unlucky) JORDON SPARGO

Interesting. I haven’t seen Bedford this year but he would have to be twice as good as last year to displace Spargo or Jordon because he was miles off AFL standard. That said, if he has improved enough, I look forward to seeing it.
 

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Melk only turned up in the last 10 mins.

Simply not true. Bias is a terrible thing because it blinds us to what is right in front if us. Melksham had 9 score involvements and kicked three goals. Did you even see his amazing kicks to set up Gawn and Jones? Gawn kicked the goal. It’s not Melksham’s fault Jones missed a simple shot at goal. Melksham was only on the ground for 69% of game time. Was he perfect? Of course not. Second game back and coming along very well. We need him because he is the most creative forward we have.

Thanks, Joe Boy. In my view,

Jones: one game left

Jackson: please hold marks

Melksham: good; more please

Petty: words escape me

I love it when it’s hard to decide the votes in a winning team.

6 Gawn 

5 Lever 

4 Oliver

3 McDonald

2  Hibberd

1 Salem

6 minutes ago, adonski said:

Melksham haters aren’t going to like this ?

And a negative result for Jones. He might have to wait a week for his 300th. 

18 minutes ago, No Plan B said:

Jackson doesn’t count as a tall IMO

Because he can’t hold his marks. When he fixes that, watch out!

1 minute ago, Pates said:

Melksham was barely sighted in the first half

He played very little of the first quarter and only 69% of the game. That considered, his output was good.

34 minutes ago, Pates said:

Big captains goal!

Dear Melksham haters. Did you see that kick to Maxy? And the one earlier to Jones? He’s the only one in the team who can make that kick. Yes, he needs to do it more often and needs to apply more ground-level pressure. But he’s elite with delivery. Kicked three goals, too.

1 minute ago, Chook said:

Burgoyne had the ball, went to ground, put the ball on the ground, then slapped it away, all with no one tackling him. Isn't that incorrect disposal?

Nope.  That’s ok if he isn’t being tackled.  

4 minutes ago, Dee-lusional said:

petty is starting to find his feet

So now he call pull his socks up.

2 minutes ago, praha said:

technically it was Hibberd for May, and Fritsch for Petty.

I don’t think so. It was Hibberd for Jetta, Petty for May and Brown for Frisch.

Lever is amazing and Max is great. Jones and Petty are shocking. Jackson needs to hold his marks. And it would really help they all could kick!

Those calling for Petty’s inclusion might not be so bullish about him now.  Very ordinary so far.

Remember Brent Crosswell? Barassi used to switch him from end to end. And Crosswell truly was a gun.

Ah, let’s just win both and be done with it.

7 hours ago, DubDee said:

If only the VFL season had started so we had some players in form.

It’s crazy that the VFL season starts at AFL round 5. Surely that has to be fixed next year.

1 hour ago, The Stigga said:

Tracc on 360- wrapped about Oliver.

Said difference between now and two years ago is we take feedback heaps better and are more mature, whereas two years ago, we may have said 'get stuffed' to feedback.

Sign of maternity for sure, to be able to take well intentioned feedback.

(And in that spirit, it’s rapt, not wrapped - or wrapt as we sometimes see on this forum. Rapt, as in rapture.)

6. Gawn 

5. Viney

4. Lever

3. Petracca

2. Langdon

1. Oliver

Have we gone a bit early with the indignation? I didn’t think the side had been announced yet. 

8 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

One of the rule changes that hasn't had much attention is that the defender must 'stand' (ie not move) 10 mtrs from the top of the goal square; previously it was 5. 

Good post, Lucifer and others. But a slight correction on these distances. This from AFL...

 The Mark shall be set at 15 metres from the centre of the Kick-Off Line towards the centre of the Playing Surface at Kick Ins. This was previously set at 10 metres.

Too long a commute for me. ?

2 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

I only really follow Melbourne not the other teams. 

Interesting. I have a friend who is a mad St Kilda supporter who, like you, doesn’t follow other teams. I thought he’d be the only fan with that approach. (He’d never heard of Caleb Daniel or even about the new man on the mark rule, but he seemed to know the vital statistics of every Saints player.)

It’s great to be passionate, but the trouble is that it is easy to get carried away with our ability and not have a realistic view of the opposition.