Lord Nev

It's taken him a while, but if today is an example of how Goody has fixed the inside 50s then watch out! Rapt for Weid to find form, Viney's inside 50 delivery has changed massively which is a credit to him and my boy Sparrow is getting better every week.

What? 3 clangers, 7 turnovers, 0 tackles, 50% disposal efficiency, but because he accidentally knocked someone out he had a good game? No one doubts he's ferocious, they just want him to contribute more and not turn it over so much. Wouldn't have thought now was the time for this type of post mate.

A proper goal kicking coach has to be high on the shopping list for next season.

Yep, just don't understand why they'd list him as omitted originally. Did a similar kinda thing with Bennell earlier in the year.

Some whispers growing Pendlebury won't play...

Not sure how accurate, but apparently Julian de Stoop tweeted Hannan is out with illness. If true, why wouldn't MFC just say that? Seems similar to the confusion with Bennell missing earlier this year. Edit - Also just noticed the AFL website has Hannan as out with illness. Why the muck around?

What, but no photos of the scoreboards from rounds 4 or 5? Find this such a poor argument when people try to align 1 player to victories. Bennell has played in 4 wins also, and has a higher winning ratio than vandenBerg. Surely by your criteria that means he should be in the team as well?

I'm not saying he's a bad player at all, I love vanders and his intensity, physicality etc, I just think he's not giving us anywhere near enough good things at the moment when he's making so many mistakes. You're right though that Melksham is more like for like with Hannan, and as I pointed out in another post, Hannan leads Melksham in all the pressure related stats. Just think after the last 2 weeks' form no player should still be in the team after having the kind of games vandenBerg has had. Strikes me as very unbalanced that he's still in when others get dropped for much much less.

Averages 3 tackles a game.

I reckon Viney coming in could have replaced vB going out this week. But as you say, we're trying to be based on pressure and intensity so we should be expecting them all to bring it I guess. Haven't rated Melksham in that regard this year tbh. Usually he's my absolute number 1, but this year I reckon he's played some selfish footy. Not chasing or tackling (yet ironically named captain last week, go figure) and seems to be looking straight for the goals rather than to deliver to a teammate. Fritsch is more a target inside 50 rather than a 'connector'. At this point in time you'd have to have Spargo ahead of Hannan for connection. His game last week was great in that regard and it's previously been a strength of his as well. Weid and McDonald targets rather than connectors. Petracca probably our best for connection. Viney up and down, has shown signs but wouldn't be rating as one of our best connectors just yet. Agree that too much is being left to too few in regards to forward pressure, yet Melksham was captain last week so I don't know how it all stacks up. FWIW, Hannan has Melksham covered for tackles, contested possessions, contested marks, one percenters, score involvements and tackles inside 50. Edit - And pressure acts too.

100% agree on his intensity. That's the thing I love about him. I'm saying though that currently the bad things outweigh the good. The clangers, turnovers and goals given away hurt us more than the intensity helps us IMO. Hannan ranks 5th for score involvements, 7th for goal assists, 7th for inside 50s and 5th for goals, so reckon you're being a little harsh on him in that regard. (*Based on team averages this year)

Averages 3.8 contested disposals, 7 uncontested. We're not really starting to blame his teammates for his turnovers are we?

Kicked a goal and a behind in the last quarter.

Consistent pressure is fine, but I don't think it adds up to say that because Hannan can drift in and out that vandenBerg doesn't. vandenBerg isn't a consistent contributor either and his clangers, turnovers and kicking efficiency more than undo his good work. As already mentioned, they're pressure acts numbers don't have a huge difference. I think a lot of what people see in vandenBerg is the image of him rather than the reality at the moment. Not sure if it's reflected glory of his previous good games or just that we all love the hard at it players, but the whole pressure argument doesn't stack up for mine when you look at the whole picture. All fine to have a game focused on pressure, but when you have players consistently giving the ball away you're evening out that pressure by your own actions. Just find it strange that if our whole system is built on pressure that we pick a player whose only talent is pressure. Shouldn't that be the base for everyone? It strikes me as a bit like picking a tagger, which isn't really done anymore because teams realized you had to do more than just one specific basic thing. Sorry, ranting a bit. just frustrated that a team that is STILL lacking in forward connection would drop a player who can provide that but leave in a player who consistently destroys it.

Kicking efficiency of 53.1 for vB. Yikes.

Yep, would be surprised if Hannan's pressure index was higher than vandenBerg's over the last 2 weeks. The point I'm making though is that we still need finishers and skillful players, that has to have a value as well. Plus, the dumb things vandenBerg has done the last 2 games outweighs the pressure IMO. Giving away goals, poor turnovers etc put more pressure on us. Edit - Pressure acts don't have a huge difference this season.. vB - 13.7 Hannan - 10.4

Not really, but more using the stats to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of each player. Hannan out takes away a genuine marking player in the forward line who can kick a goal and is pretty decent with inside 50 delivery. I don't think Viney is that, and he's the one being brought in. vandenBerg gives us a hard at it tackler sure, but don't we get that from Viney? Plus, with Viney we also get better ball use and generally far less goals gifted to the opposition. We've heard Goody talk week after week after week about connection, yet he drops a player providing that and leaves in a player damaging it. I like vandenBerg, don't get me wrong, I love the way he doesn't deviate off his line and runs straight at players, but his disposal, decision making and costly stupid frees the last 2 weeks absolutely should have seen him dropped.

The last 3 games (per game stats): Hannan - 7.6 disposals, 0.7 tackles, 3 marks, 0.3 goals, 3 score involvements, 2 clangers, 2.6 turnovers vandenBerg - 10 disposals, 3 tackles, 2.6 marks, 2 score involvements, 4.3 clangers, 4 turnovers And if you wanted to include it, goals given to opposition with stupid errors: Hannan - 0 vandenBerg - 0.7 I don't think he is helping the areas we need it, and for mine, the extra tackles a game doesn't make up for the huge clanger and turnover numbers. We all love his effort and intensity, but the bad things he does have been outweighing that, especially the last 2 weeks. I get we may disagree on that, which is fine, but take all that out and just look at the discipline aspect. The bloke has cost us goals doing undisciplined, dumb things 2 games in a row. No player should be selected for a 3rd game after that. We see plenty of other players dropped for far less and to me it's poor culture standards if you let some players off but not others. You can't honestly tell me you thought vandenBerg was far better than Hannan against the Roos?

vandenBerg last week had 6 clangers and 4 turnovers from 11 disposals. He also gave away a goal with undisciplined play for the 2nd week in a row. Surely with Viney, Petracca, Oliver, Preuss and Sparrow in the middle we have enough "bash and crash". Our problem for 3 years has been skill and inside 50 efficiency. Who do you reckon helps more with that out of Hannan and vandenBerg? It's a pathetic decision by Goodwin even if you just want to look at the discipline aspect of it.

Hannan out and vandenBerg still in. Tell me the absolute lie that Goody doesn't play favourites despite form.

No. 50/50 for next week, so you'd think he'd miss the next 2 games at most.

Would only be guessing, especially given there's so many options, but given Preuss was emergency last week then he would be a chance to come in for sure. The conditions may change selection slightly too. Could be... OUT: Jackson, 2 out of Harmes, vB, Jones IN: Preuss, Lockhart, VIney

Yep, nowhere near 100% though. They're pulling a Gawn with him.

He's a long way off being fully right to play. Injury is much worse than reported. Huge game for both clubs though so think that's why they're willing to risk it.

Yeah they may opt for just Lever and May given the conditions. Intriguing selection night.