Lord Nev

Not sure anyone suggested it was a 'Goodwin-lead conspiracy', but clearly the club, and especially Goodwin given Bartlett's public comments, were under enormous pressure and a loss to a truly terrible team like Adelaide are currently would have added to that in a major way. So with all that being taken into consideration it wouldn't be at all a stretch to think the club captain made the (what he would consider) 'brave' call to front up for that game even if he shouldn't have. I mean, that's not exactly a rarity in AFL culture. Remember, Gawn declared himself right to play.

Went into the game with an already sore knee and then a lat injury that should have been a 2 game sit down. Gets targeted by players in a game we easily would have won without him and will now miss at least those 2 games originally called for. If you heard Max talking about the injury post-Crows the impression it was a captain's call seemed pretty clear. Plenty of posters here called for him to not play the Crows game as he would be more needed later.

Preuss only just played his first practice match according to Egan, so he might be a little while off (although he was named emergency on the weekend so who knows?!)

The Adelaide game decision that is the gift that keeps on giving... Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn is battling a PCL injury ahead of the Demons' clash against Collingwood at the Gabba on Saturday, in what shapes as a season-defining clash for the club. Although the skipper remains a chance to play against the Magpies, he must be in doubt as he attempts to overcome the injury, which occurred when he copped a knock to his knee towards the end of the clash against Adelaide and missed the match against North Melbourne, which the Demons won. Max Gawn battling PCL injury ahead of Pies clash

He's half right IMO. There's definitely games Weid should have been selected for; meaning he would have had more experience and exposure by now. But as LH rightly points out above, there's more context to it if comparing him to Hipwood. Not only did Weid start from further back development wise when drafted (and the club was open about him being a longer term project), but he's had a really poorly timed run of injuries and setbacks. Really, comparing him to anyone form the same draft is pretty unfair on Weid when looking into it more deeply than just total games played. In saying all that, he's definitely not been in the 'Goody's Boys' category like some others, and the shifting around of his role probably hasn't helped either. Of course, unless we get to see an alternate universe where there's another Weid who had that different development then it's impossible to know what the difference would be.

Incorrect, his birth name was Lumumba.

Didn't say it was offensive mate. Just think given what this thread is in context of it's more respectful to use his actual name. Referring to him as "Harry O" is a pretty transparent way to try and belittle the subject matter.

1. Use his actual name and show some respect. 2. Did you actually read the article? If not, I'll save you some time and let you know it contains 0 evidence, facts, sources or even comments from either of the two people it's about. It merely says an investigation is 'expected to reveal'. It's absolute gutter journalism as usual from Fox. They know how to generate engagement though, just write a snappy headline about racism and the clicks come from everywhere. 3. Of course all the above doesn't even being to address the full context of the situation and footy club culture.

AVB plays without any thought.

Spot on. All 4 of them give us a different kind of look up forward and have shown themselves capable of kicking goals. It's also a pretty handy way for one of them to break a tag as needed.

“He’s an AFL Academy member and from the Murray Bushrangers, up Albury way and is a border at Melbourne Grammar. Charlie’s got a rich history in the game, with his father playing for North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears. His great grandfather Bob played with the Bulldogs and a couple of games for Melbourne, so there is a nice connection there. He’s a small forward/midfielder, Charlie, and he’s got a really good athletic package. What we really like about his game is his intensity and aggression, and willingness and ability to cover the ground. We think he’ll be a good addition.” Mix of draftees complete list Charlie Spargo, the son of former North Melbourne midfielder Paul, was the Demons' first selection, at No.29. Taylor said the 172cm small forward/midfielder would most likely start his career with Melbourne in attack, where his ability to hit the scoreboard and his deceptive strength overhead would add some potency. But Taylor thought in time Spargo's ability to cover the ground would mean he was a more natural fit in the midfield. Melbourne's 2017 Draft wrap Melbourne recruiter Jason Taylor agreed there was something to the Boomer Harvey comparison. “Yeah, there is a little bit of that when he’s up and going. Because of his running capacity he looks more of a midfielder but another asset is he can go up in the air as well. “He is an AFL Academy member and Murray Bushranger and he really did have an outstanding Under 16 championships. “His body hasn’t been right but he had a shoulder operation and missed a fair chunk of the second half of the year, but we are looking for that type of player, a small forward with aggression and Charlie has that in spades. “He is an aggressive player and we think he can add some ground level potency to the forward line and go through the midfield.” Melbourne recruit Charlie Spargo has drawn comparisons with AFL legend Brent Harvey

Been trying to get that question answered since we signed him. The articles etc at the time seemed to hint that it was just for the one year (at least to start with).

Seriously though, this week so far Goodwin is the right guy....

Seriously? He'll 'learn' not to give away absolutely stupid frees and 50s? At 28? If he had been dropped before the North game, as he should have, maybe he could have 'learned' something.

?

He's going to need to 'crash packs' in a pretty damn impressive way if he's going to continue to give away goals and have massive turnover and clanger numbers. Also going to need to have more than 2.5 tackles if he's a 'defensive winger'.

Goodwin said post-match tonight that they're "hopeful, really hopeful" Max will be right next week. Gave the impression they'll name him and given him til the last minute to pull up.

Lever potentially has a hand injury of some kind. Second hand info, but apparently was hoding it behind his back post-match and not shaking hands, high-fiving etc. Fingers crossed it's nothing. OUT: vandenBerg, Harmes, Jones, (TMac if Gawn plays) IN: Viney, Lockhart, Bennell, (Gawn if fit) vandenBerg with 11 disposals - 4 turnovers, 6 clangers. Must be dropped.

Nah, apparently Jordon is ahead of him and he's going to be delisted. It was already reported by various posters on Demonland...

Yep. Absolutely not working! haha He's in all sorts out the moment, could be coincidence of course, but you'd doubt it.

Most tipsters have picked us.

Rubbish. A "bad player" doesn't play nearly 200 games. He's just an ok player. Very skilled, has obvious deficiencies. This mentality from so many footy fans that someone is either a complete dud or an absolute star is just incredibly shallow.

Yeah I love vB's intensity too, but logically it doesn't stack up that Goodwin talks week after week about how our effort is good but our skills are bad but then continues to pick a bloke that butchers it every single game. Reckon you're being pretty harsh saying he was 'handed' that goal, it wasn't like he was running into the goal square. His skill is what got the goal. vandenBerg managed to give away at least 1 goal for us, so that's a pretty clear difference for mine. 6 disposals - 4 turnovers, 3 clangers. You can be as tough as they come, but if you're doing more for the opposition than your own team you shouldn't be playing the next week IMO.

Not sure I'd call any of the players brought in this week "outsiders".

I don't have a super strong opinion either way on these players, but in similar-ish roles: ANB Round 2 - 9 disposals , 1 mark, 2 goals, 1 tackle, 5 score involvements, 0 turnovers, 0 clangers = Dropped. Bennell Round 10 - 5 disposals, 0 marks, 1 goals, 2 tackles, 2 score involvements, 0 turnovers, 1 clanger = Dropped. vandenBerg Round 10 - 6 disposals, 2 marks, 0 goals, 2 tackles, 1 score involvement, 4 turnovers, 3 clangers = Selected. One of those vB clangers was the free reversal that cost us a goal, the kind of blunder other players have been dropped for by Goodwin. Now I get circumstances come into it and stats don't tell the whole picture, but I find it hard for anyone to argue Goody doesn't play favourites at selection in the face of this. Even Gawn was talking about it post-match. This is the same Goodwin who every week talks about our 'basic errors' and 'forward connection' but says 'the effort was there'. So why is the prototype of those problems getting picked automatically no matter what he does?